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One single boom from our blind this morning. Pretty good story with it too. I was up driving around after work last night just checking out some fields. I saw lights on at the camp up the road so I stopped to see how he had made out so far. Now this guy has his land posted and he means it, but I have always gotten along with him because I respect his land and right to use it himself. Right off the bat he asks if I have any youth hunters I am taking out in the morning. I tell him I have a young lady who is anxious to try and shoot a deer. He instantly tells me to get her there early for breakfast and shows me where a blind is and how to get to it without emptying the field. This is a guy I have known for years and not once has he invited me to hunt his land. Well, we showed up at 5:00 and we could smell the bacon as soon as we got out of the car. So after a quick breakfast and a lot of encouraging talk, we head to the stand. At first the understanding was she was only allowed to shoot a doe, but after seeing how excited she was, he said she could shoot a buck. At first she was excited about getting a buck, but before it was even light enough to shoot, she told me that Jim was nice enough to let us hunt his land and she just didn't feel right about shooting a buck the first time there. I thought to myself that my buddy and his wife may not hunt, but they sure know how to raise a kid. So it finally gets to shooting time and the field is empty. It is 34 degrees out so I tell her to just wait until the sun starts to hit the far corner of the lot where the apple trees are. A half hour later the sun finally reaches the apples and it wasn't ten minutes before we saw movement. Two young bucks go right to eating apples off the ground. I could tell she wanted to shoot, but she stuck to her guns and waited some more. A little while later I saw movement about half way down the field and two does stepped out looking towards the apple trees. They are only about 70 yards away, so it is a slam dunk shot as long as she stays calm. She slowly sets the .270 on the sticks, takes a couple deep breaths, and pulls the trigger. One doe runs, the other drops in its tracks. She takes the gun, empties the magazine, and stands it in the corner. She tells me that it was the most exciting hour she has had in her life, and then starts shaking and grinning from ear to ear. We hear the four wheeler start up and pretty quick, here comes Jim. We go out and load it up after getting a few pictures, and head back to camp. We walk her through the field dressing, and she gets through it better than some, and haul the gut pile to a pit already dug by Jim for just such things. He asked her why she didn't shoot one of the bucks and she tell him that it was his land and he put the time and money into it, so she wasn't going to take advantage of him. I could tell that this statement took him by surprise coming from a young girl especially. He promptly told her she was welcome to come hunt his land any time she wanted. So, it looks like maybe we have another hunter on our hands. I honestly didn't know what to expect out of her, but man, she passed any sort of test I could have thrown at her. Very enjoyable morning and backstraps coming for lunch.

last Saturday I had this buck hop in the creek behind my tree and swim all they way down around the bend and out of sight... so tonight, i adjusted about a quarter mile down the creek in a funnel with corn 40 yds in front and the creek 60 yds behind me in the timber.... did a short little tickle with the rattle bag around 5 or so and some light grunting... then at 6 oclock the wind died, it cooled down quite a bit, and i got that feeling, almost like the hairs on my neck where standing up... let out of few soft gunts, and 5 minutes later i hear foot steps in the creek... can't see what it is yet or maybe i didn't hear it at all i said... then he pops out 30 yds downwind, and proceeds to make a scrape... shot em while he was tinklin... haha... wandered 30 yds and DUNSKY....

My sons first bow kill and first buck ever. Opening day 2013 Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

If the deer eat the buds will they start hitting the food plot real hard?!!?

Here is a doe I got tonight before just dark 6 came out 5 went back ...

Christ, your season is 46 days long. At the expense of bow hunters? Really? You can't spare 3 out of 46? I've been outside most of the morning and have yet to hear a shot. There can't be a whole helluva lot of 14/15-year old hunters statewide, so I doubt very highly that they're going to ruin your weekend. How is it any different than if I were in the woods squirrel or coyote hunting?

Got in my stand hour before light, had some rain this morning. The rain stopped as it was gettin light and right after that I had deer walking around then running around. I could have sworn I heard a few grunt but i couldn't see the deer. Then a few Dow worked in and they were extremly skidish. I then saw this really nice 8 point standing behind a tree which appeared like a ghost at 25 yards.i then heard him grunt at a Doe and start running her around the woods to the side of me. Nice to see some deer finally! And a nice buck as well. I had a yearling last year I called boots, she had what looked like white socks or boots on all 4 legs. I saw her this morning and she's 1.5 and still has the boots, I thought that was very cool to see her hanging around the area she basically grew up in.

surprised that so many bow hunters don't want to share the woods with kids, they may never see or hear, for a few days out of a 45 day season. I understand not wanting any interference but just think it may make all the difference for that one kid getting involved in the outdoors

Heard half dozen rapid shots just as getting light enough to see. Startled the heck out if me. I thought goose hunters or turkeys but was quite the fire storm. Now this post reminded me this other possibility. If that was someone being mentored, they need a new teacher.

I'll be taking my 14 year old daughter out for her first "real" deer hunt. She's gone out and sat with me many times over the years while I hunted. She shot her first turkey this past spring, so she's excited to try to get her first deer this fall too! Hoping that pink camo knife that I bought her yesterday will bring her some luck!

My niece and i will be hunting this weekend, With that said Im taking her hunting with a gun this year and i like the fact that the deer arent all riled up, She will have the chance to harvest a deer that hasnt been running or been spooked 100 times, She can catch them when they are relaxed and still on a pattern, But i also agree that they shouldnt need a special weekend, But as long as they do why not get the kids out when its a little warmer and more comfortable for them, Trying to make it an enjoyable thing sounds legit, A freezing kid not seeing anything for hours isnt a happy memory its a bad one, Again i dont think its a necessary thing, but i guess it could be a good thing, Im not even worried about her shooting "MY" buck lol if she does good for her, I asked my niece if she wanted to hunt she said yes took both her gun and bow course, And is super excited about going, Im just glad i can be in her life and will get to experience her first deer kill with her,

Owen

That meth is some nasty junk.

Finally on stand. Morning full of mishaps. Overslept. Nearly was killed by an owl that wanted the field mouse next to me, grouse roosted five feet above my head and I forgot he was there (nearly messed myself when he took off again). But, all in the past. Hoping to see some deer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

Helluva job this season!!!

The number of "we" that got hooked has been declining for years. So let's keep doing the same and wait for the results to change.

So the youth hunt won't matter either.

At least you didn't hit him and just wounded him like most of the bowhunters here have been doing.

What has that got to do with anything? Get over it - it is an event that effects almost no bowhunters - unless they are taking a youth.

I have been trying to get a pic of this guy for a while. It's a crappy cell pic, but better than nothing

Youths are after them.

What GreeneHunter said. It'll work so long as your insurance company doesn't start snooping around. It's likely that they won't unless you start having lots of tickets and/or accidents in NYC. That said, my insurance company did follow up with me on a ticket I got downstate just to make sure it was me, so don't be surprised if they do check.

Of course, being a SCOPE member, I am in favor of getting the signs from that organization. That is not the cheapest place you will find them, but it does also serve as a donation to one of our more active gun advocacy organizations. However, I will say that there are many other places that these signs are for sale, and at many different prices as well. I have heard prices as low as $5. I would suggest that you call or stop into any independent firearms dealer, and there is a good chance that they will have a supply on sale. Regardless of where you decide to purchase them from, it is important to blanket the state with these things and let the politicians know that they have poked at a hornet's nest. The time for legislators to be thumbing their noses at us has to stop, and this is one small way that you can each help with that. I want to see those creeps shake in their shoes everytime they go down any road in NYS and see those signs.

Was an honest mistake with good intentions in mind. An apology was made, but I guess some people are too eager to take a stab after the fact. I for one appreciate the info regarding youth stands and blinds. Learned something today. X-Calibur Lighting Systems http://facebook.com/XCaliburLightingSystems

God speed to a true woodsman...

probably duck hunters here in the north

Guess the stakes didn't work? Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 4

I've never been this thirsty...in my entire life!

Well broke the Ice yesterday afternoon for 2013 and the new Bow... Crazy Crazy hunt tonight...got off work a little early to hit my stand...brought my four wheeler tonight because my stand is quite a ways back in and mostly uphill and yesterday I was a sweaty mess by the time I got set up. First hurdle...about halfway to my stand in a wet spot that has been getting worse I buried the wheeler, after trying to get it out for a few minutes my awesome plan had completely backfired, now me and my bow was covered in mud and I was a sweaty mess...so I hiked the rest of the way in. Decided after yesterdays hunt to move my stand about 30 yards to a different tree, as I finally climbed up to get the stuff I left in the tree out and climbed back down and moved to the new tree. The tree was set back against some hemlocks for great cover, however, it had a string of poison ivy running up it...I used a stick to pull that off the tree and began climbing...up about 10 feet and I needed to break one of the hemlock branches...bending it with some good force it finally snapped, I took a deep breath as it snapped as a couple brown hemlock needles when right down my throat...there I was gasping for air and hacking and retching in the woods...I couldn't take a deep breath, sounds funny now but it was pretty scary...what a freak thing to happen...I finally climbed down and spend 20-30 minutes trying to clear my airway and coughing and dry heaving...WTH!!! Finally cleared it for the most part and collected myself, I really was debating whether to hunt of not, I decided to move to another tree about 50 more yards where I saw a deer the night before, no branches to break...finally after about an hour and 1/2 after leaving my truck I was set...about an hour later a pair a grey fox came through and I got some really cool video...then at 6PM a big lone doe worked her way to me...I had the camera rolling and went to full draw as she turned right towards me...it was now or never at that point, her chest looked big through my sight window and I knew I could make that shot, even though I haven't shot a deer with a bow straight on before...I let it fly and red sprayed everywhere...I waited until dark to climb down and there was good blood...about 10 yards past where I lost sight of her she was done...first deer of the year and a crazy hunt that turned out good...two pics and a video of the hunt... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZs4afWAEbE&feature=youtu.be

Be careful , a lot of those pot plots are booby trapped.

Life just gets better as you get older doesn’t it. I was in a Starbucks Coffee recently when my stomach started rumbling and I realized that I desperately needed to pass wind. The place was packed but the music was really loud so to get relief and reduce embarrassment I timed my releases to the beat of the music. After a couple of songs I started to feel much better. I finished my coffee and noticed that everyone was staring at me. I suddenly remembered that I was listening to my IPod. And how was your day? This is what happens when old people start using technology!

Ughh gotta work today. Will be in stand am day tomorrow Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

When you build those pits try getting some bigger rock and make a see-through area. Create a window so you can see right into the pit through the rock. I did that last year after seeing my neighbor do it.

Holy cow!!!!! Awesome job.

I just cant figure how "we" all got so hooked on deer hunting without the benefit of a much needed special "youth season".

Buck down baby buck down .... Dead 40 yds from the tree!!!

Danny, I'd love to do that. If you're going out any weekend from now on and wouldn'd mind a tagalong, it'd be great to learn from you. PM me if this is cool with you. Thanks!

Anyway, anyone taking a kid out this weekend good luck and stay safe. It is nice of you guys to take kids out even if don't agree when it happens.

of course..... opening day, the weekend after and the weekend after and then muzzleloader and then shotgun, you name it........... is it ok with you if I take him small game hunting and Turkey hunting during your bowseason? those guns go boom too and we do a lot more walking around................I know you want every other season shut down during bow, but that's not gonna happen.

What he said. Its a little late to try and figure out what the layout of the swamp is but you need to key in on the terrain. A small ridge that rises up just a foot can be a HUGE find. All deer that travel or live in that swamp will know about it. I had a spot that stuck out into a swamp with a bunch of Hemlock on the finger and it was awsome. I found my biggest ever scrape on the very tip of that finger 12+ feet across. Looked like a cow stood in the middle of it. Deer will also bed on Hummocks or small hills in the middle of the swamp. Knowing where those are can be a big help. Some times you cant see this stuff depending on what time of year it is. You need to travel the area at all seasons. You need to be able to look for things when the water is down and up and when you dont have leaves and you do. In my experiance parts of the swamp "shallows" so to speak will harden up faster in cold weather and can creat new travel routes that are not used when everything is still above freezing. If you have oaks the bucks might key in on them first during daylight hours if they are protected enough in the swamp before they leave the security of the swamp for the night. I loved hunting the swamps around my home town. So far Indiana doesnt have much in the way of swamp land. P.S. I grew up in your neck of the woods and have a good friend a few minutes from you so I have a good idea of the kind of terrain you are looking at. Stick with it there are some big swamp bucks in your area.

Head on over to Villa Roma . They have deer roaming the grounds over there .

Why does there even need to be a clearly defined goal? Whether we hunt for meat or antlers, it won't be the end of the world if we don't succeed. Hunting is really not that important in the scheme of things. That's where the younger crowd has it all wrong in my opinion. Everything has to measure up to some standard, otherwise it's crap in their opinion. That's a screwed up mentality. There's enough competition and goal minded people in the everyday rat race world we live in. I'll be damned if I will let this type of crap seep into the pastime I happen to participate in. Hunting for many of us is an escape from the everyday human condition, so this "goal" oriented nonsense needs to stay out of it. Yeah, I want to put something down too, when I go hunting, but if I don't, that's OK too. I tried my best, didn't succeed, end of story. Will try again next time.

More pics of the progress... the knotty pine is up

I was in a stand on some state land near a bedding area this afternoon, nothing happening so I tried a little soft rattling. Surprised to see a doe come in almost immediately, spike buck behind her. Took a 20 yrd quartering away shot at her and put her down. I've never practiced anywhere near as much as this last summer with my bow and let me tell you it was worth every hour. Shot was totally automatic, squating down to avoid limbs and te placement was spot on for the type of shot, heard her go down from the stand. Felt great knowing that the kill was quick and clean. I filmed that spike buck for a while afterwards as well.

A legend indeed. I have many of their videos and their first book. I studied how they hunt and track deer. Everything I learned from Larry and family certainly helps me in the big woods till today. Prayers to the Benoit family. Rudy Founder & Director of Photography, Huntography

I know he's not too big, but it's my first deer with a bow. Taken in 7s 10/1/13 at 0725 am.

Hey some old guys know what a selfie is...

numba 2... not the biggest girl in the world, but she came in hobblin real bad, had a broken front leg... decision wasn't hard... felt bad for her...

Why not shoot a crossbow? Its just like saying if you are healthy and capable of shooting a vertical bow, why choose a compound over a recurve? When you boil it down, it is all about whatever style floats one's boat. You dont like crossbows, then dont shoot one, simple as that.