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Filled my late season tag with the ML this afternoon! Is it the least bit ironic that that when I walk up to my buck I see this,lol I know he was wearing them both when I shot him. Guess there's a first time for everything, as this has never happened to me before. But how cool is that, I killed a buck AND got my first shed of the season! Here's what he looks like when I put him back together! That stick is holding his horn in place. I have to check, but I think I have this set of antlers in last years 2013 model! I have to take some better field photos and get the story up in the morning in the harvest thead.

I shot this buck on 11/30/14 in the Adirondacks (Hamilton County) after tracking him for 4 hours 23 minutes (I originally claimed 5.5 hours in a FB post, I was incorrect according to my GPS) and covering 5.2 miles. I missed (deflected bullet) him once about halfway through the journey, but was able to connect when he got distracted by a doe and followed her across an opening in front of me. After shooting him I realized I had trail cam pictures of him last year over 2 miles from where I took up his track this year. These big woods bucks have large ranges! This was probably the most memorable hunt I've ever had, and boy did I have to work for it! Based on last year's trail cam pics and his tooth wear, which was at least as much as the 5 year-old 8pt (cementum annuli aged) I shot about a mile from there in 2012, I estimate this buck to be at least that old as well, perhaps even one year older. I will send his teeth in too to confirm. Gross green score of 131 and change. Brows are over 5 and 7" and bases are just shy of 5". The picture(s) I posted on FB last week generated a lot of comical comments about practicing shooting more, aiming better, and only taking ethical shots. Those folks don't realize that tracking is not blood trailing. They don't go 5.2 miles after a heart shot either. With tracking, you follow the buck BEFORE you shoot it... P.S. I wrote a much more detailed story of this hunt but I am going to see if I can get a magazine to buy it. They require it be unpublished material, which unfortunately includes posting it on an internet forum. If things go well, hopefully I will be able to post the story at a later date. (Sorry NYantler) Not something I normally look at, I thought this graph of my walking speed was interesting. (From GPS) Trail cam pics from 2013: Making a mock scrape:

This reminds me of something I see every summer when the guy with a 50k bass boats feels that he owns the boat launch and takes up a ramp and a dock for a half an hr and makes the guy with a john boat wait to launch his boat. Or the guy in a boat that passes a little boat without slowing down because he has to get there now. If a fella has 2 days a year to hunt and shoots the first legal deer he sees good for him. Just because someone doesn't scout or have trail cams doesn't make them an outlaw.

12-9-14 Late season success on the timbered edge of a goldenrod field. I sat on my stump daydreaming about shed season and all the antlers I'd be scooping up from the field behind me in the coming months. I had a sudden snap back to reality at 3pm when all of a sudden out of nowhere movement woke me up 25yds in front of me. This guy was casually following behind a young doe fawn and she led him right by me at 15yds before the ML swept him off his feet. He piled up about 40yds away, and when I arrived at his carcass I discovered he knocked an antler off when he crashed. I grabbed a few quick picures, and with sunset fast approaching I made a quick run home to grab a sled to make the drag out a little easier and protect his antler that was still attached. At home I realized I had this bucks antlers from last season which I included in these pics, and that I killed him just over 100yds away from where I had found those antlers last spring. This was the kind of hunt that made me thankful I could appreciate some of the finer points of the hunt without the size of the antlers clouding my excitement over him!

NIce job Wooly. Must be one hell of a load you're shooting. Impact blew the antlers right off him! LoL

I don't think non-hunters are as concerned about these contests as animal rights fanatics and the anti-lead crowd are. People who live in areas where coyotes and crows have gotten way out of hand certainly aren't against the contests. People who live in urban areas might have issues with them, but then again, when are they not trying to tell everyone else what to do? People really should be more concerned about the perceived image of Americans around the world than the image of hunters here. With a clown like Obama as President making America look stupid and weak, and his entire lawless, corrupt administration, I think this country's non-hunters have a lot more to be concerned about at this moment in time.

Today, I was out hunting at a friends farm in Collins, NY, 9h, beautiful day, low 40's , front supposed to move in about 4pm, with snow expected tonight. The deer should be up and feeding, so I'm sitting in an elevated stand overlooking a brushy field and a hay field with standing corn about 275 yds away. About 2:15 , 2 doe pop out of the corn and feed along the edge. I pulled out my range finder and ranged them at 303 yds. , so hopefully they will feed up the field and be within 250 yds or less. A dog starts to bark on the other side of the corn field and they start to get nervous and trot up the field in front of me. 2 young average sized doe , so I range the corn across from me at 265 yds , a third much larger doe comes out of the corn and joins the other 2 moving up in front of me at a slow trot, I grunt and they stop, I range the biggest doe at 245 yds. Pull up my T/C Triumph and take a look through the scope. Thinking, I shoot this range at my cabin , during the summer and can put 3 shots in a 3" circle at 250 yds. I put the cross hairs on the biggest doe and let 'er rip , cloud of smoke and they are all are running into the corn. An awful lot of crashing going on , but there are 3 deer going across the corn rows , at the, shot she didn't look hit , no mule kick or falling , stumbling. I'll sit and and wait till dark , knowing right where they went into the corn. I get a call from my friend and fill him in . No deer show up , so we all meet at my stand at 4:30. Head across the field looking for blood , not really expecting to see any, well a spot , then some more, into the corn , you would think somebody had a red paint brush , painting the corn leaves , after about 30 yds., there she lay , a huge doe , a pig , guessing about 175 lbs. live weight. I hit her right where I aimed , mid body right behind the front leg , double lung , absolute most perfect shot I could make . Fill out my tag , quick gut and onto the 4 wheeler, back to the barn , we hoist her up on the scale and she weighs out at 165 lbs dressed . So that would put her about 190 lbs. live weight , from the sight of her teeth , I'd have to say 5 1/2 yrs old. Too dark for pictures on my crappy phone. T/C Triumph with Nikon Omega scope with BDC reticle 150 grain 777 pellets , 300 grain Hornady XTP Mag bullet

Lol- you have no idea how much it pains me to put those sloppy pics up. I forgot my little camera remote for field photos and it was dark by the time I got home with him so I didn't get a chance to clean him up first. Just dug through the horn pile and pulled out his antlers from last year. I knew they looked familiar. I killed him about 100yds away from where this set layed. Not intentionally after him there, but pretty darn cool it worked out like that if you ask me!

all of you hunters who are so strict abt the time are full of crap! I would bet my last dollar everyday and twice on sunday if a 140s or 150s walked out a few min before or after legal shooting light there would not be any looking at your watch! Why are hunters the most jealous people in the world?

I tell you, I just can't stand the derogatory talk against weekend warriors here. Aren't we all weekend warriors in one way or the other? How many here don't have to work and can devote all their time to hunting only? Just because some of you spend some extra time scouting or setting up food plots or cameras makes you somehow think that you are superior to everyone else that hunts? That's BS. Some of you guys are legends in your own minds, and that's about it.

Haha- the donations have been rolling in steady since November when I posted that ad!

Not sure how old this is, thought it was funny.

What is draining? If it is anything left in the body cavity wouldn't that just come right out of the mouth and nose?

In the real world if the law was 30 before and after a person could not push it any further because it would be freakin dark out. We carry a pretty safe record here in Ny and as you can see from just this little group, most already go by their own time limit....And we still have that same good safe record!!!

Geeze Elmo...All the time with the tough questions...<<grin>>.. I am only guessing at this, but I think that as long as you have no single projectile or buckshot ammo for the shotgun you would be ok. It is PERFECTLY legal to hunt small game with small shot during deer season as long as you do not have any slugs/buckshot on your person.

So much talk about such a simple thing. The law is clear, whether speed limits or shooting hours. You make the decision whether obey it or violate it. If you violate it and Officer Ferndip writes you a ticket, pay your fine and don't WHINE....

Lucky Last Day I had a little extra luck on Sunday. I was hoping to get up to the Adirondacks for the last day of gun season but personnel circumstances prevented me from getting away. So I thought I would hunt locally although I hadn't seen a deer in the last two weeks. I wasn't able to get to my stand until 8:30, climbed the tree and pulled up my shotgun. Within 30 seconds of untying my shotgun from the haul line I heard something then saw a deer creeping through the brush about 80 or 90 yards away. The deer's track would result in a CPA of about 40 or 45 yards directly upwind of me if. I took the shot as soon as he walked into an opening. Photo below. Just lucky, pure luck. Not a huge rack but he had some heft. Right beam was partially broken off due to fighting. The phrase "timing is everything" comes to mind.

I just finished this tonight. I do mine own that way they are personable. the other pic is of the ones I have done for myself. the one in the middle is the one I got this bow season

As I peruse joe's nyantlersoutdoors page ,I see a lot of nice bucks killed in counties without antler restrictions. Granted they may not be "book" bucks but it seems that most or all of us would be happy with them,as the hunters smiles show they are. I don't see a reason to expand ar's as it zseems there are good bucks out there without them.

I keep seeing people write that they hope the "weekend warriors" stay home or out of the woods.. Would this be people that work during the week? What's the issue with people who hunt on weekends

I think that guy is a member here??

Joe - apparently some feel better believing the level of their moral compass must indeed be where everyone else has set their's. Helps with the justification.

I think people that have a hard time believing there are some that can pass on a good buck at the last minute are usually speaking about how they would handle that situation and would like to think they have company... which I'm sure you do... just not with me... and I'm sure a few others on here with integrity

If legal time is 4:30 and a trophy (whatever that may be to you, could be a doe for meat) walks by at 4:31 while your about to get up. I don't believe anyone would not take the shot. And I mean take the shot in real life. Obviously behind the keyboards nobody would ever say they'd dare touch the trigger.

Well, to be fair, the Plex automatic calculator yada, yada reticle isn't much more complicated than a simple duplex. It ain't as bad as some of the stuff I see these days. A 3-9 Leupy std duplex substends about 5" at 100yds at 9X, 10" at 200yds, 15" at 300yds, 20" at 400yds etc, etc. If i can just fit a mature buck's chest between the duplex he is pretty damned close to 300yds. My 8X57 would be 6 1/2"" below POA & the top of the bottom duplex would be 7 1/2 below POA. I would need to hold the top of the bottom duplex 1/3 up from the brisket to hit just below vertical center in the chest. Pretty simple.

No offense taken. If I can get a hunting story published I could join both my Uncle, Granddad, and Great-Granddad as members of my family that have hunting stories published and that would be pretty cool. Financially, I probably wouldn't quit my day job to become a freelance writer, but I'll admit; I have spent a LOT of money on hunting one way or another. If there was a way to get a little kick back now and again, I wouldn't be ashamed to take it. I certainly won't sell my sheds and don't aspire to be a TV star either.

Just to make a point the sunrise and sunset times change by a few minutes every day. Also depending where you are hunting in NYS the times are totally different by just a few minutes. So how much does just a few minutes really make when hunting ?

you have an either sex tag that can be used early or late when appropriate privilege is purchased. IF you did not fill you regular season tag you can use it in the late season to take either sex. In my case I did not take a buck yet so I can take two bucks in the ML season. How is that for optimism...lol

But how is that put on the "weekend warrior" Maybe I'm confused but I consider a weekend warrior someone who's doesn't have the time and or money to invest in hunting that some of us do. 2 weeks ago I was talking to a friend of a friend about hunting and he said he hasn't been out yet because he has his own business and works 7 days a week. I told him I'd he could make a couple hrs on the next Saturday morning he was welcome to come over and sit one of my stands he graciously accepted. Around 730 I hear him shoot at about 8 I walk over to the stand I put him in and he is standing there with a huge smile on his face.. He shot a half rack 2 pointer that I had literly let walk 20 times and I could not have been happier it was the first deer he has killed in 4 years and I j was able to assist him and I felt awesome for it. He uses a 30-30 his grandpa gave him and a wore blue jeans and a flannel shirt. I don't know about you guys but that's what hunting is about. I even gave him an old muzzeloader and told him if he could make time he was welcome to come back as he is going to do on Friday.

So if you drive at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit when you have a speedometer 2 feet from your face it's an accident but if I shoot a deer 2 minutes after "legal" shooting times because I forfot to check my watch it is an "intentional illegal act" come on, give me a break.

At the following address: http://www.dec.ny.go...tdoor/8305.html I found this near the bottom under "Muzzleloading": "Hunters shall not have in their possession, or be accompanied by a person who has in his or her possession, a bow or firearm other than the legal muzzleloading firearm."

I agree with the lack of shots in the later part of the season. So if the hunters aren't out and then the pressure is reduced? Right? So why the need for a shortened season if the bucks are taken in the first week or so?

Wooly can add to this discussion!!

BS ---- It's apples and oranges !

Did you ever see the movie.... Deliverance?

Nope.... You are not allowed to shoot deer with #6 shot, but there is nothing illegal about carrying shotshells with you while deer hunting and shooting grouse, squirrels, rabbits, pheasants, ducks, geese or other legal game in season. If you shoot at a DEER, you are required to use single projectile ammo.

1+ min past the legal time on the last day of the season means you shot a deer out of season. So to me there is no difference between a deer shot out of season by 1min, 30min, or 6 months in the middle of June. To those of you can shoot a deer out of season and be proud with it on your wall, that's your choice. But I just couldn't do it. By the way, I don't see how the speed limit is a relevant comparison. If you want to compare to cars, it would be leaving the starting line early in a race. It's cheating. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fair question. Normally, I'm ok with a deer getting by me. It sucks when you can't close the deal, but there's always another day. I've come close on big deer before and had them give me the slip. This one hurts because I know he's out there suffering and I was really close to putting him out of it. Do I want to kill a big buck? Hell yeah, and anybody who says they don't is lying. But, I don't see finishing off a gimped buck as any kind of trophy or accomplishment. I think it's just the right thing to do. I don't care what the deer is, if it's wounded that bad I think we're obligated to finish it. It sucks to see any deer like that. I don't think the size of the rack has much to do with the way I feel about him.

That is a sad commentary on where all this antler-phobia has driven people. It is not the law that is making dishonest people out of some, but more the fact that people have come to measure their hunting success in inches of antler as they have been taught on the Saturday morning TV hunter-heroes. The result is an any-thing-goes attitude regarding disrespect for game laws.

I've seen guys that were excellent shots at the range and really put in their time, totally fall apart when anything with anything with an antler walks out.

God forbid I shoot a deer 5 minutes before or 5 minutes after legal shooting time.Jeeze,come arrest me if you're that frickin lame! While you're at it,make sure you police the hammer lane and drive 55.Enough said!

luck on the last afternoon! I've been reading on here for quite a while thought it was about time to join and start posting. Good info here - thanks to all

Nope - I want a mature buck as much as anyone, but think the hunter should make that call. It would not have been nearly as fun my first season hunting if I had to wait for the right buck. I do now, but that's by my choice. I do believe ARs MAY result in more mature bucks in an area (statistics in some southern states I read seem to confirm that), but don't think that should be decided by the DEC or legislature.

All very valid points. Perhaps a better word to discribe the differing eye relief would be narrows. While low magnification will allow more leeway as far as eye relief, generaly, the narrower high magnification eye relief will be somewhere in the short end of the low magnification eye relief envelope. I set my eye relief so that I can get full field of view at high magnification & the wider range of full field view at low magnification takes care of itself. I NEVER leave my variable power setting on anything other than the lowest maginification to allow fast target aquisition on targets at close range which will likely require a quicker reaction. Shots taken with high magnification will in all likelyhood be taken under a situation where there is plenty of time to not only crank up the power, but also to snuggle up to the eye relief. Due to being caught off guard, I took this years buck at about 100yds with the scope still on 3X. That's plenty of maginifcation for that distance or even farther. The biggest advantage I find with 9X is for sizing up the rack on longer shots. Most shots from my tri-pod are in the 200-250yd range. Those long shots have alway been at unalamed deer that gave me plenty of time.

Lots of great comments in here: 1. I'm an older hunter and I still get giddy with excitement on the opening days of bow and gun, both zones. When I don't I know a big part of the thrill is gone. 2. I don't hunt like I used to, I'm not physically able to. Problems with hunting deer in NY, in my HUMBLE opinion: 1. Loss of access- places we used to are gone. Gone to development or smaller groups of hunters. 2. Loss of comradery - some of you young guys have no clue but hunters used to help each other. Help drag, help track, share information, etc. Now it's all about ME (too many examples to list here) 3. Television - has us planting food plots, hanging stands, spending thousands on scent control and most of all "growing" trophies and planting our butts in stands from dawn til dusk expecting all those deer we see on our 20 $120 trail cams all summer to come out and feed so we can "harvest" them. Whatever happened to actually hunting? Get down and still hunt. go look. That's what I do. Many of you do all the right things and have bad luck and that's why it's called hunting. I have only been skunked one year since 1988 and that was in 2011 after I was recovering from a traumatic injury to my back (3 fractured vertebrae) and we lost 200 acres of prime land in the Finger Lakes to the almighty $$. No bow hunting and new land made it tough. When I finally did see a deer, I missed. The next 2 years I was successful with all three implements (bow, gun and muzzle). This year I have a 3.5 year old 7 point and a mature doe. I will be hunting Thursday and Friday after this storm. Good luck to all of you.

Nothing . We need them we should embrace and encourage them . The average joe who gets out a few times and is happy to kill any deer. We need there numbers and we need them to pass it on to generations to come .

Why not just open a season in the city. They frikin shoot everything else down there.

Well see we are struggling with a term that has no official definition. The kinds of people you are describing are basically what I call "slob hunters" who can show up at any time of the week. Not just on weekends. I think Mike had the best description of a "weekend warrior" when he described them as casual and inexperienced. But I suppose with a term like this your definition is as good as anybody's. When you think about it, it is a stupid meaningless term. Go with the "slob hunter" everybody knows what your talking about with that one .....lol.

It's got nothing to do with St.Peter or hell. You either respect the law or you don't. Simple as that.

Wooly Congrats!!! Talk about bad luck...not for you but the deer. If the poor guy lost that a 100 yards before he got to you he might have lived another season... As you stated, there's a first for everything!!!