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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

I plan to use some drones next year to verify whether forum members actually unload their weapons and leave their stands before legal shooting time ends. LOL Phade will use one to spy on Doc. He's got to be using a treestand at least some of the time! LOL Paula will send one over Bubba's cabin. She likes Bubba and wants to get a look at him from all different angles. LOL Pygmy will send one over Growalot's property. Pygmy can chime in on the reasons why. LOL

If you are worried about the perception of hunters in the eyes of non-hunters, what you're advocating is banning contests and making laws that will control hunting more to placate the anti's. Banning lead ammo and hunting contests are just two infringements. What's to stop the momentum after it gets started? Seems to me we are opening a door towards a total ban on hunting. I'd rather see hunters unite to elect pro-hunting politicians that would be inclined to pass a law recognizing hunting as a traditional right that cannot be eliminated. Other states have done it. Why not NY? If we do not push back against any and all attacks on hunting, we will soon find we have lost the war altogether.

Geeze...Sitting in a treestand in pitch dark for an hour and a half.. That sounds like lots of fun...Like whacking myself in the groin with a hammer or giving myself an enema with a turkey baster full of tabasco sauce...

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!

I have hunted this property in Stormville pretty hard during the bow season and passed on 5 different small bucks. I was looking for a mature doe to shoot or a bigger buck, but I never go the opportunity on either. Out of nowhere, this guy came in right on a doe and it was an easy shot with the muzzleloader at 50 yds. I have never seen this buck in person or on camera, but he seems to be related to a similar one I shot two years ago. They both have the same small brow tines and both had big bodies. I shot this one no more than 50 yds. from the other one. I guess that is a good spot to leave that stand!

I don't get the whole "what hunting has become" comments. Hunting contests aren't some new invention by a new attitude hunter or new generation. They have been around for years. Longer than I have been hunting and that is 37 years. Every bar, Elks lodge and such, the area that I grew up had big buck contests. The Fish and Game club near me had events as well. I remember a rabbit contest. To me they are more social events than trying to win prizes on the back of the poor innocent game animals. What's next, we gonna start seeing protest of fishing contests?

when the temperatures are mild (40's) i'll head in about 45 minutes before legal light. When it's cold out, I'll head in at legal light +/- 5 minutes. I'm not interested in wasting time just getting cold. I would rather have the extra time during legal shooting hours.

I'm still in bed, have yet to shower , eat, dress , drive 32 miles, walk in......

I like to be in my stand before sunrise but not if it means walking through a herd of them on the way in.I would say each situation is unique depending on the deer movement and the access you have to get to your stand.

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.

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:

Almost forgot an important one. Biz-R-O will send one over Four Season Whitetail's deer pen. The drone will be carrying scissors, and he'll guide it over Four Season's head to cut off his mullet. LOL

I need better looking neighbors before I shell out $400-600 on a drone...lol

IMO, it's only irresponsible because he didn't practice at that distance or know exactly where to aim. Had he done both and the conditions were right, no wind and deer standing still, there would be nothing wrong with a 60yd shot. It's done all the time successfully out west in open fields on deer, antelope, elk, etc. if I ever go to Wyoming with my xbow, I will make sure I can shoot out to at least 60 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any hunter can make an irresponsible shot. The weapon doesn't matter. That said, I wouldn't want the thread poster in my woods. He's a risk.

So how many hunter do you think are going out to hunt coyotes for this contest that wouldn't be anyway? Do you believe that it would be so easy to just pick up a gun, go out and bag a few yotes in an attempt to win that contest? Do you think the public does? I know guys that do quite a bit of squirrel hunting and actually take part in the squirrel slam. This doesn't draw them out for the event. Quite differently, they don't hit areas they normally would and save those for the day of the event. So if as a hunter we take a dozen squirrels a year but choose to schedule one day afield to coincide with an social activity, I don't see the harm. Anyone that looks at these contests myopically and doesn't understand that the hunting activity still takes place even without a contest do not understand what really happens.

Breaking News: The fight between Doc and Phade has spilled into the street.

Beautiful view. I want to live where you do.

You are talking in circles. You just said I thought wrong. Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth there doc. If you were talking about ground stands you would have stated such after I questioned you on it and you KNEW what i was talking about. My question never included the word tree. I said...stand. you said i thought wrong. That proves you knew what i was talking about. Youre just backpedaling now. You pretty clearly tried to make a story that defended your position because it supported your belief.I usually think whether I disagree with you, you bring up points that are valid for positions I may not agree with. But this is clearly a case where you can't say changing the law would result in a safety decrease. Enough states do this that one can reasonably be assured that it is an effective law that does not impact safety. All you have to go on is anecdotal stories. These states are laws. Laws. If there were a safety issue with it, they'd change quickly. They havent been and won't be. Face it NY is on the wrong side of this law and it should be changed.

As I said almost a year ago today; that next February and March the clubs from Greene NY and Holley NY with their respective "crow down" and "squirrel slam" will again bring attention to the media. These annual events enable the antis to organize better and engage more people each year. These contests have also helped the antis win new friends, increase their donations and build the size of their memberships. Several politicians such as Tony Avella grandstand on this every year as well, as a matter of fact he sponsored a bill to ban hunting contests for the very same people who protest the Greene and Holley events. Ironically, organizers of these events have boasted that the negative attention has increased contest entrees. That boast is very narrow-minded and demonstrates lack of situational awareness and common sense. The antis have raised a number of issues with these contests. The most compelling argument they have is the introduction of lead into the food chain if large numbers of carcasses are dumped and/or game is not retrieved or lost. Since that is 100% accurate and lead in the food chain is indeed an impact, the clubs should concede to the use of non toxic ammo. Any individual, club, or organization who argues against this is further damaging the image of hunting and credibility of hunters. There are a number of additional measures these clubs can and should take to make these events more palatable to the public majority. By now, they should also expect protests and be prepared to address them appropriately. If they do not have such a plan in place they are not being mindful of the rest of the sporting community.

I just find it amazing how some can willingly admit to breaking some laws because it on accident or there are grey areas but you say you follow hunting laws to the T. I speed I set my cruise in 72 in a 65 because I know that is what I can do with minimal risk. I do not stare at my watch to the second for legal shooting times, I have let deer walk even though I could have killed them because I knew it was too early/late. If I am watching the news or reading the paper and I see someone caught doing 100mph I think "wow what a dummy" there is a big difference between me and 95% of other drivers doing a little faster than the speed limit and someone doing double the speed limit. It's the same thing as someone shooting minutes before or after legal hrs and some one shooting a deer at midnight with a spot light, there is a HUGE difference!

If you speed you are a Criminal If you poach you are a Criminal Your just deciding which one you are proud of...Law is Law.

Respectfully, that's not quite what I meant. Hunters are much more likely to interact with non-hunters on a daily basis than FWS staff are. in my experience, that is where opinions of non-hunters are swayed. Most non-hunters have very little idea what the FWS is or what they do, sadly. But they do know someone that hunts-- their uncle, a friend-of-a-friend, etc. Those interactions change opinions, for better or worse. I also by no means was suggesting that we tell each other what to do. I only wanted to present the fact that what you, I, and all the hunters do in the public eye does indeed have an impact on hunting in the future. These days, sadly, the public eye includes social media. I actually am completely with you in that we should be more united, not less. Kind regards.

Just remember, it's not what time you arrive at your final destination that matters..., only that you arrive alive! Whether that's to Grandmas house for X-mas dinner or the end of deer season... At the end of the day we all want to return home whether we spent the day at work or in the woods. The rules ARE only guidelines for us to follow. Written law is just a way to punish offenders and hold them accountable for their own actions when the limits get pushed too far.

Yes- it does. I have a moderate online following of people from all walks of life and I sometimes discuss hunting. Nearly all of them are non-hunters (which is different from an anti-hunter). They do not hunt but are not against it. But time and time again when contests (where the objective is to shoot the most of ____) come up, they are all pretty universally against contests and find them very off-putting. Including some of the professional biologists and ecologists I know. A few of them (biologists/ecologists) even hunt and live rurally. Leaving it up to the FWS to create and/or maintain an 'image' for hunters is very short-sighted. I am not suggesting that everyone worry about what others think, but taking a moment or two to think about image when doing something hunting-related in the public eye can, in fact, impact the future of hunting for all of us.

I'm just glad I'm getting OLD....<<sigh>>.... Not gonna have to listen to this anti-hunter BS much longer.

I'm sure you're right about pulling deer completely off of one property for another... I was talking about travel patterns... I would bet that patterns change at the slightest addition or elimination of a food source... just like humans might be able to be patterned from the couch to the frig pretty regularly... but if I put a jar of cookies in the basement... I'm sure the trail to the basement would become a new place of heavy travel... animals aren't much different. A simple pattern change could detour the deer right away from ones treestand

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

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.

I like the outside sink idea..Will work on one of those for my new place this spring!

I'd like to know how many here have even participated in a crow or coyote hunting contest? Very few I'd guess.......... To me it seems as though the OP is just stirring the pot.

How well has this bow to the opinion of the uninformed attitued worked with your gun rights in this state guys? Thats really all I have to say on this.

In post 23, Belo asks a good question. The pro-hunting legislation which successfully passes has the support of the DEC and broad-based public support, not just the support of the hunting community. Most of the regulations Belo listed function in reducing the deer herd. Although anti-hunters are not on board with lethal population control; the DEC, the conservation community and the hunting community were all together, so they passed. However, not all pro-hunting measures have the support of the conservation community and/or the DEC. These proposals are less likely to pass. Also, the DEC and the conservation community are not likely to weigh in on most social issues. Those proposals may become hunter against anti hunter or hunter against hunter. The weight of the anti-hunting community acting ALONE in NY was just seen when they overrode the hunting, the conservation, and the science communities and stopped the DEC's mute swan plan in its tracks AND with lightning speed passed legislation which ensured the DEC would do it their way. How this happened is harder to understand then Belo's examples, but it probably had to do with conservation organizations getting flack from their own members and lack of engagement by the hunting community, leaving the DEC to fend for itself. Hunters shouldn't expect the DEC to drive social issues; the reality is the DEC actually needs the hunting and the conservation communities to help them compel the legislature to pass sound legislation regarding biological issues. Another problem with the idea that biologists should defend hunting is the fact that people employed in the wildlife field, that includes DEC biologists, are increasingly people who do not have any first-hand experience with hunting or hunters. Not being hunters they may or may not be effective. Hunters might consider creating spoke person training like the NY Farm Bureau does. However, for that to work everyone must start to agree what a science-based decision is. Science - based decisions do not always please hunters. In order to build a stronger partnership with the conservation community the hunting community must begin to walk their talk about allowing science guiding policy, rather than pick and chose which science they like and dislike...

So continue our activities under the cloak of darkness to avoid those with no actual understanding from forming an opinion? I certainly hope that after our extinction the cockroaches learn from our mistakes. We don't even deserve to be here anymore with what we have allowed to happen to our society. unfreakingbelievable. I have got a news flash for you. If a person can not (or does not choose) to see what I previously posted, they are not a NON hunter. they are anti. They may not admit it but they are. and the hunter you said that found it offensive, has she ever actually been to one of these events?

As far as DEC or FWS staff doing public relations on the benefits of hunting, these agencies are short-staffed. The dedicated people I know that work for these agencies are over-worked just trying to take care of their regular responsibilities. PR needs to be done by someone else. There is another thread about a hunter shooting himself in the foot. Metaphorically, these contests do the same thing.

One thing is for sure, I am not afraid of a blaze orange law. I can imagine a lot of slippery-slope scenarios most of which are completely ridiculous and fictitious. There is always some danger in randomly entering into that kind of mentality too. But I do choose my fights, and this one doesn't sit real high on my priorities. Anyway, I suppose there is something to be said for the Darwin style removal of idiots to improve the species ..... lol.

The above plus routine lawlessness- false tagging, poaching, drivers on posted ground ..... Just wait until we have the early ml season next year in the same areas that pounded by that snow storm. Rifle will expand to a couple more counties to boot. The dec manages license sales- the rest is irrelevant. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The way I checked was to save the pic, open it in paint and use the straight line tool to see where the main beam was on the ruler. It wasnt by much, but it was under an inch. Its a 7 in my book too, just have to go by the rules that we put in place.

I went To east aurora for an evening sit I call the spot my doe spot its a small area surrounded by houses on one side and the 400 on the other side. I say in the stand until 4 climbed down walked a couple hundred yards to see if the deer were in the area sure enough I see a doe trot off 75 yards away. I get down on one knee into a shooting position because I know there's always more then one deer over here sure enough a nice doe at 80 yards I get into position touch off the shot the cloud of smoke then deer erupt from all around me 20 plus deer running in all directions some coming with in 10 yards of me on their mad dash for cover one foe runs right up to me and stops 5 feet from Me while I'm reloading just as I grab the primer she takes off. I walk over to where the deer was that I shot at I can't find any blood or anything there's tons of tracks can't tell which were her tracks so I walked all around to look for sign I didn't find any but just to make sure I'm gonna go over there during or after work tomorrow to look again. I seen more deer tonight then I seen all of bow and gun combined

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.

My nephew and I with opening day does. His first deer.

One farm I hunt in Lima is 250 acres; about 200 fields and 50 hardwoods/creekbottom combined. The place is FILTHY with coyotes. We see them all the time but rarely get a shot. A local trapper gets some but there are still a ton of them AND a ton of deer. Coyotes get plenty of fawns in the spring but I don't think they are doing THAT good of a job in lowering the population. I try and do my part...........are YOU?

Hold up it just got better 3 fox 2 muskrats best day ever for me ..checked alot of empty traps to get these fox today ...hope mom can see this today from above

Old bar room deer head and 5' model canoe ... couple more angles in cabin

My cousins monster 10 point he shot down sw of canadaigua lake his best to date .. his dad's been watching this buck for 2 years named it the bull and his son comes once and drops it ... some day I will see one this big

Filled my 7s doe tag this am, good sized and will give land owner some Meat.

Sunday 1020AM this fella came in zig zagging back and forth going over the same path a doe had walked at first light.

The action started today before the sun came up, and I could hear and see silhouettes of deer chasing one ridge over from my blow down blind. Not long after legal shooting time I looked over my shoulder and spotted another hunter in his stand about 200yds behind me. I was a little discouraged by that, but I sat tight for a little bit just to see what happens with all the early activity around. Shortly after that I spotted a doe and two fawns coming at me from the opposite ridge. I thought about taking the lead doe but decided I wouldn't take a doe today. They made their way up the ridge and disappeared over the horizon. A few minutes later, my buddy in the trees tand let a shot rip. When I turned around I could see a deer running off into the powerline goldenrod. Now I was pretty bummed and ready to pack it up..... but wait..... what's that familiar sound..... more deer coming! Between us once again I saw 4 doe running right in front of my buddies stand and then I noticed a big wide buck was chasing them but I couldn't count his points. He ran right in front of the other guy, but he never shot and now this dude was coming right for me. He chased the doe behind me and stopped 40yds away but the damn fallen tree I was hiding behind was in the way for a clear shot. The doe hopped in the ravine and shot up the other side with the big wide guy in tow. A few minutes later I hear another deer running where those deer had just gave chase to one another. It was a little 6 pt, but he was trailing them the wrong way. He ran by me at 40yds and I let him go. Now I knew what was going on, so I slid over about 20yds to clear the branches from my blind and set up where I had a clear shot at that hot does path. Moments later I hear it again. Another deer following from the wrong direction. I got a good look at it on the opposite ridge and saw it was a nice buck so I got my hammer back and safety off. When he popped up on my side of the ridge he was only 20yds away and slightly quartering to me. I stopped him with my voice and let the hammer drop. He ran off the same way he came in. I got on his trail and it absolutely sucked. Very little blood, and a tuft of hair. I followed for approximately 50yds and the blood had stopped. With all the deer running around, it was impossible to tell which tracks were his on the other side, and with no blood, that meant I had to follow them all! I took the trail of what looked like his tracks for a while before deciding I didn't believe it was him any longer. I hopped on another set and had the same results. I headed back to my blind to have a cup of coffee and chill out for a bit before hopping on another set. After I cooled off I followed a set that headed down hill towards the power lines and as soon as I stepped in the goldenrod thicket, I spotted my buck laying 75yds inside it! Not a speck of blood from where I lost it, right up to his carcass, and I had good tracking snow this morning! Very glad I found him, and now I'm taking a break!

Story Here..http://www.nyantler-outdoors.com/adirondack-muzzleloader-buck.html