Leaderboard

The kill is just a part of the journey. Everything from responsible firearm ownership, to scouting, to butchering and cooking is how I fell in love with hunting. I think its important to share that with people. I don't think I'd ever take anyone out who just wanted to kill something. While it may not be true for all, I'd like to believe that as hunters we are all conservationist at heart.

Funny story.......today I'm riding with my boss between a job and a few estimates. First thing we do is check on the crew in North Tonawanda. They're looking for a cup of coffee so we say "no sweat, we'll go grab you some". We head over to this goofy plaza on Payne Ave at Meadow Drive. Why is it goofy you ask? Do a Google Earth thingy......... So we want to get the coffee at DD's and we get wheeling around all the damned "curbage" intended to herd people around like cattle and then end up at the drive thru. The chic inside the bldg says "hello, what can I get you?" Bob starts the order: 2 medium double double, small cream & sugar, 2 muffins and a................a a a what? WTH do you mean do we want a burrito? Bob looks at me and says holy crap, we're at Taco Bell!! We peel out of their drive thru and go MAYBE 60' to the DD's drive thru. We are laughing or azz off and can hardly get the order out!! The two restaurants are stacked so close together it must happen often. Heck McDonalds is only a softball toss right next door to these two joints. So I guess you really had to be there to enjoy the humor. Twas a bright spot in our day!

Didnt read through all the post after this one, so if it was said already my apologies. Northern Zone they have Bow and Guns already in the same season. We get to hunt with ML or Bow the last week of a very short bow season to begin with. We get 2 weekends before the gun hunters are in the woods with us. Been this way for too long. We have a very long rifle season up here, no excuses why they cant take the first week of rifle and give it to ML and let bow stand alone.

Today's Buffalo News has a great story on Jennifer's winning the Federal Duck Stamp competition. A black & white picture accompanies the article along with some background on her and her art career. Funny thing though, there is no mention of this web site that I would say has propelled her to stardom. Congrats again Jennifer!

Many thanks to you all... I was browsing back through archives to find a different topic and stumbled across this. I apologize that I missed it before now! I sure wasn't trying to ignore you all. I'm really honored, thank you.

To be fair, this video does illustrate some questionable practices. Although the commercial killing of seal and whales would not fit my description of hunting. And on a personal note, I have no interest in hunting large carnivores, or using dogs to do so. I don't find it sporting or necessary. I am a lover of big cats too, and would not get any pleasure from killing one. Other people feel differently, that's OK. I can only speak for myself. Curmudgeon may get a kick out this, but I would have trouble killing a coyote. It would have to become a real problem animal for me. Why are these animals different to deer for me? I can't really say. I think it might have something to do with their reaction to pain and how they manifest suffering. I have a few cats. It tears up me when they are sick and injured. Their reactions are quite pitiful. Deer of course are equally magnificent in their own way, but I eat them, and therein also lies a difference. I personally need to have a practical pay-off to justify taking an animals life. Shooting something for fun or as trophy isn't enough for me. I cannot watch bear hunt videos. Especially over feeders. It just grates with my own personal value system. I hate to see puma's or bobcats killed. Cats and big cats are pretty amazing animals for me. Maybe my ideas are contradictory, it's possible, but some types of hunting just leave a bad taste in my mouth, and I know other Hunters who feel the same way.

LOL - to summarize - put a stand every 50yds around the field. AND don't forget 30 plus cameras.

11/32" parallel Port Orford cedar, 420-430gr raw shaft weight, 60-65# spine, 3 fletch 5 1/2" burned shield, LW helical, file sharpened 125gr Bear Razorhead.

How does one hear a coyote kill a deer??? If hunters are so worried about the coyote population then they should get their asses out and hunt them whenever the season is open. That isn't happening... therefore my conclusion would be it isn't as important as most hunters claim... otherwise it would be at the top of their list of things to hunt outside of deer season. The coyote problem in most cases is imagined not real.

Good deal, Eddie...I have been lucky....My last 2 garage fridges have been given to me by friends who were getting new ones... I call it my BBD ( Beer, Bait, Deer) fridge......

C'mon now Espresso. Statement is a bit broad. All wealthy people have a sense of entitlement is the same as saying all hunters poach. Individual actions speak to the individual, not a class he may belong to.

Sure sounded like you were worried about it when you said... "I'm simply concerned that we will be losing a more closely controlled existing zoning system (WMU system) for another band-aid that is by design worse and less finely married to habitat and local conditions than what we already have." In any case, as has been explained already, the new zones are based upon similar overall habitat characteristics. In other words, the average yearling buck in the area that I hunt, is larger than the average yearling buck in the Dacks or Catskills, and it is mostly due to soil quality, forage quality, etc. If you want to manage things to try and protect the yearling bucks, the rules you make down in the Catskills arent going to work very well around here. The rules they make in my area, will generally work in Monroe or Wayne county though. If you dont understand how it is less expensive to manage 9 zones vs 89 WMUs, especially when there is no need to, well I dont know what to tell you. I really think the zone layout is fine for the purposes of buck management, Im just waiting to see how they intend to do it.

I'm not afraid to admit that I'm all about the big antlers, but not for the reason most would think. At this stage of my life I am more about the most challenging hunts... big, more mature, bucks are just more of a challenge to find and to kill. Handcuffing myself by hunting with traditional weapons and hunting in areas that most hunters find intimidating adds to the excitement and challenge. It is never really about what animal I kill as much as how I do it. I'm not that guy that would shoot a Boone & Crockett buck off my back porch... if I can't hunt him I won't shoot him. It's all about the challenge of the hunt and the story behind it. I would still hunt smaller bucks if they gave me the challenge and thrill of a good hunt, but they don't. Honestly, I wish they still did.

So after getting these 2 fawns on camera a few days ago there were 2 other fawns with mom walking in another neighbor's backyard.Them deer been busy.

The legislature passes last two weeks for crossbow, dec just runs regs it doesn't make them, we don't even have a season till legislature passes it every year... we need to get an amendment to state constitution for right to hunt and to be regulated by game comission, then we can have game law enforcement and seasons and weapons picked by dec and not of bunch of men in suits, there wouldn't be a crossbow debate as de ec could do what it wants and put it in all of archery with no political be lobbing by special interest groups...

A guy that was a year ahead of me in high school asked if I wanted to go squirrel hunting with him . I had my dad's old 22 . Dave had a 30-06 . I asked if he was nuts . He told me to watch and learn . When a squirrel started up a tree and stopped , he would shoot as close the the head as possible without hitting it and the tree rat would fall to the ground . Dave would then wring it's neck . He called it "barking a squirrel" . I had never tried that . This was back in the 50's .

I could give the typical laundry list of reasons why I kill deer; meat, challenge, being in nature, deer camp, etc. But the real reason is no reason at all, it is an emotion, from my heart and soul... and not rational. I love it.

what????? it's only two weeks regardless of when the start date is, is it not? I think archery runs a week later this year, which in effect bumps the crossbow to a later start date..........you didn't lose anything.

Age and nutrition and then genetics last for most laymen in free range whitetails. But, I will say this - top end (ie 175+) bucks grow in typically smaller confined areas, even within larger areas of "good buck" potential. Areas that have produced a giant typically produce another and another and another through the years, whereas ten miles down the road, bucks top out less (still very good bucks) and typically do not have bucks of that giant antler size. There is a difference in good bucks and great bucks. There's nothing conclusive about this video and there is a long thread already on the QDMA forum where even there people are disagreeing. The video dances around making conclusions and leaves it open to persuasive interpretation (like marketing). What they're really doing is marketing to the 99% of hunters who care about management but likely are cornholed into limitations within their ground that they'll never be able to escape - meaning their expectations surpass reality. That has been part of the problem with QDM and the association has been smartly spending alot of time trying to re-set the expectations for the typical practitioner. Even if you have 500 acres in one parcel, your best deer might still not be a top end buck despite all of your best efforts. Yet, it's possible a 20 acre honeyhole has a history of offering encounters w/giants. But, the one common thing I see, is many land managers think all of the blood sweat and tears will result in Booners. Then they get burned out.

On Long island it's only shotgun or air gun and the squirrel season starts two months later, but Westchester is also shotgun only. I get more service out of my .410 on L.I. and only use the 20 gauge for turkey. Since the air gun rule change that allows for hunting with a over 600fps air gun I use the air rifle much more very late in the rabbit and squirrel season on L.I. IF, you make time to learn the rules L.I. can be fun to hunt, and I can be out in the field in 30 mins or less!

If you haven't seen this week's Growing deer TV...you should go and watch it...very interesting..especially to you FSW....That wasn't a dig.

Shawn, you were offended by jjb's post, while those who use a shotgun might take offense to your post as well. "Point and shoot"? 12ga with #6 should be fine. High or low brass. As mentioned, pattern the gun.

I understand your POV, but I think he should charge in full steam. Who cares if he over-hunts it? He is going to, no matter what. He's going to make mistakes. He's a new hunter. People learn from mistakes. If you never get into that situation, you'll never learn. Life is 10% education, 20% exposure, and 70% experience. Hunting is no different. Being comfortable with mistakes is a long-term growth strategy. Being fearful of mistakes is a short term finger in the dike.

So apparently you slept through all the hate launched at Melissa Bachman and Kendall Jones when pictures were posted of them with their legally killed no name lions?

Thank you guys. The area above F is tall grass, I went yesterday scouting after I got out of work at 6. I know a little late, but i saw a doe just calmly walking between the hedgerow and into the north cornfield. I also went up to F and saw 2 doe take off. It was nice to see them moving a few hours before sunset. I'll be walking that creek tomorrow. The creek has a decent ravine. But there's also a snowmobile bridge going over it. But I think the boards are too spaced out for deer to walk over it comfortably. I've talked to the land owner and he has said they neighbors would be fine with me going to retrieve a deer on their property, just give them a call before I go over there. I forgot to mention which I think will be a nice hotspot for traveling. The new picture I posted, there is a flat trail for the tractor to go field to field I highlighted in green. I set up a trail cam there yesterday. Good spot for a blind?

Ha-ha-ha, I knew where you were trying to drag this thread. I was just pulling your chain ..... lol. But honestly I am not motivated by antlers, and I am a firm believer that the worse thing that ever happened to hunting was when we all decided to measure success by the inches of antler that our kill has. Yes hunting today is a whole different world where everyone seems to be intent on impressing their peers. And they even came up with a scoring system because just plain old hunting wasn't enough. Its kind of comical to watch sometimes. Now hunting has become some sort of agricultural enterprise .... lol. Yup times change, but they haven't changed me. I still appreciate a good buck, but it doesn't drive my hunting. If a big buck was to step into my line of sight, I would be thrilled as much as anyone. But I don't hang my head and feel like the entire season was just trashed when it doesn't happen like so many others who learned their hunting appreciation from the Saturday morning hunting shows. I don't approach my hunting like it was a career. To me it is still recreation and I really have no need to impress anyone but myself with my hunting.

anyone can post a video on youtube. zero f*cks given.

I don't consider myself a trophy hunter... if it came down to hunting two big mature bucks, it wouldn't be about which was bigger... it would be about which was the hardest to hunt and would offer the better and more exciting experience. I like big antlers because I think they are beautiful and majestic, not to show off as a trophy. I really don't see my successful hunts as huge accomplishments ( raising your kids to be responsible adults is an accomplishment ) I see them as exciting adventures that enhance the enjoyment of life.

So you are a trophy hunter of sorts as i and many are. Most wont say that because they think it handcuffs them in some way. I would not shoot 90% of the bucks that walk the woods these days but thats by choice. To each their own.

And so, my fellow animal serial killers, there you have it. The rhetoric of the animal rights people. The images and words of these people have got to have impacts on those not involved in hunting. They have to be gathering supporters, and more money to wage these kinds of campaigns. Given that we hunters are a documented shrinking minority in society, can there really be any doubt that these people are a formidable force to be reckoned with? We tend to paint them as wackos, extremists, and people that no one ever takes seriously. Somehow those images comfort us and make us feel that no one really takes them seriously. Those rationalizations make us feel that it is unnecessary to join and support any pro-hunting organizations. We find it difficult to imagine a society that would outlaw or force impractical limits on our sport hunting. Well, right or wrong, I can imagine it. These people are organized, single-minded, and dedicated. They do not engage in in-fighting and bickering. Once they have been convinced by videos such as this, they become part of a force that makes our paltry, half-hearted defenses and campaigns pretty much a joke. These people are politically connected and know exactly how to become a huge thorn in our side. I take them very seriously. Yes, I do consider them whackos, extremist and a bit deluded. But you will never find me calling them harmless and no threat to hunting.

Cool! I've got a buddy that has one, and he loves it. Nice gun,and It's accurate. It should be a small game killer. I'm glad to hear that your friends are taking the hunters ed class, and I agree with you about small game hunting being as great way to get people involved in hunting. I like the fact that you said "and everything else that comes with it", too. There's so much more to it, than just shooting game.

I will be using mine this season. Going with #6 shot after a bunch of advice.

Don't know why 410 cartridges cost more than 12 or 20 gauge. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The 12 gauge is fine....Just use light field loads of 1 oz. of shot( same as a standard 20 gauge load).. Promo loads such as "Squirrel and rabbit loads" from win or rem or game loads from Federal all work fine and they are cheap. Go with #6 shot..7 1/2s kill ok, but you'll be picking more shot from the meat. The payload of shot is what counts in shotgun loads...Without splitting hairs and given similar chokes, a 1 oz. load of shot gives similar performance whether it is fired from a 20, a 16, or a 12 gauge... the advantages of a larger bore is that it allows heavier loads of shot to be fired, increasing pellet counts and allowing more hits on target at longer range.. For all practical purposes, a 12 gauge firing a 1 oz. load of shot is no more "powerful" than a 20 gauge firing 1 oz. of shot...

That's true, the Zim officials have alleged it was killed illegally but we do not yet know if anyone will be convicted. Unfortunately that doesn't really matter in the court of public opinion. Being pro-hunter doesn't mean you need to support poachers, and we as hunters need to do a better job of not putting ourselves in these situations. It's only gotten worse with social media.

http://www.pdcn.org/formPDF.aspx?formid=26 chapter 3.....

Its a little more difficult where I'm at. I'm sure there are some spots on public land where guys can limit out but those spots are hard to come by. Be thankful you found one of those spots.

Oh boy! let me just step right in it here....I remember a couple of years ago when a certain famous hunter with a guide got caught doing something illegal...and holy Cow guys here and on a half dozen other hunting sites all but crucified him...I really find the reactions funny...guess it pays to be a not so famous guy than a famous one when getting caught in something.

If I shot a buck in PA with a collar on, I would leave it on the mount I think Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

FSW is looking for someone to say it's the big antlers that a deer hunter wants. Every deer hunter hopes for a buck with a huge rack. But a huge rack on a deer that has lived for many years in the wild, indicates a deer that was an exception among deer. It had to be very wary, wise and even lucky, to grow that big in the wild. Taking such a deer can indicate a great deal of skill on behalf of the hunter who killed it. It could also be a case of pure luck on the hunter's part too. Huge antlered bucks on commercial preserves are not of the same description. Taking such a deer on a preserve requires a great deal of money, and not much else.

2 years ago i'd agree with you about how easy it is just to walk into the woods. Years of private land hunting has spoiled me. I challenge you to head to some of the public land and norther parts of the state and report back.

Let me know if you want it. For the money, its a good cam. Would rather sell here. I have it listed on AT, where there is a 40 page thread on this cam and the deal that it is. It'll go fast.

I have a circuit judge that holds 410 slug/shot and can also chamber 45 long colt.... Nice little ranch gun.... While small gaming you can drop in either the slug or long colt for yotes or any other pesky critters Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WNBH your right about that! the deer buck and doe bed every where on our place...well except last year...but now I have us back on track so I'm pretty sure that's what they will go back to..Unfortunately usually under the one out of 38 stands I decide to hunt out of any particular day...and a few times in the brush blinds as well...lol Personally I'd like to know the prevailing wind direction...and I would suggest walking that creek bed and finding as many crossings as possible. Then look for a good spot not far away to catch them at the best crossing and at your best shooting side.

There's a lot of days I'm out looking specifically for squirrels. If I'm in a new area where I might jump a bunny, I take the model 12. Most of my good squirrel spots don't really have rabbits tho, so I take the 22 most often. I like being able to still hunt the squirrels & take long shots. If carrying the 22 costs me a rabbit, I'm ok with that.

The idea behind a one buck rule has nothing to do with how many guys take multiple bucks, its to make hunters more choosy on what buck they shoot. I know of many guys that whack the first buck (usually a yearling) they see then hold out for Mr Big later on, which doesnt usually happen. If they only have one buck tag, they might not whack that yearling. Not all would do that, but Id bet alot would, and it would be by their own choice, not someone shoving ARs down their throat.

Ya right...and I've never asked "do I look fat in these jeans?" lol....If you have ever closed your eyes and gone to sleep...you've farted and that's a fact

Mr B's mother had him convinced that woman never fart...Really...what a surprise he got after we were married hey it's biology folks.... Seriously though ...I avoid certain foods during the season... Who cares about the deer!! Sitting all bundled up in your suit there is only one way for it to go and that is up...so once it makes it's way wafting up around your suits collar ...I'm not thinking deer I'm thinking WTH!!! Wheres a match when you need one....

I too practice year round with a ten yard target in my basement in the winter. Due to shoulder issues, it's more quality over quantity shooting for me now. Five to no more than ten arrows a day,or every other day. And I always concentrate on making the very first shot count, as that is the most important shot when actually hunting.

Start out slow and don't over-do it. If it hurts, you may be doing more damage to yourself over the long run and find yourself shopping for an x-bow sooner than you hoped instead. Keep your sessions short until your muscles get used to shooting again or you'll risk developing bad form/habits that may be harder to kick even after the aches and pains are long gone. You don't need to actually "shoot" to get back into shape. Using your bow as your primary piece of workout equipment by simply drawing and anchoring (holding) a few times throughout the day can do just as much good without ever releasing an arrow.