Leaderboard

Just as the winds began to gust as loud as jet engines, knocking down several trees, this deer came barreling through the woods, took a hard turn then briefly stopped, leaving me with an obscured steep-angle quartering away shot at 40 yards. He ran 30 yards uphill then dropped. My first deer harvest and I could not be more thankful.

Happy huntin partner

Got this guy after a stupid interruption to the morning. My wife and I were about 400 yds apart on our own property when shots rang out between us. No one else has permission except for family that was not here today. Got down from my stand to catch the trespassers, but they took off before I got to the spot. Blood trail and gut pile all on my property, a couple of hundred yards deep. Then I heard their truck drive through the field up toward a house down the road. So now on opening morning of rifle, I'm stomping all through my spots instead of hunting for a buck. Hiked back to my stand and figured it was a blown morning so I was going to have a sandwich and some coffee, head back to the house and go out later for an afternoon sit. Well as I've heard many here say "it all changes in a minute". So with a sandwich in one hand, a coffee in the other, I see a doe a couple of hundred yards out across the field. Get the glass on her and see the buck dogging her. 192 yard poke (ranged it after the shot). My heaviest deer to date, 195 lbs on the scale with his nose touching the ground. Was a 10 point, but broke off one brow tine, so a 9 point for the tag. Big neck, all rutted up. It all changes in a minute. At lunch time I drove over to meet the new tenants in the rental house down the road. We had an amicable conversation, and I believe he is now very clear about my borders and is very aware of my presence.

Hard to post from the particular stand I was in due to barely-there cell signal, but was fortunate this morning. Story in the harvest thread.

I thought this morning was going to be a bust and I had no intentions on seeing a deer let alone bagging one, at 8:30 I turned around and this guy was on a bee line about 80 yards out, I mouth grunted to stop him about as loud as I possible could and he finally stopped after the second attempt,, but of course he stopped behind a bunch of tress, so I settled my crosshairs on the next opening and when he stepped in, I shot, he then bolted and I fired again at the next chance really just a wing and prayer shot, he finally stopped about 150 yards out and stood for a few seconds then bolted out of sight leaving me not knowing if I had hit him or not, at which point I rushed down from the stand and did my best to find the last spot I saw him standing as I got closer to the spot I saw him about 40 yards away down and out....Yippie!!!! Even though no smile in the picture it sure was a good morning... I even have him earlier on camera..

Buddy of mine took a nice one down the road from me in delaware county.

Well my quest to harvest picket this year came to an end 11/14/17 I had does and fawns milling through the beech trees feeding along with several small bucks. I see a doe break out into the field at a sprint about 70 yards from me with picket on her trail. She starts feeding and he is pestering her non stop. Her button buck fawn came out and picket chased him around the field and then would chase the doe around. The other doe in the woods all immediately retreated to my sanctuary to the west. Picket was still pestering the doe and chasing then BB around. It was time to make it happen if possible by employing a trick I have done to success 8or9 times in the past. When the doe and picket stopped running I hit the bleat can and the doe locked on me or rather my immediate area so I tipped the can again. She started marching to me as if on a string with picket right with her and still being bothered with the BB presence. The doe enters the woods and is only 10 yards from me as picket is pacing the edge of the field. The BB goes to the west and then enters the woods and starts back east trying to get back to its mother. Picket tries to enter the woods but had to step back turn his head sideways to get between 2 trees and as soon as he is in the woods he charges at the BB who tears off to the west and keeps running. Picket turns around and starts back towards me and he stops in the only open spot over 10 yards from that stand high up in a hemlock as he is broadside at 15 yards with a basket ball size hole 5 yards in front of me through the limbs of a hemlock between us. I was extremely calm and thought was ok this just got real. Anchor, sight picture, bend at the waste, this is just like hundreds of other times. Sight picture is great as he is standing with a 8 inch beech tree over his front shoulder forward enough that I can see the white haired elbow of his front leg. There is a 12 inch beech tree covering his guts from his rear stomach back. Ok Lee 2 years coming and you have nothing but vitals. Sight picture, follow through. Just an instinct reaction as I watch the arrow pierce his ribs high just behind the shoulder. He wheels sideways knocking over the filed edge brush and then walks 50 yards and stops. The doe is still standing under me as I hang the bow while watching him and trying to get the field glasses out and wondering why he is still standing. I ease to a seated position so I had a clearer look at him and in disbelief I see him slowly hunching up. I am sick to my stomach, he takes a couple steps and I can see part of his intestine hanging out the exit hole. I am in complete disbelief as to how I gut shot him. But I can see the exit but can't see the entrance hole but I KNOW I saw that arrow go right behind the shoulder.! He slowly walks east towards the woods as the big 8 comes out and starts chasing a different doe and picket doesn't even look at him. I am about to be sick and trying to keep an eye on picket as he disappears into the woods headed towards his bedding area. As I set there listening and watching I made a vow to myself that after 2 years and now what looks to be a poor shot by me that will be 100% fatal for the deer if for some reason I don't recover him he will be the last deer I ever shoot with a bow. The doe under me walked back out to the field so I called dad and told him what happened, he gave me a pep talk cause I was not being so nice to myself over what I had done. 45 minutes passed so I climbed down the climbing sticks and eased over to the arrow and just as I thought dark blood and stomach matter. I looked at the edge of the field and had good blood. I eased to the filed edge to the east and there was blood sprayed up the side of a cherry tree and the leaves were crimson. Walked right to him and man There was no ground shrinkage!! Of course I called dad first and then sent a pic to just and a couple hunting friends as I was trying to calm down. After last years screw up by me pushing the envelope and having him smell me thus blowing my chance at I'm the rest of last season I vowed to not make that mistake again and I was going to kill picket or eat tag soup. The range of emotions was unreal, from elation walking up to him to the pangs of sadness for taking his life after being such a stellar opponent that really made me step up all aspects of my game this season, and for that I will be eternally grateful. As it turned out somehow the arrow turned after entrance took entire top lobe off the right lung, turned and center punched liver out through the lower left stomach. 19 inches inside 18 inches tip to tip Sent from my LGL58VL using Tapatalk

Well I was packed in with lunch and rain gear if needed to do an all day sit. Made it too stand extra early hoping to not spook anuthing on my way in, in stand at 5:35. The day started off interesting as i was getting mysrlf situated in my stand with a red light, a turkey flew off roost anout 40 yds from my tree. So the turkeys were roosted i my area, which is cool, i love all the turkey talk and seeing them come out of roost. As it turned out, the flock was roosted about 70 yds from my tree. At about 8:15 I passed on a group of 5 doe that came by...about 20 yrs. Tgen at about 10:20 a doe and a yearling came by. It was cool watching the doe clean the yearling licking the fawn all over it's face and ears for about 15 minutes. Then they grazed for about 10 minutes before bedding down about 40 yrs from my stand. I had hoped that a buck buck would cruise through to check the doe and the bedding area. Well about 1155 I notice one of the bedded deer intently look to her left and staring in that direction. After about 20 seconds, I see a deer approaching from the left and then I see antlers. As the buck started approaching the bedded doe, she got up and walked a little to the right. The buck walked tight over to the area she was laying and sniffed her bed for a few seconds. It was thick in this area and at this point I thought the buck was a medium 6Pt so I decided to pass on him. Then after he was done sniffing the does bed he moved to the right towards the doe. She bounded my way a little bit and started walking out in front of me. The buck followed but when he reached s clearing at about 27 yrs, I saw that he was a decent 8Pt and leveled the cross hairs on his chest. At the shot he mule kicked bounded away for about 20 yds and then walked slowly dropping about 40 yds from where he was hit.

After a tough archery season, I wasn't seeing many does and I passed on 5 different bucks on stateland, I decided I wasn't holding out for anything too special this gun season, the last 4 years I haven't pulled the trigger on a deer with my rifle because I was waiting for a real good one, well, I got sick of waiting and at 7AM I shot this buck, he's not big by any means but sometimes you get too wrapped up in "big buck" mode that it takes the fun out of hunting. Hunting only public land can be frustrating enough but when you're waiting on a 3 year old buck it gets super tough. 30 yd shot, hit him directly through the heart, he ran 30 yds straight into a tree and down. The bloody blob is what a heart looks like after a 180gr soft point hits it... Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Going old school for PM hunt....flinty

Decided to stay home for the afternoon hunt. And I get a visit from this guy and his 3 girlfriends. 40 yards from my deck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lots of firsts for me this year. First deer ever on opening day and first with a handgun. I can't believe how incredibly lucky and blessed I've been this season. The weather was cold and rainy all morning but that didn't stop this guy from showing up at 10 a.m. Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

we had two encounters with this guy during bow season, but he eluded a shot. Today at 9:25AM he came back to his rub line and an old scrape he was making early on. Watched him rub a tree down and he turned to the old scrape as freshened up the scrape and with his head in the overhanging pine limbs he game me this 25yd neck shot.

So went to a piece of stateland ive only pushed on but decided i was going to sit it at least once this year. So during the summer i found a blowdown and decided that would be my spot. So my goal this year was another nice buck, but sitting there waiting for it to get light i realized. Im not a trophy hunter i'm a meat hunter. And between 3 kids now and my disabled father wants to get out this year i figured filling my tag to spend time with the kids and help my dad took priority. So at 7:30 i hear one walking in and at 25 yards he popped out of the thicket past a tree and took him through the heart. He maybe went 45 yards. Decent body i would guess 120ish. Ended up being a broken up little wanna be 5.

Had a heartwrenching encounter with the buck of my dreams yesterday afternoon. I had him at 20yds. All I needed was for him to take 5 steps so I could put a bolt through his heart, but a scrub buck pulled him the other way. Luck shone on me today though! Took my father in-law to a different spot today and I saw this buck heading right for him, but when the buck turned the other way I took a 120yd shot. .243 clipped his heart. His death dash was only 60yds. Dragging him out was the pits, but well worth it. 9 point. Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

Finally! What a long year. All archery and nothing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Trying an evening sit with my huntin buddy.

So it’s actually been a long season for me so far... I bow hunted my ass off passed on this buck a few times during bow, I had some nice 8’s I’ve been after. So any way I was away in mass for work the past few days. At yesterday’s meeting I found out I was going to be traveling the next 2.5 weeks and wasn’t really going to get a chance to hunt. Between that and my 4 month old. My hunting season was shot. So any way I got in the car yesterday at 4:30 and made the almost 7 hour drive up to camp. In my head I thought I was crazy driving 7 hours to hunt opening morning. I have to be home tonight to spend time with the wife and kid before I travel. Any way at around this guy showed up and just kinda milled around for a while. Needing meat and having a very limited season this year I said screw it, and heart punched him at 80 yards. Also this little guy is the first deer taken at our new camp, so even though he’s small I caped him out and he’s going front and center about the fireplace here, never to be replaced by his bigger friends to follow Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You need to look more inviting and friendly to kill deer. That sneer will just scare them away TF.

Well heck. Was getting miserable just sitting at home. So walk long way over old RR trestle or check creek. Heck I have half an inch of boot to spare. And nope. Let’s see how smart these Smartwool socks really are shall we. Saw doe right after crossing and surprised she didn’t hear me drop the f bomb. Browsing in some thick stuff. Tried using a big tree to sneak over for a better shot. Poof , I peak around tree and she’s gone. Checked 3 cams. One with nada , one frozen and snow covered and the other one I caught trespasser on switched to Menu. Caught a perfect wind for the upper corner Not even sitting up against the tree yet and nice doe and 3 fawn Rest ml up against tree. Hammer back , pull trigger and 3 seconds later I get hang fire. Of course I flinch a little. Right over her back. She takes off. 1 of 3 fawns come into about 20 yards to investigate. I need to create a TF Wheel of misfortune, he he. The glass is half full as well as my boots. Wind isn’t too bad , I’m alive and sitting in the woods , snow on the ground with a good wind. But could somebody deliver a pizza up here ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

One nice 8pt right outta the gate an hour after the sun popped up. Technically, it wasn't really a "pass" on HIM as much as it was a pass on a hairy opportunity. A little outside of sissy's effective range..., and by the time I laid eyes on him, he was skylined on top of a ridge across the creek. Apparently the guy who set his new stand above us had a clear and safe lane to take careful aim while unloading 5 shots in rapid fashion. We never saw him dragging anything out, so I assume his elevation or windage may have been knocked off a click or two on his hike to the stand,lol Also let a nice black squirrel walk..., a beaver swim by...,and a blue heron that landed in the creek 5yds outside our blind window. VERY quiet out there the rest of the day, but we saw some cool shhtuff and had a good time!

8 Pointer in 4H , he was traveling alone ! Hope he scored with the ladies !

Well I guess I'll be the first to post. My dad shot the biggest deer of his life this morning at 7:22. He christened the new hunting rifle I gave him a couple years ago. Deer dressed out at 170 lbs. Clean heart shot.

I stumbled across a brand new rub yesterday ,the shavings on the ground were still moist so it was very new . I figured if he left his rifle behind that he would be back for it ,I sat nearby to this rub and waited for him to come and get it but he never showed.

Letchworth doe opening morning 9ish. 35 yds as I sat on the very convenient tree seat (love my tree seat). 1 shot and off she ran. Checked for sign of a hit and what the ..... no hair no blood no blood trail. Must have hit a branch and somehow missed I thought. Sat back down. Got back up and checked again. How could I miss ? Better look down hill just in case. 100 yds. or less hey that looks like a deer on it's side. Had cell phone issue but that is another story, finally sent buddy a text and he showed up and helped cart her up hill on the oh so fun muddy trail for about 500 yds. The rain held off, I filled an antlerless tag and am splitting the venison with another hunter friend who hasn't had any good luck this season. Wish I had a better picture but we were trying to get back to the car in case it started raining.A good day for me.( don't know how to rotate picture).

I just got a text from a buddy. He just shot a doe and a coyote; the coyote was chasing the deer! Both dead now.

11/18 A little back story is in order before the report on tonight's track. Kunox has been on the injured reserve list after hurting a rear leg about a week ago. At 2:30 in the morning he started barking like crazy, jumped off the bed and ran downstairs. He had me believing somebody was in the house so I grabbed my bedside pistol and checked the house. The house was secure and while downstairs I noticed the Border Patrol were parked across the road. Apparently Kunox heard them pull in and didn't like it. Back to bed we went....I laid there for a good hour unable to get back to sleep as he snored loudly next to me. The next morning I noticed he was limping. Poor guy now has to sleep in his crate so we don't have a repeat. I was called tonight to track a buck that was shot a little after 3:00 this afternoon. The hunter and his neighbor followed blood for about 75 yards before it dried up. They then grid searched for about 50 yards beyond the point of loss, then called me. He wasn't sure where he had hit the deer, but reported good blood. I asked him if we were going to have property line issues and was told that was a possibility as we were only 100 yards or less from the neighbors line. I told him to talk to the neighbor and call me back. He spoke with the owner who told him he allows somebody to hunt on there and it would be best if we did it tomorrow morning. When this was reported to me I decided we should at least get out there and see if it did indeed go on the neighbors, then plan a course of action. Kunox and I met the hunter and his helper in the village, then I followed them out to his grandfather's property. The hunter could not pinpoint the hit site in this large area of swamp grass, but was able to take me to first blood. I was immediately concerned when I saw how high the blood was on the grass...looked like a high back hit. Kunox easily followed the bloodtrail to the point of loss, then we had a little difficulty getting through the grid search area. After about 10 minutes, he decided on a trail and took us to the property line. I wanted to make sure he was sure ( I know, I know, trust your dog) so I took him back to the point of loss and he again took me on the same trail, pulling hard. The hunter told me before I got there they had gone to the neighbors house where there were two cars in the driveway, lights were on, but nobody answered the door. I told him I wanted to go back there and try again, so we marked where we were, backed out, and headed to the neighbor's house. I went to the door with him and the neighbor came out this time. We explained what was going and he graciously allowed us to enter the property. He stated he didn't want to see a deer go to waste....good for him! Back we went, to Kunox's amazement and joy. Once again he picked the same trail and this time we entered the property. 75 yards in, there lay a nice big mature 8 pointer. There was no blood at all from the point of loss. The deer had been shot twice, once through the lungs, and another through the high back area. The lung shot wound had plugged and the blood was all internal. .

Got in a stand i just moved and cleared around on tuesday. 10 after 7 i see a deer moving straight towards me on my right hand side. He was traveling through a young beech tree forest and pines. Got a glimpse of his rack through the scope and watched his stop and work a scrape i peeded in the day before lol. It was real this with the young beech but i found a small window and when his shoulder enter it bang! He ran maybe 40 yards and flopped over. Climbed down after a hour and half and got to see hes a wierd racked buck. Left side main beam is short and rounded off, had a good sized point coming off straight back thats busted off along with both his brow tines. Shot was maybe 40 yards, took the top of his heart off and blew up the lungs. This has to go down as one of my best seasons ever.

Killed a 9pt (basic 8pt with a sticker) yesterday at 10:30am...........just a few minutes before I had a doe come trotting up and skidded to a halt 30 yards away. She was breathing hard and alone so I thought for sure a buck would be along shortly. She spotted me at the same time I spotted her and she trotted up and around me. I stared intently in the westerly direction she came from and all of a sudden in front of me this buck comes out of the brush, walking at a fast clip. I quickly spun the gun in his direction and got on him. He stepped into a "window" and I touched off the 7mm-08 120gr Nosler BT and lo & behold down he went. Turned out it was a perfect shot at about 60-70 yards. Pulled my umbrella down and shimmied down the tree in my climber, crept over to him ready for a charge but nope, he was done. Like the archery buck from last Saturday, this one was small bodied. He went on the scale (I didn't weigh last weeks buck) and only pulled it to 98lbs. Odd, very odd for a 2.5 year old. (assumed age) So that's it for my buck tags in NYS........Pennsylvania is next Monday and the Good Lord willing, I'll get down there for that. Another picture of the buck with a pair of Charlie May knives. The story on the knives is pretty cool........A couple years ago while at deer camp on Friday night before OD, my buddies ex son in law (they are still close even after the divorce) and I got into a discussion about something and I politely said, "ahh, NFW David". He said (politely) GFY Larry. Well a bet ensued and I forget what I would have to pay but he said if he was wrong, he'd buy me a custom knife. He called his father after the shouting had ceased and his father said to him, yea, you F'd up, Larry is right. We were into the sauce kind of heavy and it was all in good fun as I love him like a brother and we laughed about it. He said he'd make square with me and I of course told him to pound salt, I don't need anymore damned knives! OK, two years later he presents me with a Charlie May Wammer set in a pocket sheath the night before OD. I packed it with me yesterday morning and here they are........... And I DID use one of the knives....

Getting ready to head out soon.sitting in a patch of pines and got my dad going out with me this morning.first time in prob 15 years hes getting back into it.got him on the ground in a spot i know they come in to bed down.hoping he can get a shot off.snow here in 8g

A day you can’t hunt for health, family or personal problems.

Got it done in 8N Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

Thank God. Got my first buck and first bow kill. Thanks for everyone's info and sharing knowledge. Now do it again tomorrow hopefully! Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Well turned out to be a great night. Brought my son out and said whatever doesnt have antlers ill try to shoot. Ive brought him out a handful of days over the years and have never had a shot opportunitie. A group of 3 deer came out 100 yards away through our pines. The darkest 1 stepped into a opening and i shot. Turns out it was a button buck but im fine with it. Its a day ill never forget and neither will he. He was my photographer too, dont know why im upside down!

Nice 8 just showed. Passed him up. He’s 2.5

I'm just glad I remembered my safety harness. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bingo....right on. Don't cherish the kill cherish the time Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

Didn't get wet at all....wow couldn't believe it started to rain at 430 but we were already at truck. Well saw some but I couldn't close the deal. My uncle got 2 a 6 pt and a doe from stateland today. Maybe tomorrow. And a pic of my cuz in the kebler elf house Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

I got my gun season done and over with at 7.10 this morning. The buck came by at 6.55. After 10 minutes i went to make sure he was where i thought he was,and as I am standing above him two does come walking up They were maybe 50 to 60 yds out. I picked the bigger one and an open spot,she stepped in it but turned away from me,so she was quartering. She dropped in sight. I am very excited.

Well,my morning was short and sweet. After getting skunked with the bow I saw this buck at 6.55, even though I told him if i see him with a gun in my hand he is going down. He taunted me during bow season,but i bet he regrets it now. He tried to walk past me at 30 yds,i sat at the bottom of a tree and grabbed my muzzleloader when he was behind a tree. Picked an opening and boom. I waited for 10 mins and then went to where i thought he crashed and there he was. I took some pictures after thanking the deer for giving his life to feed me. All of a sudden two does walk my way. Good thing I reloaded the muzzleloader,i picked the bigger one and shot her. She went down in sight. This is my shortest gun season ever,but I like it. Have to wait for muzzleloader season now. But i did spend a lot of time in the woods during bow. The buck is a seven point,not big but also not small.

Thought it was a doe but ended up a BB. Flipped over into pond. Nice.

Well a buck came in to check on the bedded does!

My dad shot the biggest deer of his life this morning.

I was born without that option [emoji22] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Going to get gear on and see if I can find a parking spot on the state land. Windy but hoping everyone stayed home. Want to try some still hunting. Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk

That’s just to prove I went out and didn’t sleep in.

Finally closed the deal on a buck. Last morning of archery. He came wandering through about 9:00 . He looked tired and was just browsing some leaves off the honeysuckle as he did. I hit him high... (again). And he went down on the spot ,followed up with a quick 2nd shot and watched the air go right out of him.. a lot better performance than the 5 arrows it took to kill the doe I shot few days ago from the same stand...lol.. I would love to have seen him in another year. But I'm not that guy yet.. this was a LOT of fun... This is becoming my favorite spot at Letchworth.. 2 nine points and 3 doe in the last 3 years..

I usually pass smaller bucks but couldn’t at 10 yards. Heart shot. Went down after 30 yards. Allegany County.