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36" maple whole round log burned and stained golden pecan. Will varnish to finish. Gonna do some of these in the full body version soon. Don't know what it is about this one, but it was a fun carve to do!

9/27/2018 I received a call this evening from the father of a young hunter. His son had shot a doe in a field at 28 yards, and they had lost the very light, sporadic blood trail after 60 or 70 yards into the woods. Kunox and I met them and we went to the hit site. We were unable to locate any sign there, but Kunox took us across the field and into the woods where they had marked the little blood there was. The hit was described as being high and loud, like bone. They believed the opposite shoulder had stopped a pass through shot. Kunox took us past their ribbons, and into very thick prickly ash, where we worked in a circle, eventually ending up back at the field. I told them I believed the arrow had hit the close shoulder, not the opposite, and we were tracking a live deer. In the field as we walked back to our trucks, the son found the arrow. It showed 3"-4" of penetration. This doe will live to see another day. Luna was not happy about being left at home and my wife said she sat on the arm of the couch watching out the window the entire time I was gone.

We were hunting up near Star Lake N.Y. back in about 7 miles near a small camp setting called Aldrich. We drove up early on a Saturday morning from Clayton,N.Y. to be on our favorite watch spot,s for early Sun up. We,ll one of my very close friend,s named Ray Couch always hunted with a 308 Norma Magnum. He Deer hunted with it and at time,s Moose and Elk. That weekend, Ray told me he was not feeling well and said he could not make it. Ray said I could use his Norma, just stop by and pick it up. Ray reloaded his own shell,s always and when I stopped at his place along with his Gun he handed me a handful of his reload,s. Now we had one Party Permit to use and there was 4 of us together riding up using two Car,s. Saturday,s hunt was a bust, none of us saw any White tail.s. We decided to Hunt Sunday of course and start heading back around 3 P.M..I was riding on the passenger side front seat and I had Ray,s Norma between my leg,s (not) loaded. Doug Shell from Clayton was in the back seat. Dirt gravel road with pot holes so we were driving real slow in my friend,s Station Wagon. Doug in the back seat had a 30-30 Model 94 Winchester. Our other friend,s Car was behind us back a bit. Still to this day I remember what happened next now and then around the Deer season opener and I chuckle to myself. Suddenly from the heavy tree,s ect. on my side, one helluva big Doe jumped in front of our Car . One bound to the middle of the road and one more hop to clear the road on the driver,s side.The Car came to a sudden stop and we were amazed at what just took place. And in the next moment the biggest dam rack Buck cleared the whole road following the Doe. And then they went into a slow walk and on top of that, the wood area on the side where the two Deer were walking was very shootable. Now I quickly moved out of the vehicle, ran across the gravelled road with Ray,s Norma in hand and off onto the grass away,s and thinking to myself., Now be cool about this, don,t "F''Ck" this up.I took one of Ray,s 180 grainer,s and dropped the round into the Barrel. I could still see this nice Buck for a easy shot. Now , here,s what happened. I could not close the Gun,s bolt all the way just almost. With my hand I was beating on the bolt trying to close it.I was thinking to myself no,no ,this cannot be happening to me.But it was. I looked to my left side and Doug with the Winchester had round,s all over the ground, total Buck fever. I finally got the bolt closed and took off to where the Deer had gone, but of course it was way to late.Then when I gave up, I could not open the bolt. Had to shoot the round into a fat tree. I off course was thinking, Ray,s G.D. reload,s. We,ll, the story finally played out that it was my own fault.You can not load a Mouser action that way. You have to push a round down into the internal magazine, then close the bolt. The tollerencess on a Mouser are very tight to clear the round ejector,s on each side of rear end of the round your loading.. We,ll , this all happened back in the mid 60,s. I have lot,s of Deer hunting stories, so now and then I,ll come back and type another one.

Had a re-occuring thought come to mind . I remember 3-4 occasions having gun hunters on adjacent properties look at me through their gun scopes . It's a nerve wracking experience . I was able to confront 2 of these a-holes directly after getting out of my stand and walking to them even though I went onto their property . Both said " I didn't have my finger on the trigger " . I was literally screaming at these yahoos for having their guns pointed at me and said for $10 they could carry a pair of cheap Binos to scan the area . I had words with them and left ......... I don't feel that I over reacted as there is nothing more scary than staring at a gun barrel pointed your way .

Just screwed in 5 new slick tricks and put into quiver as loading pack and putting clothes in plastic tub. Cmon Monday! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a very strict criteria for what kind of buck is a shooter to me. Requirement #1 is it must have some kind of antler....even better if it has TWO antlers! That's really my ONLY requirement. Most of the time I'll shoot for something within this range!

Happened to my uncle on our property a few seasons ago and he blew a gasket on the guy. In the process of heading over there he jumped an 8 to me that I killed lol.

Wear 'em. Oh Yeaahhhhh!!!

I like girls...Does that make me a traditional guy ?

Looks like the expression on the anti Trump voters after he won! Just need to add a few tears, lol. Sorry I could not help myself! Awesome as always Wooly!!!

These are all NY bucks. Top 2 from ADK next 2 from Catskill area, last 2 Long Island. All shooters, hope this gets the blood pumping!!! Only top 2 are mine.

I've spent more time looking closely at that carving and and the finishing techniques. Just studying the photos. I'm extremely impressed. I'm a pretty artistic and talented guy, but to be able to pull that out of a firewood log just blows me away, Wooly. And I'm not just blowin' smoke up your skirt with this. You've come very far in a very short space of time with your carving. Congrats.

Tonight is a kettle of greatnorthern beans with chunked ham carrots and onions with homemade bread and butter.

I use this kind Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is what should be done to see what is truth and what is perjury. Kavanaugh deserves to have his name cleared with facts.

Yup Sent from my LG-US998 using Tapatalk

Mature. For some reason I can usually tell within seconds of seeing them, then I go in the zone. I strive for 3.5 and older. I have no problem passing a young buck last day of season with no meat in the freezer,and I can also say that even though it's tough,I never look back on a buckless season full of passed 2.5yr olds. Being in the stand satisfies my reasons for "hunting" and chasing mature bucks keeps me on my toes and creates a legit challenge every year. Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Rare Fillet with Cod, Spanish rice and a side Salad enhanced with a Pinot. Yum!

Good on ya' for wanting to make a change. Thats a good price range to look for glass, try a bunch in hand. I struggle with the small compacts and favor 8x30 or 8x42. 10x50 a bit big for me unless I'm birding or looking at distance. May want to check out a harness too, although I like slung under one shoulder to keep them out of the way for hunting with a long gun.

I actually didn’t take many pics but Wrigley is an absolute GEM!Saw Marlins Man for the second time in my life, last time was in an airport and he was still wearing the shirt and visor [emoji23] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

9/28/2018 Luna and I went on a track this morning for a mature double drop ten pointer that was shot yesterday evening. The hunter (his first bowshot deer) and 2 others searched for a couple hours last night and followed very light blood for 300 yards before losing the trail. Luna wasn't able to pick up anything at the hit site, probably due to windy conditions in the field, so we headed in the direction the buck had run. The blood started at about the 100 yard mark, a small drop here and there. Luna took us past the last of the flagged blood, then into a very thick bedding area. In the bedding area, she started her pitched bark, indicating a live deer. We saw several beds while in there, none with blood. I let Luna take me 400 yards into a swampy area without seeing any blood, then picked her up and carried her back to flagged blood and did a restart. She took exactly the same route, so I let her continue this time and we ended this 1000 yard track at the edge of a large, deep swamp. The hunter had left the arrow in his Dad's vehicle, but sent me some pictures of the fletching. I see a couple white hairs and a little meat, and he said the rage broadhead had fat on it. I believe this may have been a brisket shot.

Yep - shooters by any standard. That first one with you in the pic is a hoss.

i wont get into ethics ,but shooting running deer is not hard to do and can be learned very easily. there is a saying 10% of the hunters kill 90% of the game and there is reasons behind that. practice is a big one. with bow close still shots are the norm and a button can he identified pretty easily. gun is much different and different methods of hunting are used. id beyond antelered or anterless may be all that is possible

Just handed in my vacation slip , my bosses response was classic "shit,is it hunting season already?"

My reaction to the first pic was a typical, “wow that’s cool!” 2nd pic- “oh no! Don’t love that color...Wooly lost his mind!” 3rd pic-“oh, that’s just part of the process - he knows exactly what he is doing!” The Brady tiki was much more Squatchy Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've got an arrow with his name on it...

I don't spend a lot of time anguishing over "would have, could have, or should have" situations. Whether a decision turns out to have been the best or not, I am never disappointed over a decision that was later effected by circumstances of "luck". I make the best decisions at the time that I can and accept the outcomes of these kinds of decisions without a whole lot of regret. Just like so much in hunting, a lot of the outcomes are a result of happenstance and luck. When you get all hung up on the "what-ifs" of the hunt you are taking a lot of the fun and satisfaction out of the activity. It's all good! I'll soon be entering the age where any deer that I get will be a good deal, and I don't intend to spoil any of it with recriminations regarding the size or age of deer I got. I'll just be celebrating another successful year in the woods with an additional bonus of having some fresh venison.

"Don't know what it is about this one, but it was a fun carve to do! " It's those fancy chompers, Wooly. Even George Washington would appreciate them. Very nice!!

Heck yes....I have done that with all my guns that I took into Canada...No big deal and once you do it for a firearm, the cert is good indefinitely... I HAVE been asked a couple of times for the cert when I came back into the US..It proves that the firearm that you possess is the same one that you took into Canada...US customs does not give a rat's ass about Canadian documentation...

Yes I registered last year before going to Canada. No one ever checked on return. But I guess you could be accused of buying the gun there and taxed. Takes 10 min at customs and border at the airport to register.

Reminds me of my boss! Do you know him??........ Nice work, as always Matt.

First name Matt? We went from good to horrible experience over 3 seasons. Sad really. Our current taxi wnybowhunter is the best as long as he keeps accepting our deer! Don’t stop buddy.

I usally hunt public land and for anyone who hunts public land knows you can never truly be ready . You can know a good spot walk in and find another hunter there happens to me all the time . It's both bad and good because it makes it more challenging at least that's the way I look at it .

I'll be after em as well. Really just hoping to get the call to track with TF on his first bow deer. Mon & tues then a few evenings here and there till it gets rutty. I hang outside the sanctuary so it's easy in and out and my early spots are more or less for observation. Good luck to those joining !! Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

I can feel it in my bones when a shooter buck steps into range.

Well day one is over nothing but a big porcupine. Still felt great to be in the woods again.

Well i know the OP said buck, but to be brutally honest i will shoot anthing that gets me excited that day. Im a meat hunter by far, have nothing to prove as i have taken my fair share of mature bucks. To me i really enjoy eating venison, making sausage, jerky etc., it has been and will always be about the hunt, quality time with family and just enjoying what mother nature has to offer. I LOVE THE FALL AND WINTER WOODS, theres nothing nicer and more peaceful.

Sometimes I hold out, sometimes I kill a small buck. Depends on if I have a doe in the freezer, a lot of time left to hunt, or if the mood just strikes me lol. This year I know there are some really good bucks in my areas so I fully expect to not kill a buck in 2018 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I am fortunate to own or have access to some decent properties with decent bucks on a fairly regular basis come rut. Over the last 5 years, I have killed 4 that were good 3.5 year old or older bucks. But last year heading into the rut, I kinda thought I was losing perspective on why I hunt. I wasn't having as much fun just seeing doe and smaller bucks. Confession time: My buddy shot his best buck (one that my partner passed the same morning), an 11pt 2yr old early rut. He has only been hunting a few years and was ecstatic. While I was happy for him, my first thought was geeze that would be a great buck in a year or two. I didn't say it to him but the fact that I thought it really bothered me. When I realized that, I intentionally shot a small buck. Why, I don't know. When my partners asked why, I really couldn't explain it well. It just seemed the right thing to do to me to remember why I hunt and to continue to share in the joy of others success. Since doe are usually not all that difficult to kill around me, I will wait for another 3.5 or older buck again, but hopefully maintain the joy of just being out there this year. If I see a big boy, great. If not, that is completely OK too. And I will celebrate when anyone I hunt with has success - doe, small buck, big buck - who cares. I really don't want to lose the excitement of THE HUNT regardless of what I shoot or others shoot. I guess a shooter is a 3.5 year old or older but at times, I guess that can change. lol

I can't see mixing perfectly good whiskey with soda pop....Perhaps on the rocks...Better yet, sipped straight and chased with beer or water... The very BEST water I have ever chased it with was from ice cold Alaska springs, sitting beside the tent at spike camp and watching caribou feeding across the hill above me....

I am except I will need a new pair of boots later in the season.Just water tested and my old ones leak like crazy thank goodness I have ziplock bags to get started.

Ouch tough loss for the hunter but great stories as always!

parking lot.

No. It makes you a shrinking minority...lol

Diet and no drinking break, Genesee bourbon barrel aged stout, at the source . I enjoyed it .

Forgot to eat the last few days and or didn’t feel like making anything. So double quarter pounder with cheese tonight it is.

Title says "who will be in their stands" biz. Look for groundblind thread.

I don't shoot fawns....I don't shoot does with really SMALL fawns... I don't shoot antlered bucks that are physically smaller than average does... Other than that, it's open season...Spikes and 4 points are fine as long as they look like they'll dress out 110 to 120 lbs, which is the size of an average 1 1/2 year old buck around here...Half racks are fine...I don't have room for any more trophies...I sold a bunch of quality shoulder mounts after my divorce simply because I no longer had the room to display them...I do like venison, and try to put a couple in the freezer each year... Last year I passed up several antlered bucks because when I first saw them they looked liked fawns..Probably would not have dressed out at 100 pounds..

when they moved archery to oct 1st from the 15th they moved the gun opening day from 3rd monday to 3rd sat. thus a last weekend of bow and turkey was lost . we always hunted turkey the last weekend before gun, visited other camps, went into town ,poker/ euchre nights stacked wood for the week.... many time s the monday fell on. thanksgiving week so 3 days gave you all week off as most places are closed thsnksgiving and day after..