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Showing content with the highest reputation on 11/15/18 in all areas

  1. Big doe down. Can't believe she was by herself with nothing following
    31 points
  2. Took yesterday off for my final sit, came prepared to sit all day. 4" new snow in 7A. Stood from 530AM till 12:30PM, decided to sit for 15 minutes and have coffee, summer sausage. At 1245 look over shoulder see deer coming in close. Stood directly under me as I froze. Luckily he decided to turn back slowly gave me a chance to stand and turn around, and then he stopped and came back to 20yds. I don't post much, but I am a faithful follower of this topic since post 1 back in September. I called this guy half rack from pics back in early October. Will post another pic of head. It was time, I have many hours sitting this season and ha let a few smaller ones walk.
    25 points
  3. Very satisfied that I’ll be providing for the family. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk
    22 points
  4. Hi all. New to the forum and just recently came across this great site and joined. Last Thursday afternoon I was fortunate enough to shoot my biggest buck. I’m down in southern tier hunting in orange and rockland counties. Took this guy in 3m over in warwick on property I have hunted for years with my brother in law. Had been a slow early season but something told me to wrap up work early last thurs and get in the woods. I get to the property around 2:15pm gear up. I grab a water bottle from my passenger seat and turn around to 3 does that stalked up behind me and were literally 10 feet away from my trunk staring at me and grazing. They wander off after checking me out for a few minutes without a care. On my way to my stand it’s pretty swampy from all the rains we’ve had. I kick up a small 6 as I take my time going in. Sprayed some estrus scent as I get to my stand. Finally get all settled in and realize what an idiot I am as I left my release in the car! I move as quietly and quickly as I can back to my car and grab my release. By time I get back to my stand I’m sweating. Aggravated with myself. Within 5 mins I hear something in the stream behind me. It’s a doe and she swims across and pops out to my right. After grazing for several minutes she bolts into the field in front of me that has high grass and thickets. I scan to my right to see what may have startled her and see the sun hitting something behind some small trees. I took a double take when I realized how big this buck was. He followed the doe into the field but I had no shot. As I watched and gave some grunts he kept his distance. At that point 3 more bucks came in and left chasing a couple other does. But this guy and a smaller buck stayed in the field. I watched him rub up a tree and hang out in the field for 30 mins. I tried bleats and more grunts and he would stop and,listen but not come close. Finally I gave a few more aggressive grunts and he lowered his head and went into the heavy brush straight in front of me. I got ready and he stepped out into the clearing at 25 yds and I hit him good. He took off back across the field and disappeared out of sight. But I was confident I hit him good. After half hour I got down and found my arrow. Had a very good blood trail but I waited some more before following it and finding him about 60 yds across the field. I was hunting by myself so dragging and getting him into my trunk was a hell of an effort. But it was the most amazing hunt of my life and I am so grateful! 190 lbs 8 pts
    16 points
  5. One extremely windy day (~40mph gusts), I saw the #2 biggest buck that I had on trail cam about 200 yards away walking in my direction. At 80 yards, he veered off the path and took another route. I grunted as loud as I could to get his attention, but no luck. The wind was also blowing away from the buck, so he couldn’t smell the doe in estrus scent either. I’ve considered getting a decoy for years, but never did it. This made me determined to get a decoy for next year! But, WHY wait until next year? The bucks were just starting to look for does. Especially on windy days, like we’ve had so many of this year, if they can’t hear or smell the “does”, then giving them a visual would help. So, I ran out that day and purchased a buck decoy, that without the antlers, would pass for a doe. I was concerned about any plastic odor, so I put the decoy in my truck, and ran my Scent Crusher Ozone Go Vehicle Air Cleaner and also later sprayed it down with scent killer spray. I started using it that same evening and every buck that saw the decoy, came right into it! I had 8 different bucks, of all sizes, come to it during 5 different hunts. Some would leave for a while and later swing back by the decoy again up to 4 times! I even had a buck bed down 30 yards from the decoy. It was working like a charm! On this particular hunt, I saw a buck step out of the thicket ~80 yards away. As soon as he spotted the doe decoy, he came in without any hesitation, like he was on a string! I could see that he wasn’t as big of a buck as I was hoping for, but he was a big ass 6pt and I would be happy with him! When he got to 25 yards and directly broadside, I took my shot. I saw that it was a good hit and he bolted. I heard him crash just a few yards into the woods. He only made it 20 yards from the shot, before tipping over. First buck with the new Hoyt! This is the exit hole.
    15 points
  6. 14 points
  7. Officially my archery/ muzzle loader tags are now muzzle loader tags. Oh well , had a fun archery season for sure
    12 points
  8. Exciting end to my archery season Got the doe. Saw 2 spikes and watched them spar a little Had the wide white horned 8 I missed Sunday come in to 25 yds but would not come around the thick stuff. Couldn't close the deal on a buck but let several small ones walk and had two encounters with a target buck one of which I blew. Great season
    10 points
  9. I decided To put together a new coyote rig this year. I wanted Something small, fairly light, and some type of night vision optics. I stopped At Runnings the other day and saw a carbine length fixed mag AR. I did some quick research and ended up walking out the door with it. It’s a DSI with an M4 bolt, Magpul furniture front to back and chrome lined barrel with a brake. I then bought an ATN X-Sight HD with illuminatior and mounted it up when I got home tonight. It makes for a pretty compact, light rifle that should be perfect for how I plan to hunt with it. I have to go pick up a few boxes of hunting ammo, but I need to break it in first, which according to DSI, takes 500 rounds. Hopefully I will have it broken in and sighted in with a hunting round by the time deer season is done and it’s time to get after some yotes. One really cool option with this scope, I can Link it to my phone and stream video from it. Should make for some neat hunt videos.
    8 points
  10. Got some better pictures of my buck. After two years of chasing him I finally got to stick an arrow in him at 40 yards. He came out into the field nose to the ground headed for the lone doe feeding in the field. He closed the distance fast and I had to scramble to get ready. He stopped at 40 yards to sniff the doe and when he did I drew back, settled the pin and let it rip. He ran about 50 yards and piled up.
    8 points
  11. Finally after freezing my arse off all week (19 this morning) it paid off. Shot her at 10yds , double lung, complete pass through, she ran 75yds. Easy drag with all the snow.This deer is extra special as it is the 1st deer I have shot on my new property.
    7 points
  12. 11/14/18 Luna and I went on a track last night for a big buck that was shot with a 30.06 at 2:00, as he chased a doe in a meadow. The hunter had stayed in his blind for 40 minutes after the shot, and observed it going into the woods. There was very little blood on this track, and most was smeared on vegetation as the deer walked/ran. This track was a lot harder than it needed to be, due to grid searching. After multiple false starts, Luna got on it and took us 250 yards, mostly through a field, and found this hunter’s birthday buck. Due to the late hour and another track this morning, I didn’t stay for the field dressing. The shot was back and appeared to have hit the liver. To say he was happy is an understatement!
    7 points
  13. Killed mine Friday morning......6pt at about 10 yards. The shot angle was steep and he was quartering towards me. Hit the back of either one or both lungs and down through all kinds of things. At the shot he took a couple bounds then started walking slowly away and waging his tail in that "odd" way. I watched him for probably 2 minutes before he disappeared in the goldenrod. I figured I'd give him at least two hours and then take a walk. I went back to my buddies and had a cup of coffee and some toast. At the 2 1/2 hour mark I figured I better get moving, it had started to snow real lightly. I went down into the basement to get dressed, my buddy came down and we ended up BS'ing for 20 minutes or so. I climbed the stairs and opened the Bilco door to a BLIZZARD. SOB........ I quickly drove over and got into the woods were I last saw him. (back up for a second; when I was still in the stand after shooting him I could see all kinds of blood where he was walking with the binos so I knew he was leaking good) I got on the blood fast but it was covered in 2-3" of snow and it was coming down harder and harder. Making it more difficult was the way it was piling up on the branches, brush and ME. Sometimes the only way to see the blood was after walking a likely trail then going back and seeing it in my boot tracks. I'd catch some blood on the goldenrod and other brush too after I got into a second stand of incredibly thick pines. I was soaked, beat up and getting dejected with all the snow. It was getting worse..... I took the trail to a power line right of way and for the life of me couldn't tell if he stayed in the pines, crossed the ROW, back tracked, zigged or zagged. From the shot he'd gone about 150 yards and never bedded that I could see. I quit..... The day before I'd shot a coyote and couldn't find it. Between the 'yote and this buck I was beating myself up pretty good. I went back to my buddies, took my soaking wet clothes of, hung the bow up to dry out and had some lunch. I laid down for 15 minutes and couldn't sleep. I had brought two rifles with me and wanted to confirm zero so I did. It was about 3:00 now and the snow had changed to rain. I noticed that much of the snow on the brush around camp had either blown off or was dropping due to the (slightly) warmer temps and rain making me think I better get my ass back over for another look. I quickly swapped out some clothes and headed over. Within minutes of getting there I was at the spot I "lost" blood. I went to the north just 15' past my mostly gone boot tracks from earlier and there he was, deader than a door nail. I assume he was covered in snow at the time and so was all the surrounding brush making him darn near impossible to see. I quickly dressed him of in the failing light and headed back to camp for my buddy the Honda Foreman. I honestly can't remember the last time I was so soaking wet, from the waist down I was drenched from the rain and wet snow. Sorry the pic suck as I was not in the mood to snap any hero shots in the sow hole where I gutted him. The barn was drier....... My face looks like I'm having a stroke, I think it was just 'cause I had snot pouring out of my beak. Persistence paid off and I was thrilled with the outcome.
    7 points
  14. Begrudgingly back to civilization for a few days, might have to travel to another state after this weekends snow to find tracking conditions. Had a great 5 days was on 3 good bucks tracks but couldn’t get it done, after Tuesday the snow got very crunchy and made tracking a lot harder. My miss Tuesday just keeps playing over and over in my head, 40yds full run through a 3ft hole is a shot I’ve made many times before, but I flat out missed! Oh well a few days I’ll be back at it, might have to head to Maine or New Hampshire to find tracking snow but I’ll be somewhere. Total on the gps was 71 miles but over 25 of that was on the roads heading back to truck so I don’t really punt it. Let 5 bucks go saw 2 shooters and a bear. Now I’m back home and sitting in a damn tree stand. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    6 points
  15. Lol yes I only drink jack Daniels you should know that by now lol men ugh
    6 points
  16. Hope you guys are staying warm out there today! Since shooting my buck Sunday, my Rut-Cation has turned into daddy day care and honey do lists. I guess it’s an ok trade off for approval on the upcoming taxidermy bill from this season! Lol But Saturday morning the game is back on! From what I’ve been seeing driving around, the rut is going strong right now. Picking up my boy from preschool yesterday we almost hit 2 bucks chasing does hard across the road. We saw 3 other bucks out in fields running around groups of does. Exciting stuff to see with gun season being so close! Good luck to everyone out and trying to fill their tags in the last couple days of bow! Stay warm too!
    6 points
  17. Years ago when I used to smoke, I will confess that I never was concerned about kicking the leaves aside and grinding my butts into the dirt. The fact is that I never found one of them remaining at any of my stands during subsequent years, so I have no idea where they disappeared to, but they did. I can't say that I have found it any problem worth mentioning since then either from other smokers. I know that smokers are a prime target these days for any kind of criticism, but I do try to remember that I was a smoker at one time, and I do remember just how aggravating and self-righteous reformed smokers can be. If I'm going to whine about something, I try to limit it to something that really is significant. How about those mylar party balloons that people mindlessly turn loose every year by the thousands and think are so wonderful. Bottles, cans and plastic sandwich bags and wrappers are cases of real litter that deserve comment. So as long as smokers aren't burning down the woods, I think I'll give them a bit of slack. They get enough crap from other whiners about how they are considered to be evil people that I think I will give them a bit of a break if they should happen to put a butt out on the ground.
    6 points
  18. ugh.. hate it..guys take far shots..blood drops through the snow and idiots think they missed.. find lots of dead lost deer when there is snow. cant hear them.coming and it it warms up and refreezes its so crunchy they can hear you coming from next county. and its freaking cold.. uncomfortable to sit in if its not frozen under snow your boots get muddy and or wet and freeze to the stand and make noise when you move. if it hangs on the limbs you cant see and your open lanes are no longer open... drat ...id rather not have it
    6 points
  19. Perogies! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    6 points
  20. Just got done making turkeys with the daycare kids .last day with them for a week can't wait to be in the woods Saturday.
    5 points
  21. My snow camo is WAAAAY too noisy for hunting. Sounds like I'm wearing a paper bag whenever I so much as raise my hand. If there's snow on the ground, I'll definitely pull it out for the field photos just because I think it looks cool! Doesn't make any difference to me whether I killed while wearing it or not.
    5 points
  22. I wait 9 yrs ago, never cheated till three weeks ago. I bought a pack and bummed a couple, I felt terrible for myself! I haven't smoked any since and I hope I don't
    5 points
  23. Did a short sit close to the house. I get back and look out the window...20 yards from my blind. Would have passed anyway, but still.. Pics are from the deck.
    5 points
  24. It's my choice!!! I'm a smoker. I too, have picked up trash on public land, many, many times. I don't litter, or drink alcohol in the woods. There are many parks and outdoor places where it is illegal to light up now. Yeah....fine....whatever. I still pick up trash there too. I quit for almost 10 years and after a surgery, (non smoking related) started up again, while playing music with a group of smokers. My choice! No one twisted my arm. Cancer, (again non smoking related), will probably take me out, long before the cigs do. I enjoy a smoke here and there, during the day, or while doing work or chores, outside at home, or the farm. As for smoking while hunting, I have killed a bunch of deer, including some very nice bucks, after putting down a smoke. And it's a good wind indicator too. Has it cost me a shot at a deer I did not see? I'm sure it has. But most ALL hunters are busted by deer they never saw! I always push a stick in the ground in my blinds to drop the butts in. Though I do tend to smoke very little while actually hunting. Mostly to keep movement to a minimum, not for the smoke itself. I don't smoke in our home. I do not smoke around my kids or grandkids. I do not smoke at work. Will not smoke in close quarters with my non smoker friends either. I average about a half pack a day. And I truly respect the fact, that most people don't want to be exposed to my second hand smoke. I get it! But it's not illegal. It is MY choice. Just leave me alone. I promise, I won't infect you.
    5 points
  25. Just watched a big boy slowly stroll through passed tower. Saturday he wouid have been dunzo.
    5 points
  26. Deer 2 7:35 small 4 point at 8 yards asking to become dinner!! He don’t know how lucky he was this morning!! Ha moog! Bad selfy Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    5 points
  27. 23/ 10 mph east wind. Real feel 13. Last chance this morning to punch my first ever archery tag. Good luck everyone
    5 points
  28. Got skunked on steelies today, landed a king though under a float on the Oswego river. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
    5 points
  29. Finally doe for the freezer. Three came in along the corn line . Then one went into the woods. She popped back out at 20 yards, and I shot her broadside at 16. She ran into the corn and sounded like she piled up there. So I look and there are deer still at like 40 yards in woods. So I reload and have to wait a bit anyway . Then two more does come by and another good size one broadside at 28. Thought about it.....lol.... Don't look Rob....don't shoot another one! Maybe if I saw the other one def down. So there is another deer hanging back in woods in brush...buck? Those two does go back and forth around stand and then even behind me for 20 minutes and I can see the other deer now and it's also a doe. Finally they walk away and it's almost dark dark by now. So I check the arrow and it's all good. Go to where i think doe is but no deer. So I go do what I am supposed to and get on the blood trail. Back and forth through the corn in the dark for 40 minutes. And where do I find her.....laying in the trail I walk out on. Lol. Had I of gone 20 yards farther I would have tripped over her. It's amazing how tough they are 10 ringer her and she still went a ways. But not a big buck but happy to have a doe down. Been a tough season this year. Not great pics but as you all know tracking and dressing and dragging a deer in the dark is just fun. So deer is hanging for the night.
    5 points
  30. 5 points
  31. I would like to know why they feel the need to use the forest floors as their ashtrays and just leave the buts on the ground.t's ones coice to smoke but stop littering the woods
    4 points
  32. found my turkey decoys. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    4 points
  33. Did everyone hear me walking in ? I couldn’t have made more noise if I tried
    4 points
  34. Probably for the same reason they leave their bottles, candy wrappers, sandwich bags, soda cans, etc. all over the woods and next to the road where they park. I usually pick up enough to fill at least one bag during gun season.
    4 points
  35. Remington 700 308, that I've out alot of tweaking into the trigger. Leupold VX2 on her, I don't think I'd buy anything else. This is at 180 yards, didn't drop an inch from 100.
    4 points
  36. Venison meatloaf made from this recipe - Not sure which I enjoyed more, the video or the meatloaf.
    4 points
  37. It’ll make it easier to see them coming ,especially for my daughter , and I guess tracking if someone makes a less then stellar shot . Other then that , I’d take 50 and sunny , Tracking ? Well over 1/4 mile the deer would be off my spot .
    4 points
  38. Also, I forgot To mention, when I move To a free state, DSI will swap my lower out for a regular one, so it makes the rifle not neutered.
    4 points
  39. My son and I both had deer on the ground 200 yards apart, 10 minutes after getting to our stands on Sunday morning. It was the most amazing thing, we arrived lated, bumped 3 on the way in and didnt even have time to really get settled when the action began and texts started flying! I shot a doe and he arrowed this this big 8 at 22 yards, nose to the ground hot on the trail of the few we bumped only a few minutes before. I swear it is the fattest heaviest buck I have ever seen, taxidermist is keeping the jaw to age it. His first words were “oh man thats an old deer!” My son said he was shaking so bad, like never before and thought for sure he would blow it, but pulled it together! I couldnt be more happy for him! For size reference, he is 6’2” 220... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    4 points
  40. 3 points
  41. Beth, Where are you guys located in the state? Check out the Greater Rochester QDMA sub forum in the Field to Fork Program. We are already into it this year but other branches will be doing the same thing. Your area will make a big difference with what organizations and forum members are around. PS. Prepare yourself for the "what were you guys thinking moving up here" comments...lol Welcome
    3 points
  42. A few years ago we threw out some trespassers from the neighboring state land, multiple times, and wasn't very nice about it the last time. Well they called DEC on us, and said we were poachers and baiters. So as we were coming in from hunting one morning, a DEC officer was waiting in the driveway at the farm. He was very nice, but business like. We had absolutely nothing to hide, and gave him a tour of the outbuildings, and barn, which had a legally tagged buck hanging. Told him he was free to go anywhere he wanted on the property too. We also told him of the problem we were having with the trespass issues. He figured correctly, that these scumbags were just trying to get back at us, and he would have a "talk" with them. Well that "talk" must have worked, as we have never seen them around since then! We also work with DEC through Deersearch. And he had heard our names from there as well. These DEC guys and gals are very bright and intelligent. They also seem to know when someone is giving them a BS story, or not. We were 100% honest. We told him too, that we appreciate all they do, under very difficult conditions. And understood how he had to check out the complaint. They are our friends, not our enemies! If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.
    3 points
  43. Most smokers dont think about how long the filters are going to be around. I used to smoke non filters for that reason. Now i dont smoke at all,quit cold turkey more than 8 years ago.
    3 points
  44. Yeah. I set out with the goal of topping my best bow buck this season, but screwed that up a few days ago with my "epic choke"! Oh well, this is my best 6pt anyways! LOL
    3 points
  45. Out for an early morning sit prior to work in 3G. Situated at a pinch point in a rock wall overlooking hardwood flats. West wind and about 50 degrees. Hunting from the ground pinched between two trees growing next to a rock wall. About 10 mins after legal, heard rustling to the east and figured squirrel. Then saw movement, nice bodied young deer. Spike with slight fork on one side. Unfortunately, dead in the wrong spot with the wind. He made his way to the pinch point and pauses. Licks his nose heavy and worked the wind. I knew he would wind me. Looking dead at me but no clue I was there. He continues to work the wind and then smells me. Tail up and turns, slow run off back where he came from. Stops and looks over his shoulder, then walks 90 degrees parallel to me. Slowly moving, nosing through the leaves and munching on mast. I wait for him to step behind a tree and draw. He moves forward, completely broadside and I bleat to stop him. About 10+ yards away. Relax, let the arrow go, hear the arrow hit him and pass through. He kicks and runs about 50 yards, then slow walk off along a ridgeline. Watch him walk off and mark the point of visual loss. Uggh, I am thinking miss, liver or non-fatal hit. Gave it 30 minutes before I looked for arrow. Found the arrow embedded in a rotted blow down. Heavy dark blood. Uggh, liver shot. On the fence on what to do. Let him sit and search later or push him. I go back to point of impact. No hair visible, track is clear but no blood. Uggh again. Decide to leave him be but walk along a ridge that I can glass back where I lost him. Sit down on the ridge and hit the binos. Spot white belly. Dead deer. Go back to the point of impact and trace his trail. Not a spot of blood visible. Spike is stone dead when I get there. Very little blood outside his body or in bed. Body cavity was filled with blood when I field dressed him. Liver was shredded. In hindsight three mistakes. I'd love to tell you the deer turned on the shot and that's why I hit back, but I'd be lying. First, mistake was target panic, I aimed for deer and not a spot. Second, I pulled the shot and had poor follow through. Third, I didn't follow the arrow and confirm point of impact. I am fortunate and grateful for having taken and found the deer quickly. It was my first recurve kill and I have plenty to learn. Deer is hanging, cavity packed with ice and ready for skinning quartering tonight. Not a p&y but a trophy to me and will provide good food for the family. Many thanks to Moog for giving me advice on getting started with the recurve. I probably will bring out the crossbow to fill doe tags, but bring the recurve back out for regular season. Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk
    3 points
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