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I hunt 5 acres with about 3-4 houses in view of my 2 stands (suburban bow only) and this morning the neighborhood does were acting real strange. Yearlings were alone. Figuring some lockdown starting, I went back this afternoon around 330 and felt like bucks were hanging close knowing the does bed very close by. This buck I've seen a few times was bedded about 10 yds from my stand while the doe he was with browsed. I crawled to 20 yds and waited for what seemed like an eternity for him to stand up and move into a shooting lane.

Got down to take care of him.

I just shot a bear!

I figured I would check in. It’s been a grind of a season let alone our rutcation trip. A lot of our NY and OH ground have had issues, from dog walkers to crazy lady coming out along her border daily, to an Amish guy with a centerfire rifle in bow season in the middle of one of our farms. Cows getting out of their pastures and into the apple groves. You name it. After the first two weeks in NY and one 50 yard encounter in Ohio finding a good buck in daylight had been hard. Ohio was 68-73 this past week and we had to leave for MO. As we left, the cold front came in opening things up. We drove through a horrible storm line and by Illinois the pics were rolling in from Ohio of bucks on their feet in light. My back has also been acting up fierce. I generally tolerate it but have had to resort to “taking it easy” at times. Going to be spending time with the doc soon. We rolled into MO Friday Midday in a snowstorm, no snow accumulated but it was snowing sideways in 30-40mph winds. We slammed two stands together got them hung and made it back to camp. Windchill of 15 degrees. Saturday was dry but same 30mph winds. Sun rose and I could barely pay attention with everything blowing and moving around. I heard a grunt ahead of me in a down wind moment and then it picked back up blowing things sideways. Well, after five minutes I realized the grunt wasn’t ahead of me but to my left and the wind was carrying the sound. A buck snuck in within 20 yards and was moving by quick. Shoot or don’t shoot. Assessed the first good buck in close range in daylight in a while in a millisecond. I let the weight of the season go when I rang his bell. He never missed a stride but I hit him hard with his front left leg locked up and he disappeared over a knoll. 15 min go by and I start to contemplate the choice. Good buck, yes. Should have I taken him? Things you think about in the stand I guess. Then the wind died and left us with a bluebird morning and the light switch turned on…bucks everywhere. Including a 150” that came within 30 yards. Ended up seeing 9 bucks during the morning. I was a bit bummed yesterday but I’m happy with the choice with some time elapsed and content that at the end of the day, we got on deer quickly in an area we have little history with. Now I’m in support mode as my partner gets the good spots lol. Missouri is a special place, I’m sure he will punch one. Good luck all.

Took the wife out for her first sit of the season tonight while the kids were at the grandparents. An hour later she had her first and second deer tags ever punched! Made great shots on both.

Round 2 Kid 2 #makememories #makemeat Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had an awesome day today . I drew back twice on an eight.. I couldn't get him to stop . He and a doe zipped by me 5 times before the finally went behind me and caught wind of me . What a day lost Count how many days I was out and seen nothing . I finally saw deer and drew on them . Just couldn't get hi. To stop I whistled and blah at him nothing he wanted that tail.

Met 2 hunting buddies at Dunkin at 5am. We decided we were going to hunt close and hopefully lay something down. So we went to the lease and sat 3 fairly close stands. I was on the powerline stand with my back to the powerline facing the woods. Saw a decent buck way early far down the cut. About 8:30 I had a buck over my right shoulder at 15 yds or less, never heard him. I thought it was the 4pt I had seen before so I grabbed my phone to take some pics and as he came around the tree I realized it was a 4x2 and decided I wanted to shoot so I stashed the phone grabbed the crossbow and as I did it made a noise and he trotted about 20 yds up the powerline and he walked directly away from me only offering a rear shot that I wasn't going to take. A while later I saw the 4pt and let him walk. At 10 am my hunting buddy texts that he is going to walk the stone wall and head to the trucks. He calls a short time later that he fell over a log and he is in bad shape. Takes me and my other buddy almost 2 hours to get him out of the woods. He is in agony, the whole time. Not sure if he broke his hip or dislocated it, still waiting to hear but we got him home so his wife could get him to the hospital. So we finally get back to the lease about 1 and it starts raining. My other buddy and I are deciding what to do and worried about our friend. The rain stops so we head to stands. I went to the one my buddy was sitting in. Just as I climb up it starts pouring. I'm not even settled in and a doe comes and lays down 10 yds from me and keeps looking where she came from. I notice two other deer, 1 is a spike chasing another doe all over. My buddy texts me I'm getting soaked and I say me too but I think I got a hot doe. A few minutes later I see the this deer come up the ravine to my right and I can immediately tell he is a shooter. I stand grab the cross bow and he comes up 30 yds from me but I never have a clear shot. He goes behind me and comes back down the other side even closer. I'm shaking so hard I keep telling myself to pull it together. Move the HHA to 20 yds, wait for an open lane and zipped him with a true glow titanium 4 blade. He stands there for a 2nd. Stumbles and falls even closer to me. By far my biggest archery deer and first with my Scorpyd Aculeus. The Scorpyd layed the crackdown on him! 9 pt no brows...sorry for the long story, it was thundering and lighting when dragging him out.

What a week it’s been, went back to same location I shot my buck and doe Monday, was watching a wide 5 point with no brows across the field when this guy walked under my stand. He was sniffing the base of my tree, I was frantically wondering how I’d get My xbow off the hook without spooking him, all the time making sure their was no other bears in tow and that he was infact big enough. He stepped out to 10 yards and I put a bolt though his shoulders, he dropped immediately so I recocked and sent another insurance bolt on him. Haven’t shaked like that in along time. He has a broken nose wonder who he got in a fight with. Roughly 200 lbs live weight, 160 dressed.

Thanks everyone, I'll put the story in the harvest thread. By far my biggest crossbow or archery deer. 9pt no brow tines

Back up to the farm in a few. Had a decent buck cruising yesterday, but no shot opportunity. Got today and tomorrow left for bow season. Will continue to give it all I got. If anything, I've been persistent, if not successful. Good luck to all heading out!

Thanks to all, call is in to the taxidermist, I’ve only ever wanted 1 bear and likely will never shoot another. I’m guessing 180-200lbs. Not a monster my any means but perfect size for me.

Bbd

Last day of bow for me. Good luck all.

Had the best worst day of my life in the woods this afternoon. Had to work this morning but planned on going out with my dad for an afternoon sit. I got to his house about 130 and when we left at 2 it started down pouring. We decided to just go in quietly and get out of there because we both had some things we wanted to do. He wanted to put a new blind up and i had a climber i wanted to bring in so i didn't have to set it all up in the morning. I know these things should've been taken care of before now but I've been busy with a new house and haven't gotten the chance to get out. On the way in we jumped a bedded doe along with a nice buck in a field of golden rod. We set my stand up, swap the card out of my camera, then go set up his blind along with a couple other cameras. By now its raining/snowing even harder and were soaked to the bone. We start slowly walking out and i hear a deer blow so we kneel down for a few minutes on an old power line road with no where to really go for cover. Not even a minute later a doe crosses the road into the golden rod field and FOUR bucks are chasing her. One was a scrubby 5 or 6 pointer and the other three were very respectable 8s or bigger. The scrub buck starts walking up the road towards us and got to about 7 yards before turning into the golden rod while the others ran around in the field tailing the doe about 30 yards away. By this time all we could see is their heads so there was no shot opportunity unless they came back into the road. As were sitting there waiting for a shot i see a fifth buck take two steps into the road 20 yards away about to cross into the field. This buck was the biggest of all the bucks we saw today by far. I draw my bow back and shoot, but pulled my bow to the left at the last second and miss. Im so glad it was a clean miss, but man that would've been the icing on the cake if i had gotten that buck while sitting shoulder to shoulder with my old man after both of us just saw all that rutting activity 30 yards in front of us. Im sick to my stomach about missing, but overall it was one of the best experiences I've had in the woods yet and ill remember it the rest of my life. I should add, this isn't our property and a few other guys hunt it also so its not managed like other properties are. Its very unusual to see that many big bucks, thats part of the reason it was such a cool experience.

11/11/2021 I did some blind grunting once it got light. He appeared a few moments later at about 55Yds. I grunted a couple of more times and he came right in. 18yd. shot and went about 20yds. and expired within sight. The Reconyx picture was taken just before I first saw him.

Sunday the 7th 6:39 am at 20 yards. 150 lb dressed 8 point.

Daughters Bday party at 5. Truck is packed guns are oiled, brand new lacrosse’s out and ready for the first tracking snow of the year. I’m like a kid on Christmas Eve for snow day eve! Gotta stay and watch Yellowstone then getting on the road. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Was in stand less than 5 minutes and three doe come thru in brush.

I’m shaking so damn hard

Big six point came out ears pinned back and stiff legged at dusk to fight a fork horn that was bumping a doe. Took him left handed because i didnt want to risk moving too much as I was on the ground in a Rhino blind. My second buck with the crossbow. He is 16 inches wide dressed out at 155. I checked a camera and found a picture of him the day i killed him (November 8th) just on the other end of the farm.

I thought this one was pretty cool.

Love it. You always make me smile, never change! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bears nose is actually broken, can move his nose. Getting a shoulder mount with closed mouth. 160 dressed is Offical estimate.

You recoil sensitive, horn hunting, jello maker how dare you! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just got a pic of a double drop tine 10 that I’ve never seen before. I think it’s time to suck up the pain and drag my ass out there.

Hunting techniques have changed drastically over the past couple of decades, this board is good evidence showing most are sitting in some sort of blind or stand. There are not many putting their clothing through the stress and wear that occurs while still hunting and tracking does putting on many miles and years of service. I have a two pair of USA PA Woolrich pants and coats that are decades old, worn alternately season after season for Hare hunting and Deer hunting along with cold weather varmint hunting and they are still in great condition. I can't exactly say the number of miles put on those pants but they are substantial. Yes they are out of style, corny looking and heavy but they have quality something that seems to be lacking with the designer stuff being marketed today. I have Hare and Deer hunted in those USA Woolrich clothes in bitter cold weather from sunup to sunset and stayed warm and dry and while my age keeps me from hunting as hard as I did as a young buck when the weather gets bad the Woolrich clothes are what I hit the timber wearing. One more thing The "John Rich" Woolrich gear is not the same or nothing like the USA PA made Woolrich LLBean still markets hunting wear made from wool, I have a light jacket and a pair of their pants that I wear at times and they seem to be very good quality. There are some decent looking Canadian Wool Hunting clothes marketed but I have no first hand knowledge of their quality. Johnson hunting Wool is still being made, their reputation has always been pretty positive. Hunting Apparel - Gostwear.com Homepage | All your workwear needs in one place Wool Hunting Clothes - Woolen Outerwear For Hunting (johnsonwoolenmills.com) As for moths no problems, all my hunting clothes these days get sprayed down with Sawyers including the cold weather Woolrich. The only way to get the real deal today is on ebay Hail to the us made PA tuxedo!

Pouring rain just ended, not enough time go get back out and have to wade thru to get to a stand. So all in for tomorrow last day of bow for me. Meanwhile broke out the lineup for gun season.

#makememories #makemeat Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bills are rolling the Jets so no need to be on the couch with this game in the bag. Was raining at the house and it nicely turned to snow as we got to the property. In the blind looking to #sendit! Sent from my SM-A716V using Tapatalk

Memo: From the unofficial captain of "Group 1" Well my archery season is officially over. Heading to New Mexico in the morning for work and I don't get back until midnight on Friday. I didn't see much from the bow stands this year but I'm still pretty excited about the start of gun season. Activity on the back side of my property looks good and I have left it alone with the exception of hanging a stand and a few scouting walks. Good luck to everyone trying to get it done this week. I'll be rooting for ya from out west.

Should my Son move his Ground Blind ? LOL

Call and txt sent to local deer search,will see if I get a response. Really chaps my ass!I owe it to the deer to do all I can.if I don't hear back I may even take another walk tomorrow morning before I call it quits.not the way I wanted to end the bow season, that's for sure.all the practice shooting and in the heat of the moment it's blown.i know we've all been through it,just venting..on a side note,very nice buck @ApexerER!!!!!!!!

This guy was in my neighbor’s yard. Happened to catch a body as I came to the end of our driveway. Took a short video.

Yeah because we all know that guy that made the statement knows a lot about high fence or even deer bigger then maybe 100 inches.

Got this bruiser last night in cattaraugusCounty. Beyond blessed. He had a kicker on the opposite side as well but that got broke off. Taxidermist figures he'll score into the 130

Nov 8 sat in my notoriously good crusing spot for mornings. 6:55 have two 8 points cruising together across the field. They come right under me to 3 yards. The smaller of the two, whom was the leader, spotted me and they spooked out to 25 yards. At this point I was on them but had no shot. They calmed down and began walking, stoped him and squeezed the shot off, I can still see my arrow fletchings wack the only branch and drive bomb my arrow. The way he acted I didn’t think I really caused any type of fatal hit, white hair at hit site, clean arrow. In the mean time I recocked my crossbow in case a doe came in, at 7:12 two doe came on the same path but turned at 15 yards and gave me a perfect shot. Hit her good and she didn’t make it back across the field. I recovered my doe, left the area , and went to a friends house with the arrow, he inspected it and insisted their was a gut odor although I didn’t think so. I went back at 4 pm and confirmed it was in fact a gut hit, I called many tracking dogs but had no luck. I advanced the track about 50 yards and decided with the cold temps, property lines, I had to come back at first light. And secure permission from the next two properties which I did. 730 am we found blood after about 10 minutes and he stared to open up. We had steady blood the whole way as he entered some real thick stuff( we were on our hands and knees). After about 200 yards of blood we came upon him in his first bed dead. He probably died sometime last night. Coyotes and birds did not get him and I salvaged most of the meat. That’s a wrap for me till gun season. When in doubt, back out.

Just a harmless garter snake

Thanks for the hot cider cdbing , and it was nice meeting you. I am trying a little with that special new scent tonight:

Out in 6g looking for a Big Doe. Good luck everyone. Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

Post hunt breakfast sandwich Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Weatherby .243 win ready for WNY Saturday Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Just for you… I’ll get drunk and watch Bills today instead of hunting. Then next week it’s on.

Im envious! Id love to take one nys bear in my lifetime. Congratulations, enjoy the moment.

Got a text at 445am saying my job is canceled. Rushed out the house and was in a stand just before 6am. Lot of daytime movement yesterday so I'll be out until dark unless me or my father in law shoot something. Good luck all Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Cute pups ... i will not be showing this thread to the wife . Congrats.

Late start but I'm in. Not a good morning so far, I was cranking up my crossbow, and keep in mind, I do not wear my prosthetic arm when I crossbow, or gun hunt. Well I secure the crossbow with my left arm, and crank with my hand. I somehow bumped the crank disengagement tooth, and the handle came out out of my hands grip, and unwound about 10-20 revolutions id say. Each time the handle smashing the upper side of my hand, opposite side of palm. Jenn put ice on my hand for 15-20 mins for it, and I am finally out. Not going to lie, that had me hunched over, that hurt bad. Not looking forward to later on. Anyways, I open my house door, and i hear crash, crunch, snap! 5 does being chased hard by a wall mount size buck, probably an 8 pointer. It was cool to see. Anyways, be careful guys, dumb mistake on my part.

Too bad its fuzzy. Looks like one helluva buck to me.

Speaking of head shots, here’s the euro I’m doing for a friend of a friend.

Got it done today. I'm in 8P and it seems the bucks are seeking now. Went to one of my stands near a bedding area. Put out some golden estrous scent.. It was about 5:00 and this guy came right in. 5 yard shot right under my stand. Walked off after the shot. Saw a tuff in his hair in shoulder. Thought I missed! lol but he wobbled at 30 yards and fell over. Double lung shot. Nice 2.5 year old 7 pt. I feel blessed!