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Though some of you would enjoy this series.

Some practice pics from the other night.. And as a bonus my daughter (whom never ever wanted to hunt before) asks if her bow is strong enough to kill a deer.. Guess the back off no pressure technique is starting to work! My son will probably never hunt so i really hope she gains some interest in it. I'm sure she will, she is a daddy's girl! Looks like momma is getting a new bow next year and shes getting mommas bow !

I’ve never aged a buck or measured the rack , i shoot em and eat ‘em . Although I do have a measurement system, last years was a 3 X 2 , 3 hour drag , fell twice .

Beautiful area and beautiful fish! Tarryall and South Branch of South Platte in Colorado.

I really try to stay out of threads like this one, but I agree 100%...most guys are clueless and watch too much Outdoor Channel. I guess I am fortunate/spoiled to have grown up an area of the state that has the potential to produce big deer. I have mounted 4 local bucks over 180" over the past several years since I've taken up taxidermy. I've had my hands on more 140+" deer than the vast majority of people from this state could ever hope to. With this being said, it is still far more common for a fully mature buck around here to be a 130". In real life, most bucks will not blow up in inches from year to year like the ones you see on TV shows. I have three bucks on trail cam this year that I have several yrs histories with (two 6 yr olds and one 5 yr old) that all probably only gross low 130s. People that are holding off for the 140 or better here in NY are kind of crazy...lol. You will go many seasons between deer like that out here.

FSW's Pen - 48 hours WNY - 1.5 CNY - 4.5 SENY - 12.5

Agreed as well. 120" is NYSBBC for bow if that says anything. Less than P&Y. I have had a few people who thought they shot a 120-125" in NY get bummed when it tapes out at 110-upper teens, and I always make it a point to remind them that they likely shot a top 10-20% buck across all hunters in the state that season. I know of a few people (four) who let 140s go in NY if they are chasing a bigger buck in the area, but they all have one or both characteristics - they have access or control the most prime ground in the best parts of the state and/or they hunt out of state. They all also have deer over the 140 class on the wall. For the ones that go out of state, if there is no giant on their radar, they smack the first 120/130 3.5+ they come across so they can focus more on out of state for the season. 3.5+ y/o bucks are hard to pass in NY IMO, mostly because 4.5+ are much rarer. I would say that is one of the primary reasons I have enjoyed hunting out of state the past few years. I've seen more 4.5+ in those two seasons than I have in the past 10 in NY. Our age structure just isn't where it could be for multiple reasons.

Looks like larger trees in a brush lot to my eye.

I walked the management property I will hunt on Day 1 in the PM. Great runs consistent with past years even though I didn't see any fresh acorns...like any, anywhere! Not in the trees still, not on the ground....gonna be tougher if they just slam browse all fall. More buck crap then doe which is odd Snagged some chickens as well Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

32 with broadhead. Here’s my son from his first 3D shoot last month.

Honestly. I think our deer hunting is pretty great. Factor in the fishing and its a sportsmans paradise Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I agree 100-120” buck around me could be anywhere from a 2.5 or older and usually one of the most mature deer in the area. There are some outliers but for the most part 100” deer is a good deer. If you can shoot a 130 in any part of the state I think your correct you probably killed one of the better bucks for that season. I’ve personally shot 3 8s over the last 4 years all over 3.5 and range from 85”-128”.

I put as much stock in that list as I do the DEC techs who age deer to figure the state's statistics...

The most important feature I need in a stand is that the seat folds up flat to the tree since I'm usually standing anyway! The cushion/strap climber seat With the summit is super comfy however during those long dark minutes before legal! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I dont think many places have genetics that go much over 130/140 in nys. If you get a 100" deer in ny you should understand that's a respectable buck. Many guys don't actually know age or inches, just a bunch of talk.

Think I might grab the old 22lr and go for a squirrel slash scouting trip into a new piece of stateland just to see how it lays out.

I'll go with 1.5 in Region 8...3.5 in Region 3?

Spread about 30lbs of fertilizer on my plot, since I had it. Everything is growing ok. Like most of you, I struggled with dry conditions. Now about half of my plot is too darn wet. Some parts are great. Some parts are squishy. Some parts are covered in standing water. It'll be what it'll be. Trimmed out my natural blind in the hedgerow. Paced out 35 yards in two shooting lanes and marked them with some ash branches that still had leaves on them. Checked two cameras. Big doe, medium doe, last year's fawns (one's a button) and 2 eight pointers. One is 2.5 and the other is 3.5. At least that's what I think, since I have pics of them from last year. Also a small flock of hens and poults. I plan on hunting here at the house early season. Partly because I still have some work to get done and partly because those bucks are hanging around. I don't have any great bucks on camera at our family farm, yet. Plenty of deer over there, so I'm hoping to take a doe or maybe two from the several hundred acres I can hunt in that area. Hard to believe it's almost the best time of year! Went to the apple orchard and got some cider, apples, and apple cider donuts. Shot the Xbow. Worked on firewood. If I can just get a couple more jobs finished up - the rest of the fall will be MINE!

Ya that list doesn’t like that we get snow lol , and pay extra for a bow tag come on . Ok the age structure is off, but it’s trending in the right direction. Hunter density is a tricky one . Take a large state like Montana with few people ,if you just divide the hunters into square miles ya is low , now put the all the hunters in the river bottoms or on dirt roads near town …… I’ve been on dirt roads there where it’s guys sitting in pick ups one after another after another , waiting for deer to cross off the private ground onto public . I pass up hunting with a friend who,lives in Montana every year ,not worth the hassle to maybe shoot a bigger buck . We’re worse then Hawaii, Florida ? Ever know anyone who hunts Texas ? You better have big bucks to get on private land to hunt over a feeder , because public ground is very lacking and the deer are tiny as well . Ten grand will get you a nice one though if you go private there . I hear there’s little snow too !

went on a squirrel slash scouting trip. Found an awesome spot all tore up rubs, scrapes and tracks everywhere. It’s a 3 acre oak flat that leads into a swamp. Only oaks that have acorns are right at the point and it’s all white oaks. My guess is bedding to be just off the point 75yrds from the oaks. With no sign of any hunters from past years. I snuck my way out and there had to be over 100rubs over the 1/2 mile walk out from last year all waist high. On the way out I came across a small crab apple orchard with bear tracks in it. Wind sets up perfect for opening night so I’m going to try sneak into the oak flat early. the cherry tree picture is 75yrds from the point with a rub on each side and a scrape on the left with tracks in it. All the oaks are out in front. With 3 trails connecting 20yrds in front of the tree and 2 trails coming past in a v shape 20 yrds on each side of the cherry. Wind should be blowing left to right up the hill that night. Hoping for a strong enough wind the thermals don’t mess with my scent to much

I haven't ever seen a 180" in the woods, lol. In my area we don't have many farms, not too much ag. My dad's biggest buck in a lifetime of hunting was just under 130 in 97', my uncle shot a 155" in late 80s both of those deer were aged by jaw as 5.5yr old. Otherwise there walls are full of velvet skull caps of deer under 110". They all look pretty good in an old picture. Lol It's a little different for me I'm a little more picky. I cant say I judge deer by inches either, if I like the hunt and it feels good then I make my move. The TV and internet sure do make it look easy. Your work looks great!

They sure as heck don’t know weight either.

Just not a fan of web/fabric seats . They will fail always do.. just helped friend check his expensive ladder stands of 3 one seat had hole chewed through it and they are 2 years old.. hes attempting to find a replacement to buy but it will be a take down stand to replace seat at best case.. steel aluminum bar seats dont fail bring you own pad and no squirrel critter damage.

Looks like a lot of plantation plantings around it. Those are probably clear cut patchwork on state land i assume

We recently started getting this buck on cam and might be able to go after him based on a few other cams showing he is making appearances in daylight. Best cell cam pic we have but he is only a 4 pt. We checked and double checked other cam pics but no brow tines at all. Ohio buck though.

Finally feeling confident enough with this Stan onnex release. Took me a few days to figure it out. Black target is 32 yards. Then I shot a group for fun at 20.

Good dad for hopping to the rescue , see what I did there

Ha.ha. No grumbling here.Just, throwing out my unsolicited opinion... I would have shot him all day long even if he weighed 125#s and was 10 years old..;)

I like to try to shoot 3.5 or older but I certainly would have shot him too. Then again, I never verify age. Nice buck. Thx

It doesn't really matter to me what you guys are grumbling over. I sent the jaw out because it seemed so young, and that's the results. He looked even bigger when I found him

I was right about to start a thread just like this until I saw your post I just found my spot tonight, clear deer trails, fresh wet droppings all over the place, acorns everywhere. I'm very very very very excited about this spot and feel I will get one opening weekend.

My maternal grandfather was born in France...My Mom used to let him in the house when he came to visit for the Holidays, but my Dad wasn't too crazy about the idea...

a button would be this years fawn

Good Lord, 103” compared to 116”?!?!?! Big damn deal….maybe pass on the dinks and shoot something worthwhile.

Same. Got 200’s and 150’s. Hope to get some real experience with them this year. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Found my first rub of the year today. 2 within 10 feet of each other, both probably a week old. My next discovery was my dad knocking his pipe tobacco out of his pipe right next them. SOB......

I might have to try a cylindrical hone for now and see if that works. I really like the heads so I don't want to switch if possible Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Got a pic of a guy walking past my spot at 0550… calling an audible and heading up to a spot at 1130 that my brother recommends Good luck everyone! Hope to see some photos later! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agree, know your herd. I think I posted in another thread a side by side 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 in same exact spot for reference. After running cams in the same spots for 10 years, it becomes pretty clear with the rare outlier. Also, simple math right to your point. If 6 adult bucks are killed per square mile in 8R vs. 0.9 in 3R (where @Chef) hunts, then he's got roughly 1/6 the amount of adult bucks. That's why some guys see 30 deer a day and others are happy if they just see 1.

It's 2.5, I had lower jaw aged? So younger would be tough to say with a straight face. Happy Hunting!!!!!

Most likely in a very non disruptive set for the am. Quick and close in and out. PM somewhere on state.

Ahh, opening day... where will I be. Oh ya, in Maine, in a church watching my niece get married.

Its sad that these upstate landowners want to charge good regular middle class people out the @ss to enjoy this sport.