Four Seasons
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Posts posted by Four Seasons
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189# And 206#. Most are 160-180lbs run down from rutting.
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1 hour ago, First-light said:
The only. thing I don't agree with is your comment "little effort" other than that all good.
The state land I hunt does not take much effort to kill just any deer. Massive effort to kill a top one. You can sit in a stand where you can see your truck and kill a deer.
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3 hours ago, knehrke said:
I know lots of guys who hunt hard on public land but don't take a deer. Those of us who are privileged enough to have multiple opportunities per season need to appreciate our bounty. Not everyone has that!
That having been said, I lean toward FSW's approach. I tend to survey the herd on our properties, rank the top three target bucks, and pass on anything else - at least early in the season. I'm not fanatical about it, so as the fall progresses, I'm more likely to take a sub-dominant buck if the perfect opportunity presents.
I'm in it for the experience...and tagging out always leaves me with an awkward bitter taste in my mouth, particularly if it's before the peak of the rut. I've shot some nice bucks early and while I don't regret taking those shots, the remainder of those seasons was a letdown. Overall, I really enjoy the seasons where the hunt lasts right up until the fat lady sings. And yes, that means I eat tag soup sometimes.
On the other hand, I don't tell my friends who hunt with me what to shoot. Their hunt, their choice. The only rule is if they tag their buck, then they're out of the game during the rut. We shoot lots of doe, but not during peak breeding. Recovering a doe can bust up a property for days, and there may only be days out of the year when that big buck is killable. This does not apply to kids, however, and there are areas where folks can hunt doe without trashing the main rutting arena, so it's a soft rule.
In other words, I respect everyone's choices, but adhere to my own standards. In terms of doe, I have a group of students who love venison, and so late season is management hunting for doe - managing to fill my trainees' freezers!
Exactly. I have 1000 acres of land out my back door of good hunting yet I travel 3 hours to hunt great state land. There are plenty of deer to be had for free with a little effort. When it comes to bucks I have two tags and they will carry something really mature or something 120’ or better. I have no problem not filling my buck tags when I have 4-6 doe tags that can be used. And it does not hurt the hunting area letting 15-20 smaller bucks walk every season. A smart hunter does not Ruin his buck hunting chances during the special time of year by stinking up their land harvesting does. All the late seasons we have in this state works fine for that.
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1 hour ago, luberhill said:
Hummm I see people on here all the time saying “ tag soup again “ and saying they never saw a deer all season..
So “ filling tags “ for some is a tough problem
Filling all 6-8 maybe. Can’t believe I saw one that said they didn’t get any without having their chances and blowing it or passing them up first time or two around. And in this day and age and heavy deer population state there is few excuses of not going where there are more animals.
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1 hour ago, wolc123 said:
Looks like we got one guy here that hunts 99 % for big antlers and 1 % for meat. On the opposite end is me and I hunt 99 % for meat and 1 % for big antlers. Most everyone else has some other primary driver(s) and/or is somewhere in the middle on those two. The math seems pretty easy.
So now you think someone that hunts for the top of the class does not get meat? Do you think by someone not filling their buck tags on smaller whitetail bucks does not have a half dozen other tags they can use on any givin day to fill their freezer? Filling tags is not a real tough problem.
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3 hours ago, Doc said:
I was talking about the total experience of deer hunting, not just the harvest. There is more to hunting than just numbers and meat. I believe that the whole idea of a scoring system for antlers was devised to put hunters competing against hunters. It is really for the benefit of hunters impressing other hunters with their accomplishments and a numerical method of pitting one hunters harvest against others.
One of my best hunts was down in PA., where I came home with a small doe. She didn't score very good, but we all had a great bow-hunt. Another great hunt was my first bow killed deer. Talk about a score .....Lol....He had two 5" spikes and his antlers have a prominent place on the wall and is the one mount that brings back the best memories of all the other mounts. What I am trying to say is that there is a whole lot more to hunting than simply numbers and scores. I have known the people that go at their hunting like their life depended on it. I guess if they want to go at it like that, that's their business and that's okay as long as they don't start with the preaching and trying to make it my business.
Well not sure how that would matter unless one is In a contest against other hunters using scores to beat each other. I have hunted for over 50 years and have went thru every step of hunting there is and matured with the sport. I have enjoyed every part of hunting there is possible every time I step into the woods. I get the same exact enjoyment as every other Hunter except I now also incorporate improving my skills to the maximum and take on only the best of the best of the animal I am hunting. I find 2-3 of the top animals in my area, while I enjoy that part of hunting, without a gun in my hand and then I Hunt Those animals until I either harvest one of them, have something bigger, more mature show up or I run out of time. In which case I eat my tag. A lesser animal harvested does absolutely nothing for me or my herd. I get the same enjoyments of hunting and harvesting a spike of 50 years ago as I do killing nothing but a very mature buck or one scoring 120in or better in a state that does not have them behind every tree. I actually get more out of the hunt when I am successful in the rack,meat and knowing I beat the best of the best in the woods. Not an easy task by any means.
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3 hours ago, Doc said:
It's pretty obvious that we all have different ideas as to what we need to get out of our hunting experiences. If a hunter needs to hunt for numbers, measurements and other such contrived ways of impressing others, it is entirely possible that they are the ones missing out on the real pleasures of hunting.
Not sure why anyone that hunts anything is missing out on anything. You think a guy that only kills 120in deer or better misses any part of the big picture of hunting? Hell No. They actually get more. They get the thrill of beating one of the smartest animals in the woods one on one on their turf. They get a great rack to put on the wall along with the most meat an animal can offer. The only person those kind of hunters that succeed need to impress is themselves. Who gives a crap about anyone else. That’s on their insecurities.
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4 hours ago, First-light said:
Question. So everyone feels no one is in charge. So I'm going to make an outrageous post. Moderators leave it alone and see what happens? Or is that a bit too much?
The owner never moderated much when he was around. Hence all the others he had. It’s all irrelevant at the end of the day.
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9 hours ago, DirtTime said:
Thought no new members could join of the owner didn't approve them? Someone let a new guy in today, but the owner hasn't been around in three years. So looks like another staff member can approve membership even though they say they can't. Or maybe it's one of those infamous unlimited pop emails that come with hosting magically came to life....Hmmmm
Some things will just never be known.
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10 hours ago, Grouse said:"I grew up deer hunting with no trail camera or cellphone.I climbed up in a wooden ladder stand or you sit on the ground with your back against the tree.You shot the first buck you seen , be it a spike or 8 point.There was no ”target buck”. No social media shaming.You drug it out by hand unless you were rich enough to afford a 3 wheeler.You took it usually to a country store and checked it in.Always some old hunters gathered around the tailgate congratulating you.Those were some of the best days I ever had hunting!I feel sorry for the people who will never experience this."
That's how it was when I started in 1970. It was a magical time to be a deer hunter. You were lucky to get ANY buck, and a big one was a miracle. Yet we always looked forward to going deer hunting, even when we only got to go 2 days a year, the opener on Monday and the last day on Saturday. Our stands were all wood and only about 10 feet in the tree. Blaze orange was cool. We carried one knife and it was a fixed blade on your belt. We sat through some really cold and wet weather and never thought about quitting. I miss those days and the young, strong body of my youth.
Night before the opener at the bar, Opening morning at the restaurant at 4am…If the night before was not to rough and opening night back at the bar celebrating all the days harvests. I think that would kill me today. lol. Party permits, boxes of slugs and waiting in line to be checked into Letchworth. Now it a free for all with anyone welcome. Times sure have changed.
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4 hours ago, First-light said:
Buddy saw a button buck mount a doe a week ago.
I see button bucks mount about all year long. lol. Problem is they are all buck fawns In that pen. It’s just their way. Or should I say Mother Natures way.
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On 2/11/2024 at 9:39 AM, Northcountryman said:
What would motivate them to use them this time of the year?
Just natures way. Testosterone has all but dropped out of most bucks and they dropped their racks. They will still rub and chew on overhead scrape branches and even paw the ground and take a leak just to leave their calling card.
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23 minutes ago, Doc said:
Ah.....Letchworth. Probably one of the most scenic places on earth. And we know they have some nice deer there......lol.
No doubt one of God’s better drawings. And critters are there for those that will do what it takes for sure.
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5 hours ago, nybuckboy said:
I don't think I have seen on the hoof more than a few bucks 150+ in my entire years of hunting deer in NY State. I just asked my hunting buddy who has hunted near big NY State land most of his life and he said only one.
True that. I try to make my life out of chasing and raising big bucks and have 1000 acres of great managed land in the North and a couple hundred acres that sits next to the great Letchworth State Park and in my 50 plus years I have never harvested one over 150 and have seen maybe 5 that would beat that mark. Not an easy go of it when one looks for 150 plus in this state. Although there are a few shot each year across the state they are far and few between.
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1 hour ago, grampy said:
Any pic's with you and the deer??
Sure. Same ones in the bow harvest thread. You can see both my 8’s from this year in my post from How was your season thread.
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3 1/2. 180-90 dressed 115-120 range. Would be very happy to see him make it thru and stay an 8 this year. Little width, mass and 10-15 inches and you got yourself a real special one. I was lucky enough to get a great 8 last fall for comparison 12 and 13 inch tines gave him what he needed for a hair over 128in. Good luck on holding him there. Do what ya can.
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A great one. Cancer Sucks!!!!
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1 hour ago, nybuckboy said:
So to clarify - I have hunted 4 times in Illinois with Illinois Trophy Bowhunters, Inc. In 2009 killed a 149+ 8 pt. Probably the reason I have returned again. In 2012 I missed what I called the monarch as it been on camera for a couple of years. In 2018 I saw but never shot at the 180-185" and the last time in 2023 I never saw one I'd shoot. They are all working farms that are leased to the outfitter.
Care to say how many you saw in Ny thru all those years of those sizes? Even say the smaller you saw there of 149inches?
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54 minutes ago, Northcountryman said:
Whats that caught up in his rack?
He thought it would be a good idea to rub on a pile of 12ft cedar posts laying in the yearling pen. This is why any bucks not sold or to young get cut. They will run an anything.
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6 hours ago, Doc said:
Ha-ha-ha-ha.......So there does come a point where genetically manufactured deer can be made to look quite ridiculous. I think there is a point that is too far. Some of these have reached that point.
We are an equal opportunity employer around here. No discrimination of Gender,Age or Color. All do their part to keep the $$$ coming in and going out. Perfect!
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Well the furry critter says spring will be coming right along. Can’t wait to see what the boys look like this year.
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7 minutes ago, Grouse said:
I don't care what anyone's opinion is. Opinions are not facts and can be challenged. If you express an opinion, you should be willing to accept challenges to your opinion. If you have carefully formed your opinion, you should be able to defend it and do it civilly. If you get upset when others challenge your opinion and refute it with facts, you prove you have not thought it through and are just wishing it was a fact.
If that is you, admit you are not open minded and will never change your mind, no matter how many facts refute what you believe. It's best you don't try to debate your opinion at all.
The shouting matches we see on this board are the result of people not being able to open their minds and be civil.
True words. And many guilty parties. But you like the rest of us regulars who didn’t find the need to talk smack about this site and leave to go to another site where pretty much the only posters there are the same ones that posted here have no shouting matches. Those only happen when the few that left feel the need to come back and start shit shows. And still just like in the past, Never post anything hunting related on the site.
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1 hour ago, First-light said:
Makes sense. Those of us that choose that way get everything a person could get out of hunting. We get all the pleasures of of the woods, comrades hunting along with us, a mature buck with trophy antlers and all the meat we can use. Now that can’t be beat.
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Eclipse
in Turkey Hunting
Posted
I doubt they will. Possible though. They might say be out in a field and notice it getting dark and start heading towards their roost but then daylight come back pronto. Or jump up in a tree at brush whenever they stand if possible. Will freak them out without a doubt. The last think they like is standing on the ground in the dark.