NFA-ADK

Looks like a poacher...

Owch! Dam! Gave yourself a good shot Moog5050. Takes a real man to post that and make fun of yourself. Funny as I get older I seem to like poking fun at myself, just wish It wasn't so easy!!! I love late season bow. Most hunters give up by this time or tag out. Hunted Otis Pike 2 days saw 2 other trucks. ( Tues, Friday.) Saw 12 deer yesterday. Passed a easy shot on a doe and a small 4pt. Should be out their now! OK time to get motivated... Practice shooting with your gear on, the arm guard should be able to keep the clothes out of the way. I love late season, few hunters, the deer are not as spooked from what I have seen. The possibility of snow!!! FUN FUN FUN!!! Any open season is a good time to hunt. Just wish the weather cooperated more! Now that the weather is good, I am here posting, arg! Dam I get lazy after I get one buck, lol. Talk about a late start! It's never too late!

Plus 1 Looks like it was just her time.

Come on Rob, stay with us. Nothing wrong with posting a complaint. We all do it. In so far as public hunting, it can be hard. Internet forum even more so... Don't take everything so personal. Next time offer to help track, it might return great rewards. If it was a doe I would have stayed and hunted, even a buck. Put yourself in that persons shoes. Was it their first deer? Big buck? Enjoy their harvest like it was your own and you would have enjoyed it possibly, think about it. Never give up no matter how bad you think the day is. Always pack a lunch for a full day you never know what happened if you leave the woods and give up. Good luck!

Great post. Sorry for the rant, lol. Just feel like I am being pushed to shoot deer but that is not me. Thanks for the reassurance I will continue to do what I like vs what others think I should do. I agree as most hunters progress they seem to pass on smaller deer. One hunting partner is a brown and down hunter but this is only his fourth year and he has not taken one, I will give him a big congrats when he finally gets his first! Thanks again hope I see that little bucks father tomorrow! Funny if you asked me 4 years ago if I would be hunting the LI Pine Barrens I would have said your were nuts! Great woods to get my hunting FIX until next year!

Passing a 4 pt buck and a doe yesterday I was chastised for not shooting my first deer with my bow by one of my archery partners. Passing on doe, spikes and bucks up to 4 points has been the way I have hunted since 1988. Most area's I hunt have a low population with a few exceptions, LI being one of them. I understand population control and the need for people to get meat, this is not about that. I know I am a minority because I don't shoot or target doe for the most part. With so many hunters in these area's I just feel that I don't need to remove several doe a year off of the public land I hunt. I know doe can be just as smart and as hard to hunt as the most seasoned buck but I still can not pull the trigger when one is perfect broad side for me. Last year I gave myself a free pass to shoot anything the last day of bow but when I stalked upon a feeding yearling I just could not do it. The two adult doe that busted me when I was trying to get a buck to come my way with the MAA MAA call never offered a shot and I am not sure what happened to the buck as the doe distracted me... I never liked the word Trophy hunter. I like to consider myself a mature deer hunter. But it is what it is... I burn toast so cooking is not my cup of tea so to speak. With that I donate most of my meat to friends and family. My main focus of hunting has always been the ADK. Just something mystical about hunting those deep woods that grips me tight! Doe where always off limits until I took up bow hunting in 2001 but I still pass them up north due to harsh winters and low population. I did try to target one doe that busted me every time I exited the woods, lucky for her I only hunted that spot a few times, she pegged me every time. Question: Is it wrong for me to pass doe with the hope of them producing more deer for me to enjoy? Or passing a small buck with the hopes that he will survive the season? With so many brown and down bow hunters is it really necessary for me to follow suit? I say no, another brown and down hunter is not needed. I can not say I will never shoot a doe but I find it hard to target them specifically. Maybe it's the cuteness factor? Missing head gear factor? Yes I envy those shinny antlers just as much as the next hunter and notice that even with the 4 point yesterday my nerves got the best of me until I saw him in full view and gave him a pass. Is this wrong? Does anyone else pass deer like this? Should I go out tomorrow and shoot the first deer I see just to get one with a bow? I am told that I need to shoot more deer with my bow so I have better experience. Funny to me as my experience has taught me that killing many deer does not always equal a good hunter. The extra time in the woods when I do not shoot has been enlightening as I get to observe more deer and gain more knowledge, something I find hard to sacrifice. Does one have to kill many deer to PROVE they are good hunters? Seems to be the way many think but first hand experience has proven otherwise. I know a few hunters who kill many deer from 20+ feet in the air or on private property that deer must travel through but there knowledge on actual deer hunting is minimal. These guys are great shots and kill many suburban deer but IMO that does not always equal hunter knowledge just killing experience. Are they the same, NO IMO but then again I seem to be the minority... What are your thoughts? Does the guy who has private property and kills many deer a year a better hunter than the guy who gets one every few years off of public land? Seems to be how many think but does not seem to always be the case. I have hunted both and the opportunities on private land vs public can vary greatly. Private land offers the same routes for deer every year with the same stands in place all year and as a home owner I know exactly where they travel, not the same as having the orange army hunting with you on hundreds to thousands of acres. Sorry I am just ranting at this point... I went from shooting doe to hunting knowledge to public vs private but they all seem to relate to how hunters perceive others with the amount of deer harvested. Is the guy who never shot a deer on public land a bad hunter vs the guy who shoots over 100 on a farm. Opinions vary but in my experience public land hunters are some of the most knowledgeable hunters due to so many other factors that private land does not have to deal with. This does not mean I think private land hunters are not knowledgeable, they are. And just because someone hunts public land does not make the more knowledgeable. Two different worlds and ways of thinking. I just can't always equate killing many deer with level of knowledge. This first pic was the day I found the largest buck track of my life, I was exhausted but enthusiastic! Second pic was with my hunting partner of over 25 years helping drag him out the next day. Shawn is one of the most knowledgeable hunters I know and has the highest of ethics and has never taken a shot in NY. Bad hunter, NO way!!! Experienced and woods smart? YES! Some may base hunting skills on kills but not me and this guy is living proof just like many other public land hunters. God Bless you Shawn I hope your first buck is nothing short of spectacular! The real question is this: How do you figure a hunters knowledge and skills? Deer killed? Rack size? Knowledge on their prey? Tree stand vs stalking? Public vs private? Arg as you can see this is a topic I am passionate about, but enough ranting time to go shoot the bow! NFA

The best shot is a clear one, if not pick a opening if possible. The more twigs the more deflection. I avoid those shots because I want a clear shot at the vitals.

I will say 147? Nice buck!

Good luck sounds like a great place! I know the deer are pretty nice! Big move, wow! Hope it is everything you dreamed of and more!

Such a shame. Condolences to the family. RIP

Great information and advice! On average I cover about 3 miles for a full day not including the hike to the area I still hunt in. If you find a good spot spend more time trying to evaluate the tracks and sign. Is this a track from a bedding area or are they going to a feeding area, are doe present, choke points, food source, water etc. The more info you can gather when still hunting the better your chances of success. If you use a day pack bring extra clothes and socks in case you find a great spot and want to stay until dark or if it rains... (Always bring rain gear!) Don't ever quit due to bad weather it is the best time to still hunt. Pack a lunch so you don't have to leave the woods! That extra time saved is invaluable and keeps you in the woods hunting all day. How fast I go depends on how much I like the area but I try to go a few step stop and scan, if I brake a branch or twig I stop for 15 min. The more promising the area the slower I go stopping every few feet for up to 15 minutes or more. Some area I just hike through. Every time I approach a ridge or opening I approach very slow and scan for long periods. When I stop I try to lean on a tree or sit on a log preferably in some type of cover. In thick cover I tend to move a little faster but try to be as quiet as possible. Best time of the day. All day... Shot one around 10 AM, 12, 1 and 3:30 PM. If I only hunted the prime times I would have never taken a deer. Cover and terrain should be evaluated on topo and aerial maps before you go to the area. I like to hunt ridges, transition areas that meet with choke points and if possible food sources and doe, let the tracks and sign tell you where to hunt. Lake, pond, swamp and river edges offer good spots to pick up a track and get an idea on travel routes/area use. Best season is the chasing/seeking phase into the rut. Late October through November. But many still hunters do it all season. Enjoy the challenge it is one of the most invigorating ways to hunt but watch out, it's addicting!!! Great way to scout a area then after enough info is set you can set up a ambush or try to still hunt the opposite way deer are traveling if wind allows it. Good luck!

DAM!!!

Never give up! And put on more layers!

He would get a pass with me, not big enough. LOL yea right! DAM that is a freak! Keeping a steady sight on him would be fun to try! Willing to volunteer if needed! I find it funny that some people think shooting many deer makes you a good deer hunter. One thing I have learned over the years is anyone can become a good hunter and they do not have to take a monster buck to prove it or shoot a bunch of deer. Just because I can kill many deer in one year does not mean I will or should. I had a guy at camp who says he shot more than 200 deer(Proved to be a lie...). I would bet my house that my hunting partner of over 26 years is a much better hunter... And he has never taken a shot at a deer in NY in 26 years of hunting! Hunting 20 ft up a tree on a farm is not the same as hunting deep woods on the ground... JMO

LOL we all did stupid stuff as kids! Easy as an adult to say shame on you but I bet many on this forum have done much worst than this as kids. The internet sensationalizes this stupidity... And it can spread like wild fire!

I never had much luck rattling but you will not catch me in the woods without a doe call! Good luck!

Question: If the butcher does not mark the meat with the proper information who gets the ticket? Who is responsible for that information.

Welcome aboard. Hope you enjoy! Nice buck! If you ever come down to LI let me know! We have a nice course at Suffolk archers love to give you a tour!

Excellent point! IF you seek knowledge what better place than one that is filled with deer. This broad range of a larger herd will result in more information which is what I believe we are all looking for when purchasing a DVD or book. I second the Benoit books and or DVD's IF you are looking to track these guys are experts. Purchased the Deer and Deer Hunting DVD's season 1-8 worth every penny IMO. But I think Mr.Alsheimer is the deer guru! If one thing in a DVD or book helps me gain more knowledge I feel it was worth it.

I believe the lunar predictions are accurate in the Northern regions to a point, you do or you do not... I also notice that on the Island we have a early rut but I believe this is in part due to the fact that LI deer do not have the severe winters the rest of the state has. That being said I want to be in the woods from Nov 6 to as long as I can stay! (ADK) Regardless of what the moon phase is. Next year this will match the lunar rut predictions with the 10th of November -17th being the prime rut according to the lunar calendar.

I use Merrell hiking boots for early bow season. Wolverine Hiking boots for most of the season unless it is below 40. Rock Timber wolf 800 gram insulate below 40 Rocky Snow stalkers in deep snow or extreme cold... I need support in my boots so rubber has never been an option for me. Bad ankles. Comfort and stability are more important to me as sometimes I get silly and like to hike a few miles and explore new area. I tend to stay out of wet areas or find a way around or through. (Seeing a friend stuck up to his chest in mud will have that effect! Happened to me once up to my waist, lucky I was in waders!) The snow stalkers are not really for hiking but in deep snow they keep me warm and I don't usually go that far in those conditions. Unless I find a good track... If I get cold I move, so I try to use the best boots for the day.

I have a Savage model 110 in 30-06 that I have used for years(Since 1988 my first gun.), nice bolt action very accurate. One of my goals is to get a deer with this gun, missed one due to a fogged scope. Lesson learned... My other main gun is a Winchester model 94 in 44 mag. Love that gun, easy to shoulder, easy follow up and easy to carry when I feel like exploring for the day. Only issue with this gun is long distance shooting. I am good to about 80 yards which in the ADK I have found is more than what I usually need as my longest shot was about 65 yards. I used a 308 semi auto but did not like the weight of the gun. Over under sights was the main reason I loved this gun so much. Accurate out to well over 200 yards with open sights and if a longer shot was needed the scope did the trick. I have a 30-30 I wanted to use this year but foul weather had me bring out the 44 mag instead. (I don't mind some rust on my guns but this gun was a departed friends that I want to last so taking it out in the rain on the first day was out of the question.) I never even took the gun out of the case as lady luck shined on me the first day giving me the best birthday gift ever, a 9 pt buck! And Thanksgiving with the family!!! Wow this would be the first week of my 2nd 2 week hunting trip in the ADK, so thankful I will be with family and not alone in the ADK for another 9 days! NFA crew should be back tonight, hope they got lucky! Safe trip home guys!

LOL Fasteddie! I had to do a double take! Hmmm that's a big bird!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Ok 4.5 or older and 2.5 on the second one, scores would be Jeff 1 deer 0 on both of them lol. That is the only score I need!