NFA-ADK

How this happens is stupidity! Most of these accidents are preventable. Many times you will find the person that was shot was in full BO or at least the upper body was covered. It kind of makes me wonder if these colors are attracting peoples eyes to the spot. I am not against BO but to say this will keep you and everyone in NY protected is just kidding yourself. Simply put we have some idiots that hunt and nothing not even BO will protect you from them! Be safe and careful, I hope this is the last issue we hear about this year! I think we should have a law that states if you fire any weapon at an intended target that was suppose to be game and it turns out to be a person, NOT GAME you should be sent to jail for a minimum of 10 years. Not the same as a deflection or someone in the line of fire or accidental discharge. If you identify game to shoot and shoot it then that game is a person you should go to JAIL!!!

Go to the site and state how great the article and writer is for posting! Like the article and repost as much as possible. This writer did nothing wrong except to state his opinion on ethical hunting. Lets give him all the support we can!!!

That sucks Rob, good luck with it! I have some pluming and roof issues I am trying to tackle, it is a pain in the neck that's for sure!

Congrats! Good shot!

I have had a few close calls and it was up in the ADK. Personally I understand the use of hunter orange but have some issues with it and weather is actually makes you safer in the woods. Personally I have had many hunters pass me anywhere from 5 yards to 100 where they never see me at all as I was in full camo. Would the orange have helped them see me or something they need to focus on with their scope? That is one issue I have seen. Second is many times these idiots who shoot people are doing something illegal and it does not matter what the person was wearing, like the guy in full orange suit who was killed a few years ago. This safety issue is another reason I took up bow hunting and tend to stay on Long Island during southern zone rifle season. You can be the safest person with full orange clothes, it will not stop a moron. They shoot in the dark, they do not identify and place shot, they shoot from the vehicle and drive around with loaded guns. If you intentionally pull a trigger to shoot an animal it had better be one or you should go to jail for a long time. Not the same as an accidental discharge or deflection IMO. Nothing is black and white especially with the news media reporting, they will make any gun hunting story sound as bad as possible just to get viewers and put down the sport.

Labor of love, good luck with the project, looks awesome!

I have seen many dogs while hunting, they usually have to come up to me and say hi. To shoot one knowing it is a pet is just wrong, 2 years in jail should be mandatory! I could understand getting upset but to kill the dog over this is simply wrong! He should loose his hunting rights for 10 years minimum! Plus he should be in jail for 2 years for each dog making it a 4 year term! Throw the book at this jerk!

Very cool Grampy! Congrats! Nice buck!

How much time they have to spend on the sport makes a difference. Most of my friends simply do no have time with the family and work to study and prep for hunting to be successful. (ADK) Location is another factor, you can hunt for 3 weeks straight if no deer are in the area or low population is an issue your chances are much lower on seeing deer let alone getting one. Even pushing deer sometimes is futile as some hunters just can't see deer as well as others and unless the deer stumbles into the 20 yard zone of that hunter they will claim no deer are in the area! Luck helps but you can create more luck for yourself when you become more knowledgeable on your prey. Think like a deer and walk the same path they do, this is where snow tracking is golden and puts you in the same mindset as a deer. Never give up on your goal! The best hunters are driven and determined and never give up! Not all of them get deer every year but they are dedicated more than most are willing to do. This is not just scouting or prepping it includes shooting well, being in shape for what they need to do and a list of other things that many do not consider important. Like Grampy says persistence and patience! To be blunt I was more than addicted from 2001-2013. I kept missing that one opportunity I would get once a year up North in the ADK. It drove me to become a better more persistent hunter and caused me to want even more knowledge on my prey. Granted being persistent alone does not equal success but it will help when things go wrong and you choose what path to take from that point. While I have eased up on my addiction for the most part, I still love chasing deer and if I get another brute I am afraid my addiction my start up again! I would not mind! "How do you always get into deer?" my friends ask? Could just be a good location in a pinch point. Knowing how to read tracks and what to follow and what to disregard, reading what deer are eating for food. Learning terrain features that deer do not like or area they prefer. Shooting good and being in good enough shape to climb the mountain deer might be on. Having the will and skill to go back where others might not go. Being stubborn to the point you will not give up like Buckmaster7600! Getting in early and staying late. Adapting and changing when things do not work. Being quiet and not moving when sitting. I woke up at 3:30AM and basically ran out of the tent one hour later as everyone in camp was still sleeping. I said "Here we are in the middle of the ADK in prime RUT! I just informed you all of a monster buck up on this mountain and what are you all doing this morning, sleeping! This shows me how dedicated you are!" This was the day I got my 2010 buck and was 2 days after I missed another one on the first day. This deer was taken with persistence, dedication and a decent knowledge of how deer communicate. For me this was the day everything I had done wrong in the past and corrected to the best of my ability paid off. This also showed me how addicted I was becoming! I am willing to bet many of the members on this site would have been scrambling to get up and out with me if I told them about the biggest track I have ever seen in the area. Many of my friends talk a good talk when the season is off but when it comes time to getting up early and head out when they are on vacation more often than not they will be sleeping, like I did this past season up north. I just could not get into the zone, but I have 2 more months to hunt! Probably better off passing deer as I often do. Not sure if I can handle getting more addicted to deer hunting than I was a few years ago. Happy I eased off as I was taking it a bit to far.

I have several friends who get deer every year from the same location, are they successful yes but are they good hunters? If shooting a 8pt or better makes them good hunters yes they are great. Take these hunters off their land and all of a sudden they have no clue! Location alone can make a person a good hunter, simply due to the fact that the area has high population and they are on the main runway or pinch point. Try not to base success on what other hunters do or get. We have a big buck hunter at one of my clubs that gets a monster every year, he also feeds them! Take certain things with a grain of salt!

Crazy! I want a deer as badly as most but that to me is not hunting just a poacher who should loose his rights to hunt for 10 years!

Much of the presser on state land drops off now. Great time to check out new area and scout/hunt at the same time. If the land you are hunting has good sign I would say stick it out or at least try it a few more days. Welcome aboard, good luck and be safe!

Wow it does look like a 3.5 to me also, that picture is awesome! He will be a real stud if he makes next year! Good luck with him, real beauty!

Nice buck! Congrats! Nothing like your first buck! Awesome!

Not a good season for safety from what I am hearing. Prays for him, I hope he is ok. I think it is something you should be charged for.. "I thought it was a deer." This is not an acceptable excuse! If you shoot at something and it happens to be a person you should get a mandatory jail penalty for a lengthy time! 10 Year minimum would be a nice start.

Good luck with the recovery! That's is most important! Sounds like you had a good season. Deer are in trouble next year! Nice that you enjoyed your time in the woods, if you can do that every season is a success!

Very Nice! Congrats, that's awesome!

That's does suck Wheels0802. I can kind of understand taking the money but its a low thing to do and a big lose to them. Hope something else turns up and is even better for you! I would look at it this way. If my friendship means that little to them, they where never really a good friend and I would be better off moving on anyway. Again best of luck, hope you find a place that is better and appreciates you more!

Cool video, thanks for sharing!

Put on another layer or two. I find a pair of sweats and a outer rain gear holds in heat nice. Layer! Otherwise get warmer clothes, feet I would get larger boots for sitting and put hot pads on bottom and top if your still cold. Socks wear a hiking sock that removes moister and a thick pair of wool socks. Bibs hold in heat and so do hoods and hats. Depending on how long your walk in is I would not fully dress until in the blind. Otherwise the sleeping bag is a good idea I think if its really cold. Hand warmers in thick mittens is the way to go for people who get really cold along with glove liners and the big hand warmer sock.

I can understand writing an article telling hunters to shoot the young bucks, in rifle only area it tags them out and takes presser off the big smart old deer. (In large population areas this works better.) Only issue I would have is that if everyone did this you could decimate your future prospects. Buckstopshere take a closer look, those are both 2.5 year old deer not the same. Really observe the pics and you can tell. Funny how in big buck areas guys hide the deer they shoot to try and keep the area hush hush, lol. Happens on LI all the time.

Stubby and Core I understand what you are saying. If you are seeing so little deer in the area you hunt, I would try another spot. I understand some area's of the state have low population and a young age structure. If this is the type of area you hunt then take anything you want but that will not improve anything for your spot. Trigger happy neighbors will cause the same issues of low population and age. Some things are out of our hands. Big buck hunters kill very few deer in general. Usually one a year if they are lucky 2 if they do bow and get real lucky. (Not including doe.) If you think this is the reason for low population I would tend to disagree. These hunters pass more deer than many see in the entire season. Now if you talk about the hunters who shoot anything and say they are the cause of low population and poor age, herd balance I would tend to agree. Think about it, if all the hunters in your area only went after 3.5 or older you would have 1-2.5's running all over the place! Steve D I do not agree. Genes help determine rack configuration. Size of the antlers depends on food, health of deer and genes. If that was me in your area I would give that 4 point a chance to get one more year. If he is a big body 4 point and comes out healthy from the winter I would bet 100$ he would become a nice 8 or better next year, if not then I would say take him. Keep in mind the doe give the buck her genes to so even if it is a 3.5 with a 4 point rack that doe could make the next buck she produces a giant. JMO hope I did not offend anyone, and hope everyone has a great day and happy Thanksgiving! I agree with Larry, it's just deer and today the most important thing is family, hope you all enjoy your family day and eat till you can't! Then eat some more! PS: Sorry for writing a book, I was bored!

The article encourages hunters to pass young deer to let them grow. Will this help produce more deer in the 2.5 plus age group? You better believe it! If you pass the young deer it will give your neighbor larger deer to hunt and will hopefully get a better age structure of the herd and doe to buck ratio. This could result in more chasing and wandering of bucks to find a hot doe as many will be bread as soon as they are ready causing a better rut movement of larger deer. JMO Simply put if you look at the big buck area's of NY many of these spots have self imposed restrictions. The hunters in these area's pass many young deer and it shows in the deer they take each year. Just look at the picture above, bet they impose restrictions on themselves. Care to elaborate Larry302?

Happy Thanksgiving! Be safe and good luck to all you hunters out today! Wish I was out! I will have to wait until tomorrow morning! Hopefully I can finally GETSOME! Think I will target doe for the first time tomorrow, new area so I can't wait!

Young bucks 1 - 2 years old tend to disperse from the mothers home range so shooting some of the yearlings should not affect your hunting area unless you are over populated it might help give more food to the other deer. If you hunt large tracts of land, larger than 500 acers then I would not do this because you could eliminate some of your future prospects.