NFA-ADK

Deepest condolences to you and your family.

Regardless of what you believe, if you can hunt the last week of October- November DO IT! For me November 7th (B-Day) is the day to be in the woods through the 21st. Those 2 weeks always seem to be the best action up North but on LI I have seen earlier breeding. These seem to be the early cycle for some doe as the majority still follow the November prime breading dates. With the peak this year around the typical dates of the Nov 17th - 21st (If you follow moon phases.) I would think this years rut would be very intensive with many doe cycling around these dates. This should make the pre-rut chasing phase very intense this year, that's my prediction and I am sticking to it. See how it pans out.

It's not the gun that matter its how well you can shoot with it. Most shots as mentioned before when still hunting are usually up close and personal, 80 yards would be a really long shot that is not typical. For this reason I switched from a 30-06 to a 308 (With over/under sights. ) and then a 44 Mag trapper model that is now my preferred weapon. IF you use a scope put it on the lowest power, this will keep a close deer in view of your scope vs having it on 9 power or maximum zoom will cause the deer at 30 yards take up the entire scope and you will have issues getting on target. Never shoot from the hip on a deer, always put them in your sights and right behind the shoulder. The really good hunters are also some of the best shooters and never let this part of hunting become a week point. Know where to aim from 5 ft out to as far as you are capable of shooting ethically. For me with open sights its about 80 yards or so with the 44 Mag. VIP After the gun is sighted in with the ammo it likes, stop shooting from a bench. As a still hunter your chances of getting a rest to shoot is slim at best so after your sighted in only shoot freehand unless you are rechecking a new bullet or seeing if you are still on target. After you shoot a round get back on target and reload as quick as possible, start slow and be safe and work you way up to a smooth motion so it is second nature. Clean the barrel every time after you hit the range, it will keep it clean and shooting true as it can. When shooting at the range high zoom is ok but always lower it before you leave for hunting. Give you gun time to cool off, at least a few min between shots when checking accuracy from a bench. Always check your fist shot when you go to the range, it should be the one you count on because usually the first one is all that matters. (Sometimes a hot barrel can shoot different than a cold one.) Great advice in the previous posts! Good luck and keep us posted!

Merrell makes a good hiking boot and it lasts. Many options to choose from but they are bit expensive. Probably my favorite hiking boot.

Do you think it was last years fawn that had the newborns? Sounds good to me!

Hunting out of a tree is a much better option as a new hunter for a variety of reasons. Always wear a safety harness and make a float plan if solo, VIP. 1) Your scent is higher off the ground. Good early but late that scent can come back down when it cools. 2) You can spot prey and let them pass without spooking them. 3) Your movement is slightly covered if done properly with cover allowing much more movement than ground hunting will allow. 4) All this allows you to observer and gain more knowledge about how deer interact with each other than you would as a new hunter on the ground. If you are still interested in hunting on the ground I would try a blind or even better a ghost blind, they work awesome! Just need to be a scent control wizard if you want to get good action. And come to Suffolk Archers to learn how to call them in, lol.

I once saw a fawn in the ADK during rifle season with spots. Talk about late breading! Sometimes in these remote area's I think even the bucks have a hard time finding doe at the right time. I would think she was impregnated during the 4th cycle and that would be early February, makes sense that is about 7 months.

While I would love to have you Defrazzle, I understand. This event is for new hunters with little experience or hunters just looking for some more information on hunting new area, calling, tracking, shot placement or just want to see if the bow is tuned properly. Would probably use you and some of the other hunters on this forum for advice while going to each station. I would take new hunters to this event and found myself answering most of the questions they presented. When I was able to keep my big mouth shut I learned the other hunters doing the presentations where as knowledgeable as myself or better. Really just a great place to learn and more importantly share information.

Nice bucks, good luck with them!

Happy B-Day!!! Hope this is the year you get the biggest buck of your lifetime!

Something the activist will never I repeat NEVER understand: Hunters actually help the herd by keeping the numbers down and starvation to a minimum. As a lover of the great whitetail deer I can say that observing them has been one of my most favorite things to do. As a buck hunter (Just started to target doe the past few years for population control.) that has been one of the things I have always enjoyed was watching them without disturbance. To say you can learn much this way is an understatement. Do we celebrate our kill yes but not many of us show the remorse of taking these beauties. I hope to do that this year. Nice pics, Rockspec, sounds like you had a great time watching them! I cant seem to stop watching them when in view and studying them when they are not.

Thanks!!!

The even will be open to everyone and you can come anytime, the shoot will be after lunch around 1pm if anyone is interested. The shoot is just for fun and I will have most targets set up at typical hunting ranges for compound and traditional shooters.

Yes we have a full range. Most of the range will be closed until we are finished with the presentations but after we are having a 3D shoot, so if you want to bring your bow for practice or to sight in we have a 10-30 yard range and a 40-80 yard range. (Typically it would be limited to 60 at this event.) The 30 yard range should be open the entire time. We will also have a spot set up to test your arrow flight and to see what KE you are producing. This is the address, it is really easy to get to our location and the gates will be open. 86 Pidgeon Hill Road in Huntington Station, NY

Can I come live with you? lol Wow really nice bucks with a bunch of great potential, amazing!

Hosting a seminar on deer hunting this weekend on Sunday at Suffolk Archers. Should be a great event for new hunters! Come on down it's free! I will be doing the deer calling. We have tracking, shot placement, how to clean your game. Tree stand safety. Deer search at 8AM will do a presentation and tracking with there dog. Scent control, trading post arrow fletching, arrow flight test and a 3D shoot after all is done!

Great place to get started! Happens this Sunday! Welcome aboard! This is an introduction to hunting so this is right up your ally if your interested!

We started out ok but I started to fade as the sweat and bug spray started getting into my eyes around arrow #90 or so. lol This is how we started off with 20's and 19's. (You get 5 pts for every shot in black, next ring is 4 then 3 is lowest.) Had to take out one of my buddies arrows as he was shooting too good, lol, j/k accidental robin hood on the last pic. He shot out 2 of mine so payback sucked, lol.

Would be nice to see you again John but I understand. I Just hope it is not as hot as this last weekend, I did the field shoot which was 126 arrows of pain and suffering, lol. Shot an 800, not bad but I could have done better, my buddy with an adjustable sight beat me by 10 with a 810. He has been shooting very good. Hope someone comes, lol. Should be fun as long as the heat dies down a bit.

OK I have someone to help with the turkey calling. Should be a fun day of learning! All are invited, come on down and have some fun and a 3D shoot after lunch. If you have any new hunters or hunters just looking to gain some more knowledge it will be a very good event. The cost for breakfast, lunch and entrance fee is FREE!!! Hope to see some of our members! If you do come to the event let me know by responding here or just come up and introduce yourself when you get to the club. Easy to get to our club we are about one mile from Northern State Pkwy. 86 Pidgeon Hill Road in Huntington Station, NY Sunday 21st.

Wow that is crazy!

That smell of fall and that cold air just flips a switch for me. That day all I can think about is how nice of a day this is and how close is hunting season from today? Then it's where should I hunt, happy this year I wont miss the first 2 weeks.

Very cool!

Sure rub it in! lol sorry I am just at work and wish I was with YOU!