NFA-ADK

Shooting good is an art and being able to do it under presser is what makes us good hunters. After a 1 + mile trail I would have kept going like many said on the line of the blood trail but that is a long track job. Shame he did not recover it. Some basic lessons learned. One is follow the track well past last blood mark. Second is be sure of your shot and placement, this is much easyer said than done. Anyone who gets an animal they want to shoot gets excited, trying to control our breathing, shot placement and concentrating are all affected and we each have to handle it as best we can. Learning from our mistakes is what makes us better, if he does than this will only make him a better shot and will become a better tracker. As for the rack I would not want that reminder, I have had enough blunders in my time and is one of the reasons I try to shoot often and be as proficient with my weapon as possible. Tell him to keep his head up and learn from his mistakes and he will be a better man for it! Good luck!

Nice adventure, hope he makes it to next year!

My gun season was only 2 weeks in the ADK. Movement was slightly low but the deer where their, just could not find any big bucks and I believe rut happened after I left the area the following week. Trying to push deer for my friends did not help myself get a deer but I would not change a thing as I would love to get one of my friends into an ADK buck. The many factors that will alter deer sightings. 1) I believe the rut happened the week or two before gun season opened depending on area. Causing many deer to go into "food" recovery mode. 2) Bad winter did a number on the old, sick and young resulting in less deer. 3) Less hunter participation = less deer movement 4) Restrictions on antlers cause more hunters to identify and place a shot resulting in less brown and down shooting. 5) Amish, DMP and poaching will affect an area that for sure, did it affect your spot, I have no idea but these issues can decimate the local population! 6) More hunters planting food plots and sitting in trees = less deer movement (Thanks for feeding the deer!) 7) Winter coats are in for deer, try putting on all your heavy cold weather gear and see if you want to move around when it's 50+ degrees out! The way I see it: The combination of an exact rut and excessive food availability and weather cause the perfect storm for opening day with many deer recouping from the rut and remembering how bad last winter was the early snow storms set them into a "Winter feeding mode" to conserve energy and store up some fat. The old doe remember and know that surviving the winter requires eating when it is available! Overthinking it, maybe. No doubt many of the factors mentioned will affect deer sightings but to have much of the state complain about deer sightings has to be a universal factor and to me that is the timing of the rut combined with abundant food, weather, presser from hunters and possible foresight of a bad winter to come. Overthinking it maybe but it makes sense to me!

I just resprayed my clothes 2 days ago, the extra 20$ is well worth it! After going through 500 yards of jungle in some really thick pines I am thankfull I did! Normally I do not bother at this time of the year but temperatures dictate it. Money well spent!

Brute with a broken main beam, FIGHTER!!! Very nice, congrats on an awesome buck! Your first is a dandy!

I take my 30-06 and 30-30 but my prefered gun is the Model 94AE in 44 mag. Not that you cant shoot past 100 yards but I typically find most shots are less than 50 yards and the open sights make it easy to get on target with little recoil follow up is as quick as you can reload. When I hike in deep it's a blessing. I use to think the great scope and long range was needed but found in reality my hunting is up close and personal so long range and scope is just excessive weight that is not needed but nice to have just in case an open area shows good sign.

No easy way to get your extra clothes in, it's just a hard way to hunt! In real cold weather I tie a one piece suit to the climber otherwise I just carry it in the day pack. Usually by the time I set up the stand I am cooled off enough to suit up, I use two ropes one for day pack and one for bow. Sometimes get dressed in stand if I'm still hot. It's been a few years since I used my climber.

12/5/15 Late afternoon hunt I was in stand by 2pm. Saw about 10 deer but only had shots on the 2 different yearlings one browsed under my stand for about a half hour and the second one stayed for about 15 minutes. Heard something crash about 3:30 and found my buddy had taken a doe in our big buck only spot. He had not taken anything in 2 years so it was nice for him to get one down. 9 yard shot was hard for him to resist. She was an old girl and blind in one eye. Good day hunting. Not seeing the big boy on camera anymore, depressing. Hoping one of the other spots will produce. Now I just need to find more permethrin!

Nice! Good luck BigVal, hope the big one comes your way!

Very nice, great year congrats!

They aged him at 1.5, should have given him a pass. lol j/k I would think he is 5-7. Yep no big bucks in NY move along, nothing to see here. Any deer hunter on the planet would shoot that one!

​LOL Deer Thug! I am in the same boat! Doing an afternoon hunt today and doe are on the radar. Hope the big boys are on their feet, good luck!

WoW amazing buck!

Welcome aboard! Great site, don't take anything personal we like to argue, lol. Even if your right, sometimes someone will say you are wrong. Congrats on getting your first antlerless with the bow!!!

​Nice buck. He is probably trying to keep low due to the idiots who will say he should not have shot it.

Love that area, I hunt in Moose River for my weeks long vacation. Buddy was at the top of Indian lake moutian today. Wondering if he is mountian climbing, hiking or hunting, lol.

They are spreading throughout LI that's for sure!

Another reason why I would rather bring it to a butcher vs MY house.

If you have the time and money it is worth the extra effort.

This is one of the many areas I have not hunted, wow it sounds really cool! I know some brutes have been taken out of these spots, good luck!

I believe you are right, it has started. Just sucks I have to work the next two days.

Some interesting data.

Unless he is talking about LI he is wrong! I posted at the bottom of the article.

Doing the same thing over and over that does not work can lead to frustration. Try changing up your game a little bit. Go in early enough to let the woods settle and hunt all day until dark. Keep at it the second rut is just starting and should be good this week and next. The fact that you are seeing deer is a good sign you just have to be in the right spot at the right time and make sure your clothes are as scent free as possible. After the season make some trails for the deer to follow that block off some spots and funnel them into your shooting lanes. It will make your stand much more enjoyable and successful. Good luck and keep at it you will connect eventually! The best hunters have one thing in common, persistence! Don't give up and enjoy your time outdoors!

Pretty cool!