A Sportsman

I like the addition of a big woods forum. I use scent control products in the mountains but more out of habit than anything else. I hunt from ground and do a lot of walking so I have the ability to hunt a favorable wind. Plus wind is often pretty swirly in mountains. Scent control is just a low priority for me out there.

When we hunt the catskill mountains there seems to be an uptick in movement during the mid day. It has nothing to do with other hunters moving them as there aren't any other hunters, or very few. We are primarily still hunting and sitting. Sometimes we do pushes of sections of land. But the biggest bucks we have killed have been on their feet on their own (not pushed). And just as information,I think the time of 1130 to 130 seems the best out of that 4 hour time period. At least that's how our numbers play out. And also as info since 2005 my group of 6 or 7 guys has shot 5 big bucks and 4 of the 5 were shot during those hours. The younger bucks that we got were more spread out time wise and more vulnerable to being pushed or driven from cover.

Nice Buck Geno. I have been getting out here and there. I keep thinking that the sightings will improve as we have come into NOvember, but have been actually seeing fewer deer the past couple times out than I was during october. And I have yet to see a buck chasing a doe. Not even little bucks. Past two posts Ive seen one buck, each time. This morning I had a decent 8 pointer come in (actually may have been a 9 as I notice a little kicker coming off the side of one beam) but it took a bad turn to my south and winded me. Wind was all screwy for me today. They were calling for NW, but it was swinging east a lot. Hopefully something shakes loose for me. I'll be out tomorrow and Tuesday. After that I likely can't hunt til the gun opener upstate.

Hahaha. I really didn't give the comment much thought. Just trying to illustrate a point. My son is 4 months. I got a long way to go before we are hunting together. I just hope that he has the bug for the outdoors the way I do.

I think you guys (teebug and adk) are getting a little carried away with what is being said here. Proponents of the current regs, like me, are just saying that 12 for bow and 14 for rifle is adequate. We are not saying to wait until the kid is 21. Let's face it, a 5 year old can barely wipe his nose or tie his shoes. Nothing wrong with a guy waiting a little longer to take him. You want to take him out before legal age, what's the big deal about him not carrying/shooting the gun. Let him appreciate first just being out with his dad. I think many guys on here would agree that you're right in saying kids are being raised in a screwed up technological, overly parented, soft environment these days. But I think guys who wait til there kids are a little older to bring them hunting are the least of the problem. When I was a kid, my dad likely wouldn't have taken me at all if I was getting into trouble or not putting effort into school. That's how I was raised and I am greatful for it. Taking your kid hunting is only 1 part of raising him. There is obviously a lot more to it that should not get lost on whether or not he was cutting the rear end out of a deer by age 6 or 8 or whatever.

I think guys get used to hunting private property, maybe with some farm fields nearby where there may be relatively high numbers of deer. They sit in relatively small woodlots and see deer a high percentage of the time. Then when they lose the property, the idea of hunting big woods, possibly with other hunters, and usually fewer deer, is a tough adjustment. I hunt both scenarios and each has its allure to me.

I can't wait to get my son hunting so don't take this the wrong way but Another thing that tweaks me about this is that at these young ages kids get tired and cold out there, they can't walk all day, can't drag deer if necessary, patience is shot. I think sometimes it sounds good in theory but isn't quite like what you think.

Beachpeaz, if you didn't mention it, I would have. The idea of a 5 year old standing over a deer that has been spined and is flailing and "baaing" is disturbing to me. Like you said, a kid that young may not be able to process everything in the right light. We need to be patient about this. Also, some kids may in fact be ready at an earlier age than others. But as a dad I wouldn't want to have to explain to my son why some other kid hunts with his dad yet I don't take him yet. With a set age that guarantees most kids are developed enough, it alleviates the concern. There is a lot we can do with kids before they are ready to hunt. Fish camp, hike, scout, etc. And its all a great primer for raising a future hunter. This is how I was raised. And I think for me, the fact that I had to wait until I was a little older made me want it all that more. I think it also made me look at it as a priveledge just to be out there.

Ouch. Was out sunday. 3.5 hour post in morning and 3.5 hour post in afternoon. At 2 different spots. Didn't see anything. Was pretty windy in afternoon. I probably should have chosen a stand closer to thick cover. But still that spot is a funnel and when rut is on it is almost a guarantee to see deer. I'm sure the movement is up but yesterday was a bust for me.

Kencan, funny you say that. I have seen 24 does so far while on stand, yet only 1 buck. A small 6 that I passed on. I've been seeing deer consistently yet hunting various stands at variopus locations. Been meaning to take a doe but each time either its at last light, or the shot isn't stupidly easy. Yesterday morning a doe was 23 yds. Broadside. But I restrict myself to 20 so I passed. But I know I canmake the shot, just overly cautious.

Good advice so far. Covering ground and looking for mountain features like benches, saddles. To add to that, the tops of ridges,and also the corners of mountains (where one mountain meets another). A lot of good info can be obtained from topo map before you even step foot in woods. Also, don't be put off if a whole mountainside doesn't show you a track. Sometimes large areas can be pretty dead. This could be a food thing but also if weather has them holed up or if the deer themselves just aren't moving for whatever reason. This is why covering ground is important. Especially the first couple days of your hunt, or if you have a chance to scout.

I was out monday, just for the morning. Tried a new spot (public land). Wound up seeing 2 deer early in the morning, one doe and one I couldnt make out. Both at about 50 yards. Then later on I had 2 does and 2 fawns pass behind me. Then at about 930am, I had another doe and 2 fawns pass the same way behind me (about 30 yards away through thick cover). Sunday morning I had a big doe come in just after first light. I had all intention of shooting, but she stayed at a quartering to angle. At one point, she stopped about 9 yards. It was tempting to try a shot due to the close range, but I held off. Then she came closer until she was 3 yards (still quartering towards). Then she caught my wind and freaked out running away blowing. She kept blowing as she made her way over a 100 yards from my stand. She musta been a keen, spooky doe. I have yet to see a buck in the 5 posts I;ve put in so far. And Most of the movement I've been seeing has been very early, just after first light.

For me, it seems like what I would shoot seems to change as season goes on. Its tough for me to balance where I am as a hunter in terms of my scoutin, knowledge/ability with the reality of how much time I have to get out, which isn't a whole lot. Have posted 5 times so far this season. Sure opening day it would take a real nice buck for me to shoot. But I'm not ashamed to say that if its getting on into november and I don't have a rack, my standards are dropping pretty fast. For us long island guys we are in a slightly different boat. We still have our archery buck tag which can be used through december. So the game isn't necessarily over if we shoot a small buck early in the season. All that said, I really don't want to shoot a little buck. Say 1.5 and under. Have enough of them.

I know. Quiet over here. I was out again just for a morning hunt and scout on tuesday. Public land. Just had 2 pass me in the dark. Seemed like does but I couldn't see them. Then nothing else. In my scouting I was still seeing more old rubs than new ones. But The rubbing I'm sure is picking up by the day. Its been frustrating for me so far. Work and life have been getting in the way of hunting time.

My bud shot a doe with one the other day. To my eyes the holes didn't appear as wide on his deer as I've seen with other deer killed with the regular rage 2 blade. But then again every hit is a little diFferent as far as angle and what the head hits, etc. His shot was broadside and was a tiny bit behind lungs. It was liver and gut. Deer went 150 or 175 yds. It likely woulda died closer but thinking it was a double lung we started tracking too soon and bumped it about 75 yds in. we then backed out and came back later and found it dead at about 160. The head did its job. Ill need a bigger sample size before I'd make a judgemewnt tho.

My bud shot a doe with one the other day. To my eyes the holes didn't appear as wide on his deer as I've seen with other deer killed with the regular rage 2 blade. But then again every hit is a little diFferent as far as angle and what the head hits, etc. His shot was broadside and was a tiny bit behind lungs. It was liver and gut. Deer went 150 or 175 yds. It likely woulda died closer but thinking it was a double lung we started tracking too soon and bumped it about 75 yds in. we then backed out and came back later and found it dead at about 160. The head did its job. Ill need a bigger sample size before I'd make a judgemewnt tho.

In my years hunting the catskills its uncanny how the biggest of our bucks have come during this period of 1130 to 130. I think I remember reading somewhere that this midday period is even better when there is a full moon.

I have a funnel spot that I intend to do this at this year. I started hunting it last year in the mornings and evenenings and found that sometimes I would spook deer in the morning getting in the dark, they would be hanging out ritght in and around the funnel area. IN fact, trying to hunt it in the morning was probably folley on my part. Another time last year, I was coming through that area in the late morning (I think to prepare a tree for climbing stand) and i had a big 8 pt chase does right past me. I think it was some time after 11. Over the years me and some of the guys I hunt with have seen nice bucks on their feet, particularly in that middle of the day period, Like 1130 til 130pm. And these are not deer that are being pushed around by other hunters getting up. These are unpressured deer.

Hey Honest Hunter, I'm a fellow LI fishermen (surfcaster actually)who gives up the fall fishing for hunting. A bunch of years ago I had a whole bunch of this type of Sh#t happen to me. It pissed me off so bad I quit bowhunting the island for 2 seasons, and just fished. After the 2 years I missed bowhunting more than I can tell you. So I came back to it, but with a new atitude. Sadly, i expect some of this BS to happen from season to season, so when it occurs it rolls off me a little easier. This morning I was hunting county land and had dirt bikes buzz by a few times. Tuesday morning, county land and you still have these stupid issues. Anyway, Good luck to you. I hope you make up for it by shooting your best buck this year.

I definitely took it as Early trying to spice things up, rather than get into an actual debate. But still I don't think his issuees w cameras are that far fetched. I still haven't bought a camera. Not sure if its because I hunt public land, or that I'm a little "careful" with my money, or if I think using them crosses some kind of line. Maybe a little bit of everything. I do however enjoy reading the posts and looking at the photos in the trail camera forum here.

Was out yesterday with a buddy. Public land. I passed on a lone doe in the morning. Then my bud shot a doe. A bit of a track job was needed but we found her. Small..maybe 50 lbs. Looking at wound you would say double lung, but it was in fact liver and front of gut. Track job was thru thickest stuff you can imagine. Got her home, quartered, and into an iced cooler. Then ran out for the afternoon. I was in an area just off a big farm field. Had 2 does and 3 fawns show up at last light. Only had shots at the fawns and I passed. Buddy saw a 4, spike, and doe. Passed. Very long day. Slept like a baby last night. Great to be out again.

30 yards quartering to you is worse than difficult,you are asking for disappointment with that shot. Sorry.

It bothers me to have people just getting into hunting, having never shot a deer, who would turn down a small buck. Just my gut here, but I think that these people never really existed until relatively recently with the way hunting is portrayed on TV. And with the internet banter. the idea that someone would passing up bucks, while they never learned what it was like to take one down, just doesnt sit right with me. A hunt isnt over when the gun goes off, or when the arrow is released. You have misses, you have bad shots where you need to trail a deer, gutting, dragging, butchering, etc. Picture having zero experience with all this, yet someohow feeling like a measly 12 in wide six pointer is "beneath you". No good IMO. Re Tag Soup, I have gone a few seasons where I was waiting for a nice buck, and it never came. In fact, I think a couple of those seasons, i never shot a doe, for whatever reason. It wasnt the end of the world, but I remember come the following season, I was taking the first good shot I had _buck or doe.

Here is one way you "educate" someone into being more selective. You allow them the freedom to shoot what they want. And thru the normal progression of things they naturally do it in their own. That's how I got that way, and I'm willing to bet most others have too. Teaching someone to be selective before they get the experience of killing, trailing, gutting, dragging and eating a few just doesn't seem natural to me. And I am not talking about kids getting into it. Full grown adults also should be given a chance to progress as hunters same way many of us did.

Disagree. But understand peoples frustration when they hunt aread where its all small private land and everyone around you shoots little bucks. Is it me or has the makeup of the people on this forum swayed noticeably more to the disagree side, say from where we were 2 years ago. NY Antler good post above. As far as regs and seasons Our opportunities as hunters have increased over the years. I often get the feeling that a lot of people don't appreciate it and sorta take it for granted. Like some dudes always think things could be better somehow.