A Sportsman

Jrussel, Some good info above by nyslowhand. What has worked best for me has been to not draw the bow until I foresee a "reasonable chance" for shot opportunity that's about to happen. After that, the timing of my draw is when the deers head is turned or is passing behind a tree. I also prefer to draw as a deer is walking. I never liked the idea of drawing the bow and having to hold it for long periods of time. I don't practice much that way. And whose to say the deer you just drew on isn't about to stop and stay motionless for 5 minutes. This will happen to you as a bow hunter at one time or another but if you can avoid it by not being "draw happy" why not? In short I draw when a deer is in my range or just about to be. As long as the shot is broadside or quartering away. and when deer gives me the chance. I can't think of many Lost chances at deer because I waited to long to draw.

The muzzleloader tag is a bow/muzzleloader tag. So even if you don't use your muzzleloader you can use that tag for deer shot with a bow. At least that's how I understand it. And skillet, a man only gets a certain number of hunting seasons, sitting one out seems a little nuts!

I agree With what you say above WNYBuckHunter. My point wasn't to marry land management supporters with mandatory AR Supporters. My comment was just to illustrate how the sport is changing and that the dec seems to be buying in to some of these changes. particularly, as you state, he idea that hunting for big bucks needs to be improved in NYS. I've been hunting in an AR zone myself for the past 4 or 5 years. Hasn't changed much for me and my group. Cost us a couple deer where 3rd point could not be confirmed in time for a shot.

I too see this as a precursor to ARs popping up in many places if not statewide. And deep down, that is probably why I am doubtful I will like whatever they've got cooking. With the changes we see our sport undergoing, specifically with so much investment in food plots And managing land to grow Bucks, I can't help but see these future buck regs as a manifestation of that. And it's upsetting. Call me old school, complacent, whatever.

Ok well there it is. "More efficient than changing rules wmu by wmu". Efficiency equals easier for dec. But I think at the expense of flexibility and management success. I don't see it as that complicated to go Wmu by wmu. We'll see though. They'll do what they are gonna do and I will continue to hunt.

So if the dec wants to manage one subset of wmus differently for bucks than another sunset of wmus, why can't they do so without establishing/demarcating the new larger zones? All they need to do is list the wmus that fall under whatever management scheme they want to use. This is not complicated. In fact it's exactly how the dec has been implementing the current AR zones. Plus as doc points out I would think the dec would have more flexibility to adjust their buck management regulations if they use wmus rather than the larger multi wmu buck management zones. What if you have an oddball wmu with very different deer herd in the middle of your buck management zone? Once we get all the details it will make for better discussion but I'm sorry, to me this smells funny.

On the flip side, if they were extending it for the reason of using hunters to take more deer, you would think they'd want to get the information out to hunters. I don't do the shotgun season so if the extension does not happen I am done dec 31. For the sake of making plans for the next 2 weekends I really would like to know now what the decision will be.

Agree but if you strike out on the 150 class deer and have to eat your tag it doesn't necessarily mean you hunted poorly. Maybe it just wasn't in the cards. This is probably samantics. Some hunters may complain about the hunting, some guys don't and just say striking out is part of the game sometimes, and some guys I guess never ever fail. I'm personally the middle guy.

Agree with most of what's being said here. However Sometimes the herd really does take a beating. And those of us who hunt a large enough area, and have for many years, we can tell when numbers are down. For me it's just part of the game. Some years are more challenging than others. I love it all. And just about every yr have my chance at a buck either way. But just saying it's not always all in hunters minds.

For what its worth, where I hunt in central catskills the hunting was much more difficult than the past several years. I could tell by the significantly less deer tracks seen in my spot. My spot is huge and covers 3 different large mountains with elevations over 3000 feet. I fully understand what nyantler and phade are saying regarding the idea that "not getting it done" is more often on the hunter than the deer herd. And I mostly agree with them. But I would caution that it doesnt hold true at all times and for all places. Where I hunt the hunting is normally difficult (not many deer as compared to elsewhere). But sometimes it can be noticeably more difficult for periods of time (years). There is nothing in my area that would ruin or change the hunting other than a poor mast crop, a couple of nasty winters and a coyote population. Or a combination of the three. No agriculture, food plots, poachers, or whatever. After 7 days climbing all over the mountains, I know without a doubt based on sign and sightings that the population is down. Hence that could be the reason for a guy having a lousy gun season. All that aside, my group of 5 did pretty well. In 7 full days of hunting, 3 guys shot bucks and one guy wounded one. I unfortunately was the chump who wounded one. Easy shot that I blew and I'm still sick over it. But We worked as hard as ever this year and probably owe our success to knowledge coming from years of hunting those mountains and some pretty darn good still hunting conditions that we had for opening week.

I hear what pistolp 71 is saying re the 3 month season. But I never get to hunt December. Too much family and holiday stuff. So I'm selfishly hoping season is extended.

finally saw some rutty behavior yesterday. coulple of bucks on their feet for for a good part of the morning. nose to the ground, one was zig zaging through the woods. I shot a button buck early (was still looking for meat). He went down about 50-60 yds away. Then a 10 ptr came in and was sniffing the dead deer. The 10 worked he way over to me at about 18 yds but never offered a shot. I needed a few more steps. Was a good buck but not overly impressive. inside ears, not all that high, decent mass. but a legit 10 points. Oh well. If he would have presented a shot I would have had a tough decision to make. he made it for me. Anyway glad I could finally close the deal on some meat. the button was damn small but will taste good.

I've experienced the "slow down" that seems to happen most years in mid october. Call it a lull or not, I can only tell you what I see. And I do not overhunt stands. and I always hunt with the wind in my favor. and I scout and try different impromtu set ups. Past few times out I've seen a few deer but its been slow. Got a bunch of Vaca time coming up here and I hope it picks up. Cold snap should be interesting.

I guess being an idiot is in your DNA as well.

Hi Backwoods, unless you've got a real good spot picked out where you always see sign and/or deer, I'm not sure a ground blind is worth it. Few reasons, with gun you don't need deer to be spitting distance to kill them. Usually mountain will have natural terrain that can be used to conceal yourself, like a rocky perch, or blown down tree. And also,depending upon the type of blind you are talking about, it may be difficult to get out of the blind and go after a deer if he is escaping and hasn't presented you with a shot.

I'm sorry if my reply came off a little snobby LongIslandHunter12. After I posted it I wondered if it was a youngster i was resonding to. sorry about that kid. I'm glad you were able to check the regs and figure it out. As nyantler pointed out, thats your best source. Good luck out there.

this is a ridiculous question. Please read the NYSDEC's hunting regulations. If you still don't know the answer after reading the regs, come back here and ask the question again.

Awesome deer nyantler. 160 lbs is certainly no slouch either. congrats. Big woods, stalking deer on the ground...doesnt get any better.

Psyched about the supposed timing of the chasing phase. Hope its gangbusters. Past two seasons it seemed like I was keying in too early. This year I got vaca right on it. But From now til about halloween I'm wrapping up some honey-dos, only hunting a little. It seems like chasing is always winding down by the time rifle season in southern zone starts. At least in the catskills where I am. We see many of our bucks locked up with a doe that is just hanging around within a small area, not moving much at all. Not easy hunting. Weather conditions and ability to sneak up on them is most important for us.

Same as many of the others for me, fleece and/or wool for outerwear and poly undies. I think I am using mostly cabelas mtp underwear. I also like to use neck gaitor and or balaclava. Covering your neck in the cold or letting it breath in warmth can make all the difference in world.

Go on nysdec website, everything is right there. There is a lot of state land (no permit needed) and nyc watershed land (which you'll need to obtain permit for) in catskill region. Not that far from columbia county.

Havent been killin it as far as time in the woods. jUst too busy lately. But, from a two morning posts that I did last weekend, it seems that the morning activity went down considerably from opening day til now in the two spots I hunted. oh well. Past up some shots on does and small bucks opening day, havent had any shot opportunities since. Also saw 2 good bucks and one real nice one the first few days of season (no shots), but didnt see any this past weekend.

And I agree with steve863. For some reason, I find a higher percentage of idiots in hunting than other pastimes. Maybe its a long island thing. I don't know. Wish it wasn't this way.

7 ptr (basket 1.5 year old) with the bow, hunting out of an apple tree in livingston manor area. I was 23 I think, 1999. Took 7 or 8 years to finally get one. What a relief!

Interesting Steve863, I like my bear best served with fava beans and a nice chianti. Tht tht tht tht tht tht. Seriously a non dumpster mountain country bear is good eats. Only cut I didn't like was the chops. Next time, chops will be deboned and cut into stew meat.