A Sportsman

If you have a long drag ahead of you especially over nasty terrain I would think twice about cutting sternum or pevis open. Better chance for dirt to get in there And/or damage to some meat. Also I imagine legs will be flopping around a lot. But I've cut sternum bones on some deer and it certainly does help get in there.

I agree that is great advice. I think a lot of people get turned off by lack of sightings and fact that the hunting is just so different than what they are used to. May as well be hunting for a different animal. It also took me a bunch of years for the frustration to wear off and enjoyment to begin. Nowadays, after a month and a half hunting from stands on long island, the trip to mountains is a much welcomed change.

On the Island, they are saying up to 3/4 inch of rain. 90% chance all afternoon long. During the gun season, I would most certainly be out still hunting in this. But with a bow, especially with a whole season in front of us, I don;t see it as too wise to be hunting in this. My plan is to run out later, hopefully in a downpour, and select a tree (and maybe trim a little) for a climber for my buddy for us to hunt tomorrow.

Great deer Beachpeaz. Deer of a lifetime for sure.

I noticed deer pounding acorns seemingly all day long on the opener. Lot of sightings. Even during a mid day "speed scout" I saw deer on their feet eating. We can't say for sure what it means. Every year I seem to notice natural waxing and waning of deer activity. And the times of this activity do not always coincide with what I expect. Particularly in october.

Seeing this type of question come up a few times past few days. Answer depends upon the spot and wHy/how you got busted. Do you feel many deer are using it? Do you have the right wind for it? Was it a fluke that the deer approached from an unexpected location? Was the wind seemingly in your favor but maybe was swirling or eddying? Without considering these types of things its tough to make a recommendation. I was very surprised to see so many deer apprach my stand from the bedding area on opening morning. It was opposite of what I expected. Few got spooky but never freaked out to bad. I think the feed bag with acorns has deer coming and going at any and all times of the day right now.

Didn't shoot anything today, but had a terrific opening day. 17 deer sightings (10 morning, 7 evening). 5 Bucks (few small and from what I could tell a wide-as-ears 9 ptr, and a nice buck with a half 8 ptr/half big fork rack. bunch were within 20 yds, few offered shots (neither of the bigger bucks) but I passed. Deer seemed to be moving a lot and from what I could tell from scouting in the midday, they are hammering acorns.

Saying 70 percent chance of rain tomorrow. Boo. Ill be out unless it really rains much more than a shower. Good luck folks.

To the original poster, when to take a bear? When you can. Wondering about extra meat and other hunters is not worth effort or even a second thought.

If I remember correctly, on Long Island there are farms that people can nuissance hunt 24/7 and they can take bucks too. But from a conversation I had with a DEC guy, they are not supposed to take big bucks. But even then I think in certain situations big bucks can be taken, like if they are destroying nursery trees by rubbing. When you consider the various scenarios that could make a buck or bucks disappear all of a sudden the list is long. Nuissance killed, other deer nuissance killed and buck leaves the area, other sport hunters hanging stands all over the property, hit by a car, etc. I have a couple spots that I've hunted over the years where I've wondered what the heck was up with the peice. Like it used to be good and now the deer numbers are much less. You never know. Just gotta take it as it comes and just hunt.

Honest hunter, I completely understand your take on the long island situation. It can be so frustrating. My latest peeve has been since I'm hunting some of the county properties, I'm seeing chain on stands up. Which are explicitly not allowed. I will be calling park police. As said, all you can do is try to enjoy your hunting and try to let the bad "stuff" roll off you. And try to work in some upstate trips to help keep your emotions in check.

The concerns around these 2 young man are well founded. Both in terms of the prospect of wounded deer, as well as their development as ethical hunters who understand what will be required of them and their equipment to "get it right". BUT, we all start somewhere. I will admit that my first 3 or so yrs of bowhunting I was clueless. Dad never bowhunted. And at that age I didn't have the maturity, I guess, to realize that I needed to work hard to learn the nuances of shooting, importance oftuning, etc. It was a blessing that I didn't wound any deer (missed a couple) and met a great hunter in the woods one day who took time to mentor me. It wad like I had to "start over" after 3 yrs of basically wasting my time. If that guy (mentor) wasn't so gracious in helping me out, God only knows how long it would have taken me to get on the right track. (For record, this was pre-internet, and information didn't grow on trees the way it does now).

Point taken Pygmy. Glad I hunt my gun season in an area where bears outnumber people. State land.

Still, "first recorded bear attack". I am a numbers guy. I don't see cause for concern with bears. In terms of personal safety, probably the last thing on my mind in the woods. And good one culvercreek!

I agree Phade. But ill also admit to thinking that way too often myself. Over the years I never seem to see big bucks in mid october. Then Come early november they seem to just materialize. I think its the hunting pressure. For the record, I don't have any non-pressured spots to hunt on long island. Then again, maybe I'm not getting close enough to their bedding areas. I know one thing, I have plenty to learn still.

Depends on where I'm hunting, which will depend on wind. I have a few spots that I know will get "contaminated" by heavy hunting pressure quickly. Would happlily take a doe there. But also have a spot that I don't believe is getting much hunter attention, and I saw a huge buck there the other day with velvet hanging off. Wide as ears but really really tall. Quick glance looked like a 10 ptr. If I get the wind I'm going after him opening afternoon.

I have some areas where I've got my stands all set, or have trees and lanes all cleared for climber. Those areas I';ll stay out of for sure until I hunt them. But I never really stop scouting other areas. If I come across an area that is smoking with sign in early october, I may set a stand and hunt it that evening. I like to intentionally leave myself a few hang on stands to use as we get in to the season. To be honest, I'm a little behind this year as I currently don't have setups prepared for every conceivable wind direction for morning and afternoon. More of my hunting will be on the fly this year. Maybe thats a good thing. I don't know.

I've tried a bunch of grunts over the years. I've been using the true talker for past several. I think whether or not a buck comes in has more to do with that buck and his mood at the time than the call itself. provided you do a decent job calling. But the call definitely works often enough to justify carrying it.

I got a 3/4 mount done on my first and only bear. Honestly I have a little regret in not getting the rug done. Why? Because it surprised me how much of the back of the bear is not used in the 3/4 mount. And that coat is such a cool part of the bear. Also the cost was burdensome (1400). Rug would have been cheaper.

It almost feels gluttonous to want the jan bow season considering we already have 3 months. But I confess. I like it. I never get to hunt in december due to holidays and damage control with wife from november. This would offer a nice opportunity. Plus I like the better chance of some hunting in snow.

Wow that is crazy that it was same deer. Too bad you couldn't find that antler. That is a heck of a wall you got there.

AaronBlaine, Taxidermist will prefer to get the entire bear. You can skin it before hand, but you better make sure you skin it the way the taxidermist wants it done. Easier and simpler to just let him do it. Bowtech2, When do you plan on picking up your father from the taxidermist? Will the bear be done around the same time? : )

I have a bunch of times passed up deer on the first day or during the season that I would have shot, given the opportunity, on the last day. Sure I may regret it a little. But I get over it, and by the following year, its just another hunting story to tell. It seems for me that I change "what I will shoot" as the season goes on. Depends upon how things are going, if I have meat in freezer, how much time I have to hunt, etc.

in that situation, chances are next to nothing that you ccould have stopped him with a call, drew and shot.also that deer would likely be "on alert", may jump string with a bow shot. I've heard that when deer blow at you but don't see you, you can blow back at them and possibly get them to come your way for a shot. Peter Fidducia mentions it in one of his videos. I've yet to try it. Anyway,I Would rather have the rifle in that situation.

I dont have any trail cameras, but I been scouting a few times. One morning I intentially got out early to glass a field that I was interested in hunting near, and saw a big boy out there. Very tall rack, 8 or 10 pts. Other than that I've seen a four other bucks almost accidentally. None big. But to your question.....Its long island, there is always deer around and there is always a chance for a real bruiser rack.