QB1

I see your point, I wouldn't want to send Nugent to a meeting to fight for hunting rights if they were on the line because he is so one-sided. My opinion is Nuge has a genuine love for the sport, eats what he kills, is an advocate to many rights we all are blessed to have, and uses his celebrity status to help an overall cause for bearing arms and hunting. How he goes about showing it may not be the same way I would do it, but as long as he is adamant about hunting and educating the next generation and those nay-sayers go right ahead....now who likes Stan Potts?

I did read about that, and actually found it quite funny because if I recall he would have gotten away with it if it wasn't on his show which aired on TV then he got the fine...knucklehead to say the least...but I think it was in Cal he was fined and he just didn't know the regulations...he hunts all over and I know he hunts over bait, I believe 99% of the time its legal, I'm sure he thought it was legal in Cal, should have made sure but he didn't and paid the price. I don't think one mistake takes away from everything else he is doing for the sport

You can label poor behavior as not being"politically correct," if you want..... I prefer to point out that it is poor behavior. It doesn't hurt hunters to be a little sensitive around non-hunters....in fact, it helps our image. Loud mouthed, in your face, blatantly disrepectful hunters do not help our image. ArrowFlinger I agree to a non hunter he can come off as disrespectful, but to anyone that knows a thing or two about hunting for the most part I think he is great for the sport.

Stop, please. "Whackmaster?" "Kill it and grill it?" "Whack 'em and stack 'em?" He is one of the most disrespectful that I have ever seen. All of us have our own one liners (if its brown is down, etc) so he hypes it up by using them for ratings I don't see it as being disrespectful. If you have ever watched his show and seen how he praises his kills which pretty much range from fawns to Trophies you can tell he really enjoys the outdoors and living off the land. To me being disrespectful to hunting is guys that hunt the wrong way, baiting, poaching, littering, etc...to say he is one of the most disrespectful because he's gonna throw his kill on the grill and wants everyone to know not so much. If he wants to hold his bow like a guitar after smoking a buck and yell "Back Strap Feveeeer...Da NaNaNaaa" more power to him

I introduce Ted Nugent.... Although at times Nugent is over the top and to someone who doesn't hunt he could be a real turn off I do appreciate his genuine enthusiasm and love for the outdoors. He has one of the most pure respects for his kills and is also noted for his conservative political views and his ardent defense of hunting, conservation, and gun ownership rights. He does not do drugs which is easy to assume just by his looks and that he is a rock star but actually is a big support of several anti-drug/anti alcohol campaigns. I would love to see him in a debate with some of the D-bags who are against hunting and the outdoors because they believe its cruel and inhuman. Now that would be entertaining.

I think there is much more dedication when it comes to Bow-hunting, everyone can get lucky but I think the most successful hunters are the ones who put in the time (practice, scouting, tending to their land etc.) Anyone can point and shoot a gun, it always drives me crazy when you here...BANG BANG BANG BANG, hell my grandma would have a good chance of hitting a Deer with that many shots. For the most part I think every deer I've gotten thus far has been from luck, but if/when I lock in on a certain buck study his routine and hunt that buck all season or multiple season when I finally lay the "Beast" to rest there will be much more of a satisfaction then going out with the boys and doing a drive and and shooting whatever shows up. I apprecaite all deer I can harvest but the ones I actually feel I had to work for in order to best my chances are the ones that I will cherish.

Thanks. That was in Ontario County, outside of Canandaigua down RT 21 south just passed Cheshire.

I suppose many photos from members may have been from many years ago and tough to upload but I thought it would be cool to see some of pics of everyone's first Buck taken. Here is mine from my first season shotgun hunting in 2007. It was a 9pt, we measured it this year at approx 108-110 inches. Had a grin from ear to ear for days.....

One of my hunting buddies shared this with me...although at times he seems a bit over the top I respect his opinion and view him as a Leader in the outdoor world.... THE CELEBRATION OF DEATH by Ted Nugent I know, I know, upon reading my inescapably obvious title, the socially challenged amongst us are spitting coffee or other some such beverage and assorted abused brown lippy substances all over their Texas Fish & Game magazine. In a world gone berserk with the scourge of politically correct denial, I expect nothing less. The good news is that within this fine coterie of rugged outdoorsmen and women in whose hands this fine publication rests, the vast majority of hunters, fishers, trappers and just good ol all American grillmasters know exactly what I am talking about, and in fact grin with the certainty that though totally unnecessary to state in the world of honest consumers, in America 2010 it is time to state the truth as often as possible, confortable or otherwise. And though I’ve heard it stated over and over again and again ad nauseum ad infinitum, I dismiss out of hand the lame claim that the kill is anticlimactic to the hunt itself. Yeah, right. I see it all the time where sporters get way more excited and jubilant when they don’t bring home fish and game than when they do. No one cherishes and celebrates the entire hunt and hunting lifestyle more than I do, but give me a break. When the beast is dead at our feet due to the incredible dedication, diligence, patience, sacrifice and good old fashioned good luck, the fun factor explodes exponentially when we kill, and we all know it. The claim otherwise comes from some elitist, out of touch outdoor industry so called leaders, and certain cowardly outdoor writers that are afraid of their own shadows and recoil in abject trembling fear at the assumption that all people outside our sport hate us, hate dead deer and pretend that their store bought dinner is not dead. Not even close. Of course, known by those of us who actually pay attention to life and hang out with attentive, intelligent and sophisticated folk, we are well away that our very lives carryon due to that very celebration of death. Numerous times each day throughout humankind history, it is the flesh of dead creatures that provide man life itself. For those of us that hunt, fish and trap, the term “closer to the earth” wasn’t at all necessary to remind us where our protein and nutrition comes from. As we like to say, you can’t grill it till you kill it. Perfection personified. As we approach our fallen prize, as we turn the straps on the grill, as we take a good hearty snort of prepared meals’ aromas at the table, and as we join hands in reverent thanks to the Creator for the miracle of sustain yield, all the way through the “mmm.. mmm goods”, “yums”, various questionable guttural noises, burps and other assorted such audible sounds of appreciation and joy, clearly genuine celebration ensues for dead stuff everywhere. I’ve also heard of the feelings of remorse some consumers claim at the death of an animal. I’m not buying it. If ever there was a perfect act and a perfect moment, it is when we balance the herd and bring food home to our loved ones. Remorse? I think not. So to quote the great Fred Bear, we all surely know that everyday afield does indeed “cleanse the soul”, but of much more importance, done with a sense of excellence and dedication to be the best that we can be, the results will fill our bellies too! I share a lot of very special meals with my fellow man in my travels around the world, and I have yet to witness anything other than celebration at the table or campfire. Let it be known, the creatures feed, clothe, shelter and medicate us. Always have, always will. That is the prime cause of celebration in life, of life, via death. The beast is dead, long live the beast.

Had the same thought myself, for instance if you hunt near an apple or oak tree, is it illegal to rake the apples or acorns into a tighter bunch or pile? Unethical to me but would it result in a fine? How about in front of a trail cam?

Never really Hunted hard until after College, playing football really took up all of my Fall. Prior to College it was mostly fishing with some small game hunting experiences. My #1 Hunting Moment was when I got my first Deer in 2007, was my first season hunting, had no clue what I was doing. Went out with a friend wearing his Grandpa's 1970's camo one piece, he pulled it out of a chest in his basement and the thing reeked of moth balls. We get out and he puts me on top of this hill and he scoots off right before sunlight. I'm sitting in the crotch of a try and as the sun comes up my anticipation is growing fast...not 30 minutes after light I see a doe come booking across the hill right behind her I see horns, the horns were all I saw, I was hypnotized, I fumble to me feet as they cross around 50 yards in front of me from my left to right, I stepped out from just inside the corner of hardwoods I was sitting and am now in the field in plain sight with gun on my shoulder aimed at these two lovebirds. She turns now and decides to go in the other direction so now heading from my right to left I don't want to just start ripping shots so I just kept waiting for them to stop. By this time they've ran back by me and started to round the corner of woods where I would not have a shot. Again I am now walking in the open field, covered in orange and they turn back around now coming right at me. She buckles down 50 yds in front of me and the buck gets behind her and starts to do his thing...Bang! He drops she takes off. He was a 9 pt just around 110 inches. One of the best moments of my life, did get some business from my buddies for shooting him while he was getting busy but my response was always he died with a smile. What really baffled me was that neither the Buck or the Doe took any care that I was standing right there, stinking of moth balls, I must of done all the things to blow this hunt but he was so concentrated on her that he didn't care I was ready to put a slug in him. #2 outdoor moment was when I was probably 9 or so, teaching my cousins to fish at the lake. He had a small mickey mouse pole and I am trying to hook him up with a sunny from underneath the boat, next thing I know a nice Largemouth comes out and nails the bait, now at the time this bass looked like a monster and when your using a mickey mouse tiny pole it feels like a monster, so I am battling this Bass with a tiny pole as the whole family is watching finally I am able to get him outta the water to pose, he was probably a 3-4 ib fish nothing crazy but just a really exciting experience at that stage of my outdoor life. #3 was this past hunting season, only got a doe but became a part of a hunting club and really started to learn the in's and out's of managing land and becoming a solid all around hunter. Now everyone I hunted with had their best year to date so I got to be a part of several big buck kills. Started sharing thoughts and experiences on forums like this and really just took in as much knowledge I could. Hunting really has gone from a Hobby to a Lifestyle pretty much since that first kill in 2007.

Totally agreed, and as far as I know this was the only instance bait was present, wasn't hunted over, wasn't used during the season. Just put out for the Cam during pre-seaon scouting, doesn't make it right but I would have been pissed if I found out my guys bagged their bucks bc they used bait, I had to be the butt of jokes all season bc I only got 1 doe during shotgun but got her hunting the right way, legally. Now I don't want to crucify my buddies because I have learned a lot from them, and other then this instance with mineral in front of his trail cam the only illegal slip up I've come across while hunting with this crew (all three of them had great success as you can see from those pics) When it comes to pictures with baiting its more of an irritation kind of like a "c'mon man" try getting those same pics without baiting, but not something I pull my hair out over. Same irritation when I see states that allow feeders and you see pictures or shows with hunters who bag monster bucks while they eat from a bait pile, I guess its a sort of jealously bc they can argue well its legal, I get that but bc I grew up hunting this way I feel its the right way and any other way is cheating...almost like a steroids and baseball comparison. See if you can hit 70 homers off the juice then we'll talk.

I also live in Rochester but travel to Heritage Sports to work with Mike Price when it comes to learning the proper technique to shoot. Mike is an awesome guy with tons of knowledge on the sport of bowhunting. He has a great shop and takes great care of his clients. http://www.heritageoutdoorsports.net/home.html http://www.jpsarchery.com/ Jim's is another place on the way towards Heritage never been but I know my buddies have shot at this facility during the winter season. Might be too far for your liking but I highly recommend Mike Price as someone to speak to especially being a new bow shooter. Maybe you can take your wife drop her off at the outlet mall and go see Mike while the Mrs. does some shopping.

I have an opinion on this. Trail cams are for scouting,to get some idea of deer movement.And to see what is there,when we aren't. Natural deer movement that is. Bringing them to an established bait site is not really helping the hunting part of it. I choose to pick random trails or agriculture field corners. A bait pile is not a guarantee anyway. I have friends in states ,where baiting is legal and they will tell ya the same thing. But the fact that it is illegal in ny.Means loss of hunting privledges and forfeiture of personal property. And your name smeared in the paper for all to see. Not worth it to me. I posted a video up the other week a buddy made without the knowledge he had a mineral pile in front of the trail cam heck I didn't even notice until it was brought up by a fellow forum follower. My thought is that having a mineral or bait pile in front of a cam will bring more deer and result in more pics but I use my trail cam to pin point the regular travel routes of deer, baiting only brings them to the cam and when that food is gone there back to there usual route, so unless you are hunting over the bait what good is it to even bother using the bait just for a few more pics. Makes more sense to me to position a came near a rub, scrape, or known travel route to catch deer in there nature movement. This is what I am going to bring up to my friend when when we hang cams again for next hunting season. "Nothing good comes from ill gotten gains" Jackie Gleason

Thanks, unfortunately I was not able to pose with any horns (I ended my hunting season with only a Doe under my belt) but saw/passed on the most deer I have ever seen this year. I like to think it was because I was the newbie to the land this past year and I've already told the boys I'm taking down the Big Buck contest for 2011.

That came off wrong I'm sorry...Not a shot at you grow I agree with what your saying I'm just thinking that we can discuss past things that we can debate about without worry about being reported about minor things but as you pointed out we have to even be descret about that. And that people on this site have been pretty open about subjects that could lead to a fine but your point is right on was the birdfeeder in the guys yard seems like he could have a legit argument to fight that?

Thanks, and I hear ya. Now if I thought this was a site where a minor violation (mineral pile in-front of a cam) would turn into a fine then I would be a little more careful on what I post. That being said I have read multiple stories in which a violation had occurred and did not hear about it turning into a fine or a big deal. I like to believe most of us are ethical hunters and try to do whats right, now I am not ignorant to mistakes being made along the way and I do like to hear opinions both positive and negative which I think in turn will make us all better hunters. We've all been in or around situations whether its our self or a buddy who is in violation of a DEC law, shooting 2 deer with one slug on accident, mistaking doe and button buck, trespassing, illegal baiting, etc. If it was an honest mistake how you handle the situation and become better from it speaks on what type of person/hunter you are. And from the stories I've seen for the most part I've sided with the Hunter who made the mistake but owned up to it and made the best of the situation. I don't think anyone on here is out to find violators and turn them into the DEC and I would hope there isn't people stupid enough to post something serious enough to make me consider turning you in, but I've learned to never say never.

My buddy sent me a bunch of pics of the deer taken off the land, that 3rd pic buck is actually a pic from 2009, I didn't noticed it was his buck from 2 seasons ago when I posted it. Here is the Buck Wes took during the 2010 Bow Season

Took a walk with the Mrs. in late December, right around New Years, very warm out great weekend. Found this shed on top of the snow, not a lot of mass but real long tines. Very surprised to see one down that early but was happy to scoop it up.

a go at me? lol i was only pointing at the obvious, no pun intended really... no its not legal... im not knocking you. What I meant was have a good debate, honestly I hadn't even looked that close to notice the bait piles, and while I am at work youtube isn't accessible so I couldn't go back to take a closer look. My initial thought was this guy is busting my chops claiming we are baiting but before I started to rebuttal I had to get my facts straight so I didn't end up with my foot in my mouth, which would have happened. I take pride in doing things the right way especially when it comes to the outdoors so I am sure you can understand how theyour comment got under my skin and I was going to go on the defense. I know it wasn't a malicious attack on me but I also don't want to be labeled as a cheat, as I mentioned its one of my biggest pet peeves, knowing I'm putting in hardwork, time, and effort to be successful, and we have some knuckleheads out there who will take the lazymans route and bait/cheat their way to landing a deer.

Thanks...as the "baiting" topic has been brought up I started to look a little deeper into the subject and read on another forum an interesting legal way to attract. Here's the post... Here is on of the most effective and legal way to bait deer in all the states. If you have done your homework right, you're hunting a spot where deer travel. So during the rut and a long the way to your stand, pull down the higher green branches that deer haven't been able to get to standing on their hind legs. When you get to your stand, put the branches on the trails where you can get a good shot. Does will see these branches and instantly go for them. I'm talking making a BEE line. While they devour the leaves, the will take a pee, thus laying down the freshest **** in town. You'll be amazed how well it works. The bucks will follow suit. Anyone ever hear or try this tactic?

Thanks DW...that's good to know. Well I feel like a bit of a cheat, unfortunately I can't control what choices others make but will recommend my own opinion for this next season.

The nice part about that land is the guys that hunt the neighboring property are even more strict then we are when it comes to taking bucks. We have seen several deer in the 150-160 range while scouting.

also, some nice mineral or bait stations you have there as well... you can see the deer hitting it right infront of the cam, you can also see they are pawing at it as well... shame shame... [img alt=:]http://huntingny.com/forums/Smileys/akyhne/rolleyes.gif[/img] I did not have my trail cam at the property this year, and quite frankly am opposed to any aiding when it comes to deer hunting, even just for pics...hunting over bait piles really irks me, I hate watching hunting shows from Texas where the host will drill a deer after its been eating at his feeder for 15 minutes...as soon as I saw this post I texted my buddy who made the video and asked about the trail cam pics and if he put anything down...I was ready to have a go with you Geno a little buzzed you would accuse rather then make a statement but much to my shgrin my buddy called and said he did have mineral piles...ughh. My buddy claims it is legal to have mineral piles, but illegal to have a cam taking pics over one...any insight to this?? Nice eye Geno I had no clue on the piles.

This is a link to a video my buddy made about our 2010 Season...As I mentioned we are all a bit obsessed...enjoy