WesternNY

I used a biscuit for 6 years but when it was time for a new rest I went with a Fuse Ultra max drop away and have never shot better.

I currently shot 62, from 70... shoulder issues. At 62 shoulder is fine, elbow issues. Sign of getting old. My next bow, 2014.... will be a 60 pound bow. Whatever you decide go with, if it is 60 buy a 60 pound bow, not a 70 dialed down to 60.

Soils and habitat have a factor... but we agree on age and season length. This is a multi-factor issue.

I agree that our season is way too long, but we have high deer numbers for the quality of habitat and population density both human and whitetail. If you want better bucks in NY people need to make the decision to let 1.5 year olds pass. Simple as that. In 2011 the National Average of 1.5 year bucks making up the total Buck harvest was 25%. Every 4th buck harvested was a 1.5 year old. In New York it was 54%, that is slightly more 1/2 of all buck harvests in NY are 1.5 years old. That is where we can improve our hunting, well part of it. Arkansas leads at 10%. Think about you season, how many 1,5 year olds do you see or get on cam a year??? For ease sake lets say 4, (we know it is likely 3-4 times that) in NY more than half of the 1.5 year old bucks will be harvested, what if that number was lower say 25%.... you have just increased the potential for a deer to get to 2.5 People are heavily against change and legislation, but more and more people are passing on 1.5 year olds on a volunteer basis in NY and it does work. A 1.5 year old is roughly the equivalent of a 13 year old boy, in fact that 1.5 year old buck still has his milk teeth. He is far easier to hunt than any 2.5 year old or any doe. Last number to throw at you. In 2011 NY harvested 110,002 bucks of those 59,401 were just 1.5 year olds. Nearly 60,000 first bucks that if simply given one more year, would be easily twice the animal of not more in antler development. A 1.5 year buck shows 10% of antler potential, a 2.5 year old shows 25 to 35% of it's antler potential. Hold off on 1.5 year olds!

I work in a hospital in a setting where I see life and death everyday.... I can tell you everyone dies, fat, skinny, young, old. Be grateful for the time you have, every second. Genetics and environmental exposures have far more impact on health than just BMI (body mass index).

There are a ton of factors and you could type forever and not touch them all. Age is the biggest factor, simple. NY state takes great bucks and will continue to do so. Some parts of the state are better than others. Mid West states have 3 things going for them, some have 4. Great Habitat Great Soils Lots of deer, (and the Habitat to support them) the 4th being lower pressure in terms of hunters per sq mile We have lots of deer as well, but most of our habitat in NY State as a whole is pretty marginal at best. I feel most of us, not ALL ....have too many deer for the habitat to support. Look at a soil map and look at B&C entries. Pretty simple. Better soil allows everything that a deer consumes to transfer the nutrients the plant was able to take from the soil to the deer. NY has drastic soil differences just with in the state, but compared to Midwest it is black and white. That doesn't mean we can't have great bucks, we already do. Anyone who has land, the time, willingness to put in the labor, and the strength to hold off on the trigger can greatly improve their hunting and chances at better quality bucks.

Thanks gjs4.... feel free to join up with us. Try to make our Feb 2014 event in Henrietta.

Sorry Joseph..... I thought you would have known it was a joke.

8M and 8H

There is no rush, as I understand it.... rushing to do it will not increase your chances

Just don't hunt over it.....

Congrats dude. You will quickly fall in love with bow hunting!

Great pics!

I didn't watch the video, but here is a great article on deer vision. Dr. Karl Miller UGA has done great research on deer vision. http://www.qdma.com/articles/can-deer-see-blaze-orange

STUD! Nice buck!

Lets scrutinize everyone's hunting and land management tactics, or better yet, lets ride everyone that just sits back hunts, and complains about everything instead of improving the land.

Here you go Ford http://www.outreachoutdoors.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2538

Is your soil rocky? Mine is terrible with rocks and a tiller would not last at all here. If I could I would use a tiller, they are very slow but one pass and you have a perfect seed bed. I can ask around on brands I have several friends who have used them for years.

I use a small bag seeder for clover, chicory, brassicas.... 3 pt takes care oats, rye, winter wheat, corn, all fertilizer and pellet lime. I even used the 3pt to fertilize the lawn this year.... but I have a push lawn fertilizer as well.

I am going tomorrow! Should be fun, and the course should get tougher as it dries out!

Cool Picture.... it is pretty normal behavior... I got this one this year of a buck and a doe

Very nice. I love my 3pt spreader.... wash it out good after fertilizer and I spray my down with heavy amounts of wd40 to help prolong the life.

Looks good Zach.... you need to figure your new laptop so we can have bigger pics!

It is going to be a great event for sure. I heard both of them speak at the National Convention in Georgia this July. We will be putting up reminders closer the event!

Larry, I hope to meet you in February! Mike