WesternNY

Congrats guys.... first bow buck very special. SG dude that is a bruiser! Congrats!

Two blade Rage. I know some will tear me up for them, but it wasnt the broadheads fault. I made a poor shot. Went back out there for 2 hours may be 2.5 and couldnt find one more drop of blood. Will check again tomorrow. May just have to walk a grid looking for the deer and not blood.

It looked like it woulda been a perfect double lung if only 4 inches lower. Where we stopped I had two puddles about the size of pie plates, at the end of 600 yards. I really dont know what to think, at first I was surprised the deer didnt drop then noticed is was lower than spinal cord. Looked at my arrows and tried to remember what I saw sticking out and I really think 6 inches is inside.

A question, I had blood within 10 foot of the impact area, no hair, fat, muscle, I had blood 4 inches wide by 4 foot within 40 yards..... anyone experience this much blood so soon with just a muscle hit? I think I may have gotten one of the vessels that run along the back and maybe one lung, but obviously high... not good.

Went out to the new stand on the north end of my woodlot. At 850 I saw a nice mature buck, I am guessing 8 or a 10 pt 3.5 year old. 40 yards he was down hill I was in a 18 foot tree stand, saw him for a total of 20 seconds. I hit him high like 3 -4 inches from top of his back maybe below spine, steep angle arrow was in about 4 to 6 inches and never came out. I tracked him after 2 hours for 600 yards may be 650. Backed out at 1pm. Sucks. Got the area marked with gps and going back at 430 with a friend and have permission from the farmer who owns the land where he crossed. He went to water, not sure if due to his injuries or because it happens to be a deep ditch near a fence line. I had much better blood than expected and thought for sure I must have hit the artery and vein that runs across the back. It went from drips, to pools to spray, had one great spot where it looked like bubbles in the blood. I should have stopped after 200 yards. ugh! Sick feeling I have. Going back at 430 PM with a friend. Keep your good luck deer fingers crossed for me. I think he could have been my best buck to date.

I change as the season changes. Bow Opener SZ 10/15 til 30th I tend to hunt edges and near plot access points in the evening with great success. Once things start to heat up I have better success on morning sits in the deep hardwoods, especially calm frosty mornings. That being said, if I have a chance to hunt, I am hunting no matter AM or PM. Once I see chasing, I try to sit all day, but ussually take a 2 hour break from noon til 2.

Wow, talk about days of mixed emotions. I give him credit for not stopping to look for him. I think alot if folks just give up. Congrats to him!

Congrats Fourseasons, Phade, 5.9 All nice deer.

NY Archer, Congrats that is a great buck! Yesterday I saw nothing, first hunt this year I was sunked and I have sat for 11 hunts. I am headed for the wood lot where on Sunday I saw around 9 bucks, forecast is for a 5mph wind from S. Picked up 2 new ladder stand from gander yesterday midday, got one together hope to get that up on the N line of my main woodlot... 37 acres on that side. I got 50 on the other side, that has plots, alot of edge habitat, about 50% woods, 50% fields fallow, and 4 acres plot. Goodluck fellas!

Last night I had a 2.5 yr old buck chasing does off a plot, scrape activity has increased. Still early in my book... but things are slowly heating up.

Going to wait for day break and sneak into a plot edge that has a perfect wind for today, but if I go in at dark I will for sure push some deer off. Last night I had a 2.5 yr old buck chasing does off the plot. Should be a good morning, nice frost, 29 with 80% chance of snow, high only in mid 30's! Good luck everyone.

Congrats to everyone so far this season. Tonight My buddy and I both took a doe, but have our work cut out for us, I saw another 7 doe/fawns.

I support and practice QDMA on my property, and it is far from trophy management. First and foremost QDMA recommends protecting ALL 1.5 yr old bucks, and SOME 2.5 yr old bucks. They also recommend keeping doe numbers in check, low impact hunting, improving habitat, ethical hunting, giving back, education and support youth hunting. I do food plots, I have good deer numbers, great hunting and though only 4 years have alot of 2.5 year old deer or older running around than 1.5 year old's at the moment. In 4 years I have harvested 1 2.5 year old and one 3.5 year old bucks, multiple does and have had the best hunting of my life. This season I firmly believe I have a 5.5 to 6.5 year old buck, on cam.... 1 3.5 yr old and several 2.5 year old bucks. I dont believe in AR mandated by law. I believe a hunter has the right to decide what he/she wants to harvest. For my place I started with 8pt min to help hunters who couldn't tell between 1.5 and 2.5, but now that everyone who hunts can tell the difference it is simply 2.5 years or older. Plots vs feeders are night and day and so it solid minded QDMA and Trophy Management!

I went out this Am, hunted a gully that was protected from the winds.... didnt get any rain til 10Am.... saw a 1.5 yr old 6pt, passed a 2.5 yr old 8pt at 15 yards and saw 1 doe 1 fawns at 65 yards. It was nice to get in the stand again. Tomorrow looks better, but still windy. Good luck!

Thanks Fellas. I am in the Wayland Springwater area, I live on my 87 acres and enjoy every minute of it! Good Luck tomorrow!

New here, addicted to hunting, plotting, and habitat improvement. Frequent QDMA forums as well. Can't wait for Saturdays bow opener, but winds 25 with gust to 45 mph!!!!!!