beachpeaz

I agree with your statement. The problem is, the DEC doesn't know how to manage deer! They laid claim to the following "fact" at the meeting of 45% reported harvest rate. Jeremy (our lead Biologist for the DEC) said that they had about 200,000 reported deer harvests in 2014. So here is the burning question, how the HELL do they know how many deer were actually shot to come up with that 45% number. You can't know what you don't know. And if anyone regurgitates in here and DEC BS saying that they go to taxidermists and check points, check tags, write down names and cross-reference that to actual tag numbers called in to come up with a number, you are kidding yourself. Like my previous post with a sample size of 1/4 of 1% they use to extrapolate data for the entire hunting population, their deer "harvest" sample size is even smaller than that. There is not larger guessing game on this planet then what our DEC does each year in how many deer exist and how many are harvested. Case in point is the last paragraph I typed in my previous post about the conversation that transpired between an audience member and the local DEC Biologist for that region in which the guy flat out said they didn't take in account the huge winter kills the prior 2 years in their "increase doe harvest" plan they ignorantly adapted in 2015. So, shoot more deer, because there are too many deer, but hey, we don't know how many deer there are and we don't take into account things like harsh winters when we extrapolate date. Holy Hell if that doesn't scream incompetence.

Did you seriously write "it went well?" The room was almost empty. For 150,000 registered hunters in those 3 deer zones, that was pitiful. Jeremy and Arts presentation was dripping in hypocrisy and unfounded "facts." The 2 "biologists" who are suppose to run our management programs are asking a room with 30 people in it for "suggestions and tools" for the new 5 year plan that was undoubtedly already given to the state months ago. They had the nerve to anchor their entire presentation in a survey that had 2,800 results for ALL 7 deer management zones. That is asking 400 people out of an average of 150,000 what their opinion is. Then backing their argument up with the comment that "400 people is an acceptable sample size, and that the results would not vary with a larger group." Really? 1/4th of 1% sample size is acceptable? If I ran my business with the opinion of 1 customer out of every 5,000 I do business with, I would have been out of business years ago. Further to that point, to also make comment that "they don't have the resources to fund a larger study" when they have access to 550,000 registered hunters is appalling. Where does that $47,000,000 in license sales go if not towards better funded studies and education programs. Lastly, the entire second half of that presentation given by Art about deer devastation in urban areas where we can't hunt was a total waste of time. Run your bait and shoot programs (or as he mentioned, trap and kill......whatever the hell that means), and lets move on to discussions where hunters CAN make a difference. Not a single person in that room could care one iota about the unhuntable deer population (especially when the DEC has no solution to it that involves hunters). Totally disappointing, but completed what I expected out of an incompetent DEC group. The last audience member who spoke hit the nail on the head. If you want to see real change, do it yourself! Do NOT expect the DEC's incompetence to change or for them to actually have a rational though in their heads. If you doubt anything that is written or said, the following conversation should sum this meeting up: One audience member made reference to the decline in deer population in his area contrary to what the DEC has laid claim. He specifically mentioned the harsh couple winters and the negative effect it had. The DEC's "claim" of overabundant deer population and a failed plan to harvest more deer was in direct conflict of actual observation by the hunters. Art (the region Biologist for the DEC) answered by saying that they realize the amount of devastation the consecutive bad winters had, but enacted their "doe harvest" plan anyway because, and I quote "the deer population would regenerate eventually." So, you have an environmental factor that flies directly in the face of a plan you enacted, and you went through with the plan anyways, because, hey, whatever.....the deer will figure out a way to have sex. I could go on, and on, and on with the "facts" given at this meeting.......

Not my biggest, but certainly one of the angrier deer I have encountered!

Nope. But its not poisonous. It does not have the eyes or the head of a venomous snake.

Thanks again everyone. It has further confirmed my decision to stick with a compound bow. I am going start researching a few of the ones suggested on here.

I shoot a Bear Anarchy and I love it. I was looking at Bear bow's for him (briefly). I agree that the low draw weight is a good advantage for a beginner. Having him struggle drawing won't help him at all.

The common theme of the answers I have received seem to be to definitely follow the path I originally noted and get an actual compound bow. That was the main answer I was seeking an opinion on. I wasn't sure if it was worth starting with the less expensive "long bow" style beginner series or just hop right into a modern bow. Advantage / disadvantage of either direction. My gut was leaning towards what you all confirmed. Thank you! Now for some more research.....

I happen to be at Cabela's a few weeks ago and found myself with some extra time. My son (who is turning 8 in June) has begged me for a bow for the past year. While killing that extra time, I perused the kids bows they offer. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I think Cabela's has the best choices, or that I would buy my bow there, it just got me thinking about the best choice. They essentially offer 3 levels: 1) A starter bow ($30) that would appear to be good for maybe a summer, then toss it in the garbage 2) A mid-range "combo" that was around $150 that seemed a bit better (but still in that old school "long bow" style 3) An actual kids sized compound bow ($400) I am leaning towards purchasing the actual compound bow (again, not necessarily from Cabela's. I will be researching different brands first). I am just not sold that that is the best starting point to learn from. What have any of you experienced? Any thoughts on teaching a child and things you would or would not do? (If it helps with answering my questions, I am an avid bowhunter and am competent in teaching, so that is a non-factor in my decision. Also, money is a non-factor in my decision). Thanks for your opinions.

That's hysterical. I just had this conversation with my Brother-in-law a couple weeks ago when he came to NY for the weekend to shed hunt with me. I have way more lefts that rights. I seem to always find the left for some reason. I swear my deer drop the lefts on my property and the rights somewhere else every year. Are you my neighbor? lol. Maybe we should shed hunt together. We might find all the matching sets.

Found the match to my other side from January finally! I was floored where I found it, literally 10' from where I have walked at least 5 times. Goes to show how even a trained eye can miss them.

Every year there is always an article or two in just about every magazine about shed hunting. They always offer insightful thoughts like walk on a cloudy day, walk after it rains, walk with the sun to your back, think like a deer, blah, blah, blah. Taken in context, this info is fine. The reality is, JUST WALK. If I averaged out the hours I walk verse the sheds I find, I would guess about 6-8 hours per shed (I have found 4 in 5 minutes and have also walked an entire weekend with none). The more you walk, the more the odds are with you. I have at least 50 hours in this year so far and have 7 (which is just over 7 hours a find). I hear too many times "I don't ever find any." Then I ask, well, how much have you walked? And the typical response "like, 2 hours this weekend." Here is my expert advice to anyone out there who has never found one (I guarantee results): 1) Walk where deer actually are this time of year (I don't care where they were in October when you hunted) 2) Walk a minimum of 50 hours AFTER they have dropped. 3) The area you walk, walk thoroughly (grid search it foot by foot, don't blaze trails at 100 mph). Don't stop searching that area until you are 100% confident a shed could not exist there (people are too eager to give up on a spot and move to a new one) 4) Assuming you completed #3, next time out, find a new area and start over. You're welcome!

Funny / ironic story. I would think that my fellow shed hunters would agree that finding a matched set is considerably harder than finding just a single side! So, my brother-in-law was in town for the weekend and we decided to do a little shed hunting (30 miles worth). I spot what appears to be a small piece of an antler. I walk over and investigate and see both sides basically laying on each other. I pick them up and shout over to my brother-in-law of my find. As he is walking towards me, and literally 10' from where I find mine, he stops and picks up another matched set....again, basically almost laying on each other. Granted, small deer, but 2 matched sets within 10' of each other. Crazy!

I did offer. He said it was a waste of time. lol.

Collect them. Admire them. Every single one tells a story. Big or small, old or new, they are equally treasured.

That's cool, but I could never bring myself to alter an antler in any way. I've had many offers for some of my antlers, including my nieces boyfriend who said "my dog likes chewing on them and they are so expensive at the store to buy, the next time you find some can I have them...." LMAO. NO! If I factored out the amount of hours I walk times my average hourly rate of what I am worth, NOBODY could afford what I have found...lol.

I grew up in Williamsville. As is in all non-hunting areas in WNY, there are some giant deer around. I have video of multiple 170" + bucks in my back yard. Looked for their sheds and could never find them. Come to find out, almost all of them are found next to peoples bird feeders (as it was with this 160" massive 10 point I watched. Both sides fell off in my neighbors yard...and he refused to give / sell them to me). I don't know if anyone remembers years back (probably at least 10) there was A GIANT buck off Wherle across from the airport driving range that was a Piebald. I want to say it was maybe like a 12 point? you could see him consistently driving down the 90 as you went under the bridge where Wherle crosses.

I didn't even bother reading the comments in here because it is not worth the effort. There is ZERO chance there is a mountain lion population in NYS. It IS possible that A (and I emphasize "A") mountain lion could wander through.......the same that it IS possible a tiger could escape from a zoo and wander around (and has). Mountain lions are not bound by fences. It IS possible one could decide to walk 1,000 miles and end up here (or stroll through). I live in Clarence, NY and if you asked residents a couple years ago if it were possible there are bears in the area, you would get a 100% answer of NO. Not even possible. Then 2 years ago, that idiot bear decided to wander from the southern tier, literally walked through my back yard and was shot in Niagara County (because, ya know, bears aren't allowed in the burbs apparently.....) Back to the point, there is ZERO population of mountain lions in NYS. PERIOD. Nobody distrusts the NYS DEC more than I do, but even I would say they have zero reason to have some sort of cover-up that they do exist. Just dumb if anyone thinks that.

lol. Staring at walls is not fun. I would still rather drive 4 hours to Ohio even if just to hunt one day, then to deal with NYS.

I wouldn't argue your account. But, if I were choosing to hunt an alternate state other than my own, NY sure as hell wouldn't make the list. Yes, we have some small pockets of above average deer hunting, but that is not the norm in NYS.

You would be better off driving 4 hours to another state than 30 minutes across the border to NYS. We have the most mismanaged deer hunting state in the Whitetail world. Do not invest your energy into it. Especially the day after opening day (sunday). Ha, good luck. After WW3 breaks out every opening Saturday, you would be hard pressed to find any deer activity on public land the next day. But hey, if you enjoy counting pumpkins.......have at it! PS - don't bring your legally registered PA handgun to NY either, that makes you a felon.

Ha, they look like a herd of dinosaurs running by. That's pretty funny!

I have found 5 freshies, 1 from last year, 1 broken off main beam and one deadhead (buck) so far this shed season.

What do you see? lol.

Agreed 100%. The odds get more and more stacked against the deer every year. I would encourage a primitive weapon season here in NYS.

I would brag, but you know luck has to play a factor. Without optics, at 185 yards, there is NO way someone could say with a straight face "that's where they were aiming." I practiced the shot out to 200 quite a bit. I was comfortable in taking the shot. I aimed in the kill zone, and got the bonus of hitting him in the heart. He crow hopped and then tumbled 200 yards down the side of the mountain. THANKFULLY getting himself stuck on a small tree or he may have made it a mile down. As it was it took 13 hours to get him back to camp.