First-light

Day 2 of gun my brother shot a button buck and our friend shot a spike. I didn't see a deer today. Hoping for a better day tomorrow for sure!

After seeing those two bucks last day of bow season I was not shooting anything less opening day. I did not see any bucks but I let 8 doe walk. Today will be different story.

Opening day was nice here in 8P. I passed on a number of doe and didn't see one buck. Brother did the same. Our friend Steve had a chase going on and shot a buck. We spent two hours looking for this deer. Left a couple of really good blood beds but we lost the blood after a while. Good luck tomorrow.

Would love to see one of those bucks from yesterday! Good luck all and be safe!

I think last year I heard 6:18 Good luck Eddie!

Friday- This mornings hunt was great. I had a small 6 come in around 8 and let him walk by. At 8;15 my first real big buck showed up. He was a real nice 8 pt. Came in at 30 yards but too much brush around me for the shot. I turned him three times with grunts and doe bleats but couldn't get him to commit. It was a great morning and I thought that was the big one for the week.....I was wrong. For some reason the Friday before gun opener has been a great day for big buck sightings. I got in the stand at 1;30. By 2:00 there was chasing behind me. I didn't here any grunts just deer running back and forth. I think it was about 45 minutes later a few doe come out and head my way . They come up by me and head into the thicket bedding area. Another hour passes and more chasing and now I'm hearing grunting. I never see the buck chasing and they head off into the distance. About 4:15 I hear two grunts behind me. I'm thinking another buck he has to be small cause he would of taken over the chasing. No it wasn't small it was the biggest buck I have ever seen in my life. It looked like a mule deer. The bases were huge and it didn't have much tine lenght but the mass continued all the way arount. Think of a baseball bat twisted like an antler. The guys behind me told me about an amazing deer they saw once this yaer. This has to be him. He walked directly towards me at 40 yards. He then turned and headed up into the bedding area at 35 yards. Too much brush to shoot. It was truely amazing to see this animal. I thought about all those deer I passed this week and how if I shot one of them I wouldn't be in stand to see this. It's something I will seriously consider when I'm out next. Good luck to all tomorrow!

I didn't see anything tonight. My brother had 2 doe and three fawns under his stand. The little guys were interested in him and one came back and stood under the stand looking at him! One more day!

Not such a bad morning until about 9:00 we got thunder snow, sleet and rain! The new hunter saw a nice buck just out of range. I saw the same 4 doe again same spot 1/2 hour earlier. Still could not get a shot at those two Alpha does, they are huge! Here is a trail cam pict of one.

Today was interesting. I saw 3 different bucks and 7 doe. All the bucks were small in size. I'm getting the feeling the big boys may be in lock down mode with a doe. The locals told me last week it was pretty crazy with chasing and nose to the ground big buck sightings. My brother got a decent one out of his bed this afternoon. Good size deer it was alone. Another hunter coming in tonight. Qeather looks pretty bad for tomorrow but you never know.

Just have this feeling about today clear, cool, hard frost and a weather front coming in! I have been seeing a lot of deer but no real shooters. May take a big doe today if the opportunity should arise. GL-FL

Tuesday saw a total of 11 doe and 4 bucks. No shooters but it was a great day in the woods!

Monday morning. Had a 7 pt come in to my drag line a walk right to my stand. He got a free pass. Afternoon saw 10 different deer. 6 doe 4 bucks. Two were shooters but just couldn't get off a clean shot. My property is torn up with rubs and scrapes. Saw a picture of a local deer 8 pt that is gigantic. Never saw an 8 so big. 4 more days to bow hunt and I'm waiting for the big guy!

That's the spot. Big doe bought the farm. He needs a new passenger door. Thanks

Sunday 11/12 Got in my stand at 1:00. Had a doe come running in at 2:00 and I knew she was being chased. Out comes a nice 6 point and a small 4 pt. They chase her across the flay and disappear. That was it for the day. Brother was to meet me at the cabin at 8:00 and rolled his van right by the Kanona exit. Car in front of him hit a deer and stopped in the middle lane. He swerved and slid to the median once he hit the dirt she went over. Hunter and dog are ok thank God!

Part of Team Legend left today for camp. I will leave around 3 am and hit the cabin around 9-9:30. Going to do some cabin chores and take a nice walk in the woods around 1:00 for my first official sit. We have internet at the cabin so I will update every night. Two bow hunters until Wednesday then a third joins us. Only three gun hunters this year. My Niece and her husband have a wedding opening weekend!!!! OMG. Sucks for them!

When a doe smell estrous scent and is not ready to breed she doesn't want a buck harassing her. She will leave the area for sure know the bucks will be around soon looking for action...and it aint her! lol

Just beware Long Island is a high population area. All kinds of people use the woods. You will run into all types and if you leave cameras or stands in the woods there is a good chance they will get stolen. We have a few stands out in Rocky Point that are really deep into the woods where nobody bothers them. Some really huge deer out there but its tough hunting. A lot of underbrush helps them stay hidden. When the weather is warm watch out for the tick larva it can ruin day, week and month!

A few years ago it was a Friday right before opening day. I was in my stand looking at a buck watching over a few does out in the flat. He was mature 3 plus on the age. Just about 40 yards out. My neighbor started to sight in his gun. Shot after shot rang out really close. This buck stood motionless he had his eye on one doe. She approached my stand then veered off towards the gun shots. Both buck and doe went that way. When the rut is on they could care less.

You must look like a fat boy!

Game hens!

Publishing 20 years at Time Inc. Pepperidge Farm snack distributor for 2 years and present my Brother and I do real estate development and home improvements.

Glad someone was able to harvest the deer.

Awesome deer! Get well soon, glad you could hunt!

My initial property was 58 acres. It was a perfect size and layout to do much of anything you want. Was big enough to have 4 of us hunting it. Now 2 years ago I bout 11 acres that border me. If it was just for hunting this piece is it. Just 11 acres but borders a few large tracts that get little pressure. Good luck its always fun to own land....they don't make it anymore! lol

Good luck sounds like a nice deer.