First-light

He actually looks older in the B/W picture. Yea pictures can be deceiving. The only thing I would add is I have seen so many 1.5 year old bucks with the same type of horns. You know there is a bear thread on the site that tells you the DEC aged the bear at 8.5 years old. It was only 200 lbs and looks real small in the picts. What more proof do you need, the DEC aged it. Anything is possible-thanks for posting.

Doe, Please remember to flush or was that Steve?

Nice harvest! The bear seems small for 8.5 years old??

150lbs. maybe 175?

Just got a text from him. He said he saw three doe this morning and two doe tonight. That is pretty good for the area. I told him it will only get better as the rut moves into full swing later this month. You know those bucks will be chasing those doe soon! I'm happy for him.

Nice deer!

Thanks-I will.

The kid I mentored for the last couple of years is out hunting by himself in Vermont today. His Dad bought a place with 56 acres. We hung stands a few weeks ago, real nice area and some big deer sign. I called them last night on their way up. Went over the safety list and -oh yea, made sure he had his arrows! 1.6 bucks per squar mile in his area, 10 hours of hunting time to see one deer. He knows what to expect. Big woods to hunt won't see as many as you do by my camp but they should be of good size. I'll report back!

how do you like it?

I get it-- I get the subscription! C'mon Grow you know me better than that! lol I think it's crazy for that guy to have a gun! I wonder how liable the place is?? I think the issue was one of the best!

Grow, I get it, what a story. Only in Bath NY!!! besides that I thought it is a wonderful issue, great pictures and stories!

Paulie, I have 54 acres.

We hang'em by the neck. If the deer gets mounted, by the hind legs. Make sure the yotes don't eat his nose off!

My property is 325 miles away. Takes 6 hrs to get there, I have a long term plan and will move up there in about 8 years. All the points brought up are valid. For me hunting in the Finger lakes is awesome, worth every mile I drive. I love my property and my neighbors are great. I lease to a farmer 20 acres and it cuts the taxes in aprx half. It's a big decision buying land, currently with the Marcellous gas play going on you have to be careful. Good luck-oh-there is nothing like taking your first buck on your own property! JMHO

We did that last year and brought a buck right in! Will do it again this year for sure.

8P for me.

Makes a lot of sense to me. Thank

That is really great, most of us won't even try that or have the patience for it. When you say "I track small pieces of property" my problem is that you don't always end up shooting the buck in its bed. What do you do when you jump the deer and have to continue tracking on a small piece of property? At some point you are going to run out of you property and be trespassing. What are you thought or game plan when this happens. I own 54 acres and always hold back on tracking because of this thought. Not that my neighbors are unfriendly I just don't want to ruin their hunt walking around on their property.

That is some accomplishment shooting them in their bed. I know how you hunt, big woods a lot of tracking.

Joe you get them with the bow or gun? Great picts everyone, My first was at sixteen she.....ah.. I mean the deer was a spike horn shot in Deposit on a friends property. I'll try to dig up picts.

Nice trip- next time you'll get'em.

I'm a land owner and never have been denied or had to use preference points.

I always thought being a land owner was a slam dunk on getting a permit. Bubba is right it just increases your odds, puts you at the top of the list. I also read that you do need to bring your tax bill every year to get the permit, still doesn't prove you own the land at the time of buying the permit but rules are rules. I will apologize to that kid who gave me a hard time when I applied for the landowner permit. It's black and white.

I try to hunt all the ones we put up. On 54 acre we have six stands, 4 ladder and two hang on platform. There are two other perm stands. You just never know when they will come by and to the least likely stand.

Nice story Bill. That was my father in law with the wool pants and cigar! Last year was his last in the woods. He is now in a nursing home when I go visit him he still tells the same stories from years ago, they make me laugh every time. They had a tent from korea and a wood stove that heated the place. Life is short, live all you can!