First-light

What a hot topic. As this season comes to an end it seems that the weather and lack of hunters played a big role in deer take. If you read the posts on this forum lack of hunters (nobody pushing the deer around) was a problem. Now this may be specific to where I hunt but my neighbor has a 350 acre chunk of property that is hunted by relatives. 11 of them come up from down south. I wonder what and how they would react to AR's. Would it keep them from coming up meaning we (I) have less guys in the woods pushing deer. They don't practice AR, they want their venison to take home. Again this may be a small problem ( I don't even know how many OOS hunters come to N.Y.) but it's a thought. I like the right to choose what I want to shoot but I am always open to debate and change. You know, WNYBUCKHUNTER said it the other day, when hunters were complaining about lack of deer, "get out of your stands and start moving around and you'll see them." I guess NYS hunters may have to change it up a bit in the future to increase their positive experiences in the woods.

Don't we all. Nice deer!

What would you do with them?

CHC, That is pretty cool! Nice place, that's great they let you put some footers in.

i just think about those people out in the midwest, out jogging on a trail that get mauled or killed by a mountain lion. You have no defense against a big cat like that.

I agree...and like so much of what we do during hunting and scouting and really any persuit....apply a little courtesy and common sense and it usually works out fine. I try to put my self in the mind set of......what if someone did this to me. If I conclude it would bother me.....probably shouldn't be doing it to others Excellent point!

Never said you would poach a deer. If a person spotlights on my property I will ask them to move along and I will take down their tag number. It would give the police a good place to start! Your analogies don't work for me, unless you have night vision you need a spotlight to kill a deer after dark. This is how "I" would handle it and I know many others that would do it the same way. I wasnt trying to say that you thought or said I would. My analogies work fine, you have to walk into a bank to rob it, no? How about this one, its like saying a Corvette owner breaks the speed limit consistently. As far as how polite you would be to me, well Id be polite right back to you and probably tell you that Ill let you know if I were to see anyone poaching deer on your land. I would then go about my business of viewing deer. Your first analogy doesn't work for me. The second is better. If you walked into a bank with a gun (spotlight) that would be a different story. You need the third piece to the action which is the spotlight or as in your second example corvette. I'm sure "you" would go about your business and keep on looking but I bet most people would move on. Again, it is legal just apply a little courtesy and common sense and it will go a long way.

How does this work for you? Me: Hey I would appreciate if you didn't spotlight my fields. You: Hey I'm doing nothing wrong. Me: You know we have had alot of deer jacked lately and they all use spotlights so It makes me wonder when I see someone spotting my fields. I hope you can understand that? (By that time I have you tag number and I'm not following you around, people get shot doing that!) You:Sure I can understand that, have a good night. Me: You too. No harm done, no harassment.

Never said you would poach a deer. If a person spotlights on my property I will ask them to move along and I will take down their tag number. It would give the police a good place to start! Your analogies don't work for me, unless you have night vision you need a spotlight to kill a deer after dark. This is how "I" would handle it and I know many others that would do it the same way.

http://www.cottonhanlon.com/ Talk to Bob

I th I think it goes hand in hand with jacking deer and that's why it gets frowned upon. If you came by my fields spotlighting I'd be sure to come out and find out what you were doing and take down your tag number. You would be the first one reported back to the police if there was an incident during the year. Yes it is legal but that's just the way it goes, too many jerks out there that ruin it for the person just out having fun.

"Well the afternoon started out perfect!" you could of stopped right there. Sounds like a fun day, yea I remember taking quick pop shots at deer, very hard to connect. I hope you do connect this weekend, good luck!

Feel better!

Bullet misses deer, skips off of frozen ground, hits a telephone pole, bounces off a semi, dings crossbar on hockey net in driveway and ends up hitting the old man in the pants, priceless! lol On a serious note I'm sure it skipped off the ground, shouldn't be shooting towards road and houses, glad the guy wasn't hurt.

Sat in a tree stand with 15-20 mph winds in 16 degree weather last year. Sat for 4 hours till sundown. It was the last weekend of season, muzzleloader. At 4:00 magic happened and all the deer started piling into the field I was watching. For the next hour I watched 16 doe walk by me, could of shot but didn't,was waiting out the big guy who was still in the area. He never showed and I wasn't cold one bit that last hour!! The key to me staying was the end of the season was just about here and I had a real desire to get a shot at this big ten point that to this day has given us the slip.

WTF

Way to go!

So they are in there but movement is limited because of the water level, correct?

Bubba, You talk about the swamps being flooded that is the one thing my neighbor talks about all the time. He has never seen the swamp with so much water. I guess that keeps them out if it's too deep?

I dont know, an aftermarket exhaust usually costs more than a factory one. Actually the after market ones are cheap.

I guess as the season wears on we have to change tactics. We are creatures of habit and would like to see deer from our comfy zone all the time. Getting out and still hunting will definitely at any time of the year run you into deer. Here is the equation: less hunters/sitting in the same old spot=zero deer! Break you habit and bag a buck!

Hey Eddie, I really respect your enthusiasm for the sport, I'm sure your son's have the same drive.

Great 2nd deer!!!! Bubba I love your camp, very nostalgic looking.

My neighbor has been out every day for the last 7 has not seen any deer and very few tracks. Tons of coyote tracks across the area. area 8P

Very good Wooly!