New York Hillbilly

The pic of the broken arrow and blood bath on the ground equals one dead deer. Finding it is another issue entirely. The flood of adrenaline that kicks in when a deer, especially a nice buck, comes up on us is incredible, and all too often cause the shooter to lose ones grip. Pretty common actually, supported by, and based on, the number of stories I read here on this site every year. Further, bad crap can happen even under the best of circumstances. The end result too often is a screwed up shot, followed by tons of self doubt, second thoughts, rechecking our equipment, and maybe even regret for taking iffy shots, then coming up for a rationale to explain how forces other than ourselves "caused" the situation. Finally we look to convince ourselves the deer is going to shake it off and live. Deer are pretty tough for sure, and have tremendous will to live, and can recover from pretty significant injury. In your case though, based on the many years and deer I and friends/family have shot, tracked, and recovered (and sadly also not recovered), your deer is dead. I think your shot was a whole lot better than you realize, are giving yourself credit, or want to believe because of being crunched for time or overwhelmed. I wish you could get some help finding the buck. Again.good luck, I hope you find him.

Dead deer. Don't give up looking. Good luck!

The Kenai Peninsula is a world class fishing destination. Runs of Reds, King and Silver salmon draw people from everywhere. The population of people explodes this time of year which can be a real pain driving to work or shop for people that live here year round. But, it is a mixed blessing because the economy relies heavily on tourism dollars. Many here are truly subsistence fishing and what is caught makes ups significant portion of the family meals. Don't worry though, there are still lots of catch and release, and the fishing and hunting regulations in Alaska are the most complicated and numerous that I have ever seen. Pic of glacier run off Kenai River.

Picture from our fishing trip a month ago. Just before I broke my wrist and needed 2 1/2 hours of surgery to repair, effectively putting my fishing on hold. Darn it! Can't get fish pics to post right. I'll try again tomorrow. Wait...wait...I think I got it! Halibut and King salmon from Cook Inlet, on the Kenai Peninsula where I live these days.

Biz If the offer does not go through shoot me a PM and I'll top the offer, and you can toss it all in a big box and mail to me if it's not to inconvenient. Reminds me of fishing with my uncles, and I guess I'm feeling nostalgic with my 57th birthday coming up in a few days. Thanks, NYH

Just a few more than it takes to change a light bulb! hahaha

Congrats on the buck. And by the way, as a METS fan since 1969 I applaud you being able to do something they were not this year, get the job done!

So you mean to tell us you have fish that just "perch" in your trees?

Congrats Grow!! I'm sitting in my highest stand yet. 35 thousand feet off the ground in a plane headed back to Soldotna. I don't think I can even see a deer from up here! Lol no problem, it will be no fewer than I saw from 15 feet. : )

That little dog is deer crazy. Now we all know what makes "Luna- tick"! Haha

After missing last years NY deer season for the first time since I was 16 years old, I made a solemn vow not to let it happen again. Working long clinic hours and covering for others to take their vacations, I carefully planed then executed at no small expense a trip back from Alaska. The trip was meant for my wife and I to spend Thanksgiving with our family, and for me to hunt deer on the 180 acres we have owned since 1991. I did sadly miss opening morning because of travel and jet lag, but was in my stand in the afternoon. Since opening afternoon I have been in the woods every day, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day's afternoon. I know every crack, crevice, and deer hiding spot of this property, so I know where to be to be successful taking a deer and have taken deer every year while letting many walk past, buck and doe. This year however holds the distinction for the most hours, no, days on stand without even seeing a deer let alone one in range. With the exception of one fleeting small buck that bounded across the top of the hill skyline I have seen no other bucks and only a very few does. There is without question many fewer deer on my hill this year. I'm not sure what last winter did or did not do to the deer population, because I was not here last winter. I do know however that the situation has taken a toll even on me.The other morning I got up and peered out into the darkness at the clear starry night, knowing the bright sunny morning that would follow. Yet, instead of the usual excitement to get out there to sit in the cold to experience the thrill of deer hunting, after so much time on stand seeing nothing, I thought to myself "why bother" and went back to bed. Maybe the deer are really still out there and just not being moved by hunters. Forty years has past since my first deer season and much has changed, deer hunting has changed, my family has changed, my life has changed, and judging from the aching knees and back, my body has definitely changed. In fact I feel as weathered as my old wooden deer stand I built in the big lone cherry tree at the top of my hill, a stand that produced many bucks since 1991. With my main hunting partner now 85 years old, Uncle Bill does not go anymore. With my son now a grown man pursuing his chosen career in Boston, he is no longer traipsing along by my side with wide eyed excitement and wonder. All my other hunting buddies too drifted away one by one getting caught up in their lives. So again, maybe it’s less about hard winters and poor deer management, and really more about hunters. Hunters like me who like me who one day finally looked out their doors into the morning darkness and thought the same, "why bother”, and returned to bed!

Wish I could help! : (

A little tough getting a howdy between hunting and doing the endless chores that never seem to get done before winter hits. But anyway...howdy and welcome to the site!

Glad you had fun, and you sound like a nice guy so don't take this the wrong way. BUT, ( lol ) I darned sure would dye that beard before next season, and for heavens sake don't wear that hat in the woods during firearm season. Your friendly appearing face with that hat and beard looks like it's peeking out of the tail of a deer. With some of the yahoos out there from time to time, it's a heck of a way to see papa bear go into permanent hibernation! : 0

My first impression was the same as most everyone else here, the color and the excessive blood in the packages. I don't quite understand your timeframe. The deer hung for twenty four hours in 50 degrees, certainly not ideal but been there and done it before. Did you keep it at least out of direct sunlight? Then you say the butcher turned it around in 24 hours and got it back to you, right? That means the meat got to you on Saturday by 4PM or so if I'm doing the math right. Now today you have the meat unfrozen and out on the kitchen table some 2 days later still. Cut up like that means a lot of surface area exposed to and soaking in all that blood, and no telling how warm it's being kept. If it were me I would get it out of the blood, rewrap or vacuum seal, and get it in the freezer ASAP! It may just be me, but I would sniff the meat too! Over the years I've cut many deer for myself and at times helping others, and my if my sniffer raises my eyelid, I would think twice about eating it. PS: I see the tenderloins but don't see the back straps.

Sat until quitting time. One doe with her two fawns about 400 yards away. Watching 50 acre side hill of golden rod from a position I can see straight into the stuff. A typical year I would see anywhere from a dozen to twenty or more deer crossing the fields. Something's up, or I guess better put, down.

I hope to be blessed with a shot at a buck today. In fact to even see one would be a supreme treat! Good luck to all still sticking in there!

Same observation on my property in 7M.

Icy cold and dead silent in 7m

I agree Jeremy. I just don't get that mentality either! Seems fairly simple concept that if it isn't yours leave it alone, land is posted don't go there without permission, etc. There are some real twisted people out there. Not sure how they live with themselves!!

Watching the fields this afternoon. Not risking pushing deer to the guys renting the neighbors land who decided to put a ladder stand ten feet off the fence line facing into one of my apple orchard/creek bottoms. At least the rain stopped here.

Oops repeated !

Damp to the skin, chilled to the bone, and can't get the darned song Bubbles sang on Trailer Park Boys, "Kitties are so nice " out of my head. Over and over....ah...madness sets in !

Steady drizzle and fog as thick as pea soup !

Nice bear! Congrats!