accman

The guys in our camp during rifle, after the first weekend anyway, hunt till 10:00 and go back in at 2:00. If it were me, I'd put on a drive during that time, but that's just the way they like to hunt. Rarely do we put on drives. My son and I will walk and try to kick up something to each other and have had great success. My first day this year will be Saturday, and I'll hunt all day without coming out.

When showing the youth how to hunt, besides showing them scrapes, droppings, rubs, trails, etc, just show them where to place a trail cam and come back in a couple of weeks and see they're faces light up. Same holds true when making a food plot. My food plots are 5 to 10 ft wide and maybe 15ft long. Some places are alot less. I'll make 5 such areas for the deer to stop and eat or bed down in. That no-plow works good enough to put green in an area and grows anywhere. They like to rake out some areas, and throw the seed down, then come back and see how many deer use the area. I don't plant it where I bow hunt cause where I go, there's too much competition with surrounding areas. It's only about 15 - 20 acres of huntable area. But where I rifle, you kind of need it, especially with 25 guys hunting the same mountain, bout 650 acres. I like the traditional ways of hunting. In my 4 x 4 stand, I use sterno to supply heat. Have an old porcellan sterno heater, open the flap, put in the sterno and it's good for 2 hours of heat. The other guys all have gas heaters and laugh that I still use sterno, but it works for me. I like the hunting stands in the mornings and like to walk the property during the mid-day. Always seem to kick something up and still have a shot. Problem is I taught my son how to hunt, and he get's his every year and usually with bragging rights. I've hunted with a bow for nine years, had chances on does, and small bucks, and never saw the need to shoot cause I know rifle's coming up and I only need one deer. It's just a great excuse to get out in the woods early, and when the time comes to take a nice one, hope I make the right shot and take em down.

Instead of coffee, I bring two bottles of chocolate milk with me. Because they're yellow containers, I put them in black socks to be a little less conspicuous. (Like it really matters). For instance, in a plastic bag I also carry a fully stick of Hormel pepperoni and some potato rolls. And I also bring a bottle of Mountain Dew which has enough caffein to keep you awake anyway. That's what I use for bow hunting, and when I rifle there's enough assorted candies, yodels, junk food, but instead of coffee, I bring hot chicken broth. (Like the deer can't smell that!!) But I should be able to get them at a greater distance anyway, so what the heck.

My wife puts up with my hunting, and has for 40 years. We had 6 kids and only one boy's a hunter and I just got the youngest girl 19 into using a bow. I spent all my time coaching teams, doing boy scouts, all sorts of volunteering, which never really gave us too much time for ourselves. I make sure, now, that I put time aside for the two of us, go for a walk every day. Then, when the season comes around, I'm gone, bye bye, see ya. I "try" to hunt every weekend, but things come up, like weddings, golf, fishing, but if she has no plans, it's my time and the best part is I get to spend it with my son. Hopefully, next year, my daughter will go for the courses and get her license. To this day, my wife can't believe she let me get my daughter a bow. She says what if all 3 of us get's a deer bowhunting, then there's rifle, and muzzle, what then. We'd need a huge freezer and who's gonna eat all that deer meat!!! I get out and do the things that I enjoy, and that's what happens when you marry an angel

Wasn't able to get out last weekend with a wedding, but I'll be out with my son on the weekends from now on. He saw quite a few up in Orange County on Saturday, and a couple of nice bucks with them. Just like anything else, you put the time in, you begin to know your opponent. How they react in rain, drizzle, snow, heat, wind and all conditions can sometimes reap some benefits. And when your out there now, you get to watch them with just a little more cover with all the leaves still green or just changing, and I get to move around a little more than when they're in the rut season. I don't complain if I don't see anything cause I'm sure I was just getting back into the swing of things, turning leaves into ears, sticks into antlers, and cursing every squirrel who got me excited for that single "snnnnaapp, tsh, tsh, tsh" he left behind. Good luck to all.

Good luck on the weekend. I'll head out on Saturday and see if I can pop a last buck out or not. Suppose to get some snow late morning, so maybe they'll feel it and be out browsing. I'll use the tent and my son will use the climber. If nothing comes around, we'll put on a drive to each other in the afternoon.

No matter what controls we have in place, or what laws, or what degree of security we have, the unthinkable will happen and has always happened. We will try our best to control all the evils of the world, but you can't control everything and you can't fix everything. It's like the discussion of "Life" in the movie, "Jurassic Park", Dr. Ian Malcolm: John, the kind of control you're attempting simply is... it's not possible. If there is one thing the history of evolution has taught us it's that life will not be contained. Life breaks free, it expands to new territories and crashes through barriers, painfully, maybe even dangerously, but, uh... well, there it is. John Hammond: [sardonically] There it is. Henry Wu: You're implying that a group composed entirely of female animals will... breed? Dr. Ian Malcolm: No, I'm, I'm simply saying that life, uh... finds a way. Life will always find a way, unfortunately, so will death.

There was already an article in the washington post today about banning "assault rifles", but your right, it's a total crapshoot if they get it right. And these same people will continue to try to ban every other weapon possible. It's like the old cliche, "be careful what you wish for".

No, just the ones that have large capacity capability. Does the 7400 really need a 10 round clip. Last time I looked, I never had to empty a weapon when shooting a deer.

It's easy. Mine only holds 5 rounds before reloading and it's not a magazine clip. What can assualt rifles hold? 30 or more. Each one those kids had multiple shots. He had enough magazines to take on a small army. It's the shear speed of the weapon that makes it the "problem".

First off, giving teachers guns is not going to be the answer. Or even giving one or two teachers in the school carrying permits, cause, somewhere, sometime, one of them will flip and they'll be talking about how they destroyed lives, and are just as crazy. Imagine if every one could now carry, road rage would take on new meaning. Small arguments would now take on an escalation factor where disaster would be around the corner of every block. I'll never turn in my guns, period. I think that one of the problems is the assault rifle and sure, it's our right to own it, but do we need it. If they banned assault rifles, then the only ones who'd have them would be the "crazies". As for the "once they take away the assault rifles, they'll come after yours" scenario just doesn't cut it here. If he only used a handgun, or a rifle, he'd be able to inflect just as much damage. He got into an advanced security system controlled school. No matter how much we try to make the system secure from bad elements, if they want to get in, they will. In the weeks to come, the story will unfold as to what "may" have triggered such outrage. We'll try to figure out if there's any possible solution to this horrific problem, and we'll realize, there isn't.

Oh-Oh! I guess when I eat clam dip with Fritos Scoops, I must have @ss & beaver breath too!!!

I'm like to put on a drive when the time calls for it, like at the last two weekends of the season when the deer just aren't moving, or it's warm, or whatever. I sit in the a.m. till 9 and walk around during those times cause our members have gotten into that "Sit in the Stand" mentality and wait to see what's gonna happen. Wait? Wait for what. Walk around, kick em around, use your walkie-talkies to give an idea where your at, and what's shakin. Specially from 9 to 3 when you.... could ...... just.....fall.... a ....sleeeeeep, or sit in camp and watch TV. Can't get the big one when your watchin I'd like to have 10 guys puttin it on, but it seems to be only a handful of guys wanting to take the time and effort. Some clubs around us with tons of acreage just drive all day, every day, every hour. I wouldn't like that, not my style, but does that make it wrong, heck no. They produce a lot of deer. To each his own. We don't take the spikes and 4's, but our neighbors knock em down. I don't begrudge them, Can't eat the horns anyway. It's like one of the guys said before, you can pay for a hooker and you can pay for a deer. I just don't feel like I have to pay for either cause I'm not that desperate. I get my jollies just being out in the woods, taking my bullets for a walk, seeing deer, and if I get the opportunity to get the big one, then so be it.

Great rifle and a great present. Only problem is when she shows you HER receipt for what she bought for HERSELF, take a couple of excedrin. Congrats.

We do a coyote hunt in February, haven't been successful, but it's a good reason to get out and scout out the area. Last year I sat in one spot, saw 42 deer come by. We had 2 walkers, and they just pushed them around. First saw 22 does came right by me, single file, then another 5, then 3. Then, to my left started the buck parade, first 4 small ones, spikes and fours, followed 1 minute later by 4 fours and sixes, and following them were the 4 eights and tens. It was awesome, all within 75 yards of me. And mid-February, they still had their horns. This years take seemes to follow suite with 10 taken so far, with; (1) 11, 8, 6, and 5, (2) huge 9's, (2) seven's and (2) fours from our younger hunters. Last year, I believe we ended up with 12 (7 on opening day), and by the end of the season, we thought they were all gone, just saw a couple of does, and spikes. So, 2 months later to see all those deer and that was all in one area of the property. We do not shoot does on our property, poor management, but owners request. But remember, last year was a very mild winter, so just hope it follows the same path.

With 100's of deer piled up, the stench must have been terrible. We had a bad winter kill one year, snow and ice was real high, and in the spring, when we we back up to camp, there were close to 20 deer dead in one area by the stream. Coyotes or whatever got em and a lot of them had there heads knawed off at the necks. Most of our coyote dens are on the other side of the property. Either the deer died naturally or they were chased. From what it looks like, they must bring the head back to the den to feed the pups. But we had a hell of a cleanup. The stench was terrible. We had two areas like that on the property, closer to the residential area, where they made their lanes in the heavy snow.

Your probably right, but I would think that with the volume of deer carcasses along the highway every day, that they'd have a regular disposal venue to work with and not just ditch em. Talked to my son and he said that a couple were shot in the shoulder. I thought none were shot, but like he says, sometimes I just don't listen. And also, these were big bodied deer, big shoulders, and no little ones, so who knows. He can't remember the girls name, but he sure remembers the brown hair and blue eyes.

Don't know the officers name, but I'll ask my son when I see him. In my opinion, if it was road kill, and done by the local dept, then they'd really take off the heads and not just dump the deer ? I don't think the Dept would be that gruesome. In Orange county, I've seen a lot of jacklighting offenses with 22's to the head. Nice and quiet. Who knows. Could be they just wanted the heads to mount and make a buck possibly. Whatever the reason, it's such a waste. I gave him two numbers and don't know which one he called. Also, no cameras were near the site. Doubt they'd park in the lot with all the lights on and it's well lit. Had to come in from the back or side.

No visible signs of being hit by a car, bodies were in decent shape. No bullet holes, so they probably were head shots and had their heads removed for the horns. It was up in the Congers/Valley Cottage area. I would surmise they won't be back. But either way, someone should remove the carcasses. It's near residential, and don't want to attract coyotes, if you can avoid it. I'll keep ya posted.

My son works up in Rockland, and has a small patch of woods and swamp near the office. He goes out to take a look to see if there was any deer sign and found 5 bucks with their heads cut off in a pile. He gave me a call and told me what happened, I went on-line and got the number for the DEC. That was last Tuesday. The DEC said they would send somebody as soon as they could. They didn't show up until Friday afternoon. Now I know their busy, short staffed, and it's their busy season, but really 4 days later. The officer who came out was a female (A real knockout from what my son says), and she took down the information of the find, and she went out to check out the site. She said to leave the carcasses there and they would monitor the area. It's a shame and a terrible waste for someone in the area to do that. Hope they catch em, but more than likely, won't even come close.

Well, he decided on the Mission Ballistic. Liked the feel, smooth and quiet, and it's about a 1000% upgrade from what he had. He replaced the whisker bisquit with a drop down rest. We'll pick his up on Wednesday and we'll get to use it during late archery and up to December 31st in Westchester. We also got my daughter a used bow and she loves it. She shot it for the first time in the store and got two bullseyes, so she was elated. She shoots all the time now. I may have created a monster. Thanks for all the help and ideas guys. And everyone was right, it's a personal preference, coupled with whatever we can afford.

When I was in college from 70 to 72, I survived on lunch being two budweisers, two packages of hostess cupcakes ($. 10 cents a package) , and two slim jims. Every couple of years, I have that same combination just to remember what it was like. Must be the reason I have such a slender physique.

In Yonkers, the closest shop is Courgar and they have PSE's, Mission, & Matthews. I know on occasion, he'll have other brands too, not just to sure which ones. I'm surprising him on Friday. My daughter is going to have him go with her to pick out a "Used" bow for her, and I'll already be in there with his girlfriend and she's suppose to come out and say "Here, try this one, Merry Xmas". The other places I know of are the Dick's and Ganders in Middletown, but I'd rather stay with these guys who have been so helpful to us since we started 8 years ago. I think the owner mentioned the Mission Ballistic as a good upgrade. We'll try em all and then head home and decide. (I'll bet he goes with the Mission Voyager. I know he likes to go with the best. The first gun he bought was a .270 Browning A bolt. So, he knows the value of buying the right one). . I really think his hardest decisions will be the sights, rest, etc. to go with the bow. We'll see and thanks.

I'm not a devoted Catholic, but I go to mass as many as Sundays (Other than hunting time) as I can. My priest asks that we say the rosary every day, and I by no means do that, but I'll find myself saying a decat or two when I'm in my stand. Passes times, hope some good will come out it, and I usually can use all the help I can get. This past Sunday, I hadn't seen a deer the day before, and nothing was even moving around 7:15 am, so I said a decate of the rosary, looked up and said, "Ya know, all I want to do is see one, if you can help". And I swear, not a second went by and I hear out my left window, tsh,tsh,tsh. Down in the valley, a deer was coming through nose to the ground. Saw it was a buck right away, scoped him and saw he was at least a six or eight, and let him have it. He teamed up with a couple of does coming the other way up the hill, ran around and dropped. I looked up to God and said "Now your just showing off". Went over to it and it was a nice 7 pointer. I put a lot of time into the new stand this year. My wife bought me a used quad, first one I ever owned, spent some time setting up the stand, planting some no-plow areas, cutting firing lanes, helping with my son's area too. AND, get a deer this year, priceless. I learned a few things too, first, putting a deer on a quad, by yourself, is a real beotch. Fell over onto him a few times, but managed (picture looks when we went at it a few times). Second, I have to put up an overhang over the 2 windows cause when that sun comes up in the morning and sets, it hits you right in the face, and if you have to aim out that window, it's blinding.Sounds like a March project. And third, when all else fails, give him a try. "It can't Hoit" And my son's with a bow.

I've seen big bears out of the stand, and I won't take em. Too much of a pain hauling out, finding a butcher, and I'm not a fan of bear meat anyway, so why take it. But to show you how nervous you can get at the sight of one; One of our members years ago, I'm sure he always got the fever anyway, spotted a bear coming across his knoll. He picks up the gun, goes to point it out the window, forgets he has it closed, puts the muzzle through the window, crash, he jerks the gun back in yelling "@#$%", while bringing it in, it's aiming up, the gun goes off, "Double !@#&&"!!! With that the bears takes off and is gone. He told us that in the morning, we all could just imagine what that scene must have looked like, and by the time I got to the restaurant that night some 12 miles away, the bartender starts telling me the same story. Man, news travels fast.