Meat Manager

I would guess right under your nose...I'm just kidding and im not trying to be snotty...I believe there are some places with lower numbers because of ecological changes, but the vast majority of this state is in deer glut. I will always take issue with blaming scientists and specialist who devote there lives (not one weekend in nov) to understanding deer ecology. They get their results from scientifically collected data, not anecdotal observations. Also only 17% (from dec) fill even 1 dmp. If some folks don't fill multiples, they don't get filled at all.

I would say I'd like real proof behind any opinion on the board. Too much old school hunter tradition of just shooting big boys is what set the herd for a loop in the first place.. Since ny and pa have liberalized the doe take in the past 2 decades I have seen and harvested way more deer. Ofcourse I don't sit in the same place everyday let alone every year for 30 years. Dec and pa dcnr deer take/game survey statistics back up my claims.

Do you have any evidence beyond your own observations? Have you used game trail camera surveys to determine your population on your property? Do you only gun hunt? Did you hunt the archery season? Is your property large enough to hold deer full time (1000+ acres)? If not do any of your neighbors have standing corn or golden rod fields? It is possible that you have a smaller herd, but that is the opposite of reality in most of the northeastern us.

http://www.qdma.com/articles/how-many-does-can-i-harvest If the state agencies are handing out dmp's it is part of the management plan to fill those tags. If you mistakenly pop a button that is one less mouth and one less road kill.

All forms of deer management, QDM, Trophy, and all the state agencies start with shooting does early and often. If you want a healthy herd fill the tags you buy. Shooting does Strengthens the herd. I hunt 7j & 7f, little woods and ag. I also hunt suburban deer in NJ and in the big woods of the PA poconos. All are very different, way less sightings in the big woods, but still an overpopulation in all of the areas. I fill doe tags wherever I hunt.

Based on your own observations or on actual scientific data? Weather is the number one factor in deer movement coupled with the availability of food and water. A windy and mild fall...and warm gun opener means deer with winter coats will move less in daylight. Then add the fact that there is plenty of food in the woods with bumper hard and soft mast this year + the fact the rutt is late and you have no reason for deer to move during the day. It is possible there are fewer deer in your area, but highly unlikely...it's more likely a nearby property is a better daytime sanctuary and your property gets visited more at night.

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I've harvested 5 deer this season, and 1 in the first 3 minutes of gun season. Low sightings can come from many factors, mostly weather, as well as a reportedly late rut activity and oceans of corn still standing and a bumper hard and soft mast year in much of New York. If you've been hunting in the same exact place for a long time then it's likely the ecosystem changed and the deer became more nocturnal due to more human contact. Low sightings at the new place this season can be attributed to the weather and food related reasons I mentioned above. What is unlikely is that many places in New York have a lower deer population than they did 30 years ago. In fact in most placed the opposite is true. I started hunting in ny 6 years ago and have harvest more than 15 deer in that time...no shortage where I hunt in 7j and 7f. I'm not saying a dwindling herd is not possible in your area, just not likely.

Bullwinkle

I only had two hours to hunt gun opener so I shot the first doe that walked up in a pair just after 7 am. I have actually been seeing a lot more deer the past week in 7j & 7f. The doe on Saturday was the first of my 5 harvests this season to have stained hocks, so I think rutt is late up here.

That's what I call meat managing.

I got one just after 7 opening day(my 3rd 7f harvest of the year). I also heard a lot of shooting the 1 hour I hunted Saturday morning. is there still alot of standing corn in your area? My sightings went way up last week when the last 300 acres came down. Also of my 5 deer harvested in 7f & 7j this fall only the last one had stained tarsals so rutt seems late up here. Keep at it, they are out there you will score.

Side note...first one with stained hocks this season up here in 7j/7f.

Only had 2 hours to hunt Saturday morning so I filled one of my last 2 dmps right after 7am. Helped remove the bad taste in my mouth from the lost one from Friday. This was number 5 so I skinned quartered and distributed to my dad and uncle (after I ate the tenderloins). I'm turning my attention to harvesting another 3 or better yet 4 year old 110-120 buck. I will also take 1 more big doe to totally fill the freezer and hand out another half or so to family.

Not looking for sympathy...wanted to convey my experience for anyone who might benefit. I know I did my best. I also like to show others that although its been 4 years since I lost a deer, my first since joining this forum in 2011 with nearly a dozen harvested in that time, I will make a mistake that results in a unrecovered animal occasionally. Personally I think it's dishonest to omit our failures and then pump up our achievements. Harvested many animals before wounding this one but that doesn't change the fact I made a high shot on an excellent broadside 20 yard opportunity. I was not desperate, I've filled several tags, I just made a bad shot. Hope someone can learn from my story and pictures, I certainly learned a few more things today. I obviously feel bad but I know I did my best. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah I absolutely screwed up by skipping the elevation correction step in my aiming routine. Also I waited to post this until I searched to my best but eventually lost any trace, and then I still searched in every direction fron last blood only to have the farmer text me a pic of the two does bedded, reporting the wounded one acting normal. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lost one today...not the rages fault shot landed just below the spine. Tracked for 7+ hours eventually the farmer saw her bedded and acting normal despite bloody wounds on both sides. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Double

thanks, sucks but im starting to forgive myself...it was a max effort track job in i can tell you that, over 7 hours many just on my hands and knees...3 hours on my belly thru thicket. Yeah I'm a one pin guy as well but it's set to 25 to give a pretty flat 30, but a real high 20, they came in quick and I missed a step in my routine. As far as Ke I think it's actually my foc is a bit low at like 9...gonna get that up to like 12 or 13 next season with 125 grain bh and a lighter vanes (been using goat tuff optivane 2 inch, very heavy). I'm drawing 66 and the bow is shooting like 308fps. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well the usual suspects can feel free to hate on this. Shot a doe at 730 am. The pair came in in on me quick, she got to 20 yds in my 9 o'clock lane. I was drawn and had the pin waiting for her there...unfortunately inner voice never told me drop the bow for short yardage. I fired with perfect form but wrong range and smacked her just behind the shoulders but up as high as possible without a spine (the rage had to enter perfectly horizontal. I saw the arrow hit and penetrate both sides but stuck...immediately thought "oh no" as she bounded off and did not drop from what I at first instant thought had to be a spine shot. Both stopped 15 yds later and I was nocking an arrow...she wasn't acting like a fatally wounded deer more like an annoyed one...when she reached back the sight of the arrow spooked her and they took off and i picked a land mark about 100yds out where I last saw them clearly then watched bits and pieces of them continue on until I couldn't see them. Waited half hour then decided to search for initial sign at the point of impact. Found high cape dark hairs but no blood. After about an hour i was unable to track to it, so I went to the landmark. There was very good blood...this pick is from 7 hours later but you can see blood from both sides of the deer and I had this every 5 yards for 50 or 60 yds. I was able to track easily at a walking pace and started to look for a white belly and my hopes got up: Eventually though I was down on my hands and knees but still a good trail with occasional painted branches and reeds: Eventually the drops got 20-30 yds a part but it was leading into promising thick stuff like multiflora rose which I crawled through. Finally blood ran out and I continued about 100 yds down every fresh and then stale and then somewhat non-existent trail that went off of last blood, but nothing. Then the farmer said he saw 2 doe behind the alpaca barn, one looked bloodied but otherwise normal, he tried it get closer but they spooked: I guess she may recover, doesn't make me feel any better...also I know people say it isn't possible but I believe I got her between the lungs and spine. Ruined my dream archery season and my bow madness gets put away 4-1 with the loss coming last, but it was all user error, the rage probably got me a lot further than I deserved. Glad it didn't happen to the buck I harvested instead. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just had a huge raccoon come thru my lanes and then stop and follow my doe pee drag for a good bit...atleast someone's interested. Squirrel city out here as well gotta be a dozen inside 50 yds. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Last chance to fill tag 5 before "opening day!" On the stand at 6, steady breeze ssw Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wildlife biology and ecology is actually science... But yeah most hunters are not scientific in their approach that is for sure. The wind (and thermal) info is obviously better to understand than just spraying yourself down with the most expensive products, but you guys who think the deer like the way you and your cigs and coffee and baloney smell are a real treat. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk