SteveMcD

My heart goes out to all of the victims and Friends and Family members. How very sad and tragic. Regarding the "Gun Nut" comments. I know I'll get blasted for this.. but it was reported the shooter had an extended magazine for the pistol. This is where I do not support the NRA.. we do need common sense gun laws. Show me one hunter or "sportsman" that needs a 20 round magazine. Also the "Sarah Palin" and "Huckabee" political rhetoric needs to stop. With all the outright vicious politics in this country today... is it really any wonder.. someone short a full deck of cards would eventually go off? :

Mrs. Claus left me a Mad River 14 ft canoe!

LOL! Some folk have too much time n their hands! ;D

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Wood Arrows.. prefer Douglas Fir Shafts for hunting & 145 Gr Journeyman Broadheads.

I've been a NY DEC Instructor for almost 20 years myself. And share the same experiences as Bubba. Other point is.. we want to go hunting too! There always seems to be a shortage of instructors though. Three Years hunting experience, no game violations and 18 years of age is all it takes to sign up. You start up as an apprentice with a "Master" or senior instructor for a year, then you get fully certified. It is our way of giving back to the sport that we love and no doubt has shaped our lives to some extent. My mentor.. said to me.. the thing about being a good instructor is.. "you have to want to teach".

I know as a hunter ed instructioner we get a full tally every year but it is only a summary.

Good Luck WNY! Hope you find him!

Jennifer... that's deer hunting! And it's happened to all of us.. probably more than just once. Although, biologists say deer to see the color Blue and Green. It is really movement more than anything else that will give you away. This is true for all living creatures including us. I cannot see the letters on this computer without my bifocals, but I hunt without glasses and can see a field mouse weaving the the crevices of rock in a fieldstone fence 30 yards away! Stay absolutely motionless until they start to relax and meander. Then draw or aim when their line of sight is obstructed from you. Never silohuette yourself and have your back to a tree or boulder. Always have a face mask & gloves If your face and hands are covered and you are motionless they may not distinguish you as a threat, although they do know you are there. If you are going to be on the ground at a "favorite" spot.. try building a natural ground blind. Deer readily accept them, rather than pop up blinds that take them several weeks to get use too.

I posted this over on BOWSITE but the moderators didn't accept it. A Nine Year Old Orange County Boy was shot in the stomach yesterday by a family friend and member of the same hunting party. Apparrently the boy was taken out deer hunting with his step dad and other family members along with a family friend. After a while the boy took off his Blaze Orange Hat because he was hot, and was mistaken for a deer by the family friend. As a 40+year hunter and Hunter Ed instructor, I will keep my harsh criticism to myself. Knowing the shooter is distraught. Luckily, the boy was airlifted to Wesychester Medical Center and it is reported he will be okay.

You could always call 1-800-DEC-TIPP !!!

No I am opposed to it. I will not allow contamination of my ground, water or that of my neighbor and community. I need to leave this behind for my children and grand children. Hyfro-fracturing spills all that contaminated water and chemicals into the aquaifer and on top of your ground too.

I was thinking the same thing, with the weather front moving in on Sunday, Saturday should be a good day.

It is both. Luck favors those who are prepared. There is no substitute for being prepared, scouting knowing your deer movements, and intimately knowing the area you hunt. For a city dweller it is a little more difficult but you have to put in your time, either pre-season or in-season scouting. After gun season opens... most people are very uncomfortable venturing far from the road. Get USGS Topo Map, a good compass and or GPS and find out what is beyond the extra mile away from the road, when the regular season opens up, this is where the deer will be. FORGET SCENTS... I will debate anyone, they are a waste of money! (ANY Mammal urine is an attractant). Stay as scent free as possible, and yes "DON'T forget about the wind, keep the wind in your teeth! And luck will come.

LMAO!!! My Sentiment exactly! Probably photoshopped!

I am pretty convinced. All these scents scare off more deer than they attract. When a deer smells a foreign scent they have not smelled before, they automatically go on DEFCON4 ALERT. With every Tom, Dick, Harry & Jane spreading every brand of deer pee through the woods every October. I know what the deer are thinking - HUNTERS! Stay clean and as scent free as possible and keep the wind in your teeth. P.S. I could not sleep at night spending 30 to 50 dollars a bottle for piss. Or even 5 dollars for that matter.

I've been mostly a ground pounder for 40 years. I've never considered it a dis-advantage. Although I do recognize the advantage of using treestands. For me, it is just about personal preference and style of hunting.

I like Doc's explanation. I hunt from the ground as a matter of choice. Never cared for treestands - limited mobility and a pain to pack in (for climbers). I have found that multiple Natural Ground Blinds work very well. I try to have several based upon weather and wind conditions. Deer readily accept natural ground blinds, as pop ups ans canvas blinds takes deer a few weeks to get use too. I also like to still hunt, keep the wind in your teeth and go slow, when you think you are slow enough, slow down some more, the terrain changes with every step, you have to completely survey your landscape every time, stay in the shadows, use the trees, boulders or bushes to your advantage, and do not skyline or silhouette yourself. Cover your face and your hands. Anything more than 2-3 steps at a time and you sound like a human. Watch your back trail for deer sneaking around you. Camo is not that all necessary, earthtones - gray, green, tan or brown (except in gun season) all work well. I avoid wearing blue jeans, 1) once wet they'll kill you - hypothermia and 2) it is said that deer recognize the color blue.

Rhinebeck

Interesting, I have a piece of property in South Gilboa off Meghan Rd. up from the Summer Camp. I know there is no shortage of deer in the area.

I did not get out opening day or Sunday. I heard a couple of shots behind my house in Dutchess County around 7 AM opening morning and that was it. Interesting, I hunted all day Friday, last day of Archery Season and heard shots all around the distant hills around me all day long. This is all private land. I suspect some folk started Gun Season a day early.

In my area, I am not seeing a lot of deer. Season has been very slow I've logged in about 65 hours, so far. I had a basket racked 6 point pass by me, but no shot opportunity, not a big deer horn wise, but a big body, I would have shot him if the chance presented itself, also had a spike come by, and although I still have my tags, I still would not shoot him. He is too small even body wise. Well.. we still have to 12/21 to get it done. I don't put my bows away when the pumpkin army shows up, I just move to other (bow only) spots.

Nice Buck! Congrats!

Thanks for the input. Good to know. I will keep the faith then. But, yes agree, so far it has not been a stellar season.

Yes, that's not far from me. I am in Rhinebeck. I am afraid between the Rhinebeck-Woodstock Mid Hudson Area the demographics has changed so much. I view the area as "San Francisco East". All the Flakes and Nutjobs from the city moving up to experience, Zen, Yoga, Green Tea... Warm Water Enema's and whatever other whacked out non-sense turns them on. They love the area but detest the local lifestyle so much they will go great lengths to change it. I have property further upstate and can hardly wait to retire and move there.