BaldguyLee

Look, I'm all for protecting our 'yearlings', but not by using those mean, scary, machine-gun 'AR' guns ! The media told me they should be outlawed ! ( I hope this was not taken seriously !! )

Very touching ! ( Thanks for the tear ).

Hey, it looks like the Sportsman's Guide stopped selling ammo . Is this recent ? I haven't checked there in a coupla months.

Wow. That's too bad for that spot. At least (where I thought you meant ) the state puts up signs 'No target shooting' during deer season at the popular plinking areas.

Doc, until you said there is a hill there, it sounded like you meant certain state lands in 8G where I hunt. I often hear groups of 5-6 shots, presumably from semi-auto shotguns during deer season. 10-11 could be two nearby hunters with the same guns ? I always say to myself after a gruoping like that, 'there's one that got away'. Sadly there's a chance it got wounded. There's been a lot of group hunting and 'drives' put on there lately. I do rapid-fire with my 10/22 at the target range, but I hunt deer with 870's, so like you, each shot has to count.

Yeah, I'm going too. Only because I've seen so little this season and the pressure's on.

I'm only on my 3rd season, but numbers seem to be lower on 8G state and federal land. Yesterday was very quiet in particular. I think it's a self-perpetuating problem. Guys see less deer when fewer hunters are moving them, so fewer hunters want to come out because they're seeing less deer. Makes sense I guess. How do we fix it ???

I'm still trying for my first of season. A friend who always shares with me had his big doe stolen while hanging !! This guy's so kind he would have given the thief some meat anyway, just for the asking, AFTER processing. Thieves suck.

I'm 43 and only in my 3rd season hunting, so I won't stop anytime soon. I love your choice of camera hunting, Noodle. I've often thought while hunting that wildlife photography could be much more challenging. Hunters need only a few seconds to pull the trigger, while a photo or video guy could need minutes. I especially like to compare the stealth and patience needed for photography to the stealth and patience needed for 'drive' style hunting or using dogs for deer down south. You are the man !!

Yeah, the threads get pushed down by newer ones really fast lately !

It's only my third year hunting at age 43. Honestly, fishing is so good here in NY in the fall I never tried hunting until recently. Boy, was I missing out !! I got my first and only deer in my first season, shotgun, but the other unsuccessful deer encounters haunt me even more vividly. Luckily, I found a great hunting buddy or two, and I have a daughter about to turn 14 to join me next season. Goooood times... --Lee

Uh-oh, guys. I just got a Mossy 500 new w/ factory chokes. I didn't think to make sure the included choke tubes were for lead and steel both. I've fired a few rounds of steel #4 shot through the modified tube already. Am I in danger of ruining the tube or worse or is it OK ?

I like it even though I'm technologically way behind. But for a group of club members or guys with shared land privileges it sounds great. Like FRS radios with GPS video. Let's hope Norfolk, VA- based PETA doesn't find a way to hack into the groups' locations! Can you imagine those fools knowing exactly where a hunt is going on !?

Wow, Sogaard, reminds me of when I lived in Va. Beach. I would leave after work Friday evening, drive 3hr south to Cape Hatteras, NC, fish til dawn, sleep in truck, fish Saturday evening / night, drive home Sun AM. Also reminded me of when I lived there telling people I was from Western New York and explaining that I DIDN'T mean Manhattan ! Really, sometimes I catch myself whining because I have to drive 25 min to State and Federal lands to hunt.

Oh, and by the way, my bow on the ground at my feet did not have an arrow nocked yet.

Oh Man, those hours cost me what would have been my first Buck ( and bow kill period ) yesterday !! I got to my spot and settled in by 7:05 AM, sunrise was to be 7:35. At 7:10-7:15 I heard a twig snap almost behind me and I turned on my chair to see a deer at 15yds and closing. He stopped at about 10 yds and we watched each other for about 10 minutes. He was perfectly broadside for half that time. He had at least four points, and never spooked while I SLOWLY got my release out of my pocket and reached for my bow at my feet. As I bent for my bow, another deer crashed in the woods farther away and 'my' deer walked off to investigate. That was my first time out with a bow. I guess had I been ready and legal time, it may have spoiled me to have success in my first five minutes. Sure was exciting though. Anyway, at 1/2 hr before legal time, I could see fine.

Hey guys. I may try for a turkey this weekend. If I luck out, what do I do once the bird is down ? I can cook it, I just need field-dressing help. De-feathering, gutting, etc. Thanks, fellas. --Lee

Good topic. It's funny, last season I barely got to hunt and got nothing. I was half-considering going to a food pantry and seeing if I could buy or trade for some venison! Luckily a friend who hunts had plenty; he gave me 30 or so lbs for free. Love that guy! I wonder too, how many food pantry patrons take the venison.

Good times... Goooooood times. Also, one of the fewer options during late winter.

+1 on the Truballs. My 'deer barrel' on my 870 12ga is a 20" smoothie with iron sights. I've only hunted a few years but the accuracy at the range suprised me. My one deer kill so far was with this setup.

Hi. I'm a 1st year bowhunter, been practicing for two yrs. My bow usually is stored in a case. Do you guys ever hang your bows instead ? It's a pain opening the case and reattaching the quiver before practice. I could hang it by the top cam with the quiver on and just grab it daily and shoot a bit. I think I'd enjoy practice more like that. After the season, I could re-store it into the case until spring or summer. I just need to know if hanging a bow will deform it in any way. Thanks ! --Lee

Yeah, we gotta be careful with the littering and get others to follow. There's a popular target spot in 8G that looks worse every time I see it. I worry it'll be closed someday soon.

I'm not yet a bowhunter (but will be this fall), so I 'm not sure if I think the youth hunt would hurt that. I do have a 13y.o. daughter who got licensed last year. I'd love some type of special hunt to take her on. I'd rather not take her during regular gun season yet. Anything we can do to help recruitment is a plus.

I forgot to ask that when I got my tickets, but the rules / flyer only says you must follow DEC hunting laws.

It looks like you can hunt anywhere and get to Holley by 5:00 PM . Is that right ? Are there boundaries ?