Woodsman20

Super buck - congrats to your bro.

Does anyone have any experience on this site regarding hunting near in New Jersey?

Very nice - quite an accomplishment!!

Any luck? We used to have a cabin up on Italy Hill a few years back, know the land quite well - never saw any bear but some good deer hunting - I saw your profile - I grew up in Ontario and live in Walworth now.

Every year I hear the stories of mid-day (10AM-2PM) success and while I have tried it - including the infamous all day sits I have never had much luck other than intermittent activity during the rut. So I was just wondering for those of you that have had success, which for this thread is defined as sightings and/or harvest of a mature buck, I wanted to hear some of your stories: - Was it in the hardwoods, cornfields, thick brush, or transition zones etc? - What Times did you see the activity? - What part of the season - rut, pre-rut, early season, post rut, opening weekend, middle of gun season or late gun season? - Were you in stand/ground blind or still hunting? - Do you think the deer was "bumped" by another person or was it natural movement and if so what type (scraping/feeding/chasing/searching/browsing)? Thanks in advance for sharing your stories.

Very nice - congrats. That is a good buck to get at any age!!

Congrats - that is a funny story that you will always remember.

It happens to everyone don't beat yourself up over it or listen to the folks on here condemning a shot selection - arm chair quarterbacks - they weren't there. No doubt it is the toughest part of hunting. You are doing the right thing. Go out and do the body search again ... if nothing more it will ease your mind. Bring a buddy - another set of eyes and moral support go a long way - stay optimistic. Look a little farther than you think. If he is dead - he is in the thick stuff or by some water not far from where you lost the trail. You know the drill - circle and cover the area good. When in doubt assume a straight line and check the nooks and crannies - if he is mortally wounded he will want the cover. If it makes it past the terrain and to an open field there is a good chance he is still on his feet.

I agree Doc. Your post was off topic as there was no ridiculing any hunter for their harvest or alluding to people for their thoughts on a matter as "jerks." "Melodramatic" this whole post is melodramtic - HA!!! The subject line says it all to catch everyone up. I imagine this post will die by Saturday as the weather should turn and everyone should be in the woods by then. Good luck. Wait ... I see something brown over there - gotta run!!

Imagine that ... taking the time to analyze the target that you are getting ready to take the life of. For that reason alone any restriction that allows some consideration on what "hunters" are shooting at is worth it in my book. One other point I think that gets over looked is the argument for the lack of deer in certain areas and having to kill a 1.5 year old buck for meat on the table because there are "no deer". Again the benefit/goal of any "management system" (whether it is one buck, a spread or a point restriction) is to re-build or maintain the health of the herd. So I find it interesting on the arguments that there are no deer and that they have to shoot yearlings or 1.5 year old bucks because the goal of a "management system" is some short-term sacrifice for the betterment of the herd over the course of time rather than the need for immediate gratification.

Exactly I think that is the misconception w/ AR's. Yes if you don't draw a doe permit that causes an issue if you rely on deer meat to survive. Although I am not sure AR's play a role on this rather than a serious population issue whcih would need to be explored more on why that exists. That is entirely another discussion though. Yes, I agree Ohio and PA have different methods for their management practices but my point is both are further down the path than NY is. Many Mid-west states have counties that participate in AR's, so I think it is a fair assessment and could be similiar to NY as whoever said NY has many different regions that are different, management practices should take those into account. I would be a proponant for AR's and I think it would make the hunting in NY much better over the course of time. The first couple years may be difficult to visbile see the impact but over time it will make the herds stronger. It will only be a matter of time before it happens.

I would rather see AR's rather than a 1 buck rule which has more to do with population issues versus trying to establish larger population of mature bucks. NY has great genetics and great habitat to support great hunting. Meat hunter or not, everyone gets excited when they see big mature whitetails. If you are truly after meat our doe population is a viable source to support this. NY is way behind other states - PA, OH and our mid-western states in trying to move in this direction. With this said, over the last few years many hunters are making a conscious decision to move in this direction and the results are evident. I think there are more big bucks out there today than in the past. At some point it will happen but many hunters are helping to drive this direction. If we could just avoid the opening weekend of gun’s slaughter of 1.5 year olds the results would be phenomenal.

117 gross

Cool competition is good.

No disareement there guys ... it doesn't look/sound like Ozonics has sold many in NY.

There is definitly some health risks if used incorrectly, but at this point we will all die of brain tumors because of cell phones before ozonics takes me down - HA!!! I am on the fence on this one though ... I have hunted for quite some time and playing the wind is always an interesting discussion when treestand hunting for whitetails - especially mature ones. (This doesn't apply with spot and stalk as much other than their eyes are usually focused upwind while their backs are downwind but the premise is the same.) Most hunters believe if the wind is out of the NW and the bedding is to the NW those fields/travel corridors/funnels is where they should be. They may see deer but usually those are the younger ones. You have to ask yourself why would an animal that is prey and a matser of it's environment forgo it's best weapon and come out from that set-up without it's use of the wind? The answer is they rarely do. Other than a mistake here and there - chasing a doe, getting bumped or pushed etc which are few and far between, they typically don't intentionally put themselves in a disadvantaged position. So what this means is that you need to hunt a neutral wind or marginal wind set-up that may even favor the big guys. Scent clothing ... I am torn on I think it helps but it isn't anything great. Ozonics though using the device as intended - downwind or even better on yur scent trail in offers some intrigueing possibilities. The cost becomes less of an issues as they have a money back guarntee. I don't plan on wearng it as a Darth Vader mask but there is some risk ... Maybe plan B is wait for Jay Gregory to croak and then take over his hunting show and spots - HA!!

I was wondering if anyone on this site owns or has owned an Ozonics scent system and if anyone has what their thoughts on it were. I have researched the technology for awhile and have always been skeptical about pulling the trigger on one. They are expensive - $400 for one with two batteries which I think almost have to have if you hunt a lot. But the technology intrigues me. I remember in my younger days I got burned on one of the heat sensing game trackers that were suppose to point you to your dead deer when blood trails got lost ... I think that one took me for like $300 and was the epitome of a gimmick. Just wondering if Ozonics is my next game tracker or if there is some legitimate success stories. Thanks

Congrats to the winners - just in time to start using the camera to capture the big boys!! Phade and Paula I agree wholeheartedly. Culvercreek it is called integrity free or not. Burmjohn thanks for closing it out and I think we can all support your recommendation on holding any future contests. HA!! Have a good night.

Nice place but I have to say that bear mount is the scariest think I have ever seen. It looks like it had a crack addiction.

Ha!! Interesting title. Backyard bucks - gotta love them. Then when you tell non-hunters how hard they are to get (the big ones)then they explain how they drink out of their garden hoses.

I am glad I am not the only one. Does anyone know if burmjohn has successfully closed a contest he started? My records show 0 for 2. I knew that trail camera looked familiar - wasn't it a prize from the buck contest - I guess it is a good strategy - you can keep holding contests and just recycle the prizes if no winners are evr announced.

Pygmy, Mountain goat hunts are tough but at 1/2 price that is a steal. Yeah the prep is fun, I agree. Thanks guys. Biz - what made you choose dry ground over snow for mountain lions and are the cats typically smaller for dry ground? I have seen the pictures of the cat hunts up in Alberta, Montana and Idaho and they look huge - or midgets are holding them.

Thanks Biz - great information. I have been ona cpouple and do very similiar items when researching for longer term hunts. I was wodnerign if anyone has ever done a last minute cancellation hunt. There seems to be a few sites that offer them which is one path. The other is have a list of outfitters you researched and call them to see if they have anything available. I remember reading about your lion hunt - that was cool. Your list of questions is very comprehensive - I will use those for some future hunts. I have some extra ime off this September and have some cash set aside and was thinking if the right hunt worked out I would be up for it. I would even consider a DIY hunt - still thinking it over. Thansk again - much appreciated.

Hi everyone, Just wondering what you guys you use to book hunts or if anyone has experience booking last minute or cancellation hunts. I was thinking of trying something out this year and just wondering if anyone has any experience good or bad - does it save you money, were you successful etc.?? Any recommendations: Black Bear Mountain Lion Elk

Nice pictures - he looks like he will be a good one.