Woodsman20

I was out this mornign scouting for birds and looking for morels. No morels - I agree it is probably a bit early still. I'll take the mesh bag advise for transporting them. Never had wild leeks, but maybe I'll give them a try. Found a massive snapping turtle and a large garden snake - always cool in spring to find the animals out and about.

Last year was my first year looking for them, I found quite a few and didn't think much of it until we cooked them up ... wheww definitely hooked now!! I carry a zip lock bag with me now when turkey hunting and scour the ground for them - hopefully I find as many or more as last year. Really good smokey flavour .... I second great with some wild turkey on the grill.

Count me in please and thanks for organizing again.

I think you he will be pretty close. That is one heck of a buck.

Very nice. Knowing they are there is more than 1/2 the battle. It also helps staying up in the stand for a few more minutes - Ha!! Good luck with the rest of it to close the deal- hopefully we get to see some up close shots - he is a dandy.

Awesome buck - good luck with him - that is a nice one. Mike

Skillett - my point was that the weakness is simply that they move more during daylight hours period. You can't shoot something that you don't see which mature bucks seem to have nailed down. I agree Doc and to quote one of my favorite lines of all time - " If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised ..." I have been around (20 yards or less) mature does more times than I can count and they are smart - no doubt - but where I hunt and in my experience, a mature buck is like hunting a different animal. They are on another playing field. If one were to choose a mature doe and a mature buck (a specific one not any) my money is on the mature doe being harvested. Nonetheless "smart" could have many meanings. I would not say mature does that are protecting their fawns are dumb ... but because of this I think they are subject to being harvested easier than a mature buck. My two cents.

Doc that is an interesting perspective regarding mature does being more challenging. I read everything you said and numbers surely contribute to less sightings of mature bucks and I think everyone knows that during the rut is the time to nail a big buck because that is when they let their guard down. Mature bucks just are inherently more cautious often times even when leaving all the sign in the world they can not even be seen during day light hours. So for 2-3 weeks they let their guard down and begin to chase does - some research even suggests that the older bucks only particpate in the rut at night. That 2-3 weeks is the only time I would even contend that a mature doe would be in the same realm of a challenge. Mature does have inherently more weaknesses. They do travel in small groups, usually with their or there group's offspring, which forces them to move much more frequently throughout the season during daylight hours. I think the numbers are relative from a sighting perspective in NY, but I would bet that if the numbers were balanced you would see mature does more consistently throughout the season compared to a mature buck. The only variable in my mind is if there were more mature bucks, this should create more competition which would promote an environment of more movement ... in theory and understanding the right circumstances would have to be present. Fortunatley we are NY though and the odds of ever getting to test this here seem small.

Very heavy, he will be a brute. My buddy shot an 8 point, 2.5 year old with a huge body last year - close to 200lbs. Is he on your hit list this year or are you going to see if he makes to next?

That is undoubtedly one of the best turkey mounts I have seen ... very impressive. Congrats on an awesome TRIPLE BEARD bird!!!

As for the original question for doe only ... that would be rough. I like to hunt but doe hunting only does not do much for me. Granted, mature doe can be very challenging but the excitement level doesn't even come close to a mature buck for me. Excitement level is low = 2/3 out of 10 and I would move to another state immediately Conversation wise I agree with taking does and managing the quality of the herd. It is part of a hunter's responsibility to manage the herd and I occasionally will harvest one. As for the hunting mature bucks only question, I don't think this is is feasible from a management perspective. However with this said this is what I hunt for. The challenge of mature whitetails and excitement level is off the chart. I wish they would bring antler restrictions to my WMU.

Just to go back to an earlier post that the size and cost of our government has grown to a point where it actually adversely effects our economy, I would be curious on how many people agree with this? And for those that agree, how do you ever see this being corrected given those that are in control would have to be those that vote to reduce the size and budgets of governments including their own benefits? I ask because I actually believe that this is one of the primary drivers that effects many issues in our country. When you take into account the number of politicians required to support this country including the costs associated with each: Secretaries, publicists, security detail, admins, technical admins, advisors, “panels” not to mention vehicles, planes, transportation, fuel and everything else considered "perks". Then add in the "hidden costs" once they exit - ongoing security, pensions etc., it seems that it is high price tag to manage. There are also the intangible costs with regards to what can actually get done/accomplished within a presidential term – it is like trying to turn the titanic, our government is slow and similar to many legacy corporations. It would be interesting to see a specific scorecard by president of what a president accomplished within a 4 year term over the course of history to see possible correlations to certain variables: (size of the government, situations during presidency i.e. Wars, economic collapses and significant technological advances. etc..) Don’t get me wrong, there is an obvious balance that needs to make sure there is representation of the people, for the people at the legislative level to promote democracy, free markets and a capitalistic economy but I struggle with the current design. Those that believe in the fundamentals of a “trickle down, capitalistic economy” this would seem like one of the primary drivers to stimulate the economy by reducing costs, increasing investments from the private sector in future developments and make us overall more competitive. It would have to be a balancing act and done with much care because the obvious risk is if it went too far it could easily turn into a regime of dictators. What also always interests me is the significant differences from state to state in our tax structures … I always find this intriguing. I do a fair amount of traveling internationally and domestically and when traveling state to state or even worse county to county it is rare that the public services change. Any thoughts?

That would be cool. What makes a N.A cat slam? Mountain Lion, Bobcat and Lynx? Mountain Lion is on my list so let us know how you make out. Good luck - Mike

Very cool - that is a nice hunting knife.

LOL!! That is hillarious!! "Be the bigger man ..." I did have that happen once with a skunk. Also funny you mention this. The other day on the way t the kid's baseball rec park a lady was walking down the road and a doe came up to her and chased her 500 yards. (she was wlking quickly in pursuit). She must have had a fawn nearby and saw her as a threat.

I do the same thing on off wind or weather days.

That one with the double brow tine is going to be big.

Dave - what are you talking about - those spots are everywhere LOL!!! Phade, that sounds like a good set-up - wait for that property for come to sale and buy it!

"After watching the video I was so angry that I decided to ground my 6 and 9 year old just in case they did something like that in the future...." That was funny cwhite.

Nice that's a good idea - although $30 for each receiver?? Dicks sells stands for that much.

Too funny - that is one heck of a Mulie - nice.

I do this quite often. Here are some thoughts: 1.) If you plan on hunting out of the same tree leave the screw in steps in and chain and lock your stand. I remove the bottom spikes, just as an added deterrant - 4 or 5, making it more difficult to steal. 2.) Climbing sticks are nice as long as you don't mind "wanders" to hunt out of it. Personally I like to leave a set-up alone until the conditions are right - having "wanders" hunting out of my stand defeats the purpose of why I want to set-up there and my plan when I hunt there. 3.) If you are short on stands or don't want to advertise your spot (again hunting out of the same tree) what I usually do is screw in the steps, still remove the bottom 4-5 and carry a lightweight portable. The best and most cost effective model is the baby kong by gorrilla,lightweight and easy to hang on and remove. I screw in the bottom steps, put the stand on my back and I have my bow and pack tied up. I hang the stand and reel everything up. It takes a little longer but worth it in certain situations. 4.) Lastly, and probably the biggest pain in the ass but most rewarding especially when you are hunting "big buck core areas/bedding" is to set it all up and hunt it that same trip. I have seen more big bucks this way for obvious reasons. I carry 10 spikes velcroed together with straps and the portable stand in. I find a suitable tree - not "hard" wood or you will sweat your cajones off and be cursing me left and right. Look for pine or any other soft wood tree. I screw in the bottom 4 and then put the stand on my back with a hoist securing my pack and bow. I screw in the remaing 6 spikes (4-6 inches above your opposite knee) will get you 16-18ft. You hang the stand, secure your harness. Screw in your pack holders. Hoist up your pack and bow and get ready for your hunt. It's rough but rewarding and I use it only in certain situations. Practice makes quite in all areas - the velcro straps work well, I recommend for carrying the spikes in - bungee cords work well to keep the stand from clanking. Overall it is pretty quite. Oh - bring some water because you will need a drink and some cover scent or scent killer in your pack. Also when selecting a tree per the other thread consider the wind and yur scent trail as you select the tree - try to avoid walking all over timbukto only to end up at your first tree - trust your instincts and the whole purpose to use this strategy is to capitalize on the element of surprise. Leaving a scent trail between you and where the deer will come from (most likely their bedding) defeats the purpose. Practice during day light before you try this for a morning hunt which requires a head light and some better knowledge of the terrain. Good luck.

Water Rat - he was scored at 184-2 and 176 net. Thanks everyone - very pleased with how he came out. The bad news is it makes my other mounts look puiny - he looks like a different species of whitetail on the wall in comparison.

I'd say so ... $75. Jeez that is hard to justify when cheaper broadheads have been doing the job for years. I guess it is another reason to practice and make sure you don't miss .. to each his own I guess if there is a market for them at that price point great for them to tap it. I have a hard time funding the rages - luckily i get a decent deal on them.

WNYBUCKHUNTER summed it up perfectly - GOOD. I have zero tolerance for those who violate any child in any way - the reprucussions of events like this last a child's entire life. My dearest sympathies to that family, and hopefully they have the strength and suport to pull through this.