Birdhunter

Here are two pics of a healthy coyote. Both angles show a glow from the left eye but not the right eye...do you think it is blind in one of the eyes?

Here is an updated picture of the buck in the original post. This camera is about 20 yds away from where the first one was taken and the single brow tine on his right side make him pretty easy to identify. It looks a lot bigger (older?) with the side profile...what do you think?

There are some nice ridges and if the oaks are dropping acorns, the deer will be in there. Bow season is your best chance to have the least amount of people there. During the week during the bow is even better. I have come across some stands that have been left there (illegal on state land), but I have never felt like it was to crowded to hunt. If you scout out where you want to hunt from your parking spot...be prepared to have 1 or 2 back-ups in case there is someone in "your' spot when you get there. Good luck this season.

In Poughquag.

Not a big guy, but a decent one for the area behind my house. It will be easy to recognize him with the single brow tine!

Not the biggest boy around, but it has been 3 years since I have had the chance to shoot one so I couldn't pass on the opportunity. The place I hunted is tough because they roost right on the edge of a river; they fly down on the "good" side and they are in my lap, but if they fly down to the other side, it is almost game over. By the time I got into the woods where they roosted, they were gobbling but on alert and had me pegged about 75 yds. off in the open woods. I backed out, went back to the truck and decided to go with "plan B". I put on my waders, went across the stream and circled my way around to the opposite side of where I saw them roosted. I didn't make any calls up to that point, but once I found a decent spot to sit I threw a few yelps out and was met by a few hard gobbles really close! after a few minutes, I see the blue head off to my right and with an awkward twist, I was able to get him in the sights at 20 yds and pulled the trigger. On the shot, the woods exploded with about a dozen or so more turkeys nearby, so i am pleased with my ability to sneak up on them this time...knowing that it doesn't always work out this way. The final measurements; 17.2 lbs., 4.75" beard and .50 spurs.

Aside from all the BS that this thread went into, I was in the market for a new bow this year too. I went to my local shop, looked at and shot a bunch and narrowed it down to the following (in no order)......FOR ME: Mathews Chill R Elite Energy 32 Hoyt Faktor Prime Alloy I heard good things about the Prime Alloy, but my local shop had one that was 3" longer than my normal draw, so I didn't give it a good look in the first round. I went on their website and there was a place where you could request to have one sent, with my specs, to my local shop. I filled out the form and it was there in less than two weeks. Again, all of the ones I mentioned above were nice shooting bows that I would have been happy with for many years, but I ended up going with the Prime Alloy. It was a toss up between the Prime and the Chill R, but i kept going back to the Prime and just loved the balance on it. BTW, I have shot a Mathews Swithchback XT for the past 10 years and I kept an open mind when deciding, but I am keeping it as my back up.

The sight has been sold.

Price drop to $120, with free shipping. Not interested in any trades.

This is from their web site: The IQ™ Micro Bowsight's revolutionary Retina Lock™ Alignment Technology will dramatically extend your effective range! Most bow hunters are confident shooting at shorter ranges. But, get out to 40 yards or beyond and they lack consistency. This is because of mis-alignment due to bow torque or inconsistent anchor. It doesn't take much. A 1/4" translates to a 10 inch miss at 40 yards. That's about to change! IQ Bowsights revolutionary Retina Lock Alignment Technology puts you in perfect alignment for every shot. It's easy to use and you'll instantly be shooting short range groups at long range distances! IQ is simply the best hunting sight on the market! I took it out of the package and checked it out, but I never put it on my bow because I decided to go with the 3-pin model. The package is a little beat up, but the sight is unused. Selling at Cabelas for $149.99, I will sell it for $130, TYD.

I decided to get the 3 pin model, so if anyone is looking for a "used" 5 pin, send me a PM. Although I never put it on the bow, I did fiddle with it a bit ,so I don't feel like I can sell it as "new"

Chief, The Elite answer is nice. Smooth draw and a rock solid back wall.

I am in the market for a new bow. I have shot a few new ones; Hoyt Faktor, Mathews ChillR and Elite Answer. All were good and I would not go wrong with any of them, but I wanted to try the Alloy. I went on their website and you can request one to be shipped to a local dealer. Within 24 hours, my local shop told me that it will be there by the end of next week for me to demo. I am impressed with the customer service of G5, but does anyone else have anything to say about the Prime? I know shooting one is the best way to see if it is right for me compared to the others, but any other Prime fans out there? Thanks.

Absolutely....much more consistent. Plus the fact that I don't have to deal with looking through a peep and I can shoot with both eyes open.

I just bought the IQ 5 pin sight to put on my new bow this Spring. I have been using the precursor, Timberline No - Peep, for about 5 years and it is amazing. I have kept my kisser, but I do not need a peep anymore because the no-peep showed me when my anchor was solid and I could just concentrate on my sight pins. It really is only a split second to see I was not torquing the bow and I was good to go. When IQ bought the technology from Timberline, it was a no doubter about what my next sight would be.

The extra 5 feet is nice and yes, the Big Game brand has some good options. Has anyone ever heard of someone that makes an extension to the platform for a ladder stand? I subscribe to NY Outdoor News (bi-weekly newspaper type publication) and I remember seeing one advertised in there this past year, but I can't find it now. It was a good idea; it folded down so it didn't get in the way when you climbed up, but then it folded out and locked into place once you got on the platform. I like ladder stands, but the platform is smaller than lock on's, so I thought this would be a good upgrade, but I put it off and now I can't find it.

Last october, I was almost attacked by an owl. It happened not once, but twice about a week apart and in two different locations about 10 miles from each other. I was wearing light gloves that were camo, except for the index finger, which was a dark brown for whatever reason. I was up in my treestand and I caught movement slightly off to my right. I look over to see a big owl, eyes lock on me....wings spread...and those huge talons out and ready for action. I waved my arms and made some type of noise and the owl flared off about 10 ft. in front of me. It went up to a nearby branch and stared at me for about 5 minutes before it finally took off. I am lucky I didn't fall out of my stand (I did have on a harness) or have a heart attack! That thing was big! I learned two things from these encounters: 1. the owls must've thought that the brown part of the glove was a mouse or something...I don't wear them anymore in the woods. 2. My camo pattern must be pretty damn good to fool two different owls!!

Looks nice!! good shootin'

Yes, you can customize them this way. To avoid the soggy crust, crank the oven as high as it can go (450-500) and put the cookie sheet in the oven to heat up. When the oven get up to temp. put down a sheet of parchment paper (or spray with Pam) and put the wellingtons on and back in the oven. The tops will get brown and the bottoms will cook a bit because of the hot pan. Once you start to eat them, the juices will make the bottoms soggy, but that is unavoidable Good luck!

I make individual beef wellington's every year for x-mas dinner. I make the duxelle out of regular white mushrooms, I use the pate' as well, and wrap each one in 1/4 sheet of puff pastry....it is ridiculous tasting and a great presentation. If you wanted to add a different mushroom to the venison version, I would think it would be a nice change, but do not skip the pate'!

7:30 this morning, I shot at a doe as it climbed up an embankment of a river at 60 yds. and hit it low in the chest. She went 20 yds. and stood still for about 10 minutes (no follow up shot opportunity) and then bed down. I watched her for about an hour and she had her head up, but was not moving. I decided to back out and I came back 5 long hours later to find her gone from her bed. I followed the blood trail 30 yds. and there she laid under a fallen tree. I am sad that I din't make a clean kill, but I am glad that I found her and din't let her go to waste.

Good luck Steve! I know that this time of year is all about food, but I saw a small buck chasing a doe in Stormville this morning...they are still at it! I will be out next weekend with the ML to try to fill a doe tag. Bird

Ice fished most of my life in some shape or form...love it! I spent most of my 20's and the first part of my 30's targeting tiger muskies through the ice. Myself and a couple of others traveled, literally form long island to buffalo, to ice fish this specific fish. We caught many and released all but a few trophies in the 18 - 26 lb. range. We fished huge bait and didn't care about sitting all day and not seeing a lot of flags...we were in it for big ones! I do not have the time and the ability to be that committed anymore, but I still like to go after tigers, pike, and I like heading to Schroon and Lake George for trout, as well. If you are interested in ice fishing in the southern dutchess/putnam/westchester area, let me know...I have a TON of gear that I would be happy to lend out for the day.

Steve, I went to E.Fishkill DEP peroperty on thursday with the intentions of a little scouting, but there were 3 trucks parked there so I didn't want to walk around and scout while others were hunting. I ended up at West Mtn. Sat. afternoon around 2 and was greeted with a thick fog bank that only let me see about 50-70 yds. There were 4 other vehicles there when I got there and found a good looking spot, but the fog was brutal. When I left, I was the last one there, but I saw nothing. I will head back there...good looking sign and what not, but I need to dig a little deeper.

Does anyone care to share any reports from any public/DEP areas in Dutchess? I'm referring to ; Taconic-Hereford West Mtn. Depot Hill East Fishkill (DEP) Alomar (DEP) I am also interested in those in Putnam, as well. I am not looking for your "secret spot", but I have a doe permit that I would like to try to fill to share that meat with some friends. Thanks for any input.