wooly

I was just taking a poke at the Under Armor logo. Size 14...... yikes! Those are water ski's!

Nice- now we just need to get him some new shoes!

My top rule would be to deviate from the rules you never deviate from. Don't limit yourself by becoming overly predictable with your tactics and style. Every hunt is different. Whether it be the wind direction, or the phase of the rut, or the day of the week... you need to be flexible and learn to adjust accordingly or risk burning out your set ups. There's a reason most of the better bucks get themselves killed the first time a stand is hunted.

Sweet! Way to stick with it to get the shots you were after! #7 is my fav. Great pose in that one!

Sweet set! It's almost embarrassing to see how easy they make shore fishing look. At 12 FPS that shutter's gotta be flapping fast enough to propel you across the lake if you get tired of paddling,lol

Send this pic to Bill Schmidt. It's a long shot, but he may be able to identify them by their scrawny little waist sizes,lol

50 cal. ML exclusively for the last 8 or 9 years. Why...? Because it lets me focus on shooting A DEER instead of shooting AT DEER! I didn't always make the best shot selection choices when I had five chances to get it done.

I'll never understand why you guys don't clear the location up from the first post to avoid all the finger pointing. Can't speak for everyone, but I know I have my suspicions when the "outside NY" disclaimer is only attached after the fact of someone pointing out a bait pile. Pretty sure most of you guys that have been on this site long enough would know what to expect when you post a shot with a bait pile to HuntingNY That reminds me....I need to run and check my cam in Texas today. Should be back with a few pics up by lunch time.

I'm gonna have to grab a shot next time I hike past mine. Same deal as your story, but I managed to hop over and shimmy down the tree next to me instead of decending with the stand,lol I don't think I was more than 10-12ft high at the time but it scared the crap outta me being afraid to even attempt running it back down the tree. I'll be honest.... I was ready to jump regardless,lol Cracks me up every time I look up there and see it still hangin' there.

Stands like that are what kept me out of the tree tops for so long. Only recently (within the past few years) have I become comfortable enough,and feel confident enough, in how far stands have come to use them. The first production climber stand I ever bought was very similar to that thing and is still hanging in the first tree I hung it in many years ago. I used it that ONE time and it's been there ever since. Scared me so bad that I have to believe it saved me from a potential disaster had I kept using it.

LOL- thanks! I may re-compose and go for a B+W! I just took that the other day after I took them for a walk. I was thinking to myself ..."man, these things are holding up great so far" so I snapped a pic thinking I might have a use for it some day. Then today I find this post.

I used to be a Lacrosse guy but no matter what series I've tried from them, they just don't hold up from one year to the next. My last 2 pairs of Arrowheads (the first was replaced by the store after 4 months) both ripped open above the heel in the exact same spot on both pairs within 12 months. I'm getting tired of marching around in those 18" clod hoppers any more than I have to anyhow. The past 3 seasons I've been turkey and archery hunting (and spring/summer hiking), and shed hunting in my Oboz Yellowstone II. They're not insulated, so I avoid the deep snows with them. They are waterproof and light weight, with an aggressive sole, and have a comfortable insert. That's all that really matters to me when the flakes ain't flying yet. I'm on my second pair of these in 3 years, which may sound like a weakness in design, but I put my share of mileage on them with zero maintenance in all 4 seasons. When this pair has gone for it's final hike, I may check out their Beartooth hikers to extend their use into the late(r) seasons.

Just testing my attachment ability.....lol

Happy B-day boss! Pygmy's holding your bail money, so you know who to call later if things get out of hand!

He looks so adorable and energetic! Ain't no fuzzie gonna be scared of him,lol!

Are you sure this guy was an EnCon officer and not some creepy stalker? I hope he didn't pay for the coffee and donuts with your fine money,lol Let us know how the second date goes, because it sure sounds like he wants to see you again!

If you're thinking about getting into a DSLR set up, I don't think you would be disappointed with any of the entry level cams by Nikon or Canon, and they have become quite affordable. You could pair it up with a kit zoom lens in the 55-200mm range to get you off to a good start in every category of photography you described for right around $300 for the combo. That's not too bad when you look at some of the "point and shoot" prices out there today in the same range, but with limitations on what you can do with them. AUTO mode works great on these cameras as well so you don't need to jump into DSLR's with a full photography background to get started. That alone should take care of any intimidating concerns you might have with limited experience. I started out with a 10MP beginners model Nikon d-3000. That turned out to be MORE than enough camera for me and my skill level, so when I finally upgraded years later, I still stuck with the d-3200 series I shoot to this day. I also buy most of my lenses as refurbished, which I never had any problems with, and cuts down on the initial cost a bit.

Mine have been out since turkey season, so any natural scent, other than my own during set-up isn't of much concern. I'm just getting around to moving them to their early season deer locations now where I may catch a buck still on a late summer pattern that can be exploited. These will be geared more towards observing early season field activity before a move to kill spot needs to be made. I DON'T believe that these initial set-ups will be the ideal location to kill a deer from by placing them now, and may actually do more harm than good if discovered. For the time being, they will be set in low percentage spots in high traffic areas, and used more towards gathering intel, rather than formulating an entire hunting seasons plans around them. IMO, a blind (or stand for that matter) placed carelessly due to excitement and current conditions gives deer more time to encounter and avoid a location where something new has "popped-up" on the landscape and alter their patterns. We already know they do that with trail cams, and treestands, and any other number of changes that occur in their environment, so I like to keep my blind locations unpredictable as well to counter that. My locations will change as the season progresses. I'm always looking for that one spot that offers an element of surprise the first time it's moved and hunted from when conditions are perfect. Whether I get that done from the move of a blind or stand, will be determined on a case by case basis, based on what I've seen happening up to that point by remaining flexible in my ambush approach.

Awesome stuff Ryan. Really like the calm and peaceful setting caught in those foggy water shots! Looks like they put on a great show!

Have you approached any of the neighboring landowners yet..? Perhaps a NON-ACCUSING approach just to make them aware of the theft may turn up some trail cam pics they have, or encounters/problems with any strangers or locals on adjoining properties that could lead to finding out who dun it. That would be my first step.

What the hell was that..., a Fisher Price X-bow with flaming Nerf tips,lol

Hey Paula- Sophie said the boys could come over for a dip as long as they don't pee in the pool!

Looks like the dreaded "wooly gall",lol http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/columnists/huber/article/Huber-Fuzzy-galls-on-oak-leaves-no-cause-for-5943625.php

Ho-hum,,,, sounds like a boring place,lol Love all the shots you're sharing here! Keep it up slicks-pack!

Give it a shot bud. Just imagine where your bucks are hiding and anything in between you and the yotes gets pushed your way with a little luck. They're (the deer) not going to run into an ambush they can see, or smell coming... but like it has been mentioned in a few threads around here lately, sometimes they don't pay attention to the sounds that lie ahead that ultimately get them killed simply because it's not the immediate threat. If you go into it with the mindset that you already have a fleet of "deer dogs" in position to drive towards you, you just need to give the command and pull their strings a little bit and hope they cooperate. There's no 100% of the time in hunting ANY critter, but you'll never capitalize on the lower percentage techniques if you never try.