moog5050

I think its worth mentioning that I have acquintences/friends that always talk about how great hunting is. When I finally decided that I wanted to give it shot, I had very little actual help from all of those that encouraged me to try it, with a few exceptions. Frankly, I thought it was strange that those who talk so highly of the sport didn't seem excited to help out a new guy. Most seemed like I was invading their turf and were way too secretive (like they wanted all of the deer for themselves). I have a few other hobbies where if someone mentioned an interest to me, I would do whatever I could to encourage and guide them. A week ago, I did not know phade AT ALL. He responded to my post on this site seeking advice and was more than helpful than I really could ask of a stranger. He spent over 3 hours walking the property with me, teaching me signs to look for and where best to set up based on those signs and wind. He even helped me set up a blind and then left to help another hunter. I can't thank him enough. I learned more in my emails with him (and his are detailed) and that three hour walk, than all the numerous hours I spent researching. Then, I call him excited about my first shot on a deer and his response was "I'll be right there, sit tight and don't take another doe ... if a buck comes by and you want to, shoot him." He went way out of his way to help me track the deer. Phade is a huge credit to this sport and forum. He is selfless and walks the walk. People like him are what will cause this sport to grow. Don't want to sound like I am gushing over him, but he really went above and beyond. Thanks Phade. I hope I can return the numerous favors in some way. If you really want this sport to grow in numbers instead of declining, take a page from Phade's book. I am sure there are others on the forum like him, but phade's actions speak for themselves. I hope I mature in this sport to the point where I can do the same for some other novice hunters.

First deer ever and thrilled it was taken with a bow. Here she is. Now I have to butcher her. Another first, but hopefully not the last. Phade, thanks a ton with all your help. For the other forum members, Phade was awesome. He helped walked the land with me Saturday and put my blind in a great spot. Got her 1 1/2 hours into my first sit there. Then I called him so excited that he came and helped track. Great guy and member.

Welcome Vincy. Upstate is great if you can convince the wife.

awesome ... congrats

Buckboy, Made me laugh too.

Just had the pleasure of having Phade review my hunting area and make recommendations for stand placement. He knows his stuff. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Phade. Very helpful and much appreciated.

Phade, I may take Friday off from work if you want to walk the area. I would be curious as to your opinion. I wanted to hunt Friday and Saturday, but moving may make more sense. Or perhaps I just need to learn how to use that climber. Fitness isn't an issue, I am big, but played NG in college and am still in good shape, just big.

Thanks Phade. I live in Webster, but hunt property in Scottsville. I will try to find it on bing and post. I have a climber rated for 350, but never used it and figured I need some practice before going out with it. I might take you up on moving the stand. Don't want to offend my cousin who recommended the spot, but don't want to miss out due to bad location.

Phade Congrats on the deer. Its NICE. I did use the same hunting spot and entry/exit. My problem is that I am big (340lbs). So the only stand on the property that is supposed to hold me, is a two man ladder stand we set up. I can enter from the west next go around. I have been entering from an ATV trail to the east. Changing at the hunting spot seems like a huge PIA, but that may be what I need to do.

Trying to play the wind and funny thing is, I thought the deer would be entering from the West (due to food plots, trails and water). I have seen tons of tracks to the West too. Its a predominantly west wind. However, the only deer I have seen have been entering my area from the East. I hate to move the stand now, but may have no choice. After seeing deer 15 minutes into my first day I thought this may be easier than expected. I guess I need to be more patient.

I have been reading as much as possible to prepare for bow season since this is my first year. On opening day, I saw five deer, but only three came in range and that was a mother with two fawns and I decided to pass. Sat the rest of the day with no luck. To my question, I have been anal about trying to ensure scent control. I have washed all hunting cloths and boots in scent control soap after cleaning the washing machine and hung them to dry outside. The clothes have been stored in a tote with earth scent wafers. I also sprayed down with a earth scent control before entering the woods on day one. I had to use my wife's Tahoe to travel to my hunting area since I drive a sedan. After I got home, my wife thought that the car smelled (due to the earth scent) and promptly, without telling me, added some potpourri to the truck. This morning I get in the truck at 4;30am for my second day and I smell the stuff. All my efforts to control scent and now I am driving in a car that smells like a perfume factory. I opened the windows and sprayed down with the scent control before going in the woods. Didn't see a thing this morning. My gut tells me that at a minimum, being in a truck with potpourri was a bad idea. Will that kill your hunt (assuming you do everything else possible to eliminate scent)? I am now rewashing all the hunting clothes and trying to decide what to drive for Friday's hunt. It may be the sedan with a call for a truck if I bag anything. Thoughts? Could this ruin that area for more than 1 day?

This is my first season bow hunting and at 7:00am on opening day, I had this exact dilema. Doe with 2 fawns in an opening 15 yards from my stand. As I sat there thinking about whether to take the doe, a fox ran by and spooked them a bit. They ran off and then returned for a bit. I decided to give the mother a pass and got a kick out of watching them run from the fox. Of course, I sat for 13 hours and never saw another deer in range. I also returned this morning and saw nothing for 2 hours, except that same fox. Now I kinda wish I had that doe in my freezer. That article was interesting and if I read it before hand, I probably would have drawn on the doe.

Nothing to speak of as far as I know Hillbilly. I hunt 8H. I hope to buy some property in the next few years, but land is Webster is generally too expensive to purchase only for hunting.

Good luck to you and your son. Be safe.

I am no expert, but I thought with steel shot, it groups tighter and a modified choke is fine. You may be right.

I believe its Mass Transit Authority, i.e. public transportation.

Even though I am fairly new here, let me be the first to welcome you. Lots of good information here. Don't know anything about the 870, but assume you want some type of sabot slug for the deer and nos. 5-7 shot for turkey. Never hunted rabbit, but I would guess the turkey shot would work or an airgun. Good luck, have fun and be safe. Also, thank you for your service.

Great price and rifle. Good luck with the sale.

Hunting 8H too. Some good trail photos with lots of deer. Nothing huge, but nice eating. Good luck.

Sounds about right. With my .270 using Powermax bonded 130gr, I drop 7.5 inches from a 100 yard zero at 400.

Making the legislation even less effective to achieve the intended purpose. Me thinks the real goal is to raise revenue through additional sales tax and uncollected bottle fees. Despite Elmo's comment above (which is true), I'll stick to water.

Have a great time Biz. I hope to do a trip like that at some point. I shoot 200 yrds regularly. I know 300 would be more difficult, but not much. 400 results in a much larger drop as the velocity slows. I would become very familiar with your ballistic calculations if you won't have a chance to shoot at that distance before the trip. Good luck.

I am a conservative and hate paying all of the taxes I do as I think the government makes poor financial decisions with my hard earned money. But I also recognize that as a society we should help those in need -- not those that are taking advantage of the system as many do. There needs to be reform of both welfare and medicaid that requires some personal responsibility by the recipient to work to get off of the public system at some point. That said, legislating how much of a food product one can sell will not achieve those goals and is a further waste of our tax dollars. Culver, I agree its a tough circle to break, especially when those affected have votes that the politicians need/want to stay in office. I didn't read the legislation - are two liter soda bottles allowed to be sold? Slippery slope.

I can't believe I just spent 5 minutes reading this thread (but it was amusing at times). I agree that the law will not result in the intended purpose, if that purpose is to limit the amount of soda intake and, thereby reduce obesity. On the other hand, if the Mayor's ultimate goal is to reduce the medicaid costs for his area, the soda addicted obese may very well flee the city to another county in NY to buyt their beloved soda. Its reverse "baiting." So obvious. Beyond the sarcasm, while I am not a drinker, people have the right to buy as much alcohol as they like and consume it in whatever quatities they like. With that in mind, it seems silly to pass legislation with an intended purpose to reduce soda intake. I am not a dietician, but the Big Mac has a bout a billion grams of sodium and 50 plus grams of fat - heart attack city. Let's pass a law limiting how many can be bought by an indiviudal during a certain time frame. Again, just silly.

ditto