Buckstopshere

Since we are at the full moon, I would guess from what you said that she was being courted by a rutting buck. That's the way they act...flirts. This is not the real rut...to happen at the next full moon. But a measurable percentage of does come into estrus in what some have called it "the false rut." First spike in the rut cycle...next one will be the big one after the first week of November...and in the end of the first week of December...the third or post rut. I've seen these flirtatious does actually bed down next to an active buck scrape. They will wait there to be chased. (Not chaste.)

The hide (upper epidermis) on a dog's leg is what...1/16 of an inch? I've skinned a lot of animals. How can a wound that does not touch the muscle or bone, only tear the hide... be from a bullet, shot, or an arrow? This is not forensic rocket science people. The dog's leg shows no impact from a projectile. Just more fake info...whether it is on the TV or internet. Seems to be a growing group of people make up things for their own political, religious, or scientific beliefs. In the old days we called them bullshitters...but now, thanks to cyberspace...they get a wide audience.

Happy Anniversary! It's always a "Chinese fire drill" when you kill something in warm weather...trying to cool the meat down. That cubed venison makes my mouth water...but then it is dinnertime...just a little after dark during bow season.

I'd say no doubt it is a redtail....and a monarch. When my cameras have been too sensitive they give me lots of shots of blowing weeds, goldenrod and branches. What a pain to scroll though all that...so many images of weeks being windblown...let alone the drain on the batteries.

And don't forget the moon. Right now and for that last few days it was the First Quarter...just before the full moon...the Harvest Moon in October. Coupled with the high temps...most of my cams showed early morning and night movement. Things should pop next week with the full moon. Not the real rut...but we should see a spike in buck/doe movement. If we have a cold morning...in the next week, should be hot and maybe catch a big one on their feet in morning.

But in the question on the poll...do you want the answer for my entire career or lately...and where is the cutoff ? Since I have been shooting a compound (Xi's and Bowtechs) ...since 1996. It is about 98% kill and recover. But back with the long bow (#70 Howard Hill bamboo long bow) about 1980 to 1996, about 75%. Back in the real old days of the recurve, 1970 to 1980, ...#50 Bear super mag. and #60 Browning recurve ...probably 60%. So what do I put in the poll?

This is my 47th...in NY. 'Course I have hunted other states and Ontario for whitetails. Almost always hunted Pa. since 1970. Killed a bunch with my bows. Early on, before the compound bow...it was not unusual to hear as many stories about the one that got away...than kills. As technology has improved, along with a more serious commitment to bowhunting...the wounding rate has crashed...and I am speaking of myself and others...through their stories. With the proper mindset by the hunter...and the equipment/technology improvements...and teaching/info that is available compared to the old days....no comparison overall, even though there are those that grab a bow, buy some arrows and heads and let them go at deer with insufficient practice...always happened. And hey, I have wounded deer that I have had to try and kill for years after...bucks and does. Good luck. An arrow though a leg is a bad shot. But chances are, it is just another injury to a deer in a lifetime of injuries. In all the time I have spent in the woods...I have only found one dead deer shot by another archer..ever....now I can not say that about shotgun and rifle. Shotgun especially. Way down with rifle.

JMO: but it looks to me like the head sliced the big artery-vein that runs down the back bone. I had the same reaction about 30 years ago on a Pa. ridge...hunting with the longbow. Hit her like that....and I said "Damn...too far back. Then she piled up, crashed and burned at 40 yards..."that's how much I know." I've had "perfect shots" that didn't kill one that quick. by the by...congrats...enjoy.

I grew up...as a right-handed shooter for many years. But too many softball games...I played centerfield and was proud of my ability to throw from the outfield to the infield. Cold shoulder...stretched tendons. Also I shot a 70# recurve and long bow. Any wonder the shoulder started aching...not just when I did things, but when I slept on it. So I made the switch...lefty...shot competition indoor leagues...got a couple trophies...left-handed. I noticed that my body is now left dominant...after growing up right dominant. So it is a kind of a balance. JMO but I think when we get older we need to do things with both sides to stay balanced. I think about that all-the-time when I am shoveling, raking, sanding, painting, lifting, etc. I try to use both sides equally so one side is not throwing me out of balance. I will be 70 in Feb. and I can climb up a tree like a squirrel.

Good luck to all. May your arrows fly true!

Good luck! May your arrow fly true. Looks like you've got a great setup there...especially when the rut ramps up. Those does will be a magnet later...Just saying...

I never stop...so "starting" is just a shift of a gear. "Chance favors the prepared mind."...and I need all the help I can get 'cos Lady Luck hasn't looked my way very often!

I think that it goes beyond just the animal...itself. They teach each other, whether it is a doe, teaching her young and others in the extended doe group or older bucks showing others...I know they do it. So beyond remembering, they teach their memories to others. On one of the hunting areas where I have trail cams... bucks there shy away from my cams...no matter what I do. I get a side of a rack on a couple frames...and the other bachelors in the background. The buck is smelling the camera. They have learned that because year after year I kill their kin. And when they smell my scent, bad things happen. But hikers just gets stared at. I think older deer, both bucks and does know where the threat comes from. They learn and remember.

Yep, I have one hunting property like that. No bucks...well some little guys...until the rut starts in earnest. I have found that I can screw it up by shooting a dominant doe early. Seems the resident does lose their core and drift off. So I let them be...because I hope to kill my best buck of the year there when things peak. I kill my does later.

Got these two dandies the other day. First time for both. Probably on excursion from who knows where!

Got these two bucks going at it the other night. Got a kick out of the smaller one giving the larger buck a sendoff message.

I've probably killed as many deer still-hunting as from a stand, actually, probably more. To me, still-hunting is when you move quietly through the woods looking for deer, hoping to hear and see them first. While stalking is when you see a deer and make a move on it. Lots of techniques...one of my favorite is walking quietly and slowly down the edge of a cornfield, next to the woods during the rut, quiet in the plowed up soil and listen back in the woods for deer walking and running through the leaves. 'Course the wind has to be right. But my favorite and most successful way is still-hunting in full snow camo in a snow storm or snow squalls.

About 10 years ago I screwed up my back turkey hunting, trying to carry one out in my turkey vest...dumb. Twenty pound bird, wrenched my back. Anyways...I tried a chiropractor first...no luck, then pills from my Dr. to relieve the pain...no luck...just dulled it a bit. Finally went to an acupuncturist. I was sceptical...but will try anything. Instantly! felt better in a couple days I could straighten up for the first time in three weeks. I do not understand it...how putting needles in my ears, hands and arms could help my back? But I don't really care. It worked when the other two disciplines didn't. If....or should I say when I develop another chronic pain, I'm going to the acupuncturist first!

Best of luck! My shoulder was killing me when I tried to pull back my bow a number of years ago, especially when in a tree stand and a weird angle. So I switched from right-handed to shooting a lefty bow. No prob now. Made the switch slow...and lots of practice, a few arrows a day.

Heartbreaker buck right there. But he is going to make somebody smile in a few weeks.

I stand corrected. It is a red-tailed hawk. I checked with my son and daughter-in-law who are ornithologists and they said, "Dad, totally a tail." You guys nailed it.

Here is a you tube link showing a Mature gos flair her tail. Enjoy.

Cool. I had redtails too. But the DEC came and took them away to the Buffalo Zoo. I was a stupid enough school kid to let the local paper see me walking down the street with a hawk on my arm. That was before there was a NYS falconery license.

Goshawks can flair their tail, making it appear wider. IMO...more the length...shape of the tail. I had two for pets when I was a kid.

Very cool...but it looks to me like an Accipiter. We have three of them here in Western NY, the Goshawk, the Cooper's hawk and the Sharp-shinned hawk. I would guess it's an immature female goshawk. Red-tails are more soaring hawks with broad, short tails. The Accipiters have longer tails to steer with and relatively shorter wings. And it is after those rodents!