MikeP

Ya it would prob stop the stealing but not the A-hole that's trying to hurt you.

Been in the stand since 6:30 this morning. A little discouraged. Nothing but squirrels and a loner button buck. Was gonna sit til dark but I am froze to the bone. Going for a coffee and an hour break then back in til dark. I'm sure the big one is on his way and will be here 5 minutes after I leave. Oh well, beautiful day just cold cold cold. And noisy squirrels sound like herds of deer coming though lol.

I made my mother-in-law a hunting suit just like that and gave her a white hanky to put in her back pocket incase she got a runny nose.

At least when he gets it back he will know he's got his hide on the mount. Just check for the hole lol.

Wow, I'm not a real emotional kind of guy but your story brought tears to my eyes. Brought back some great memories of hunts with Grandad. Thanks for sharing, and most of all congratulations. And the writing of your story was very impressive. I could see that being in any hunting magazine. The details painted a great picture. Almost felt like I was there.

Thanks everyone. Well, we will see what happens. I put a new strap on the stand with a small lock though the buckle and fixed the support bar. Took my buddies climber in and mounted 2 ir cameras about 15 foot up pointing at my stand. And on the plus side I seen an awesome buck that I could have shot if I would have been smart enough to bring my gun with me. Hopefully he will be back so I can get a crack at him, and maybe get a few good pictures of the scumbag for the sheriff and DEC.

As long as you can still read EVERYTHING. It shouldn't be a problem.

I know there really isn't anything the police can do but I'm thinking of just calling to report it incase anything else happens. I did call all my hunting buddies and tell them not to use it. We have 3 more out there. Will be going out in the morning to make sure they wernt messed with.

Makes me I'll that someone can do that knowing full well what the out come could be. Was thinking the same thing. Deff boarders attempted murder if u ask me.

It is land that belongs to my wife's uncle. I know everyone who hunts there. I'm sure it's not one of them as we all hunt together. I could of been hurt really bad. I have a possible suspect but I need to talk to some people. If I get proof of who it was you can bet your back end I will have them in court.

Now I'm thinking locking it up wasn't such a good idea. I would rather they steal it then try to friggin kill me. So mad right now. Didn't see any deer. They could prob see the steam coming out of my ears for a mile.

Not sure where to post this. Thought I would share this messed up story. So I get to my ladder stand tonight. About 3/4 the way up I realize something isn't right. Look up and the stand is a foot away from the tree. The thing shifts and I end up on the back of it. Managed to get down without braking my neck. So I'm trying to figure out what happened and realize someone took the strap off and took the bolt out of the stabilizer bar. Also took my hangers. The only thing that kept it from falling was I had a cable lock on in. Some people are friggin sick in the head. Moral of the story. Check your stands before climbing. And yes this was on private land. Had one stolen from the same spot last year. Time for a hidden trail cam. Talk about ruining your day.

I've cut up 6 so far 4 doe 2 buck. Same thing fat does lean bucks.

Usually in my stand 1/2 hour before I can see the ground. Strap in set my alarm to vibrate in 30 minutes take a little nap and settle in.

Congrats. And nice job on the pictures.

Just for the information part of it. Its regular or open season. Not gun season. Your reg season tag is good for an altered deer only. Doesn't matter what it's killed with.rifle, pistol, muzzle loader,bow, crossbow, shotgun.

Sounds like a good place to set up a trail cam.

Haven't used one in years but when I was younger my brother and I had sleeping bags just for deer season in the blind. Mom cut arm holes in them and sewed the holes. We were able to sit all day and stay warm. It was my dad's idea. Where we used to hunt it was almost an hour walk in so he wouldn't be happy if we got cold and wanted to go back to camp.

Send some of that snow this way. Windy and cold. Time for some drives. Stay safe.

Sounds like you learned a few things. #1 is good. If your gonna evening hunt a great flashlight and a great backup is a must. And I also recommend a small spray bottle of peroxide. Losing deer sucks. I also lost one this weekend. Only my second on in 20 plus years, it was a bad high hit and I would guess he's still walking. Like WNY said quartering toward is not a good shot for a bow. To many things to go wrong. It happens to a lot of us the best thing is to learn from it and know there will be plenty of opertunities for shots.

My first gun was an Ithaca m66 20 gauge took plenty of deer with it. Shot tru balls and winchesters real well.

I've tried it many many times. I love a windy damp day in standing corn for that. I have been lucky enough to take 2 like that. Both doe one at 20 and one about 30 yards. Seen lots of deer that way. And spooked a lot more then I ever had a chance at. Everything has to fall in place perfectly Most importantly, play the wind and slow and quietly as possible. They like to lay in between the rows. I go row to row looking into the next row on hands and knees. The hard part is trying to get them to stand for a good shot without them spooking too fast.

Sounds about right but I had no blood. Think a lot of it could of been do to rain over night. Didn't think it rained hard enough to wash it all away but who knows.

I said a couple inches below the spine. What I meant was a couple inches below the top of the back. I've played it over in my head 1000 times and what I come up with is a hit just above the spine through the back muscle. I just don't get the no blood thing. Muscle hits bleed pretty good for the first 50 yards. It would make more sence if the arrow passed through and the skin blocked the hole. Oh well, weard things are bound to happen and I've been lucky for over 20 years. I am confident I put every effort I could in to finding him but it don't make it any easier. Hopefully I'll see him Saturday and finish the job.

Don't post much yet, but love reading all the story's. Thought I'd share my heart breaker. Long read!! I've been hunting over 25 years and everyone that knows me knows my biggest bragging right is that I have not lost a deer in 24 years. I try to take pride in my hunting and won't take a shot unless I am 100% sure of it. (By now you can guess where this is going). And yes a little luck now and then doesn't hurt. The only deer I have ever lost was 24 years ago. 100% my fault. Inexperience, bad shot choice, and the worst broadhead I have ever seen. I shot a 6 point in the neck at 15 yards with a punchcutter broadhead. Arrow went in a few inches and I'm guessing hit bone. Deer turned and arrow flew out. Tracked deer. For 3 hours with drips of blood over 2 hills. I believe this hit was not fatal. Life lesson and swore that I would never take another questionable shot. And I haven't. Moving on to this Friday e evening. I was in my stand 16 feet up, deer was 25 yards out, almost broadside maybe angling away slightly. Aim was 3" above belly line right in the heart pocket. Apon release this deer dropped like a brick. Belly on the ground. Arrow hits high, couple inches below spine. He turns and heads down hill and I can see about 10" of arrow sticking out the other side. Sat for 15 min and got down to take a look. I found some hair and marked my hit spot and started looking for blood. I walked about 50 yards to where I last saw him. No blood. It was getting dark and I new it wasn't a great hit so I decided to back out til morning. Got up in the morning to the sound of rain and just about lost my mind. It didn't rain much but any rain isn't good for a blood trail. Had my coffee and waited for sun rise. Spent the next 4 hours in the woods spraying peroxide on anything that looked like blood. I'm not bragging but just for info if most of my hunting buddies can't find a deer they give me a call. I think I have gotten pretty good over the years. Anyway after hours and every route and path doing L's and circles and then going to spots where I thought he would bed, nothing. No blood no deer. I can't figure it out for the life of me how it's posable. May have missed the near lung but should have hit the far lung. Dead deer within 100 yards. Well if you made it this far thanks for reading my story, oh and it was a 6 point I swear could have been the same deer come back to haunt me 24 years later. Lol.