HuntNfish100

As a young man hunting with my uncles I made a natural deer blind (Columbia Cty), during small game season in October it was our favorite blind. A huge pine tree was selected. we selected about 6 tall 2-3 inch dia. samplings/young trees, trimmed them and leaned them against the tree in 360 deg.around the tree like tee pee poles. Make them long enough so you can stand next to the tree to clear your head. then we cut 3/4 to 1 inch samplings and tied them with rope from pole to pole in a horizontal position to the ground this will keep the poles upright during storms. I recall we added enough horizontal samplings to give the poles the strength we felt they needed. then we ran rope all around the circumference, we would hang pine boughs or weave them using the rope and horizontal poles as the framing to support the camo vegetation. Some of the large tree lower pine branches were cut to provide clear sight lanes. we put a plastic chair next to the trunk. You can stand up and move around the trunk without being seen. The basic tee pee structure lasted many years. Every October we had to add new fresh natural vegetation as needed - easy. The old vegetation just added to character of the blind. I recall at some point we used black/white/ground #14 electric wire to replace the rope and tie up the structure. Because the ground is covered with several inches of pine needles the blind was extremely quiet. The tree provided protection from heavy rain, sleet, snow. Maybe, the pine scent from the tree provided a little scent protection. Not sure. We picked sap off the tree and rubbed it on our clothes. Alternative, look for 10' bamboo poles (2" dia.) pretty cheap - easier for sure. Another idea: Pit blinds can be very effective particularly for open areas, scent is below grade. Big advantage is scent is almost a non factor - big disadvantage is your not in a tree stand with all the advantages it provides but your scent can be a problem.

I specifically wrote I was speaking of my hunt area, only. I specifically stated that I know I was in the minority. I also specifically stated that I understand the opposing point of view. ...... There are some good comments pro and con - that's what makes a good discussion.

I hunt in Washington County, many farms, I am only speaking of my hunting area and certainly cannot make comment on other areas of NYS. I've been hunting for 52 years. The good old days were truly were good. Back then when I was a kid - young man, I was hunting in Columbia County an area of many farms. So called, "big" bucks were much more plentiful back then from what I see today on the farm in Washington County. My neighbor farm friends tell me what hunting was like in the area back in the 60's and 70's. It was the same as my hunting in Columbia County. The fact is today I see doe and young bucks, I do not see the big bucks. During the rut, we use to see bucks on the farm and certainly in fields and crossing streets at dusk and nightime. My simple definition of a big buck is one of 8 points or more, about 3 years old or more. The area produced 10 pointers and every once in awhile the really big boys were taken. Those days are over. Simply stated dead young bucks do not grow up to be big bucks. One really big buck can produce dozens of sons with the same gene potential as him. When young bucks are taken, you are deystroying the future gene pool of big racks and bucks. As hunting pressure has increased in the last 30 years, I believe too many young bucks are being removed. We are left with only a few big bucks. There is plenty of evidence that farming have changed over the years. For instance soybeans are popular in some states and these states produce really big bucks. We can't force farmers to grow soybeans so what is the alternative? So, more of the same? or do we alter the present the present policy in order to get a benefit for years to follow. During the hunt season I sometimes see these young bucks hanging from a tree or just inside the barn. They are almost always young bucks. Years ago in the 60's and early 70's we saw 8, 10, 12 pointers hanging. Sure 8 pointers were more common than the 12's but you get the idea. Today I see very few 8 pointers hanging up. If there was a minimum antler size law in effect of let's say 8 points, in a few years we would have 8 pointers roaming around for the take. In other words, give the young bucks a chance to get to the 8 point range. In a few years, instead of taking the young bucks you would be taking 8 pointers in almost the same numbers. I'M IN THE MINORITY. In a recent DEC survey hunters voted to continue the present system - take whatever you want. I FULLY UNDERSTAND MANY OF YOU WANT TO TAKE A BUCK NO MATTER WHAT AGE. I UNDERSTAND. So please do not curse me as some old guy that wants to limit your chances. I am suggesting that if we take a three year break from taking young bucks we can all enjoy hunting and taking much more mature bucks with big racks. I'm not alone there are many hunters that would prefer a minimum rack policy. On the Northfork of Long Island there is a very high density of deer maybe one of the highest in the state. I have seen huge bucks during the rut. Many of the really big boys travel along the cliffs of the Sound, I've seen them while fishing in November usually around sunset. I've never seen one in my yard, I live one minute from the Sound. However, I've seen doe and young bucks. The really big bucks don't come into the neighborhood they do visit the farms along Sound Avenue at night. The problem is there is no way to hunt them. Access is extremely limited. Bow hunting is the method. If all these bucks were taken as young deer they would not grow into the big boys. That is why we see so many 8 pointers and larger, an I mean alot larger. Anyone that knows the Northfork know some of the biggest bucks in NYS are taken on the Northfork, and why not? When young bucks grow up to the 3 year plus range they become big bucks. I'm in favor of a minimum "point" policy for taking of bucks.

I hunt Hebron / Granville area in Washington County.

Here is a little secret. Suffolk County is one of the best for deer. It's not easy to hunt. The eastern end of Long Island is loaded with deer. The problem is there is little access. Bow hunters have the best opportunity. Here, you can hunt the large wooded areas in the pine barrens and along the Long Island Expresway. Shot gun hunting is allowed but the access is very limited. Bow hunters should seek small patches of woods in and around farms and homes. We also have massive bucks. You will find them along the Long Island Sound and where the farms and vineyards run up to the Sound. As a long time resident of this area I have driven home late at night and seen some big boys within a quarter mile from my house in the farm fields. Also I see plenty of does and bucks feeding late at night from midnight to day break feeding along the LIE from exit 68 east. The two biggest racks I've seen was just two years ago it was early November I was driving through a town 20 miles west of my house, heavy surburban, not considered the eastern end of LOng Island. I was on Jericho Turnpike in Selden and just at sunset a really big boy with a huge rack, jogged across the road. The biggest rack I've seen was in an east end town called Greenport. The guy was feeding on the side of the road on Rte 25 just east of Greenpoint. We stopped to take a look. He raised his head and looked at us. My wife counted at least 10 pts. The rack was very heavy. He turned and just walked back into the weeds. I have an old friend who is a devout bow hunter. He takes a lot of deer. I am not a bow hunter. He told me some big boys are routinely taken but the bow hunters in the know keep their mouths shut. These guys don't want their picture in the News Review or the Southampton Press. Evidently, he is right. I've seen some photos of his deer and a few are big time "wall hangers".

After the season I put all my hunt clothes in a plastic box and put several pine branches (8-14") on each layer of clothes. About a month before deer season I add pieces of apple on top of my outer clothes and hat. Do not put apple pieces for a long time on the clothes and please put the box in the coldest place you can. During the deer season I refresh the apples frequently (I still keep my gear in my plastic box when not in use, or sometimes I use a plastic bag). I have a friend that every morning of the deer hunt he "smashed" an apple on his hunting jacket, pants and boots. I've done it too, when I remember to bring some apples - only good things to report with this little technique. Oh, I put my hunting boots in a separate plastic bag with pine branches and store. (Little Test: I know this works because my hunting dog had a tough time to trail my dragged hunting jacket if it had been stored with pine branches. Without the smell of pine branch it was easy for the dog to track the human smell on the jacket.) To each his own.

Good topic with many good comments. I had a life long hunting buddy we go back to 1970's - shot lots of deer. His favorite rifle was a Rem/Semi/30-06. He was active at the range shooting all kinds of guns and calibers. He lost a lot of weight after stomach cancer and good not take the pounding of the 30-06. He switched to Rem. managed recoil, 125 grain. He put on a new stock recoil pad. He said it shoots much more comfortable. I believe, he uses the managed recoil deer hunting and he still gets his deer. I don't see him much since the cancer he moved out of NYS to live with his son but we communicate a few times a year as I recall he told me his shoots the 30-06 with the managed recoil. Point is when you like the gun and are a good hunter/shot the deer go down. Second point. I know of a man that has hunted across this country, Europe, S.A. and Africa. For deer, he uses the heaviest load possible. The area he hunts is pretty thick with very few longer shots, let's say 75-100 yds. He told me that on his land he has only taken a 100 yd. shot only a couple of times. His point, is what he learned in S.A., the guides there prefer the heaviest load in thick stuff for a little more edge getting to the target - twigs, small branches are the issue. I'm not recommending only adding to the discussion. I shoot 30-06, 150, Rem., plain jane no problems.