Napping in the woods

I had a similar experience last year except it was the second to last day of the late muzzleloader season (Dec 18-ish, I think). Unfortunately I didn't realize what was going on until AFTER I shot and dropped the hot doe. I had 4 bucks literally doing circles around her body for over an hour before I felt safe to climb down and start "the work." It was intense and rare to witness those events that late; early november is one thing, late december is rare.

5 points for team 1 Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

I'm in for Team 1

I'm still very interested in joining in the festivities, pending coverage for our daughters.

I'm in the New Paltz area and will put on my calendar and hope to make it. Two little ones under 4 might make it a challenge though.

Got up expecting fresh snow, getting freezing rain on top of an inch of snow instead. Only going out back, but reconsidering as i'm not a fan of climbing into treestands or hunting in ice storms.

Finally, after a horrible, horrible season i finally tagged a doe. Keeping in the bad theme of this season, she was in heat. I made the cardinal sin of not waiting to see what lurked behind...a young 4, a young 6, young 10 and a really, really nice 8. Dont ask how i know, please. Lets just say an aroused young or old buck will mount anything, or try and prod it back to life! Part of me is relieved, part of me wants to cry. My wife, almost 4 year old and almost 6 month old girls make the reduced stand time worth it though! Now the tough decision on what to do with the meat...steaks, roasts, sausage, snack sticks. There is never enough meat.

and @cynthiafu

I'm esstentially finished for the season, sadly. I have a 3J and several 3 m's...rough year with a newborn and 3.5 year old toddler...both girls.

I'm good for a 1/3...we can throw darts for who gets what.

cut my finger pretty bad last night on a santoku knife while washing dishes. Six stitches on my right index finger above the second knuckle this morning...yup, my trigger finger. The good times keep on rolling along! Guess I'll have to train myself on using my middle finger instead. I am firmly entrenched in this group.

I'm still with you as well. We have a 4 month old in the house along with our 3.5 yo daughter. I'm on paternity leave and my wife is back to work. So I"m playing Mr. Mom this season. I've gotten out back a few times with my bow but nothing to write home about...except that I had four different bucks (small 10, nice 8, scrawny little 6 and a typical 4) walk within 60 yards during archery but was not able to get them to move in any closer. I've seen one doe since opening morning. I head to PA for the new Saturday opener after Thanksgiving which will be fun and I"m putting most of my eggs in that basket. I don't expect much to transpire here in NY for me this year, but I'll be able sneak out here and there. I go back to the grind the week of MZ season, not sure how that will pan out either. The other big issue is that I've had a hell of time gaining access to land here in northeastern 3M. Starting to get to the point of looking for/asking for leases. Our 3 1/2 year old has taken an interest in what I'm up to relative to hunting, but I don't think I'm ready for her to venture out with me just yet.

Is it too late to RSVP? I'll be there if I can sneak out of the house without my 3 yo finding out.

I'd be interested in joining this outing...should we bring our own blind chairs? I'd be coming down from the New Paltz area. If Peekskill Brewery doesn't work, there is also Newburgh Brewing Company...it like a German Ale House with huge picnic tables, indoor corn hole, and other fun stuff. Happy to run to Peekskill though.

In western orange county there are some public spots, haven't been to them but keep threatening to check them out but never have; life with a toddler, I guess. I think they Moungap and Roosa? Those may also be the one ones TurtleFace referred to. Huckleberry Ridge is east of Port Jervis, on 6 I believe and 3M's Western boundary pretty much follows Rt 209, but double check.

Stayed indoors, but not tomorrow!

Wind is blowing 20 mph out of the NW here in southeastern Ulster County (eastern 3M/Southern 3J). Is it worth it, or do I allow my stands to rest another day and go in fresh tomorrow morning. Work is slow today, so that is what makes the decision hard. Gut says stay out and tackle some of items on my to-be-done list. Problem is the rut is just about upon us so I have this annoying little mental voice chirping "anytime, anywhere." Additionally, the only important thing on my list is to make a harvest. I guess this is a "hunter's dilemma." Could be worse, choices could be work or more work.

I've seen many deer on the meat pole due to these broadheads, the Gent that got me started 25 years ago swore by them until he hung up the bow many, many moons ago.

I have the M60 and the M150. M60 is great, platform is a bit small but with the footrest, it's awesome. the M150 is heavy, but it's like sitting in my living room recliner. You won't regret the purchase at all!!

That is a doe in heat...follow her! Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Out for last 90 minutes of legal light in 3M with the smoke pole. Not even a track. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Most deer don't restrict themselves to a single bedding area. They can have several that they move to throughout the day and night. Their day consists of transitioning from one bedding area to another and feeding/browsing in between. Once they transition from summer to winter food supplies, the rut kicks in, and hunting season starts the movement patterns all change...snow can also influence where and how they move. I think the sapling situation you are referring to is a staging or transition spot that deer use to feel safe before venturing out into the wide open as was stated above. This makes it a great ambush spot and is even better if doe lay up in it for any period of time. Another tool that can be helpful in patterning a specific buck is aerial photos. Pull up google maps or google earth and use the satellite background to look at the larger area surrounding the sapling piece. A lot of times you can get a better sense of where deer are likely to move in a larger area than just the parcel you are hunting...this is an important piece that gets overlooked often. Figuring out how they are likely to use surrounding properties can go a long way to helping figure out how they use your property and then setup accordingly.

Wrapped up my 2016 regular season this morning. Saw whopping total of 8 deer, no horns, all season on raised my gun only once. Truly a season to forget the weather roller-coaster, lack of mast in our area a long with not enough acreage access all combined to sink me. On to smoke pole season where I fully expect the trend to continue. I am looking forward to flintlock season back in PA since I didn't make it home for rifle this year, there is hope there for sure.

Almost sounds like opening day here in NE 3M, 15-20 shots so far. I haven't seen a thing yet, which is completely expected at this point. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

And so begins another version of 2016's "Hunting Hail Mary." This year has been a grind, but I'm still at it. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk