ATbuckhunter

NAP Killzones. Did a number on the doe I got on the 15th so I have confidence it'll do well on a buck if I get a shot at one.

Congrats on the doe! Don't feel bad, its not like the meat will be going to waste. At least now you know that harvesting does is no longer for you. Like shawnhu said, we all evolve as hunters. Just do what makes you happy.

Id probably knock him down if he came by my stand. Im sure in a few years ill change my feelings and let deer like that go.

My best deer that I mounted has both of its G4's broken and I never even have fixing them a thought. Now if it broke after I shot it, then I would fix it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In total about 40 acres that I hunt, but I've been told I can hunt the horse farm next to one of the properties I hunt which is about 110 acres. Never hinted it due to the fact that there are hunters there already and I'd hate to step on their toes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Once I got permission just by accident. You finally met the boyfriend of the lady that ones the land all around my grandparents piece and once he saw I was hunting he told us we can hunt all the land she owns and I believe he is about to offer us to hunt a fruit farm that he also owns. What's the worst that can happen if you ask? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Buddy idk what to say to you if you think a 2 1/2 year old is a mature deer. You can't harp on someone for killing a deer that can be just as dumb as a 1 1/2 year old in my experience. I'd say they're. It much more difficult to hunt. Also I have seen 1 1/2 year old bucks be the same caliber as some of the "mature" bucks you have harvested. This also supports what I'm saying about trophy being subjective. To you those deer are trophy deer, which is perfectly fine, but to me I would not consider that a trophy deer if i saw them in the woods. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It can but that's a normal amount of grey...even fawns will have grey hair. As far as the toupee, I have always wondered my self.

I think in the very most rare occasions yearlings antlers can protrude from the skin...but this is rare even in primo agricultural land and let alone Westchester. Definitely not what Elmo shot.

I would also lean on the 2.5 yo now since you have provided more pics. Neck meets the brisket relativity high so Id make an educated guess of 2.5.

This right here! We all start out small. My first deer was 3 points and each year my standards grew. @Hang Em High Out of all the deer you showed us, only 2 of those were likely "mature" and the rest are all 2 1/2 year olds. Id definitely shoot the two bigger bucks, but I wouldn't even take my hands out of my pockets for the other two. Now should i be getting on your case about shooting 2 1/2 year old deer? I have nothing against you shooting them or seeing them as "big" deer, just don't knock someone for shooting a deer that's smaller because someone will always be able to knock you for shooting those deer.

Id say its nearly impossible to accurately judge age by a taxidermied deer. Sometimes the deer you get back can look pretty different. My best guess would be 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 based on its weight and antler size (I know not what your supposed to look at).

3 bucks obviously isnt much, but its the principal of it that its bothering. Although sometimes the cashiers are given wrong info. I bought a camo sweater from gander a couple weeks ago that was on sale for 20 bucks and when it was rang up It came up as like 24 or 25. When I told her, she had no clue and fixed it right away once she confirmed it. 3 dollars here and 3 dollars there adds up so its always important to read the receipt once done.

The problem I have with people saying you don't "need" to shoot a younger deer, is it reminds me of people saying you don't need an Ar-15, more than x amount of rounds, more than x amount of guns or an anti saying you don't "need" to hunt. Maybe most of us don't "need" to shoot a fawn or young buck, but we have the legal right to and we should be sticking up for those who harvest any legal deer.

Appreciate all the info guys! Id love to see a pic of your fathers smoker if you get a pic.

I was planing on putting some type of weather stripping around it to keep as much of the smoke in the smoker as possible. Thanks for the advise about a heat shield...never thought about that.

I would be smoking in bulk usually, like a whole leg of a deer or even 4 legs it its possible to fit it in there. They would be broken down into separate cuts. The plan is to build it when I have time to have it ready for next season or if im lucky to get another deer this year, it'll be for that deer.

That's pretty much what I was thinking of making. The only difference is i want to use bolts to hold the 4 walls together so I can take it apart when i'm done. What did he use as a heat shield?

What stone said!

Sounds like a great time! Wish I was in the area.

Nice! Kudos to Shawnhu for helping.

Wow i surprised! Usually the otter box can take that kind of abuse. At least its fixed though.

That's awesome! Public land bowkill on the ground in 3S! Did you butcher the deer yourself? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats on the deer stone! Not sure what phone you have, but that's one of the reasons I went with an otter ic case for my iPhone. I've dropped my phone a couple times out of the tree and no issues. Only problem is my phone has camo on it, so it can be hard to find haha Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats in the deer Elmo! And what a great shot! You can tell it was a nice shot by the small bubbles in the blood. Love the story too. If you don't mind me asking, was this private or public ground? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk