coonhunter

I live in Oneonta. Still plenty of snow, but is hard and crunchy in a lot of places. Not great walking, but you can get around in the woods. Near field edges where it drifts, you may have a little trouble until you get to the woods or the open field.

My fondest hunting memory is when my children were small, around 6-10 years old. I bought and trained a new coonhound pup, and the kids all had a hand in the little things that go in training a nice dog. They helped to work him on a leash, do drags, feeding, loading into the box, and all sorts of little things to make them feel involved. That winter we had a warm spell that melted the snow down pretty good and got the coon moving good again. My dog had started treeing a few before deer season came, so I was anxious to get back out. The kids all wanted to get out and do something and especially wanted to get a chance to see our dog go. So, we loaded up the dog, got a couple of hunting lights and a couple flashlights, and headed to a small swamp that I hoped would give us a quick run. They fought over who got to walk the dog and turn him loose, but away he went. He wasn't gone 5 minutes and he was open hot on track. After a short trail, he treed about a quarter mile up the hill on the backside of the swamp. Now, when I say this dog was loud, I mean really loud, and the kids were eating it all up. It took us awhile to get into the tree because they had never been in the woods at night, and it is harder to get around on short legs. I could see the coon without my light before we got there, but I kept my mouth shut and let them find it. Then I had one of them hold the dog back while I shot the coon out. It fell right in a small water hole and made a huge splash and the dog made a bigger splash when he jumped in on the coon to wool it over. Those kids were in their glory. They got the dog leashed up and were getting soaked petting and hugging him while I skinned the coon. It is a great memory that still comes up quite frequently when we get together.

Sad thing is that a lot of the jobs are good paying jobs for laborers, and not just management. Now, the workers will probably be stuck on unemployment for as long as possible, and then, have to take a lower paying job. Don't get me wrong, the good lathe and mill operators/programmers can and will find work, but you start out with few to no benefits.

Sorry for the misunderstanding Doc. Sent you a message.

I can tell Doc has a little true information about running bears with dogs. Anyone that thinks hunting with hounds is easy has never raised and trained the dogs. Just think how easy it is when the bear gets treed on the back side of a huge swamp or beaver pond. I have run a lot of hounds in my day, and even with good dogs, you sure don't expect a lot of easy races. Sure is nice when it happens, but don't get used to it. There are quite a few people that run hounds after bear during NY's training season. Funny thing is, most of the guys only care about the hounds looking good, and rarely if ever shoot a bear out when they run in states where it is allowed. I will agree that running with hounds is for big country. I don't even run hounds after coon anymore because there are too many houses and cars.

I know I sure do wish I knew now half as much as I thought I knew when I was a young buck.

Lawdwaz, that train picture sure is a nice one. You just don't get to see that very often anymore.

I know one trespasser that is going to be pretty upset when he shows up at his missing climber. My neighbor to the north called me today asking if I had a stand on his land, and I told him no. He was not happy about it because he only owns 20 acres and has it well posted. He is not bad to get along with at all. He just wants his land for himself and his two daughters. He wanted to try and catch the guy, but I told him to just take the climber and leave a note to come see him. I said you probably gained a nice Summit treestand. I told him there was a 10 point that probably came out in the field before dark one night and that is where the trespasser came from because there has been no hunters but a couple of us since openning weekend.

Two of my best stand sites are on north facing, wooded slopes. When it is cold and frosty, it seems to take forever for the sun to reach it. On these mornings I usually don't have any normal deer movement until 7:30-8:30, or even later if it is real cold. I have never noted a difference in the amount of deer movement between north and south facing slopes, just the difference in timing. I will say, and it is probably just a coincidence, that I have definitely taken more mature bucks on these two ridges. One is a loaded with beech trees, and the other overlooks a brushy flat that is traditionally a prime spot when the bucks are actively chasing.

I hunted this morning and saw 13. Two young, rack bucks were pawing for beech nuts with five does and fawns for over an hour 60 yards from me. All other deer were does and fawns heading down into the hemlocks. What I couldn't believe was the fact that I never heard one shot from before sunrise til 11:00. It was a beautiful morning with temps a little chilly, but very light winds. And, the deer were moving well. I will hear from hunters that say there are no bucks left, or the deer are all bedded tight on the posted land. Well, I was on open land, the deer were moving, and two of them were bucks. There are guys on here that are putting in their time with little luck that would love to have the deer sightings I had today, but around my area it seems like a bunch of road hunters and coffee shop hunters. It's too bad because this weekend is shaping up nice.

The last two years I have shot mature 8 points on the last weekend of the rifle season. No hunters to speak of after the first weekend makes it entirely possible.

By far my favorite holiday of the year. Hunt in the morning, stuff my gut and watch football in the afternoon. And, no damn presents. Just friends and family together for an enjoyable day of food and relaxation. Then, of course, there is the mess of dishes and leftovers to take care of, but it is all worth it to me.

I'm an all dayer for the first weekend of gun. I will have a couple sandwiches, a couple granola bars, some reeses or snickers, my coffe thermos, and how ever many waters that leaves room for. Then I complain about all the junk I have to carry.

I thought the flies buzzing around added a nice touch.

I have been hunting the mornings in 4F with snow on the ground and a mixed bag of deer. Some chasing, but still lots of does with fawns. I have had several nice shots, but nothing I was interested in. The weather has been cold, but the wind has been holding off until about 10:30-11:00. Even though I have seen some chasing, the does have not seemed all that ready. Yesterday I watched a young buck try and mount a doe twice, and she laid right down both times. He was chasing a couple other young bucks away off and on for an hour. Finally, a 2 1/2 year old 8 came in and bristled up and ran him off. He went over and sniffed the doe over and went trotting off. Best part was that this was all happenning between 10 and 60 yards from my stand. No shooters, but plenty of action. Like the last couple years, it looks like the bucks will be in full chase mode here for the opener of gun.

I have been a believer in being able to shoot whatever you want and thought most of the hunters I knew felt the same way. Well, I was surprised when I asked them and a little over half said they wouldn't mind the restrictions as long as everyone had to follow them. They are always telling me the bucks that I pass up are just getting shot by someone else. I have memories and pictures that prove them wrong, but they will continue to shoot the first buck they see. I guess I am still against them no matter how I hunt.

I use them all the time because I don't wear gloves hunting. Hot Hands is the best one I have used, and if you only sit in the morning and go back home or camp, you can put them in Ziplock bags and get some more use out of them the next hunt. Make sure you get the handwarmers for in your pockets. If you put the foot warmers in your pockets they will get hotter than hell and run out of heat real quick. They are made for putting in your boots and don't need as much air as the hand warmers.

I have always known women that hunted. Some stick to wingshooting above dogs, and others are fond of deer hunting. The youth hunt has found me with a young lady both years, and I already have a new one for next year. It has been my experience that the women and young ladies just want to be included in the whole experience. Not just sat in a stand and ignored. They want to be on vacation too. Not be expected to do all the cleaning, cooking, and other chores. But, on the other hand, a lot of men consider deer season to be their one time of year for "man stuff". I can see this aspect as well. Personally, I will go out of my way to help a woman or youngster get started hunting. It helps keep me motivated as well.

In 4F yesterday was beautiful and didn't even see a deer. Today had a buddy go with me that is afraid of heights so we set up on the ground. The wind was a little strong and it was chilly. Deer moved well for a couple hours then ground to a halt as the wind picked up. Still have the fawns with their mommas, and even saw two young bucks still traveling together.

Teebug, don't worry about your afternoon sit. Think positive. You are happy to be getting out on one of your lucky days. Take advantage of it and harvest yourself a nice deer in the morning. You have put plenty of time in, and it is time for the luck to swing your way.

I'll throw a little monkey wrench into this never ending issue. A few have skirted on the issue, alluding to the government controlling more and more in our lives. How is it that the ones that want the antler restrictions for all hunters feel it is any different than Cuomo passing the so called safe act? I mean come on, the safe act is only going to make the state a safer and better place for "everyone". No, the issues are not the same, but it is still a few trying to control the majority. That is my issue with antler restrictions. Like others on here, I have evolved over the years and now hold out for older bucks. I didn't need any rules imposed on me. It was just what I chose to do. I hate to tell a lot of you, but the majority of hunters just want to kill a deer or two. No matter how much you hear or read about antler restrictions, trophy hunting, food plots,etc., it still comes down to hunters just wanting to get out and kill a buck and a doe. Some up their personal goals, some don't. No matter what, a ton of deer get shot, and if the hunters are happy with what they shot, I am glad for them. We are supposed to be out and having fun, and I will never support something that will take the fun out of hunting for others.

I am in Edmeston also. Sat on the downwind side of doe bedding areas and saw no bucks scent checking. I have seen a lot of young bucks getting a little antsy, but the does still have their fawns with them. Yesterday morning I did see an older buck, but he was not interested in the does and fed his way through about 80 yards from me.

That is an awesome mount and conversation piece.

Nice deer and it looks like you stayed calm enough to put a perfect shot on him. That's not always easy especially with a first bow kill. Congrats.

I have been fortunate two years in a row to take out a young lady for their first deer. Last year the girl's dad had to work, but this year he took time off this weekend so he could take her, and she shot a nice doe with him. So, we ended up with two deer hanging to take care of yesterday. This year was extra nice because she came from a non-hunting family, but still caught the hunting bug from my friend's daughter. When I say non-hunting, I don't mean against hunting. They just don't hunt, but encouraged their daughter to take her course and get out there. I personally enjoy taking the kids out. It lets them relax and forget about being cool at school, or in the girls' case, keeping up with the "in" group at school. You can tell them a thousand times that in a few years none of this school drama will matter, but it does no good. Seems the teenage girls always have the drama. Out in the woods, all that nonsense goes away, and they can become part of an adult group and they thrive. I had both girls in a blind this morning when I was back bowhunting. They had their cell phones taking pictures and sending them to their friends and family. They were laughing and tee heeing away. We saw deer, squirrels, two raccoons, and a fisher. I will say that it pays to have your blind up early because the deer knew it was there and something was different. I see the youth hunt as a good thing, and that it is at a perfect time when the deer are still on feeding patterns. Bow season is a long season, and it doesn't bother me one bit to sacrifice a couple days. Being a kid now a days is a lot tougher and way more complicated than when we grew up. Sure, they get a lot of things handed to them that we had to work for, but they have a lot more to worry about also. If I can get a few of them to enjoy hunting, or just being out in the woods, then I feel I am doing my part to pass on the tradition of hunting. To this day, when I am in the woods, it is the only time I am truly relaxed.