Uncle Nicky

I guess it would be a 12-gauge semi-auto shotgun. But why would anyone want to own just one gun in this day & age?

I hate anyone who shoots dogs "just because" (chasing a deer, ruining someone's hunt). But this sounds like a whole other story. Obviously, the dog owners are completely irresponsible, and shouldn't own dogs. I know where Livingston is, it's country but not what I would classify as rural. Nobody needs to have 2 pit bulls running loose, patrolling their property in that part of the world. I'd let them have it if they became threatening to you or your dog, and I wouldn't be too forgiving about when I decided to pull the trigger. I've hunted hogs with pits before, they are 80 pounds of pure tenacity and violence if they put their minds to it.

Congratulations on your new venture Brad! I ran a deer processing business back in the 80s & 90s here in PA. My advice, if you are looking for customers, is to place a cheap or free ad wherever you can, such as the Penny-Pincher magazine, or Craigslist. Put flyers up in the local supermarkets, gun clubs, and any gun or sporting good shop, and bump this ad up every so often on this site. I am sure you will have people beating down the doors in no time, word-of-mouth travels quickly, and if you are reasonably priced and do a good job, you will soon be hiring help and even turning customers away (which happened in my case). Best of luck!

Yeah, I sliced my finger open wide skinning a deer years ago (probably should have gotten stitches, but I was too busy to go to the ER), I didn't even feel it at first since it was a fixed broadhead, super sharp. Anyway, it was embedded in the backbone, with a hard callous surrounding it. The hunter shot the deer through the ribs, so it wasn't his broadhead.Why the deer wasn't paralyzed I can't explain, but judging by the size and hardness of the callous, I'd guess the deer had been carrying the broadhead in his back at least since the previous season, maybe longer.

When I processed deer commercially, I saw a lot of these shots. To answer the original question, 1). Because they or someone they know killed a deer with a quartering to or frontal shot or in the rain, and they keep hoping they will get lucky again (and usually don't). 2) Some "guru" on Bowsite.net tells them that these shots work, and they so want to believe them (but they usually don't).

I used to carry a bottle because I was told not to contaminate the stand area. I forgot to empty one bottle, left it in my backpack, and found it 9 months later when I was getting ready for bow season. I almost barfed when I saw it, and was just thankful the cap had been on tight. Never again after that.

What has changed in 17 years: 1). More bow hunters, which means more pressure and human movement in the woods before gun season starts, and more deer killed earlier 2). Deer numbers ARE down since 2000, at least in NY & PA 3). More deer die opening day, since rifles are allowed in almost every zone now (used to be shotgun only) 4). Less people putting on "drives", so deer don't need to move as much 5). Less people in the woods moving deer around I have to be honest, in 45 years of deer hunting, the only place I have seen multiple deer moving all day long was in Texas. My whole hunting carer locally, seeing one or two bucks a day and a few does in a day was about as good as it ever got, even during the heydays of the 90s and early 2000s. YMMV

Nothing, shot the first doe I saw. No bucks seen this year.

I don't know if I would want their money or life, considering the damage they do to their bodies, especially the long-term effects. But at least they are now educated on what they are getting themselves into. Back top the OP....I haven't been putting in much time with the NFL, just disappointed with the whole situation in general, and putting politics in front of entertainment. Of course, it has to be the one year that the Eagles are looking solid in quite a while. I've been watching them for almost 50 years now, I really think they are due to win the big one. But, past Eagles teams have been known to choke, it's something of a Philadelphia tradition. Right now it looks like them and the Patriots, possibly the Steelers.

It's not especially uncommon....male birds gobble and strut all year long, they just do it a lot more when spring gets here.

Not sure yet. If I a sitting on a field in a tent blind, probably my Remington 710, 30-06; it's the most accurate gun I own (don't laugh, this clunker drives tacks). If I sit in the woods, Savage Model 99, .358 caliber, I have it set up with see-through mounts, which I may need in the rain. Probably going to haul both up to camp, unless the weather report changes.

1).Get in a shed or barn somewhere, bring a pint (or two) of Old Grandad, and hope the roof doesn't leak. A rifle that doesn't fog easily and a good rest are important, shots may be fairly long. 2). Find a lonely neighbor lady whose husband is out freezing in the rain, shack up for the better part of the day, and forget hunting, Sunday looks more promising. Just keep an ear out, he may be coming back to use the clothes dryer, so make sure you have at least one escape route. 3) (Worst option). Get in a tent blind or under some sort of man-made cover. Prepare to get soaked, and freeze your ass off. Hope the blind doesn't blow away when you are sitting in it. Be ready for a very boring day, not many shots will be going off, and the deer are smarter than us, they already know where to to stay warm and fairly dry, thay're not coming out. Pray that your propane tanks in the Big Buddy heater don't run out. Try to make the best of your water-logged sandwiches and jerky. And by all means, leave your cell phone back in the truck or camp, if that gets wet and ruined you'll probably be so irate that you may just consider quitting hunting all together, and take up golf or start watching the NFL again.

The forecast seems to keep changing by the hour. I'm planning to proceed as normal, head up Friday afternoon, and hunt through Monday. Thought about a ground blind, but last year it was so windy one got blown into the creek, the other on wound up 50 yards from where I set it up, pinned against a couple trees....

I blame most of it on TV, and the internet. I used to argue with people who tried convincing me it's OK to take bow shots at deer quartering-to or front on, or who bow hunt in the rain (not mist or drizzle). I gave up, I don't know where they are getting their information, but it's NOT OK to take anything but VERY high success shots, or bow hunt when it's raining or even heavy rain forecasted.

I don't understand the question either, but I will say that in the Southern Teir, the season used to go from October 1 until the day before rifle season opened (6 weeks), and you could kill 2 birds. This changed 2 (3?) years ago, now you are only allowed 1 bird, and the season is only 2 weeks long. The reason I was told was that there was a decline in NY turkey population, and this was going to be the "fix". Not sure I really buy into it, but that's another debate for another day....

I live out of state, we can deer hunt with a crossbow for months not weeks, so my answer may not apply, but since you asked... I picked one up about 15 years ago when PA made crossbows legal. I was looking for a bettter tool for the task, like I do in most things in life, and the crossbow fit the bill. Better, IMO, because they are easier to use, less pre-season practice required, and seem to penetrate skin, muscle, and bone better than a compound. Some may call this lazy I suppose. I enjoy striper fishing, squirrel hunting, and turkey hunting as well in the fall, so I am glad to have a bow that I can simply pick up and hunt with if I'm in the mood to sit for a deer that particular day. I still own my ancient Bear compound, I keep it more for sentimanetal reasons than anything else. But I can't picture myself bringing it out to actually hunt with anymore, maybe that will change at some point. As far as Mrs. Uncle Nicky, I don't ask her how much she spends on clothes, jewelry, and decorations around the house, she rarely asks me how much I spend on my vices, and when she does, I just lie anyway. Like the old saying goes, "my biggest fear is that when I die, my wife is going to sell all my hunting & fishing gear for what I actually told her I spent for it".

Big heavy bullets, caliber greater than .270, and shoulder shots ought to drop even the biggest buck right in their tracks. Only a couple I have shot ran, and Stevie Wonder would have been able to track them. Most times, I find a decent clump of hair right at the impact sight.

Because I don't golf, or care a whole lot about sports. Everyone needs a hobby or something to look forward to, for me, this is it.

Nothing, I feel meaner and more like a killer when I'm hungry. I keep gatorade & water in a cooler back at the truck.

I cut meat in a store for 15 years, and had a deer processing business. This chart cannot possibly be for boneless meat. Boneless yield on an AVERAGE deer (slightly less for does and fawns, slightly more for a big buck) is 30-35% of live weight (if trimmed of all fat & silver). Most people don't save and eat the ribs because they are too fatty.

My first thought when I clicked on the link...

Currently an accountant, I have been a chef and butcher before going back to school. Currently looking to parlay some of my life skills into a new career, am working toward becoming a door-to-door gynecologist. I would suggest some type of white collar job, not because it is fun or enjoyable, but because these jobs pay the most, and will eventually save a lot of wear & tear on your body (it will matter once you get into your 50s & 60s). Anything to do with engineering, math, or business ought to get your foot in the door once you graduate. I know it sucks paying for an education, but if you stick with it, it will probably pay off in the long run.

I think you are trying to kill one with a bow, which even raises the bar higher. If at all possible, if you have them coming, try to conceal yourself (portable mini blind, set up behind a tree?) when you do draw back, they probably won't give you a whole lot of time to get a shot off. Good luck!

Sometimes you will find them mixed, but mostly older toms are together, and hens are together with poults. Sometimes 1 1/2 year old jakes wil be seperated, sometimes poultless hens are on their own, but as winter approaches, the groups grow larger & larger. If it were me, I would take a look at the group, and their behavior. It probably wouldn't hurt to sit down if you're not spotted and try calling, I don't know what you would have to lose, they may call back and come in, they may ignore you. If it's possible, I'd try getting in front of them, I know it sounds easy but it usually isn't. If you rush them, you usually need the element of surprise on your side, they're more apt to outrun you than take off flying if they see you coming from any distance, especially gobblers. I wish I could say "they always" do x, y, or z, but they never seem to do what you think they will do.

Yes, it can be deadly when all the stars align themselves. Really miss the days (only been a couple years) when you could get 2 birds in the Southern Zone.