Uncle Nicky

In an average year, I'll probably hunt some portion of about 25 days, give or take. Travel varies, I can walk behind my house & hunt, sometimes I'll hunt with friends & drive 10-50 miles. Camp in NY is 300 miles. Some years I will go to Texas, 1500 miles (not this year though).

For me, it's my recreation, along with shooting & fishing. I don't care for watching sports on TV, and I can't get excited about golf...a man has to have SOME hobbies and outlets after a dreary week in an office cubicle. When I was a little younger it was about gathering trophies on the wall, but that's burned itself out. I enjoy the meat and fish that I bring home, but if I really think it through, that's a by-product of the sport, it would be more cost-effective to get meat in a store. I don't consider it my "lifestyle" like I hear them talk about on TV either; It's a pastime that I truly enjoy, and have gotten quite proficient at.

It really makes no difference with a crossbow, just as easy to shoot in January as it is in September.

I used to get in an hour before light, because that is what I was taught, saw a LOT of sunrises. Got cold a lot earlier, tripped over rocks a lot in the dark, fell into a couple creeks,and got poked in the eye with tree branches also. Eventually, I came to the realization that it really didn't matter, now if I hunt in the mornings, I'm in my stand right at sunrise.

Good analogy, IMO. But, if you shoot something or someone by accident because you weren't following the law, prepare to have the book thrown at you. Same as if you were to kill or cripple someone because you were speeding in your car.

No, I'd climb out of the tree & go to an A.A. meeting, time to go on the wagon.

Good advice. Do you have any other property you can hunt?

Only saw a deer hit the ground once with a rifle shot and get back up, was a low shoulder/high leg shot, my guess that's the case here, and if so, the deer may have made it. Personally, I'd have let the kid have the deer, it's already got 3 shots in it. But, back when I was younger and had a lot more space on the wall for mounts, my attitude would have probably been different.

Tagged out during archery, so I'll be at work today. I agree, we should have Sunday hunting & a Saturday opener here in PA.

Very strange. Sounds like the work of a devil-worship cult.

While I enjoy bowhunting and have killed my share of deer with an arrow, my mantra has always been, "Bowhunting is heartbreaking". Keep at it, sooner or later you'll get one.

I can't help with your specific request, but I've found, booked, and gone on a couple successful hunts in Texas by looking on the Texas hunting forum. Just go to the outfitters section, describe what you're looking for, and you should get a few responses from guys competing for your business. http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/16/1/Outfitters_&_Guides

Spray your clothes with Sawyer's (permithrin). One application lasts about a month, supposedly deer can't smell it. I started using it a few years ago, I can honestly say I haven't seen a tick on me since I started using it.

I have one stand that's near the edge of a neighbor's property...not because I want a war, but becasue it's always been a deer travel corridor, especially once the guns go off. I've gotten some comments about it, but I'm not moving it. I've never understood the mentality of guys who won't let you cross onto their side to track a deer...it wouldn't bother me if someone wanted to cross over my side to track. In a perfect world, we'd have permission to hunt each other's properties ( I have this arrangement with my other neighbors).

Well done! :clapping:Personally, I'd eat the tenderloins first.

I told you those deer carts were unsafe!

Push the corn off by yourself, catch the deer coming back into it in a couple hours.

Yep.

Looks like you are living the dream sir. Some day I have to get over there, before it is too late.

My father was former military, he drilled it in my head that every time you fire a gun, you have to clean it when you get home, no excuses. He was an excellent shot (no scope), so I figured he knew what he was talking about. I've gone with this ever since.

Sounds like one for the Warren Commission. I did hit a corn feeder leg one time (in Texas, where it's legal to bait) with a 30-06 round. Found 2 holes in the deer, not sure if the bullet split or if a piece of the tripod hit him. But, hard to believe a twig would cause a 180 grain slug to fragment.

That was you I was watching last year? Don't sweat it, I keep it on safe, honest.

Gotta get them early in the season. Once the beech nuts & acorns disappear, so do they.

No, they were placed here to give us a little gun practice before the rest of the season opens. And to serve as dinner at deer camp.

Yes. Froze my a** off plenty of times, I'm ready to buy a tent blind & a propane heater. Just takes the wind out of my sails when I have to sit all day and be cold.