Uncle Nicky

Noodle one- I'm with you on this. I've killed a lot of deer, and dragging them out of the woods doesn't get easier with age. I try to hunt smarter these days, I don't have a problem leaving a deer in the woods once my tag is on it so that I can get help. If somebody really wants it bad enough to drag it a mile, then be my guest. If I really want to find you, I'll just follow the drag mark & blood trail and look for the out-of-breath thief, LOL. Often times now, if I can't get help, I'll just skin & bone the meat out in the woods and make a couple trips with a backpack to get the meat & head/antlers out.

Yes, taking off his backtag shows he knows he's in the wrong. I've always thought that the last guy to shoot a wounded deer was the guy that keeps it. But, when I attended the hunter's safety course again a few years ago with one of my kids, the game warden said it belongs to the shooter that "delivers the fatal shot"...kind of complicates things I guess, but if he only gut shot it, common sense says it's your deer. I definitely wouldn't quit hunting over this, but I would keep my eye out, he sounds like a loose cannon, I do remember a few times where it got ugly on public land, which is why I try to only hunt private property. I'd have kept the deer too, enjoy your steaks, I'd probably get a good snicker knowing this guy is doing a slow burn while you're enjoying "his" deer.

Whoops, posted in the harvest thread. http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/5976-2011-harvest-thread/page__st__200

Opening day in Allegany county. I was having a calling contest with a flock of gobblers when this joker popped out of the goldenrod. 5 points on one side, 3 on the other. Unfortunately, we broke the tips off of 2 of his antlers while we were dragging him out of the woods. Had to cut the trip early because it was too warm, and didn't want the meat to spoil.

You and your father showed a tremendous amount of restraint.

I've seen maybe 5 or 6 in the woods that I'd consider to be monsters in 35 years of hunting. I killed 2 of them, the others were either seen out of season, out of bow range, or brief glimpses as they were tearing through the woods.

I usually stay out of these scuffles, but I saw the exact same thing on the PA Hunting forum yesterday, but this time, the OP was ripped a new one for NOT backing out and coming back later. http://www.huntingpa.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2422687#Post2422687 Moral of the story- don't post about your lost deer on the internet.

I've seen them walk right past gut piles without even paying any attention. I've also seen them stop & check out dead deer, I guess curiosity gets the best of them. You might want to drag it downwind a little (if it's not too late) before you hunt this spot again.

Congratulations on finding her. Tracking in the dark is never fun. In my experience, a heart shot deer will usually go a little way before it dies, lung shot deer never seem to go far.

Remington Core Lokt 150s for deer. No reason why 180s wouldn't work, probably a little more knock-down at a longer range.

Only if it's a deer I kill. Most guys don't rinse the inside of the cavity out, most of the time the meat inside the ribs is caked with dried blood, and if the guts were hit, stomach or intestine contents might be on this meat too. Truthfully, you'll get about 1# of edible meat out of these rib strips.

It's all just part of the game, just hang in there. If there's sign of deer, then there are deer in the area. You just have to be there when they show. Not to say I don't feel your pain, I finally filled a tag in my usual spot this weekend, didn't kill one at all there last year, and had only seen 3 so far this year, none close enough to shoot at. Yeah, sometimes switching up to small game or waterfowl isn't such a bad idea either. Of course you know that when you're out their with #6s blasting away at squirrels, that is when 10-pointer will show up, right?

I've killed a few bears in Canada & 1 in Maine...the meat tasted just fine to me, not as strong as deer, just a little chewy. I was warned to make sure it is cooked through & NOT to make smoked items (jerky, ring bologna, slim-jims) out of it because bears often have trichnosis; not sure if it's true, but didn't want to chance it. Good luck getting one out of the woods, feels like you're dragging 300# of dead weight.

I always do my own, plus maybe 10 a year for friends. I used to have my own processing business, but that got old quickly. A great side business for someone who's aggressive, and doesn't take a lot of money or training to get started. As far as butchers robbing you or stealing your meat...not saying it doesn't happen. But, there is no way anyone with a stack of deer to process and it's 60 degrees outside operating on 4 hours sleep is going to take the time to pick through every scrap like you would do yourself. You are better off doing it yourself if you want yield, a butcher is really just there for convenience. Realistically, I've found you get 30-35% yield from the live weight of a deer (that means boneless,fatless, and all the silverskin trimmed off),-PROVIDED THE DEER ISN'T SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES.

I haven't had much luck with rattling,grunts, the can, or snort-wheeze calls. I've actually had deer look over at me & keep walking. I DO go BAAAA with my own voice if I want a deer to stop so I can get a shot, this usually works. I still drag all this out with me though, if I'm really bored & feeling desperate I'll dig this out of my backpack. Or even a turkey call, just to see if I can get a response.

Sounds like a miss, but you scared him good, if he was blowing on the run. Come to think of it, I rarely hear a buck blow, it's almost always a doe; maybe it WAS a doe blowing, like Doc suggested? I know the feeling well, I hate to cripple anything, I'd look one more time in the daylight

Heaven forbid you have an accident, or even worse, shoot someone, after a couple drinks; the court will crucify you. Better off waiting until the end of the day. I realize your buddy is only bow hunting, but I get a little shaky climbing a tree sober, don't think I'd want to risk it half-crocked.

I always trim ALL of the venison fat away when I butcher a deer...if not, the steaks will taste like candle wax. I mix 1 part pork backfat to 3 parts well trimmed venison for ground venison....it holds together much better, doesn't stick to the pan, and the burgers/sausage don't fall apart when you try to grill them. If you are worried about fat content in your food, the pork backfat generally seperates during cooking, all you have to do is drain it off. I've put pork backfat in the freezer fior years, it DOES freeze solid. If it's not freezing for you, you may want to get your freezer checked out.

Usually no. Too many other things to drag out, and I'm usually more alert on an empty stomach.

My neighbor is an ass....I'd shoot this deer just so he wouldn't get a crack at him.

It can be...if you want to shoot them on the fly. Most times, the dog finds the flock & scatters them for you. Then it's a case of setting up, calling them in, and BOOM!!!

Never did it with an arrow, but I did shoot one with a rifle in the poop chute unintentionally...dropped it on the spot, took me a while to figure out where it was hit. Made a mess inside, I just rinsed it out in a creek once I got it down the mountain. No harm done.

Depends on how many I can kill, ha ha. Most years 2 or 3.

Thanks guys for the responses, it's been a while since I checked this post. Actually, I did get in touch with Kevin Evans, I set something up for next month. I spoke with Pete from Turkey Trot a few years ago, I hear he runs a first-rate operation, but his rates are just a little rich for my blood. I'd like to get my own dog some day & train it, just don't have the time or birds close to home to do it right. PA has allowed dogs for the last few years in the fall. I haven't been able to hook up with anyone here to hunt with yet, looks like I'll be doing it the hard way in PA this fall.

I'm looking for a guide with a turkey dog to hunt this fall, in either NY or Pennsylvania. I've gone quite a few times with another guide, but he seems to be losing interest. I know the drill, so you wouldn't be taking out a newbie. I could make it just a day or a long weekend, and I can get my own food & stay in a motel, so it doesn't have to be a fancy lodge or guide service. Send me a PM if interested, or if you know of anyone looking for business, leave a name & contact info. Thanks in advance! Nick