Five Seasons

so you wouldn't want to shoot a 180lb 10 point over a 130lb doe standing side by side because the extra 50lbs? For what it's worth my big 8 only weighed 130 dressed, very good genetics. I ask this question seriously and i'm not trying to pick a fight. If you don't eat the meat, and you're not after the antlers, what are your goals when deer hunting?

sitting on the ground turkey hunting with irish spring, head and shoulders and a coffee mug... I'll have deer walk right up to me. But then they seem to know they're not being hunted.

friend shot a doe. he was impressed. Personally I'm staying with the chisel tips.

is this real? I think it's either spam or someone whose first language definitely isn't english.

here's the thing DOEwacker, I never made any judgments about you, your post or what you shoot. You're the one who got all defensive at the OP for wanting advice on how to shoot big deer. I've shot big deer. I've shot small deer. I've shot doe, spike and a button. I am by no means perfect or the greatest. But i've learned from some greats that have several enteries each into the big buck club. Maybe I'll post some wall pics of what my father and grandfather have shot someday. My advice comes from them.... and if "practice" is bad advice, or advice I cannot give because I shot a 5 point last year, then my apologies.

I don't think anyone said a little illegal is ok. That's the last time I'm going to say it. We had a several page thread about infractions, and baiting wasn't at the top of the poll. I don't bait. never had. Heck this is the first year I put in a plot. I was just a little surprised at the reactions. The reactions have been explained. Horses, sand, noodles and feet were involved. Now to move on.

for sure. in our case it was a hollow we always wanted to get in but were never sure about, and we felt more comfortable knowing we weren't on the edge of our land. absolutely. there's a few free iphone apps that can do this, and i think a few that cost a little bit that not only plot the stand but allow you to map the approach trail. I use antler insanity. Gives you realtime wind direction too.

i've read a bunch of articles claiming the deer will smell the coffee on you even if you drank it before you went out. I don't doubt it's true, but I can't live without some caffeine. I do sometimes drink an energy drink because it's a little easier and quicker. But I put the drink in a thermos. Don't want to "pop the top" in the woods. Hunting's funny. I know smokers who kill big deer...

i really don't get hammered anymore except for the occasional wedding or old buddy get together. A few beers and I'm good. But Friday's now are usually playing with the future deer hunter and watching a movie. And I wouldn't trade that for the world.

as soon as you get off your high horse

tax maps are great, and handheld gps is even better if you can afford it. we surveyed our land for our own knowledge and to post it better. Little surprised where we actually had a little more room then we thought.

wtf does me shooting a 150lb dressed 5 point have to do with someone asking about shooting big bucks? Are you saying horn hunters aren't hunters too, or somehow beneath meat hunters? You're just being hypocritical. You shoot what you want, I'll shoot what I want. And I'll gladly help give advise to someone looking for horns on the wall. If you're not a horn hunter, then why even go into a thread about it?

you used to be decent to debate with. Now you start off or end with insults. I'm done man. You don't have to agree with everything I say, but I refuse to debate or respond to you if you're going to be a child about it.

totally agree. Honestly I didn't read past the first few posts. skimmed the rest.

my wife got this cool card from the DEC during her safety courses. It's call an "ask" card or something. Provides a copy to land owner and hunter that everything is cool and absolves some liability. I googled it and cant find details, but i thought it was a pretty good idea for land owners who don't want to be held liable.

inherited a spider this year. In the past it was the old strap around the chest, which would have worked but not the best. I tried a hunter safety version and found it too bulky, but the spider is awesome.

I'm not sure that's the case, but he should have stated it up front. There's nothing wrong with asking "what's your one tip to kill a big buck". Those without advise, need not take part in said thread. But magazines and tv shows exists mostly to answer these question. They don't put spikes in ads or put a doe on the cover. Sure there are some meat hunters, but there's nothing wrong with trying to bag a mounter. We all have different priorities.

if you have a big enough back yard, you can put up a practice stand there. That's what my dad and I do.

I don't know why, but turning 30 has been sad. Although I would not trade my wife and kid for the world. Just miss drinking my face off and not feeling it the next day

i didn't think we were arguing. i asked a question, he answered it and I'm not sure we even disagreed...

fair point. I guess I assumed that success for a bowhunter is the harvest of any deer, otherwise he would have been more specific. Maybe he can clarify. My advice on practice reamins the same regardless. Many posts of hunters missing deer already this year. You can have the best stand in the world and if you can't stick the arrow in the right spot

I am not sure I understand this point. If you're just an outdoorsman and enjoy the stand, then you're not frustrated when you do not see a deer. You're only frustrated when you're out to kill a deer and do not. I went out last week just to sit. If I saw a big buck then great, but I really just wanted to get back in the woods. 1st and foremost I do love hunting, but part of WHY I love to hunt is nature. Success is all about what your goals are, and those goals are always your own.

couldn't have said it better myself. covered it all right there.

most of a miss sometime or another. I have to admit that I wouldn't consider a weeks worth of shooting adequate. And if you're not shooting from a practice stand or at least a high deck, then its unrealistic. Shaky knees are unavoidable sometimes, so try to breath deep and slowly release. I don't advise holding your breath, but I know that works for some.