dbHunterNY

i process my own deer. buckshot? no thanks.

let them do what they can. sooner you push them into a blind the sooner they won't be able to climb a treestand. that said closer steps and life lines are a must for anyone but will help them more than you.

Under Armour compression cold gear base layers. fleece vests mid layers and wind blocking fleece outer layers unless it's raining. amount of layers based on how cold. for really cold temps I've got walls late season coveralls.

yea i use a jaw bone removal tool for keeping the jaw open more than actually separating the jaw bone and yanking it free. another good resource is the national deer alliance http://www.nationaldeeralliance.com/

I think they might have a different ferrule diameter where the threads are. crossbow bolts are larger diameter.

not sure I follow. how is it hard to see how many cusps on molars? number of cusps on molars never changes. I'm thinking you mean from the side profile each cusp or pretty much the whole tooth isn't very tall and very shallow from wear?

thanks for sharing the video. I'm thinking he's 3.5 years old. really can't place him older. legs look the right length for the body, not too heavy in chest but enough, slimming mid-section (race horse look). if he was 4.5 I feel like he'd be more filled out even and have more mass in the hind quarters. very respectable passing on a middle aged 3.5 yr old. hope he makes it and hope you get a change at a mature buck.

Well my guess is definitely over 4.5. Multiple signs with staining, dentine width, molar and premolars wear. The first molar being the oldest tooth I'm not sure has enough wear for 6.5. However we're at the threshold of expected accuracy at 5.5+. So I'm thinking 5.5+ is good enough. I'll post more of these examples with what I think and biologist results when I can. I think it's a great tool for the educated hunter.

I harvested her on the hoosick area QDM co-op so the jaw bone is saved and tagged so biologists will see it eventually.

So what do you think the age is for this deer? It's a doe in Rensselaer county. I've already made my educated guess.

Permanent stands suck. Here's the problem: At some point they get old and unsafe. The platform with wood makes lots a noise when cold and gets slippery mildew on it after a while when the weather is right. Snow on it turns to ice. As the tree grows around it nails and boards are hard to impossible to remove. How do you know it's the perfect spot? Took me several years to fine tune this one permanent stand location. Then as you hunt it deer figure it out. After a while some will walk in with eye balls on you the whole way or avoid it all together. What if a buck and other deer start using a parallel trail out of range. A factory built hangon is safer, functions better, more comfortable, and you can move it when deer patterns change.

Sounds like your buck to doe ratio is way out of whack. Bucks aren't on the move as much because they don't have to look far. Also it makes for poor results when calling. Have that problem here so we pretty much need to rely on funnels and hunting pressure. Try taking 33% of doe population and/or get people to pass 1.5 year old bucks. Might not be able to get the neighborhood but at least a couple neighbors with you.

First and foremost I hunt when I can period. However, a hunter should know what to expect and make plans accordingly. Fronts and storms coming or just leaving trumps lunar tables too in my opinion and experience. So doesn't farmers harvesting crops. Lol

I love it when people complain about how much a broad head costs and then state they threw them alway.

Congrats! Looks like a good shot. Nothing wrong with being an opportunist.

I've got all types. Prefer portable hang-ons or climbers. Built stands with wood in a tree aren't good for lots of reasons.

Like others have said grind it or slow cooker same with other shanks and neck.

mostly 4C with a little hunting in 5S and 4J

haven't lost a deer with Rage heads. Good to see they stuck with the front blade design that showed up on the titaniums that I shoot.

haven't actually had much experience with Carbon Express. Goldtip and Easton I've pretty much shot the entire time.

Just get a good LED flashlight with white color temp light not blue-ish.

It's easier to maintain form by drawing level then bending. I've done both though.

Those are more for fun hunting. Not enough room to draw easily.

I don't have pictures. Sunday night I harvested a 5.5 year old doe that weighed 122 lbs dressed.

Tell that to the general population of trigger happy hunters doing there best to hold off until they're sure.