nyslowhand

OMFG, look at the mitts on that beast! Didn't say, but pretty sure you'd need a tow truck to retrieve that behemoth! And.. a bow kill to top it all off!

This is absolutely true, but unfortunately very sad also! I've taken on the exact same limiting personality traits and it's not really me. Sort of puts you in a clam shell you didn't create or want to live in! I blame this phenomena on the internet, absolutely very little inter-personal interactions or communications anymore. Things people say or opinions expressed are rudely criticized on social media sites that normally would not be said when face-to-face interactions occur. JMO, but I feel the Diversity Training is a crock of crap. It is NOT alright to say things or touch others in an inappropriate manner, but it's just common sense for the 98% of us!! What we need is a refresher for the "Things I learned in kindergarten"!!!

IRC, read somewhere that Whitetail Biologist claim whitetails are not capable of having identical twins. They stated that each separate embryo (ie; egg or zygote) is fertilized and deer can't have a single fertilized embryo separate into genetically identical twins, like in humans...!?! Making all fawns fraternal twins with one or possibly many ... eager donors. Puts a whole new light on ... Who's your daddy when looking at twin fawns? A spike, a 10pt or both??

Moog, better check your fence these BBs are escaping your property. If it's only 8' high they can still jump that!!!

Damned dude, you've made me speechless & amazed yet again! Have to imagine customer will be thrilled also!!!

Did it matter how old he was when you put the X-hairs on him, gave yourself the "go" & pulled the trigger? Nice big buck, I would have shot (at?) him too!

It's all about the bottom line ($$) that drives these decisions! Not to mention new competitors edging into Nikon's slice of the pie (ie; Vortex). Nikon sports optics is part of the huge Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi. Not making rifle scopes would barely be a ripple in the company's business "big picture".

A mentor or at least some one to share their years of experience to cut your learning curve down significantly. Old farts are suckers for taking newbies under their wing. May require some "sweat equity" on your part as a pittance. Unfortunately, I'm not a good candidate as I'm at the opposite end of the state. Good luck!

Thought real men used leaves..? Kidding!!!! What did I forget - just how friggin cold it can be in mid/late November sitting in the tree stand during sunrise. OMG, I love early bow season!!

A hunting partner in a blind makes it more interesting & takes your mind off the temps.

Garmin fer sure! Have had Magellen and Garmin, but Garmin out performed the other one by a ton! Hope you (OP) are ready for sticker shock! A decent, easily used handheld GPS should have a decent sized screen. Those dinky 2"x2" screens are almost worthless! Isn't this what you're planning on doing with a GPS. Did this with a Garmin 62.

Some people think they are their deer!

Just when I thought I was the only pessimist around... Assuming Grampy has an idea where a 40yrd shot would impact!!?!!

Any one that can predict a whitetail's behavior regarding being spotted in a stand, please inform me. After almost 60yrs of chasing deer, all I know is to expect the unexpected. Each individual deer will react somewhat differently to being spooked. From simply walking thru or away to blowing and skirting around the stand to bounding off with tails up! Clearly they'll react differently to simply seeing a motionless & usual blob (you) 15' up in a tree as opposed to seeing your movements to seeing something not normally encountered (shiny cup). Just when you think they're way too smart to return to that area after being spooked, here they come again!

Most mechanical BHs have mixed reviews & success rates. Seems to be either a love 'em or hate 'em with none in the middle or mediocre reviews. Obviously it depending on whether you've had a malfunction. I've used NAP mechanical BHs with success, but if I get a FUBAR with a nice buck probably move on to another brand or style and then I'll hate what I'd been using.

Maybe we're onto something about using Alum arrows in varying temps, lot of expansion & contraction. Suppose after numerous varied heat cycles the vane adhesion might loosen!?! Or maybe a combo of arrow material and vane adhesive in varying temps!??! Any other members frequent other bow sites and came across this issue? I use Alum arrows with my Xbow when temps vary quite a bit, so I'm super curious also!! Sorry OP, know you were looking for answers and I just added more questions?

Well organized drives, hell yeah! Loosely organized drives, I'll sit them out!! It only takes one or if you're really brave a couple of sketchy deer drives to sour you taste for them. I would rather sit in my stand and let the deer drives happen on adjacent properties.

Educate me...! ^^^ This sounds like an oxymoron. Seems like a 44mag would have a very significant recoil and subsequent shots would be unlikely, although not impossible. Y-N? Would ammo loads compensate for this? You obviously have a substantial collection of long guns in a lot of different calibers, but would the 44mag be your 1st choice as a suggested deer rifle? Not criticizing, just wondering!!?!! Clearly a true brush rifle is a unicorn or myth!

If I'm reading your post correctly, you're frustrated with the un-cooperating deer and not so much what weapon you've been using!??! They don't like to play the game by our rules, in general! If you're persistent, something good usually happens, eventually! Go get 'em!!!!

Bingo...! Pseudo-experts will not admit this and try to rationalize what they've seen/done to be true across the entire NYS.

FYI - It's the tag# in large print that needs to be displayed that is your DEC ID#. Mine has been the same forever, at least last 10yrs or so. Each individual tag you put on a harvest (deer, bear, turkey, etc.) are different each year and those are not ones you use as DEC ID#.

^^^ really, an electronic caller?? Paraphrasing Grampy's post - My hands are full of the bow & ready to shoot as soon as I get them to stop!

^^^ exactly, a bleat sound a doe might normally make! Or I suppose like a sheep, if you're into that sort of thing!?! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Ahh, the ole target anxiety phenomena! Acupuncture, hypnosis, Xanax, breathing exercises - only sure cure is to get a few deer under your belt and learn to control it. AND then hope it never completely goes away because it's part of the adrenaline rush of deer hunting!!!

Always because I prefer standing shots vs walking ones!! But the bleat can NOT be too loud or you will definitely startle them. Can also make a smacking noise with your mouth, unusual sound they'll stop, look & wonder about. Disclaimer - this is a double edged sword, getting them to stop or putting them on alert can have different results when the arrow is released. Clearly when a buck has his nose to the ground looking for love or chasing a hot doe, very difficult to get them to stop. I also bleat after I've shot a buck and he's bounding off. Usually have to do a quick progression of bleats, each louder until he hears it. More than 50% of the time they will stop for 3-5 sec before dropping or walking off. Lot of recovery distance saved, if they'll stop!