nyslowhand

I've had 4-5 different ladder stands over the years and all had adjustable gun rails. Obvious dumb question - Sure your's aren't adjustable? Should be sqr channell pieces with knobbed set screws on each front side of both arm rests. All the ones I've seen were adj by these! BTW - I have a short shooting stick for my Xbow, which I rarely carry. Can place one end on stock & other into your lap. Or just find a branch the right size with a "Y" yoke at the end. Or this ^^^... Couple small-ish C-clamps attached to arm rest to change gun rail elevation/angle.

Years ago I shot a buck that had a couple of grossly infected wounds. Called an ECO to get a replacement tag due to "unfit for consumption". I was told the DEC would take the dead deer away & I could not keep the rack. If I wanted the rack, no replacement would be issued. Eventually the ECO apparently didn't want to deal with loading, hauling and finding a disposal site for the deer, so he asked if I had a place to dispose of the body and he'd give me a replacement tag anyways. So the rule is; if a replacement tag is issued, you can not keep any part of the deer unless.......

So far, just my enthusiasm.

It's all about habitat & proximity of agr crops. I'm guessing soil (mineral) conditions might also enhance a buck's rack!??! Okay, so genetics also comes into play somewhat.

... and everyone is assuming these were harvested with a Xbow. That compound bow you love so much gave back some love today, huh!!?!! Boring to adrenaline charged within seconds, love the rut hunting! Congrats, you earned it!!

Come on people, this is listed as a reality TV show and we all know what that means - non-reality!

If I get a deer at "point blank" range while only up 8', may be tempted to jump on it...

Right, the further the shot is from the steep angled downward shot, the less the difference!

This was posted on a crossbow topic, so form, bending at the waist, etc is N/A with a Xbow. FYI - Biggest difference in horizontal and straight line distances while up in a typical ~15" treestand are shots way under 10yrds. Most other differences are ~3yrds. Find a trig calculator if you don't trust me!

I've tried to sharpen those gut hooks with a small-ish, round diamond &/or ceramic stone. Had some luck, but think the issue is in the availability of round sharpening tools and most only give you a short stroke. Always reverted to my old faithful Buck folding knife & gingerly running the blade between two fingers up the underside of the deer lifting the skin away from the "innerds".

Regardless of who wins the elections, I can't foresee either candidate drastically changing things! We'll still have suring COVID-19 cases, a high unemployment rate, an ineffective government, enormous debt, poor diplomacy with foreign nations, terrorists attacks, immigration issues and on and on!

Lets just say I wish I had the ~$100s of dollars in my hand that I've spent on OTC and real estrous scents over the years with little to no luck. Exactly what MOOG said, it all depends on the wind &/or if a BB is close enough (down wind) to get a whiff. Same with drag lines. you're just increasing your chances of attracting the attention of a buck with a longer scent spread. If done right and the buck crosses your drag line. If you've used scents successfully, your hooked on them. If not, disaster or frustration fer sure!

Even buying a new Xbow directly from the mfger, you'll have to attach the bow section to the stock. Easy-peasy! As far as I know there is no tuning necessary with a Xbow, unlike with a regular compound bow! Some may have trigger adjustments, but out of the box they'll shoot where you aim! One thing you may need to keep in mind if using a rope cocker, pull back evenly to put same pressure on each limb. There are gizmos that attach to the rope and hook the string to help prevent this! I give this advice to all people thinking of buying their 1st Xbow - inexpensive xbows come with cheapo scopes. First thing a lot of people have to do is buy (~$150) a better scope. So, with the cost of an inexpensive Xbow and a scope upgrade, you're automatically into the mid-price range of a better Xbow. Just my 2¢, take it or leave it....

Aren't most decent handheld GPS units accurate to +/-10"? Suppose that might have even improved since I owned my Garmin 62~4yrs ago or with the high-end GPSs. Also, the more satellites your GPS connects to, the more accurate they become. I found a little quirk with my Garmin 62, when turned on in a wide open area it'd connect to a certain # of satellites. If I waited and turned it on in the woods with a canopy, as expected it connected with fewer satellites and accuracy went down somewhat. If I ever had the need for a decent GPS again, JMO I'd splurge and get something with a decent screen size. Those 2' x 3" screens are a PITA.

Yes to OP's question about the peak of the rut & assuming he meant the breeding phase But the ~Nov 10-12th date also has a +/- 7day yearly fluctuation.

Ditto, esp if an intruder breaks into my home. Won't be any warning shots or pleas!

I've seen and gotten videos on my trail cams of weird wounds & limping deer, assuming from trying to jump the 8' fences the farmers are putting around their orchards up here in apple country. Actually shot a buck with a wound thru both sides of the chest area that was all infected. DEC guy that came to replace my buck tag said it was a car/deer accident, but I'm thinking a deer jumped something and got impaled. Nothing as drastic as the OP's video. And that old boy is still walking around!!?!! Amazing!

^^^ so you're saying to hell with a hitch platform, just lash it to a fender of your vehicle like hunters used to do in the "olden" days???

These steps are from my experience of putting up new single person ladder stands &/or relocating 5-6X over about a 10 year period. Just trying to keep others from avoiding some of the disasters I've experienced. Before installing any stand, just think about being up 15-20' in a stand, numerous time over a period of several years and you've used those cheapo 5-600# ratchet straps and lashing "string" that comes with the stand. JMO, I feel more secure using 1.5-2k ratchet straps and a thicker rope, at least 3/8" thk. It's your life, so do as you please! These upgrades are almost mandatory for some of those flimsy, cheapo ladder stands, as they make it more rigid. Better choose the correct orientation you want the stand against the tree even before you start to upright the stand. Pretty difficult to move an unsecured stand around a tree w/o losing control of it. Can be done... Someone mentioned having base of ladder ~5' from the tree, IRC it's more like 6'. I use to use a crowbar or drove a stake into the ground inside the lowest ladder rung. Prevents base from kicking out when walking ladder stand up. Walk the ladder stand up like you would an extension ladder. Always had better control doing this myself than fighting to overcome what a 2nd person was doing. Walk it up and guide it against the tree. Warning - this step is where all things that possibly could go wrong just might. Meaning, don't be afraid to sacrifice the stand over your body or well being!!!! Before any securing, make sure platform is as level as possible, moving base of ladder in/out. Optional step. Had good luck placing a PT 2"x10/12"x24" plank under the base of the ladder so it doesn't tend to sink into the mud. Had used bricks or flat rocks also, but plank works best. This way if tree grows and raises stand up a couple inches, you can shim underneath planks to accommodate any gap. Attach horiz stabilizer bar and run a ratchet strap around the tree & criss-cross to ladder uprights. I got used to placing this strap underneath the vertical support bar. BTW - You should have already attached the 2X rope lashings close to the platform as possible even before uprighting the stand. Then tightly cross those ropes around the tree and tie to lower section of ladder uprights/rungs, making sure ropes are not hung-up on any branches or bark. I always bought & used more HD rope than the "string" that is provided with the stand. If the above steps are taken, the 1st trip up the ladder isn't quite as a white-knuckled experience. Once you've ascended & gingerly gotten onto the unsecured platform, I always attach a HD ratchet strap around the tree to secure the tree-claw part of the stand. That is only part of upper stand that is against the tree. JMO, I always put a 2nd HD ratchet strap securing the base of the platform. Over-kill.. maybe, but it always gave me a secure feeling while up in the tree. OR - simply call MOOG, forego all the above steps and sit at a safe distance enjoying a brew while watching the show.

BOB - What's going on with this program currently? Couple of large venison processors in Wayne county are NOT accepting any deer this year. Can't imagine those small, garage-shop butchers participate in the VDC. I typically donate one deer/year and would like to continue, but finding it almost impossible to find a participating processor esp in Wayne County. Latest news!??!

JMO, but I'd do a little research and possibly contact bow mfger just to verify you get correct set screw. Might even list it's size in the owner's manual somewhere. Could be metric or inch..... No sense in messing up the threads on that second hole if in doubt of exact threads/set screw needed. Sure you've thought of this already!!! Ditto for blue thread locker!

Isn't there also a minimum distance from any dwelling (or farm bldg?) even if you have permission?

One & done also. Only takes one questionable mechanical BH deployment to make you wonder... Lots of of other things I'd rather scrimp & save money on!

... or when you're checking your phone & reading a "heads-up alert" message, isn't the buck standing in the brush staring up at you fumbling with your phone!??! Happened to me a few years ago. Checked a text from a fellow hunter "seen anything?" and as I'm reading the text I look over and there's a nice mature BB walking ~12yrds from behind my stand. Needless to say, by the time I put phone away and got bow ready, he'd walked into the brush. He did make one fatal error by looping back around the other side of my stand a several minutes later.

The official harvest threads have always been started by a mod and with the "No Comments" rule. As of now, I don't see that 2020 Bow Harvest thread. People harvesting critters are free to post their own harvest thread and comments are welcomed there.