crappyice

I got the detergent. I got the Dryer sheets. But I also have a DOWNY OBESSESSED wife who loves even the dirtiest of clothes to smell like a baby's bottom. I can't see scent free dryer sheets combating the sweet smelling downy. What are my drying/activating options so my gear does not smell like a powdered baby's arse? Or, how can I de-stink the dryer of the downy smell prior to my laundering of gear?

One more trip to check a new area set with cameras last week. Wash the clothes, re-organize the gear and backpack and start to obessess over the weather. Campin out friday night before the openeer. First time doing fall camping prior to a hunt so still have to re-stock that gear from the summer trips and try out the coleman heater. Wash the clothes, shoot from my stand, take the Mrs out for a big dinner to buy additional hunting time, than obessess over the weather some more!

There's nothing better than the morning, waiting for the sun and the woods to wake up. I think because of that feeling, I hunt with more zeal in the morning and have had greater success. I never feel as confident at evening spots...a hang-up I need to get over to increase my opportunites.

I'm the hand-me-down king of gear...The bow I use I bought used 4 years ago from a guy who was hunting with it for 10 years. Still using the same aluminum arrows that came with the used package. In addition I use an old belgium browning shotgun (not a collector due to wear and years of abuse prior to my acquiring it) for birds and deer that was passed down through the family. Next year could be a new bow purchase since I'm tired of the ridicule!!! Peer pressure sucks at any age!

Damn you are making me paranoid now. I was frerakin out when my shots were flying high left over the weekend. Due to my being new to the sport, I ran to my local shop. Thankfully all I needed was an adjustment since he said my bow strings stretched??? They were new last year but he said that is pretty common with matthews strings??? Your early suffering can only be rewarded 20ft!

This is my first year with the trailcams and it was one of the FIRST things I thought of after seeing the pics. How cool would THAT be? What's the better shot...facing your tree or facing the game....My money is on facing the game.

well done virgil

I may have a golf buddy who could lone me his range finder he uses on the course. How different are the range finders for golf vs. the range finders for hunting?

Temporary setback...If the first thingyou thought was can I pull back my bow, two weeks should be plenty of time for your healing. Hang in there. "My advice to you is to start drinking heavily." Movie anyone???

Im concerned that all my practice (25 arrows daily (usually) for the last month or so) is "wasted" since I am practicing from the ground and not the climber in will be in come opening day. I live in westchestr and to drive to land to legally shoot from a climber is annoying. Then to shoot 5 arrows, un-climb, retrieve arrows, re-climb and repeat is a full day and exhausting experience. Just what the wife needs to hear BEFORE the season begins. I am hoping that ground shooting is bter than no shootin at all.

So it sounds like the rangefinders are used more as a scouting/pre-hunt tool (pre-deer arrival). So all those hunting shows that we all love so much flashing the yardage on the deer seconds before the shot is most likely Hollywood at work. Does anyone actually range their deer prior to the shot?

How ESSENTIAL is a range finder to YOUR bow hunting season? What's the best, least expensive one(that's the tough part!), out there that you would feel confident with in a treestand?

Sounds like there is now a need to have MORE STAND locations if you are going to sit BOTH up wind AND downwind at the same time!!! It is just never easy! Its a wonder we (not me yet!) EVER kill deer!

I usually shower scent free before the am hunt and rely on it carrying me through the day. For the first time, I am going to be camping out before hunting and was wondering about this issue in regards to campfire smoke, BBQ food scent, and no shower to de-scent. I guess it worked for you Fantail...Hoping for the same results.

Anyone looking to unload a rangefinder you no longer use. I don't need the best, just something that works!

I picked up a glendale buck target this year after spending the last year practicing on a block target. Strangley enough, I find myself hitting the kill zone MORE accurately on the buck target than on the block. I think it is becasue of what you are all saying. I need to focus on old holes in a sea of brown as opposed to brightly colored bullseyes. Greater focus=greater results...hopefully on the ones walking around too!

I too am skeptical about clearing too much but would be crushed if the one opportunity I had was blocked by a sapling I left for cover. Like many of you, I too hunt over some tight cover and really dont have any natural shooting lanes. I just hope the early work I did is still the RIGHT work when the leaves are gone.

I like to sit most of the morning till about 1. but my partner can't make make it past 10:30 or so. This year he promised me noon once we get closer to rut. This is our first year with trail cams and I am amazed at the time the deer have been arriving. The hottest, legal shooting time on the cameras is the 2-4:00pm hours. What are those deer doing? Eatin? stretchin? The cameras are between a bedding area and food source. Just seems to be a strange time for all that activity. thoughts?

Thanks guys...I look forward to the experience...i think

Besides watching a bunch of videos on YouTube, I have never seen the process of processing a deer from start to finish. Since I am hoping to knock some down this year, i would like to start butchering myself. If anyone is interested in sharing their skills (and having someone there to help with the crap parts of the job) I would appreciate it (I live in westchester but am willing to travel). Everything I read says how "it is not so hard" but it certainly seems intimidating.

I am a white, middle-class, catholic, republican hunter who teaches middle school...I am enemy #1 for the majority of my colleagues. But, those who I am closest with are tolerant of my sports. They just don't want to hear about it which is fine since they don't GET IT anyway.

Good post sweet old bill. i was just coming on to ask the same question. This is my second year bow hunting, still hoping for my first shot. I am trying to make things as simple as possible for myself since it is all new to me. Right now I have three pins; one of which I use all the time for practice from 15-30 yards (fine tuned at 18 it seems) with minor adjustments the further the distance. I was planning on setting the two other pins for the longer shots, but after this "discussion" I am sticking with the one pin I am comfortable with. I am banking on some "hunter intuition" for the pin placement if my first one comes in a bit furher or closer than my 18 yrd sweet spot. That could prove fatal (not for the deer!) when the SHAKES arrive with my first deer in range!!! Thanks again

I had the lifetime sportsman. Best $500 bucks I spent about 15 years ago. I just added the lifetime bow since I have fell into bow hunting too...AND I bought lifetimes for my twin boys before the price went up and before they turned four years old which saved me a bunch. So, I'm in for over over $1200 but I have the peace of mind that I or my boys can leave the state to work or live and not have to worry about paying NY out-of-state licenses when we want to go back top the old stompin grounds if any will be left. The best reason for them is that it arrives at my doorstep every year without me having to remember.