Cabin Fever

I built a tower stand, mainly for taking the kids. The platform is 6'x8' and we have regular stairs built for it. We can talk, they can play games, snack, stretch out to nap, move around, and we put a Buddy Propane heater in there too. Works out great! When the kids got a little older (10 or so), I bought two man ladder stands. Bought them each a HSS and have HSS Life Lines to hook up to on each stand. They are secured from the time they step foot off the ground, until they step foot back onto the ground. Of course, I also followed right behind or in front of them too. Nice to see them years later and the HSS and Life Line use is "second nature" to them now, as I never have to remind them. Then again, they saw what I went through with my tree stand fall and surgeries, so that's a good reminder for them too!

Very cute!! Brings back memories! My daughter has been shooting since she was 5 (now 14). She's spent many hunts tagging along with me in the stand and in the blind. She's been wanting to bowhunt, but just hasn't been able to get the bow back with much poundage. Now that we can use crossbows, she's very excited to finally be able to bowhunt! She got her first deer last year during the youth season. As we were skinning it, she said, "Ya' know Dad, some father and daughters bond over sports, but I think our bonding time is during hunting." (I have zero interest in sports, unless my kids are playing.) Sure put a smile on my face and something I'll never forget...

That's a beauty! Sometimes ya' just gotta switch tactics to outsmart them! Congrats!

Wooly, it's a good thing you carry a camera! I don't think anyone would believe you, considering all the cool critter encounters you have!

Congrats! Always nice when "Plan B" comes together!

Beautiful bird!! Congrats to both of you!

Awesome find!

I sent an email to the DEC, just to be 100% certain my daughter did not need to take the bowhunter education course. Thought I'd pass along the info that I received: Hi there, Sorry for the late response, but no, if your daughter's already taken a regular hunter safety course she won't have to take a bow hunter course. We're going to have a short read and sign self-certification in the 2014-2015 hunting and trapping regulation guide, so that's all the additional certification she'll need. We have been getting a lot of interest from folks in being able to hunt with crossbows for the whole archery season -- unfortunately the decision for what time frames we're allowed to create crossbow seasons isn't made by the DEC, it came down to us from the Governor's Office, so I'd encourage you to voice your opinions there. Thanks for your email, Vicky

Well that was nice of you! Too funny!!

Beautiful bird! Great pics too!

Dead silent in my neck of the woods this morning! Not a peep...

Congrats! Great bird!

That's a beauty!

Makes a GREAT cover scent too!! Just rub it all over your clothes!!

It's skunk cabbage.

Congrats! Very nice!!

Love it! Looks great!

Congrats! Beautiful bird!

Congrats! Dandy bird!!

Congrats Joe! It's a wonder you didn't blow his damn head off at 10 yards!

Congrats! Sounds like a memorable hunt!

Big congrats! Beautiful bird!!

Great bird!

Nice bird! You're one of the few that scored it sounds like!

Sounds like you had an exciting day! Probably more action than a lot of guys will have all season... myself included!