upstate

I hunted the edges of overgrown fields with long hedgerows with a few buddies for 20 years (we lost the spot due to a family member having $$ and selling it. The fields were about 400-500 yards across and you could not see through the hedgerows into the other fields. We also had some nice oaks in the untillable areas. During the pre rut you might see nothing or you could see 20-30 different seer all day. One day these small three bucks were chasing a doe around and it was way too early. There were fawns with her. At one point a 5 point stopped a$$ end to me at 30 yards and just blew and blew, something I'd never seen. No deer spooked, hell, half the deer in the field did not even pick up their heads. My buddies were busting on me for getting busted by a doe and would not believe its a buck. With that said, I've gotten many a deer within an hour of being busted.

I live in the same area (6k) and 7A is less than 1/4 mile from me and 7F is less than 1 mile . There have been no changes as far as I know.

This will be a learning year. For you and all of the people that "used to" hunt that property.

You're all afraid of falling, not of heights. True vertigo, with the light headedness and where you don't have your balance is symptomatic of a medical issue and doesn't just happen when you're off the ground. If any of you are claustrophobic and you've been stuck in an elevator you know you're not running out of air in that MRI machine. You should see your doctor if its happening on the ground. When I was a kid I could not go over a bridge or get on a ferris wheel. I joined the Marines when I was 18. the age that my fear of falling was cured. 4 years ago as I was climbing a ladder to help my nephew with something it slipped as I was throwing my leg onto the roof. 3 fractured vertebrae , Braced for 6 months no bow hunting for 18 months. I'm still fine with climbing a ladder, my wife isn't I began using safety harnesses since my injury.

Same exact thing happened to me last year opening day northern bow except my glasses never hit the ground. The were in a bush. I found them after 20 minutes and the sun coming up

There's more than one for me but not putting black powder in my rifle behind my lead ball. Found out after I popped off three caps at an 8 point in the Adirondacks.

6K, 7A, 6N, 7M

Simmer down, you got caught up in my first multi-quote fail. My post was directed at the other guy. It's the internet, all is good here.

What your point here? You seem to like to stir the pot. Four posts and you've added nothing to this conversation Thanks,

double post

private video?

It's impossible. Either you have land or have a friend who has land you can hunt because locals hate hunting. In fact, go to craigslist and post an ad looking for DMFA land to hunt, anti's flag it and its taken down in minutes. You really can't give incentives for people who are dead set against it. I've hunted very small parcels in that area and you would not believe how bad you get harassed, yelled at, etc. I hope the deer copulate all over their manicured lawns and strip the vegetation like locusts

Today in Ithaca Still going strong. This is on Cornell property, he'll die of old age or a venereal disease.

Great thread here: I started hunting when I came home from California after spending some time in the USMC. My in laws own 400 acres in Montague and have a cabin up there. We are surrounded by thousands of acres of state land and might see another hunter every 5-6 years. We currently pay $8,000 a year in taxes on the property, which is 2.5 miles off a SEASONAL road. No power, nothing, unless we bring it. After a few years I started hunting near Rushville, just inside 8N. Wow, what a different hunt! What a different deer, lol. There were some "mature bucks" shit down there that were tiny compared to doe in Montague. And it was there that I learned hunters can be jerks. We had people post land they did not own or have permission to post. The would do all the things wrong to get the locals mad, like shoot their buildings, pools, dogs, etc. However, we were friends with many farmers who would allow us to hunt their properties and that is where we ran into the "We have been here our whole life, get out!" from the other people the farmers would let hunt. We eventually lost out when the main guy who owned the 180 acres took an offer from a Mennonite for $300,000 for the property. Property that in the 80's cost about $45,000. So now I lease 60 acres in Cortland County. Just me. I wish it was more but it's not. Most of the neighbors are great. They're welcome on my land, feel free to pursue a wounded animal. That is except for the cop. He actually took down a stand that was NEAR his property line (100 feet into mine). You can't pursue. He called the DEC about a wounded deer on his property that died. I watched him tell the DEC that he did not want anyone on his property. The Con officer simply asked, "Are you going to tag this deer?" When he said no, the DEC grabbed the deer and put it on his truck. He took out one of his tags and put it on it. Then he asked the kid who shot it if he wanted it, which he did. The DEC guy said, "that guy right there gives law enforcement a bad name. I wonder how many deer he gets off others." My point is that access to GOOD land is getting more and more difficult. Where am I in the second week of November? Cortland county. Simply put, there's more deer than Montague. Much more. Lastly- I don't think that the "preachers" help our cause. Those are the know it all deer farmers. It's like preaching religion or politics to me, it angers me. I wonder where things will go. I can afford to hunt now. Many can't and those are the ones that will simply choose to do other things instead of hunting

This sums it up for me... Thank you.. Most of the rest of you are just coming off as self-righteous... thanks, but I will pass. If I were that guy, I would not have taken and posted that video

You already have DFMA areas open in January. GOOD LUCK finding a place to hunt at that time (yes, there are places but not many and not where the deer are). The deer population in NY is very diverse. An Adirondack hunt is nothing like a Finger Lakes hunt. The real issue deer hunters have is access and the fact that deer adapt very quickly to pressure.

I have no problem with a bow/ muzzle buck and regular season buck. I support two NY communities when I hunt, Montague NY and near McGraw NY. Two different zones and both quite remote. The problem with deer regs is that the legislature needs to stay out of an area they don't know and that's deer management, hunting regs (rifle, cross bow, etc.) among other things. The antler restrictions is one of choice and should remain that way. I'm not shooting a spike horn on opening day in McGraw, but I will in Montague! QDM is like a religion, if you don't believe then there's a problem (don't go there with me, if you have 2-3000 acres QDM will work. People with 100 acres preaching QDM just let others shoot smaller deer. You might be able to tell. I'm not a trophy seeker. Oh, I will hunt my butt off if I see one, but any deer is a treat and we all watch too much TV, we whine and cry cause "I'm not seeing... any ... mature...blah blah...." I will hunt like I always have, until I can't. I probably won't change a thing about my approach, regardless of any changes in regs, most of which appear to have "social" implications. That's a poor approach.

I had a decent season near you. I lost a doe that crossed the Owasco outlet last weekend after being wounded she was down but got bumped by the drivers, crossed the water and we could never pick up her trail. today I got a nice big doe in the miserable weather and a mature 8 with my gun. At times it was slow but all in all I saw deer. Good luck next season

Went out first thing this morning in Cortland county, it was frigid cold. I was a little late and as I'm walking to my stand I see a doe about 100 yards away, right in the trail near my stand. I dropped to my knee and was zeroing in when another deer winded me and blew, off they went, So we went to a friends house where he decided to put us in some stands. About 45 minutes later my friend shoots and I can't see a thing. Then all of a sudden all hell breaks loose. 7 doe come running right to me with a large adult stopped 20 yards away I squeeze trigger and my Knight muzzle loader is froze up, won't shoot!! She walks a few steps and I start yanking on trigger to no avail. I finally use my left hand to punch my trigger finger (mind you folks, I am absolutely frozen at this point) and it touches off. I hit it back about a foot but she went went down. the other deer allowed me to reload but when my used up shot gun primer hit the metal stand they looked up and saw me, taking off. Second year in a row I was successful with all 3 implements. Something I'd never done in 30 years of hunting. I'm done, gear frozen solid in the truck. Doe hanging in barn. I've had better years but my best season was always my last....

A good season for me is being able to get out and see a few deer. 1. I was horrendously injured in 2010 and needed therapy to just pull my bow back and hold it. 2. That same year we lost the land I hunted with my best friends since 1995. So 2010 sucked for me. I only gun hunted but walking and climbing stands were tough. I needed to figure out new land, the deer or lack thereof. I saw deer, actually missed a small buck but it was not the same. Frankly I'm sick of hearing what a horrible season people are having/ had. Things change in areas, mast may be heavy or lacking, crops may change, etc. The biggest issue hunters face is access. You may have 500 acres with light pressure, 500 acres that gets hammered and 500 acres that is shut down. Where in the hell do you think the deer are? So, those whining about a bad season, put it in perspective. You could be in your house looking out. Me, I had a good season in 6N, saw deer every time I went out. Those that hunt the top of the hill know, you can sit / hunt fro days and not see a deer. 7M, I'm still figuring out. It's been quiet since Thanksgiving weekend. In 500 acres over 5 mature, adult bucks were taken. I have not seen a deer since opening day at my lease. They're nocturnal and I moved to another piece where they're looking for food.

The doe I got in 6N on September 30 was loaded with them.

Last year was first time in my hunting life that I got a deer with my bow, gun (rifle or shotgun) and my muzzle loader. Since in 2013 I got a mature doe with my bow (early bow NZ), a mature 8 point (rifle), I'd like to get one with the muzzie.

I love internet message boards... What was wrong with "Your muzzle loading tag is still good for about another week."? I should add: the bow tag is also good for this late bow season as well ​Both in appropriate the zones. Your regular season BUCK tag is also good apparently for late season You can use DMP tags with muzzleloader as well. Was I clear enough?

unless you have an unused bow tag from this year, which can be used in the early bow season in the northern zone 9/27-30 in 2014, the tag is no good. Your muzzle loading tag is still good for about another week.

I hunt in Montague NY, Redfield (6N) and saw one little 4 point during bow but did see many more doe than normal. I spent early bow season in those areas and only 5 days gun hunting. I saw deer every day I went out. I took a mature doe on 9/30 with my bow on last yeas tag in Redfield I also hunt in Cortland County near McGraw, Homer, Groton and saw much activity during bow. I got a mature 8 point on the opener of gun and there were NUMEROUS mature bucks taken on our "Hill" of about 2 square miles. None of these were on my cameras, but were on others. The food sources are scarce but they get pressure and get nocturnal. We decided to drive yesterday. 3 doe and 1 9 point taken. They're there, have been there. They don't move unless they have to...