upstate

I hunted near Canandaigua Lake for 25 years and we had 200 acres of our own land, plus another 100 of a neighbor's that we could hunt. We had that 300 acres figured out. We would drive it, a lot. One time me and my buddy were watchers instead of walkers and watched, from the hillside, numerous deer sneak back through the drive. After a few years we got together with some locals who had access to about 400 more acres. These guys taught us how to drive. They were extremely slow and very close together. At all times you saw the guy on each side of you. A line that was impenetrable because they could not sneak behind or through us. We had a drive that had results like the photo above. The walkers did all the shooting that day. It was late season and we found their sanctuary. It was a lot of fun. For me I will ONLY drive with people I know and trust. People can act sketchy when the biggest buck they've ever seen jumps up in front of them. Very few outsiders were allowed in this group and many were tossed for violations like, running ahead of the drive to get a shot a deer, shooting back into the drive, not waiting for the drive to end (some could take 2 hours and it wasn't that big of an area). I miss those guys badly... it has not been the same since 2010 when we lost our land and we all went our own ways looking for new land to hunt.

Deer will hunker down in cedar and pine swamps if they're close by. Since a good portion of it melted they may move from the area. On the tughill they'll typically migrate off the hill. I know my cabin had 3-4 feet last week and its way , way down now. I'll let you know if any deer stuck it out. Rabbits and others can get on top of the snow easier than the cloven hoofed creatures. Birds, well, they just fly off to where the food is

Funny how when a disgruntled sheriff deputy files a report the lone DEC officer in the county can find their way over our way pretty quickly.... Its who you know folks

Most of Broome is shotgun only Here's a map

The last time I was involved with a public land drive it was 1989. We had 6 watchers and 6 walkers. We knew where everyone else was in our party. A neighborhood kid saw us getting ready for the drive, and ran into the middle of the drive. One of our friends shot a huge 8 point and the kid dead. Never, ever again.

Where are you located. I'm probably headed up to Montague next week.

Congrats on your buck During bow season when I have time to really look at a buck I might count tines. the deer I shot this year during gun opener I knew had bone on his head and I shot him. My buddies son shot a deer he thought was a nice six and it was a nice 10 point. I don't understand why some hunters think they're heroes for all the deer they pass.

I have seen him in the stand and since my father in law used to have one of those feeders I can deduce just how far way it is from that stand by how far away it is from me. Trust me, its not very far, I forget about it and it makes me jump when it goes off. It does suck, bad enough that I left last night for the weekend, because I know myself. This guy is a problem that I can't really win at now, can I? Let's see this guy has: complained to leasing company, multiple times about us and was told by leasing company they are doing nothing wrong. Has told the neighbors he wants that land, has tried repeatedly to buy it. Told someone else that there "is no way in hell I will allow them to lease that land next year, it's mine." has a history (and was reprimanded and demoted for doing this in past) of harassing law abiding people since he is employed in law enforcement. Don't think it doesn't happen, it does and you don't want to be on the bad side of this. has run my plates and searched my records , including pistol permits, without justification which is a violation of dept. policy (I have friends higher up in law enforcement) has filed blatantly false reports to the DEC about deer we've taken. We've done nothing but try and be good neighbors, seriously. No one has ever gone on his land, not even to pursue. We have a bow stand near the line. That's it. I have never leased land before and before I do again I will speak with EVERY single neighbor there. It really only takes one A$$hole to ruin it for everyone. We do not violate any laws, including trespass, anywhere on that hill. Like I said, I'm out, he wins, cause I can't do this kinda crap. I just want to be left alone and hunt. I may be looking to buy land with friends. We have a ton of work in that place. We pretty much have it figured out now and it kills me to no end to have to let it go. so as a parting gift I am considering the following for the last weekend of gun: Skeet contest target practice with legal AR-15 , maybe 1200 rounds with tracers? Bonfire 4 wheeler - snowmobiles races. anyone in?

oh, my formal complaint was regarding the feeder and a hunting stand within 30 yards. I told the DEC I would be following up on his report. I expect that every time I hunt this property this year me and anyone in my party will be checked For license, tags, loaded weapons, pistol permit (he only asked for that once). I would also anticipate traffic stops. I am more than ready and hope this guy knows he's now being scrutinized. All over deer... unbelievable.

Lets put it this way. Since we've taken two deer we've had 2 visits from the DEC. Ironic isn't it? I think not since there's one DEC officer in the ENTIRE COUNTY. The first time was an apparent "random" check by a DEC officer who looked very hard for a violation. Today it was "a confidential report of multiple deer taken, by the truck out front and brought to this address" - How can that be, my buddy knows all the neighbors, know this guys antics and only the sheriff knows where he lives. So, he's making false reports and I told the DEC this. Accordingly I filed a formal complaint and will be filing one with the Sheriff's office regarding some queries he has done on me without cause. This guy has been demoted from detective for his strong arm antics and while I have no problems with a friendly DEC visit I will not put up with blatant false reports. I am done with the area and the terrorists win. I will not renew this lease. But I will hunt the living hell out of it. I will be target shooting, skeet shooting, 4 wheeler riding fool and will probably bring 1,000 bars of hotel soap and a sling shot as a parting gift

Here in 7M had a buck chasing does 100 yards past the truck headlights at 6 AM. It was 18 degrees and damn cold... Sat in stand til 7:45 and took a quick walk and shot a doe as she was getting up out of her bed. They're still hanging pretty tough. So far a nice 7 point and doe taken this week by me.

Please don't shoot a deer up it's butt hole. They will die and they're almost impossible to track since they won't bleed. Welcome to hunting deer. If you really want to see what bad luck is (or see what can go wrong ) take up bow hunting. Imagine the buck of a lifetime walking back and forth, nose to the ground but 75 yards away. No bleat or grunt would get him closer. Good luck

My friend went to MY stand, on MY property, facing my land. He took issue with fact that it was close to his stand, which I was not aware. That stand is not used during gun season since he's only a gun hunter. As far as putting stands near the property lines go. I have invested much work and have few options, if any as far as moving my stand. If that guy hunts his stand I would still hunt mine. We are each hunting our own property, but it's pretty close. How would I feel if a big slob was coming up and he shot it and it was coming to me? Not happy but oh well, that's hunting. I don't want any problems. Just an understanding that it goes both ways.

OK- I did not know where the deputies stand was on his property on my north end. I simply placed a stand within 20 yards of the line FACING my property. He does not bow hunt. When I sent a friend over to my stand he found that one and sat in it for the opener. Deputy was mad, called wood company and complained. They never even called me. They only told me when I had another neighbor dumping on the property. I only use that stand during bow season, there's another stand about 50 yards down that is perfect for gun. The guy on the other end, near my "go to" stand for opener of gun has fewer options for trees but can move down some. I have no choice and its within 15 yards of the line but I have no other options. It's a huge funnel moving up and down the creek. My point is that both these guys want me to move so they can hunt the line. I'm not moving and I'm not looking to screw anyone.

I lease 57 acres from a timber company in 7M. Me and a local guy have had it for 5 years. It’s straight hill to a great trout stream at the bottom. There is a ton of state land nearby. The logging company logged 6-7 years ago and the browse and cover is pretty good but it’s part of a huge tract of “woods”. The second year we were there our neighbor to the north complained to the wood company, not us, about our stand placement. Unknowingly we placed a stand, facing our property on the property line that was about 40 yards from his stand. We moved a stand there because we noticed during bow season that the deer travel the property line and cut into our land where there’s a strip of great, heavy cover. In fact I have 3 stands within 120 yards of this area due to wind direction and the fact the deer head there. The stand he complained about was only used ONCE, by a friend of mine on opening day our first year. During gun I will use the other stands near there with decent success. My “go to” stand is at the bottom of the creek bed in an old gnarly maple tree that the lumber company gave me permission to put screw in steps because I climb a 17 feet ladder stand THEN about another 10 feet into another stand. It’s the only tree within 200 yards that allows me to see the natural funnel that a huge ravine across from me and the scrubby fields (not my property). Last year a 25 year old kid bought the house near us and began hunting the property to south (his family property borders ours and that “go to” stand is near that boarder. The last 4 years I have gotten mature 7 to 9 points out of my stand each year. His brother got a slob 11 point on thanksgiving near my stand, may have actually been in my stand. I don’t care, I wasn’t there so I wasn’t getting him. My buddy told him that we busted our butts getting that stand in and that I am there opening day of gun and occasionally hunt that stand with bow. Opening morning about 6:10 AM (I’m in my stand by 5:45) somebody comes walking right about up to me and turns into woods, up the ravine and disappears. He’s wearing orange but I lose him and it is driving me nuts. About 9 AM I am frozen and I see a deer cross creek about 75 yards up into my property. I can see he’s a rack buck and I look for opening. He gets there and I shoot. He starts running down creek (towards that guys land) and now I shoot again and I’m seeing hair fly. I get down about 30 minutes later and as I do I see the kid getting out of his tree stand. He’s real nice, helps me track and we find deer about 75 yards down creek. He tells me he’s seen him on trail cam all year, nice buck, blah blah. After a few minutes he asks about the land, the lease, how much land we have and how that other neighbor has been a jerk (he’s a sheriff deputy) and my how that deputy feeds the deer and probably hunts over the feeder (I know he does because I hear that feeder go off at 4:10 every single evening. We talk about him for a while and then he says to me, “Look, I only have 10 acres to hunt and I’d appreciate it if you gave me some room down here. You guys have plenty of land up there to hunt” He also tells me that they lost the place they usually hunt. I tell him that we’d move one stand (again, we bow hunt the wind and multiple stands are in place to account for wind direction) but that I have too much time and effort into that big stand to move it. Plus, the only one I could move it to is only 20 yards further up, would require a ton of cutting and the lumber company would likely say no. I do tell him that I would lay off that big stand for a while though. He seems fine with it. As I thought about it I fully understand how landowners feel, that is their property, where they live and here’s these guys setting up on top of them. However, there’s really not a whole lot of options for us with tree stands in particular near those property lines. The trees growing are small and since you’re on a pretty good incline you’re looking through the tops of the small trees so you’re better off on the ground. I want to be a good neighbor and my philosophy is I’m not going to shoot a deer on your property. I’m not going to be that guy that won’t let you track one onto mine (although the deputy says he will it’s been past experience from others he doesn’t let ANYONE on his land (again 10 acres). I expect the same courtesy. And that’s my planned discussion with that guy down below. I don’t believe there’s really anything wrong with my approach. What gets me is why is it OK for them to hunt property lines and not us? In all honesty, we’ve taken about 15 deer off that lease and all have been within 200 yards of one line or another. We pay a good amount to hunt there and I just don’t want problems. I lost a place I hunted for 25 years and a neighbor went ballistic, after 10 years of getting some sweet bucks, over where my stand was, He put one and used it just 40 yards from me. Thing was he logged his land and pushed all the tops over towards our line and they ran our side. I even discussed with him deer between our stands and he told me to go ahead, he was high enough. That guy would make stuff up, like I shot at him (never happened, I got a 130 class 8 point he could not see), was hunting his land, blah blah and I was always wound up about it. I don't get it. Thoughts??

Desperate for what? If you're talking about not hunting them in deep snow I would suggest you try it. Plan on sweating your butt off to even cut a track.

I have a cabin in Montague and we typically spend Thanksgiving weekend up there but with 3 feet of snow, or more predicted for the area I am not too keen with making a 2.5 mile trek back in. We've done it before on Thanksgiving and its nothing but hard work, impossible to get around and the deer, when moving are herding up. My experience has been that they start heading off the hill via the river and creeks. In the past I've seen 20-25 doe in a straight line getting gone. They take turns breaking trail. It was kind of neat. They herd up and get out. With projected temperatures in the 50's for a few days next week the snow will settle significantly. However, it may be too late. I need to make some calls up there.

Yes, they can ask but it's up to you as to whether you want to cooperate. Possession of another persons license or back tags (other than properly transferred DMP) is a violation on each item. See above I'm not sure what the law is on this, perhaps you could spray the LEO?

Smells like self-righteousness in here.

I was thinking the same thing. When you hear that whack of hitting a shoulder you're in trouble. I hit a beautiful 8 point at 25 yards in shoulder. Knocked him right over, all sorts of noise and then he got up and took off. Tons of blood. , got him with gun a week later. Shoulder had gangrene, bad.

Where in 6 N? I was thinking about heading up there tomorrow in rain. Redfield or Montague for me. Then down to 7M to bow hunt and get ready for gun opener next weekend.

I would not hunt without them, even when still hunting. It makes me stop and REALLY look around. It's times like then that I actually see a deer before they see me! Leupold binocs are only things I own right now and they're worth it. various sizes depending on what I'm doing.

coyotes... nothing but coyotes. Only deer I saw all weekend was hit by a car and was barely alive in the middle of the road as I was coming in this morning to park. 3 coyotes were all over the poor thing which died within minutes of my arrival. I headed about 10 miles away to my back up land and saw two small bucks searching and a decent sized 8 chasing doe in a field. Man it got cold and windy quick

I carry around my grandfather's compass on a chain with my dog tags. I remember it like it was yesterday when he taught me how to use it when I was 6. Almost 45 years ago. I also carry around the bones from the leg of a huge tug hill buck I shot over 25 years ago. It's not often you find a scrape and rub line in Montague area and I hunted this guy hard for weeks. Finally I saw him checking his scrapes almost 100 yards out at about 2 o'clock. I could not get a clean shot and after 20 minutes he was closing in on me. He was about 40 yards away and his head had cleared the real scrubby stuff but his body was blocked by small bushes, when he stopped and looked right at me. I had the shakes and I shot. He took off. I found blood and waited. After an hour my brother in law and I got on him and I found the bones. We went forever and at one point had him surrounded but he was dead between us so we could not shoot. Then we came up on the fork in the river and we knew we were in trouble. We were 10 miles from camp and it was getting dark. Even worse, there was big snows coming that night. We got back at 11 PM and my father in law was pretty upset. We went back the next day and looked in the snow and he took off. Somebody shot him the following week. His front left leg was gone. I carry those soup bones as a reminder still. Lastly, I carry 2 flat stones that were handed out at the funeral of a close friend and hunting buddy who died in his 30's from cancer. We were told to skip the stones and think of him as the ripples reached out. All those are more sentimental than superstitious. I do know one thing, many a deer have been very close to all three of those things when I drop my pack by them

Last year I met a 91 year old man that was hunting from a ladder stand that morning. He was awesome and I hope he is still climbing ladders at 92 I'm 50 and while I prefer ladders there are places where a climber is best. I use a lone wolf sit and climb, they're great and I've never had an issue. Occasionally I will just use a stool. It all depends on where I'm hunting and with what implement I'm using.