Warren

Spending 8 full days hunting and seeing 1 deer dosen't give you too much to select from.

My guns are all sighted in and ready, just wish there were deer where I hunt. I don't say I'm going hunting anymore, I call it hiking.

Thanks for posting that, I enjoyed watching it.

Any legal buck or doe that gets within range will be shot at. They get to walk away only if I miss. I don't care how old it is.

Over the years I have tried hunting during shotgun season in the Taconic Hereford multiple use area (M.U.A.), the Lafayetteville M.U.A. and the Stissing Mountain M.U.A.. All of them were heavily hunted and very few deer sightings. I never went there on opening day, so maybe it's good then with all the hunters pushing deer. You will get to see lots of other hunters. A few years ago we had a nice 2" to 3" snow fall a week after the season so I went to Lafayetteville and walked the entire area and never crossed a deer track. At the Stissing Mtn area you could see the deer standing on the posted property across the street from the hunting area. I was not impressed with these areas for deer hunting success.

Wztirem: When you hunt state land do you need to park in a designated parking area with everyone else? The spot that you have taken a deer 3 years in a row, what is it that makes it so good? is it a travel lane, food area, cover, bedding area? I'm jealous.

Drwort - your mine kind of deer hunter, I like your attitude. Dstone101 - I assume your are talking about firearm season. On state land you should let the other hunters work for you. If your opening day location is in an area where other hunters might pass by or sit near you, then you are too close to your car. I suggest you scout the area and become comfortable out to one mile and look for escape travel lanes and thick cover. Look for sign like rubs and scrapes to let you know there is a buck in the area but I bet the deer will be on full aleart and heading for cover on opening day. Once you find a good area, use bright eyes (thumb tacks with reflective tape) to allow you to find your way back there in the morning. But the tacks on both sides of the trees and it will guide you back out in the evening.

I only hunt State land, not by choice but that's all I have to work with. Try finding private land to deer hunt on in Dutchees County. I am very envious of any of you that have access to private land to deer hunt on. State land deer are a completely different animal than private land deer. I use to hunt Minniwaska State Park until the antler restrictions now I hunt Sterling Forest. Last year I hunted 8 days usually at least 1 mile in and I saw 1 deer. The year before that, on the 4th day of hunting I was lucky enough to get a doe. In 42 years of deer hunting I've taken 23 deer (8 bucks/15 does).

Here are some pictures of a few handgun hunts. The doe was in 1986 and I used a 44 mag. The broken 3 point was in 1996 using the 357mag. The 4 pointer was few years later and the European Boar was last winter, both with the 357mag.

Here is my Ruger Blackhawk in 357mag that I use for NY whitetails. I have taken 6 deer and this handgun took a doe and (2) 4 pointers.

I hunt with a handgun and I have found that you need ear protection. My ears use to ring for hours after a shot. Last year I ordered a pair online from Cabelas that was about $35 and they work good (Cladwell E-max low profile muffs). You can adjust the hearing for normal or increase it and it will cut out if there is a loud noice. Try a pair on at your local store and then clap your hands and you will see what I mean.

I'm been handgun hunting since the early 80's. I like the challenge, it's similar to bow hunting. I don't enjoy shooting deer at long ranges with a scoped rifle. I use a Ruger Blackhawk 357 mag with a 6.5" barrel and have take 6 NY whitetails all on state land. The longest shot was about 60yds. None ran more than 30 to 40 yds. I use to use a 44 mag but didn't like it and went back to the 357mag.