bushnell

Geno you are absolutely right. It only takes one guy to make everyone look bad. But I am willing to bet that if they catch the person who did it, they probably don't have a hunting license because it was revoked a couple of years ago.

I would like to get into hunting big game with a handgun. I am not up to date on revolvers but would probably get a S&W .357. But I am always open for suggestions.

That is a little surprising to me. (Now I have only been to NYC 1 time in 27 years) I didn't think that coons and possums would be of abundance there. I am glad that I live in PA because I can carry a gun everywhere I go. My brother was attacked by a rabid fox a few years back. He under went a series of rabie shots that are close to $100 per shot. Thank God he had insurance.

Those carharts are wonderful. I use them in second season for hunting rabbits. They are wonderful for the brush. I would not use them to hunt deer with. HVO I know you may think that you are safe on your land but just this past spring, I went on a call with the Fire Dept I belong to and it was for a hunter who was shot. He was shot by a trespasser who had no right to be on that land. In fact he had no right to possess a firearm since he was a convicted felon. Now the hunter who was shot cannot see and may never see again. Just throwing that out there to you. Anything is possible and you never know who is on your land.

Nice pics Wooly. I hope you see that big guy while you have a weapon in your hand. Good luck to you

Looks good Enduro.

They are cool looking. Use to have 2 of them in PA close to where I live and would see them from time to time but they are no longer around.

Guys congrats on all who got deer last year. There are some dandy deer there. I shot a partial piebald doe. I will see if I can get a pic of it and post it on here.

I don't hunt in the poconos. I hunt in Central Pa. Turkey are getting plentiful around here, the bear population is growing but the deer population is down.

With my work schedule, I would take the 4 pt on opening day. Eddie that was a low blow. LOL (But you know that is how things always work out)

The only thing I keep record of is the deer that I have shot at. I write down (# of shots, location, whether i was walking or sitting and the date) Everything is hand written onto a notepad by years. I also have google earth downloaded onto my computer and I pin the locations where I shot my deer.

Remington 7600 .280 w/ a swift 3x9 scope and shot 140 gr Remington 870 Express Mag 20 guage Pearson Bow H&R .22 Revolver

great pics. That is one nice looking buck and a decent bear.

Is your dad looking to adopt a 27 yr old son? Just kidding. That is an awesome gift.

Geno I am sorry to hear about your friend. Unexpected losses can be hard to deal with but things will get better with time. Was he a hunting partner?

I agree. I always said if NY and PA deer seasons came in together I would hunt NY in a heart beat.

Yes I have hunted in the rain. I hardly ever see deer in the rain. Now snow on the other hand, that is a whole different game. I have seen and taken deer during in snow storms. The wind can be challenging to hunt in but I have succeded in the wind. I like to find a hollow with some brush because they usually provide some protection from the wind and I usually catch deer coming into the hollow.

I always wear orange when I hunt with the exception of early archery season. I would like to see NY go to some type of requirement. It doesn't have to be like PA. PA requires 250 sq. inches of orange on your head, back and chest combined during certain seasons. I would like to see NY go to atleast an orange hat which is visible 360 degrees.

Yes I would say that buck had a bad day. Although that is a good sequence of photos. Interesting to see.

The only thing that scares me is: Are my kids going to see deer when they get older to keep their interest in the sport?

Welcome. I was looking for empirehunting site too. I was formerly Lucky on the old forum.

Welcome Hoyt

I would have to say that one of my most exciting deer hunts was in 2000. I heard a shot right behind me and I stood up and looked around to see a buck staring at me about 50 yards away. I took aim and shot missing the buck but as luck would have it, he stood there allowing me to take a second shot and he dropped down. It was my first buck and as I was walking to get my dad he was already walking towards me. He asked me if I got anything and I stated that I had just shot a 7 pt. His facial expressions and his body language told me just how excited he was. He shot a buck earlier in the morning and so that night my dad and I were dragging our buck out together. I still see camera flashes from all the pics that my dad took of me and my first buck.

The deer population in the area I hunt has been holding about steady the past 3-4 years. There is no over abundance in deer compared to the late 90's when I started hunting but I am still seeing deer.

My opinion on average is a 1.5 -2.5 yr old, 6-8 pts weighing approx 120 - 140 lbs. A nice buck is 2.5 - 3.5 yr old, 8-? pts weighing over a 150 lbs and a big buck is to me is the one where I see it and say holy s**t thats big.