20ftupatree

One thing I learned last year by measuring 20 yrds on the ground is....it's a big difference than 20 yards from IN your treestand. I took a 100 yrd tape climbed up and let my buddy walk out till I had 20 yards in my hand. Last year I did from the ground starting at the base of my tree and boy was I off when I shot my first arrow at a deer then I made a slight adjustment and hit it still some high with the second arrow but it did drop and recovered.

I hunt state land in the NZ and private in SZ. State land I usually end up going out with a few buddies, my private land is just me, well it's not MY private land just I have permission.

I shoot the 295 hollow point with 100 gr 777. I hace a CVA optima That was recommended projectile and I have NO complaints, fired a million shots out of it. nice groups yet to shoot at a deer with it but at the range they perform well.

You know my Gramp used to tell me of stories of going hunting after work, sitting at the bottom of a tree in jeans and flannel shirt smoking a cigarette and shooting deer. I know someones gonna say well hunting was different then or there were more deer then or whatever. I love to watch "hunting" shows on TV but it really kills me. I'm not old by any means only 30 but I've hunted all my life with my dad and gramp "ol timers" if you may. We always shot deer, well They did anyways...with no de-scent shower before hunting. I often wonder about these things but I keep my clothes in a scent killer bag that was actually given to me, and I spray before entering the woods. Here's what I often question.....Scent Killer or Scent Away? Hmmmmmm which is better one HAS to be better than the other....but I'm hearing for most it's a "security" thing anyways.

Just joking....that was fun once I started searching....rabbits that look like porcupines..

Hmmmm

NO NO NO NO NO CWD is nothing I want destroying the heard! There are PLENTY of ways to get deer on your property and keep them there that are legal. It's also called "hunting", I don't see much sport other than "killing" when baiting. Just my 2 cents.

Congrats!! I went out this past weekend with a great feeling, but left the woods empty handed Oh well next weekend! Good for you great start to hopefully a great season!

I figured as much, so many gimmicks out there!

I'm going tomarrow with the same hopes. I think the deer pretty much bed during these downpours waiting for it to let up to venture out to eat. I know up here in my neck o the woods it's DOWN POURED for the second day straight not letting up once. It looks like by tomarrow we're out of it so we'll see, good luck!

just my hunting!!

I can be out all day and be happy I'm out. I will sit on one stand in am till 11, I like to let other hunters leave the woods at 10 and wait till the dust settles before I decide to make my move. I pack a lunch a lot of times, not a picnic size lunch but a sandwich, snickers whatever and move to the next stand. I just love sitting in the woods. As the season wears on, I get so much hunting in because of where I am ( on SZ and NZ divide) by December I'm worn out and patience is thin.

I like the afternoon for bow, but I can't miss a morning either. I can say I see more movement in pm than am. Speaking of which ....probably should be a new topic (not trying to hijack the thread) but these blood tracking flashlights? Anyone use them? Work not work, worth the money or not?

Both have been a productive time for me. I've shot deer at all different times of day during archery, I love the A.m but last light is always a great time as well. I think the last light is a bit more "predictable" for lack of better words, Even as the season goes on into gun when they may go nocturnal I've found last light to be a great time....they get a bit restless from bedding all day, they feel safe enough to get up and venture out. they almost know "ok this guy can barely see anything in here". The last doe I shot was last light and I had just pulled up the bow to check visibility, I decided I only had maybe 10 minutes before it was -5 visibility. Glad I waited....it was only 2 minutes after here she come and THWACK!

I do them late season, as long as every one involved is on the same page of the safety book they're very productive. It's already been said thick cover send two guys (orange vests) in one side and out the other. Identify your target, We've shot a ton of deer with this. I always volunteer to walk because to be honest I've seen more deer "driving" then I have sitting.

I was just replying to a post in "bow hunting" and I started on about wind direction dictating my entrance and exits in the woods. Then I got to think about how many deer I've had and have heard stories about having deer come in from behind with the wind in your face. A close friend of mines father actually had a heart attack in his watch sitting at the base of a tree when this RACKER came in from behind him .........never heard it till he was standing literally 10-12 FEET away, The man got so startled he had a true blue heart attack. My question is (I know there are guys who had this experience) but when wind changes while you're sitting, how many of you panic and have to move to another stand or blind to play the wind and how many don't think it's THAT big a deal and sit where they are. I know guys who have different stands for wind purposes but for me it's really only my major concern when walking in if the wind is out of the west then I know which stand I'm going to but while I'm there if it changes an hour into my hunt I'm not getting down just to go to another stand because the wind is blowing the wrong direction. But maybe that's why I don't shoot as many deer as others I know....I mean a man could spend his day walking in circles. Whats your take?

I have this problem and still have yet to figure out how to avoid it! I have two stands in my southern zone property that I can't go in to or leave without spooking something along the way. It's a 48 acre hardwood stand, the deer play the ridge lines they like that they can sit there up high and see EVERYTHINGGGGG. I unfortunately HAVE to take the valley in and out. Last two years I played the valleys and set up stands at the bottom of a funnel where two ridges dumped off together......Idk if that was a good strategy or not, The first year was a bust on that particular property but last year I got a NICE Big Mama and a 4. This year I moved the tougher stand to access to the top of a ridge they day bed in. Problem is only way I saw fit to go in and out of is WAY out of the way but my stand is 100 yards from this bed so I have to come in from the back door. The other problem I'm having with this is I know how they're getting to and fro NOW but in the later months they switch, so I may not be in such good of position for gun season I'll have to see how it goes. Wind is my biggest problem there. Which way it's blowing dictates which way I have to walk, It swirls a lot of time. I hunted a property a couple years ago with a buddy on the same mountain side, the previous owners had built a wooden stand that completely wrapped this huge oak like a pressure treated deck in the sky but I knew why! Which brings me to a new topic which I'm going to post now.

Ya I was hoping to fill that dang tag from last season.....BUUUUT.....no luck I'll throw another one away 2 years in a row I didn't fill my buck. This year hopefully will be different. I have a nice 5 pointer on film in my SZ property and a couple real nice bucks on film in the north. just gotta get them in for a shot. The game is on and so is my game face. I'll be in the woods as usual 2 hours in A.M before work and 2 at night after work and all day on weekends till mid december. my wife just looooooooooves hunting season! (not)

So, could you supply a few good recipes? What tenderizing techniques do you use? I've never tried eating antlers, and am eager to check them out. Doc Hehehehe I don't care who you are thats funny! Hey Doc when you get that be sure to post for the rest of us. I thought they used to stir soup?

I take it I'm not the only one here huh? Today was the last day for last years tag ......and I STILL have it. Juuuuuuust before light this morning I heard one probably 30-40 yards out but couldn't put an eye on him (it). A buddy of mine did get a dandy 6er yesterday though. Any one else in the north that gets to take advantage of the end of september?

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/68802.html

I went in yesterday to change my SD card and jumped 3 deer in the same spot they're logging, I knew from last year they use it to bed down during the day. It's a nice open ridge line that gets a lot of sun and is open enough they have a clear view of down below. The loggers have trees already marked looks like it's a short job. They have probably 20-30 trees marked all of them 8 inches or less, oaks. The landowner has done this selective harvest before and has made himself some incredible hardwood stands, nice old oaks left standing very little pines. The whole 45+ acres is mostly oaks, ash, and burch, He left one section maybe an acre or so of tall pines where they also like to bed. I did have a small 6pt. on camera and some nice does, I've put a lot of time in these woods, If I have to find different hunting land or should find different I'll be hunting blind or go back to land I haven't hunted in the last 5-6 years. I'd be starting all over again with not much time left for scouting, taking stands out off the one piece of land and finding new sites for tree stands on the new parcel. I'm just so disappointed with the thought all my work over the off season may be for nothing if this ruins my hunting there. I understand the long term benefits of it all but that doesn't do me any good for the season quickly approaching.

I just learned the landowner of a nice piece of SZ land I have permission to hunt is going to start some selective harvesting Oct 1st. What is every ones experience with this? I have been told both #1 the hunting will suck and I've been told #2 It won't effect it at all may even get better. I was kinda upset when I was told I'm figuring it to suck but I don't know. What do you think?

GOOD GET OUTTA HERE!!!! LOL... GO PHINS!!!

I was afraid someone was going to say that. I really didn't enjoy that at all!!!! To be honest it almost ended my hunting for the rest of bow season. Traumatic even. So aside from carrying it during bow I'm still interested in buying one, any suggestions and whats your experiences with them?