JFB

I read NY Outdoor News as one way to keep up on whats occurring. HOWEVER, I find them extremely biased in their "reporting". They often don't objectively report news, rather they add their spin and slant articles to one side often. I've sent letters to the editor who admits they write and report on many stories according to their personal opinion (and I'm speaking outside of the editorial section). As for the survey, if they offered a six pack of bud light to be allowed as you hunt, I'm sure most of the "no change" votes would be swayed.... our "majority" is less than impressive.

I hunted Erwin state reforestation area near Campbell for about 15 years back when I started hunting. I happened to drive there to look around and In the last few years, they did MAJOR clear cutting and logging and I have to imagine there are some bucks who are pretty good at never being seen. In my early years, you'd see fork horns and 6 points but I think part of that was our lack of hunting experience. Bring a compass, easy to get lost. Good memories hunting there.

No pics. Yes it was Whitetail Institute clover. That blend is not known for the first year but they ate it good. It should get more full next year and choke out more grass. They are still pawing snow to get at it.

For the first year, the plot came out well.. the deer hammer it consistently. I am toying with another 1 acre plot but it would require a clear cut of woods and unfortunately the tree's in that section are all undersized and of undesirable species which have no harvest value. So it equates to pure labor and big machinery to prep and remove the logs and I'm not sure I want to spend that money. But if anyone knows of someone who likes 6" tree's... I've got lots of them free for the taking...

Unless you've NEVER broken a regulation of some sort (not stopping a full three seconds, going 56 mph, catch and release fishing for bass prior to season, drinking under age, having 8 bullets in your hand gun, possessing moon shine, shooting before legal light etc, etc, etc)... you are simply being an internet hypocrite. I'm not saying which if any of those types of things I support, just making a point that I doubt any of you are as pure as you type. Lots of bad things about what this guy did, but having the underage kid pull the trigger is not one of them in my opinion (law or not). There is something to be said for teaching your child to make their own thought out decision in an increasingly PC world.

Like I said, surprising so many who give big buck hunters grief now say they might not even hunt at all (or much less) if they were not allowed to shoot bucks. What happened to "a deer's a deer..."? Personally I'm glad so many realize how much they appreciate bucks, I just think there's not much difference in a doe as compared to a yearling buck and thats why it would be great to see more guys let bucks get some age (in areas with good populations) after you've got some experience.

I'm really surprised so many of you admit you'd stop hunting or that it would greatly change your hunting, AND if I'm not mistaken many of you are the ones quick to lash out at guys who want to shoot big bucks. Isn't that hypocritical? Call people trophy hunters obsessed with antlers... but then admit if they didn't let you buck hunt you'd quit? But.... put a set of fork horns or a six point on a head and suddenly you're back in the game? Who's the antler maniac?? For myself, I'm not sure how I'd change exactly. I know I'd start by taking a nice camera out and I honestly think I'd LOVE seeing so many monster bucks battling it out. I'd shoot the doe, and take pictures that would make your jaw drop because the bucks would be awesome I assume.

My goodness... We get called trophy hunters, antler maniacs and every other degrading term and I try to explain I tried to shoot a half rack mature deer and several of you jump on it. Fact remains, it was a 150" animal (full rack) and yes it was minimum of 4.5 and likely 5.5 yrs old. I'd shoot it because it was rare and mature. Heck, if I said I'd pass because half the rack was lost you'd call me an antler snob. Which ever way the wind blows...

You missed the numerous posts where I've stated I'm not for statewide AR. I'd be happy with one buck and a shorter gun season. I'm not knee deep in the QDM movement but I do believe their stance is not pushing for AR so I think you're off point. And as much as I love a great rack, a few years ago there was a 150" class but had half his rack busted off and I planned to shoot him if I got a bow shot because there are not many 5.5+ old bucks running my area.

Ever notice how quick so many are to challenge our perspective especially when I simply answered his question? "Why ain't you SPECIAL"... bla bla bla. You guys constantly want to degrade so called "trophy hunters" and "antler worshipers", etc. We don't get on here and call you "bambi killer" so I ask who's the problem here? No one even knows it when I kill a big buck and I see more meat hunters with their antlered "avatar". If this were catch and release, I would cheer you on as you 'caught' yearlings in zones that have lots of deer. But dead is dead and when there are a few people in an area that slaughter what we pass it get's pretty frustrating. Not sure why THAT'S hard to understand. I guess if my shooting mature bucks downgraded your chance to see more yearlings maybe you'd care.

And on the other side of that coin I find it hard to believe that you find it hard to believe... It was mentioned that guys are different. Some competitive and wanting a different animal. To us, a mature buck is more captivating than a 1.5 yr old spike that is more curious than it is savvy. I've shot spikes when inexperienced, but the challenge and majestic nature of mature animals sends me that way. Why date a mean ugly girl if I can date a pretty nice girl I guess. Again, if it's an area where a spike is rare, than it's all relative and maybe a 4pt is the challenge. But in so many areas we don't have to hope for a 4-6 pointer challenge and there can be good mature animals if a little age on the hoof is allowed. I know I'll get blasted for this, but what gets me is that those who shoot yearlings, are also quick to try and get a bullet into the mature deer we hunt. Sure, it's your right to shoot whatever buck... but what you don't realize is we pass up spikes, forks, 6s, 8s, heck I pass young 10s holding out for the mature animal. But you shoot all of the above. I help your hunt by passing, you detract mine for shooting everything. It only takes a few "brown it's down" guys to really change the landscape of what I'm trying to enjoy. If it were 12" bass, you could throw it back so it could grow up to the 4lb bass I challenge myself to catch. But this isn't fishing and a dead spike is a dead spike.

Fantastic videos and clearly fantastic bucks. Two of them were absolute hammers and if they are at an age where there gonna get even larger... double wow. Not trying to get spots, but those are ADK state land bucks? Some giant bodies! Congrats on even filming them!

Very well stated. In fact, when I shoot a mature buck very few people know about it. It's for my own challenge and to me mature deer are beautiful to see and yes harvest. I've gotten in more than one argument with scorers trying to put my kills in P&Y and NYS Big Buck books and I don't 99% of the time. And save me the guff about "well if you want challenge you should welcome fewer of them, etc". Not to mention I also purposely harvest select does WAY more than I shoot mature buck.

Yes Grow, you and upstate could likely be good friends. Head to HIS land and shoot anything you want regardless of regs. He might even let you on one of his run ways. A good year to you as well.

And I'm glad you recognize you can't just play word games with me. Smoke and mirrors. Sorry the new year is back to your old ways so quickly.

Clearly 'some' of us do care.

Not just because I agree on this with Belo, but that right there is funny. BTW, my house assessment is $2,000,001 and I have three run ways

So clear the record.. because when I read above I viewed it as you saying that even if the regulation of 3 points a side comes in, that you would still shoot a spike if thats all you see for the year. We've been speaking all along about proposed regulations so most of us are commenting based on the proposed future. Thats how discussion works normally. And if "nobody will tell you"... bla bla bla, I was just asking what stops you from doing something else against the law? After all, if you have a bad year unable to get certain deer, no one is gonna tell you what you can do on your own land right? (Again for the record, I do not think statewide AR is good. I would be very happy with one buck and a shorter gun season).

Why stop there? Get your light out and jack one up tonight. After all, it's your land and no one is gonna tell you what to do.

Thanks guys... good timing for this post and I too are looking to pick up several basic cameras in high theft areas. I think I'll pull the trigger on that Gander deal, thanks Phade.

Clearly you are more interested in word games and capitalizing words rather than getting the point. Much like I never said Kip Adams ever worked "FOR" anyone. If you can't comprehend my posts, my apologies.

DEC has data and graphs showing their model is designed to basically create buck harvest of roughly 1.5yr old. I've also heard Kip Adams (who is a biologist) discuss this same thing. I'm human and it's possible my understanding was wrong the many times I've seen and heard it, but I don't think so. Not really sure I follow the tourism part of your post. My point was that perhaps the state is recognizing declining sales and revenue under the current system... so maybe changes are a way to hope to generate more popularity and more money. Many states economies get nice boosts because of out of state tourism. It's like the new 'discover NY' TV adds where they spotlight NY's fantastic fishing. People come from all over the world to fish our salmon and our bass lakes are also becoming some of the best in the country. That generates revenue. Just goes to show what is possible by enhancing a natural resource (remember, words like "possible" and "perhaps" mean I'm giving an opinion, not stating fact).

Well there's an ethical hunter! Admits they will break the law if it's passed. Never mind following the law and seeing what happens or that maybe you might reap a benefit. And seeing that you are short sighted, let me spell it out a bit further... What you are not understanding is that YOU DON'T OWN THE LIVING ANIMAL and said animal wanders onto other peoples land as well. Those people obey the laws and deserve the right to reap any benefit's of the regulation. Who ever taught you that when you buy land you're entitled to kill wildlife as you see fit?

I wondered very similarly. Suddenly they care when their formerly their entire goad was to keep average take at a measly 1.5yr? Maybe they realize what they were doing just wasn't cutting it and they are taking pages out of other states playbook hoping revenue goes up. Heck, I just dropped a decent penny while in Ohio.. Regardless, I love the possibilities.

Certainly not a reason regulations won't change. I bought my lifetime many years ago... and then bam... crossbows in the archery season. Things change, no obligation by the State.