JFB

I had them do a one acre Whitetail Institute Clover Plot and then I added a second small plot in another section which was Alfalfa and clover mix. As for details, they are very weather aware and just very easy to deal with. Their price was actually slightly less than the other person who quoted but like I've said they actually ended up seeming much more knowledgable. We tested soil and they also offer a guarantee because I chose to fertilize. If it does not take, they will re do it. I'm sure each job is different so I'll let them price out any job you may have. I'll pm you what my price was. Very affordable.

I just wanted to provide an update.. I found "Tosch Consulting" who came over and looked over my land and we discussed options. I had already had a first opinion from someone else who seemed decent and I probably would have been happy with. But I was blown away by Tosch and how thorough and conscientious they were. Even the emails they'd send were detailed. Every step of the way they communicated without my asking and they played the weather and changed plans as needed. And it's not like they charge a premium for that service. I had never met them prior but after them doing my work, I felt they earned a well deserved plug. So if you ever need anything, google them... Tosch Consulting LLC

I think this is good advice to approach the neighbors and hope for the best. Can't hurt. Just a simple introduction and a "oh by the way..." like Daveboone said. I'd not give up. Just count on two years of hassle and you may be pleasantly surprised if you fix it prior. But it's worth it. Also, don't put out a camera in plain view... or it's gone. It's part of the necessary work... instead of planting food plots, you need to run off people. But once you fix it, it stays fairly quiet after that. It's all about where they park cars or access from. Patrol and shut down the access points. Jot down license plates of suspicious cars and look for hunting items in them and see if they are parked nearby more than once, etc.

I've been through this exact process. Unposted land and there was a rough crowd hunting it and the land owner finally got fed up and leased it to me. It took most of two seasons to get 90% of them out and there are still lingering problems at times. I suggest placing obvious signs along roads saying "hunting land now posted- members only", along with normal legal posted signs. The word will start to get out quick when they see the specific sign on the road about "leased land members only". I also suggest putting your phone number on the sign. Yes, you'll get lots of calls but at least you'll have the opportunity to get their name and then politely tell them that currently the lease membership is full but you'll keep their name just in case. This way, when you find them on your property, they've already waisted their one free warning. The guys who want their stands will call you and then ask to get their stands... which is obviously fine. The rest, I just left there and most were too lazy to go back and get them. But leaving them at the bottom with a note will probably just make it easy for the other hunters to steal honestly. You have to realize there are probably several hunting parties on the property and nothing says they all know or respect each other. Be prepared to call the sheriff. In my area, DEC are worthless. Police are often better at trespassing issues. I gave each person a free pass the first time I caught them... the second time I call 911... and yes they sometimes come back a second time. I'm also sure to tell the first offenders that I have dozens of hidden trail cams as I tell them to not come back (and I do have hidden cameras now). Make sure you maintain a presence in youth seasons, turkey, small game etc. Lastly, be sure the land owner does not have some special friends he lets hunt. Last thing you want is to upset the land owner and it becomes a head ache for him to deal with your trespassing issues. Hopefully the lease gives you the right to protect your interests.

I don't have the equipment. I spoke to a couple guys who do it so I hope to get it done once I get my PH tests back.

Can anyone recommend someone who would be interested in planting a small clover food plot, approximately one acre in Monroe County? Access is very easy off main road in the middle of a mowed grass field. Willing to pay fair price. The friend who did it prior is unable. Thanks for suggestions.

I wasn't conspiring with Doc, and there's no way you would have known it, but it turns out Docs comments were relevant to why I asked about the situation. To me it seems like you're asking for more trouble than it's worth and based on your response you're doing it out of spite because he left a note. Maybe a better way for you to spread good hunter PR is to go to the guys house and explain that the law has changed and that you'd like to consider putting up your practice stand again. Even though you have every legal right to march in and taunt him, I think you'd better serve the situation by starting out with a higher road. Remember, just because somethings "legal" doesn't mean we have to do it or expect it to be the best way to handle it.

What was the situation and what will you do?

If it were mostly guys just switching over from compound to xbows, I honestly would not have opposition to xbows being jammed in the former archery season. But I believe we are going to pick up the bottom of the barrel gun "hunters" who previously picked up a compound bow and quickly figured out they don't have the discipline or patience for archery hunting. If it were for kids or older or disabled, I'm all for xbows in archery. But otherwise, I fear the slobs will ruin a former good thing. It's not going to attract new license holders, it simply gives gun and meat hunters more shots because if that wasn't true, you would have been satisfied with xbows in gun season. In NY, we do very little to nurture the resource... DEC simply wants to control the nuisance and open seasons and hand out tags any way they can.

Sorry for the Crickets... full time career I try to fit in. What do I think of that archer? He's an idiot. Shocking he had a "miss" encounter with that buck (sarcastic). I can only imagine how many he wounded trying to make that shot. The DIFFERENCE is that you already see xbows MARKET the ease of their use and distance abilities and just pulling up the scope to the deers chest is what gives so many gun hunters the false confidence that is mentioned. Never mind the fact that it's already cocked and you can get ready 5 minutes prior to the deer being in range. And no, I don't have a choice. It remains to be seen, but my guess is that my local neighborhood idiots who's idea of deer hunting is just beating the brush with a gun will now enter the former archery woods and my hunting will change and nothing I can do about it. If we pick up enough slob gun hunters, archery will be more like gun season where you simply look for escape routes on largely nocturnal deer. The real choice would have been a separate weapon season for each. Congrats to those who wanted xbow, gun season just got even longer and now the DEC is that much closer to their 1.5yr old age class goal.

Belo... just wait for it... "yeah but there are guys that can shoot a compound bow a 100 yards too..." Yeah, they are probably called olympian marksmen and they sure don't rest their compound on a shooting rail with a scope. I just wish xbow hunters would admit it's easier hunting, quick to learn to shoot and many people lobbying for it wanted it because of it's ease.

Wish NY "managed" more like Ohio... At least in Ohio where there are xbows, there are NOT ALSO multiple buck tags; gun seasons covering the peak of rut; too many doe tags handed out until a WMU has low numbers; and an actual GOAL from DEC to have bucks live a whopping 1.5yrs. Whats next, a license rebate for someone shooting fawns? Spotlighting? Special 'Cuomo bombs' that Cuomo gives out for free that you lob into bedding areas? I can just see my neighbors already... taking running shots at deer with their cocked xbows because it's easy walking and "it's legal"...

I'm out of the loop on this.. can someone tell us how many years they've been doing it, how long does it run, are there other counties, what can be shot? thanks

Remember, MDhunter is the self proclaimed "real deal". He has someone scare deer from point A to point B and shoots as many as he can and then posts his video to show us how good of a hunter he is. Well that proves it, he's really is the real deal...

It doesn't make me giggle... but what makes me scratch my head and question is when someone posts a video like that all over the internet and then calls someone a "self righteous pompous ass". The fact that you were shooting at a second and third deer before the first deer even stopped running away from you was enough to make my opinion unsupportive. Just because a deer dropped, doesn't mean it's finished and clearly it got up and started running away from you as you focused on trying to get your four in 9 seconds... A good many of your videos are about self promotion focused on how many deer you can shoot in so many seconds... we get it, it's what gets you off and notoriety. Good for you. Just don't expect everyone to like it. "Smoke em if you got em"... bla bla

Sorry, that is the wrong video that cut/paste.

I think Doc makes a good point.. to me it makes sense for us as hunters to simply make a decision BEFORE we go into the woods regarding running shots. I honestly think too many guys just see it as normal and ok to take a few pot shots and see if they hit- and when excitement takes over many end up taking shots that they've not practiced or lack the skill for. This hunter actually says "I hope I didn't hit him all three shots". As he examines the deer, he's searching for bullet holes because he clearly has no ability to know where his shots were going...

In my experience, bucks chasing doe don't stop too often. But if they are otherwise running and they don't know you're there, you have a good chance at stopping them and thats personally when I shoot. Also, if the deer was recently spooked (I'd say 150 yards or so from when they were first spooked), they also stop less because their priority is evading the initial threat. Once they seem to travel a couple hundred yards or more, they seem to assess their new dangers and thats when you can really stop a running deer with a bleat or yelp assuming they don't see or smell you. One thing that concerns me with running situations is some guys end up taking whatever they can get for a shot. In this case, when the deer didn't stop to his grunt he ended up taking the last shot opportunity he had. He made a quick clean kill.. but low percentage for most in my opinion.

Ok, it looked like the video worked. To give a little back drop, I had a hard time finding any video of a running deer situation that I personally would shoot at but I'll keep an open mind. I'm trying to get a flavor for what other guys are accustomed to.

I'm not sure if I'm posting the video properly but I thought I'd try. With all the chatter about shot selection, I'm wondering if you would take this shot? (Apologies if the video does not work)

No additional target practice needed here. If you want that $200 bet just say the word.

This wasn't about posting "one video"... For many, (and obviously for myself), this was about how frequently shooting running deer results in very low percentage results. This video just happens to perfectly exemplify what I see very often. It's all the things I said I didn't like prior to someone else posting that video. These are not isolated cases and in fact I hear/see more five shot volleys than I do single shots. I get it "spray and pray" and pulling the trigger rapidly gives many of you a rush and it over shadows your regard for game. I know I'm in the minority.

Thank you to the Iowa MORONS who just gave us all a perfect visual of what I've been talking about. Have you guys watched this video? I'm really curious if you guys will defend this as well because this is what I've seen in my 25 years of public land hunting and now neighbors who also do it on private land. I love it when the guy says something to the effect of... "Yeah, it was great he shot four times at 10 yards" and then he high fives the shooter... He didn't kill a single one of them. And did you notice the buck they killed in the first scene appeared to be limping before he shot? Can't imagine how it got wounded earlier... (If you have trouble loading the video off the this site, just go to you tube direct and type in Iowa Deer drive 2009.)

I'm not faulting anyone for wanting to try some slug slinging (or practicing for the first time), but this is kind of what I was saying about guys who see others in the woods just unload their gun. They see or hear others do it and perceive it as normal, and then they "try". (again no offense meant to Joseph). If you running shooters are going to tell me that even half of the guys who take running shots practice and are proficient at hitting vitals I think you are very very wrong based on my observations. Too many guys can't even place a solid group on a stationary target but then go empty their guns at running deer. Maybe those target practicers were just too excited that opening day was only 10 hours away... yep, lot's of idiots out there and yes I'm saying if you are one of those idiots, you are likely to take pot shots at running deer. I am not saying all people who take running shots are idiots. As for the bet, I'll stand behind my offer. But I have no interest in spreading interest to other people to take running shots, not to mention a rolling tire is a far cry from a zig zagging bouncing animal. Sounds like we would get along wonderfully..