NonTypical

Yes it is! My bad. I just saw this Shed thread as a sticky and posted in it. I guess it’s time to start a new thread and make it a sticky...

Took a quick walk at work today while I was waiting for a machine to warm up. Found my first dead head of the year. Most of the bucks in the area are still holding so it’ll be a few more weeks until I start looking for sheds.

I got out yesterday on County land. We had 6 of us on 2 adjoining areas doing drives all day. The deer numbers are way down compared to years ago, but we still managed 4 kills. 2 does, 1 shed buck and 1 button buck. We all had chances at deer an should’ve had our limit of 6, but still a good day overall. That might be my last hunt of the year as I’ll be out of town this weekend. There’s still an outside chance that I’ll slip into my blind once more early next week.

Just found this online: Just mere days after celebrating our great nation’s independence, Republicans have taken a huge step forward for Second Amendment supports and making substantial changes to New York’s SAFE Act by fortifying an obligatory “memorandum of understanding”(M.O.U). State Senator James L. Seward has pushed for change since the 2013 when the SAFE act was originally sanctioned. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to suspend plans for background checks for ammunition sales in New York and allow internet sales of ammunition, changing part of the NY Safe Act, according to state Sen. James Seward. “While I will continue to work for full repeal of the poorly crafted, over-reaching NY-SAFE Act, this is a significant accomplishment—and constitutes the only modifications that have been made to this law since it was enacted two years ago over my objection”. Seward has continually stated that the database for ammunition was faulty and "fraught with problems since it was first conceived," and be removing this aspect, it will prevent any future money from being squandered. With the backing and support of Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Jim Malatras, director of state operations, this can only be considered a big win for both the State of New York and for its private citizens. The focus of these changed laid in two parts “The two provisions that will be changed are both related to ammunition. The MOU, which was signed by New York State Director of Operations James Malatras and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, puts an end to the portion of the act that would establish a database and require those who purchase ammunition to undergo a background check. It also ends the moratorium on on-line purchases of ammunition”. Below is the link for the full memo http://www.scribd.com/doc/271175351/Mou-Ny-Safe-Act-07-10-15

When I first ordered from them, they wouldn’t ship it to me. Only to a FFL. When I placed my order in October, they told me that they can now ship it directly to me. I believe they said that the law was changed back. Not 100% sure on the reason, but regardless they will ship directly to you.

Try https://www.ableammo.com. They will ship it right to your house. I ordered a case of slugs from them in October.

Check out the Cosmic single pin fiber optic sight from Impact Archery. You can set the single pin vertical or horizontal. I’ve had it for years with no complaints.

I might get out Thursday as well, with the gun. County land in Montauk. Where are you headed?

Ok. I took one for the team tonight. I shot a nice big mature doe with the bow this evening. I stayed in the blind until dark. Saw one more doe and also had a slammer come out at 45 yds just as I was about to get out of the blind. I don't think he was the big 9 or the wide 8 that I've been hunting there. This one appeared to have a bigger body and a lot of mass on his head. I'll be out again tomorrow evening. It might be my last hunt for the year. Unfortunately, the last couple of days, all buck movement has been after dark. I even have what appears to be two small bucks sparring. I'm going to bring my horns with me tomorrow and try to entice one of the bigger deer out of his bed before dark. I'm not sure if it will work this late in the year, but at this point, it's my last chance.

It appears that they have changed the look. Maybe to appear more stealthy, but that was all that I was able to find. Hopefully they will find a way to extend the battery life a bit.

Got out of work a little early today. Did a quick sit in the blind tonight. I was in just before 3. Ended up seeing 7 does, a small 4 point, and a wide 2 1/2 yo 8 pt. The 8 got a pass at 15 yds. He's been hanging out with the 9 pt that I've been after. Unfortunately, he didn't show up this evening. Unless something changes this week, I won't be out until Saturday.

They're back...

I've been getting pics of a beautiful 9pt at my new spot from my cell cam just about everyday this week, but at different times. One day was noon, then first light, and on Friday about 3:30. Work has been getting in the way, and I finally had a chance to sit. I decided that I would do an all day sit. I've never done one this late in the season. Saturday morning it was 56* and blowing S 15-20 at 6am. Temps dropped all day and the wind wen NW 15-20. It was 36* by noon and dropped to about 30*. I saw 3 does in the am and I stayed put in my blind. A few does moved into the staging area at around 3:15. Not long after that my hunt came to an abrupt end as the new property owners kid enjoyed his new quad on their new property. As upset as I was of having it ruined just as it became happy hour, I graciously packed up and headed home. I went out again this morning and had a good buck pass by my blind at 6:15. I could just make out his rack as it was still pretty dark. That was all that I saw. I stayed in until 10. It was pretty cold with a temp of 14* and a stiff N wind. The afternoon forecast had it going NNE. That would be blowing right into the bedding area. Not good. So I decided to pass it up this evening. Wouldn't you know it, by 3:15 I had a group of does hanging around. By 3:45, the big 9 makes an appearance 25 yds from my blind! It killed me to think that I blew it, but with the forecasted wind, I know that I made the right call. I have 2 more weekends to get it done, and to be honest, I'm running out of steam after 3 1/2 months. I'm undecided if I'll get out again. I'm sure I will, but a part of me now wants to see him make it another year. We'll see what happens...

Also, great job Moon and TC! You’ll really enjoy hunting with the bow TF! And don’t worry about finding a spot for next year. I’m sure things will work out. They always do.

There’s no need to switch to vanes with a WB. I think feathers fly better!

Are you hunting the same state land tomorrow? Good luck and let's keep this thread going for 3 more weeks There wasn't much movement on my cam today, until about 4:30. Then they came out like gangbusters I'd really like to get out tomorrow afternoon, but I don't think it's going to happen. If I don't, I'm going to do an all day sit in my blind on Saturday. The rain is supposed to stop in the morning with temps dropping all day. After a heavy rain Friday, they should move on Saturday once the rain stops. We'll see.

Are you out with the gun today? State land?

Sure you can. We won't give you a hard time if you want to talk about it in this thread. But if it will help you sleep better, why not start a furbearer 2018 thread? I'm sure that it would get plenty of attention as it sounds like there are quite a few members that would contribute. You can start the thread and a mod can make it a sticky!

Hey Biz, maybe instead of starting a new 2018 thread someone can edit this thread to make it read 2017/2018 since the season hasn't ended yet for some of us fortunate ones? Rachunter, good luck getting out for the next few days! From what I've been seeing over the past week at my new spot is that the bucks are returning to their bachelor groups. It seems that the one group that I'm getting pics of are getting new members every day. And what's even better is that not one buck out of the dozen or so bucks that are there have lost their horns yet!

Nope. It's in a residential area that with homes on both sides. There is a large bedding area that is very thick that they are coming out of. There is a vineyard and standing corn behind it that they are hitting at night, but there are no gun hunters on the farm. The lot that I'm hunting on doesn't even have any trees to hang a stand, so I've been hunting out of a blind. Along the edge of the bedding area is many young spruce and cedar trees which they enjoy feeding on and use as a staging area.

I'm convinced these deer are just messing with me. A big 8 comes out shortly after I leave my blind last night. Then I get a video at noon today of a nontypical 8 passing my blind. There were plenty of deer moving at mid day today. I had an opportunity to leave at 2 when my coworker decided to bail out early. I said to myself, they moved early and I'll watch for a pattern as the week progresses. Sure enough, at 3:15 I get a video of the big 9 strolling on by FML. At that point I told my boss that I might be feeling sick one afternoon this week. Not sure if it was the increase in temps today or if it was the small weather disturbance that is coming through tonight. I'm sure I'll be able to get into the blind before the week is out.

You can actually age a deer using teeth until they're 10 1/2 years old. By then the molars will be worn down to the gum line. After that, it's just a guess.

I don't think so. I did see one 2 weeks ago that dropped one, but that's it. Another spot I hunt, all 7 bucks that I've been getting pics of are still holding. As far as one of my targets showing up, if he dropped or broke his rack, he'll get a pass from me.

5 does and 3 young bucks tonight. Neither one of the big bucks came out while I was in the blind. I just got one video of one of them passing by 5 min ago. Figures. I probably won't sit again until next weekend.