nyantler

Doesn't matter where they move it.. I still seem to find it...

Quite a few here have mentioned on this forum the idea of making goals for your hunting season... you guys really make goals?? Like trying to get a certain amount of deer, or filling all your tags or killing a big buck? You actually, consciously, sit down and make goals like that? Please tell me there are some of you out there that just go hunting for the sheer enjoyment regardless of the outcome. Okay, I know I'm usually the odd one out, but I never so much has thought about needing a goal for my hunting. The are not enough acres to hunt on to make me want to make up goals for deer hunting... That last sentence was just to stay on topic.

My old dog "Gunner".. gone but not forgotten.

But, but, tthatts impossible... But, rob said. I'm confused... What poundage do you shoot? How heavy is the arrow? What's your Mom's maiden name? Is the Pope Catholic? Nine out of ten dentist's say that 30 yards is max.

That my friend is scary... that you even have that in your head. I can honestly say that has never and will never be a thought in my head concerning deer hunting... That may be normal for you... But me, I'd get myself checked out if I had that thought.

If you want to call a deer your trophy... that's just fine... everyone makes of their success as they will... I just think the whole "every deer is a trophy" is over used and was developed only after the big influx of "trophy hunting" and passing on young bucks. Kind of an "I'm not gonna let the trophy hunters and big buck hunters have control of the word trophy, cuz I don't like trophy hunting or big buck hunters" mentality. Who cares what other call their deer? Call your deer "The greatest, most fantasic thing that ever happened to me, I think I might cry deer"... if that's what keeps ya going in the woods. My deer are like a new pair of sneakers... when they're new you're all excited about the new sneakers and don't want them to even get dirty. But, after a while you just want a new pair of sneakers.

Just that.. a special deer that means something to me... I don't really have one that is more special than the others.. they each mean something different to me... each special in their own way for different reasons... I don't ever look at them as trophies just successes. I'm all about the stories behind them and each one has it's own story.

So, now everyone gets a trophy in hunting too... First of all a deer is NOT a trophy it is just a deer... trophies are given to the winners of a competition... hunting is not a competition. Well maybe a competition between you and the deer... but when the deer wins he doesn't get a trophy so I don't think that counts

This thread wasn't about changing anyone's mind... it was about what YOU think your effective range is. I pretty sure the OP knew that the answers would not be all the same.

I think it's been more about a guy getting jumped on because he feels confident at longer ranges and has been successful. I haven't heard that gentleman say anything like what you've described above. Those saying 30 yards max.. are entitled to that decision.. as is the fella that likes practicing and shooting animals at longer distances. What he thinks is wrong is that you're trying to tell him that he shouldn't be shooting that far... that is wrong for anyone to say and I agree with him. It kills me how some don't want others telling them what size deer they can kill, but have no problem telling another hunter how far he should be shooting.

The jealousy is probably more apt to happen with a guy who doesn't have any close friends... and maybe there's a reason he doesn't. Even as a young hunter I never got jealous.. maybe because I hunted with close friends and family. Everyone shared in the excitement.

No

I tend to agree... I'm not so sure they really spend that much time trying to figure out a solution. Most DEC decision makers and biologists are not even avid deer hunters. Much of their time is not even devoted to deer hunting, but to other conservation efforts. I know we all like to think that they spend all their time trying to figure the whole deer hunting thing out, but I've been to enough deer hunting forums and think tanks to know better. I have sat in meetings shaking my head at some of the things I've heard come from their mouths. Keeping their jobs in the public sector seems to always be the motivation... usually not much candid talk with a lot of walking on eggshells. Reminds me of a politician answering (or I should say not answering) a question, but saying what everyone in the room wants to hear. Even a loud mouth like me had trouble getting anyone to listen to ideas or even small considerations. I found it to be mostly political posturing than anything designed to solve real problems. They far behind the eight ball now with no real solutions... and the deer are winning.

A man with a weapon is at the top of the food chain and for a reason. Our interruption and consumption of habitat has made it imperitive that we become the managers of wildlife. Being the greatest predator makes that possible.

My heaviest is 188, but I have a friend who killed 14 bucks in Alberta all but 1 of them dressed at or above 250 and 2 dressed over 300. They make the one at the top look small and that is a monster.

I rarely kill a deer at more than 50 yards with gun and never more than 20 with bow... that is by choice... I just like it up close and personal, but I regularly shoot my peep sighted Hawken Muzzleloader with patch and ball offhand at 25, 50, 75, 100 and am very proficient at all those ranges. I would have no trouble taking a 100 yard shot at a deer with that gun and being confident of hitting my target. I choose not to only because I like the challenge of getting much closer... but I still would consider my effective range to be at 100 yards with that gun. What we choose to do and what is possible and still effective can be two different things. Some of you think that your "choice" is the only option for everyone else. Not even sure why you care... don't fret what you can't control.

I'm of the belief that as long as hunting remains the single best wildlife conservation method, we will always have hunting. But, as hunter numbers diminish so does hunting as the best wildlife conservation method. I think society should be just as alarmed by how hunting is being attacked... without it there my be no way to keep up with population growths in the animal kingdom that doesn't involve the implementation of some kind of chemical Euthanasia. Which will certainly cause a problem in the food chain of all animals and seriously mess with the ecosystem. Hunting is way more important to mankind than anyone really knows.

Bow hunting is about hunting an animal with a bow with hopes of harvesting that animal...period. The rest is just your way of doing it.. which does not have to be the way everyone does it. Last I knew a deer killed at 60 yards is just as dead as one killed at 6 yards.

For years everything was based on 20 yards... even to the extent that many bow hunters had only a twenty yard pin set on their bow and adjusted their pin placement based on the shot yardage + or - ... as the bows became faster and faster that went by the wayside. What was long range years ago isn't the same today. What that range is depends on many factors.. so , there is no right answer... it is relative to each hunter, his equipment and his ability.

Change can be good and change can be bad... changing something that isn't working is smart... changing something that has worked for centuries that takes more time to do but ends up with the same result is not. To bring it back to the AR and doe only thing... mandating both might be okay if there was a defined reason for it that made sense in the areas and seasons they are imposed, but that, like common core, is not the case... there is no good reason given, just a change created without a sensible need. For the record I can do common core math.. it is not easier than the way the rest of us learned to get to the same answer. I can solve 10 math problems in the time it takes just to get started with one common core problem. It was however a great way to get more money flowing into the school systems and to create unneeded administrative positions.

Seen that happen before.. very true!

I don't think this is about passing judgement on anyone or acting holier than thou... I think we're all in agreement that hunting is about enjoying it in your own way. But, in the same sense there is a point to be made about what passing young bucks has to offer for those that complain that there aren't enough mature bucks out there. But even with all that we must realize that anything we see in the way of hunting is directly related to what we as hunters are doing to make it better or worse. Whether its apathy, differences of opinion, falure to get involved or speak up to the people that matter, or our choice of hunting practices. We set the pace for how hunting is in NY. You reap what you sow.. I have developed a mindset that allows me to not be affected by any of it... I'm going to have a good hunting experience regardless of what comes down the pike as long as there are woods to hunt. I notice that there is a lot of complaining about how big, or how many, bucks there are from those that say how none of that is really the important part of hunting... if it isn't important then lets talk about something else. Offering a differing opinion is not passing judgement... calling someone "holier than thou" is.

Here is a good way to put things into perspective for her. There are 365 days in a year right? If you hunted every weekend of the season that would be about 26 days... now let's add a week off from work just to hunt... that's 5 more days for a total of 31 days (That's minimum). 365 - 31 = 334 days you have spent with her. Looks much better once you crunch the numbers huh? You guys, (like me), that fish, turkey hunt, play golf and have a few other hobbies throughout the year... sorry I can't help you. You might wanna rethink the whole having a wife thing... or get one that doesn't care how much you hunt like me... LOL.

You are right in that some properties aren't big enough to hold a mature buck... but public lands are usually quite vast and have plenty of places to hold a big buck. Yes, the guy who has a couple acres in his back yard, half of which is open field, will probably spend more time walking or sitting on his property than killing deer. But most habitats are much larger than a few acres and usually encompass many properties and will hold at least one mature buck. If anything today is a much better time for big bucks given the number of hunters managing their properties and passing on younger bucks. In fact, more hunters are passing on young bucks in NY than ever before. Reaching full potential is like waiting for Utopia... it will never happen. Things can only get better for bigger bucks, which it already has. Like I always say, Killing deer or not killing deer has more to do with what a hunter is doing or not doing than where he is hunting.

Already spent an hour in Tug Hill region on Sunday... saw a doe, not in range. A half hearted walk in the woods at best just to say I went. Looking forward to Thursday morning!