nyantler

Can't get much more exciting than that!

Actually I have softened a bit as I've gotten older... lol The funny thing is I do have a soft spot for domestic animals, but not so much for wild animals... not sure why that is... I'm pretty sure I'm a little messed up.

LOL.. we humans are complicated animals that have emotions that wander all over the place... I guess we can be sensitive and understand reality at the same time. As much time as I spend in the woods I see very little in the way of winter kill in my area

Unfortunately suffering is a big part of mother nature's food chain... and we're in the chain like it or not. I agree with you that if you're the kind of person that is bothered by that suffering it shouldn't matter what the animal is... and yes, seeing the suffering is much different than just knowing it happens. But, I am one of those guys that wouldn't try to, for example, interrupt a coyote taking down a deer... or a hawk killing a rabbit...and I don't get all balled up over possible winter kill or even the death of a wild animal... it's all part of nature's balancing act and will forever continue in spite of us. My point really was that I rarely give it any thought unless someone brings it up... it just is what it is.

Though I don't revel in the thought of death in any manner... nature running it's course doesn't phase me in the least. This is what is... and will always be. As for worrying about the deer population, it rebounds so quickly that usually you will only feel it for the upcoming season with numbers usually returning to normal the following year. I do agree that Mother Nature can be cruel... but she has a plan that has worked for eons. The greater tragedy is when man interferes with the natural order instead of helping it along or leaving it be.

Given all the costs involved with taking ones kid on a youth waterfowl hunt... It baffles me how an extra $25 would be the deal breaker for the OP to not take his daughter hunting. I realize that sometimes we feel like we're following some kind of principle or trying to make a point, but letting a duck stamp stand in the way of introducing your kid to hunting sounds a bit foolish to me. If it was a $250 stamp.. maybe.

Would love to see those pic!!

As much as I think it would be exciting to have an elk population in NY... common sense would say that having another large game animal, especially in the ADK's, would create huge competition for food which is already in short supply. I don't know of many large open grazing areas in the ADKS, but I have yet to see all 6 million acres. If there was a feasible way to introduce elk, I think it would already have been done. It certainly would make for some added exciting hunting here in NY. It will really be something if the moose in NY ever reach a huntable population.

I wasn't talking to you or about you I was referring to the OP.

Great buck!

Why not hunt the mile in instead of biking it? Other than a little exercise I don't see the benefit of using the bike. Especially if you get a deer... you're going to ride out then jog back in? Sorry, I just don't get it. But, to each his own... if you think it'll be fun.. then that's what you ought to do.

There is a photo of a deer made out of antlers that was done by a friend of mine, Tom Yacovella... one of my favorite pieces of art. I think I even posted it on the forum a while back.

Hand warmers??? Did I suddenly land on the sewing forum by mistake??

another beauty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GuyHUwAHhs&feature=player_detailpage

How about this? I am an avid trout fisherman and also enjoy lake fishing... But, I have never ice fished or even been on a frozen lake. I have a lot of friends that ice fish, but have never had an invite to go. Probably the only outdoor related thing that I have never tried.

I am shooting my flint this winter in our ML league at my gun club... I plan on using it for deer this year. I haven't killed anything with it yet... but I'm up for another challenge. I'm not a sitter at all so that will make it tough. But looking forward to it.

I like traditional.. so stainless is not for me... I don't own any stainless weapons... I just never warmed up to the look. Pretty much the same with synthetic stocks... nothing like the look of real wood IMO.

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I would love to do something like that... but throughout the years my deer heads have been well traveled so I never got too elaborate with a mount because it never stayed in one place too long. I have become more of a fan of the European mounts... I only got this buck done because it was my first big woods ADK buck with patch and roundball.

Probably not Denny!

Didn't realize that's what it was called... I like how it gives a different perspective from the old straight on shoulder mount. It allows for a neck turn, but still a straight on look at the buck... I chose this mount because it was so much different from the ones I already have. I actually have a pedestal mount done with the traditional semi sneak form...

North Woods and Water Taxidermy did this mount of my ADK muzzleloader buck for me... Tim Littler did a great job! Story of the hunt here http://www.nyantler-outdoors.com/adirondack-muzzleloader-buck.html

No.. unfortunately there isn't a beam length that really would protect age groups beyond 2 years... but once the 1.5 year olds have been spared you could factor in the added difficulty of shooting older and wiser deer and get better results for stretching out the age classes than an AR that doesn't protect 99% of 1.5 year olds. I agree I done see much appetite for it either.

Usually about Oct. 1st for me.

Yup that would be the "other factors" I was referring to... LOL... I understood him as meaning shooting older bucks instead of younger bucks disrupts the genetic pool... For the reason you explained above is why I have never been a fan of the 3 on a side rule as an AR... antler spread is a much better "in the field" way to minimize the killing of yearling and 1.5 year olds... I think it's even easier to do as opposed to counting points. But it would be even better if hunters that like the idea of shooting mature bucks could actually learn what a bigger buck looks like.