mxsmitz201

https://www.qdma.com/uploads/pdf/Jawbone-Aging.pdf Check this link out to get a better understanding of what I meant

I really think the dec are wrong in what they have told you IMO. Aging deer by looking at the teeth is really only accurate in determining if it's under 2 or not because they'll hAve one less molar or something. Can't remember exactly what it is but there is a tell tale sign. After that you really need to pull a front tooth and have it tested in a lab. I would think the dec would know what they are talking bout especially if determining if it's under 2 yrs old. But then again you never know, but I really really believe that 4 point is a yr and a half right along with the spike used for body size comparison right along with your 8 in the OP.

One thing you may want to consider cutting the carbon fiber arrows is to wrap the area your cutting in tape so as to prevent the ends from flaking off keeping the cut as clean as possible. It's brittle stuff you can muck up an expensive arrow real quick. This is assuming your using a bladed tool to cut your arrows.

the body on those deer tell me it's a year and a half all day long.

If your referring to the 8 point in the close up pics to the one from last year, those are 2 different deer and definitely look to be year and a halfs. But the buck walking across the cam a bit further back looks to be a pretty decent buck.

Nap spitfire max 100grains, have worked well for me

I practice more frequently at yardage greater than 35 out to 60 than at short yardages. My goal being if I can get tight groups at these longer ranges consistently it should be easier to achieve really tight groups at shorter yardages. I am comfortable shooting at 50yds in most conditions to make a kill, and would consider further if conditions were right and my confidence was there. That's the make or break for me. If I have any doubt in myself at any distance when I'm at full draw I won't shoot. Confidence goes a long way.

I like the idea of an earn a buck system, with the option to bypass the earn a buck at a premium. Those who hunt for antlers can have their buck tag but pay more for the tag than if they opted for an earn a buck tag. I'm sure a vast majority of antler hunters would opt to earn a buck rather than pay a premium for their big spike horn all the while lending a helping hand in managing the deer population. That way no one is telling you what you can hunt, the decision is yours.

Havent seen hardly any sign this year. But chasing has started where I am at. Not full swing though.

Sorry I do not see what is morally wrong or unethical about spotlighting deer. Gotta make this quick, bout to walk out the door and do some spotlighting. I like to see and enjoy the rut even when I am not in the stand. oh yea... ever heard of a bird watcher? well I like to watch deer, and since deer tend to move at night thats one of the best times to watch.

It's pretty easy to explain most of the upstate demofaggot counties. Look where all the big cities are. Albany, Binghamton, Rochester, Syracuse, buffalo, Ithaca, Plattsburgh. As for the few others, haven't a clue. Just happy Oneida went the way of Astorino given the cities of Rome and Utica are within Oneida.

Hunting a buck eerily similar to him, but 3.5 for age.

Spotlighting is one of my favorite fall pastimes. Great way to scout and see what's happening with the rut and overall patterns of deer. Not only that on more than one occasion I've seen bucks that I've never gotten infront of a camera, and I've been able to track a bucks home range. How useful is that, to consistently see a buck on camera then see him a few miles away somehwere you'd least expect him when you thought you had him all figured out? Not sure I understand the peeping tom comparison.... But if you want to apply that to spotlighting then I'm pretty sure if I wanted to see what all the neighborhood girls looked like id just sit my ass at the food court in the mall. Same can be applied to spotlighting deer I'm goin to where they all hang out.

Definitely a 3.5, pretty awesome genes I'd love to see him next yr!

Can't be more than 4.5. Imagine him at 6.5....... A hunter cAn dream

There's absolutely nothing wrong with spotlighting deer. It's one of my favorite things to do. Just to see what's running around that you don't see on camera and that 3.5s are actually out there, not to mention the clues it gives as to what stage the ruts in. Ill spotlight till the cows come home. I'm not hurting anyone or anything by doing it.

FYI they have some drones that are capable of around +- 700 meters in range and you put your go pro on it. Idk bout you but that could potentially be useful in a scouting scenario

I tell the vegetarian antis " hey your ancestors called they want their canines back"

Been sitting for almost an hr here on some state land, morrow mountain just outside gerogetown. Bit windy. Curious anyone have experience hunting the state lands around Georgetown?

I have a hunting tower/ 2nd home, and I'd highly suggest more than 24 screws holding it together, maybe carriage bolts or something similar but you mentioned screws so.... Anyway I would frame the walls just as you would your home with 2x4s, I like the 2x6 for shelf space, And the only thing that needs to be pressure treated is anything that's in contact with the ground, so your 4x4s on the base. If It were me I would flip those rafters and add 1 or 2 more, I'm guessing you ran them that way for more head clearance but either way you'd have the same clearance? Another thing idk how you plan to get it in the air, but I would make the floor piece a permanent fixture of the base and bolt the walls to that, the base, once you get it set where you want in the field. As for windows I have plexi glass on hinges and the windows drop down, and are held up by a simple wood block that turns on a nail. But bungee cords hooked on nails work even better! SILENT. And on that note I'd suggest your floor and eveything under your feet is screwed to the hilt and even glued definitely don't want a squeaky floor!! Or window hinges!! A little about my own hut, 6' to the floor, 6.5' tapered to 5.5' for ceiling height, used 4x4 pressure treated beams 12.5' tall in the front and 11.5' in the back, built on a skid so my hut is mobile! Used bat and board for the walls and has a tin roof, made my own stringers and stairs for easy access and rear of the hut has the door put carpet inside to dampen noise and the computer chair I use. My hut is also anchored down with steel cabling in all 4 corners by eye bolts and 5' of rebar in the ground. Something else you'll want to think About. Heavy duty tie straps work just as well instead of buying cable. That was expensive. IMO if your going to put in the effort to take on such a task you might as well do it right and the way you want it and built to last. Oughta see many many years out of my hut and I can't say enough how awesome it is to get out if the rain and cold!!

Plus one for Randys Taxidermy. here is my buck from last year. does great work.

summit TITAN.... built for the bigger hunters out there, nice and roomy and oh so comfortable, light as hell, and only noise youll hear while climbing is yourself huffin and puffin.

yea, i wasnt implying otherwise.

i bet if you were to ask random people on the street if given the choice to hunt with a x-bow or a compound bow, a vast majority would choose a x-bow. and i bet if you were to ask them why they chose a x-bow, there answer would be because they think its easier, shoots like a gun which 99% of people can figure out. regardless whether its easier or not. plain and simple. to me i would expect more inexperienced "hunters" during archery because they think a x-bow is an easy shoe in into the archery season that you wouldnt normally find them in, because it "shoots just like a gun". the act of physically shooting a x-bow is much more advantageous than a bow, but you still have to get on top of the deer. that at least requires some knowledge of the woods and a little effort. which IMO may discourage some people.

when discussing hunting with friends out west in Idaho, they seemed perplexed that the vast majority of my kills have been 15yds or less, as none of them have come that close to a deer or elk. they were used to 50+ yds, and they have to stalk.