SilentStalker

and its not that I have a problem with it but the whole bigger is better mentality has hurt hunting in general as far as I'm concerned. And QDMA has played a part in that whether the prgram intended to or not. The way I look at it is - way back before my time, the guys hunted for the brotherhood and to put food on the table for the family. Today its to "create a healthier herd" and only shoot big bucks or mature does. Where in that is the brotherhood? Today, people fight over who got the killing shot on a fricken basket 6 rather than just splitting the deer and saying WE got it together. The obsession that QDMA created over horns - err - i mean creating a healthier herd hurts more than it helps. IMHO.

How'd you get 4? I thought you could get 2 unless it was a DMAP tag?

You meant no harm by your request and I dont feel he needs to be policed on the site. Maybe read the regs book every year but the point was made and the berating wasnt necessary. And how was he asking to buy a tag from a stranger any more greedy than someone who has gotten them signed over by friedns or acquaintances? It may be wrong on its face but not any more greedy. Also we forget not everyone has bunches of time to hit the woods for that buck.

That profile view really does it justice. Nice deer!

I didnt miss the point. But no one can tell me yourself included that you would spend the countless hours and money on planting food plots and doing all the other QDM stuff for the betterment of the "herd" first and foremost. I have no problem with guys shooting only mature deer. In fact I commend them for their patience and skills. I'm just saying QDM's unstated goal is large racked bucks. With that comes letting lit's walk and growing a more stable herd with all age classes represented as NYAntler stated. If we all wanted a better deer herd for the sake of the deer, why is there starving people in the country? Dont we care about our human counterparts more than the deer herd and we'd all be giving all our time to pantries etc. rather than the deer herd and its stability.? I'm not trying to get crazy with my point but I feel it has some merit. If you want to shoot the little ones, more power to you, if you want to pass on them, also more power to you. I just thibnk QDM disguises itself at its ultimate goal for the practicer.

I appreciate your input and that someone finally admitted that some are in QDM for the wrong rerasons if you will. Good luck the remainder of the season NYAntler. My point was that I just thinks it funny that QDM guys say their main focus is for protection and enhancement the herd. We all know what the main focus is - Some people spend crazy amounts of time on their plots and land, just for the good of the herd? Ca'mon, they want big bucks and a by product of planitng plots and only shooting big bucks is a more healthy herd, but let's all call QDM what it is - a way to get bigger racked bucks to harvest.

X2 - I've always seen less deer 3-4 days on either sided of the full moon.

But if he had the horns that were up to snuff, you would have shot...You chose to be selective with the 6.5 250# because he lacked the horns that would have made you happy. This is what I'm getting from the response. Would you rather shoot a 2.5 big tall 8 or 10 that you had initially thought was 3.5 or the big old bruiser who is 6.5 yo.? Not trying to start another argument on the thread, but if QDM's sole purpose was to create more mature deer for harvest, dont you think a NY 6.5 250# would fit the mold and should be harvested, regardless of horns?

I have a better idea. Have the wife or SO take the course then you you have a shot at 2 more every year. Legal as can be. I'm sure I'll get smashed for this but I see no difference in someone giving a tag to another. You are just planning ahead.

I've passed smaller bucks and eaten tags because of it. I'm fine with that. I've also shot spikes and smaller bucks (1.5 and under) because it is what I wanted and needed at the time. I am very good friends with a 10 year QDM practicer and he has worked very hard and has been successful at bringing his bucks to a very respectable level. I commend him for that. That being said, I think its sad that horns have begun to consume so many hunters and outway the overall picture of enjoying time afield. I honestly do not believe that the sole purpose and individual's reason for practicing QDM is to create an overall healthier herd over that of creating monster bucks. I do believe QDM does create a healthier herd where applicable, but I feel the QDM practicers main objective is to shoot large racked bucks, not mature deer. IE - NYanlter, you say you want to shoot mature deer but have passed a mature deer because he had broken horns. You go on to say it wont hurt the age structure. Ok I get that, but if you're passing mature deer that have broken horns, why even hunt. It kind of proves my point that QDM guys want horns over anything else. Now when I say applicable I mean this...I hutn in Lewis Coutny alot in the western ADK's where there are not a lot of deer plain and simple. One of the bordering clubs has been practicing QDM for over five years with a biologist and all. They have been killing over 20 doe a year in this time based upon the biologist's suggestion. However, they have been seeing less and less bucks every year and also obviously less does. 20 doe is overkill in this area and it has begun to affect the surrounding clubs unfortunately. I could understand 5-10 doe but 20 is just too much. I will also add they havent shot any more or less larger bucks than before QDM.

I follow his predicitons every year and for the most part buy into them. However, you MUST take in to account weather, the deer ratio he monitors, and his location (Southern Tier) It has been my experience that the ADK's are approx. a week later than his predicitons. I base this on my buck sightings and what thos ebucks are doing (chasing girls)) and the amount of rutting sign I see ie: rubs and scrapes

Grunt #1 option as far as I'm concerned. I have grunted two decent bucks in my short career - one was trailing a lady and the other was alone. This was during the rut so depending on the year it may be different choice.

Is there a legal size for bear harvest???

I hunt where the shots arent going to be over 50 yards in most spots and opted to buy a Marlin 30-30. In part because I'ma lefty and I couldnt find any lefty bolts. However, I was torn between that and a 270. But the suggestions on here are good. Only thing I would say is I've seen a 30-06 do a little more damage than I would like on a deer so take that into consideration as well when shoosing a rifle. But as stated 30-06 is a great all arouind rifle. You can hunt pretty much all big game in the US with is.

Nice deer man!! I have friends that live up that way in Colton by the Higley Flow and they got some nice ones running around too!!

Culver, I agree - but my point was for the deer that aren't immediately mortally wounded that would succumb to the elements in part due the superficial wound.

I think part of it has to do with the wounding of deer and that they (the DEC) does not want wounded and unrecovered deer running around after gun season. I know anyone can wound a deer (gun or bow), but the the percentages are way lower for gun hunters. I dont have a problem with it. I have seen plently of deer in the SZ late ML season that we have killed that had both arrow and bullet wounds and would not have made it through the winter.

What's hanging next to those deer?

law enforcement for NY based in Albany.

How'd you guys do over the weekend? I killed my first buck with the loader, a 3 pt at 0840. Very pumped and on pub land.

Sweet cabin!! Did he get the plans from the D&DH mag? I think I saw a similar looking house project they or Outdoor Life had in their mag. a couple years back where the basement opened out like that.

I agree Stretch. I dont worry about hunting, but I sure do get excited about it, even at 29 and almost a decade fo hunting under my belt. Young or old, if you cant get escited about it, why would you do it?

You can hunt it. There is a bow only zone as well as a gun zone. Just called looks like they will be opening the gate this year. Thanks.

What location int eh ADK's. No tlooking for sepcifics not that it really maters, just curious as to there ranges.

Are those tree tubes in the top left of the second pic? I have heard good things about them and have purchased some to plant apple trees at my camp. If so how do you like them?