DirtTime

I did for a couple hours. A hawk and a few blue jays are all I saw. I think I'm done with the bow until the late season. 4 gun hunts up north has me in bullets over broadhead mode more the past couple weeks anyway. There's a bear roaming the private land I hunt up north, so I think I might head up there Thursday with the rifle and have a looksie. Then the wife and I will spend the SZ gun opener in the NZ where not hearing 200 shots will be far more relaxing and enjoyable.

There's a lot of public/state land that doesn't even have hiking trails. I highly doubt that even in 50 years they will become over populated. Most hikers aren't going out to blaze new trails in desolate areas. So, as a hunter on public land, we need to adapt and get outside that cozy little comfort zone and go into those areas where not everyone will venture. When you live in a box you will hit a wall no matter the direction you take. Step outside the box, and the world is yours. If one chooses to hunt only those highly populated areas, in any part of the state, it's on them. They know what's involved and continue to go there and then piss and moan about other people. I have an area I flat out will not hunt because of over population of "outdoor" people. There are good bucks killed in there every year. For me, it's a personal choice not to hunt there, and I give those who do a lot of respect dealing with the place. It's just not for me.

Haven't been keeping up on this thread 100%, so to all who have and continue to fill tags, congrats! I'm feeling like crap today, my stomach is killing me. Yet, here I sit typing this considering doing some still hunting with my bow.

I'm with @Kmartinson that this is flat out not true! Maybe when you're hunting well over populated areas in a large metro area like LI or those places downstate near the City. Yet I'm sure you can still avoid other people/hunters down there as well. But upstate? You're very mistaken. I have more then one public land place I hunt that gets a good amount of traffic from hikers, cyclists, and bird watchers, yet I can find a place well away from the beaten path and never see another person. The trick is simple- Don't hunt 30 feet off a frikin' hiking trail. Even area's in the Catskills you can find places that other people don't go. You really want to get away from people get yourself some 4 season camping gear and hit the ADK's, you can be as "alone" as you want to be up there. Or, you can rent a cabin. There's a very HUGE MISCONCEPTION of what "UPSTATE" truly is/means.

WTF just happened!

I wouldn't climb with my gun. Or bow or crossbow. Use a rope line to pull it up to you once your set and lower it before you descend.

Hoppes. It just works. My local Wallyworld took guns and ammo down for like 4 days and then right back out in the racks and shelves.

Nice pic and timing on that cam. Congrats on the doe as well.

I hear if you put some 3/4" rope across the corners and stake that down with 10" tent spikes at said four corners it can help keep the blind more stable in high winds. So, I would think putting it across the corners and the sides it would help more. It would also help with brushing the blind in as one could use some cordage to tie branches to the rope.

Many irregularities can be cured with stool softeners or hardeners. So a fly by dropping MiraLAX might help solve this one too.

What's the problem? Scared that instead of hunter orange you'll have to wear the new hunter pink?

Well this turned out anticlimactically. I was hoping for a Action flick. Instead we get a Lifetime Original movie. At least the cam is back in the rightful owners hands.

I can't tell if this is your usual sarcasm or if you're serious.

53* at 5AM here. Just took the dog out and the sky is turning black. Rains rolling in a couple hours sooner then predicted it looks like. Sort of glad I called it. The rest of the week looks great with cooler temps back in play and no rain. Good luck to all who head out and brave the storm.

Stop looking for squat and start looking for deer. Squat has no season in NYS, and to my recollection there are hefty fines for taking them illegally. It's day three of the crossbow season, have some patience. Deer don't just show up because you tossed on some camo and cocked the bolt shooting gun. This is the time to be out there as much as you can be.

^^^^^ THIS! All day everyday! Especially here in NYS! Anyone who cares about our 2ND Amendment rights would never have voted for our new "leaders"! We have a Governor who pisses our gun rights away any chance he gets! Now he'll have more ground to stand on again because the two people with the most power are on his side against guns. How soon we forget that the Safe Act was signed into law in the middle of the night so there couldn't be any debating or pro gun people/politicians stopping it. Trump got our LEO's and Military some much needed funding to do their jobs, to reverse the funding cuts Obama put into place, that Biden supported! Don't forget how ISIS was formed either. Taxes? Yeah that will be a fun ride. Also don't forget that these morons who will take office in January want to cut funding for people getting disability, but at the same time want to increase welfare, allow illegals to get free money, and allow people who don't want to go back to work more money to sit home and collect more unemployment benefits then they do at their jobs. For those who pay attention, if there is an economic collapse, this just might be the duo to make it happen. Some people just don't get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't see any of this ending well.

Congrats on a nice buck.

With a crossbow? No wonder you missed!

This morning was a bust. I still managed to get to where I was hunting and start in right at first light. 3 other cars in the parking area, but after seeing deer a few days in a row and making those blinds I wasn't going back home. I figured crossbow hunters, so I'd take the long way into my spot. WRONG! DUCK HUNTERS! I'm not 200 yards from the parking area and what sounds like WW3 starts sounding off. Back around the other way and I slip into my blind and put an orange hat in the tree behind me. Man, those guys must have fired off at least 100 rounds. I was hoping it would scare something to wander in front of me. No such luck. How many frikin' shells does it take to kill a duck anyway? There's small ya know. Looking forward to the quiet of the NZ and carrying a rifle tomorrow.

Your going to get more then a case of the chits doing that, and you'll still be lost.

Running a few minutes late. Rough getting up this morning. But- I've hunted everyday this week except Monday so.................... Good luck every one.

I think my wife wants to rent a different cabin for our trip next October. She wants to be closer to the lake. I was thinking about a back country camp for the bow opener next season up on Lake Desolation. Can't be the NZ opener because it's most likely going to be a Wednesday, so the weekend of 10/1 is my plan. Going up there to try my luck this spring for turkey, if it's not sub freezing temps and a foot of snow left. That's going to be primitive camping as well near Indian Lake. I'm not getting any younger and my health seems to be getting worse with each year, so it's time to get off my ass and do some things I have wanted to do for many years. You never know when you're going to give up the ghost, so do it now and then no regrets later.

Made some notes..... If I was to ever plan a camping trip up to the ADK's for a weekend of bow hunting and invited some people from here: @Jeremy K would rather hunt in Ohio. I guess the out of state tags are cheaper then gas here. @The_Real_TCIII would need some basic tips on using a compass by land marks ( easiest way to use one ). We would need a search party for @Robhuntandfish of he got out of sight of his truck. WTF, don't you people ever leave your back yards? <-------- That's a joke.

Just buy a GPS like everyone else. Cause ya know...Batteries never die or nuthin'.

So are you two gearing up for the Dacks?