grampy

Voorheesville, Slingerlands, Delmar, Elsmere....that whole area has pockets of Giant bucks! Limited access, and bow only, insures they get some age on em. And age is the number one factor in BIG bucks. I know these areas very well. And have seen mega giants in all of them over the years. Even gained a couple small places to hunt here and there, but didn't put much effort into them. Just couldn't get used to hunting small woodlots surrounded by houses, with dogs barking, and kids playing. Just not my style.

X4

Congratulations sir! Great shot on a beautiful doe!! Redemption is sweet!

I saw something about this last weekend. Looks legit to me. Delmar being mostly in a bow only zone, grows some BIG bucks! I had a spot around 1984 near the town park that I hunted. Saw some absolute giants in there. I did kill a couple decent ones, but nothing like what I had seen in there.

Congratulations on a great milestone Tom!!! You and your dogs have certainly earned it. You are the 'Dream Team' in tracking circles. This milestone will give way to many more in the future. Way to go!!

Venison is deer, any way ya slice it!!! I wouldn't pass that one up!

Get him Rob!

Out to 40ish, my max hunting distance for either. I too shoot my compound as well if not better than my crossbow. From Saturday morning, I was alternating hunts between the two. Will try for a doe with the compound this weekend.

The collars are the only reason I don't use Rage heads. I know tons of hunters kill tons of deer with em. But.....I'd be the one where something would go wrong no doubt! Curmudgeon seems to have my luck.

Way to go! Looking forward to pic's and the story! Also the breakdown of the shot and recovery.

Closer to two weeks behind here, from what I observed from hunting both West and East over the last couple weeks. Kinda crazy. But even locally, there can be and is a distinct difference even just miles away from what one hunter and another observes. To your wind question Matt, I try to hunt the best wind possible ANY time I set up. Especially from the ground. That being said, the buck I shot on Sunday, came to within five feet, from directly behind me, and downwind!

That sucks! Hope you heal up in time to get out with a firearm.

Wow! That would be a top end buck in these parts!!! Best of luck to ya out there!

Happy Birthday sir!

My experience has been to give liver - gut shots a minimum 4 to 6 hours. You will find it in it's first bed. If bumped too early, those holes plug up and not much blood reaches the ground. Making tracking much more difficult. Best of luck!

Did you hear any sort of impact noise before the arrow hit the tree? Bolt stuck in the tree at about the height of her elbow, tells me perhaps you shaved off some belly hair? Was the hair you found all white?Including the tips? If you hit below the spine, you would have heard two separate impacts. And you'd definitely have some fat residue on the arrow. If she just got a close shave, she will be fine. I don't use Rage heads, so can't help you on them. But do use a two blade mechanical head. The one side could have opened to shave hair. But just the chisel tip is enough to shave hair on a close hit without deploying the blades.

Congrats and awesome buck!!! Now......quickly get him over to the harvest thread for the story! Before they run us off this thread!!!

There is no deer that is "better" than another deer. Every one of them is a gift to be proud of, and admired. Shoot what what you like. Like what you shoot. Post a pic of that buck! I for one would love to see it! And congratulations!

Way to go Dan! Can hardly wait for the awesome pic's!!

I hunted two rut funnel set up's on two different properties last Saturday, and saw zero deer. I thought about where to go Sunday morning, and decided to hunt where the doe were feeding, on an oak ridge. Saw three bucks in the first hour, and killed one of them. They were all just cruising the area hoping to find a doe that would be receptive of their advances. None were. But the bucks are there waiting!

All the hunters who have yet to shoot a buck, have perhaps the best weekend of the season coming up! The "Magic Day" of November 10th along with the 5 days before and after. They will be the days when bucks are just blindly following a doe. Standing oblivious in the open. Crossing roads without looking. Following a doe scent trail with nose to the ground, not bothering to even look around. The normally nocternal ghost of the woods, will be up on his feet and MOVING, during broad daylight, at this time in November!! The younger bucks will be running themselves crazy, trying to find love, without getting beat up by a bigger buck. Get out and get em !! This is as good as it gets now!! Sending good luck! As that is all the majority of you guys need to close the deal! You have what it takes.

Hilltowns of 4H. The bucks were up and moving over the weekend. But the majority of doe are not ready yet. The bucks will come close to them, but the doe are not interested "YET"!! Rubs and scrapes are at their highest point, and seem to be everywhere. These next few days leading up to the 'magic' day of November 10th, and the few days after, will be the real deal! Get out as often, and for as long as you can! With the colder, and clear weather coming, this years rutting action looks to just explode!! This will be the best time to catch a lovesick mature buck out in the open. Also warn your families, that car - deer accidents will be at the highest point as well.

These animals never cease to amaze me with their toughness. I wonder how he got such an injury? Perhaps sparring with another buck?? Perhaps running into a broken pine tree stick, while avoiding danger?? We'll never know for sure. But he sure is a magnificent buck!!

Shot my buck yesterday from the ground. Crossman 370 Sniper crossbow. Two blade 100gr older style slick trick. 20 yard shot. Entry... Exit.. Plenty of blood from the hit sight to 50 yards where he dropped. I think if you punch through both lungs, with most any broadhead, you'll have a short, good blood trial most times. I have made other shots of one lung, high, low, forward and back, that did not bleed as much. And went much farther for recovery. I really think shot placement is more important than what broadhead you use. And will be the first to say, I don't always make the perfect shot. Even within my 30-35 yard limit, with bow or crossbow.

Shoot as many coyotes, as often as you can! There should be a year round open season on them! They certainly are not an endangered species! SSS... 24 - 7 365. Not too often, do you see a bunch of deer living on a property with lots of coyotes.