grampy

Looking at the extended forecast for Albany county, it looks like we might have a short window, between sunrise and ten AM.before the rain starts. That will be perfect for me to hunt my opening day spot up in a tree stand. I only hunt off the ground two or three times a year now, and opening morning is one of them. After the rain starts, it will be off to a travel funnel in my chair blind. The tree umbrella's do work well in light to moderate rain, but I've found they don't work so well in harder rain and strong winds. So I bought the chair blind a few years ago, and it's perfect for gun hunting in inclimate weather!

Congratulations! You will always remember every detail of the first one! You'll kill many more in the years to come, but none will ever be quite as special as that very first one. Way to go and nice shot.

That or he's winking at Antlers wife.

We got a call the other day saying, "I'm so and so and I've used you guys four or five times, and hit another one! Can you come find him?"......click.

Right lung punched. Caught just the bottom of left one and just missed the heart. With a 100gr. Rage Hypo. This deer only went 50 yards from where it was hit, fell down the hill, and could not get back up. Why it did not die right away, is a mystery to us as well.

Puddy Tat..........meow!

Congratulations! Way to go my friend! Really Awesome! You had a lot of great hunts this year. I'm so impressed with your dedication and skill. On to the gun now. Best of luck and keep it going!

Reeltime, congratulations on a true monarch of the woods! It is only fitting that Pickett would fall to your arrow. Awesome job on an awesome buck!

Shot entered right side mid body. Exited low left side, as is seen in the pic. Left a great blood trail!

Will do Mike. Thanks. Hoping you get a late inning score buddy! Good luck.

Aw man......I don't want to get the Sako soaked on the first hunt with it!

Got out today with my hunting partner Gary, who has been my friend since we were boys. We were hunting opposite ends of the farm. About 3:30 got a text saying he had arrowed a buck it ran off a short distance and fell within sight. But it wasn't dead! So told him to meet me at the house to give him time to expire. While having coffee and going over the hunt, we were watching three deer on his lawn! Went back in and he was ready to take the ride home. Way to go buddy! 8 point 169 dressed. Now on to gun season! Can't wait to see what comes next for us!

Beautiful buck Larry! Congratulations my friend!

Nice buck! I really like the snow camo tool.

I know he's a shooter for me! What a buck!

You take care. Know my thoughts and prayers are with you, for a speedy and complete recovery. Look forward to your harvest pic's next year! With a big glowing smile on your face.

Beauty of a buck! Congratulations!

Guess I'm now officially old and soft! In years past, I'd be out regardless of weather conditions. Just not going out in this wind and cold. Hunting is just an enjoyment for me now, and if I'm not enjoying myself, I'm not sitting. The fact I've already filled my buck tag does make the decision much easier though. Wishing all who are out the best of luck! Any deer killed today is well deserved!

Depending on weather conditions, I'm always switching hunting jackets. So I just put my tag in, or sometimes on my fanny pack, that I throw over my shoulder. Never had a problem doing it like that.

Wishing you well. Sending good thoughts and prayers for a quick and full recovery. Got mine coming up on the 28th. Season ends for me then. Begged the Doc to let me hunt through the firearms opener. Finished up the pre-op stuff yesterday, and keeping up with the Doc's restrictions before surgery, has me feeling a bit useless around the farm. But looking forward to hunting with my grandson starting Saturday. Stay strong, and wishing you much luck this weekend!

Welcome! Great to have you join us! Best of luck to ya this season!

SHOOTING the crossbow, is for sure less movement than a vertical bow. HUNTING with a crossbow is MUCH more movement, than a vertical bow. As it sits in your lap, the limbs flop side to side on the forend with the slightest nudge. Crossbow is also much heavier, and almost clunky to carry and handle. It seems to catch every limb and vine, on the way into the stand. And with the wider profile, deer pick off the crossbow, much more so than the slim vertical profile of a bow. You still need to be accurate with yardage assessment too. So for all who say how easy a crossbow is. Try one yourself, while HUNTING. You will come to realize it is not some super easy killing machine! It's just another hunting tool with advantages and disadvantages, like any other hunting tool.

Great spot! Good luck in there! I can tell you, they are on their feet and moving right now in that area!!! Saw it with my own eyes yesterday! Pulling for ya my friend!

A few years ago I shot a friends crossbow, that he had picked up, for fun target practice, after shooting our bows. Then when the crossbow season was started, and we were given two weeks to hunt with it. I bought one, just to add to the implements I could use to take a deer with. Killed a doe that first season. Have not killed anything with it since. I am still a bowhunter first. That is my first love. But due to issues beyond my control, the bow buck I killed this year will most likely be my last with the bow. Now I'm happy to have the crossbow to keep me in the woods. Got two of them now. But the Mrs. knew about the first one. She followed up with a nice case and some accessories on Christmas. Next to my bow, it is the next best, fun thing to shoot!

Grow, if you had a good blood trail leading to the golden rod, you still have a good blood trail. It's just "much harder" to see on the dry goldenrod, but look closely and it should be there. Good luck. Sounds like a dead deer.