grampy

My wife supports my addiction! She's an inabler, she bought me my rifle. My name is grampy and I'm a hunter.

And I have nothing but respect for any hunter that kills, or chooses not to kill ANY legal deer. We all hunt for different reasons, and are different people. I don't think the size of the deer a hunter wants to kill, determines if they are anything other than another hunter. No one should ever be made to feel ashamed of any deer killed! It's truly an honor to hunt and kill any deer. We are all in this together, and no one should feel superior or inferior based on the deer they choose to kill.

I honestly respect your opinion BUCKANDAQUARTER. But there are more three and a half year old and older bucks out there than most hunters believe. All you have to do is find them.

I won't be able to make it out until the second week of October. But have had the itch bad for the last few days. Hung a cam yesterday, in a spot I haven't hunted in a couple years. Got a natural blind set near by for my grandson and I. My wife is almost officially a hunting widow until mid December!

No matter where you are hunting, if a buck survives his first hunting season, he will be much harder to hunt the next. And each year he survives he is that uch harder to kill. It takes a certain mindset and a degree of accumulated skill to figure out how these bucks survive and what makes them do what they do and when. I can say this they are masters of adaptation. And if you don't adapt with them your chances of killing mature deer consistently, are not good. More than anything it takes being in the woods and learning, trial and error, and the will to go the extra mile or miles if need be. And dedication to killing mature bucks, even if you have to eat your tag. This dedication is not and should not be for every hunter. Every hunter needs to decide for themselves what deer they want to shoot, as any deer killed is a trophy in my eyes. They are beautiful animals! And every hunter should be proud of every deer they kill. It doesn't matter how big or how old it is. Buck or doe. But to say there are no big bucks to kill, and only hunters with great private land and food plots can kill them is not true. I myself have done it on heavily hunted public land and know others have too. You too can do it! You just have to have the dedication, adaptation, skills and desire that most hunters are not willing to give to a casual activity.

Polaris,Honda Yamaha, Kawasaki all make good machines. I too would look for a used machine under 500 cc and 4x4 is a must if the hill gets a little snow. Got a trailer at Tractor supply that will fit an ATV for about $500. You should be able to buy a used machine and trailer for under $5000. Craigs List always has a bunch on there. Good luck with your search.

I have said this before. If you are not happy with killing small bucks, become a better hunter. Not many areas in NY that don't have at least a few three and a half year old bucks. Perhaps hunting the OLD way just doesn't cut it anymore? Learn new skills, change tactics, become a better hunter. Older, bigger bucks are still out there! Changing DEC hunting regulations will not make you a better hunter!

Sitting where this picture was taken, I wouldn't notice if I were drinking coffee from a paper cup.

Our area, 4H, switched over to rifle last year, and that is what I'll hunt with most now. But,if I were to retire my old Ithica Deerslayer 2, I would replace it with this gun!

The pictures are clear enough to see that most hunters would be happy to tag him. The score matters little.

There was a span of a few years where my buddy and I would see the deer first, that the other shot. We had a saying, you spot em' and I shot em'. We share all info and stands on our properties. And whoever gets a buck first, will bust his butt to do every thing possible to make sure the other successful as well. Both he and I have put down or finished deer that the other has shot first. That included a couple of the biggest deer we have shot. Outside of a little ribbing on how the deer was able to make it to the other, there was NEVER a discussion over who's deer it was. I really am as excited and happy for him if he gets a nice deer as I am for myself. Sometimes more if he breaks a dry spell or shoots a buck we both have a history with. Hunting with my own brother and brother in law is not like this. They are the competitive types who feel they have to shoot the biggest deer. And have had "discussions" over dead deer. I hunt with them very little if at all anymore. Even though we share a property. Pretty sad really. Over what? A dead deer........ I am very much looking forward to the best hunt of my life. When my grandson Zach, shoots his first deer in a couple years. It's not what you take away from hunting. It's what you give back that matters most.

Way to get it started! Nice buck! Congratulations!

Serenity at it's best. What a view!

Looks like a big smiley face. Very cool!

In one hunters eyes, he has good potential. In another hunters eyes, he is a good buck. Everyone decides for themselves. That is the way it should always be.

Spent time in them while in the Army, back in the 70s. Kind of hard to recognize without all the graffiti though.

I have an H and R 12 g single shot that I used when tracking for Deer Search. It has just a single bead for sights. It has put down quite a few deer that jumped up in front of me that were already wounded. Most all of the other trackers used a handgun. But the shotgun was light and easier for me to to swing on target for quick shots. I also painted the bead blaze orange, to help with a quick target accusation. And practiced shooting this way quite a bit. I also custom made a two point nylon sling that kept it out of the way but I could reach back with my left hand to bring on target very quickly.

I will be in Vermont next weekend. Then will have a three day weekend around the 10th. Early on I'll hit some fringe set ups and scout/hunt until the last part of October,hunting early and late in the day. Come late October, I will start to get much more serious. I'll then move to my best and proven set ups and put in much more time in my spots. Will have a bunch of days off in November to hunt.

I practice regularly from 10 to 60 yards. My effective hunting range is 30 yards. My longest kill shot was 37 yards, a few years ago. Most of my kills have been 20 yards or closer.

Sounds like it will be a fun trip! I think most us are getting the itch to get out there at this point!

Just get in there and hunt! They are deer. Not the mythical creatures that can read your mind, know your intentions, bank account number and your mom's maiden name. Just deer!

Awesome post! I could not agree more!

One of the first things I learned about taking the young future hunters out with me. Is to make sure they are comfy and have a little wiggle room. Because at first they do tend to wiggle, a lot! Well, it looks comfortable enough and has plenty of wiggle room! I think you got it covered nicely! Good luck this season!

What size flat screen are you putting in for the football games? Heat? Room service? Nice job! Looks like an awesome spot.