grampy

The crossbow is not some magical weapon.It has it's limitations just like any other hunting tool,like rifle,shotgun,muzzleloader,pistol,or compound,longbow or recurve. Every hunter must learn the limits of what they hunt with. I feel that the crossbow,if included in archery season,should also require a bowhunter certification. Ultimately it is still a very sharp broadhead that kills the deer with a crossbow. As we all know broadheads kill differently than bullets,so having a bowhunter cerification makes sense to me. I do enjoy shooting and hunting with my crossbow. As I said,nothing magical about it. Just another tool to hunt with. I do feel that full inclusion will happen in NY within the next couple of years. So for now I will take the time given to hunt with the crossbow. And hope I can get a couple more years out of my bad shoulders with my compound!

A very Happy Birthday to you!

As always, wooly great picks......pics.

Very nice and very cool! Again, thanks for sharing!

I'm sure on public land, someone has caught a hunter doing the same thing on a trail cam. So when hunting public land, it's always a good idea to look around before ya go.lol.

A beautiful flintlock, nice work! And a very accurate one it appears. Thanks for sharing!

Welcome Robby! Look forward to hearing more from ya! Got any primitive weapon hunting stories? I have been thinking about getting a flintlock kit, and may hit you up for some advice.

Welcome Angela, you found a great place for hunting advice. Got some very knowledgeable folks here who are always willing to help new hunters. As said above, this is kind of a down time for hunting most critters in NY. But it's a great time to get out and practice with your weapon of choice. Being new to the hunting game it's important to become very proficient with any and all of your hunting tools. Practice does make perfect. And just walking in the woods, learning to walk slowly and quietly, and to see critters before they see you is great practice. Through practice you will gain confidence, and gaining confidence in your hunting abilities is a big step in becoming a successful hunter.

Woods,40 to 80 give or take a few yards. In the fields 500 yards or as far as you are comfortable shooting. But in our area that we hunt, it's very seldom to see a mature buck in the open fields during legal shooting time. Or any deer at all in the open around here.

Having a hard time finding 7mm/08 ammo in a lot of places. When I do find it,the choices are limited.

That's what I was thinking. Thanks for your advice!

Also, my axis doesn't have the accu trigger. Would you advise cutting the stock trigger spring one and a quarter coils or just install a timney trigger? Thanks for any and all advice!

Wildcat, I have followed this thread since I received a savage axis in 7mm-08 for christmas. This being my first hunting rifle, I followed your advice and have bought a few boxes of the nosler BT ammo as I don't reload myself. So far, the few times l have shot this set up I'm very impressed with the accuracy. I have a question about the performance of the 140gr. nosler BT on deer. I have done a bit of research on line and heard mixed reviews. I'm sure this round will kill deer, but would like to hear yours and any other members experience using this round for deer hunting. Never having used it myself, I'm just curious.

Even though I probably will not get the opportunity to hunt moose or elk in NY in my lifetime. I would gladly pay for the chance to apply for a tag, if ever a season for them should come about. Like the lottery, ya can't win it if you're not in it!

Nice,were they all from the same property?

Glad you're ok, that could have been nasty. Were there any coon tracks seen around the area before this encounter?

This year it's my two grandsons, who are 11 and 13 who have been going out with me for a few years now. A nephew asked me a few weeks ago if I could get him started hunting. We are now looking for a hunters safety course for him. He just bought his first truck, and will be spending a lot of time with me this spring and summer. Hoping to see him with his first deer this fall. I hunted with his father, my B.I.L., many years ago, great guy but not so great woodsman or hunter. He hasn't hunted in over 20 years. There is a young family man I met through work, that got his start bow hunting last year with me. We had a couple of close encounters, but no deer yet for him. His time was very limited, working two jobs and a family. But this year I hope to see him be successful in taking his first bow buck. After putting 40 plus hunting seasons behind me, anything I can do to see a young hunter, with that gleem in their eyes, shaking hands, and huge smile on their face, standing over a deer. I will gladly do. Hunting is not just all about me anymore.

Not sure what is worse,the weather,or listening to people complain about it.

Have used a 1x4 leopold on my deerslayer 2 for many years. Works great in the thick stuff or out in the open woods. For me, the perfect scope for that gun.

The only thing clear about NYS gun laws, is that they are so disfunctional, even law enforcement doesn't know all the laws. And won't enforce some of the one's they do know. Perhaps if these laws were not rushed and passed in the middle of the night, by a corrupt bunch of politicians. We might all have a better understanding of the gun laws in NYS.

If they made 30 footers or higher, guys would use them. Not my cup of tea, but more power to the ones who would.

LOL.....

I mostly hunt from the ground now. But my hunting partner bought a Big Game Odyssey, last year that I hunted out of a couple times. It was very comfortable and stable. Not sure if it was 20' though. Think he paid a little over $200 when on sale at bass pro.

Done

Have used them most of my life and still do with the grand kids. Always get funny looks from other guy's in bass boats. Like hmmmm,what's he up to with them cane poles. Tournament anglers are always wondering what the other guy is up to.