grampy

I didn't kill a deer this bow season but to me it was successful. Had a mature buck at thirty yards that never gave me the angle I needed for a clean shot,and many smaller bucks and does within spitting distance that I chose to let walk. I saw some awesome sunsets and sunrises and smelled the fresh fallen leaves on a cold fall morning. Had my two grandsons,10 and 12,with me more often this year and they are really getting into learning the way of the woods. My best friend and I shared some exciting hunts together this year and we had a couple close encounters with some decent bucks and had more than a few laughs together. Killing a deer is a big part of deer hunting but to me it's not the only measure of success. Looking forward to firearms season and hoping everyone out there has a safe and successful season.

In my years of hunting I've seen the number of hunting accidents come down slowly. But it is not at zero and in my opinion never will be. Do you really have to shoot at a running deer five times,reload and pop off three or four more? I don't want to be a statistic,so always be sure of where your bullets or slugs are going! Keep it safe out there and good luck everyone.

In 4 H over the last four days I have seen that the bucks are close to the does but the does are not quite in estrus yet. The younger bucks are chasing the does relentlessly and the more mature bucks look like they are getting very impatient. But I have not seen a doe stand ready for a buck yet. This could very well be an epic opening day on Saturday when those first does are ready to stand for the bucks. I'm hoping to see a flurry of activity for a few days before the bucks get lost with the does. Be safe and good luck to everyone in gun season!

Years ago I had a conversation with a DEC officer, and asked him about how he responds to early and late shots during firearms season. He told me flat out that he, himself, will not respond,up to fifteen minutes ether side of legal shooting time. Of course this varies from officer to officer, I'm sure. If I am to be totally honest, I don't repeatedly check my watch(no phone while hunting for me) to be sure I am within the minute of legal shooting time. My first and foremost priority is to make a safe shot. And if that safe shot should fall only a few minutes ether side of "legal" shooting time so be it. Just throwing in my two cents, and humble opinion.

The brows look similar too. But I hope for you that they are two different bucks. Then you may just kill two GIANTS in the same year! Good luck!

Where in 4j are you? Have you talked to neighboring land owners to see if they are experiencing something similar?

This has or likely will happen to just about every hunter in their hunting career. Take what you can from it as far as lessons learned and experience. Seems to me you did all you could do to find him.You're probably feeling a bit down now, but pick yourself up and get back out there. And good luck for the remainder of the season!

Great deer man! Congratulations! You're right he is a Giant!

Me too! Four days of rut hunting with the crossbow! Good luck to everyone this weekend!

Happy Hunting grow!! Wish we had some of that here.

Congratulations! Way to finally get it done! Bet you are one happy hunter tonight. What rifle and caliber did you use?

I'm guilty! I can be dead tired and I still play over and over in my head things like weather, temperature, wind direction, recent deer sightings, hunting pressure and what set up to use given all these factors. But it's this excitement that still gets me out of a warm bed on a cold and windy morning at three thirty, after more than forty hunting seasons. If the time comes and I should lose this anxious, excitement feeling. It will be time to hang up the old hunting hat for good.

Nice job on the yotecicle! Great shot!

1..Try and stay as still as I can,don't want to make things worse. And never make eye contact. 2...Keep all movement very slow. Fill in the blind with natural stuff from nearby. Like dead branches,leaves,partially rotted logs and my favorite,hemlock branches. This should be done before the season starts if possible. But I have done it on the fly and have it work out at times too. 3...As long as you have the wind in your favor,keep on hunting. Other deer will show up if you have picked a good spot. Depending how bad the deer was spooked you could see it again the same day or maybe not in that spot again for the rest of the season.

Way to go! Congratulations! You stuck it out and it payed off,great job. And a very nice buck!

Happy Birthday! And good luck for the rest of the season!

I hunt private land that borders state land. I will always have on a blaze orange hat and vest. I want to be sure I'm seen. I use the "camo" orange with the black on orange and it seems to blend in nicely while on watch. Mainly a ground hunter,and unless I get caught moving or get winded,deer don't seem to notice at all.

Happy to hear you had a nice birthday,Bill.

I stopped using scents many years ago. I know some hunters have had a lot of success using them. But speaking only for my self, I never was able to fool a mature buck in my area using them. I now just try to get as close to does as I can this time of year. They smell better to a buck than anything I could buy off the shelf. I prefer common sense to scents myself. But if it works well for you or other hunters and it gives you a bit of confidence that is great too. Use whatever works for you in your area. Right now bucks are actively searching for the first scent of estrus does,and will follow that scent far and wide day or night. But after the first few days of firearms season with shooting and much more hunting pressure going on most deer will be seeking cover and moving more at night. And won't tend to be out in the open as much as they are now.

You worked too hard to get him,don't toss him now. Just a little trimming and he will be ready for your freezer. Congratulations!

Great job on a nice buck! Congratulations to your husband! Happy he ended the dry streak and I'll bet he is one happy hunter today!

I practice all year with the quiver on and hunt that way too. Over the years I've gotten a couple of quick follow up shots that made the difference between going home with a deer or not. I hunt mostly from the ground and as long as i keep the drawing process slow I think the arrows in the quiver,to a small degree hide some movement. I will also use just a touch of spray insulation in the holes where broadheads go to hold them tight. The crossbow quiver on the other hand comes off soon as I sit down. It's awkward enough without the quiver!

Welcome coldwater. I'm a new guy here as well after lurking for awhile. Good luck to you this season!

The bigger bucks seem to just be cruising between doe bedding areas as of Monday,here in 4H. Had group of five does go by and no buck following. The single does are being followed by the smaller bucks or are by themselves. Could be something totally different happening two miles down the road though. Should be full on chasing in my neck of the woods this weekend,and I have four days to get it done with the crossbow! Also very few rubs and scrapes seen for the amount of bucks sighted. But I try to get in and out were the deer don't travel as much,and just ease into my spots.

Three and a half to four and a half. Very nice buck! Hope you get to lay your hands on him. He's got your name all over him wooly! ......lol.......