grampy

He definitely has the swollen neck and body size of a three and a half. Nice buck,I hope you get a crack at him!

I don't understand the hundred dollar license cost vs deer or number of deer killed. If I take my wife out for a nice dinner that will last about an hour and cost about a hundred dollars. Or if we go to a concert that lasts two maybe three hours and costs way more than a hundred dollars. How can hunting for about two and a half months even if I choose not to shoot a deer, be considered a bad deal for a hundred dollars? I will always respect the fact that we are all different and hunt for different reasons. As long as its legal, there is no wrong way or right way, good or bad way. It's just hunting.

Ninety percent of the time I prefer to hunt from the ground. I pay close attention to wind direction,can slip in and hunt with little noise,and in some areas like stands of hemlock, I can see better from the ground. Nothing quite like the thrill of being on their level,eye to eye and getting a shot with bow! I've used natural blinds,overturned tree rootballs and blow downs successfully over many years. And some set ups you just need to use a climber or stand,and if I have to I will. But,I must admit,I'm a little afraid of heights.....lol....

wooly,thanks for sharing those awesome pics. Very nice work!

Way to go Joe! You will never forget the thrill of your first bow kill. And congrats to dad too! Great memories there for sure!

Way to go ANTLERS! Nice job! Was he by himself or following does?

I have killed lots of small bucks and does earlier in my hunting days. I do like the meat but don't need it to survive. As I'm getting a few years under my belt I just don't get that thrill killing spikes and small bucks anymore. Now for me it's more about the hunt itself. We don't have huge numbers where I hunt. But always at least a couple of good ones. Those are the ones I like to hunt. I have no problem passing up smaller bucks and eating tag soup if need be. Also I will never pass judgment on any hunter for killing any deer they may take. It's all good. I have been taking my two grandsons hunting who are 10 and 12. I can't wait till the day when they kill their first spike or doe! Again, it's all good!

Did you recover the doe? I usually give a set up a few days after killing a deer there. But I have multiple set ups to use. I know guys that have killed two deer in the same stand on the same day.

Taking Mondays and Tuesdays off for the next couple of weeks so four day weekends. Then first week of gun season. Any time between now and then should be really good this year.

Very nice buck! Congratulations! And well done!

That is some awesome advice phade. I have a couple of very thick south facing slopes that I'll be hunting this weekend.

That big smile on your face says it all. Nice job.

Patience is a virtue not gained easily. But at times can pay off big time hunting big bucks. I would try to half the distance from your current set up to where he is bedding and wait him out. The scrape line you are watching now won't matter much as soon as the first doe is ready. And he is now bedding close to the does. So you need to get a bit closer to them. Very soon he will be mixing it up with them. Stay close and wait him out. Whatever you decide to do good luck!

We are all pulling for you Cabin,good luck!

Great buck and memories to last a lifetime for you both!

I have a lucky back tag holder I have used for the last twenty five years or so. It has duct tape holding it together and needs to be retaped each year. But it has held the tag that went on many deer over those years.

That is a buck of a lifetime right there! Hope to see you in the next pic with him. Good luck!

Well for sure you have a buck or bucks working that area right now. Is there a doe bedding area close by? If so try setting up as close to it as you can. Or between the scrape line and bedding area. As right now,they are actively searching for the first estrous does. Once the first does are ready the bucks could be anywhere on the property or farther out with the doe. So get on out there now every chance you get. Good luck!

I used Tinks and some other urine scents many years ago with limited success on small bucks. Now the only scents I use is common sense. I prefer to not not tip off the deer in any way that I can control as to my presence. There have been countless success stories using scents I just prefer not to.

As a former Deer Search tracker,Phade is correct. Before any tracking begins,consent must be given by any and all land owners where tracking will take place. Also local DEC is notified by the tracker who will give his tracking licence number and the area he or she will be tracking in. As far as this young hunter goes,I commend him for seeking advice and doing all he could do to recover his deer. With his limited experience,and we have all been there,he did more than some so called veteran hunters would have. I'm sure he learned some valuable lessons from this. John,get back out there in your stand and just kill a deer! Please post it here so we all can see the smile on your face! Good luck!

I too use the dead down wind clothes wash and dryer sheets. Then out of the dryer and into a scent free covered bin until I'm ready to use them. I spray down before heading out and have many times had deer within feet of me in natural ground blind.

LOL.....Talk about a cover scent!.........whew

Many moons ago, walked half hour to my stand. Got up and all set,and just getting light. Went to load gun only to discover I left ammo in my other vest. Came down, walked back to my truck got the ammo and back to the stand. Sat till dark and never saw a deer. Of course if I had sat there with no ammo every deer in the county would have paraded by giving me a big hoofs up!

On the two properties I hunt,we try to shoot every coyote we see. But it hasn't made much of a difference,they still outnumber the deer.