grampy

And all from the ground Biz. I know you would approve!! Nothing better to me than hunting eye to eye on the deer's level! It up's the challenge a bit, but can't beat the thrill!

We got in there today, looked around, and made three sets. Lots of deer sign, and lots of rubs and scrapes. Saw a basket 8 driving in on the access rd. View from first set. Up on western side of a small ridge. Bedding below, oaks behind. Major deer runs close by. Second set. East side of same ridge, 400 yards from #1. Hemlocks to the left, thicker stuff to the right. This is where we found the most concentrated buck sign. Third set, and possibly the best one. A swamp down below, oaks with acorns covering the ground, just above. All kinds of trails going back and forth between the two. Set is in a natural depression, where deer won't see us until it's too late. Or maybe not at all. Set one and three can be used for multiple wind directions. Just turn till the wind is in your face, and hunt what's in front. So many different runs, they could come from! Set #2 is perfect for the prevailing NW wind. Will get in there next Saturday. Hopefully will see something? Absolutely so cool hunting, and trying to figure out a new spot! Will update again here, after actually sitting one of these spots. Should be interesting?

From what I've seen when hunting with you, next weekend will be crazy with buck movement!!! The magic Mendon weekend!!! Looking forward to your text buddy!!!

That was a cool video!

Congratulations! Way to go!

Thanks again to everyone for the positive feedback!! Very excited to see how this will play out? My hunting partner Gary and I, will be going in tomorrow morning to set some spots. Will take pictures of the set up's, and a brief explanation of why we chose that spot. Mr. Steve won't be hunting tomorrow, so we won't mess him up by stomping around. Got some good advice from a forum member, who I respect a lot with hunting info. He suggested to just go in there and not be quiet. Let the deer know we are there, and let them run to their escape routes. Shouldn't bother them while we are in there setting up spots. (most will be from the ground). Much better than sneaking around. And I agree with him after thinking about it. Once we are all set up, they will filter back in and resume their normal activity within a day or so, or even a few hours. He showed me proof from cams on his property that it works! Kinda get em out of the way, while we do what we need to. Again, I'm just trying to share a little info, as we try to set up on new property during hunting season. Hopefully it will help someone else along the line, that reads this.

That 62 acres could potentially be the best acres out of the surrounding thousands. If that happens, where do you think the majority of the deer would like to spend some time? Just food for thought.

November Rain......Guns and Roses Can't begin to tell ya how many times this song was cranked in my truck, on the way up to hunt.

Happy Birthday sir!

Yes 4J. No firearms, or crossbow hunting allowed. And that's just fine with me. It's what makes hunting the Pine Bush so special. Hopefully it will give me a better chance to get some blood on my Obsession Bow. It hasn't seen any since moog hunted with it! Trying hard to keep my bum shoulders in shape! My grandson is going to be helping me with some light weight training, and some exercises. All in moderation of course. I need to just get in there to find a couple spots of my own this weekend. I won't hunt Steves stands, as I'm not sure when he will be in them? They are on the cut trails, to make it easy for him to access. I'm planning on going in a bit farther, looking for some travel corridors to set up on at first. Last thing I want to do, this close to the rut, is go stomping all over in there! Would have been nice to scout thoroughly pre season, but that's not in the cards I was dealt with. So I'll adjust on the fly! Turns out I do know someone who hunts a mile or so from this property. I was told to be patient!! I will be tempted ALOT. And that there are some monster bucks in there? He has some on his wall to prove it. But it will NOT be as easy as some may think it is, and it's certainly no slam dunk for sure. I get that!! He also says that where I'll be hunting, he'd think it should be even better than his parcel, and much, much larger. And how the heck did I luck into that? No one he knows has ever got permission to hunt around there. I just shrugged and said 'lucky I guess'? So I will try to update this as I go. In the hopes my trials and errors, learning a new property on the fly, during season, will help someone else.

Eye !

Having just aquired a new property to hunt myself, it's cool finding that spot within the spot. First thing l look for is obvious deer runs. This time of year look for scuffed up leaves. Or any tracks in the mud or dirt. Some concentrated scat helps too. Then try to figure where they are coming from, and going to? Bed to feed is what I want to know. What are they eating? Anything obvious? I'll also look for rubs, or rub lines. Old and new. To tell me where bucks like to travel through, or perhaps stage in the area. Elevation changes, even small ones in a relatively flat area will sometimes have deer following the contours. Or saddles and benches in the hilly areas. Deer will use these, along with pinch points or funnels, that concentrate movement. Where if any, is the hunting pressure coming from? Where is the thickest nastiest cover around, where they would feel safest? What's it look like just outside of that? Where are you in relation to the prevailing wind? Always want that in your favor. Many things to consider. This was just a few of the obvious ones that come to mind. Our biggest advantage over the deer's keen senses, is what's between our ears. Though deer can and do make me look dumb a lot of times!

Thanks guys. To say I'm pumped is putting it mildly! Being a bow hunting only zone, the bucks get a chance to get some age in there. The hardest part of hunting the Pine Bush is finding access. Finding 60 acres is totally unheard of!!! It's on the far western edge of the bush. Within the Guilderland town limits. I've truly hit the jackpot with this property. And feel absolutely blessed to get this lucky! But.....my other properties are decent too. So now the "problem" I have is where to go, and when???

I just received permission to hunt a prime 60 acre bow only property, on the western edge of the Pine Bush! It's five minutes from my door, and loaded with deer! Only other person that hunts it, is an old friend of mine, who is a retired teacher, and fellow NYS Hunting Instructor. Steve is getting up there in age, and can't get back there much anymore. He called me a week or so and asked if I was interested. Took me all of two seconds to say YES! Knowing where it was, and the bucks I'd seen from the area driving through. He took me in tonight to just look around. I was pretty impressed. Plenty of deer sign. And some big buck sign as well! And didn't really even leave the trails. It reminds me alot of moogs property in Mendon, terrain wise. I can only hope that it's half as good hunting wise. I also have permission to take anyone I want in with me. But to tell anyone trespassing to leave. I'm not sure how I lucked into this, but I'm very grateful I did. I guess it pays to be nice to people? Going to give it a try sometime this weekend. There are a couple of stands up, but I'll find a spot on the ground. Will do a little sneakin and peekin to learn more of the lay of the land. So exciting to hunt a new property. And gives me a challenge to see what I can pull out of there. Anyone who knows the Pine Bush, knows what I mean.

A little more information may be helpful? Picture of the bow? Compound? Recurve? Price? Will you ship, or where to pick up?

This thread is so interesting and educational!! I can't get enough! Thank you dinorocks.

With all the new changes, it's easy to see that the deer have shifted their movement patterns on your property. Perhaps they are still using it, but in different places than you are used to seeing them? You may need to scout a bit to find the new travel areas, and move stands accordingly. But I'd be very surprised if they have abandoned your property totally. They have only adjusted to the changes. They are there somewhere. Once YOU adjust, you'll be fine! Good luck!!

Lots and lots of acorns in the hills of Albany county this year. But production from individual trees can vary greatly from property to property. There could also be a different food source, the deer are now hitting in your area? That may have changed the deer patterns? If you have the doe's, the bucks will soon be there.

What an awesome buck! And with your two very skilled, and talented hands, you brought him back to life! Another, just stunning mount sir.

Welcome! Your hunting adventures begin here! Lots to draw from the many good folks on this forum. Like already said, get your NYS Hunter Safety Course done. Then we'll help ya get sighted in.

Welcome! Another 4H hunter here. Hunting in the hilltowns of Albany County. Patience, is one of the hardest deer hunting lessons to learn. Wishing you the best of luck!

Good luck my friend!

This the 2nd one I've had done using this pattern. I like it because it still leaves alot of white. But adds a little bit to break it up.

No matter what WMU you go to in Region 4 there are plenty of coyotes! Get after em and good luck!

You already have Rob! And I'm letting easy, close shots walk. But I do a lot of that anyways.................... I do hope if I'm lucky, to add some points before the end of the season? We'll see??? Got some great guys on team 2 - 3 !