chrisw

If you fit the criteria I said, then yes I'm talking to you. And speak for yourself, most people I know did ok this season...Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Good call! My bad! Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Lingering effects from a bullet or arrow would be my first thought. Certainly can't rule out a car either. But it could be anything really, deer get diseases like we do... Too bad he couldn't end her suffering right there... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

I hunt pieces that didn't have much activity this year so I focused somewhere else, I drive 1-1.5 hrs almost every time I hunt just to get to decent public land. I too passed up a lot of deer this season. I'm not saying this is you but most people aren't willing to WORK for a deer, they want to sit in the same spot they've been sitting in for 15 years and complain when they don't kill a deer. I'm successful because I scout at least one full day a week, year round! And I'm mobile, I strictly use my climber now and I'm not afraid to pull up stakes and go find the deer wherever I need to go. Most hunters are lazy, and their results show it. This is especially true with some hunters who hunt private land, if the deer just aren't showing themselves for whatever reason the hunters keep hunting those same spots! MOVE! Go hunt state land if you need to. Don't be so locked into a routine that when it changes you're lost. Have backup plans, alternate lands to hunt. I'm in no way pointing any of these comments at you I'm just venting because I've heard so many people the last few weeks blaming this and that when in reality they should look into the mirror. We've become a hunting generation of instant gratification...Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

The opener this year was not the 15th. It was the 21st. And yes another week can make all the difference in rutting activity...Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

I saw a lot of deer during archery season, (I only hunt public land, 9 different bucks and 20+ does/fawns) more than usual, after gun opened there wasn't a deer to be seen. But I got just as many on my cams this year as any other which tells me they ARE there, the weather was seasonably warm and there was an abundance of food this fall. Couple that with gun season being a week later (missing first rut). Some years are good, some aren't. I think too many people just have to search for a reason to blame it on to make themselves feel better honestly. I love being outdoors and hiking and running trail cams, I don't have to fill my tags for it to be a "good year." Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

I think you might be surprised how far your deer travel unbeknownst to you. But every area is different. There are a lot of factors that determine why and when deer travel. I've been running cameras for 10 years all over CNY and its rare to see a specific buck on camera regularly from August through December in my experiences anyway. During November and December I ALWAYS get different bucks that stop in for a day or two and never seen again. But like you said if you have a great piece of private land with everything they need/want that may cut their travels way down too...Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

I've always thought it would be a blast to try spring turkey hunting with one, I may just have to do that this spring... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Same here, very fun and accurate to shoot but I have not taken mine in the woods yet either. Its definitely not your typical pistol feel or grip but on sticks or resting on a rail is fine. Free handing it is pretty awkward. Kind of a novelty type gun for me but one of these days it will go in the woods with me... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

I own a lot of deer rifles but if I had to pick only one it would be my 25WSSM... Its ballistically identical to the 25-06 but in a short action. It absolutely hammers deer. There's just something intriguing I guess about being different. If someone asks what I'm using I typically get a puzzled look when I reply or if someone gets a look at a 25wssm round most have no clue what it is or heard of it. And that opens the door to talking about guns which, who doesn't love? Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

It depends if there home range is also a good wintering area. Some areas I have seen this, others I'll have pictures of deer extremely often all summer, then they shed velvet and a few will not be on camera ever again until the following year during the spring /summer. I've also found the sheds to deer I've gotten pictures of miles from where they were so photogenic early in the season. On the flipside, I have a wintering area that I'll usually get 8-10 sheds out of every spring and I won't have any pictures of most of them... You just never know. Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

If there was a piece of bone that was jagged I would venture it was an injury. Be neat to know the story, an amazing will to live that's for sure... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

You can buy one without a pistol permit. Mine came in the mail to my doorstep. Its when you possess the equipment to fire the gun that it needs to be on your permit. I bought the CVA optima pistol and love it. Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Practice scent control and play the wind to the best of your ability. Use your money toward something useful... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Awesome job on the yotes... (But unless his scope is around $1800 he got jipped on a $3000 price tag...) You can find a BAR for $800-1200... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Nice to see some people are honest about weights... I get sick of seeing pictures this time of year stating " dressed at 195lbs" ... If you aren't using a scale you're in for a rude awakening how little your deer actually weighs. Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Maybe high hits under the spine, shocks them but they recover after a short time... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Its not the slugs fault... I too have shot the SST's and I'll assure you they perform very well. Even on shoulders... Don't blame the bullet. Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

I hunt only state land and kill more than the average guy with private land. Yes it can take more work, it does involve scouting other hunters but it can be phenomenal if you know what you're doing. Some parcels may as well be my private property as I've never seen anyone else hunting them during archery and I see a lot of deer. This year I've seen 9 different bucks all on state land. Would I love 150 acres to myself? Who wouldn't!? But I don't have it so I make do with what I have. I agree with above posts, hunter numbers are absolutely declining and state land is not what most make it out to be... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Nope. No reason to. I don't care if I can only shoot 60 yds, I'll still take a rifle over shotgun any day. In fact I don't deer hunt with a shotgun at all anymore. Rifle or muzzleloader/Ruger Redhawk .44Mag Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Old enough! Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

I live within 20 minutes of all of the areas you listed and I do not hunt any of them, I have in the past but they are very wet and unless you are willing to use chest waders to get way back in the swamps you will be hard pressed to see any deer. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of deer in all of these areas including toad harbor but after gun opener its difficult. I wouldn't drive 2 hours to hunt any of these areas, especially having never been there before. Just my .02... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Yes that is true, this is more likely the case of button buck fawns. The OP asked which tag to use in his situation. Everyone is correct with "Antlerless." I could've worded that better the first time...Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

LEGALLY and literally are 2 different things. After all the question is "how do I tag it?" Doesn't matter what's between its legs as far as your tag is concerned... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

If it has one antler that is 3" then its legally a buck. Less than that and its a doe... Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk