phade

It's coming down now in northern Livingston Co. I like most else am done with winter. Good thing I can work from home today.

Bases was apparently the second largest buck I knew of? LOL.

Interestingly, I'm speaking at the Field Day for the local QDMA chapter on game camera use and surveys this summer. One thing that does suck for NY is the inability to use licks and bait for such things. While there are things that can be done to gather ratios and other vital information to help shape your management...this limitation is a tough one.

That's a perfect example of misconception. Everyone thinks the QDMA puts out there that does should be shot in volume. And, that's patently false. The QDMA proposes you take what is necessary. If does shouldn't be shot because of low numbers or other biological reasons, then that dictates it. The problem is that most areas are at or above carrying capacity (obviously that is trending downward as of late), so that "take does" is heard more often than "don't take does because your land dictates it." Next thing you know, everyone is associating QDM/QDMA with pounding a war path on does regardless of biological practice. The problem is perpetuated by people who "think" they know QDM and its sort of like a game of telephone. The message gets warped at is reaches mass proportion - i.e. TV or magazines, etc. I can pretty much bet the farm that if Kip Adams or any other such resource were to arrive at an area with low doe numbers...that the suggested plan would reflect it.

I have to assume they got lost and couldn't find the site again.

The pervasive "not in my backyard" belief system is what screws hunters. Unfortunately, some people seem to associate QDM and QDMA with such a mindset. That's unfortunate because QDM and the association isn't about taking care of your backyard and "screwing everyone else." The problem is people and some members think it is - they think food plots will pull deer from other ground and keep them on their ground, they think making better bedding will keep deer off the neighbors who shoot anything, etc. Rather, it's about the entire picture, and not meant for a back-stabbing practice in hunting discipline. Nobody seems to care unless their neighbors are doing all the "damage" to their hunting. People only want to seem to educate those "around them"...specifically, their neighbors who do the damage, and only if they do something they feel they "know better than everyone else." This is not directed at you specifically. It's a general observation of hunter mindset. I fall victim to it as well. I find myself playing defense when hunting, not sharing information to others (other than my hunting partners), and generally taking actions that I believe would help out MY/OUR hunting rather than the neighbors I don't like. Fighting that dog-eat-dog and the general welfare of the hunting populous battle is not easy. I think everyone needs to be slightly more mindful of the big picture, myself included.

Education is certainly a noble pursuit. At some point people choose not to be educated or decide for themselves that they believe otherwise. You can only do so much once you realize who you are working with. Co-ops are a lot of work. When they work, they work VERY well. But, like most things, the majority fail or simply are a ruse to curtain behaviors and actions that are not talked about openly. I remember being involved with a co-op in Virginia with our hunt club. The club long-term leased out more than 4,300 acres, and a few neighbors got together with club leadership to devise a co-op. Let's just say more than one of the neighbors used it as a means to have other areas around their acreage practice QDM and co-op "guidelines" while they secretly kept hammering away at what they wanted. Turns out they were worried the 40 members of the club would have a major impact on their (the neighbors) hunting. Instead, they hatched a great idea that the club bought into, to set up plots and manage doe harvests and let small ones walk. Their 100 or 200 acre parcel bordering the club acreage just got automatically better hunting-wise, and they continued to hunt as they had always, with no real QDM influence. It was pretty brilliant of them if you ask me.

Maybe you'll get to meet Cuomo too? Probable given the amount of thanks he gets from Tinlodge and the coalition.

Seems legit. Accompany burglar but dont shoot me cause I aint got nothing to do with it. Gimme a break. Break into someones house...deserve what you get.

I have been happy with my 04 sportsman 400. I think people try to upsize atvs for the 1 percent of the time they want the characteristics of a bigger atv, at the sacrifice of the 99 percent of use. Thats why I think a 400 is the all around perfect midsize machine. Itll drag deer and stands and yet still be maneuverable in trails and woods. I cant think of a time when a 700 is practical in my application. If had a need for something like that, id get a ranger or rhino etc.

Bump, some good stuff here.

Ugh.

I've definitely gotten over the "bloodshed" stage of hunting, lol. I think more about a reason not to shoot the does now. Sunday afternoon? Forget it. Work. Saturday? Nah, I miss out on a hunt. Too far from the truck? Not dragging it that far.

I have a big guy to carry my deer out for me. Then, I have a little guy skin the deer out and carve it up. If I feel like it, I may process a shoulder or a rear hock, and butterfly some steaks. LOL.

Horton also shuttered its doors after years of mismanagement in 2013.

Biz volunteers.

Nevermind, just realized you were talking about the camo on the cam.

A couple items for trade or sale. Prefer trade, but would take offers, I guess, if pushed. The Hevi stuff isn't cheap by any means. The coyote "real world" retails between $43-$50 a box and the Pheasant seems to be around $33-$35 each. All 12 ga 2 boxes of Hevi Coyote (T size). 3" 4 boxes of Hornady #5 3" magnum turkey (nickel plated) 2-3 full boxes of the small game/Pheasant (I believe the third is also full, but will need to double check) 2.75" Not going to sell/trade the Magnum Blend. Looking for: new in box slate/glass/box calls or maybe custom pot calls game cameras (no stealth brand). Prefer new in box. a quality hen decoy 12 ga. 2.75 Remington Accutips .243 ammo geared toward deer tree stands (when does anyone ever have enough?), climbing sticks, etc. new in box hub blind Tree limb premium quiver DCA stabilizer 1 3/8" Grim Reaper Razortips Located in the Rochester area.

Infinity? What is that?

Do you know what color the fruit is normally?

Look at pressure changes. Storms often bring with it pressure changes in the form of the fronts moving into and out of the area. I believe deer can somehow gauge the pressure change that knowingly or unknowingly causes them to put on the feedbag of sorts to either weather the storm that's coming or to fill-up after weathering out a storm that has just left. Storms can also be used for specific hunts. A storm that arrives the afternoon prior and clears out in the overnight hours may allow you to make a move on a buck's bed/bedding area. In some occasions, the buck will be late getting back to the bed that following morning, maybe only by minutes, but it can help tip the odds in that situation.

Killing any deer with a bow I made would be a highlight of my hunting career. I commend you for taking that route!

I wonder if I'll see my LW Alpha on their bear hunt up north. They needed a good stand on short notice and borrowed it, lol.

Good grief. Why don't we just all break out the loin cloths at this point and drive animals over a cliff?

Doc, as noted already the cam design prevents the over draw past on older bows. I was having trouble stating it, but DB got it clearer. You cannot draw a bow to infinity and beyond.