phade

cheaper isn't always better...and they paid a ton for the prior one...and that one wasn't great. Here's to hoping.

I didn't know you had a 2013 Black 60. That's an early model one with the yellow info strip. There's a firmware update available to it for the old (or now current) strip. It does a few other things as well. One thing you may want to look at, is dropping the light level down to half in this winter weather. With the snow on the ground you are getting a lot of bounceback. Normally full light is best on a field, but the snow helps light things up.

Welcome!

This is one nasty winter so far.

I think what people were saying in the comparison grow, is that you don't chamber a round until the deer is in front of you. Not once you are seated in the stand, but rather the deer is there to be shot. The personal defense handgun doesn't do much if you are not chambered. And, some of those smaller ones don't have a safety...Keltec's pea shooter 32 comes to mind. His issue is the lack of judgment, and not the fireable condition of the weapon.

By nasal hump you mean roman nose? Not all mature bucks will have a roman nose; some do...some don't. Don't forget too, that features can be dramatically different based on post-rut body condition. I'm sure he's in a high ag area, but he could be down some serious bodyweight at the moment.

Drive wasn't bad this morning, but I suspect the evening ride home will be.

I picked up a handful of bucks shed at the end of the first week in dec and start of second week on my cams. all 1.5s. I have picked up a 2.5 yr old shed in mz season. no idea what or how long it takes stress to cause the drops. I would think the more active rut bucks would drop first but thats not likely true. I do know the dropping or the chemical or hormone change happens fast...so the body could respond fast to drop them.

stress causing antlers to drop earlier...and thats given with our earlier than normal cold snowy winter thus far. the body signals to drop antlers with a change in hormones once the body starts to become stressed more than normal. I wouldnt think this would happen as the antlers are not being fed blood and nutrients but there has to be some biological benefit or damage limitation by them being one of the earliest casualties of stress.

definite 44 or more on beams.

theres little benefit of a d cell vs the trend to AA. improved power management in circuitry has reduced power consumption big time. My Coverts in nonwinter weather...just basic summer and fall weather...I get more than 10k pics on a set of batteries that cost about 2 bucks. in most cases I get 20k photos on a set if I dont change them out. in cold weather, I can put in 4 lithiums and let it run all winter. 5 bux or so. good d batteries are not as cheap and wont perform as well long term. they also don't make d cell lithiums unless you convert aa with the spacers. moultrie bushnell and other get good performance just the same with aa.

I am an advocate of lowes utilitech aa batteries. alkaline and cheap and performing. the only time I steer away is such low temps. in this case I push for lithium.

I'll be honest, I'd think twice about eating deer from an area with known CWD infections in the wild herd.

Decent cam. People report good things on it from what I have seen. Early models had video that was stuck on a magnification but I believe that it is fixed. Listen for shutter noise, too. Early models had that issue of the filter moving back and forth with each pic.

Does active duty have exemptions here in NY? I remember my dad bringing home and being allowed to keep some of his issued firearms back in the day.

Everyone views the world from their own treestand. It's going to look a little different to all of us.

In due time...everyone has good rut stories after a handful of seasons.

Like chasing a buck untold miles and being so out of breath you just collapse next to the thing?

We've went down this road before, but hunter numbers are going up for the most part. It has not been accelerating by any means if the number is stagnant or marginally increasing from a big picture perspective. I agree in most of what you say that eventually the sport will "consume" itself. I agree that it is still a bit off, but the foundation is being set now for that path. Every generation complains about the new one. Every one of them. I'll do the same when I am old and crotchety like you, lol. I worry about it now, but as I age, I get less and less concerned. There's not much we can do to stop it as it is nothing more than the evolution of the sport. Many passions go this way and to think hunting can buck that trend is peeing in the wind. So, there's TV, QDM, antler fever, etc. Nothing you can do about it, except preserve your capabilities to hunt in the manner you want or for your friend/family/future family lineage. It's not pretty, but it is what it is, and the sooner people realize it, and stop worrying about the "whole" of the hunting community, the better off they'll be. Or, you get out of the sport.

Nice job!

It is what it is. You either adapt or not.

You can customize it even more by going to the craft store and buying fake moss and grasses and attaching it to the post or base of the post. Looks good!

As soon as winter breaks...you, me, WNYBuckhunter, and the other similar aged guys in our neck of the woods will need to get together for a couple beers and shooting the crap.

I hunted there once with my FIL as a change of scenery/new experience in late season. It's not within an agreeable distance for me to hunt again. I have no idea how others who would be more likely to hunt there feel about it and I am comfortable with letting them decide as they are the consumers of the hunt.

How big are these oaks? Seems like you are going to be fighting some battles with leaves on this plot. Once it gets established it should be ok, but I have seen a few plots with leaf drop problems never really be that successful with clover.