phade

I look at them in spring before green-up and then a quick walk through in July, early August. From there, I typically won't bother them. Keep in mind, however, these are stands that stay there for long periods of time, as they are in funnels, etc. A good portion of stands are either moved, or let lay dormant based upon buck movements.

To me, it sounds like your expectation setting needs to be clearer. Just because they have different expectations and it being a downer to you is your fault. You need to qualify it imo.

I'm not going to lie, I love sitting and hunting in the rain. Glutton for punishment? Maybe. Generally speaking though, it's a good time to be in the woods for deer movements. I'll sit in a washout all day for that last 30 minutes when the rain falters to a drizzle and the earth is silent. Deer get up and move. Sort of like a windy day, you can almost always, regardless of the storm/conditions, count on that 10-15 minutes right as shooting light ends where the winds die. Again, great time to be in the woods.

If you are a cheapskate (no pun intended), Bass Pro will sell their Blackout heads for $20 a pack on sale. The three blade replaceables are very similar to strikers. I have killed plenty with them. Otherwise, Slick Tricks...

Buy some small acreage land up here then...plenty of steals can be had at times to make it worthwhile and you'd easily have 100" inchers running around. That's not hard to do in our area. Lots of people with 15-30 acre pieces taking good bucks each year.

It's all relative. I target 3.5+. It's certainly not "mature" in the sense of maximized potential. I simply haven't gotten to the point where I have enough quality access, enough time, etc. to hold off on 3.5s. This year, might be my first time passing a 3.5. I'm scared, excited, and probably going to want to hang myself off of the stand when I do, but I have to as I have made that decision personally. If someone wants to take a 1.5 and they are happy, so am I, as long as it's legal and reasonably conducted (i.e. not baiting, etc. in illegal states).

I have had great luck with the Tech20 from Gander. Its the soft side material, but wow, I'm running on like year 6 or 7 on it, and it's be phenomenal. I cringe at the day where I need to replace it, because as everyone has stated, good rain gear is hard to come by. I do know they've changed the tech20 line a bit, so I don't know if it is as effective.

No hard and fast rule. I'd keep it simple and open one up after you see the first one appear that is freshened up. I'm not sure what you are trying to do with one. Hunt over it?

That pic has been floating around FB for a few months. At least, I think it has. Look at the clover...much more of a June pic.

Whatever floats your boat. I have a lightswitch effect...bow is for me and my challenge. Gun hunting is largely for family/friends and enjoyment.

I think there are no magic pills.

I think of something different with Mr. Winky than Mr. Winke. Big difference.

I will say I have had much better luck with Northern Whitetail Scents as she overnights the shipments to me. It sure does breakdown in time, even in 24 hours, but it stays cold the entire time in the fridge, and I typically have her ship 2x to me about 4-5 days apart as I decoy largely late October and early November only. I have witnessed mature bucks snake along drags from urine she has sold me and I do know that the Dan B. buck a few years back was credited largely to a scent drag using her doe in estrous and buck in rut liquid urines. I spoke at length with him and wrote his harvest story, and he's killed a wall full of mature bucks. I agree that a ninja approach is best. However, there are magical times when things like calls, rattles, scents, etc. can be used to perfection. The problem is that it is indeed very rare for those conditions to be present and a buck willing. If not for nothing else, if I haven't killed my buck by the time I start to decoy, it breaks up the monotony of eat, sleep, treestand/blind that will ensue as the chasing starts to take control of hunting decisions.

Regular doe pee in my experience does nothing but spook the resident ladies. I will use scents when decoying and that's about it.

No thank you.

I have enough evidence based on my cam use that the 6-to-10 day range is how long the average intrusion into timber (beyond a field edge) lasts on a single, isolated visit for mature bucks. I have on occassion, caught a mature buck on cam prior to that window, but in each case it was clear to me that he was caught red-handed and did not show up on the cam again for some time (picking up the intrusion at that point). Sure, does, fawns, and young bucks are easy to fool. That's why they are really a different animal compared to a mature buck. Last year, I tracked this information pretty cleanly, and on my cams, it took 6 days nearly every time, and 7 once before I caught a mature buck or one that moved through the area and I had pics of prior. They then started showing up more regularly as they did while the cam soaked for 8-10 weeks. This year, different parcel, and the range is again 6-10 days, with most being between 7 and 10. Having said that, cam sets on places like food plots or field edges where intrusion is minimal is a different scenario. For cams where you step foot into the woods, that is why I advocate much longer soaks than 2-3 weeks.

A neighbor used to use small square bales for blinds. He'd incorporate a couple pallets and a sheet of plywood, but that thing looked natural and lasted about 3 years before new bales had to be moved in. Super warm from what I gather, and it looked like it. I could see it from one of my stands and I distinctly remember cursing him in my head while he was in it and I was in my ladder stand when it was blowing snow sideways.

If there was ever a year/summer where I had an excuse (non-health) to be behind the 8 ball, this was it. I'm ready to sit in a tree.

I take my dripper with me. Have to. I just pee in them.

In that case 1.5 all the way lol. Old goats don't eat well IME.

Let me guess...november? Nice deer. Do you not hunt october?

Is holding out for a 5.5 each year realistic in NY? That's pretty hefty age-wise. Alot of IL, IA, KS, farms green light at 4.5. Good for your group if you can do that and still tag a 5.5 realistically each year. Impressive!

Adk deer...the ones seen or publicized...are typically old ghosts that are finally shot. Not really a genes thing.

League as in age or score, or both? Nothing shabby about a 130-140 8/10 point 4.5-5.5, but compared to say a 180" 5.5, etc. that is on the table or known about, do you pass? I've always wondered at what point do people who do chase age or antlers go for one buck or tag soup. Interesting topic.

Such places can be good plots, as long as its not bedding area for bucks/deer. Here's a small plot (obviously not fully planted/grown) amongst a marsh. Small plots like this are gems for daytime activity.