phade

I'd go crazy if I had to deal with preference points for DMPs. I have some pity for those that do and those that don't even get DMPs. When I think of preference point, I think of Iowa. I've got 1 point, lol. 2015 can't come soon enough.

I shoot Elite. Have a pair of 2010 Z-28s in the stable that I don't plan on replacing any time soon. One was under water in my flood. SInce Elite is local, I contacted them to have them get me the parts needing replacement (bows underwater need lots of part replacements, lol) They took the bow, completely disassembled it, new bearings, axles, new SS hardware, then reassambled, tuned and timed the bow. Went to pick it up, wallet in hand ready to pay for the parts/labor...Their engineer came out, walked me through what they replaced, why they did it, handed me the bow and said, "No charge...a flood is bad enough." That's why I really have no desire to shoot anything else. I will say I know a couple people there, but there was no need to expect a freebie like this. Their bows shoot great.

Down? You do realizae this is NY?

Wipe a thin coat of unscented dish soap on it. It'll slide out easier. Seriously.

Not at all. Water like that creates a hard break too, so if you access properly, you can hunt that spot much more often with the right wind and entry/exit.

Hoyt makes some great bows. I used to shoot them exclusively up until the Alphamax years. I just didn't like their cam designs and the draw cycle. But, can't deny they make nice bows...their mid-line bows are unreal good for the money if you like the draw cycle and hold.

Radish in my exprience can be planted slightly later than turnip. Here in our area Belo...you can probably plant mid-july (with right weather) through second/third week of August. I like the range between the last week of July and first week of August if possible. Goal is a minimum of 45 days pre-first frost. Our average frost date is usually late September early October. Last few years we've squeeked into early October pretty regularly.

Water and paper towel, give it a once over and some flex test. One area I didn't always check out are the inserts...some BH can "push back" and damage the insert. I have had this happen with some mechanicals and also some fixed blades with weak washers that lock the blades in. The blade pushed back into the washer and indents the insert. Happens when one blade or one side barely connects with a bone of some sort like the tip of a shoulder blade.

The mp6 black has non hd vid and no sound. Video is decent but not great on it.

Well done. Well done.

Lick it clean.

I would still hunt the edges first. Outside in isn't always the most effective strategy but, I think by doing that, you can get a few more "hunts" out of the place before your stink changes the habits in large. I do think you have a good spot, whatever decision you make.

I'd buy another game cam and set them closer to the roads (one on each side) to see what fields they are heading to in the evening. I'd also look at hunting closer to the property edges to start with - especially if you can figure out which direction they are headed in the p.m. I doubt you can legally shine right after dark there (don't know the laws) but if you could, then I'd look at that option. 20 minutes after dark sets it..shine the fields and you'll have an idea of which side to hunt in the p.m.

I think it's a safety thing grow. Deer need to put their head down to drink. Moving water is generally louder, reducing their senses. The other thing, too, is that deer often drink from muddy puddles over clear ones. Some believe it's a mineral content thing.

Deer Search is a great group. They do need better funding. Problem is they don't have enough coverage in the state/area sometimes.

$60k is spot on just to open the door for consideration by the panel. I believe you need to show net worth, too, but not 100% on that. There are billionaires that belong to that club. Plenty of old and new money here. One of my co-workers worked there year-round on the side...the stories he had were priceless. People that could light 100s on fire for fun not tipping, the women bashing and "women on the side," and so on. We would golf it for free a few times a summer when he was on shift and after the gentleman had their fill.

It's 1/3 acre in size. Plenty of ag in the area...very heavy ag. Corn and wheat border it now. Wheat field should be going into clover soon, but hasn't happened yet. Even if the plot is barren, it'll still get heavy deer traffic. It's between the best bedding in the area and large food sources.

I understand how our systems work very well. What I am saying is that the DEC is not doing what it should be to change the process for the better and that's leadership's fault. The things it can do, ie allocation programs under its wing such as bank systems, it simply isnt. Do you see a program or a field day on how to mentor? That weekend is coming up. They don't need legislative permission for things like that. Nor in partnering with landowners. Quite simply, they're the ones dropping the ball here (and hunters, too).

Radish are unlike turnips where they'll be eaten before a frost. That's part of the reason why I advocate for a radish turnip mix to introduce brassica as a food source to deer. Sometimes deer will take a year to learn to use brassicas. This shortens that curve. Oats were on my list Sam. I have the center of the field sprayed and planned on spraying and ringing the rest of the plot area first weekend in Sept with the oats.

Sam I am pretty sure it's quality fertile soil, although I haven't run a soil test much to my dismay. I may do one just for giggles this weekend. I actually think it's browse pressure. This is a small 1/3 acre secluded area close to bedding in a high DPSM area. You can see no less than 8 trails through the field from bing maps and they are bare dirt. I noticed quite a bit native browse and clover in there naturally. As the summer went on, my visits showed lots of browsing signs on the vegetation. If I can get good germination, I may have more of an issue with them eating the radish up fast early on. Yeah, no ATV now. Crops are preventing it from the sides we could access. Normally I thought of doing nothing as it's used alot as is, but some late season forage is needed.

One week of vacation time is the epitomy of a decision that needs a ton of thought. First, it depends on where you are hunting. Second, you need to balance the "best" week with the "best" opportunities and match that with potential risk factors. Stats show that the 8-12 of November in large (macro level) produce the most P/Y bucks. Now, there are factors that skew this, but it's fairly reliable trend data. The first week to me has a HUGE variable that tends to rear its ugly head once every few years...warm temps and southerly winds. It can surely happen in that second week, too, but historically, it is much more common in the first week. Nothing like banking on vacation that first week and being sunk into 60-70 degree temps. I strongly prefer the second week for the best overall opportunity and least risk when needing to pick one single week.

Water in the right place is useful, even where there is water nearby in a "not as right" place, if that makes sense.

No offense, but that's scapegoating at its finest. Any time there's something that should be done, but is not, it's the old DEC standby, "We'd love to do this but our hands are tied by the legislative process." It's a built-in mechanism to cover lapses in management. DEC leadership should be actively working to change any legit legislative handcuff, but I assure you they are not in large because there's no benefit to them due to the appointment process they benefit from. Still, any legislative roadblocks should be actively worked by DEC leadership. Your crossbow quotes are perfect examples of leadership weaknesses...the leaders have been quoted as saying "we support it, but it's up to the legislators to allow it." No, it's not. It's up to the DEC leaders to blow the doors open and be a change agent rather a WIIFM (What's in it for me?) consumer. The DEC however, can do things. Landowners along bank systems are provided financial reward for allowing access, and even more if trail systems are put in place. Do you see any similar programs being pushed by the DEC? How about a Mentoring/Youth program to open lands in similar fashion? Amounts financially are menial. Yet, reports are that license fees are now surplusing because of the rate increase. How about moving those funds to put their money where their supposed mouth is? How about partnering with third-party background check companies to clear prospective mentors? How about a mentoring database? How about apprentice license options like other states? Quality leadership doesn't stop at "No" when that's not the right answer they want to hear to drive their business forward. In the end, the legislative process is more of a friend to the DEC leadership than a foe. Quite frankly, they need to get off their butts and jump the legislative hurdle. But, they won't even try. Thus, it IS the DEC's fault. Edit: For Pete's sake, Rossi just posted this link: http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/17649-dec-partners-workshop/ When was the last time you saw the DEC hold a forum on how to mentor? Exactly what I am talking about, just another fine example of DEC mismanagement. Ok, I am off my soapbox now, lol.

If the family doesn't hunt, they're not going to know about the weekend. Do you follow Batavia Muckdogs baseball? If they offered free tickets, you probably wouldn't find out about it because you don't follow it. Non-hunters are not generally reading NY Outdoor News, the Outdoors section of the paper, etc. It's really not a boon to those outside the current ranks of hunter/hunter families. The DEC can yell until they are blue in the face because non-hunting families won't be subjected to the message in large. The good thing is that darn near everyone in this state, save NYC area, likely knows someone who does hunt. All it takes is some conversation - either on the part of the parent or the hunter. The DEC needs to push the mentoring aspect in conjuction with opening up opportunities.

Fear mongering...attacking the next generation? Hurtful? Relax. I think everyone here has been clearly 100% for the kids whether they support or don't support the special weekend. The point of debate is how best to involve kids and retain them long-term. So, slow your roll and just read where people are coming from. This thread has been one of the better behaved threads where opinions vary. Let's try to keep the discussion on that avenue. Sound good? I value everyone's opinion, although mentoring holds a special place with me. My mentoring experience is probably a bit more on average than most people on this forum - and that's not being braggish, full of myself, or anything of the sort. I'm just saying it's not my first rodeo and I know what mentoring new hunters involves. It's a marathon and not a sprint. Setting up a weekend encourages "sprinting" when nothing is really done beyond that. The DEC needs to take a holistic approach. A weekend is a band aid and not a root cause solution - and we have no evidence to really support its impact either way. Groups like QDMA, Kicking Bear, etc. seem to have better direction on how this should be done the right way. Now, the DEC doesn't have the same agenda; however, what it does have is control over the playing field and the rulebook, and thus can make macro changes that can better facilitate mentoring, recruitment, etc. If the "weekend" were part of a bigger plan, I don't think near as many would question it. All they did was give the weekend and then pat each other on the back for solving a problem that they didn't really solve.