phade

You jinxed yourself man... Good luck in Ohio. I'm heading out in the a.m.

I don't like the big cans...they actually are more of an alert call. The small and medium (regular) size ones are better imo. I forget who, but someone videoed why the large can was no good. Tip it fast and in shorter bursts, rather than one drawn out bleat/bawl.

I saw a knock down drag out spar between two mature bucks with a third watching just south of the thruway while driving 390 a week ago yesterday - I almost drove off the road. So much bone inbetween them it was hard to tell what buck was what. I did see a doe running along 390 this week and thought for sure a buck would be in tow, but nada.

I stand corrected. You do in fact know everything.

He's younger than me according to his profile. Mighty fine first 4 or 5 posts, eh?

Lockdown is overblown. Almost as bad as the October Lull. The lull is a myth, lockdown is blown out of proportion. I think many people misinterpret seeking behavior and estrous chasing many times. Sure, one may have come in early, too. That's not necessearily meaning the part of the cycle that hunters really enjoy seeing has happened.

Do people generally not have a generator for back-up? Of course, like I should talk. I prepped my generator this weekend for the impending storm and of course it wouldn't work at all. Seems like this is my year for mechanical breakdowns.

People worry so much about BB being shot, yet at the same time, do so many stupid things without regard to their neighbor hunters/owners. That's talking out both sides of the mouth. I love it when QDM is brought into this discussion, too. Bottom line is that MOST hunters do not hunt sizeable enough land in NY to worry about BB being shot on their ground. Why? Because of dispersal. Sure, if you shoot the mother doe, the fawn may have a higher chance of hanging around, but it's still not to the point where NOT shooting a BB increases your hunting experience. It's a square philosophy trying to go into a round-hole real-world application. If you have 640 contiguous acres of hunting land, at minimum, then you can start worrying about shooting BB on your ground. Face it, most of the bucks you shoot (mature ones), often are dispersed from the very same property owners/neighbors you poo-poo and pizz on. I've shot 4 or 5 BB in my time. The last two were during gun seasons a few years back-to-back. It happens from time to time to even the best of hunters even if your intent is to avoid it. The real impact, however, on your hunting ground, is negligable, in most situations.

I once had the chance to shoot a strutting grouse during bow season/grouse season - three years ago I think. It was right at the cusp of light/shooting time and I opted not to shoot him. I wasn't 100% sure on the legality at that moment. Had I know I was legit and could have...I would. I kick myself for that everytime I think about it.

The stock ones with the stands dry-rot fast as heck. I can generally get multiple seasons out of the premium straps.

I know you won't be the first or the last to do that.

Arm and foot rests make a stand imo...for all day sits. Shorter sits you can get by without them. Arm rests help me aviod headaches from neck/back tension in a stand all day.

Yeah, surely 140s. I bet he's an active scrap/rub attendee around your ground. With a neck like that, there's some serious signposting going on...ha.

Hopefully the truck is not too bad!

Good lord Matt...that thing on the left of mine has a huge rack for it's head size. He can't be that old. That center one in the trio is nice, too.

I can't say the two man stands have been all that great. I have hunted out of a few. The basic ladders is what I use mostly. They are easy...the stabilizer bar and the ratchet. I don't use the stock one as I buy higher end straps that seem to last longer. Plus, I like the S hooks for the strap ends...none of that looping ends crap.

I believe it'll spin wrong or your head with the collar is deploying before impact. Anyhow, fixed and you are back in the game.

Well done, great deer.

Western - I think your observation is spot on - I think it was due to the afternoon being the first real tolerable weather conditions in two days and the deer were putting on the feed bags. I mean, obviously they eat in the storm, but probably not as much as they would otherwise and this opportunity was higher on the life ladder for them. Calories...lol.

Well, did you spin test the Rage with the collar before season?

What's wrong with the ladder? Those basic ones are so easy to set. I like the Muddy stands, they are in that second-tier of stands as far as performance, but pretty comfy. Not a fan of their platforms much though - plus they suffer from some of the same issues with cheap stands in the cold...some can squeak. I use my LW for places a Muddy would go...it certainly ain't comfy...but it's quiet and portable to the Nth degree.

Fair enough, good to stick to your moral convictions. For me, if I opt to have one - MAYBE two, beers after a day of hunting, I will. It is not impacting me waking up in the a.m. to hunt, nor anyone else's well being. If someone doesn't want to drink a beer, it doesn't bother me. Most nights I don't even think about grabbing a beer. What does bother me is when someone gets on the high horse about it and takes unrealstic fear mongering to the extreme. You can see it in this thread even. This coming from someone who has maybe 1-2 beers a week max in any given week, and I bet I go more weeks in year without a sip of alcohol than the ones where I do have a beer.

No on the fox squirrel. there's no color underneath.

Did any of those guys drink when hunting? If so, I completely agree. Some people hunt hard core. Some people enjoy the camp atmosphere, hunt a little, and then stick it out at camp. As long as both sides are responsible, that's all that matters. I miss the days of being able to play some euchre after a day's hunt, and looking forward to the next one.

I don't think anyone would condone being drunk in the woods while hunting. I've been to southern deer camps, where drinking was part of the deal. Now, mind you, it was at camp, not hunting, and no firerarms or bows were handled. Most often it was done while playing some cards and just BSing. As long as it is in control, I see nothing wrong with it. I never once saw a reason to be concerned in all of my time there, and that club had 40 members. It's all about personal responsibility. The older I get, the more I value sleep during hunting season....and I'm only 31. When I was 20-25...that was reversed, but I have never been drunk or even buzzed in the woods.