phade

I loved my ACTIVs...still have a handful of boxes of them but can't bring myself to shoot them...lol. Truballs are a good option today. Love them.

I think you may be misunderstanding. If you personally can't/won't shoot 50 yards, fine. If you think all bowhunters shouldn't, then, well, the fall from the high horse is going to hurt at some point. When the proper practice and situation dynamics allow for it, it is considerable. Is is common, especially here in NY? No, not at all, and I think everyone who supports a longer shot possibility in this thread has made that very clear. There are a TON of caveats with every single encounter. Nobody is saying to blanketly shoot 50+ yards without concern, and I think it is pretty clear the OP understands this. And, as far as the arrow hit, if you are seeing where the arrow hits on all of your deer...then you haven't killed many whitetails up close. I have seen far fewer arrows hit my deer at 5, 10, and 15 yards. Most times that arrow has gone through the deer before my form has let me even peek at it. It's actually more difficult to see the arrow impact at 10 yards than it is at 25.

Go kill something...lol.

Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to get this done for the next winter. I already prepaid my LP contract...otherwise, I'd be going this route.

I probably missed it, but let's see him!

Why kind of cost is there with installation? I have practically a complete set up but not installed. I've been around them a long time as my family always had one, but my house has LP with a couple ventless fireplaces. I'd like to swap out one of them in the lower floor of my split level. With my back issues, that's unfortunately the kind of work I really can no longer do. My set up came from my grandparent's house...it can't be more than 4 years old.

You made me chuckle, Steve. I understand where you are coming from. Have you tried a harness before? Do you kill deer with rainbows or something? Maybe drown them with Marshmallow fluff? I know you aren't walking around with a loaded firearm, that's for sure. Same goes for the other 400,000 orange army. Maybe we should switch to pink? I'm just messing with you though...I understand...sometimes a deer is just a deer.

That's why you don't shoot 50 yards where there are "twigs."

Bummer all the way around, as far as the shot opportunity goes. At least you had him pegged. I just don't know if I could shoot an 8, unless it was a monster 8, with that avatar buck of yours running around. I do believe in the one in the hand philosophy, but that's a potential lifetime buck...and "good" is the enemy of "great." I really hope you get a shot at the bigger buck...he's an all out stud.

Same could be said for an Accord, Camry, Taurus, or Malibu vs. a Lotus, Mustang, or Corvette. I do however, believe there are occassions where treestands have resulted in dead deer that ground hunters would have been unable to kill. Same goes for situations where a ground hunter would be successful whereas a treestand hunter would not be. Relying on one method reduces overall success in my opinion. But, that's not to say that it is wrong and/or bad. Just individual choice.

I use all, but prefer being in the tree. Pretty fun, although I do at times get a little nervous when up high on a windy day. I use ground blinds when needed. It perfect as mentioned by Dave that they are awesome when it's hard downpours or poor weather...or even if you just need a break to stretch out. When I go out of state, which is usually during the rut...I'll hang sets in pinch points/funnels. After day two of an all-dayer, I usually will hunt that third morning, get down, walk over to the centrally located blind, and relax a bit. If it's pouring hard to the point that deer movement shuts down a bit...then I'll hit up that blind. I also have grown to love them late season here when I hit "burnout.". Most ground cover has been pushed down as best as possible by snowfall and visibility is prime. Perfect to sit in and wait out the day. Easy enough to stay warm with all of the clothes, blankets etc. you need. Haven't yet broke out a buddy heater in one, but I've been close. Usually I just pack a cruddy floor mat (rubberized) and a folding chair, and then a sleeping bag...jump in it so the foot part of the bag is on the mat and you are set. Quiet and warm....

I agree, I would stay as long as the wind is in your favor. Especially if it is a doe. Mature buck...ehh, chances are less that he'll return. Still, unless you have a much better place in mind at this point of the season...I'd ride out the sit. I do however, know deer will re-use beds - they don't just bed randomly. If you were in on a bed and spooked it, give it a month and come back using the information you have on exactly when and how to come back. Now, they may have many beds to choose from, but they will re-use them. If you know why...then you are that much more ready to kill the deer. You find the best buck bed, and you can pretty much gurantee when/if the buck that beds there is shot/dies, another one will fill that spot at some point and begin bedding there. You may also find some satelite beds around a prime buck bed, usually filled by younger bucks. If the mature buck is not in the prime bed, then an immature buck will fill it. Doe beds are going to a little easier to find...sometimes in open fields as nighttime beds, in open areas where the numbers give them advantage to be alerted to danger, etc.

A little early, still. It pretty much happens the same time every year...just what we see of it changes based on the enviornment and other conditions. Look at does like a bell curve...10% will breed early, 80% will breed in the normal November time, and 10% will be bred late or during the second rut.

The things that can be done with Looneys...

Yeah, 145 is no slouch...better tell him he has a rep to live up to now. Congrats!

Thanks, but anyone can do this. This took place on 32 acres, 20 of it woods.

From me or the Doc?

He did all of the hard work...good ground but with lots of pressure yet still able to seal the deal when it counted. The first is always the hardest...onto the next one!

Doc: I also encourage you to visit the bowhunting harvest thread. I spent my own time, gas, and money helping another forum member who was willing to learn, in order to get his first deer. The first time I met the guy was at his property. We walked it, scouted it, and he gave me his thoughts and we made a plan together. First sit...dead deer and a great experience for everyone. Bowhunters are notorious for being greedy, private, and snobish. Keep perpetuating it by saying "i want my deer close and I have more respect for one who kills at 10 vs. 50." and I'll keep dispelling it by walking the walk and helping others.

This is why I think you'll be able to seal the deal after you feel you are ready. Your posts indicate responsibility and the level of thought you will put into a 50 yard shot. I have a feeling you'll be killing plenty of deer in your time.

I appreciate the well wishes, but I also want to pass along that I do agree that it takes a TON of things to come together to consider a 45,50, 55 yard shot. It had to be perfect for me to even think about drawing. Lots can indeed go wrong and you need to rule out those variable as best as possible before triggering the release. It is not something I suggest for the OP. But, given that he seems responsible based on his posts, I encourage him to work toward being ready for such an encounter for next season - he'll know when it is right for him. In talks with many midwest hunters who take longer shots and have more experience at it than I do, one thing seems consistent - as long as that deer is not alert to you, once thing you can largely count on is that they don't tend to "jump the string" when shots start to get about 35 yards out. I'm really unsure why, but I've had this specific conversation with what I consider serious and successful mature buck hunters who have the experience to make me believe it - ones who do not know one another and saying the same thing. I have come to see the same thing. Granted, that's only emperical and nothing is "for sure" but it is so consistent amongst all of these hunters and what I have seen that I believe it.

IMO I didn't settle. I knew right where that buck was bedding, and I shot him within his first 50 steps from his bed - which I found in March when it was 20 degrees outside. I glassed him, got cam pics of him, knew when he was generally drinking water during the high times of summer, and knew where he was going as the season started to near. The stand was specifically set to shoot him there, as it was the only hangable tree and the only place where I could loop around him to keep my scent from hitting his bed and still shoot safely. I could have placed a stand closer to his entry to the woods, but it would have put me in a bad spot for thermals in the a.m. if I decided to try to beat him to his bed, and also due to the wind current and swirling I would have sent my stank right to him opening day. Knowing that this tree was my best option to encounter the buck before his patterns changed, I practiced this shot quite a bit from the exact same treestand model. I spent 3 full weekend days prepping the stand spot in June and early July, and I lost a few pints of blood fighting with multiflora - I cut a path back around the tree through 6ft tall briars to prevent me from beeing seen and killed the ground vegetation and placed stepping stones on the path so I could get in quietly. I bet I have 40-50 hours of scouting and prep into killing that buck, which took about 3-4 hours to do. I didn't settle, I bowhunted that buck, which is more than likely 4.5 or older, and I won by putting the arrow through both lungs. You say not to paint with a wide brush in many posts. I encourage you to do the same. While you were complaining that the early opener was a pain and that you had many other things to do, and that it was too hot, too much canopy in teh trees, etc., I was was studying my quarry, taking the proper steps to kills this buck, and practicing. Yet, I'm less of a bowhunter because I shot the buck at 55 vs. 15. I didn't just plop into a funnel during the first week of November and shoot a buck.

Everyone has their limit. Outside of that buck, ive only taken three shots longer than 30 yards...32, 42, and 45. Ive killed somewhere around 45-50 deer with a bow, so that is minor number of encounters. Ethics be damned...much of it is situational. Ask a kansas bowhunter, and a 40 yd shot is pretty common scenario. Ask a NY hunter and its a poke. People become comfortable with what they are familiar with and close range is common here....longer shots are more common in open areas of the midwest. Deer dont jump string at long distances, but there is plenty that can go wrong. You cant willy nilly let the arrow go. The buck i shot was not moving any time soon, and looking away at another buck.

I also ranged it twice....as in range, set rf down....pick up and range again.

I shot my buck at 55 yds this year. It took a whole bunch of things to come together for me to even consider that shot. Broadside, near leg forward, attention on another deer, no wind. It also took me practicing that shot quite a bit all summer from my treestand. Can it be done? Yes. How often....probably not many in a hunters career...id be surprised if that opportunity ever presents itself again in my days.