phade

I've sometimes sat after the shot and asked myself "now you did it dummie, you've got to drag that thing out." I'm much more selective shooting does now, and especially because of that. I've got a few stands far back in with no power equipment and no real way to work in a cart. Only bucks are shot there. Thankfully in many areas I can get the truck close in.

Basic math is all it takes. Studies show many twins and triplet fawns have two or three fathers. If the ratio say is one buck for three or three and a half does and most does (80% of breeding population) cycle within a short time frame (say a week...majority are probably within a span of 4-5 days), then they cannot mathmatically stay with one doe for 36 hours or more. I think D&DH had a study a few years ago that really re-painted the picture, saying up to 10 hours is "normal" max time a buck will hang with a doe and oftentimes it is much less. He'll usually rag it as best he can as often as he can for a few hours and then on toward the next lucky gal. I agree about the warden. Might be time for an escape.

Lull is a myth and even that is associated with early/mid October and not November. You might be thinking of "lockdown" and really, people worry more about that than they should. Breeding occurs in a short time frame and bucks don't spend as much time as people think with a particular doe. If you think you are in lockdown, and you are hunting funnels with no action...then move to the beds. Chances are that funnels will still produce bucks in between does. I'd be looking at November. All day sits if one three day weekend is all you have.

I shoot a slower bow at 61# with Grim Reaper mechs. I shoot the smaller 1 3/8" razor tips. I also shoot slick tricks when in a blind or if my supply of GR heads run out. I get pass throughs no problem with both. The ST in my opinion is probably the best penetrating head I have ever seeen. I don't have formal data to back that up but it seems to out penetrate any other head I shoot...everything from foam blocks, the 3-d targets, to deer. I thoot the GR because I still get good penetration and the blood trails are phenomenal (which has more to do with shot placement imo), and because I like using their practice heads in the off-season.

Tree Limb premiums are excellent. I have the three arrow model...I find the 5 arrow is not needed for most instances (save for a few does in my youth!). Sights are a dime a dozen...quality sights are available for cheap. HIGH HIGH HIGH quality sights are pricey. I have a spot hogg real deal on one bow and a Tru glo on the other....the tru glo is on my primary and it's simple, yet effective. The spot hogg is great once dialed in, but a bit more complicated in design and operation. A couple things to suggest considering: 1. type of pins (single, multiple, slider, etc.) 2. housing size - match it to your peep to create a full peep window. 3. pin size - .019 is common now....029 can be good for short shot pins. 4. Pin color - I cant stand red...I have to use green or orange. Red loses light faster than green and orange. 5. Have a wrapped fiber housing...you likely won't need a light for it.

I think what he was doing by omitting the two weeks, was done on purpose. He knows that the intrusion is the biggest issue with a camera. While the cam may be noticed, a source of scent alarm, etc.....it pales into comparison to the human intrusion. Two weeks washes away the intruison to a degree. He should be teaching the cam-setting process/technique to get the most info with the least amount of damage done and not necessarily how the cam should be set specifically. He's basically testing/promoting a theory that has zero or very limited real-world application because the instrusion makes all of his schtick for naught. I 100% agree on the height setting, though. I'd bet 95 of every 100 cam owners do MORE damage than good with their use. The select few who don't either, A. hunt unpressured deer B. Know how to properly set and maintain a cam or C. Simply get dumb luck. Most hunters are so psyched to see a pic of a mature buck a few days after setting the cam along a trail, near a core area, etc. Usually its one of the earliest pics on a card. Then after that, the buck doesn't show for the next 10 days of the soak. The hunters are so happy that they got a buck on cam that they fail to realize that the next ten days had no pics of him. Happenstance? I think not. Great, you've got a pic of a big buck. Now what? More than likely you won't have him on your wall since you signaled the alarm bell. There is a reason many big bucks are shot FTI (first time in). Same principal goes for the cam.

Certainly good advice for those who can take Oct. 25 to November 25 off. My big issue with these "charts" is that most guys use it to determine their 1,2, 3, 4, or 5 days off of work. I'm more likely to take November 5-12 off every year than October, assuming I can at least get out on a weekend or maybe before or after work during that last week in October. You can legit argue that the final OCtober week is primo, but from an odds perspective, more book bucks are taken during that week in November than October. When you only have a few days of vaca, you need to play the odds.

That's my point. Not many people leave cams for two weeks - especially once you get beyond the "inventory" stage of the summer and hunting season nears or is in progress. It needed to be real world application...this makes it done in a vaccuum. To be realistic, he should have kept the cams in a bin, used gloves when hanging, and provided all of the data. Some of his info is certainly useful, but its apples to oranges with his data.

Anyone barehanding a cam and then showing vids of deer being alert is being counter-productive. That and I highly doubt his polo, jeans, and hat were his typical measure of scent prep. Nonthing really new, line of sight, and not entering a core area is the way to go. Use field edges and transition zones to get pic for info and not alerting a deer. Height is a great mitigator.

I agree.

Agree, heat just makes activity more of a nighttime thing. And, you are MUCH more likely to get that warmth end of October and first few days of November as compared to the end of that first week and heading into the second. To me, that is significant for those looking to take a few days off of work. Now, if you hunt the end of October (that last full week) becuase oyu see larger bucks seeking...you can play that angle. BUT, it is not because they are on a full out chase.

The 5-7 seems to be when I see the big thick neck bucks slobbering (drooling), mouth open, panting, fleming just the epitome of what hunters dream of the night before the hunt. Also seem to get that up to the 11-12th, but that's more or less in between does or one that has not fully cycled. At that time, I'm not necessarily tageting classic funnels (double inside corners, etc) as mentioned because of getting them to stop is an issue. Many times they are on a doe. I try to find funnels bordering thick bedding areas or just concentrating on the thicker bedding areas. I find when a mature buck gets on a worthwhile doe to dog, he'll bump her in and out of that thick cover. Instead of the doe leading through a traditional funnel and you've got one shot to stop that buck...you've got multiple instances where he busts her out of the cover, she tries to escape and he directs her back in. That process will give you odds as multiple trips in and out of the cover takes place.

Full chasing by end of October? While I think some of his info is reliable, I question that. I think everyone has seen a doe in heat that week/weekend and tons of seeking, but full chase (80% activity)? I doubt that. I think gestational studies seem to be much more reliable to give you the data you need...I'm thinking more along the lines of November 2-7. Full chase imo is shorter than a week.

15 sec vids are perfect. set for five seconds down time to let the card write and the IR cool down to save battery life.

Really, no cam will meet that requirement...maybe a reconyx. I can't think of a cam that will take a pic, write to the card, and recharge/fire again in 1 second. MP6 is a winner for this year based on most people's judgement.

I love big 6s. Nice deer.

Look at Redfield...nice option. Owned by Leoupold.

SG550 mounted up high and angled downward. You could certainly go blackflash, but cost is still up there for the reliable units. PLus, the SG550 is pretty easy to hide and works well on video mode. People place them in birdhouses to watch homes, camps, etc.

Look, you just solved the majority of NY's problems.

I'd opt to not hunt right on the plot. IMO you are better off a ways from it along a travel corridor closer to the bed.

I agree...not many 160 gross 8s running around in any woods. His brow contributions are minimal. I think you're spot on with the mass, too. Ultimately, the mass and short brows are going to do this buck in (if that's what you even want to call it). It's still a shooter, and really, at that point, we should all just shut up and hope he kills it, cause its big enough. Putting a tape to it is the only real end result that answers the question.

Depends on the buck. LOL. You know what they say about big ears?

Ferns usually mean acidic soil - that to me would be a red flag. I'd worry about amount of sunlight, too, there. Ferns can sometimes indicate that as well. It's a time and effort thing. Throw and grow commerical bags are mostly ryegrass...waste of time really. The only throw and grow I have looked at that was remotely interesting was believe it or not....Wildgame Innovations...couldn't believe it. Oats, clover, etc. No ryegrass.

That's a given.

Debateable to the Nth degree. Season structure and regs could change that big time....and I'm not talking about AR...wNY has some significant soil quality.