phade

As mentioned the brow tines are less than ideal and he'll lose some mass once that velvet comes off...I'm thinking it'd be hard for him to ballpark 140. Deer like that, while certainly impressive to any hunter, will look much different come post-velvet.

On the ground...have used the pads that hook on underneath but never found it necessary.

Use a half rack...I face the buck slightly quarter to. Based on the set, I try to force the buck to swing around in front of me. Bucks will more times than not come in from the front of the decoy if a buck and back if a doe - after they circle downwind. Scents are presonal choice. I use them from time to time, but only Northern Whitetails as it is fresher....does it help? Hard to tell, really. I think movement is key. I usually place a sheet of tp bunched up at the top and pin it to the deke for a tail...little wind and it blows. That really seems to fool them. Use only a buck deke iny my opinion...you can use a buck/doe set...that works well, too. Doe decoys are really too much trouble to succeed. It is work...I'll usually hunt a set in the afternoon, take the deke with me, set it up...hunt...if no success, I'll cover the deke by the stand in a camo burlap and hunt the a.m. again with it then move. Obviously, the wind needs to be right for both hunts. It saves on having to drag in and out each hunt and reduces noise imo. Don't use it more than 2-3x max on a large parcel. Bucks become wise to it if you overuse the tactic on the same ground.

46-0255 is the item number...seems like a good deal for $129.99. 2 year warranty on that cam, which is a huge deal. Just passing it on...I picked one up.

Ever bring a new woman into your house? How'd your wife react? Same thing happens to does...they don't like unfamiliar ladies (or bucks for that matter) on their ground. Does in general are a mixed bag with decoys. Most don't like them because they are curious.

Short tines...but everything else is there. Old enough at this point. I also wouldn't have posted that pic now, but that's just me.

Actually the DEC is in a rock and a hard place. They literally cannot say too much. The DEC wants the youth season, but their power could be trumped. The bill/law that kills it is pending...so they can't comment on it, other than to say they will comply, which they have done. They simply cannot tell the public anything because they don't know the final result. Blabbing about it is a political game killer for them...biting the hand that feeds is a no-no.

I've got a used Boss buck that I'm willing to part with for cheap. It has one leg that partially screws on and needs either velcro, double sided tape or even a screw through it. When I bought it, there was a plastic mold issue at the factory, so they sent me a new one. I've never even used the new one yet because the one I bought is still useable....I just took a loop of duct tape and it worked...lol. Decoys are fun...lots of work....but fun to do a few times a season.

I think the clause intent is for firearms use for deer hunting...not small game.

Pheasant hunting where you'll be bow hunting? Not exactly a great pair. I've know several hunters in KS where they despise opening phesant day...moves the bucks that day but screws up the action after that.

Sure is. He actually has more abnormal points growing on that same side...the points are pointing at the cam so they are blurry but it looks like two additional points are sprouting.

If you saw 5 deer in the a.m. (turkey hunting) each time, then it's likely a spot where deer are heading back to bed after feeding. Take a look at the likely travel routes to find their bed and also what food source they were hitting on. Say, if it's a green field that'll still have them coming in come fall, then you likely have a spot to consider hunting somewhere along that trail. Ideally, closer to the bed is better for success, but it is a fine line of boom or bust.

Recruitment is indeed an issue - but like most things, there are a variety of factors. Honestly, I think access is the biggest. Some people point ot youth days, too many sports, activities, hunting age laws, etc. Really, it all traces back to access. Many of those who have, do. Plainly put.

Hopefully I'll see what he pans out to be like. I'm sure he put on some growth since this pic was late June. Amazing what some roundup and a weedeater can do (I reopened a trail between a water source and 4 or 5 acres of multi-flora on 6/23). He's hanging with the old goat from the other thread.

Certainly some nice bucks there! So you are going to hang your stand based on these photos? Do the bachelor groups not break up?

It's just as illegal now as it is hunting season. Only difference is that he'll get more tickets then as compared to now.

The new ones are certainly not made in USA, lol. These were, though. Got a nice sticker right on the inside saying Farmington.

Good, reliable Moultrie GS200. Been my workhorse. I am the original owner. Only selling because I am moving to cams with tripod adaptors. $50 tyd or $45 local. Made right here in NY, too...Farmington.

Precisely, it's not all that uncommon. Certainly not the norm, but not uncommon.

all deer molt differently. while june is late its not unheard of. mites could be an issue too. dhls maybe but unsureif whitetails as suspect.

its a known condition...shell be fine. i forget the specific name.its also mid june....

Last year, I saw more deer in the two afternoons of the sz archery opener weekend than I did for the res tof the season...and both were groups in open fields. It's one of the few times I'll hunt an open field edge in early season. Bummer thing is the wind works against you, too. I had not one, but two does sneak past my stand at 7 yards from the base along the woods edge. Darn things were IN my lanes before I knew they were there. I didn't want to push it that early in the year, but I was surprised twice..ha.

I'm still waffling on whether a couple pics from last year are him - I think it is because based on the roman nose and overbite. His rack was decent last year but he was showing signs of some funky growth with the way his rack was curving..his antlers looked like a sharks mouth from a side view. His left side looks like it's paddling out like a moose. I can't tell how many points, but he looks like more than 10 just from what I can see easily. Nutrients and dry weather were not an issue...pretty good forage in the area and a couple ponds within about 50 yards of this photo. I actually think they were coming from the pond. One of his bachelor group buddies is of pretty significant size for a June photo.

Take a look at this old goat...I actually think I have pics of him from last year with a much more impressive rack. His roman nose, overbite is distinct. He is paired up with another buddy who is a shooter.

A mature buck is different that all of the other deer, that's for sure. Mature bucks seem to value safety over all other needs.