phade

Gander Mtn has had huge customer service problems and problems in general since being taken private...actually before that. But, of all things, their gun dept. is THE WORST. I walked in there three times last year at different times and days to BUY (not even needing a sales pitch) a specific firearm they had in stock. Each time, I walked out, after waiting more than 30 minutes to get help each time...they understaff the dept. a ton. The jump to 50% is news to me...The prices for their used guns are mostly inflated, too....the one by me has hardly any used for sale now. Use to have 2-4 round racks and a few on the wall...now just a single round rack.

I'm aiming to shoot a buck early based off bed use. The Oct. 1 opener is a game changer. Some people think that time is worthless and only the rut is worthwhile, but they're overlooking some serious vulnerability. Setting out cams now for a little show n tell. Also shooting lightly.

Use a Galaxy tab...works OK on the site. Love having it in the field to check cards on cams.

Bears...ugh. I am not jealous. Do you have any CRP or similar areas? How about corn fields? How about a water hole? All three are legit options for finding bucks at this time of year. with the heat, a water hole would be a good start. You get a midday hit on a buck and you'll know he's bedded close by...they won't travel far in daytime heat like this. That'll start to give you the info you need.

I agree, try out some bows. Archerytalk has the best deals, that's for sure.

I put them in easy to access areas to keep intrusion minimal. I usually let them soak for three to four weeks at this time of year as I am more interested in inventorying bucks in the area. Pulling once a week with instrusion into bedding/core areas will most certainly change a mature buck's habits, if that is what you are after.

I switched back to my 12 ga. smoothbore Mossberg 500 two seasons ago after buying a 20 gauge rifled 500 deer model.I've been shooting Truballs...$3.99 normally at Gander and they have been on .99 cent sale after rebate. I bought quite a few boxes from the same lot each time. They shoot dirty, but very good for a cheapo slug.Most sets are smoothbore ranges out to 75 yards, with 50 or less being much more common. Longer distance sites...I tote the Vortek UL.PS...I have several boxes of Activ 12 gauge...I shot the heck out of them when I was a teen. Would sell for cheap or free to a youth hunter.

I'm going to do some fishing this weekend and maybe tinker with a few game cams. I find it's one heck of a stress-reducer...

I'd have already hung that stand after I seen them head that way twice. I have a 10 acre woodlot I hunt...and I have 7 stands in it....7! I always have a stand ready to go during the season if I need to move....either a dedicated stand or my LW setups. The real issue with this practice is overhunting a parcel...just because you have stands, doesn't mean that it's OK to overhunt it. I sincerely doubt deer know anything about ladderstands unless the humans cause them to, and by that I mean, ladderstands are easy to access and climb and are often overhunted because of convenience. More hunting = equal more scent left behind = more likely the deer will be alerted to your presence while there and after you are gone. As long as a laddderstand has adequate cover, then the stand itself has no bearing on the deer...it's the methods and humans behind that stand that cause it. 90% of "regular joe" hunters who have the option between a ladder and a hang-on will choose the ladder for convenience. I've even seen people who know better do this - people who practice scent control, wind direction, etc. The convenience factor can be damaging.

My best stand was one behind a house about 150 yards in woods that served as a funnel between two doe bedding areas. The predominant wind blew from the stand to the house, and mature bucks were not often passing between the stand and the house due to various factors. They were running the funnel on the far side of the stand. It was a luxury as I was able to sit it several times a year, which in my book is almost impossible to do and still hunt effectively without blowing up a spot. That stand alone had produced more mature buck opportunities than all of my other grounds and stands combined. I miss that stand as I no longer hunt there. Those types are hard to come by.

I always say the divorce diet is the most effecitve one out there. I lost 105 lbs. of DEAD WEIGHT with it.

The safety on my FILs Horton is loud, too. I see that as being the biggest issue while in the field over having to re-cock. It's so loud, I could easily see deer going to alert or busting out.

I mean being privately owned, we don't have access to their reporting as compared to a publicly held/traded company. We simply cannot tell if their sales revenue started a decline, costs went up, etc. since there is no annual report, 10K, etc. available.

With both being private you won't have financials, but I suspect Muzzy wasn't selling/profitable as well as they used to be and the innovation wasn't there to sustain business continuity. Muzzy makes decent BH but there have been some QC issues creeping in since they began making their own bh in house rather than outsourcing them. I think sales started to fall flat and Rage was interested and there you have it....Rage got a solid name in the business and the Muzzy chick got out smartly. Wal-mart was Muzzy's largest retailer, and Rage recently started popping up in WalMarts...so from their perspective they just gained a significant market share within the world's largest retailer. Of course, that's all interpretation, but that's probably the most likely scenario.

It sounds like this is more for short sits...nothing beats a LW setup for mobility. Get and Assault or Alpha and be done with it. You can buy hooked straps to set up similar to the Milleniums but, really, once you get used to the versa buttons, you'll see that it's super easy. Mobile hunting is NOT for everyone. I am not particularly good at it, but I do it. LW is a quiet stand, so that helps. I wouldn't want to have astand in there to showcase an area as being worthwhile to any of the trespassers. I'd pack in and out. LW sticks and stand. Expensive, but worth it and the stand will be around for looooooooooooong time for you to use. I have been toying with rapid rails as I like climbing with them better, but they are moer of a hassle to pack quietly and put up. But, in your case, I wouldn't ever think of leaving a stand up if you know others trespass....it'll just be wasting your time and money, even if they just hunt it and don't steal it. Been there and done that....never again. I'm not a huge fan of screw ins, but they have their place. If they are allowed on the property I hunt, I'll usually bring 4 or so to use as the bottom steps to save me from having to buy another LW stick to get 16-20 ft. One other this about hang and bang...setting up in the dark in my opinion is much more difficult that during daylight. I simply can't seem to be as quiet doing it.

I'm going to have to check that out...looks like a great tool!

He won't hunt a spot if he can't get to it without the right access (ie. not having to access in a spot where you disturb bedding or blow scent the wrong way). IN fact, he actually looks for access routes and then scouts areas where he can hunt around those access spots...that's certainly different. People should treat stands like a recipe or directions...you need to follow them in order. Wind means nothing if you blow the spot up walking in.

Are you looking for topos, boundaries, or aerials? You may have luck with some of that if you search Duchess County GIS...they may have one online. Edit: http://geoaccess.co.dutchess.ny.us/parcelaccess/ Check it out...you likely will be able to pull up the parcel lines with the owner's info.

IMO only one person really responded in the correct fashion...he started off with the right response - it depends on the goals of the hunter and the ground before ANYTHING else. There's a big difference between shooting any deer or a mature buck...or the top lot on a given parcel. Next, I want to be sure there is a buck in the area I want to hunt (if I want mature bucks). All of the other factors have a role...wind, access, location, bedding, travel, etc. So setting a stand in my opinion: 1. Hunter goals/Property access 2. Buck that I want to hunt and that is huntable based on scouting details 3. Access - Entry/Exit 4. Wind and sufficient cover for particular set 5. Everything else...

Nice. You don't hear a ton about Cayuga county and quality bucks (at least out this way and throughout discussions around the state). But...you seem to be able to find some dandies there that rival top producing areas in all of the state. Kudos.

Torn bicep is NO fun at all. Takes quite a while to get right...

Let. This. Thread. Die.

Should be fine...don't forget KE isn't the end all...your momentum is a factor. But, in any case you are good to go.

The three big ones...correct side shooting (RH/LH)...draw length...and then weight... If any of those are off, you need to see what can be done (won't be able to do much RH if you are LH).

392 including broadhead? How many pounds you shooting? Draw length? Most people I know that head out west do so with 400+ finished weights. 392 is probably OK, but, certainly wouldn't entertain thoughts below that personally...and I wouldn't look at anything other than the standard ST to help with any penetration issues given that finished weight.