phade

In that case, everything seems to be doing it's job. The underlayers wick from the skin, to your mids, and then to the jacket. It shouldn't be causing that much of an issue. The moisture is being pulled away from your skin and to the outer layer...which is proper. You are not going to get it to evaporate through three-four layers with the outer being heavy and of non-wicking design. You are not going to get an outer jacket that will stay dry if moisture is wicked from underneath...it's simply not going to happen. If you are simply unsatisfied with the jacket, then you may want to either walk with it off to the site, or go buy a new one. Sounds like you are getting moisture from exertion after the fact (saying it works while walking/stalking...but not when sitting?)...ie work up the heart rate right to the point of sweating. Cabela's in-house brands are real nice. I also had luck with the Gander house brand when on sale (not a value when full price). Just understand that NO jacket will stay dry when the layers underneath are wicking moisture from your body.

Breathable is a misnomer - I hate seeing it used in hunting garment descriptions. Either you are blocking the wind and/or rain...or not. You really are not going to get both qualities in one jacket - regardless of what advertising writers spout. Merino wool alone or over a better wicking base layer...every UA piece, even cold gear, has performed lousy for me. Soaks up the moisture but never dries and almost always seems to stay cold. I've had some good luck with X-scent and the Cabela's house brands. You may want to consider a thin fleece mid layer, walk to the stand with that on, and then put on the jacket at the site. Avoiding sweating will help in that department.

Yeah, that won't be a big deal. I think the thumbhole stock will help in that area. Do you have any closeups of the stock?

I can't say I've had any experience with them for deer hunting, but I've tinkered with a few for my shotguns. They make some decent turkey scopes. My father in law loved the red dot but ended up with a center point that has illuminated crosshairs. Probably not apples to apples but it'll do the job. I wouldn't expect Zeiss quality from it, but you probably know that.

Sweet. I was looking at the pepper laminate actually.

Anyone have experience with them? I'm starting to like thumbhole stocks for some reason, but I've got a particuler rifle of mine in mind for a stock swapout. It's a Savage 110 7mm Rem Mag that I bought while the young buck who was tough (recoil be damned). Nice gun, but, I hate regular wood stocks, the recoil is horrible, and the current stock is scratched up from prior use (used for some brush hunting in VA). I'm thinking the thumbhole stock might manage the recoil a bit better, but also think it'll look nice and I might be more inclined to use it when in rifle country here in NY. So has anyone used their stocks? Seems like they have some nice options. Might even do one for my 870.

Lesson #1. Size always matters.

4gb cards are generally SDHC and SDHC recently become the norm within the past year or so for new cams (ie willing to accept up to 32 gb). If the cam will only accept 2gb and under, it will not accept SDHC. That's the issue, really, not the size.

The number of deer shot by a person does little or nothing to prove a person hunts over bait or a plot. Heck i took 5 deer this year and 4 were in a woodlot of 10 acres. Not a seed planted or bait spread. I know several guys this year who plotted ten+ acres and shot nothing or one doe.

Ive killed plenty of deer on 5 acre tracts. If retrieval is fine...then you are golden.

As mentioned it falls back to bait concentrating deer in a very small spot and the danger for cwd. Scientists are showing that cwd is prion-based. Prions can live in the soil structure for years. Saliva contact is what the general deer biologists believe is the cause for cwd spread. hence...baiting a 1 sq. Foot area where multiple deer will eat (read exchange saliva) is a very dangerous proposition from a scientific pov. Think of it like a door handle on a the lone employee entrance at a large work building during winter. Lots of people touch that handle every single day and most multuple times. Then the touch their face, rub their eyes, or cough and then touch the door with their hand. Next thing you know, half of the workplace is talking about "the bug" that is going round....get my drfit.

Be careful man, there was a big article about that with regular joes selling guns at these shows this past year. Something about background screening being required at the shows or something, even with used guns. If I remember correctly, even though you would think it'd be a private party sale of a used firearm, being on the show grounds changes the legalities or something along those lines. The article said the police busted a large number of regular joes at these shows. Edit: Here's an even more recent article on it from the D&C: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011112010323

Colder weather tends to sap battery life. Lithiums perform better in the colder weather. Depending on your BTC model, it could have the same internals as my SG550 and that thing has seen more winter weather than Shawn White. It runs well. Typically when setting the cam up you pay attention to sun glare issues. In winter, with snowfall, I tend to downplay that because the angle of the sun is sharper and shorter, and because snow falling and snow drift can clog up the PIR sensor or lense or both. Where I am, it's usually w or sw, or ne (storm-a-brewing wind) So, I tend to set them up in a SE or NW facing direction...I don't have many, if at all, issues with whiteouts, but I use the video option on my SG (takes great video as compared to OK pics). I've got some videos in NASTY NE storms...the cam is shaking like crazy from the wind (mounted on a smaller tree), and it worked like a charm.

First, I would look at drive/travel time. Closer the better imo. It's not a big deal to run a couple hours vs. 4 hours. Second, in general, there are pockets of quality hunting around NY but most would agree that wNY has better hunting. Top deer counties are largely located in Regions 8 and 9. Land prices will vary, but if I had my way and targeting 30 acres, I'd focus on finding the right 30 acres mixed amongst large private land tracts rather than state land. You may have more hunting ground at your disposal; however, public land hunting can be frustrating and being next door means your herd depends on that public hunting impact. More people to trespass, etc. I'd personally look at places such as Steuben, Yates, Ontario, southern Monroe or along the edges of bordering counties, Livingston, Cattaraugus, and Allegany. They are generally the ones that top the list in deer numbers and buck take (number and per sq. mile). If I narrowed that down with your locale in mind...I'd say Stueben/Allegany or southern Livingston, or Yates. Try to get in areas where ag is common/nearby or bordering...it'll been a boon the local deer herd as compared to state ground or forested lands. The right 30 acres are better than the wrong 100.

Makes sense. I remember reading an article one time that the 45 should have been the major caliber of choice to modern muzzleloading but that it never took because of poor product selection. I think the author went on to spout the superior performance from a hunting perspective but I forget the details. Probably similar to the modern trend of 20 vs. 12 gauge.

I tend to go, but never find deals on the actual guns. Most of the stuff I walk away with is small and cheaper...cleaning stuff, eye/ear protection, some targets, etc. When I lived in Virginia, the gun shows were way better than here...it's like night and day.

You think deer hunters are twisted individuals who will climb out of bed and sit in extreme weather and do unsensible things for a buck? Wait til you meet a predator hunting nut.... I enjoy it once in a while, but this particular time of year is when i recharge my batteries, ice fish, and catch up with the family. Still, I make it out a couple days. Most people get an electronic caller. I don't have anything fancy, just a Johnny Stewart model that was cheap. Play the wind like deer hunting. Deciding on a caliber is much like any other pick, preference. Kevin Kishel, who most people know of, prefers shotguns with turkey loads here in NY most of the time. It makes sense since he sets up closer to brush and structure in NY. If you set up on fields, then obviously you are going to want a rifle. Such a wide variety of choices. .223 is probably the most popular. I'm in the hunt for a .243 because I can make it double duty as a deer rifle. I know a few people who use the .243 because of that and do well with the varmint loads.

It is what it is. And, it affects each hunter differently. My hunting buddy has ice through his veins compared to me, and I'm pretty stable in nothing being bothered by the majority of finishing acts. I just try to figure out what went wrong with the initial shot and go from there as a lesson learned. Best we can do. My partner, give him a razor blade and a loin cloth and he'll go hunting caveman style...he's just a machine that's not affected by death, ever. Now, he has compassion for them - more than me...but everything is just part of the process for him and he doesn't waste more than a moment on it.

Never had a Bushnell break, RSS. I've got everything from Tasco, Simmons, Bushnell, Nikon, Leupold, and Zeiss. Bushnell fits the bill for my needs on this one and Nikon is far from the best, that's for darn sure. Good, but not great.

Ahh, their product catalog shows they sell the XTPs with their sabots. The funnel points seem similar in design. Curious, why such a light XTP? Better performance or just preference?

Lone Wolf - ultimate mobile hunting stands...the climbers are sturdy and lightweight, pack the best of all climbers, and are quiet during setup. The con for some people is comfort - 50/50 chance you'll think it's comfortable. Summit...comfy. Packing, bulk, and noise is not as good as the LW. But....if the comfort keeps you hunting, then it's a better option. I've seen about half the people say climbing is better with one rather than the other. It's a toss-up, I guess. I have a Summit and a LW. I much prefer the LW since I don't often use climbers for all day sits. It is not as comfy, but I deal for 3-5 hours a sit. I also think the LW will be a much better long-term investment for you...no welds to break.

Cool story, bro.

What Harvesters are you going to try out? I love the Scorpion funnel points in my Wolf. It's not their "long-range" offering but the Wolf is usually my brush/short range (100 yds or less) mz. The Scorpion PT models seem like they'll really reach out there. The funnel points also load easier that anything I've tried, probably rivaling the Powerbelts (which suck hunting wise).

Been looking at some scopes with the ballistic reticle...anyway, found one I liked online but each retailer had conflicting information. It was a new addition to the Bushnell lineup so the site had not been updated to reflect the model number. Rang Bushnell, waited 5 minutes on hold and a guy picked up and he was SUPER helpful and laid back. He was very clearly not your average phone cs person...he was involved in the tech side of things. He found the info on their system, went and grabbed a tech manual, made sure it was what I needed for my use, and then, went back online and searched for various retailers that had the model in stock, and found the lowest price online. Even gave me a pointer about the scope and mounting that let me know he really uses it in the field. I know some people don't favor Bushnell optics but I've had good luck with them.

Got a Leupold VX-I scope that I wanted to replace another scope that was damaged in transit when we moved. Got a nice Cabela's travel bag that will carry scent-free soaps/sprays and the usualy toiletries - that will be nice when I hunt Ohio and a couple pieces where I stay overnight away from the house. Also got one of the backyard bow hangers that go into the ground and are designed for practice...hold two bows and a slot for arrows - no more setting the bow on the ground, etc. Also got some Harvester Scorpion Funnel Points...after buying them in a little shop in Ohio this bow season, I fell in love with them out of my CVA Wolf. Can't find them locally to save your life. I was hoping for another trail cam as well (a cheapo one for high-risk areas), but I can't complain.