phade

Need some ideas... Landed permission for an Ohio farm. Nice elderly couple, a bit religious (no Sunday hunting on property). Meeting them this weekend to sign permission slips and tour the grounds. I'd love to get them something nice from New York rather than picking up a local gift certificate for them to dine out, etc. Any ideas? I immediately thought of a bottle of Finger Lakes wine...but with them being a bit religious, I'm hesitant to do that. It doesn't have to be food/drink...only real requirement is that it travels well (6 hr. drive) and is available in the Rochester area.

Got that pic last year at this time.

I think you have a keeper...but that's just me. Windproof fleece.

I agree. He's in that 130 range minus velvet.

Between the early dropping apples and the poor acron crop...the hunting could be pretty good for some people.

Interested to see both bits of info. I've been a loyal subscriber to D&DH but let it lapse this summer. It's gotten pretty slim and the articles are starting to stagnate a bit...about the only real interesting stuff is done by Ozoga, etc. Seems like Charles' stuff is a bit repetitive now, but always a good read. Last year's rut (complete cycle) for me was pretty timid, yet my hunting partner saw quite a bit of action on the same ground at the same time as I hunted. My observations mirrored Charles' predictions...and that was a first for me...but not for my partner. I'm hoping the weather, hunting conditions, etc. all line up this year for a more traditional experience. A couple of those afternoons in the first week of November were absolute drool fests since it was so slow - warm weather though. I saw active chasing on Nov. 2 and 6 mornings and that was it. Been clinging to Bow & Arrow as the only one that seems to stay fresh. This year is interesting for me because for the first time since I was in college, I have a considerable amount of vacation time to take for hunting. Usually I was in the 5-7 days off range. Now...I've got 10-15 days to burn. Definitely taking a two week block either first two weeks of November or second and third, and then a couple days for late MZ.

A little late now, but release (trim, etc.) in the late winter/early spring timeframe (March, possibly early April). Some people get picky with fertilizer, but I generally just use good old 10-10-10.

You'll be surprised. After you release the trees and get a few years of fertilizer, etc. they will begin to attract deer pretty well - over the other apple trees in the area. One of the earliest tricks I can remember learning about hunting when growing up in the south...thinking maybe 12-13 years-old at the time, was the release/fertilize trick. When hunting oak flats or areas with many apples, pear, or persimmon (that was big where I hunted), the succesful hunters would trim and fertilize 1 or 1 group of trees only. Interestingly, the deer tend to gravitate to them as being preffered over others in the area. When I moved up here, the same thing was repeated by a distant family member with one apple tree and one white oak. Pretty neat to see it work.

Amen. I usually use the LW and climber when I need to adapt to movements...but also use the new in box ladders when I think it'll be a stand worth hunting a second time.

Checked out the ground this weekend. On paper and aerials/etc. it looks like a deer heaven, but very little sign. Some light paths and a few decent tracks. Not much in the way of previous rubs, etc. Very old growth as mentioned...I never see trees that big in my typical hunting area.

27 Comfort Zone ladder stands + 1/2 dozen ready to go if need be 1 LW Alpha/Sticks 2 CZ multiposition hangons + Rapid Rails 1 Summit Open Shot climber 1 GM hangon and ladder 1 Remington cheapo + stick 1 River's Edge XL ladder 1 Ameristep 2 person ladder I think that's it. More than one stand doesn't get hunted each season based on weather/variables...and they're all packed into very small acreage since I don't have much ground to hunt on. Some say it's overkill, but it's not, really, all done on the cheap (sales, clearances, etc.). They key to me is quick, quiet access..small acreage and disturbance is a disaster in the making. Some stands are within 20-30 yards of one another....but there's a reason why they are set that way.

4-6 or 11-13? Tough call. Personally, I'd probably go with 11-13. All you need is a warm front and the 4-6 is shot (and that happens once in a while, like last year). You almost always see some solid chasing then...BUT...that's a big gamble with only three days and a warm front is pretty common at some point during that first week of November for 24-48 hrs. With only three days, I'd go with the 11-13. Statistically speaking, I think the 9 through 11 is usually pointed as the peak of kills. Now, if I had a week...it'd be the 4-11 or 5-15 if I had 10 days. The weather concern is also much less likely. Whatever you do...with only three days. My rear wouldn't be leaving the woods during daylight at all. Dark to Dark sits sound in order.

If there was a ever a study conducted on it...you'd probably be shocked at how many marriages ended in divorce, at least in part, due to hunting issues. Best to prioritize now. Good score and a little sacrifice now means more and better hunting later.

And you can get two consignments and two supplementals if the units are available.

Indoor plumbing?

I feel bad for my 500. Its almost to the point i try to see how bad i can neglect it because that thing continues to shoot lights out no matter what happens to it.

That range always looks nice when I drive by. Don't get out that way often, but it's pretty nice. Do they have elevated platorms at all?

Cool that you did that. How long did it take you? 8C permits are OTC practically....to my knowledge, they've NEVER run out of them in recent memory. You could have two 8Fs and go and get two supplementals. Trust me, they want the deer numbers down in 8c. This back and forth is moot. We're never going to get a response from him, from the appearance.

Sigh. That the best you can offer to this thread? Apparently people don't understand what plausible but not probable means. I just don't want, in the event of a rational/legal explanation, someone's name getting unfairly dragged through the mud. Obviously his non-public actions aren't convincing, either, but the fact remains, there's plausibility here and nobody seems to recognize that. The lynch mob is quick to the noose (such as before his non-public actions were noted).

Yes you can. Comprehend...and I just want to inform you so there's less ignorance to this kind of situation if you ever encounter it again or hunt it for that matter. Harvest: doe 8c - Bonus dmp/dmp buck 8c - Bonus permit buck in 8j or wherever Marion lies (or anywhere in NY where legal) - statewide either-sex Easy. For the billionth time, was it likely, no. Plausible, yes.

Agreed, but like I said...it's plausible, not probable.

I thought I remember his posts saying something about Sodus...either case, it's not that far at all to 8c. Maybe 30 min. (less than 20 miles) to 8C. Marion's actually closer to 8C than Sodus. Again, we're all reaching at straws here, but bottom line is he should respond and explain, but doesn't look like he will based on the actions you stated he took.

It's just plausible, and admittedly (multiple times) a low chance of occurring, but plausible nonetheless. Heck, I've shot three deer with my bow in that area in an hour and a half alone. Deer are like rats in 8c....the problem is getting access. I know a few people who shoot 8 deer a year out of 8c and they only hunt 10 days a year or so. Some of those bucks are legit high-end book bucks since there's little hunting pressure and bow-only.

Bonus permit is an "any deer will do" tag...mature buck, doe, button, etc. It's not the run of the mill DMP. "Bonus Permits" will be available to hunters who take an antlerless deer in one of those units on a Deer Management Permit (DMP) or a Bonus DMP for that unit "Bonus DMPs used to take an antlered deer will not be replaced." What does that say? Let me break this down for you: 1. Hunt in 8c (or any other of the three units) 2. Fill a DMP or a Bonus Permit with a doe. 3. Receive an Either Sex tag for 8c 4. Shoot a Buck...tag it with your either sex Bonus Permit. 5. Shoot another buck statewide and tag with your regular bow either-sex tag, reg tag, etc. as season proceeds. You also have the option to keep replacing the tag with antlerless harvests rather than a antlered deer. In theory, you can slaughter the does in 8c if you keep repleneishing the tag. Shoot a buck...and that ends. Class dismissed.

That's not pretty.