phade

I follow a similar routine as above with personal preferences not withstanding, but one thing that I pay extra attention to is when parking your truck at the hunting site. I turn the truck off as soon as I park and do not let it idle. I usually wait a minute before getting out and changing into hunting clothes. The exhaust fumes can and will contaminate your scent prep if you don't watch it. Makes all the work undone. Don't believe me, try it and doa sniff test....worst part is it's usually your boots or pants that are stunk up the most. Ultimately, regardless of my prep...hunt wind....in the stand, going to it, and exiting.

That's two different things. That good glass, taken care of, will last a lifetime. Rarely have I ever seen someone still daunting duds from more than a few years ago. Even taken care of clothes start to fall apart within a few years, eash be damned. My fleece bow season suit is treated like a princess, but it's showing its age after four years.

I love to hunt, but I'm fairly confident I'm not willing to spend $600 on any single article of clothing to hunt. I've gotten most of my gear on sale, and have decent stuff...I think there's a balance with most hunting clothes. Definately get what you pay for...to a point.

Will do in the next couple weeks.... Blur...Where's exits 120 that you speak of?

Archerytalk....best place hands down for the budget. Jan-Mar is the best time to buy because most places are turning over 2010s and people are getting rid of bows for 2011 purchases. But, I would first find the best, msot reputable, and friendly pro shop. Buying the bow is easy, getting it set up (for a first time bowhunter) is priceless. Just now on AT, was a 2008 Martin Moab loaded and ready to rock at $225, and it's dl adjustable. Came with sight, rest, etc. Get yourself a release, some arrows, and a setup/tune, and your flinging them.

I feel like I'm suddenly on a Martha Stewart forum.

Technical Bowhunting book by Joe Bell (good read from what I am told) Spot Hogg Wiseguy release Bag target Spotting scope Ladder steps (the 20' ladder, not sticks) an insulated/windproof zip up hoodie for putzing around in the winter snow. vaccum packer machine for processing ground blind bow holder (also great for yard shooting) $25 Bass Pro gift card No MZ, though...fooled, but that's fine. I actually got all usable hunting stuff this year.

None...turned out it was a combo purchase of a stand/release/bag target/spotting scope that put the price right at the mz cost. She even taunted the possibility of a new gun the x-mas eve...but that was to throw me off. Consider me thrown! Still great gifts that I'll use heavily.

Found a 4 pt (mainframe shed the last Saturday morning of reagular firearms season. I think that the two sheds appear to be from different years. The biggest clue would be the staining on one and the bleaching effect on the other. The staining is likely new, while the beleached one is likely from last year. Brow tine difference and chewing as well, plus bases seem different size, although that's nothing more than a secondary list to think they are from different years.

150" 8s...gross or net, will never be something to sneeze at. I'd enter it just for record sake since it is such a rare combination.

As teens, we would take old truck tires and make cutouts out of cardboard to fit...then roll them down the hill or across a field for practice. Rabbits are good practice as well...but then ethics come into play again Should you shoot at a running rabbit for practice at deer?

I've shot at a fair shair of running deer. Some during drives, some while on stand, and some while walking in/out, and other times walking along a hedge row. The big variable to success for the average shooter is going to be speed of deer, open (and *hopefully* safe) terrain, distance, and angle of run. People think the difficulty of a running deer shot is always going to be hard...not so. Take for example, the last running deer I shot and was full out running away from me at a very slight angle. It ran past me in the stand, and I pulled the trigger at about 50 yards. It dropped like a box of rocks. The slight angle and relatively short distance made for an easy shot. It required very little lead, almost no swinging through, presents a good vital exposure (quartering away of sorts) etc. I like to think the large majority of hunters with any experience would be able to make such a shot. I've taken quite a few running deer in my years in this type of situation. I've taken a few where the deer were running perpendicular, and I find that to be much more challenging and I pick my situations before pulling the trigger. I have missed, but in each time, I firmly believed I could make the shot and was not in fear of safety/ethics (confirming beyond target, etc.). I've also watched them do aerobatic moves when I lodge the projectile in the front shoulder/vitals. One deer I shot perfectly at about 35 yards running across from me, presented the lead, and she end over end three times and with the last time, she didn't even move. On the flip side, I've shot at a few deer that were close and clean missed them...no real explanation other than I did something wrond. I once missed a very close deer when I had only one shell in the gun (I can't think why I didn't have more in), and that darn doe stopped at 30 yards and looked back at me like I was stupid. I didn't even bother reaching for another shell, and did the walk of shame home...no excuse for missing that one. My first deer ever was likely my most impressive shooting experience, and I'll likely never top that. It was trotting at a fair pace before pulling the trigger. Initial shot was a little high/back, but I followed up with a good lead and it paid off. 3 shots total (last one from stand for insurance), 3 hits. Not every chance plays out like that, but I'm only taking that shot if I believe I can make it, and can do it safely and ethically. Some people believe any deer that's not chained to the ground should not be shot...again, that's a personal decision. I doubt I'd have taken that shot now with more experience (I was 17), and would have let patience guide the situation, but at that time of my life, I was also sending my allowance/job money out the window by pulling the trigger several hours each weekend or after school. I doubt I'll ever be in that practice-shape again, and have adjusted accordingly. Bottom line, only the hunter can safely make their determination...and we must rely on judgement. Be safe, first and foremost, and let your ethics guide you (hopefully you have good ethics!). I had to pass on three separate does on the last day of the season in 2009 after they cleared my position towards a house. Not a tough call at all...safety first. I could have easily shot two fo the three. The third didn't look like it hit the ground once in the 200 yards it cleared across the field.

I always thought the same things, but the light isn't in the facts. Only about 5k hunters successfully tag an archery/mz buck and a reg season buck (two bucks a season). It's a deceptively small number. The benefit in my interpretation (and I'm guilty of this practice in the past, and once in a while to this day), is that with two tags, multiple season hunters are more likely to shoot a smaller buck, then "hold out" for something big. With OBR, hunters will become much more "choosey" in a sense. There are many hunters who tag that small buck, then never see the "big one" to shoot later on. I'm not complaining about it, but I can see both sides of the fence. Now, I'm not saying that OBR is high on my list of things to do...I much rather prefer they moved regular season start date to the Monday after T-day (unlikely), and the shortening of the season (very unlikely) before OBR, and WAYYYYY before AR (I think it's not worthwhile). I don't know why NY SZ is when it is...I've never seen the logic behind it.

Whenever we got after canines, we usually just stick to a couple sets first thing in the morning. Haven't really gotten into sets at night. Outside of the caller, what shooting equipment are you using? Snow camo? Quick thinking on the barns...most people would shoot and ask questions later.

Certainly right about that. My only foreseeable issue with it being a rifle shot, is if it were shot from a distance on the edge of open ground and the thick brush where it was found. I suppose it's possible the hunter was far enough and in the excitement was unable to locate the deer's point of impact to cut his tracks, or determine which track's were his (from other deer) somehow. I've seen it happen while shotgunning once in a blue moon, eventually the impact spot is found, but I suppose I could see that as an issue. I tend to have issue when bowhunting following a deer that's been hit and runs out of sight...I try to remember specific trees, etc. but when I get on the ground, it's much harder to find. You almost have to think a stud like that would certainly be followed up on because of its sheer size alone...I bet that poor guy cried in his beer that night.

If tracks were still visible...what about the blood trail? Anyone would hate to see a stud like that go unclaimed...but there's too many variables that I simply can't determine as to what constituted a good faith effort to follow up. Did he burn his own tag or get one from the DEC for that buck? He should be able to enter that as a found buck in th state book, if he wants to. For an 8, that's impressive.

Well, for me, when I bring the .22...I should have brought the .410. When I bring the .410...I should have brought the .22. I tend to favor the .410. If you're shooting the 2.5 inch loads, try the 3". It'll likely shorten the distance they run off.

It's a Traditions...want to say its a pursuit or accelorator...I forget which model. I happened to pick it up (a snow camo model) and check it out when she was there. I had been really looking at the higher end CVAs and T/Cs with the changeable barrels.

Yeah, I figure that's the best plan going. Although I can't trade the MZ in for the model I want, I did trade my first wife in. It cost me a good amount, but it was worth every penny! :-\

I'm pretty sure she already has posession of it...the bank statement showed the purchase, and I know she wouldn't buy something of that price without prior information from me. She knows I had been considering a new MZ, but only went one time with me to check them out. The lady will know if I'm not hunting with it, unfortunately ;D Although she gives me the green light to hunt whenever I want, I found the girl who takes an active interest in my adventures.

Savage...for the budget rifles...the Savage models have always been held in high regard (relatively speaking) with anyone I know that has ever rifle hunted. Start stepping up to mid-high end rifles, and Remington can hold it's own/distance from others. I've also found some of the combo scopes can be reliable...it's hit or miss based on model, but my Savage 7mm Rem Mag came with a Simmons and I've never had the need to replace it (it's about 10 years old). I've got to replace it now, but that was my fault (set rifle up against wall and it slid).

I think my better half may have got me a new MZ for Christmas…while doing finances, I came across info pointing in that direction…I was not snooping early! I am pretty confident that she got me a MZ that was not really what I wanted. I had looked at one while at Gander Mtn. when she was with me, and mentioned that “it wasn’t too bad.” For me, that’s a sign of approval of sorts…and I think she took that to being that was the one I really wanted. I don’t buy new guns often…maybe every 3-4 years or so. It’s not a bad mz by any stretch, but it was probably somewhere below my top three choices. She doesn’t typically go to such lengths for gifts, so I’m thinking I need to keep the pie hole shut and just hunt with it for the next couple of seasons. I can hunt with my current MZ, it’s a lower model, but I prefer it over the one I think she got me….and not hunting with the new one will be pretty obvious to her come next season. Any other options you can think of? I guess in retrospect, it’s not a bad situation to be in!

It's really a moot point to some degree. Split is right though that young bucks tend to leave within two periods by 1.5...the first large dispersal is right around 6 mos. and the second is right near as Split said. Some bucks leave early on, while others wait til the back end of this time frame. It's also a large issue why small tract QDM projects suffer when surrounding properties don't practice. In these instances, people do better by trying to entice deer during the hunting season times rather than trying to increase age structure (as the primary focus). Truth be told, that's why a ton of small-time landowners reach frustration after passing young buck after buck. Passing them goes hand in hand, but they should really focus on that Sept-Jan time to hold deer.

Colorado has the most book bucks, I believe. Some parts of Canada are great...Alberta. Alot depends on what you are after as mentioned. I'd like to chase them at some point, but it's just outside my top five hunting list to do right now.

Move SZ regular opener to Monday after T-day. Shorter regular season...OBR...all in the mix. I am not for extending MZ as it is now to the end of the year. I think it's a potential issue with dropped bucks getting shot. I think Iowa is having an issue with it right now. Bow/Xbow til end of the year is fine imo because it requires closer prey shooter distance. Plinking a non-antlered deer at 150-200 yards from a box blind leaves a little in the confirmation department for my liking.