wolc123

Damn, that reminds me that I need to pick up one of them back tag holders. I had been hunting the northern zone for a couple of weeks, so I did not worry about it. I could not find one in the house last weekend, for my first southern zone hunt. I ended up sticking my tag in an automobile insurance card holder, and hooking it to my jacket with a couple of safety pins. It looks like they held, and should get me thru tomorrow's hunt anyhow. The reason they require them in the Southern zone, but not the Northern, probably has to do with hunter density. Tresspassing issues are a bigger problem in the Southern zone and that tag provides a means for others to record the number, much like license plates on cars. Just knowing that they can be turned in by others for violations, probably causes folks to "play by the rules" a little better. Up north, those "others" are so few and far between, that it is less of a factor.

I always try to get that done by Labor day weekend. The main reason I do that is because it bothers me a bit when I am hunting during late archery season, and hear the sounds of the neighbors sighting in their deer guns. It bothers me because I have rarely seen any deer activity while that is going on. It really sucks when they keep shooting right up until sundown. It makes me think they are lazy procastinators, which is not cool. I would prefer to not subject others to that same aggravation. This is also one of the reasons that I now do most of my target practice, year round, with bb guns. The main reason for that is "real" ammo cost savings. I used to use my .22 rimfire for that, until that stuff got expensive and hard to find. The relative silence of the bb guns is a nice added bonus. I can shoot them all day, right off the back porch, and the neighbors hear nothing. If some type of scheduling conflict, malfunction, or weather conditions, prevented me from getting a deer gun sighted earlier, then I would certainly do it right up to the day before the opener, rather than hunt with a gun I was not certain of. I will also not skimp again on the number of shots I use while sighting, and settle for a zero not quite where I want it. Last year that caused a doe a little extra suffering, when my first shot struck her a few inches higher than I intended. A second shot was required to finish her. Using a little more ammo on the range is well worth the cost to prevent bad hits (or misses) later, when it really counts. So the bottom line is, shoot early if you can, but if you can't, still shoot. I don't think you are over thinking it. It is not all about you. Think about the folks out there hunting right now. You will never go wrong by putting the interests of others, especially those from whom you expect nothing in return, ahead of your own. Also, imagine you are a big old buck bedded down in some thick cover and waiting to get up and eat a few acorns. Just as you are about to rise, you hear a series of loud bangs. You might decide to wait until after dark after hearing that, especially if you had a bad experience with a hunter at about this time on the year prior. I don't think those big bucks are quite as dumb as some folks think.

I think the number of hunters in NY has been declining for the last decade or so. The number of coyotes has been increasing over that period. It all comes down to how long is "too long". A year round open hunting and trapping season on coyotes would push that out a little further, don't you agree ? Maybe you are one of those who believes that if more coyotes are killed, they will more than make up for the losses by having larger litters and actually increase in number. I have heard that argument a few times in the past. Are you against a year round open season on coyotes in NY ? Also, what does an average week-old fawn weigh, and how many pounds of meat do coyotes consume per week on average? Certainly the vast majority of deer that coyotes kill are fawns. It would not be too far of a stretch to assume that an adult coyote could kill 7 fawns in a week. If hunters killed more deer and coyotes killed less, there would be more "surplus" for them to donate to the hunters feeding the hungry program. Does that make sense to you now.

About a year ago, someone posted a poll in the bowhunting section on this site that asked if folks preferred no crossbows in archery, leaving it two weeks only, or full inclusion. The poll lasted a week or so, until it magically disappeared. At the time it went away, the total in favor of full inclusion was running about double that in favor of leaving it two weeks only. I can only assume that did not fit someones agenda, which is why it disappeared. At this time, I would not be surprised to see a 3:1 advantage in favor of full inclusion, because of folks like you. There will always be selfish, elitist holdouts however. Try as they may, they can not stop the aging process. Eventually, all of them will come around. If not, there is always Oregon.

Where did you see me use those numbers ? There are two "happy" times a year, when their main diet could be deer. That would be fawning time and post-rut.

My money is on that being a broken arrow from a vertical bow and not a bolt from a crossbow for three reasons: First, I have hunted that area for more than 35 years and have found around a half dozen that had similar broken arrow sections in them, prior to the legalization of crossbows (3) years ago. Second, I don't know of anyone who uses aluminum bolts in their crossbows, they all use carbon. Third, a high hit is often the result of string jump caused by shooting at an "alert" deer that caught a glimpse of the hunter's draw. That draw motion is not needed with a crossbow. You did the right thing for taking him out though, and thanks for doing that. The last time I did it was about 10 years ago when I could have shot a 4 pointer right under my stand with my slug gun, but opted for a longer shot at an eight pointer instead. I regretted that move a bit when I butchered him and cut my hand and lost some chops from the broadhead that was imbedded in "no-mans" land, above the spine.

Have you ever shot at a deer with a vertical bow or a crossbow at over 40 yards ? That is beyond the "danger zone" in which a deer will react to the sound of a bow's release. I killed my first crossbow buck at 59 yards and he never moved until the bolt pierced his heart. The last move he made on his own was a fall to the ground, about 40 yards from where he had stood when hit. I would be interested in knowing what your basis for that claim is ? I might just be "nuts" though, according to a few others here.

I am hoping and praying that you find that one Grow.

The primary reason I bought one was to increase my efficiency at killing and recovering deer. In 30 years of bowhunting, I never missed a deer, but I was not satisfied with a recovery rate of about 70 %. I do not remember all the details of those that I recovered, but I will never be able to forget the ones that I lost. Not being able to recover wounded deer is about the only aspect of hunting that has really bothered in the past. I am extremely thankful that it has not happened in 13 years and the crossbow has played big part in that. The main variable that the crossbow gives me better control over is the mood of the deer when the arrow/bolt is released. Every bad hit I made with a vertical bow was due in part to "string-jump". String jump is of no concern when the deer is not in an "alert" mood. Both bucks I killed with my crossbow had no clue what hit them until the bolts pierced their hearts. The act of drawing a vertical bow with a deer in close is often what causes them to switch to an "alert" mood. There is no need for that fast motion with the crossbow. It can be slowly moved into position in full view of the deer without causing it to go alert. It is much easier to hit a target that is in the same place when the arrow arrives as it was when launched. Even though the crossbow appeared to offer much greater efficiency, I probably would not have forked over the $250 for an entry level package, had not I just had some major surgery that put me under some big-time physical restrictions. That limited how much weight I could draw with a vertical bow. Crossbows were legalized at the same time. The "last two weeks only" deal may have prevented this purchase were it not for the physical restrictions I was under at the time. It all worked out very well however. I am very satisfied with the cheap crossbow I bought. It's light weight, compact size, ease of handling, and smooth trigger are especially appreciated (Barnett Recruit compound crossbow). Some of the folks who are complaining about their bulky, fast, expensive, unwieldy models ought to give this one a try. It handles almost as easy as my Ruger 10/22 carbine. Hopefully I can keep it's 100% record on deer intact this weekend.

It is common to not get blood trails with rifles, especially relatively fast ones with lighter bullets. The main reason for that is that those bullets often transfer all of their energy to the deer. They are designed for that purpose. To do that, they have to stay in the carcass. If they blow all the way thru, you might get a blood trail from the exit wound, but some energy is wasted. If you want an exit wound and a better blood trail, consider a slower, heavier bullet/rifle like a 45/70 or 35 Rem. There might be something to just a little more dia (.03" or so.) All three that I have shot with my 30/06 have dropped dead in their tracks, right where they were hit. The 150 grain bullets stayed inside the first two, struck from the side at longer range. Not a drop of blood came out of either of those, until I gutted them. I did get a lengthwise, back to front pass thru on the last one, from 50 yards, and that one left a pretty good sized puddle of blood on the snow from the exit wound, at the front of the neck.

You got my vote for post of the year so far. The weather is almost perfect for hanging now. If you let that carcass hang in the garage for a week or so, with the hide on (after pulling the tenderloins), the butterfly chops made from the backstraps, will melt in your mouth. You might never want to use a buck tag on a pope & young again after that.

There are two "happy times" each year for the coyotes. The first is the weeks after fawns are dropped in the late spring/early summer. It is easy to understand why this is the time when most deer are consumed by coyotes. The second happy time provides more pounds of venison from far less deer. That would be post-rut when the bucks are at their weakest. Most hunters have seen a rutted out buck struggle to keep up with a group of does and yearling fawns. It is no wonder that they are the first to be taken down by the coyotes at that time. Mature does are also at their strongest and fastest at that time. That is no coincedence, but a simple law of nature that is necessary to insure the survival of the species. I would like to see NY state open up coyote hunting and trapping season year round. If they do not, it probably will not be too long until the coyotes kill more deer every year than hunters do. That seems to be a shame, with so many folks struggling to get enough food. Look at the food lines at urban homeless shelters and so forth. Why have fat coyotes and hungry people ?

The NY restrictions currently include a minimum uncocked width and a maximum draw weight. I believe that the higher speed models you are referencing exceed the maximum allowable draw weight in NY. The draw weight is a critical component of achieving high speed, much more so than the uncocked width, so that should be included in your research.

Maybe you are onto something. It looks like near-perfect hanging weather after today, for as far as the long range forecast goes. I like hanging them with the hide on for a week or so in the garage, a lot better than skinning them right away, cutting them in half, and hanging them in the "deer fridge".

MEAT

On cold days, I bring a quart thermos of hot cider, otherwise, a canteen of water. A couple big candy bars (or a bunch of little ones taken from the kid's Halloween treats - usually something with chocolate) easily gets me thru until lunch. I very rarely do all-day sits.

That sounds like a Hank Jr song, except for the "hunting" part. He would probably hunt thru any weather conditions. "Fishing" in the rain has been very good for me, as long as it is not also cold and windy. I can only deal with any two of those (rain, cold, wind) in combination. I like hunting in the rain also, as long as I am in a blind when it is blowing and coming down hard. Being out there and in position to get up in a stand, the minute it lets up, often pays off. It did not pay today though, when I tried it between downpours a couple times.

I do not have a problem with the width and poundage restrictions in NY. My own entry-level crossbow comes in right at the minimum width and is well under the maximum poundage but is very effective on deer up to 50 yards. For me, that is plenty of range for archery season. If it would speed up full inclusion, then I would certainly like to see the removal of those restrictions taken off of the current legeslation. I can not fault the crossbow manufactures from building crossbows that do not meet NY's restrictions. They would be crazy not to. There will always be folks with plenty of cash, who insist on the fastest and longest reaching deer weapons. Ignoring them would be ludicrous.

I made that same shot with my crossbow and 3 bladed mechanical last year. The buck swung around after taking the bolt, and hobbled off, dragging the rear leg that it had exited. I remember wondering how in the heck I could have hit him in the rear leg on the back side when I had aimed right behind the front shoulder. Those 3, wide, expanding blades made quite a mess on the way diagonally thru his body, destroying both lungs, making a mess of the guts, and costing me a fair amount of meat thru the ham on the way out. He fell over dead in sight, after a 30 or 40 yard walk. Maybe the 2 bladed rage would destroy less meat, but after that one with a 3-blade mechanical last year, I am going with fixed Muzzy 125's this year. They hit right where my field points do, up to 40 yards. I will keep my last 3 bladed mechanical in the quiver, just in case a 40-50 yard shot is offered. When it is gone, I will likely stick with the fixed Muzzy's. They always did well with my vertical bow.

Looks good. My own EverCalm arrived today, just in the nick of time. I will have to see if it lives up the the hype tomorrow. Hopefully, the Butt out will get some usage.

I respect everyone's decision to pass small bucks if they want to, and I am thankful that they can make that choice. The small bucks they pass just might be what keeps my own family fed on some years. From a population control standpoint, meeting your meat needs by killing does makes more sense than killing bucks and I am glad you have had the chances to do that FE. On more seasons than not, I have only had opportunities at bucks, and that is the main reason that most of our meat has been supplied by them. I rarely pass on an antlerless deer, if I have a chance and a tag, although 25 % of those have been bb's thru the years. Sorry Rob, I can't remove the "like". Like I said earlier, you brought it on yourself by bringing God up. Thanks again.

Chef, I understand you had a rough day hunting, but that is no excuse to get nasty. You were doing so good. I will say a prayer for you. Don't forget your Bible. There will always be hope for all people. I hope it gets better soon.

Thanks Rob for bringing God up again on this thread and earning a "like" out of me. I have said many times, we simply can not have too much of Him on a hunting website where we are all so blessed to be in great position to enjoy the blessings of His grace. Thanks also for the reminder about offering a prayer for the family. In this case it is especially important because they lost another daughter back in 2014 so they could certainly use ALL of our prayers. It is my sincerest hope that they all get to meet up again someday with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thanks again and happy hunting to you this season.

You sure ? Looks like a "like" or two on the initial post to me. Maybe some are thinking about it at least. Nice try though.