wolc123

Since the crossbow became legal in 2014, I no longer hunt with a vertical bow, but back when I did, I addressed the left/right issue by practicing drawing and slowly unloading, alternating left/right with one of my old bows. I always work out in the mornings before work anyhow, so I just added the bow in place of something like dumbell curls, doing 2 sets of 12 reps, left and right, starting about April every year. I used an old back-up bow for this, to eliminate the wear on my hunting bow. It was an old compound with only about 25 percent letoff, while my hunting one was 65 percent. 6 or 7 months of that, prior to hunting season, kept both sides equally developed. Practicing more with my hunting bow (all right handed), the last few months and thru hunting season, still led to some lop-sidedness and some occasional elbow, shoulder, and back pain. I am happy not to have to deal with that anymore, now that I am in my fifties, thanks to the crossbow, which draws symmetrically, using both arms and shoulders, with the rope pulley device. My elbows, shoulders and back seldom cause me any pain any now, like they did back in my forties. The crossbow is almost like a "fountain of youth" in that respect, reversing or eliminating the aches and pains of the aging process. Mine has a low enough draw weight that it is not too much struggle for me to load it in a pinch without that pulley. So far, a second shot has not been needed, but if it ever is, I could do it faster without the pulley. I am also fortunate to have access to some good hunting in the northern zone, so I only have to wait until mid-October to start using it. So far, all of my crossbow hunting has been from blinds or stands that are equipped with good rests, so all shots on deer have been similar to bench-shooting a rifle, enabling me to strike on or very close to the individual hair that I aim at. My entry-level crossbow is also narrow and not overly front-heavy, like some of the higher-end models. I am looking forward to a little still-hunting and off-hand shooting with it this year, both up in the northern zone in a couple weeks and in the cornfields of home, starting in early November. I have practiced some of that off-hand shooting with it, and can hold a 2" group at 20 yards. That is considerably farther than I could shoot in the corn. So the bottom line here is that there is now an easy solution to your issue. You just have to pick up a better weapon for an old guy. How are your elbows and shoulders feetling now ?

I know we have talked about this in the past, and it is likely more the fault of the guns, but three of my good friends have lost real big bucks because their T/C contenders, chambered in 35 Rem did not fire. That will always cause me some concern of buying a rifle in that caliber. Also, I do not reload and would not expect to see better price or availability of the .35 Remington than the 30/30. I think that is the biggest strike against the .35 for most folks. I do understand the performance edge on deer and bear however (if it goes off). I have yet to fire my 30/30 at a deer and if it does not perform up to my expectations when and if I do, then I would definitely consider a .35 rem , and probably in a 336 Marlin. It seems that Remington finally has their act together on those, based on the fit and finish of the new 30/30 that I picked up a few months ago. Hopefully, I can break it in on the second weekend of rifle season up in the Adirondacks this fall. I am hoping for some rainy/snowy and windy weather, like we had last year on opening weekend, so I can try it out still-hunting. My only other concern with the .35, is recoil compared to the 30/30. Is it significantly more ? I can notice a reduction from the 150 gr 30/30 compared to the 170 gr, so I would think the heavier 35 would hammer the shoulder a bit more. It would not be a big deal for me, but my daughter may have a problem with it if she decides to take it up in the next several few years. I may hang onto the 30/30 for that reason, and pick up another 336 Marlin in 35 Rem and put a scope on that one.

I use the range finder a lot more before the hunt than on it. It is great on the range when practicing or sighting in. For rifle, I use to have stakes every 50 yards out to 400 and they were a pain to mow around. Now, I just use the rangefinder. Similar, with my crossbow, every 10 yards out to 50. Earlier today, I used the rangefinder from the ground and sighted my stands and blinds, putting bright ribbons at 50 yards (max effective range of my crossbow), and 100 yards, which is where I sight my rifle, shotgun, and ML. Doing that work ahead of time eliminates the need to take the rangefinder on hunts. When a deer shows up, it is nice not to waste time ranging it, by having those markers in place. This eliminates the guesswork and allows me to hit right on, or very close to the spot I aim at on the deer. I do take it with me when I am hunting new areas, or still-hunting. When I find a good spot to stop and watch for a while, I site some landmarks where I expect a deer may show up. When you do that for a while, it gets easier to estimate the range of objects (or deer). After you get a few years of practice with your range finder, it will not be so important to have it with you on your hunts.

That was my favorite attraction. Big Al, and "blood on the saddle" was the best.

Have you ever caught a skunk in a Duke dog-proof coon trap ? I caught my first this morning in one set around my corn plots. Unfortunately, it was way at the end of the line and I had to drive all the way back to get my shotgun and a high brass #6. From 15 yards upwind, one of those to the head takes them out without spray every time. I definitely would not trust my .22 for that. Another first today, was a young rabbit in a nearby box trap. I do not like messing with them, until the frost kills off the bugs and I am not sure if they can be legally trapped yet, so it was set free. I only trap the weekends now, and no coons this morning or last weekend, but (7) the week prior to Labor day along with (3) possums. The DEC allows trapping of nuisance coons prior to regular season but asks that they be burried or burned. After the season opens, I just throw them out in the field for the buzzards. Do you think coon hides will be worth anything this year? I would estimate that every one I kill saves me at least 10 bushels of corn.

I still think he has the right tag but can not read the fine print. I will continue to believe that until he scans his tag and posts it here for all of us to look at. Why has no one else had this problem ? If he is the only one, then he should get some kind of reward from the DEC for discovering a computer glitch (maybe an extra buck tag). It is interesting that now there are three of you who would sacrifice shooting a buck on opening day because a clerk made an error. Personally, I would take my chances and take it all the way up the the Supreme court if necessary. With the conservative edge there now thanks to Trump, I know that justice will be done.

I would put a Bible up near the top of the list, or at least read a few pages prior to heading afield. It worked for me (4) times last year. Other than that, all you really need is arrows or bullets. You can always come back to get a knife if you need it.

My advise was that he first attempt to get the proper tag from a place that was open today. If one attempt at that fails, then I would advise using the tag that the clerk gave him if he kills a buck on opening day. He would not be "breaking the law" by using that tag on an antlered buck because NY state law says that if he paid for a archery tag, he can kill and antlered or an antlerless deer. He is not responsible for a clerk hitting the wrong button on a computer if that is really what happened. The whole thing sounds kind of fishy to me though. Why have we not heard of this happening to anyone else ? It is more likely that he really does have an either/or tag and maybe the print is too small or the ink is too faded to read that part. Could there really be a glitch in the program that would allow just one person to get an antlerless only tag before he got an either/or ?

As a working man, I certainly would not hold off from shooting an antlered buck on opening Sunday because a clerk made a mistake. Apparently the Jerkman would. The good news is that the OP will have the final say regardless of what the "expert" advisors suggest. Always look at the motives of those who give you advice. What is in it for them ?

You should have an either/or tag, and only get the antlerless tag (in addition to the either/or if you buy both the archery and ML licence. I would try stopping at a licence - selling place today and get the correct tag. They might just let you keep the antlerless tag, without paying for it, to cover the clerk's mistake. That would make the extra stop worthwhile as you could legally kill both an antlerless and an antlered deer (or two antlerless) for the price of one. The clerk's office is probably closed for the weekend, and another place (like Walmart) might just think you are looking to score and "extra tag" and not give you one. If that happens, I would use your antleless tag as an either/or if you shoot a Buck on Sunday and explain your situation to the DEC if they catch you with the improper tag. I would then head over to the clerk's office on Monday and get them to correct their mistake and put the proper tag on the buck before taking it to a processer or taxidermist. The DEC does not have the manpower to set much foot in the woods, but have plenty to enforce things at the processors. Also, the processers usually check for proper tags before starting their work. If you cut up your own and don't take it to a taxidermist, then you have nothing to worry about. The truth will always set you free.

I would definitely think twice about shooting one with my crossbow or ML, but if it is not a cub, or a sow with cubs, then I am definitely shooting with my 30/06 or 30/30. The reasons to shoot with those outnumber the reasons not to (having a few followup shots available quick makes the difference). I hope my father in law would pay for the rug. I know he would be there with his loader tractor or side by side ATV to get it out of the woods and into the truck. The processer up there (Nolt's in Lowville) only charges $50 to skin and process an average-sized one. I have tried bear meat from a 200 pounder that a friend killed a few years ago. We cooked a roast in the crock-pot, and made bear stew. It was better than any venison or beef stew that I have ever had. No triconosis worm can survive 6 hours in a crock-pot He said that the larger ones are not as tasty, but I suppose what they eat also has some effect. It is true that you do not get much boneless meat out of a bear. Most of their weight is carried in bone, fat, head, and hide. Field dressed, that 200 pounder yielded about the same as a 75 pound button buck. If they were a fish, they would be a sheephead compared to a bass in that respect. At least they do not take up much room in the freezer.

I would be willing to pitch in the same general area (WMU 9F/9H), (or up in WMU 6C/6F some weekends), and I could even bring along my "bloodglow" night-time tracking agent. I have been itching for a chance to try it out.

I have been hunting that deep dense forest a lot more lately, since my in-laws decided to move up there. The 6-point buck that I killed on the edge of one, late last fall, had a belly full of corn. I was thinking the corn probably came from a farmers field, about a mile up the road. We have only ate the tenderloins and one back-strap from it so far, and it tastes just as good as the corn-fed ones that I have killed at home in the southern zone. I hope the rest of it will see us through until I head back up with my crossbow and ML in a couple weeks. I really hate to buy meat at the store. Two years before that, I had killed a stout 8-pointer, from deeper in that dense forest. It was also good tasting, but not quite in the same league. It was older, and had a stomach full of nuts, which might explain the slightly lower taste quality. If I manage to kill another older buck up there, it will be made into hamburg (except for the backstraps and tenderloins).

I do not know anyone who baits deer in NY state. If I did, I would call the DEC and report them. Lots of folks are "brave" enough to complain about it on "anonymous" internet forums, but lack the balls to do anything that might help eliminate the problem. I would not bait, even if it was legal, because most years I can grow corn cheaper than I can buy it. To me, that makes baiting deer in NY state both illegal and dumb. If I lived in Texas, or some other state that lacks water (most of the time) or fertile ground, then baiting would make a lot more sense. That may be part of the reason that it is legal in those places. As far as food plots being the same thing as bait, yes and no. Yes, they can achieve the same end results - attracting deer so you can kill them easier. No, because they are legal in NY state (and all other states as far as I know). Food plot corn is also more effective at holding deer on you ground in the daytime, than corn poured out of a bag, because it also comes with cover - the stalks. Just another reason why buying bagged corn to bait deer in NY state is dumb.

November 4th in the southern zone, October 11th in the northern zone.

A few "firsts" would be nice: 1.) Kill an Adirondack buck while still-hunting. 2.) Kill an antlered buck during the southern zone late ML season. 3.) On one hand, I would love to get a chance to try the bloodglow that I bought 3 years ago, to find a deer carcass after dark. On the other hand, I hope all those I shoot continue to drop dead in their tracks or close enough to hear crash like they all have since I bought it. If anyone needs a hand finding one near WMU 9F or 6C, shoot me a pm. (the bucks do not need to be "big", especially after Thanksgiving, but 2-1/2 year olds would be just right)

I would see if this is still available and buy it if you want a scope on a lever. A side-eject Marlin 336 beats the heck out of top eject Winchester 94 for that. If I was in your shoes, I would also keep the Winchester with the open sights for rain/snow conditions when a scope don't work so well.

I hope the weather is a lot better for you up there this year. I was up at our in-laws camp, a little ways north-west of Lows (in WMU 6C/6F) for the early ML week last year. There was so much rain at the end of that week, right up to opening Saturday of rifle season, that the lake water level rose from the lowest I ever saw, to the highest, in a span of 3 days. I skipped the opening day of rifle season hunt and left early for home. I had a basement bedroom in a big frame house to stay in, but I was not well-equipped for rifle hunting in the driving rain with my scoped rifle. I don't know how you did it, staying in a tent. This year, I think I could hunt those conditions a little better with my new open-sighted Marlin 30/30. As far as the deer population in the region, it should be near an all-time high this year, after two consecutive extremely mild winters. Last season, I was able to kill a 1.5 year old doe early in the ML week (in WMU 6C), and a 6-point buck on Thanksgiving weekend, near the edge of WMU 6F. Last year and this year, the DEC continues to make ML season "antlered only" in the central Adirondacks, so I guess they want to see the population there higher yet. That causes me to stay in WMU 6C, if I want to fill my antlerless ML/bow tag. I am planning on being up there this year at least three times, starting with the third day of crossbow season thru opening weekend of ML season. I will probably skip opening weekend of rifle season, but head back up for the second weekend, and again for Thanksgiving weekend. I love your videos and they are the next best thing to being up there. The only thing that would make them a little better would be seeing some fresh tenderloins in the frying pan along with your eggs on Sunday morning. I think your chances of that this year will be very good, especially if you get some dry, calm weather. I will say a prayer, that you do. Best of luck to you, and really looking forward to the show.

doublepost - wrong section

Nolt's in Lowville has a nice big cooler that they can get them into pretty fast if need be. The temperature was up in the eighties during early ML last year and I ran one over there. They did a great job of cutting it up, for a great price compared to the highway robbers down here in the southern zone.

chupacabra

My wife also does not hunt but enjoys venison just as much as me. Well, maybe slightly less because she also likes chicken and turkey, which I would rather do without. She is a great cook and no one has ever been able to tell that they were not eating beef with any of her venison dishes. Both of our girls also love the venison, with tacos being their favorite dish. She encourages me to hunt and really appreciates the health benefits and cost savings of venison compared to store-bought meat. She is never happier than when I bring home a button buck, but she is saddened a bit when I bring home a heavy antlered buck that will require a taxidermy bill. Back before we were married, she loved the big shoulder mount that I gave her for her birthday, to decorate her apartment. She even named it - butch. Now days, she can always find something better to do with $500 or so. I usually hope for a 2-1/2 year old buck now, so I can get away with a "free" power-washer euro-mount and a good compromise of quantity and quality meat. The fact that she loves venison is one of the things I like best about her and I feel sorry for you guys who's wives and girlfriend's do not. Another fine feature she came with, is a folks that love the Adirondacks and chose to move there after they retired. Her mom is also a fine cook and how great it is to always have free food and lodging when I visit the northern zone. The scenery is so spectacular up there that a spike buck would be worth more to me than a big 8-point from home (I have not killed less than a six up there yet though, and probably will not). My wife is a critical part of my hunting season, and it would be a lot less than half of what it is now without her.

Damn, a couple of my "aces" just stepped out of a sanctuary area, into a WW/clover plot, and eyeballed me for a while as I was trimming a shooting lane from one of my blinds. Hopefully, they have short memories. It looked like an old doe and a 1-1/2, probably her last year's fawn.

That does seem like it would be cool to catch them in a shallow river, especially during the week when you do not have to fight the crowds. We hooked into a few big kings out on the open lake over the last few weeks and their speed was amazing. The younger folks reeled all of them in, but I did finally get to enjoy an "aerial battle" from a good steelhead last week. I was hoping to get out one last time this morning, but the neighbor kid has to work, so it is not going to happen. Oh well, it is time to put the boat away for the winter and get the deer stands and blinds ready anyhow.

I have never hunted whitetails outside of NY state, only mule deer, and those things taste bad so I would never do that again. As a meat hunter, it is hard for me to imagine deer hunting much better than we have right now in NY. The DEC has done an excellent job overall. A couple little tweaks that I would like to see to current regs would be full inclusion of the crossbow and a 3-point on a side minimum antler restriction, if it could be shown that it makes the sport safer for hunters.