wolc123

140 yards standing target (and distracted by drinking) is many times easier, with any weapon, than 130 yards running. That guy is certainly good. I would be willing to bet that his hit and kill percentage is well above 75%. There always has been and always will be folks who are jealous of those who are more successful than themselves. Jealousy is always bad and demonstrates weakness. The best thing those folks can do is get over it because it does not do them any good, and only serves to hold them back. There is an easy way to get over it: Develop some faith in Jesus and everything will work out.

I also like it when opening day falls on Saturday. It was great when they moved the Southern zone gun-season opener to Saturday. There is always a group who complain about that however.

I have plans for as many as (5) openers in NY this year, but I am skipping the early part of archery due to not having enough time to practice with my compound. I have a few spots picked out on the ground for different wind directions and will stillhunt between therm up in the Northern zone for opening of ML on October 15. The area I hunt up there is a large chunk of private land bordering the Adirondack park, most of which is in a zone where antlerless deer will still be legal during early ML. We have a little more than one vacuum-sealed deer left over from last season in the freezer now, so If I can get a decent sized one early (buck or doe), I may head home. That will provide plenty of meat to get us thru until Southern zone crossbow opens. If not, I will likely stay up there thru opening of Rifle the following week on October 22, and hit a couple other spots in the adjacent zone, where antlerless is illegal this year during early ML (again dependent on wind), holding out for a 2-1/2 year or older buck. I have 5 stands and groundblinds on my folks farm in the Southern zone and the wind will tell me which of them to occupy for opening of crossbow. I will give our home farm a rest for the last week of crossbow and hit one of another 5 stands and blinds there, again, depending on the weather, for opening of gun season. I have two DMP's now for the zone that covers these two farms and will probably have two more after NOV 1. If I have a regular tag left after all that, I have an invite from a friend with a camp in the Southern Tier for the late ML season. I scouted a few areas down there while squirrel hunting this Feb, so I should be covered for any wind direction. If I am able to fill two of as many as seven available tags, our family will be well set on venison until next year's seasons. I am really looking forward to the openers this year for many reasons, not the least of which is I would like to give the new "butt out 2" I purchased for $6.99 a try. Some tenderloins, lightly seared in a frying pan with olive oil, would be good also. Those never make it to the freezer at our house.

I certainly had his help with all of them. If he knows where every sparrow falls then he surely knows what deer are destined for deer heaven (my family's food supply). I was just fortunate to be in the right place at the right time a hundred or so times to help him carry out his will.

Wow that is really low. I am somewhat of a beer snob and Genesee is all that I will buy (I don't turn down most other brands if someone is giving it away). I don't care for any of that foreign or out of state beer. "Pure Hemlock Lake water makes it best". I don't know what I will do if it dries up. Fortunately, it has been raining cats and dogs most of the day today.

16 ga Ithaca 37, 12 ga Rem 870, 12 ga Marlin M512, Bear polar LTD compound, Jennings compound, Alpine Compound, T/C Omega 50 cal ML, Ruger M77 .30/06, Barnett Recruit x-bow, Buck 110 lock folder knife, Buck mini lock folder knife. (The last two were used on deer that were initially struck by cars. The one with the small 1-1/4" blade was wide awake and nearly back to 100% when I slit it's Jugular.). That makes 11 total, but it should be an even dozen. Back when in-lines were illegal during ML season, I shot at a buck with a traditions Fox-River 50, sidelock ML, but the charge did not ignite and he escaped. The inline T/C solved that issue and killed every deer I shot at with it. The Bear compound broke and I lost the little knife, but I still have the rest and still use them except for the other compounds (I don't have time to get into shape with those any more). I am also thankful to have never killed one with a vehicle, but I was a passenger twice in vehicles which killed them and I have been the lucky recipient of many that others have struck, two of which I dispatched with the knifes. I have got pretty good at dodging them myself, which is not too difficult with my newer car because it almost stops on a dime. It is a little trickier with my old 3/4 ton pickup. Thankfully I only drive that when it snows and that is not too often lately. I have to drive thru an infested area every weekday to and from work,

We all take some chances. I am not certain how many deer I have killed over the last 35 years, but it has got to be getting close to 100. There was only one shot I attempted where I was 100% sure of making it. Luckily for that doe, my gun did not go off when I pulled the trigger. She was only 10 yards away. My bolt froze up in the extreme cold weather that day after I had hunted in the rain the day prior. I blame myself for that due to poor cleaning and storage. Chit happens to all of us eventually. If I think I have a 90% or better chance of a clean kill, I am taking the shot. I would raise that number a bit if I had more opportunities, but currently that 10% risk is what it takes to keep my family fed. Everything happens for a reason, and it is very likely that doe I missed gave birth to a buck I took a few years later. It was a probably a good thing that she got away. I much prefer killing, butchering, and eating bucks. There is too much fat to trim off them does and they don't come with grab handles to drag them to the tractor, or reminders of successful hunts years ago.

They sure are good eating. Hopefully it did not go to waste. Stroganoff made from canned moose meat is about as good as it gets. Only pickled moose tongue is better.

Here is a 3-1/2 and a 2-1/2 year euro. Note that the nose usually gets a good bit longer during that span. Just like people though, there is variation. That is a cool looking mount in the sneak pose. My guess is 2-1/2 year. Did the taxi save the teeth?

The 59 yard heart-shot bolt had a red-head blackout 3-blade, 125 gr, expandable broadhead on it. It did not strike any bone. I also have fixed muzzy 125's, but I prefer the expanders at longer range to reduce the planing effect and better cross-wind resistance. I would still be ok with a 50 yard shot from that $250 x-bow, using those expandables, now that I know exactly what the penetration is into a live deer at longer range with the combination. There would have to be no obstructions, a good rest, and the deer would need to be non-alert and broadside with little or no crosswind for me to take it however, just like that one two years ago. That combination holds a 2" group at that range under those conditions, so as long as I aim for the right hair, and keep on good terms with the Man upstairs, there are no worries. Those of you who forget that last part are in for some trouble no matter how much you practice or spend on equipment.

I would have liked to see them move to Toronto and then they could call them the Canadian Dollar Bills. At least the name would make sense and a short trip over the border would let the die-hard fans still see them a few times a season. Marv Levy had no "killer-instinct" and was/is a card-carrying PETA member. That cost them at least one superbowl. Had he capitalized on the Giant's weaknesses as Bill Parcells did on his, it would have been a different story on that first one. A killer instinct is what gives one the ability to identify weakness in his opponent and capitalize on it. Many hunters have it (the meat-hunters anyhow). The biggest mistake the Bills made is letting Wade Phillips go. Bum's kid is a much better coach than Buddy's.

Nothing has made folk's stupider faster than the smart phone. The radio was bad, the television a little worse, the computer stepped it up. Now we got Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump running for president. They never would have gotten where they are now without the smart phone.

I have shot exactly one bolt at a deer with my entry-level 300 fps crossbow and it pierced his heart at 59 yards. Although it hit the right spot, it only had enough energy to penetrate 8". The accuracy was there but not the energy. I like "pass thru". All of my other archery kills (with a compound bow) have been less than 35 yards. I don't think that "string" jump is an issue beyond 40 yards, because that is about the extent of a deer's "danger-zone" (where they will react to the sound of the release). That may vary a bit depending on how loud your bow is (my 300 fps model is not very loud). I have seen deer move very far after my compound's release (in the 15-30 yard range), and caught a couple shoulder blades as a result of that. The buck who's heart I hit at 59 yards never flinched at the release but did a very fast 40 yard dash to his death after the hit. Range is just one of many variables that need to be considered when taking a shot at a deer. Now that I know the energy limitations of my current set-up, I will limit shots with it to 50 yards. I picked up a range finder last year to help me with that. Range is just about the easiest variable there is to learn your limitations on with a crossbow.

That turkeyfeather thread with his daughter and the big walleye got me thinking of all the fishing partners I have had thru almost 50 years. I have had lots of them, starting with my mom's dad when I was three years old. He always wanted a boy, but got three daughters instead and was thrilled with his first grandson (me). Not many girls seem to get "bitten" by the fishing bug. My youngest daughter gets into it a bit at times, but it is low on her priority list. My wife seemed to like it a lot while we were dating and first married, but lost interest after we had a couple kids. A lot of friends have fished with me thru the years, and I can think of about a dozen who would probably go this weekend if I gave them a call. Fortunately, there has been one who has been along on every trip. A couple trips ago, in late August, He really made his presence felt. We were camping down on Findley lake, in the far SW corner of NY state. This is normally a slow time on that lake. The fish must get lazy when the water temperature reaches it's late summer peak. My friend's 20 year old son (who is about the only person I know who likes fishing as much as I did at that age), and me had tried every trick in the book, starting at sunrise, with not so much as a nibble. We went back to the campsite for lunch with our families. Mid-day is usually the worst time to fish there, but we grabbed our rain gear (the sky was turning grey) and headed back out after a quick meal with the girls. Back out on the lake, it soon began to rain. At times the showers were intense, but they did not last long. The wind was not bad, it was warm, and we had rain gear. Between downpours, music began to play. Apparently the rain had shorted something out in the wiring, causing our boat's radio to come on. It was a Christian channel and the song was about Jesus. Within minutes of the music starting, we landed our first fish (a northern pike of about 30 inches length). We decided to let the music play and I even cranked up the volume a bit. Over the next several hours, the action was almost non-stop, including a few "doubles" where we had to take turns with the net. Our boat's livewell could not hold all the fish. On that trip, we ended up with 15 keeper sized northers (all of which we released), and 3 smallmouth bass (we kept two of them to eat). About half of the northerns were over 30 inches, and the largest was 35. So much for "keeping quite to not scare the fish".

Range is just one of many variables that go into killing an animal. If most of the other variables are near optimum levels, then I know, from first hand experience, that it can be pushed out a bit with little risk of a wounded animal. Some of the more important variables include: Hunter skill, freedom from obstructions, target position, target awareness, wind velocity/direction, rest, and impact energy. String jump would not be a factor at 130 yards. In my experience, that has been the worst between 15 and 35 yards. With archery equipment, I have only shot one deer past 35 yards, and he did not flinch until the bolt pierced his heart at 59. He did a very fast 40 yard dash after that however.

If you do decide on a smoothbore shotgun for deer, an older Ithaca model 37 pump would be a good choice. Bottom eject, so there are no left/right concerns. There are lots of them around, so finding one in excellent condition should not be an issue. My grandad gave me his 16 gauge, with a "deerslayer" barrel when I was 16. I have also owned an older, 12 ga Remington 870 Wingmaster, and still have a newer Express and neither is as smooth as that old Ithaca. My only issue with that Ithaca is that it kicks like mule. It is a featherweight version, basically built on a 20 gauge frame, but the factory 16 ga ammo is loaded nearly as heavy as 12 gauge. That adds up to a heck of a wallop on your shoulder, more even than a Ruger #1 rifle in .458 win magnum that I fired a few times. I have killed more deer than I can remember with that old Ithaca, including my two largest-racked bucks, and I never noticed the recoil in a hunting situation. On the range is a different story however, and I always use a thick, pin-on recoil pad when practicing with it. That tames it down completely. For a rifle, I am pleased with my Ruger M77 30/06 and if I could only have one, that would be it. It looks good too, with a Redfield, Low-profile 3-9 scope, blued barrel, and laminated wood stock. More importantly, it has always gotten the job done for me, both on Western mule deer hunts and NY whitetails. I don't think they make them like that anymore, and if I were to buy a single new rifle today, specifically for whitetails in NY, it would likely be a Ruger American in .308 caliber. I will probably end up buying one of those in .243 caliber over the next few years. It would make a good pair, with my M77, 30/06. The light weight would be nice on the Adirondack hunts I have been getting more into lately, and the composite stock would be an advantage in adverse weather conditions. Everything I hear about them say's that they are amazingly accurate and reasonably priced.

I had not thought about the turkeys. They have been hitting my new plots pretty hard, mostly picking out the soybeans (which I added to the wheat/clover mix), as they sprout. They are leaving the wheat and clover alone for the most part. We have had near perfect rainfall since planting those around Aug 15 so those plots are looking great this year. I will get the wheat out quick on the old clover plots (dad has not fed it all to the chickens yet) before this Saturday's predicted rain. Wheat always provides a much stronger hunting season attraction to deer for me than clover, so I have nothing to loose by giving it a try.

As long as you keep the wind right, your smelly feet wont hurt you that bad. Heck, a lot of guy's take coffee into their stands, which is a far more powerful odor that deer associate with humans than feet (I drink hot apple cider up there in cold weather). On calm days, or with light variable winds, you will definitely struggle if your feet stink. If you can smell them, you can bet a deer will pick them up from a great distance. Maybe a strong cover scent such as skunk or fox urine would help you then. Even on days with a steady wind, with stinky feet, you will need to be extra careful of the route you take into your stand, as the scent trail you lay down will linger for a long time. There ought to be tons of info available on-line on how to deal with that problem. It might be a good question for your doctor. If you can't find anything else, ditch the rubber boots and try wearing Crocks on your way in and out of your stand (they are made from some "magic" material that does not hold odor). Carry a towel with you to dry your feet, and some warm, heavy wool socks to put on when you get to your stand.

I have been using wheat with new clover plots (planted Aug 15 - Sept 15) for quite a few years, because it is easier to find than rye, cheaper, and deer like it better. The wheat provides a good hunting plot in the fall. I never tried adding it to old clover plots, but it seems like a good idea. When my old clover plots get weedy, I usually just plow them under shallow and put in corn. The corn loves all that "free" nitrogen, which allows it to provide half-way decent yields with very little additional fertilizer. I do have a few plots of old clover where I can not easily get a corn planter or plow into, so I may give the "wheat before rain" a try yet this fall. Hopefully, my dad has not already fed the leftover wheat I gave him to his chickens.

In times of war, such as we are in now with ISIS, you will not see accurate public weather forecasts. That is a good thing, and certainly saves lives. It has been that way since the development of air-power, which is highly affected by weather conditions. If our enemy had access to accurate weather forecasts, they could time their attacks accordingly. It is much better to keep them guessing. With a poorly equipped, semi-dysfunctional enemy such as that we are facing now, it is even more important. They have smart phones and TV's, but that is about it. If you want to see accurate weather forecasts, vote someone into power this November who has the gut's to end this war, and make America great again. Don't blame the weathermen (and women) for doing their patriotic duty with their bumbling forecasts.

I agree that you will regret it some day even if you have the wall space. I just don't see the number of points you are missing as a good reason to use your buck tag to kill and mount a small 1-1/2 year old buck. The regret will hit you hard later when you are out hunting does and a monster presents a cake shot while you are "tagless". There is surely nothing wrong with mounting them if they are special in another way however, such as that "hard to get 6" .

One big advantage you have with bow-hunting, is that it is legal to take anterless deer during archery season. In about 20 years of hunting up there, I have seen roughly 10 antlerless deer for every antlered one. For many years, it has also been legal to take them during the early ML season, but the state is taking that away in a few zones this year, in effort to boost the population a bit. We have never had as mild of winter up there as we got last year, so I would expect the population to be good this fall. As has been mentioned by previous posters, the foliage limits your visibility during archery season, so locating feeding area's is critical. There is not much food available deep in the forests which have mostly never been logged. It sounds cool to hike in miles from the road. There you will find peaceful scenery, but not much deer action. In some areas, the cut areas on the roadsides are the best food that the deer have, so the best hunting is often very close to the road. If you can locate old, long-abandoned farms along these roads, and find old fence lines, that is a good area to look for trails. In the central Adirondacks, I have found deer hair stuck on some old rusty barbed-wire. The last time I did that, I located the nearest patch of heavy cover, circled around down-wind, and walked up within 40 yards of four deer. One ran off to my left, and three straight ahead. It was early rifle season, so I could only watch them bound away (those three lacked antlers). I saw only the rear and tail on the one that ran left, but it's tracks were significantly larger than the other three so I suspect it was a buck. That cover was only about 50 yards off the main highway (RT 30). Certainly that area would have been a prime spot for a bow stand. I would concentrate on edges and food sources. Lakes, creek-bottoms, and beaver ponds are good, but mast-producing trees are best. There are not many of those in the central Adirondacks, but they are fairly abundant on the edges. A few years ago, I was out in my boat on a lake fishing in the fall (ML season) and heard a deer snorting up on the adjacent hill top. The next morning, I snuck up there from downwind and noted several deer feeding on acorns on the next hilltop (out of range). The following season, I got up on that oak ridge before daylight, and a group of five or six antlerless deer, led by a huge doe (which I killed), walked to within 20 yards of me, soon after sunrise. That would have been a prime spot for a bow stand. I had no issue, slowly pointing the ML at her chest, but drawing a bow from the ground would have been tricky with all those sets of eyes. I have had many less encounters with deer in and around the Adirondacks, than I have killed in the Southern zone of NY, but every one was memorable, due to the "best in world" scenery up there. When every thing does come together, as it did for me two years ago when I killed my largest-bodied buck ever up there, you get a little taste of what Heaven must be like. My "taste" came late in the fall, with all the leaves down, and snow on the ground, from a bit over 300 yards with my rifle. In close with a bow, with the brilliant fall foliage still up on the trees, would be even better. Good luck up there this fall.

Making that perimeter cut carefully takes some time however, and it is usually "prime-time" that could otherwise be used pursuing some more venison. From the video's, it does not look like much "brute force" is needed. The trick seems to be rotating it just 1-1/2 times after insertion, before pulling it out.

Amazon was selling the butt out 2 for $6.99 today, so I ordered one. That seems like a reasonable cost for "the best piece of gear ever". Hopefully, I will get to try it out on some deer in a few more weeks.

Tracking the "double-lungers" is cool, especially when they run into a field of standing corn. You know they won't get too far when the blood is dripping from the stalks on each side. I have been looking forward to a night track, since I picked up some "bloodglow" a couple years ago. That "CSI" stuff, when mixed with water, is supposed to make tiny drops of blood glow brightly under the star or moon light. The trouble is, the two bucks I killed since getting it have fallen dead after a 40 yards run (heart shot bolt), and in his tracks (diagonal thru chest, quartering away - 30/06 rifle). If anyone hits one with a bow and can't find it at between OCT 1 and OCT 14, shoot me pm and we will see how it works. If I find your deer , I would only ask for the heart and liver (if it's a young one). After that, I am heading to the NZ for ML season.