OtiscoPaul

I'm not concerned about the deer movement in this weather I just don't want to hunt/recover/process in it. I love the easy meat and education 10/1-10/15 provide and I'm fine with hunting in low 60's...but high 70's and 80's no thanks. I was supposed to be out this morning but my wife had an emergency meeting so se la vi.

This is late for me to get in but this stand is literally 50 yards from the lot:

I'm surprised and hopeful as well. Let reason prevail.

In my opinion it's late to change anything you are doing anyway so just focus on hitting them through the soft stuff w/in 20-25 yards. Rage 2 blade are great mechanicals especially when you outfitted like moog. If you want to know it will break bone every time you need a heavier arrow with a lot of FOC. As far Mo vs KE and a lot of other things over my head here are Ashby's thoughts: http://www.grizzlystik.com/Ashby-On-Momentum-Kinetic-Energy-Arrow-Penetration-W19.aspx

This is true...that's the point. It is an attempt to circumvent reasonable law to recreate the auto experience and it was extremely effective in this case. By the way these products were released in 2010/11 and it was Obama's ATF who said no worries mates! This is the point, compromise is not a dirty word and in this specific case it highlights an oversight in reasonable regulation. Now both sides budge a little and we all win if for no other reason than coming together. It used to be what nations did after tragedies. There are always 2 extremes but in this case the NRA's extreme "cold dead hands" position is the default pro-gun position. Not true the other way around plenty of rural democrats support 2nd amendment rights.

They open great entry wounds with standard weight arrows and sometimes they even exit! Seriously they are usually (but not always) great on perfect shots and the blood trails and wounds are huge but bone...forget about it unless you are shooting 500 grains and 15% upfront and even then probably forget it on the thick ridge parts of the scapula. My theory is they use all the momentum opening a giant wound and then give up. I harvested many deer with them, but lost 1 that was a perfect shot inside 15 yards and found the carcass a week later to confirm lack of penetration. I switched to 520 grain arrows with 200 grains fixed head+insert this season and I blew through the thickest part of the scapula ridge complete pass through arrow and broadhead unphased deer DRT 10 yards. Another thing I noticed after many harvests was that they always loudly "popped" the deer open and the deer always bolted even with a perfect broadside double lung shots. My harvest this weekend barely even knew he was hit and teetered over. The rage are great on perfect and even some marginal shots because of the giant entry wound and cutting diameter but they are not bone breakers quite the opposite.

I've got no problem with this. It is specific to this incident and highlights a potential oversight in reasonable regulation.

No one hunting this morning?

It is early that's why I mentioned it about my harvest and steve reiterated. Mine was fully stained down the hock and my shed stunk like hell til I got the Hyde off. Ive harvested deer in November with no stain or stink.

I think all things being equal deer prefer the extra light if the moon is bright but they do not need it to function...also it's cloudy and off and on rain here... no moon

Unless they are whites they are A. Bitter and B. Probably a dime a dozen. Hunting oak ridges can be tough when varied masts years coincide. Find a producing white oak and you are in business.

Good lighting and composition...but I'll take properly oriented when it comes to posting here...looks like everybody is always hangin upside-down in their stands! Seriously though it's a hunting site, be respectful with wise shot selection. Showing pics of recently harvested deer prone on the ground does not bother me, nor do graphic anatomy and wound photos. Hunting eventually leads to killing, just about the worst thing you could do to a healthy individual organism. I still kick the real big ones once good under the chin before I get between their legs to gut em.

I find that in these folding/ravine areas if the creeks have enough flow they positively effect the thermals helping to send them straight up especially on crisp bright days...in those conditions Id hunt that ridge anytime and use the drain as my travel trail.

I'd go as far up the drain as you can go where there is a heavily used crossing and set up less than 50 yards off the water if possible via a hollow.

It is definitely a recovery and processing issue. Other than that at this time of year i'd say it's more a hunter comfort issue rather than deer comfort.

What kind of mast? Any everflowing drainage ravines or creeks? Impenetrable thickets?

Tarsals were extremely dark and stanky on my harvest Sunday.

If I ever move the meat (family in PA) it's got an associated tag number. I also typically fill atleast a few tags and sometimes butchering overlaps so it's another way to keep track of what came from where. Short answer: OCD

Last 4 of the tag number

I have always processed my own harvests but I used to have more free time so I am glad I've been to this rodeo before. If daytime temps were under 50 my shed would be under 40*f and then I'd hang my skinned deer and process at my leisure with parts hangin up to 10 days. Since it never got above 60 Saturday I just hung the unskinned deer until dusk then skinned it when the temps plummeted into the high 30's. I pulled the tenderloins and grilled them immediately Sunday evening...finished that yesterday morning: Since temps were back to the 70's yesterday I quartered the deer in the AM and put it in the fridge. Today while my daughter was napping I did the straps and nearby scraps (ate a tail while I was butchering): I'll do a hind quarter whole muscles tomorrow and the other Thursday and finish Friday w/the shoulders/neck as cubes for tryolean goulash. If the weather cooperates I'll hunt the weekend and try to start all over again.

Pressure will impact deer sightings. Being able to rotate locations is essential if you plan to hunt a bunch.

It's why I like running water nearby whenever possible... Besides the stand noise cover I use the creeks get to stands... Running water is also nice for cleanup after gutting!

I'm with you on full effort but I know hock has harvested whitetail and trust his assessment. He waited over 2 hrs and was able to inspect a jump bed and followed the trail to the end of his permitable search area. It never hurts to come back with another set of eyes but if he is confident she escaped the property at full gate it is unlikely he will pick the trail back up on the property. If he can gain access to continue the search that is another matter but that is not always as easy as it sounds. I don't think dog search would show up for this track job on a normal busy hunting day.

If you cannot gain permission I believe your sign points to a very marginal flesh wound. Good initial patience and follow-up effort. If you were not in the lung liver or guts that deer walks around normal this evening.

How much room do you have to push? I have heard tale of old timers pushing muscle and 1 lung hits to keep it flowing. Let me also say I've tracked over a mile and I've never recovered one that got that far in fact they both showed up on cams later.