Jennifer

You know, one of the deer I saw yesterday was acting like a buck. Huge bodied 'doe', long face. Makes me wonder! I never got a good look at the top of the head so it's hard to say.

Husband is sick today so I am home taking care of him. Sad to miss the last day but I am still thankful for my thanksgiving doe and all the time in the woods. I didn't see a single buck this year during open season. Maybe next year. Good luck to the archery and smoke pole guys out there!!

Didn't realize that-- thanks for the information! Now we know why it shoots so well.

Lots of activity today, actually it has been the most exciting day of the season for me thus far. They were traveling around in groups on the property I hunt-- 6+ in a gang. Most of the natural movement was from 9-noon here. I put my husband in a good spot, hoping as always for him to get a crack at his first deer. Well, this time it paid off but something went wrong and he blistered a tree instead of the buck. At least it was a for sure clean miss... nothing like a slug blister on a tree. Now I am not sure if his scope is off or if he was full of nerves... it was his first shot at a deer. I'll give him my gun tomorrow to play it safe. Hunted from dawn 'till dusk. It got very cold and windy in the afternoon, it was all we could do to keep warm enough to stay out.

I haven't shot a 308 but my 20ga 870 kicks less than a 30-06 for sure, with field loads/upland game loads. There's a bit more thump with a 3" magnum for spring turkey, though honestly I don't feel it at all when I'm actually hunting. When I was a kid, shooting a slug out of it at a target range scared me a bit the first time... (you notice it!) but again, when I'm actually hunting, I barely notice the gun go off. I can tell you, for whatever reason, my 20ga will shoot a a cheap slugger with more accuracy than any of the 12ga. 870s we have sighted in using better rounds (used to be shotgun only here for many years). We were a bit surprised by just how sharp and dead on that little 20 is. For close range, it's a fine slug gun. My dad actually prefers to carry it over his 12ga. when we are hunting shotgun only areas.

I was, and still am, a twiggy thing. When I turned 12 and could hunt, my dad got me a 20ga. 870 youth model which just has a shorter stock and, I think a slightly shorter barrel. As I grew we just put a full sized stock on it. It remains my favorite gun to this day, though I also use a 12ga. during deer season most years.

Yep-- like the others here said, I try to trim it all too. It does take a lot longer but the end result is worth it to us. It may not be, to everyone. I know my uncle grinds everything except the backstraps, so it's not worth it to him (even if it would make his ground taste just that much better). All of the trimmings not fit for ground meat get given to dogs/cat/chickens. They appreciate it quite a lot. I'm always careful to trim away the sciatic nerve too, I couldn't find a photo but this video shows it: I am probably being cautious for no reason but I don't like to leave any nervous tissue in any red meat I eat. When making jerky, we take the steaks that my family likes least, and partially defrost them. Just enough that they aren't rock solid frozen. It's much easier to slice the steaks uniformly for jerky if they are still firm but not solid. Like mentioned before, the shape of the cut doesn't matter, just the thickness. You want them to be uniform in thickness so that they dehydrate uniformly. Marinade them they way you want and pop 'em in the dehydrator. Venison jerky is fantastic. Even my squeamish friends will eat it like candy if I'm not careful about rationing it!

Black squirrels are really regional. We do tend to have more of them in this part of the state, though.

I think I understand what you mean Taylormike. I feel very fortunate to share many of the same deep interests/passions as my husband and it's pretty cool to have someone get excited over something (hunting, birding, art, farming, whatever your passion is) with you. The knowing that someone else you care about 'gets it' is a cool feeling. We still have different hobbies and as such aren't always in each other's business, but the shared interests are rewarding. Sorry if this isn't what you meant! Sometimes I grasp at straws, haha.

Do you ever feel like they are taunting you? This morning I woke up and there were fresh tracks inches from my bedroom window...

I've probably told this before but my story is the opposite of most hunting couples. Usually the fellow will be the one to get the wife into hunting. Well, I grew up hunting with my dad, it's a close bonding time for us (which is why I still go with him so often). When I met my husband, he was the one that was a city kid that grew up in an anti-hunting family. He saw how much I loved hunting and came with us a few times to see what it was about. He was bored and uncomfortable a lot but once I got him to really start looking around and enjoying the other parts of hunting-- he got into it. Now he is just as excited about non-game species as he is a deer or turkey. He used to be really squeamish about cleaning/gutting etc, but this week he helped hold deer legs out of the way when I was gutting my doe. I'm really proud of him and he's really come a long way, and has gone into this with an open mind. He took his first turkey this spring and was very excited. I know a lot of folk like to hunt alone, and sometimes I do too. But I equally love sharing an excited glance with someone I care about when we see something cool-- a deer or a bird or whatever. It's been great to develop a silent communication and understanding when hunting with someone else.

More shooting this morning than any other day I've been out, except for opening day. Lots of tracks everywhere, but the snow is crusty and made still hunting tough. Someone pushed some deer through-- I have no idea how many or what they were-- about 70 yards away in thick brush. Just looked like rocket powered brown things at that point. Around 10am we saw 3 or 4 guys walking down off the hill, they saw us and boogied out before we had a chance to talk with them. I bet it's part of a group that doesn't have permission to be there. They don't seem to be browsing in the woods here... they are pawing in fields, lawns, any grassy areas. The snow is all tore up in my yard, and the farmer's (hay) fields. They are also after the apples, but that seems to be nocturnal stuff. Had to quit at noon for a family obligation.

I dabble in (bird) taxidermy and it's a lot of work. I'd be very wary of the guys asking the lower end of the spectrum. Not saying they are shady-- maybe they are just cutting you a good deal, but taxidermy is an art and if you are gonna drop hundreds into a mount that will be in your house for years or more, it's worth it to go with a guy that does quality work. I've seen some less than stellar yotes mounted and they are almost more silly than they are beautiful when done poorly. Best wishes! A nicely tanned pelt would be mighty pretty, too.

Yeah I can't use ours when it's wicked cold out. That's when the canteen comes out.

I've always used a canteen or (when it's not quite so cold) a camelbak. We don't use the backpack part, just the water bladder with the hose, tucked into my hunting pack.

I don't still hunt thick brush unless I have a lot of cover noise (heavy wind, ice pellets, etc). Others may do it but I haven't had much luck with it. I will hunt the edges of it, though. My dad always taught me to 'hunt the edge' where terrain/cover changes. I've found this to often be quite good advice. This won't work for property you don't own or don't have permission to trim on, but in the off months it is worthwhile to cut some thin paths (just wide enough to sneak) through thick brush. It'll help one to still hunt and deer will also use them as travel routes.

So to answer all your questions: It depends! There is no true answer for every situation. A lot of it is going to come from experience, knowing the land, learning deer, and weather. Generally the only constant is to move slowly and always break up your footstep pattern. Plodding along at a regular pace, even if it's slow, sounds unnatural to critters, unless you are lucky enough to have a day where sneaking is possible. One step, scan, two steps, scan for longer, one step again, etc. Since you are talking state land and not using a stand much or not at all.... If you know deer are up and moving (naturally or being pushed), it is worth it to set yourself up in an area that will visually break you up. Think of this as a natural ground blind. I know lots of deer have met their end when guys set up at a deadfall, log pile, rootball, etc... in an area where deer are known to travel! If you can find a pinch point... the head of a draw, or an 'edge', where terrain and flora changes from one type to another, these are often good places. Think of an area where you might put a stand, a travel corridor, and find a good place to sit or stand on the ground where your outline will be broken up. This gets deer for a lot of guys. Otherwise, still hunting might be the way to go. A cool thing about still hunting is that it is also a very slow scouting mission, each time! You can really learn some new things about a property this way. I often stop for anywhere from several minutes to even a full 5 minutes in-between steps. It depends. If it is a calm day with good visibility and it's crunchy, I will pause for longer durations to listen and look. If it's blowing wind and other bad weather, I speed up just a little. This is personal preference and not a rule. Do what works for you! It's important not to get yourself into a weird body position when you do pause, otherwise you might have a heck of a time if you need to pull your gun up for a steady shot! Says the person that ended up face-first in the snow one year...! The best times of day are any time of day. If you have the deer patterned for an area and you know they are up and moving more during some times of the day, those might be the best times to sit still. Even then it's a crapshoot, because deer change their patterns all the time, sometimes for obvious reasons (rut, feed, people pushing them) or just because they are deer and who can figure them out anyhow. If you know that other hunters in the area are sitting still at certain times and walking at others (let's face it, a lot of guys will sit in the morning, walk out around 11-12, then walk back in for an afternoon hunt), you might even try the opposite patterns. Still hunt while they sit, sit while they walk. Again this is one of those things that no one has an answer written in stone about. If it is windy and nasty, that is a good day to still hunt your way into a deer bedding area, using the wind to your advantage. Deer will prefer somewhat more sheltered bedding areas on these days-- in general. Above all else, deer do things we don't expect them to, so do your best and enjoy yourself!

Tried a different spot at a farm this morning that I avoided because it gets pounded opening day historically. No shots heard but does running everywhere. 100% different activity than our main spot only 5 miles away. Took a doe at 11am... Will have to butcher after family dinner. So, so thankful for this doe!!

Out I go... Hope to get there around sunrise and still hunt my way in. Brr..

For some, that might be their only choice for hunting. It nearly is for me. Nearly of the landowners that have given us permission over the years have pulled the plug in favor of leases. I don't blame them, NY has some pretty high property taxes and it is their property, not mine, after all. It just bites for those that can't afford a lease.

Gonna give it a go tomorrow. Maybe a neighboring property will push some around-- who knows! We'll hunt until we freeze or noon rolls around... which ever comes first. I remember one Thanksgiving morning .. hmm, maybe about 10 years ago, it was snowing terribly. Me, my dad, my great uncles... all piled into dad's 4WD to try and get up the road to our hunting area, and we made it halfway up before the truck would go no further and we slid aaalll the way back down, backward. After that hairy start, we all walked the extra distance in, and about an hour later found my dad and I huddled under a hemlock tree with the snow coming down so hard that we couldn't see ten feet in front of us. I'd never been out in snow so heavy in my life. We both sort of laughed at the situation and asked ourselves what the heck we were hoping to do.

It's pretty heavy here, too. It's the kind that sticks to every tiny twig and makes a visual 'wall' in the woods around here (lots of beech brush).

First time I ever shot my shotgun with a slug, I was 16, getting ready for deer season. My dad instructed me on how to hold the gun so I didn't jerk the shots, as it would kick harder than I was used to with my turkey shells, and I sort of misunderstood him and barely held on on the front. The scope cap was the kind that has the little red pushtab to pop it open quickly and it came right back and gashed down my forehead and nose. Blood everywhere! I woulda been fine, injuries are not something I get upset about, but he started laughing at me, and that was it. I thought I disappointed him-- that did it and I broke down like the emo teenager that I was. I still get teased about it 16 years later. It was pretty funny!

I am not trying to stir anything up, just educate myself. What is the difference between taking a 1.5 year old or a 2 year old buck, vs. a doe of the same age? Are you still not taking a 'younger' deer out of the herd? I know there are social differences between bucks and does beside the obvious biological roles they fill, but I am genuinely trying to understand how passing you a young buck helps the herd any more than passing a young doe. I have been told that AR would increase the number of deer in our low density area, but haven't really had it explained to me why or how this could be. I've got my opinions but I'm trying to keep an open mind and learn about this...

On a forum I moderate, when I get a bunch of new folks piling in on a thread (all at once) that sheds a less than positive light on any given business, more often than not they all have matching IP addresses. Not trying to suggest what is going on here one way or the other, but it might be worth it for the forum admin to check on. If the new members are legit and came here to participate in the forum.. then hey, welcome to you.