robw

I've mostly hunted state lands for 30 yrs, and can sum it up easily - Go deep or go steep. Most hunters on the public lands I hunt don't seem to want a long or hard walk, so use your topo and look for the steepest hillside you can find and get there early. Most everyone else scouts, walks, mountain bikes, or sets up in areas that are easier to get to, so if you get on that hard to reach hill side, the deer will head there. Just ask the Letchworth guys with the ropes and pulleys If there's no steep hills, go far in, or at least where no one else will head to. One deer in camp this year was almost 1 3/4 miles in on a easily walked logging road. No one there and lots of deer moving around. One place I hunt crosses a flooded area that has ~ 150 yd walk through 8 inches of water. Have seen hunters walk to the edge and turn away. Lots of deer there, as they learned they don't get bothered back there Now is a great time to scout for next year. Good luck

Nice story, I remember being there in 1983, and can relate to the desire to keep it up. Only 9 1/2 months till we can start again!! Now, you just need to add that bow to your hunting....by far my favorite season to hunt

I use the 270 gr 50 cal platinums in my CVA Optima, 130 grains of loose pyrodex, group better than any other bullet I've shot, but have so-so performance on the 2 deer I've got with them. Last year shot a doe 120 yds slightly quartered towards me, hit in shoulder a bit high, had complete pass through, and didn't look like it expanded at all (compared shoulder hole to rib exit hole)deer went almost 100 yds and needed a finishing off shot. The other one deer hit broadside , didn't hardly flinch, trotted ~ 75 yds, stopped, and fell over after 15 or 20 sec. Had shot several deer with my TC Hawken .54 cal previously using powerbelts, just the lead hollowpoint, and none made it more than 1 or 2 steps. Platinums killed them, just not as quickly as I'd of liked

Well, pulled out my old skyline apparition suit this season, since I sorta fit it again, and the deer just can't see me. Nothing spooks when I wear it compared to the realtree stuff I have on other suits. Suit is a bit worn, so I search online to buy a new apparition suit, and there aren't any anywhere, the skylinecamo.com website is gone, and the only source is Ebay, for stuff I don't want (rolls of camo denim, yay sponge cloth for hunting...sigh). Anyone know what happened to them? The old suit is a cabelas with dryplus, and I loved it, wish I'd bought 2 now.

We need more button options like these... Like Love is suitable for today's disposition wouldn't kick it outta bed for eatin crackers

Congrats!! Great buck!

Thanks Everyone! He showed up about 1030 AM Only saw one other run through around 830, not sure what it was

8 point in 8G First swamp buck! 1030 AM this morning

I've been hunting the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge for a couple bow seasons now, and finally put it together. In my tree all morning, only seen 1 doe run by, and I finally see a deer moving slowly about 35 yds away. Where I am that's about as far as I can see in any direction. It slowly feeds it's way towards me, and at 20 I can see its a buck. It lifts it's head up and stares in my direction for a good 30 seconds, then starts walking right at me. By now I have my bow in hand, but haven't had a chance to draw. He comes in to 15 yds, watching me, and doing the head bob, and I think he busted me. Can see he's an 8-point. He doesn't spook though, just turns and walks behind a big ash tree, and turns back straight at me again to watch from next to it. After a 60 second staring contest, him probably wondering just how that fat guy got way up that tree, he slowly walks past another big ash, and I finally can draw. He comes out from the tree broadside, 15 yds looking ahead of himself, away from me, and that's where he got a rocket through the lungs. Ran a wobbly 30 yds, went out of sight, and heard the big crash a few seconds later! It's a pretty unique place to hunt, but I definitely will be back now!

I had a metal string loop and hated it. It would slide on the string after several shots. Had to actually use an epoxy to lock it in place on the bow string. When I changed strings I kept it in my tackle box, and when someone says they want to try one out, I give it to them. They usually give it back after a few weeks of shooting. The string loops work great, are easy to replace, and I lock them in place with just a tiny bit of bow wax, never have them move, and they last at least 2000 - 3000 shots (at least that's when I replace them, still look ok, but just in case...)

I like those hooked brow tines!

Was #68 at my polling place. Is unfortunate that if Cuomo gets the NYC & Albany area votes he expects, to rest of the state doesn't have enough people to vote him out....gotta try though.

9S mainly 1. Decrease 2. 60%, possibly more. Went from seeing 5-10 deer every hunt to maybe 1 or 2 every few days 3. the great DEC authorized slaughter of 02-04 (everyone got 2 doe tags, and could get more, every cabin seemed to have 3 or 4 doe hanging...), along with a couple bad winters in a row in early - mid 2000s 4. Woods is maturing, not as much cover, but the herd is down and not getting a chance to rebound. Med chance for doe tags, lots of hunting pressure ( not as much as 10 yrs ago, but still lots of PA and OH cars there opening week along with the NYers) and too many doe tags given out

For me, apple orchards tend to be well suited to using a ground blind. I've hunted them with an ameristep 2-man or just camo burlap and a couple stakes and clips on branches. As long as you don't set it right on their main trails, tends to work well. Have had groups of doe within 10 yds of me with no issues, even had a small spike looking in a window ( at least it seemed like he did) without spooking. Just have to really watch scent control. I set up between trees in the row, if there's tall grass between trees, or under a tree if its a well maintained orchard. Is definitely a better option than using a climber base as a lock on, as explained several times above. I've climbed pines before, cut limbs on my way up, and actually used the cuttings to hang off the side of the stand for better outline break up. Of course if their not your trees, probably want to avoid that...

Climber - 100% as long as you can still shoot once you're in the tree. I use a climber (API Grandstand) all the time as long as I can stay below or just into the canopy and have good shooting lanes. Keeps your scent a bit more dispersed, helps keep you out of the sight line of the deer you shoot at and almost always improves your sight range. I'd rather see a deer at 75 yds and get ready for the shot than at 25 and have to move with him that close. Based on shooting lanes, I go anywhere from 12 - 25 feet up. I only use a blind when the range is very short, or the brush is so thick I can't get above it and still shoot. (think overgrown abandoned apple orchard) Or if there just isn't a tree I can climb - seldom the case, but I've climbed some pretty skinny trees before...

As with most internet based discussions, John Gabriel s G.I.F.T applies As shown below, NSFW.... http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19

I don't think you ever tell them what to do, they've earned the right to make their own decisions. Trying to force your will on them will only lead to resentment, and may cost you a lifetime hunting partner. Imagine if someone told you how you can hunt.... What you could do instead is give them options, explain why you're concerned, and show them what you can help them with, if they want. Buy and put up a ladder or two for them, or build them a nice ground blind (maybe even a small heater for it?), and let them decide on what they want. I agree we want to keep our folks safe, but we should also be respectful about how we do it. My two cents, anyway

thanks WNY-Hunter Sent you a PM, BTW

I've been using the carbon express wolverine 6070s for a couple years and they fly as good as any of the other arrows I've shot. Don't like to shoot at the same bulls-eye twice with them from inside 40 yds, as I hate having to replace vanes. Only thing I don't like are the nocks. About half of them aren't glued in very well, nocks get loose after a couple shots, and have left a nock on the string when pulling the arrow off a couple times. Most nocks are not aligned with the cock vane either, and have to spend some time realigning them before shooting for vane clearance on the rest. At least their poor nock cement makes this a little easier.

Hi Folks I've been giving McCarty hill SF a look for bow and opening of gun season. Never hunted there before this year, have scouted it, and wondered if anyone had any experience hunting there that they might share. Scouting hasn't shown much, except for tons of acorns (good) and chipmunks (evil). And mountain bikers, hoping they stop riding in November. How crowded will it be on opening day? Thanks for your help

9P, 9A on private land 9S, 8G, and trying 9R this year a bit as well for public access.

I always liked, and still use, the Fletchunter Concho release. adjustable trigger, clip on the string, and you hold it with your full hand. Very easy to draw with, and the head will rotate to help eliminate torque. I carry 2 with me, just in case, but have seldom ever dropped one

It's a Rodent Of Unusual Size....your camera must be in the fire swamp

So, last year I asked for some advices on how to catch walleyes. Spent lots of time on the water with my bud (and boat owner ) tried many spots, depths, speeds, lures, harnesses, etc, and did OK last year. But now it's a new year, and we are starting to figure things out. Caught this one today, 9 lbs I'm a 6 ft tall guy and the fish goes from shoulder top to mid thigh. Buddy landed a 6 lb as well, and boated 7 nice walleye fishing out of Buffalo Thanks for all the advice, see you on the water!

Been fishing from the piers in Wilson, have been getting a lot of small Rainbow and a few nice brown trout. Water finally cleared a little, is green and just a little murky now. Been a few fun evenings out there!