Steve7

They shoot great. Great blood trail and they fly true. Just a little tuning and your set.

Just came back from my primary field stand. Checked HSS straps on ladder stand and made sure stands were tight. Sat for 2 hours and the nice 8 I have on camera was there with a spike and 2 does feeding. Really excited to get going. He just lumbered away slowly into the bedding area. Nice white horns and wide. Good luck all and be safe. Make it count !!

VERY nice. His neck looks pretty blown-up too. Probably from rubbing.

4SW... couldn't agree more.

Here's a 7 and 8 together just before velvet was dropped from 9/4/11.

If it grows naturally, whether a planted supplement or not, is not baiting. Baiting is when you bring a specific food to any area with the intention of shooting and harvesting an animal over it (eg bear hunting over a 55 gal drum with donuts in it). Per Websters, "something used in luring, especially to hook or trap". It's a tough argument for sure but that's my take.

Only heart and lung here. I have had to dispatch a wounded deer but prefer neck shot then. I don't get into the ethics ot it being right or wrong but I can see both sides of the argument. What works for you may not for others and I don't pass judgement on others decisions.

I agree with BBH...the on ehtis year seems different from last. 3 1/2 y/o 8 point. Take him for sure if you get a shot. Nice deer

Nice baldie. Good job...congrats.

Once a month for me. If I'm in wet weather conditions I wax the string once I return and dry the bow. I practice pretty frequently also.

WNY... don't get me wrong..I totally agree that deer was breeding and there really is no way to control wild roaming deer unless fenced. There was a large 8 that I was after that season but that 4 came by and there was no doubt he was "buying the farm". I'm sure his genes were passed on many times. He was actually follwing a doe but didn't make it that far. After looking at the photos again... that deer is 2 1/2.

Here is my take for what it's worth. Below is a 4 pointer I shot in 09 and was aged at 3 1/2 by the DEC. I saw this deer the year before and he was still a 4 but smaller. I didn't want this deer breeding so he became table fare. In my opinion..that deer is 3 years old and will be good eating. You see him..drop him.

I also did notice a small rub on Sunday 10/2. It was small but it was defintely a rub with the telltale lines of the tines. It was near one of my cams but didn't capture the act as it was just off the field of view. There is an 8 pt that I have video from that camera. We defintely need a good cold snap to get things going... it's coming.

I have and use the Sharade OT with the guthook for many years. Great steel and holds and edge very well. Currently my go to knife is a Gerber set with replacable blades (guthook, skinner, and small saw). I find the Gerber steel very reliable as well and sharpens quiet easily.

Attached is a nice 8 pointer from one of the cams in 2009 and after I shot him later that same season. Same deer.

I have 4 StealthCam Sniper IR Pros. Camera white-outs in transition periods where the camera cannot decide whether to go IR with the available ambient light. I've tested this with different IR cameras. When the camera goes IR and there is available light through the canopy, the image is completely white and you may see "ghosts" passing. Just a byproduct of the sensitivity of IR cams. Most of mine happen early morning at sunrise or at dusk. Have a total of 7 cameras and TONS of video/pictures over 5 years now.

I've been using Easton Tracer X-Nocks. Small magnet on riser (after waking them up from sleep mode) activates them. On solid for 10 seconds after shot then blink for 90 hours (they claim). I did recover an arrow the next day after recovering a big spike I shot and it was still blinking pretty bright after 12 hours or so. If you shoot aluminum use the S-Nocks...carbon or small diameter shaft X-nocks. not cheap ($15.99 for 2 with practice nocks also) but never had one fail yet. Did replace one this year (year 3). They are disposable and you can't change the battery. They work really well IMHO.

Hey Rick. Welcome. Great site. Post away and enjoy the fun.

Got this decent 8 behind the house.

Smoker... great deer. Hope he was able to pass those genes on

Walking out my garage at 4:30 and onto 46 acres for the big 10 I watched grow up. He eluded me 5 times with the bow out of range... he's got problems on Saturday for sure... good luck all and be safe !!