Bolt action

Holy crunchy snow Batman!

Went out this morning.. wanted to redeem myself after that debacle earlier in the week. Had new broadheads and was ready. In my tree in waterport by 6 this morning with a stiff wind in my face. Had a doe move through at 630, then a spike, a doe and a fawn come through at 830. Climbed out around 9 because I forgot my coffee and was half frozen. No redemption for me today. I'll be back in the morning for the gun opener but I'm a little worried I burned the spot out. Good luck to everyone getting out and be safe!

Another thought to consider is that patterns and habits can change real quick.. along with cautious behavior.. once guns start pushing deer around..

I think I'm still just reacting to having lost this last deer. I feel the need to over compensate which is probably silly. My head is in a place where, if I feel like the 3 blade fixed wasn't lethal enough for a quick death and a speedy recovery, then more cutting edge should solve that problem. Those NAP's.. the double cross.. might be overkill. They have good reviews though and seem like they should get the job done.

Buckmaster that was a hell of a story and a hell of an ADK deer! congrats man. You live the life that I wish I had the time and energy for. It takes a special kind of person to eat balls. I like to think I have an adventurous pallet, but can't bring myself to try eating testicles. I've been replaying my scenario over and over in my head. I was using a fixed blade broadhead. I'm sure the deer died, so they did their job. But I've got to think that a mechanical with a bigger wound channel would have accomplished 2 things (all other things remaining the same): More blood means easier track; and more blood means shorter track because the deer would have bled out sooner. When I got my buck last week, I used a mechanical similar to a grim reaper and that deer only went about 50 yards. This doe that got away was shot with a fixed. I think I'm going to pick up a pack of NAP spitfire double cross. Anyone try them? I'll give it one last try on Friday before the gun opener.

Thanks. Me to. I probably passed right by her and never knew it.

Throwing in the towel. Grid searched an area for about 4 hours. Kept my search lines close, almost over lapping. 2 to 10 inches of powder on everything. Saw plenty of tracks, but none that would have indicated a badly injured deer. This sucks.

Still no word from DS. Headed back in. Wish me luck.

Forgot to mention in the original post. Before throwing in the towel last night, we did a grid search (probably 100 yards) in the general direction that it was moving. It was pretty thick in that area, and the snow was, at that point, laying down a pretty good blanket on the ground and trees, brush, etc. It was a catch-22 situation last night. If I wait it out, the deer would be less likely to be pushed, but the snow became a real factor. If I had gone in earlier, the snow would have been less of an issue, but we might've bumped the deer. I keep replaying it in my head.

Ok boys and girls, need a little input on this one. Was out yesterday morning. I could see a big deer working around in the beans as I approached my stand. I got in quietly and was presented a shot right around 7:05. 30 yards, slight quartering away. I hit right about in the middle of the body. Based on the grid below, I'd say it was right around the crosshairs of 5,6 and B,C. The deer sprinted about 75 yards, tail tucked. then I watched it slowly make it's way into the woods at the other side of the field, about 200 yards away. I could see that it was hurt bad and seemed wobbly. I thought it was a slam dunk. About 30 minutes later I got down and checked the arrow. Clean pass through. Blood on the arrow was fire engine red, reaffirming my thought that it was a good shot. no guts on the arrow and no foul smell. To play it safe, I backed out. I returned with a buddy and a UTV about 6 hours later. We trailed from the point of impact to the woodline and blood trail was getting heavier. There was some snow on the ground at this point, but the system was just starting to work it's way in. We ended up trailing it for another 200+ yards through the hardwoods. Most of the time we had good blood and also came across 5 or 6 pools. We both expected to see it laying down dead and ready. By the end though, the snow had really picked up and had covered most of the blood that we had found. We were forced out. He called a buddy in Barker with a dog and I called Deer Search (Hamburg unit), but neither have called back. I'm sure that it's dead in there, but now with this fresh snow, I've got to think there's no point in looking without a dog. I hate to lose a deer, especially one that I know I made a good hit on. Do I go back and try to retrace the trail with 10+ inches of fresh powder, or do I chalk this one up as a lost deer?

Let's see if I can get this out coherently. Left the house at 430. Saw Lots of deer along the park way as usual. Parked around 530 and started the mile hike in. 40 degrees and wind from the West. Crossbow over my shoulder and carrying an old climber. About halfway in I saw a flashlight in the distance. Trespasser. Got to my tree around 6 and realize the tree I had planned to use was to big for the climber. In the dark I found another one but it had a limb about 8 feet up. The climber was surprisingly quiet for being so old. Right around 645 I had 3 or 4 doe come running in to my left. About 50yds out they turn into the woods and onto another property. While getting ready for the shot I notice that the cables are too long and so the platform is tipping forward. At that time, maybe 7 o'clock I notice another doe to my right. At about 60yds she also turned into the woods. I could see a few of them still smiling around behind me. Around 715 I saw a deer feeding in the acorns to my left, 100yds and closing. Buck. He came to shoot 35 yds and was broadside. I took the shot but misjudged the distance. Clean miss. After a free minutes of debating i climb down to recover the arrow. Found it covered in mud. Went back to the climber and found a better tree. Adjusted the cable length and climbed to about 10 ft. Felt better about the new tree but when I tried to host the crossbow, it was stuck. I had to climb back down to free it. Did that and then climbed back up. I figure my day might be shot because of all my commotion. I finally get back up in the tree, turn around and see another Buck marching through the beans straight to me at about 100yds and closing fast. I quickly raise my crossbow and load a bolt. The Buck presented a 12 yd broadside chip shot. He went about 50 yds and laid right down. First time using a climber and first deer with a crossbow. First Buck in 10 yrs. He isn't the biggest, but he'll be good eating. I learned a lot on this hunt and now the pressure is off.

What a morning. Lots went wrong, but was still able to get one. First with the crossbow and first time using a climber. Will post the full story later in harvest thread.

Deer down

Up to 18 deer so far including that one Buck. Stopped counting squirrels when I got to 115.. overcast and chilly in 8h with a breeze in my face.

Watching a big 8 push does around in the beans 200 yds out. Big fella is looking for love..

Headed out. Couldn't sleep last night because I'm so pumped. Almost feels like the gun opener. Good luck to anyone else getting out!

20 degree temp drop expected tomorrow just as the rut is kicking in? *cough *cough.. not feeling so hot all of a sudden.. would hate to spread my germs around the office..

Good grief! I take two days off from the site and came back to 20 pages. Congrats to those who scored. From the looks and sounds of it, things are heating up. I didn't get out last weekend but have Thursday and Friday off coming up. Looks like a wash out though. Might move Thursday to Wednesday.

@Engraver99 Not sure where you are or how far you'd be willing to go to pick it up, but saw this on CL and thought you might be interested. I'm in the market for one also, but don't have the cash right now. Passing it along .. https://rochester.craigslist.org/snw/d/rochester-polaris-sportsman/7004545180.html

Correct and the toy department has been updated accordingly. Anything that is F&S branded in the store is currently showing as 10% off MSRP. If I see any promos for a Gran Opening I'll pass it along.

@turkeyfeathers cheched for you.. they're stocked with all the salt and minerals and corn you could want!

Live from Henrietta...

Great deer!

27 deer total. At least one shooter Buck. Most of them were a hundred yards or more away. I did get to within 35 yards of two doe. They were both quartering toward me pretty hard and I had no shot.