Bolt action

Back in 8a.. chilly and windy. Just heard first shots of the morning. Anyone else notice that looking at a phone when it's dark screws with your depth perception?

Breakfast time..

Needed a change of scenery today so went to a property I have access to in Steuben county. 8x. Sat in a ladder stand about half way up the hill, maybe 200yds off the road. Absolutely beautiful morning. At 8 o'clock I had 4 or 5 does run past below me. Then behind them I saw a decent 6 pt moving up the hill in front of me. He'll be nice if he makes it to next year. I turned back to the does and had one feeding toward me. She gave me a broadside shot at 57 yds. Doe down!

Adk it sounds like you me have the same setup / problem. Good luck and be safe.

Just had a neighbor bust through at the North end near the creek calling for her dog.. That's The same patch of woods I'm sitting over.. time to move..

It feels good to get back in the stand. I had a discouraging start, but I'm back in today and thankful for the opportunities that I have. Good luck everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!

Was just by my car getting dressed for the walk in.. heard a loud snort behind me..I turned around and there was literally a horse walking down the street by itself..

What's worse: an all day sit with no deer, an all day sit with a few deer that are unreachable, or an all day sit where the only deer you see are out of reach and then shot by neighbors?

Tapped out.. head just isn't in the game after this morning. Good luck to everyone still out.

Congrats on some great deer this morning! I just spoke to my neighbor to the South. They have 5 guys pushing their woods and have kicked out 7 trespassers. Unbelievable.. I decided to change stands. On the walk I heard a different neighbor shoot 16 times?!?! I'm about ready to throw in the towel on today..

Super frustrating.. watched 3 deer working the edge of the bean field toward me about 300 yds out. That edge is also the property line.. they turn into the woods, and I hear BOOM! Another minute later another BOOM.. this opener is turning out to be a bust for me..

Lots of shooting.. it's a wonder that any deer survive this.. aside from all that racket, it's so quiet you could hear a mouse fart.

Pouring in 8a.. shooting started about 30 min before legal.. passed on a doe at 15 yds 20min before legal.. trying to play by the rules

10 hours in stand today. 3 deer between 730 and 11. All were 150+ yds away. Colds as balls. Trying to be excited for tomorrow but right now it just sounds like another long day in the cold woods.. nothing a hot shower, a hot meal, and a cold drink can't fix.

You'd think today was Saturday with all the shooting that's going on.. from all directions, mostly single shots.. leave some for the rest of us, would ya? On a more positive note, nice night. Cold and clear. Let's see what happens in magic hour..

Grrr... Just watched a shooter trot out of the corner I was sitting in this morning..

Seen to see this morning at 730 and 900 walk the same line across the bean fields 220 yds behind me. Gonna go check it out.. maybe sure over that trail for the afternoon

Deer or no deer, it really is a great morning to be in the woods..... But I really want to shoot a deer..

Just heard a shot off to the east (sz).. what're the odds he's sighting in this early?

I just saw a big old boy crossing the road in front of me. I think he was a wide framed 8. I hit the gas but he was too quick.

Reel I hope everything works out ok with the family. Talk about an emotional couple of days.. what a roller coaster.

Congrats to all on some nice deer taken over the past few days! I was out yesterday. Had a doe circle behind me at 20 yds but no shot. As soon as she left a guy comes down the trail on his cell phone. First thought was who is this jerk?! Turned out to be one of the guys working the farm. They were planning to cut the beans yesterday but ground to soft. I decided to hang a free new ladder stands. While in doing that the trespasser from last week comes in to collect his stand. Lots of activity, just most of it wasn't deer. At this point though I should be good for gun season. I have a few stands I feel good about and fewer trespassers.

The answer for me was an easy one. Didn't have the time to practice enough with the bow to the point where I feel comfortable and consistent. Between work and family, I just couldn't find the time. So I sold the bow this summer. I bought the crossbow for two reasons. It seems like the state is going to continue to allow it before the gun season giving me a longer season and more access to the rut, and I got it for a smoking deal. After sale and coupons, field and stream practically paid me to take it.

Greg54 - where abouts are you in 8a? I'm over in waterport and have seen zilch the past few times out..

8a had zero rut activity today. I had a small Spike pass with 15 yards at 7, saw 2 doe grazing at 8, then nothing until 3. A few doe moved within 20 feet or so behind some thick stuff. Blew a few snorts at me and walked off.. probably saw 20 while driving though including at least one really nice buck.. that's it for me until the weekend.