Dave

Doc, I remember this discussion on the old site. If the DEC wants the real numbers then it has to be mandatory for every hunter to report his success or not. It's not an inconvenience to purchase your license than it shouldn't be to call in you results for the season. If you purchase your license in the future and have not called in a report you could pay a $5 penalty. What are your thoughts on this topic. Make the hunters responsible for the numbers not the DEC. Dave

Wooly, that's the closest I have been to antlers all season.Dave

Doc, that's the way I feel about it. Especially if you own land, you don't abandon it. Yes I see fewer deer but I do see deer and that is what counts. Plus that special attachment you have to the land that you don't always have to public land. Especially if you find someone hunting in a spot you have been hunting for year. Is is what it is. I whole heartedly agree with your logic.Dave

What did you buy.Dave

G2,Sent you a pm let me know if you got it. Don't know if I sent it the right way.Dave

Orion you are right..If there is snow on the ground and there are no tracks over 300 acres I would agree there are no deer. We may not see deer, but they do leave tracks.Dave

Cloke, I know how you feel. Last February I got a call from the Delaware County Sheriffs Dept as soon as he said that I said what happened to my house. He told me the house was broken into and it was reported by one of the locals down the road. They kicked in my garage door, the front door to my house had a door that was partial glass. They tried to break the door in but the dead bolt held so the smashed the glass and got in. They took all our hunting knives, pair of camo pants and other minor things. Though they were in my garage they took nothing that I could tell right away. There were 3 quads,chain saws, weed wachers and riding mowers. But nothing was taken. In the house they left the booze, but did go through every drawer in the house. I had my bow on my bed in the case and no one touched it. Also had a 22 didn't touch that either . There was a hunting club around the corner from me that was ice fishing with a bunch of kids when this happened. I went down to tell them what happen and they all knew, for 2 days before the sheriffs were called. Why didn't they call the cops i don't know. But it sounds strange to me. Almost sounds like kids, who took only what whey could hide. Just my theory, cops never caught anyone.Dave

Nothing wrong with that. Work smarter not harder!!!!

No it has nothing to do with cost or any other reason other than I do not need one, never have never will, we hunt a very steep mountain that is as remote as you can get and still do not need to race up the side to get to our spot. Wait a minute weren't saying that you don't see as many deer as you used to in another thread? Could it be related to the use of your ATV? Doe, yes I did say that we are seeing less deer but it has nothing to do with the ATV's The deer season is long and my observation is based on observations before, during and after deer season. Though I do use an atv, I don't use it during bow season or while small game hunting.Dave

A 100 acre square is 10acres by 10 acres 10 acres would be about 2000 feet.. I think I can walk 2000 feet in 10 minutes.. and if it was a rectangle I would just walk the short side.. I own 6 acres.. approx 150x1600 I can walk it the long way in 5 minutes.. i could use another farm to hunt NYantler I don't understand all your complaining about ATV's. If I had just 6 acres (150x1600) I wouldn't need an atv. Dave

NO, I would like to see who can walk a 100 acre parcel in 10 minutes. Remember that the hunting population is getting older and we can't walk at 60 like we did at 25. We have a club and are on private property and we all have atv's. If we didn't, half the guys wouldn't be hunting today. It extends their ability to still pursue the sport they have loved for over 30 yrs.Dave I walk as well at 51 as I did at 25.. maybe better.. and I can absolutely walk across a 100 acre square in 10 minutes.. in my opinion many guys could do the walk just fine but are too lazy..getting older is not always an excuse Guys lets get real for most of you who don't use ATV's you probably hunt State land or someone's elses property who don't allow the use of atv's. Maybe if you had your own property you would use them. Remember not all hunters have the land to even use an atv. If you have only 5-20 acres then you probably walk in that makes sense. But if you have 500 acres to hunt and your stand is at the furthest part of the property an atv makes sense. Maybe you don't want to spring for the atv when you have to lay out the big bucks you think twice. And it's cheaper to walk.Dave

Gman, it seems that you don't use an ATV to get around good for you. But why suggest that those who do, ride around with loaded guns. Where I hunt they are used all the time just to get to your stand and to get out at night. We are all ethical hunters. Plus it is easier to transport the deer out of the woods if you are successful. We have our own land and don't bother any other hunters.Dave

NO, I would like to see who can walk a 100 acre parcel in 10 minutes. Remember that the hunting population is getting older and we can't walk at 60 like we did at 25. We have a club and are on private property and we all have atv's. If we didn't, half the guys wouldn't be hunting today. It extends their ability to still pursue the sport they have loved for over 30 yrs.Dave

Doc, I have read all the reply's don't let them make you crazy. Because they have a different point of view both sides have valid points. Dave

Doc, I think you are beating a dead horse, enough. We get the point. Dave

To quote the DEC supplemental feeding of deer was banned in 2002, because of CWD. Though they were opposed to supplemental feeding it wasn't banned prior to 2002.. Please quote the regs you are referring to. If it states feeding deer was banned before 2002.Dave

Maybe you have to change your tactics.

Guys I am looking for a good set of binoculars the ones I have just don't have the magnification. When I view deer in a field I see the deer just fine . But the head is hard to see for antlers or not. Any recommendations? What is the best power under all conditions. Dave

You can change your tactics all you want but if there are no deer it doesn't matter. You can't see what's not there. Your area may be one of those areas that has lots of deer be thankful. Many areas have no agriculture to attract and hold deer. These are the areas I am talking about, This isn't my first deer hunt, I have been at it since 1970 and I have seen the changes. I have taken my share of deer, I don't need to get a deer but I like to see deer in the woods for the considerable time I put in. I share my results with the DEC by filling out a Bow hunters citing report. Dave

Well just think about it, when did we start seeing less deer ? Not while people were feeding deer, only after the CWD and then the ban on feeding deer. I don't know how many hunters have expressed their dissatisfaction with the deer management in N.Y the main complaint not seeing deer after hunting all day. They didn't complain about not killing a deer it was not seeing any. I think there is a conspiracy in the DEC, the facts are the facts. It is certainly that way where i hunt and we have private property.Dave

I think the big picture is to reduce the deer herd. If DMP's don't work then they get to starve to death.Dave

I agree Doc. I have found those party balloons too. My property is on a dirt road where the locals toss empty beer cans and garbage bags full of trash. No respect for the land, and probably no respect for themselves. Dave

What really bothers me are slob hunters who leave their garbage in the woods. Cans, bottles, bags, sandwich wrappers and even cigarettes. We had a rule when my boys were in the Scouts if you bring it in you carry it out. Dave

NYantler, you are right about that. 95% of the LIRR employees retire with disability pensions. That's a fact!!! wonder how many of them hunt? Hell, they would even qualify to hunt with a Crossbow, but unable to punch a railroad ticked. Dave

Usually during bow season I only hunt for 3hrs in the morning and 3hrs in the evening so I don't take any food or drink with me. Dave