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My name is Jeff Calderone and I am addicted to mature whitetail deer hunting. With the exception of being on top of a mountain or fishing, I get no greater feeling then when I am deep in the woods. ANY deep woods... Any time... I was never formally introduced to hunting but at 18 years old (1988) I purchased my first rifle (savage model 110 in 30-06) with one of my best friends and we started our 1st hunt in the Catskills with his family friend who lived upstate. To say things did not start off good was an understatement. We found out how to poach from a truck and trespass on private property which is all I learned from this idiot. That was the first and last time we hunted with him. I took my 1st deer in Moose River in 2000 and have tried to up my game every year since. In 2001 I purchased a wall tent to eliminate the 45 minute drive to a motel. That was the year I purchased my 1st bow for extra time in the woods. Since then I have fallen in love with shooting my bow... I try to hunt as often as possible yet that is usually only 2-3 weeks a year. I have never shot a doe yet I have practiced drawing on them due to getting busted during a draw on a practice buck from a stand. Now I do not draw on many deer as I usually do not hunt from a stand. I have passed on more deer then I have ever seen hunting in the ADK. I hunt an area with very few deer and hunters, yet this is part of reason I love it. Usually if you get a deer you earned it. My biggest accomplishment was getting lucky with a mature 8 pt that I called back with a doe in heat call in 2010. Getting posted on NYantlers web site www.nyantler-outdoors.com and www.adkhunter.com was an additional highlight to a spectacular year!!! My biggest disappointment was losing 2 mature bucks in Moose River on 2 dif. years that I had tracked the day before and ambushed at 1st light, one due to a fogged scope (Now I do not wait for anyone to come with me…or hold me up…) and one due to calling in a deer too close, 10 ft away with a gun sighted in at 50 yards No buck fever just did not compensate... Soooo upsetting... Third was shooting a 4 pt that I thought was a 6 pt again I was very upset… I have hunted Green, Long Eddie, Roscoe, Port Jervis, Prattsville, Cooperstown, Brewster, Catskills, Moose River, Long Lake, Indian Lake, Blue Mt. Lake, Lake placid trail from Indian lake to Long lake areas, Tupper Lake, Newcomb, Warrensburg, and the cold river. I have hunted other spots but those are the area's I have hunted more than one time... I do not hunt for meat yet I do eat my kill with pride. I pass many deer a year waiting for that one particular one with my name on him. I have been told I am a bad hunter due to this yet after explaining the concept of fair chase, exceedingly high ethics and a passion for observing deer behavior I am usually let off the hook. Although I have had many doe in my sights I have yet to be able to pull the trigger. I realize as a hunter doe need to be controlled yet the area's that need control have owner restrictions on killing doe preventing me from taking one... Will I ever shoot a doe? I figure when the time is right it will happen... I am usually the last person back to camp and beg my hunting partners to keep the radio on for me as I always get back to camp in the dark. I do not always get up early unless I have an ambush area I plan to get to... Those area’s are hard to find and change yearly, yet when I find one, look out!!! I read many books on hunting especially during the off season. I never read while in hunting camp, I sleep, eat or hunt. I have gained a vast amount of knowledge though books. I figure if one books gives you one good pointer that you would not have thought of, it was worth it... Even with all this reading I find additional information that is gained while in the field is always the most reveling. The knowledge gained from books has helped me tracking more than anything else, with low deer population some times that is all I get to see… I hunt from 10 am to dusk on a bad day and from before first light to after dusk on good days, depending on how much my hunting partners make me drink the night before… (I am not a big drinker at all, so it kicks my but!) I never come out of the woods for lunch and bring extra clothes for rain/bad weather. I never used a GPS until I purchased my 1st boat. After seeing how effective it was I started using it hunting and never leave camp without it now. Map, compass, GPS, extra food, clothes, deer calls, rabbit in distress calls a 2 way radio (no cell towers) and multiple fire starting tools and flashlights w/extra bat and bulbs. Day pack gets heavy but when it is time to eat lunch in the heavy rain or hike out 1-5 miles in the dark that extra protection is invaluable!!! I shoot often as I feel I owe it to my prey and experience has taught me is needed to become a good hunter. As my age has gone up so have my morals and standards for hunting. Safety is a factor I will never compromise and rule with an iron fist at my base camp. The woods can play games with your mind if you let it as many back country ADK hikers have found out. My first entry into Moose River Plains taught me to respect the woods and nature as David Boomhower was found that opening weekend, dead, on a remote mountain top, miles off his original course. His story still baffles many, including me!!! The ADK can take you to extreme levels of euphoria then slap you back into the pool of reality. With this the NFA No Fooling Around club began (Polite version). Respect Mother Nature, your physical abilities, your fire arm and your prey. These are things I value most as an ethical NY hunter. PS: Sorry so long yet I figured since I post here often It would give good insight. NFA GETSOME Jeff Calderone Proud NY Deer Hunter