Final 2 days of deer season

[NFA-ADK]

Well this is one deer season I can say I did not hunt very hard at all.  Between house work, cutting vacation short due to extra work load at the job, bad weather, bad back and just simple low motivation due to other issues I simply did not get out as much.  With the passing of Mr.Charles Alsheimer who I really admired I wanted to get back into the  swing of hunting deer even if I only had a small window.  I was able to take today off and was going to do a full day but a buddy wanted to go also so I went with him, he was only able to do an afternoon hunt so we went in at 1pm. 

I jumped 2 deer going in and when I was set up in stand I saw one at about 45 yards that came within 15 yards but I did not have the camera set up for the shot, I got her on film but had no shot by the time I was setup, 35 plus yards in view but to risky for a shot with all the tree branches.  That was the only deer seen for the day for me and 2 other hunters while on stand.  Sad new is I found a dead buck that I spotted in stand while glassing, his white belly stuck out like sore thumb.  As the day ended with no deer in sight I was down off stand just before last light to stalk the last few minutes and check the dead deer as I could not see its head.  Shame he looked like a good up and comer, did not find any bullet or arrow wounds on him, think he might have been hit by a car, looked like a fox was feasting on him and he must have been dead for a few days.  All in all a good day to be out as the weather was mild, hope to take something the last day to honor the super blue moon and Mr.Alsheimer.  

Dead Head found today, wow I have some gray!  We argued the age, I say he is 2.7 years old and by buddy says 3.7, going to age the jaw bone at some point.  What age do you think he is? 

 

 

[ATbuckhunter]

There's always next year!

[dbHunterNY]

could be either but seems like a 2.5 year old. keep the whole lower jaw intact. wipe or flush out the teeth good and post it on here. side view looking at the cheek (bucal) side and one looking down at the top of the teeth so you can see down into cheek (lingual) side of them.

at least you got out some.  better luck next season.

[NFA-ADK]

Next question should Iet the bugs clean it or boil it off?  Or does anyone  have a quicker or better way to clean it.  I was going to remove the hide and bury it but I am thinking about boiling off the excess. 

[ATbuckhunter]

On 1/30/2018 at 1:00 PM, NFA-ADK said:

Next question should Iet the bugs clean it or boil it off?  Or does anyone  have a quicker or better way to clean it.  I was going to remove the hide and bury it but I am thinking about boiling off the excess. 

I've heard a power washer works well, but I always boiled them. Takes only a couple days of boiling vs a year in the ground.

[NFA-ADK]

Wow what a last day of deer hunting!  My best sighting for the season 31 deer total but I jumped 8 out of the brush when I was stalking, not so good apparently, hard to sneak up on that many.  Snow made sighting much easer but with 3 -4 inches it was a bit noisy when stalking.  I saw 3 doe with one buck on them like glue, that was all I saw on stand at about 35 yards in heavy brush.  He was a young 8 a bit wider than the buck above and slightly taller, good prospect for next year.  My buddy and his friend hunted another area till 10 am and saw nothing then he stated how all the deer went nocturnal!   I did try a few stalks when I came down off stand around 11 but was busted every time.  I was watching deer from about 60-200 yards most of the early afternoon posting next to trees or sitting on a log or just standing.  I was not getting any response from doe calls even though I only did 3 but the basic low volume slightly high pitch grunt seemed to ease them and allowed closer observation when they passed from 120-60 yards one was a young buck with 12 inch high, thick split tines making him a 4pt.  No other sighting after 4 (Think I pushed them all off the property, lol.) but a great way to end my deer season.  What a difference 2 days can make in the same area, right place right time and conditions.  We had no snow 2 days ago, I love snow...  and deer... and hunting...  omg I need sleep, I'm babbling. 

Edited February 1, 2018 by NFA-ADK

[wolc123]

On 1/30/2018 at 4:00 PM, NFA-ADK said:

Next question should Iet the bugs clean it or boil it off?  Or does anyone  have a quicker or better way to clean it.  I was going to remove the hide and bury it but I am thinking about boiling off the excess. 

It takes me a little under an hour to clean one up.  I start with a sharp knife and remove the hide, usually taking 15-20 minutes.  Getting the base of the antlers pretty clean is important.   Next, I use a 3200 psi power washer to blast everything else out.  That part takes me 30 - 40 minutes.  I get suited up in rain gear and place the skulls on an old pallet, out on a blacktop or concrete driveway.   This beats the heck out of boiling for three reasons: First, it is much faster, second cleanup is easier (birds and vermin always have every last scrap gone within 24 hours), and third, it does not discolor the skull like hot water boiling does.   There are a few good Youtube videos which show the process.

I have only done this with fresh skulls however, which never stink.    You would probably want to do it on a windy day, while standing upwind, on an old one.   The weather has been great for this method lately, with lots of wind and lots of days with the temperature in the mid thirties.   I will never boil another skull or skull plate, because I hate the smell and I hate cleaning up the ring around the boiling pot.     

[kperez1980]

Well this is one deer season I can say I did not hunt very hard at all.  Between house work, cutting vacation short due to extra work load at the job, bad weather, bad back and just simple low motivation due to other issues I simply did not get out as much.  With the passing of Mr.Charles Alsheimer who I really admired I wanted to get back into the  swing of hunting deer even if I only had a small window.  I was able to take today off and was going to do a full day but a buddy wanted to go also so I went with him, he was only able to do an afternoon hunt so we went in at 1pm. 
I jumped 2 deer going in and when I was set up in stand I saw one at about 45 yards that came within 15 yards but I did not have the camera set up for the shot, I got her on film but had no shot by the time I was setup, 35 plus yards in view but to risky for a shot with all the tree branches.  That was the only deer seen for the day for me and 2 other hunters while on stand.  Sad new is I found a dead buck that I spotted in stand while glassing, his white belly stuck out like sore thumb.  As the day ended with no deer in sight I was down off stand just before last light to stalk the last few minutes and check the dead deer as I could not see its head.  Shame he looked like a good up and comer, did not find any bullet or arrow wounds on him, think he might have been hit by a car, looked like a fox was feasting on him and he must have been dead for a few days.  All in all a good day to be out as the weather was mild, hope to take something the last day to honor the super blue moon and Mr.Alsheimer.  
Dead Head found today, wow I have some gray!  We argued the age, I say he is 2.7 years old and by buddy says 3.7, going to age the jaw bone at some point.  What age do you think he is? 
 
 

Did you give a class at the archery club?


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[ATbuckhunter]

Did you give a class at the archery club?


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No classes at suffolk archers, but we all would have no problem helping you out free of charge


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[NFA-ADK]

We do have a Hunters Rendezvous at Suffolk Archers August 19th, stop in and check it out, great place for new hunters to gain valuable knowledge.  We do the shot placement and deer calling along with gear and a bunch of other topics are covered. 

[NFA-ADK]

AtBuckjunter and myself did the hunters Rendezvous last year.  We did shot placement and I did the calling.