2019 HuntingNY Bow/Archery Harvest Thread

[stubborn1VT]

Strange season, but I got a tag filled.  I run my own business and make my own schedule, so I have plenty of time to hunt.  I saw a 1.5 year old buck opening day at 90 yards, and then not a single deer for the next 10 sits.  Not sure if it was the weather, the moon, or what. 

Took a couple days off from hunting because of rain and warm weather.  A small cold front moved through and I hurried to a new stand that I had hung.  When I got into town there were off and on showers that hadn't been in the forecast.  It was too cold, so I went and sat anyway.  I saw 7 or 8 deer from the stand and 7 more on the walk out.  That was more like it!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Had a couple more deer-less sits.  I bounced around to different stands, waiting for a south wind to go back to my new power line stand.  Sunday's forecast had a 5mph south wind, so I went in early.  I got in the stand just after 3pm and as soon as I sat down a tall spike came out.  He was 200 yards away, but they were moving!  Half and hour later a doe and fawn came out at 30 yards.  Instead of using a brush-hogged trail to cross the power line, they dove off in the tall grass, goldenrod and berry bushes.  I could only see the does ears.  I had no intention of shooting her, but was surprised that I couldn't see her from 17 feet up.  Two hours passed and nothing else appeared.  It started drizzling.  I decided to sneak down to check the fields with the last 20 minutes of legal shooting light.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          I came out to the field edge and stood in some tall grass against an 8 foot tall dirt berm and watched the field.  There was nothing out, so I dropped my backpack and lounged against the berm.  It was still sprinkling and the wind had switched from south to southeast.  A buck came trotting out into the middle of the narrow hay field 100 yards up the hill from me.  He had a big body and at least a fork on one side.  I waited until he started feeding on clover, then got down on my belly and crawled through the waist high brown grass to the very edge of the field, pausing when he picked his head up.  I was calm and not amped up.  I figured it would either work, or it wouldn't, but I was going to try to get a shot.  As he slowly fed closer, I pulled my neck gaiter over the bottom of my face and wiped the scope lenses clean with my sleeve.  He continued to feed broadside down the hill.  It didn't take him long to close the distance.  The field is only 70 yards wide right there, which made the middle only 35 yards away.  I had practiced at 32 yards a lot and was totally steady from a prone shooting position.  I lined him up and touched off the shot.  The crossbow seems fast to me after years of shooting a "slow" compound.  The bolt makes a hollow sound and the buck spun and made his death dash to the woods.  I watch him stumble into the timber and hear him crash.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     I went down to the farm house and tell my brother.  We head back with flashlights and a knife.  The rain had washed the blood out of the field in the 40 minutes I was gone, but I walked to the spot where he went in the woods and find blood spray on the yellow and orange leaves and the grey trunks of the small maples.  40 yards later we find him on the other side of an old stone wall.  He looks long in the light of my headlamp.  We get him out, cleaned up and hung for the night.  In the morning I bring him to a reporting station (I'm in VT as the name implies) and weigh him.  5 points 170lbs.  I am thankful.  It just goes to show you: You don't have to be good or clever, but you do have to go out and HUNT and you do need to be able to shoot.  It can change in a heartbeat.                                          

[NYBowhunter]

Left worki early today, headed to camp, got up there just in time to catch last hour ,of hunting. This 10 pointer came out into one of the food plots eating and tending a doe. Pass thru,  took out the lungs.

[greensider]

Smacked an ancient doe this afternoon 8 steps on the ground 

[NYBowhunter]

10 pointer from yesterday all cleaned up.

[BowmanMike]

I finally got to report a harvest after a two year archery drought. I hunted most of the day Saturday,saw one doe in the distance in the a.m. In the afternoon i got set up with my climber at a friends property 40yds into the woods from the corner of two ag fields,corn and soybeans. The woods were full of acorns and even some hickory trees and some beeches. After sitting until 5.30  without any deer activity I was seriously questioning the point of hunting. I had been hearing turkeys not terribly far of most of the afternoon. Finally i saw them in the soybeans,and then a deer as well.The turkeys worked their way back in the woods and i was hoping the deer would follow. Now i saw three of them..Then they all started running and i saw a decent buck chase them out of the field and into the woods away from me. I thought at least i saw some deer. I tried grunting but nobody showed up. The turkeys were still milling around 50 yds from me. When i watched them i saw a deer through the trees as well,or so i thought. I kept loosing track of it. Now it was close to sunset and i was about ready to climb down when this big doe cautiously came from deeper in the woods on the way to the field. She walked behind my tree,so i had to lean some around the right side of it to get a shot at 25 yds. I thought the hit looked good but didn't sound so good,pretty dull. The lighted nocks were great. The doe just ran off maybe 25 yds and stood there tail tucked.

My heart sank. After my horrid season last year where I lost two deer with the bow and one with the gun,more deer than in all my years combined,I was devastated. The doe was too far for another shot,so i watched her and tried to mentally mark her path. She did not want to move,maybe travelled 40 yds in 15 minutes. I climbed down as quietly as i could,which was awkward since i dropped my haul line earlier and had to carry the bow.I went to get my arrow to get information and backed out. Dark blood covered the arrow and no gut smell. That was a good sign.

I made it back to the truck and my buddy and he told me about a big black bear he had seen 30 yds from his stand. I told him about my situation. He was nice enough to agree to come back with me several hours later. We wanted to get the doe before the rain started,midnight in our area.

We got back to the hit site and looked for blood where i thought she stood but couldn't find any. Off to a bad start. Then we checked another area where she stood behind some fallen logs. There we found sparse blood and managed to pick up her trail. Blood was really spotty,and we came to the first bed soon. I had hoped to find her in her first bed,but no luck. We manged to follow the track,barely. We found a few more beds,then the blood trail got good and she was only 20 yds further. It seems she had been dead for several hrs.

 

All in all she only went a little over 100 yds from the hit site. Took us maybe 25 mins to find her,Chef was right.

We got her just as the rain started. I was super excited,I dont know if I could have stood loosing another deer. I was also very glad my friend came out with me,i would have been on edge for sure in the dark with a bloody carcass behind me and a Bear not too far off. Ones imagination tends to run a little alone in the woods at night.

I wasn't happy with the beginning of the hunt,but it ended well. It payed off watching the hunting public show on YouTube. Backing out and coming back later saved the day.

[Jeremy K]

Stayed out late last night in Olean , told everyone i WOULD make it out hunting. Woke up this morning to wind and rain . Decided it would be a good day to leave at sunrise and take a slow walk . Shortly after starting my walk i noticed i had walked up on small doe eating apples . I figured she couldn't be alone and was able to get to the side of the trail and clip my release on  . As soon as i did that i heard a deer crashing away just out of sight . As the sound stopped i heard a buck grunting and saw his antlers over the tall grass headed straight for the original doe still standing there . He came out slightly quartering away and i made a perfect shot and he crashed less 40 yards away from impact . After it ended i thought how happy i was with every thing i did in the heat of the moment and how all that practice with the bow ,i never second guessed or screwed around with the shot , i drew ,aimed and released. 

[ATbuckhunter]

Shot on 10/25

Got to my stand around 6:10 and didn’t hear or see a thing until around 6:35-40 when I saw a big body about 40 yards in front of me. It was traveling the opposite way the deer usually do in the morning and it was all alone. I’m thinking it was a buck, but it was barely light enough to see a body let alone the head. I decided to text back a few girls that around 7:20 when I decided to look to my left in the middle of a text. I saw a giant body and nice antlers 15 yards from me, so I quickly figured out that it was a deer I would take. I put my phone in my pocket, got up and took the shot. I didn’t aim for more than a few seconds and let it rip once I saw it was in the ughh spot. I didn’t see where the arrow hit due to a few alder branches, but it sounded good and I didn’t see an arrow sticking out so I thought I just might have put a good shot on it. It ran down the same path that the deer I shot last week ran down and got right to the part where it was too thick to see well. I watched that spot really closely because i figured he was right there and just when I was saying to my self that he might be going down, he drops. Man what a feeling to put a good shot on a deer and watch it go down. I thought it was a big 8 at first, but turns out it’s a big 5. No brows as you can see and one of the points broke off. It was a little smaller when I got to it, but still very happy with it. It’s either the biggest body deer I’ve shot or second biggest. It was a damn chore to drag that thing out and my back isn’t too happy about it.
 

Edited October 27, 2019 by ATbuckhunter

[Cnemesis]

Just started using a bow two weeks ago and smoked my first buck with a bow. My daughter and I got into the stand at 6am and by 730 he was out in the field 200 yards out and we grunted him in to 25 yards. With Lilly at my back I let it rip and went right through the heart. This is my 1st bow kill and 3rd deer I have taken, I just started hunting last year.

Shot on 10/26

[G-Man]

Well I've passed this doe for 3 hunts but gf said she needed ground  meat so her she is.. 25 yard shot in my apple orchard, had to go back to get knife and golf cart to pull her out , only went 40 yards. 1st deer I had to gut with a flash light in almost 20 years.  At butcher more bacon and some cut to be made with gf order for ground...  vacation now for 4 weeks.. horn hunting and bear hunting next few weeks.

[Hock3y24]

Saw a couple bucks around 4 cruising, big ol doe and fawn came in at 5:55. Center punched her at 20 yards with a pass through, she jumped ran 30 yards, looked around and fell over. Freezer is awfully full now, gonna give the next one to a friend.

[TreeGuy]

For 28 seasons I have gone deerless on my bday. This buck changed all that. What a great night, had my dad and my son ( who led the tracking job ) with me for an epic evening. Possibly my best bday ever ! Got years of pics of this guy who actually had 2 names, "1-eyed willy" or "the pirate" because he has severe damage to his eye and only one would reflect on trail cam pics.

 

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[DanielT]

Finally....
Last night was my first hunt in a week.
Set up my stand by 4....at 430 a real nice 8 point comes to 60 yards...I grunt...he looks....and walks left away from me.
I grunt again....he stops looks....continues on his way.
Soon after I look up and coming down same trail is another nice 8. So I got situated. ...and set..
He walked to 30 yards and made a left towards the other buck....I drew back and released the arrow without stopping him.....I watched my lumenok disappear into the boiler room....and stick in ground behind him....he ran 25 yards and tipped over....wow....I needed that..


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[bigpaul]

Kind of a unique buck I named Blade because of the left main beam going straight up. Came in behind me and offered me a 20 yd shot. He ran about 20 yds and crashed within sight. Of course Blade got back at me when I cut my knuckle while dressing him. 3 spikes wandered through about 20 minutes after I shot him. Gotta love November.

 

[sodfather]

Had this guy come down a ravine to my right a minute after I check the wind . As I watched my milk weed float to the left I looked over and thought oh cool nice little buck, no way he’s going to come my way. He started walking toward the trail that we walked in stopped on a dime and started heading my way. Now I’m thinking great how can I draw my bow. The only way was if he walks in front of a tree that was in my way. Well he did , I drew back he popped out 12 yards and the rest is history . So happy I can’t believe the way he came in to me. I huge thanks to @Jeremy K @ Tacks cause I cant find his handle and buddy Andrew who helped dragged out 

[chrisw]

My first morning of a 20 day vacation, had a Spike and 6 come by, an hour later I hear grunts close by in the bedding area, I grunt back, nothing. About an hour later I hear a weird noise and a stick break in the same spot. I stand up and grab my bow just in case. Out comes the biggest buck we have on camera. He's at 35 so I adjust my sight and he turns and comes on the sidehill above me at 25 yds. No time to adjust the sight so I held low and put it behind the shoulder and I didn't dare to try to stop him So I shoot. It hits him a bit back, he runs 30 yds, stops, looking around, then panics and runs 50yds to the top of the hill and stands, wagging his tail fast. I slip out quiet and gave him 6 hours. We slipped back in and took up the trail before dark, pretty steady blood for about 75 yds then we see 2 bloody beds about 4' apart. While I glance up I see him 5 yds away but his head looks up. We watch him for a few seconds and I see his antlers move. I kneel down and put one in his lungs and he rolled onto his back and died. My best buck to date! 190# dressed. 11 points. While waiting for my buddy to meet me I had a 7pt cruise right by my truck without a care in the world!

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[turkeyfeathers]

Started my morning off at Gman’s by getting up at 3:45 to make the drive down. Heard the whooooo of an owl again.  At about 9 I was ready to pack it in. Ok I’ll hang out til 11. At 10:30 I had a really nice 8 with good mass in an opening of the woods at 40, too far for my comfort.  He’s now descending hill at 30 but tree tree tree and more trees about 6-8” across. Was not going to try and thread the needle. Off he goes. Grunted and no response. Hind sight     I should have snort wheezed at him. Departed for home and quickly had some leftover Chinese food from last night. Boots back on and went local. Used the climber and climbed up along an old logging road near a little ridge and tiny stream. It felt deery once I got up. Perfect wind from the SSW. Not long after I hear footsteps and peer over to my right. Here he comes at about 25 yards hard quartering to. I contemplate do I let him walk ? Grab the bow off the holder and quickly snap on the release to the D loop. He’s now broadside and walking in , I wait til he quarters a little away , settle my 20 yard pin right behind the shoulder he’s giving me and vision the exit , the other shoulder . Loose grip , good anchor and don’t jerk the release. I see I hit him perfectly but the nocturnal never lights up. I watch his reaction and he bolts hard , watching him cross the tiny stream he runs all of about 65 yards . I hear him and see him crash twice. But just out of sight he goes. Climb down after a bit to look for arrow. Hmm, no arrow and woods floor blanketed in leaves .Find some hair and blood at hit sight. Then the blood gets real good , splatters on big trees , more hair. I follow until I see white belly. Shot was 17 yards . I flip him over on his bed and there’s most of arrow . Checked the entrance and spot on through the boiler room and angle says broadhead stuck in other shoulder blade. With passing 12 smallish bucks and goiter last year my first year I wasn’t going to let this one walk in hopes of getting a shot at a slammer. Might I see a big guy when I’m out for does , probably and could care less   I shot this buck in honor of my brother Lee who I lost just days ago. He was so sorry when he sold the 60 acres I used to hunt and I kept reinforcing it’s ok I’ll land somewhere to hunt. He was so happy to hear this last year and this year. That owl I heard this morning was him overseeing my day. With the broadhead still in there and pouring rain about to come I opted to simply strap him on the carrier without field dressing him. I’ll pay the extra fee when I drop him off before work in the morning. No differently than I had to leave him overnight. Shot was perfect but I’m going to ask them to confirm my suspicions. Almost added a big 8 with a very swollen neck to the carrier as I had to really jam on the brakes 2 miles from home. I’m so proud of my first archery buck. 

[Lawdwaz]

My computer is giving me trouble or this would be a much longer story.  Story is long and ugly as late night gutting and dragging is way over rated.........

Shot him around 4pm and the hit looked good.  Turned out it was liver hit and took longer to die.  I recovered him around 9:20pm and got him in the barn at 10:15pm. (I took the pics this morning)

Edited November 3, 2019 by Lawdwaz

[moog5050]

Fun hunt.  Started real slow and around 9:30 a doe comes screaming by about 50yds away with a buck hot on her.  A minute later she comes screaming by again back in opposite direction and runs under another of my stands.   Buck looked better second time by.    Jump out of my stand and hustle to the other stand she ran by hoping her scent might start a parade. As soon as I climb in and remove pack, I turn to see this guy 45yds away.  Have no idea if he was the one chasing or was standing there when I climbed in but he had to be close since I had not even turned around.  Slowly nock an arrow and he starts heading to me.  Trying to decide if he is worth shooting and he looks right at me at about 25yds.   I have never seen such a bug eyed oh crap look.  He veers away and takes about three hops and starts swinging to my left.  At that point I am in it due to the excitement that and draw and he stopped just long enough for me to settle a pin and question how far, how far.   Not really sure but looked more than 20 so 30 it was.  Shot and he dropped in his tracks.  Took top of ribs, through spine and caught a good amount of lung.  Those rages do damage.  Turns out he was 25yds when ranged after the fact.  If he hadn’t went all bug eyed, not sure an arrow would have flown but he made it pretty exciting and that’s what I love when hunting.   

[NockednLoaded]

Took this doe Friday evening at about 17:55. She was in a group of six that milled  around for two hours around me. I was surprised no bucks were anywhere near in that time. Legal time was ending and took a ten yard chip shot. She piled up 40 yards away. My brother and dad were there to help me out and that was the best part.

[Chemungcountyhunter]

First deer at my new property in Chemung county. Sunday afternoon about 2pm at 27 yards. Ran about 35 yards and recovered my 11 year old daughter helped field dress the deer for the first time. 

[YFKI1983]

First legal buck to give me a shot was on my last day bowhunting for the year. Saw a few spikes and Doe but never in range He came through at 25 yards and stopped broadside. I heard the pop when the Rage hit, he ran off full tilt and I heard him crash. Went about 100 yards. Hoping for a big one in gun season.

I hit him a little lower than I aimed. My stand is about 23 feet high but the entry and exit wounds are the same level. Makes no sense. Not sure if anyone has experienced that. I will start a topic on it as I've been trying to understand it.





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[NonTypical]

I had a very exciting morning. Probably my best hunt in a very long time as far as quality and quantity. I had several opportunities and finally let an arrow fly. Early this morning I let a 9 walk by at 16 yards. Not long after, he decided to walk past all 4 of my cell cams on the property. After he left there were 3 different 8’s and another 9. Took some videos and let them walk. Giving a wide 8 a pass was a really tough call. I drew on him as he was about to walk under my stand. So I let down the bow and quickly grabbed my phone for a quick video. Looking back I probably shouldn’t have done that, but I knew there was bigger. At about 12, a buck came charging out of the bedding chasing a doe right under my stand. Just got a quick look and noticed some nice brows and kickers. Turns out he was the same buck I passed on early and he’s an 11.  Stopped him with a mouth bleat for an 8 yard quartering away shot. Hit him high and slightly back and it came out low right behind the shoulder. Clean pass through and he only went 40 yards. He stopped and looked around for about 2 seconds, and tipped right over. He’s not the biggest buck there, but I’m happy with him. I still have another buck tag so I’m planning on being back in there on Friday morning. 

 

Edited November 7, 2019 by NonTypical

[BowmanMike]

I got my 2nd doe. I made a shot worse than on my last doe and had to leave this one overnight. Luckily she didn't go far,it was at the edge of a pretty thick area where i shot her. She about crawled under this uprooted tree. I could just see a little brown patch on the hole. I am happy she didn't go far and the coyotes didn't get her,but i did.

She is a good size doe and will hopefully get along with the other one in the freezer. I am going to butcher her right now.

[OtiscoPaul]

Crazy Bow season lots of weird stuff happened and back pains kept me out of the woods a lot  but in the end a success...

10/14 7:45am Big Doe:

 

11/3 7:30am Yearling Doe: 

 

11/6 2:30pm 11pt:

He came right into my 2d doe decoy and antler Ice after I tickled the rattle bag and made an estrus bleat...5 yards but I regret the between the shoulder shot I took from above...never again

700 yard track over 2 days found him this am don’t think he died til last night all the meat is still perfect temps were awesome!

Lucky guy on all counts...

All my neighbors are awesome the shot was taken behind my parents and ran through every neighbor property in between and 2 more over, Awesome Rural Community!

My wife took rutcation fir me this week I Love Her!

Great harvests and nice bucks all (biz with the xbow!) have a great gun season!

Edited November 8, 2019 by OtiscoPaul

[doebuck1234]

Something felt good about this morning with the fresh blanket of snow and my sister/her fam being in for an early thanksgiving.multiple sets of tracks 50 yards from the house and bumping 3 in the field on way in i thought for sure it would be a bust.have had this 7pt on cam many times and told myself im not passing anything this late in the bow season

7am rolls around and i hear crunching just to my left and sure enough i see him walking right in my direction,stood up and clipped release.at this point he's at 25 yards on the trail.puts his head behind a tree and i draw.expecting him to take a few steps more and he turned back around heading other direction.followed him then something was blocking my view through peep.not sure what it was but(leafy jacket maybe)moved my draw arm a bit,gave em a bleat and released.heard the thunk,ran 80 yards n stood there for a solid 5 mins then slowly walked off.waited until he was out of sight to check hit spot.

White hair/little blood/no arrow....great,another replay of last year's bow buck.called first neigh or to get permission.went back to house to wait for dad and bro inlaw to help track(2 1/2-3 hrs).started at hit site and worked to where i saw him standing.good patch of dark blood with bubbles!found a bed with 2 nice spots of blood in it.most of this track turned into following hoof tracks/blood on the golden rod and saplings every 40 or so yards.at this point had deer search pulled up on my phone....hit 2nd neighbors property line and backed out.

got back to the house and told my dad this isnt over yet,i wont give up.made a few phone calls and got permission.ate thanksgiving then went back out,just dad and i as brother inlaw passed out in recliner.marked last blood on huntstand app,50 yards from there with dad right behind me marking last blood there he layed.threw my hands up and said we got em!!!High fives,a hug and smiles.will definitely be one of my most memorable hunts with my dad by my side on the track for the first time.1 Lung and liver.i recall him saying atleast 3 times(wow,i cant believe how tough these animals are).now to get him on a deer during gun season!!

Just goes to show how tough they truly are.still baffles me on how the heck i had white hair when my shot wasnt that low

Sorry for the long story guys!!!!!!!