2019 HuntingNY Crossbow Harvest Thread

[WNYBuckHunter]

2019 HuntingNY Crossbow Harvest Thread

Post up pics of your 2019 crossbow season deer here!
 
Only pictures with the associated story will be allowed in this thread. If you want to congratulate someone, please do it by clicking on the "like this" button for the post. There will be no exceptions.

Feel free to start a new thread if you wish to have comments in addition to posting the photo and story here.

[wolc123]

This 2.5 year old 8-point may have been my easiest shot with my Barnett Recruit, since 2014, but it was the scariest recovery.   For the first time, I did not hear a crash within 40 yards or see him go down.   Chest girth was only 39-1/4" and I still have not calculated the dressed weight, from the PA chart (with the 9F NY correction factor applied), but definitely my highest scoring crossbow rack and the first in a long time with no "rut" damage.   

I passed up a 1.5 year 3 point at 8:00 am.  This one followed the same path, but hung up 50 yards out and stared at me without even a twitch for almost 1/2 hour.  Finally he started moving closer and I moved my crossbow into position in "super slow motion"  When he entered the view in my "green dot" Barnett sight, I put the center dot on the spot and sent the bolt.   It looked good but I waited a half hour to pursue.  I thought I heard a "crash" in the nearby thicket.   I said my usaual prayer for an easy recovery before getting down.

I followed good blood, to the point I last saw him, where it appeared that he turned and entered the thicket, but the blood petered out at that point.  I then did a 1/2 hour grid search of the thicket with no success.  I had marked last blood with surveyors ribbon and I went back to it.  I pulled the little red Bible out of my pack, opened it to a random verse in the book of John, said a quick prayer, and started looking for more blood.   

It turned out that he did not enter that thicket where I heard noise after he disappeared.  There must have been other deer in there (maybe his little brother had circled back in there).   I found blood leading across a field, and continued to mark it with bits of orange ribbon.   He was headed towards another, larger thicket.  I looked up, and there he laid, belly up, just about 5 yards into that one.   

My uncle lives next door.  He is my God-father and is recovering from some recent surgery.  I gave him one of the tenderloins and just finished up the other one for lunch.   It looks like a good week to hang the carcass in our insulated garage.

Edited November 2, 2019 by wolc123

[BizCT]

11/2/19:

3N, 8pt. 151lb dressed. Story in my member journal


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[mike103]

0715 hours this morning. Ten Pointer.
 

Edited November 2, 2019 by mike103

[mike103]

Bow: Ten Point Titan Xtreme.

Rage 125 grain Mechanicals.

Arrows Wicket Ridge old style orange and black.

Distance 20 yards.

Catkills 4P.

[Nomad]

Ha didn’t know there was a separate crossbow harvest thread , so I’ll post here as well . First crossbow kill, third season .

Ten Point crossbow ten point buck . Do they sell a twelve  point ? If so I’ll buy one .

17 yard shot a bit more forward then ideal, yet a pass trough ,including the heart . Short “ tract “ hard drag .

[halfnelson]

Been seeing bucks across stream where I hunt.  This afternoon around 4 this buck crossed over to my side.  I'm in a good blow-down natural ground blind, almost below ground level above me with a swamp and stream in front of me.  A pretty area to hunt. I saw 3 bucks this morning from this stand, one real nice basket rack working out on a sapling.  They didn't respond to grunt call or light rattle.

This afternoon started off really slow- then later in the day this buck crossed the stream, as soon as  he hit the water I was able to get crossbow ready so he couldn't see movement .  He came right up the run in front of me about 18 yds away broadside.  Made a mouth grunt to stop him - he only went about 5 yards from where he was shot, and expired within 30 seconds.  Thank God for the short drag and nice deer.

[Al Bundy]

Got it done.. this was my shooter buck I have on trail cam.  Couldn’t lift it and had to get the mrs to help lift. 

[Bolt action]

Let's see if I can get this out coherently. Left the house at 430. Saw Lots of deer along the park way as usual. Parked around 530 and started the mile hike in. 40 degrees and wind from the West. Crossbow over my shoulder and carrying an old climber. About halfway in I saw a flashlight in the distance. Trespasser. Got to my tree around 6 and realize the tree I had planned to use was to big for the climber. In the dark I found another one but it had a limb about 8 feet up. The climber was surprisingly quiet for being so old. Right around 645 I had 3 or 4 doe come running in to my left. About 50yds out they turn into the woods and onto another property. While getting ready for the shot I notice that the cables are too long and so the platform is tipping forward. At that time, maybe 7 o'clock I notice another doe to my right. At about 60yds she also turned into the woods. I could see a few of them still smiling around behind me. Around 715 I saw a deer feeding in the acorns to my left, 100yds and closing. Buck. He came to shoot 35 yds and was broadside. I took the shot but misjudged the distance. Clean miss. After a free minutes of debating i climb down to recover the arrow. Found it covered in mud. Went back to the climber and found a better tree. Adjusted the cable length and climbed to about 10 ft. Felt better about the new tree but when I tried to host the crossbow, it was stuck. I had to climb back down to free it. Did that and then climbed back up. I figure my day might be shot because of all my commotion. I finally get back up in the tree, turn around and see another Buck marching through the beans straight to me at about 100yds and closing fast. I quickly raise my crossbow and load a bolt. The Buck presented a 12 yd broadside chip shot. He went about 50 yds and laid right down. First time using a climber and first deer with a crossbow. First Buck in 10 yrs. He isn't the biggest, but he'll be good eating. I learned a lot on this hunt and now the pressure is off.

Edited November 4, 2019 by Bolt action

[Lever action]

I haven't seen a deer in 3 days ,this is 1 of the reasons why. 35 yd shot.

[grampy]

Had a great hunt yesterday! Saturday morning, I decided to hunt a rut travel spot with my compound at the lake property. Saw zero deer. In the afternoon went to the farm property, in another rut pinch point and saw zero deer. Figured in this area, the majority of doe were not ready, but the bucks are ready to go! Figured I'd go where the doe were feeding, to perhaps catch a buck lurking nearby? So decided to hunt an oak ridge Sunday morning with crossbow and if need be with the compound in the afternoon. (I like to alternate between the two) Got in nice and quiet, to a natural ground blind, built on a bench about three quarters of the way up the ridge.

Not long after first light I see a buck below me making his way up! Just cruising, he came to within a few yards, but was just a six point year old buck, so let him go. A short time after he went by, I saw another year old buck coming down from above. He also got a pass at 10 yards or so. So now I'm thinking I made the right setup choice! Cool! At 6:30 I hear the shuffling of leaves behind me (my buck making a scrape) but glancing over my left shoulder, didn't see anything (he was on the lip of the bench, had I looked over my right shoulder I'd have seen him) But just thought it was one of the many squirrels running around. A couple minutes later, I again heard leaves crunching and CLOSE!

Glancing to the left at probably five FEET, was a buck! He immediately stopped as he caught my scent, stomped a couple of times, blew and took a couple short leaps behind me. I slowly turned, and saw him staring at me and doing the head bob at twenty yards. I decided I wanted him! Not the best buck on the property, but he looked awesome to me at the moment! So I got the crossbow up to my shoulder, slowly turned 180 degrees around the tree, and he just stood there! I found him immediately in the scope, lined up the shot, and squeezed the trigger, seeing the lighted nock disappear right where I aimed!!! He ran up the ridge and as he got to the pines, I thought I saw him stagger. That's where I  found him later 50 yards or so away.

Giving him a while before going to look, two doe show up and start gorging on acorns!! They kept me entertained for over an hour as I waited. Coming within 10 yards many times! All in all it was just a perfect morning hunt! I'm very happy to have this buck! A solid two year old for this area. Got a hunting memory I'll always remember. And some tasty meat in the freezer. Now I will concentrate on possibly shooting a doe for some elderly folks I know. And then looking for at least a three year old buck during gun season.

Also I was texting with moog during all this. Sharing my hunt with him, as he has shared so much with me. With hunting memories of WNY. Also heard an owl sounding off as I was going in. And thought immediately of turkeyfeathers and his brother Lee. I gave me a good warm feeling, and I just knew it was going to be a great morning!

Sorry for the long post.

[greensider]

Another freezer doe

[Just Lucky]

1rst time out saturday November 2nd. I couldn't bow hunt this year do to a broken wrist. Been rough.

At 830 am had this 8 point come threw. Had a small window to shoot and when he walked in I shot.Waited till 9 to track. While waiting had a 5 point walk by. 

Had good blood but then faded. While looking for blood seen another buck chasing a doe. Watched for about 5 minutes until they were out of sight.

Tracked my buck for about 3 hours when I seen him laying down looking away from me. Shot him again. He went about another 100 yards and I found him dead. 

First shot was a little behind and caught gut. 2nd shot was in the back looking away but lunged him

[hunterdan44]

First day out with crossbow , morning I saw zip. Went back out @2:00 and put out some doe pee 20 yards from my stand. This buck walked right up to it at 3:15 and stopped at the spot and sniffed it, presenting me with the ideal quartering away shot. He went about 20 yards crashed into a tree and died. No tracking thank God.


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[GreeneHunter]

Buddy shot a spikey from my treestand today ....

 

[bugsNbows]

Wife got a nice 9 point about 9 am Sat. Shot was 38 yards with a CamX Chaos 325. It was only the second buck she has ever killed. It dressed out over160#. We followed a 200 yard blood trail to her prize. The extraction was a tough, uphill haul.

[Skillet]

Season is winding down for me. Go on night shift next week, on call 7 days a week, and no vacation approved after 11/1. May not get much more hunting in.

So, I took this spike and I'm thankful for him.

[johnplav]

This morning was hunt #18 for the season.  I bumped a doe walking in and saw 4 more does wander through.  I never heard this guy walking in, he just materialized over a small ridge about 30 yards away.  He came straight toward me (and in front of a trail cam) and at about 15 yards he started to angle around me.  When he finally started to turn broadside, he was under 10 yards from my tree stand (sorry Biz... not from the ground).  He was walking slowly and I didn't dare try to stop him when he was that close.  I aimed just behind shoulder and halfway up his body.  I hit him a little further back than I planned, and he took off running.  He stopped about 30 yards away and started looking around, I was hoping he would fall right there.  I could see blood pouring out of the exit wound.  Instead of falling, he casually walked out of sight.  I got down from the stand and checked the arrow.  Covered in good blood, and I could see his tracks and blood.  I slowly followed and found him piled up just over 100 yards from where I shot him.  The bolt entered through the 6th rib about halfway up, and exited between 6th and seventh low on the other side.  The Rage did a great job almost cutting one lung in half, and punching a hole through the liver.  Because he was so close, and just slightly quartered toward me, I missed the offside lung.  

I'm very happy and thankful for a nice buck and a quick, clean kill.  I won't be hunting the next two weekends (likely best 2 weekends) because of travel, and plans, so the timing of this was perfect. 

While I was skinning him I noticed a large bald patch on his back between his shoulder blades, looks like some sort of scar.  

 

Edited November 8, 2019 by johnplav

[Lever action]

While walking to my tree stand this morning I really had my doubts at seeing any deer due to the amount of coyote tracks in the snow but at 10:10 2 doe came trotting underneath my tree stand from behind. I had to react quick and gave a couple of bleats to stop them.I took the lead doe, she was quartering away and I hit her far back on the left side and the bolt exited the right shoulder. She didn't go far.Now I can relax and concentrate on a buck, hopefully the 10 point is still around.I have the whole week off to hunt so maybe I can get a chance to see him.

[Bojohunter]

Went to the same spot I bumped him yesterday. I was seated looking at my phone when I heared a noise on my 10 o'clock. Saw the deer walking towards me feeding. I have my crossbow on my lap but couldn't take the shot. As soon as he turned his head away from me I picked up my xbow and aimed.  He saw me and stared back at me. Took the shot while he's quartering towards me at 22 yards (used range finder after the kill). The hunt was over in less than 10 secs from the moment I saw him and squeezed the trigger. I wished it was longer. Didn't get a chance to watch him... But I'm happy anyways. It's no monster but meat is meat! 

[Skillet]

My hunting partner got this guy at my camp this morning.

First crossbow deer. 

[2012_taco]

My 1st with a xbow! Went out a little late but i was determined to sit at least till 2. Literally at 1:45 this guy came walking  by at 20yds. I couldn't  be happier,  I've had him on camera with all 4 points on the left side just 1 week ago! 

I just weighed him 142 lbs. I thought he would have weighed more. Maybe i should try the tape measure around his chest? Lol

I added a pic of this buck still in velvet with all the points on his left side.

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by 2012_taco
added pic

[Goodolboy]

This old guy came in 8:00 Saturday morning making scrapes. Took a quartering away shot at 20 yards right in the boiler room. He ran about 100 yards. This is an old deer for sure. He is super grey in the face and only had his incisors on  the bottom left no bottom molars and no teeth left on top at all. Wish he wasn’t busted up but I love the character and fell blessed to take a legend like this.

[The Engineer]

On Saturday morning I was in the stand at 6:30 and man was it cold about 16. At 7:47 I was about to leave and all of sudden the 8 I had on camera was walking fast with 2 does behind him and looking over his left shoulder (I was to the right )never looked towards and kept walking to about 40 yards from me. Never killed with a  crossbow and he never stopped I let him pass. Turns out my neighbor let a friend hunt on his property and he pushed them. So I went out at 2:30 to my afternoon stand got in my stand had a smoke and right when I was done a 9 came walking down the hill nose never came off the ground. As he was getting closer from 50 yards and coming in i worked on my breathing had the crossbow aimed in the close area. He stopped by a big tree where I could see most of his body but no head. Now the crossbow was up and the 3rd line on the scope was in the proximity of a kill shot. He walked 4 more paces stopped just a great well placed shot with a perfect non rushed setup. He jumped in the air but walked away. I heard the arrow hit the ground and land right under him. I could see the illuminknock. There he goes walking back up where he came. But something was different. His tail only went half mast then down. At 30 feet he was staggering, at 40 he was falling into trees by 50 feet it was over. The Rage did its thing. It sliced the back end of the lungs cut the liver in half and hit an artery. Barely any blood come out until the last 15 feet of his life. When I gutted him the cavity was full. Funny thing is he is not the same 8 as the morning this guy is new

[greensider]

Got a big cat this afternoon at 8 steps on the ground