So what's your self imposed restrictions for the SZ opner?

[Don_C]

It really all depends on how I'm feeling at the time. No does this weekend, no 1-1/2 year olds.  But by the end of the week I may have a brown and down outlook. Ya never know, that's the fun in it!

[BowmanMike]

No beer before 10 a.m.,other than that no restrictions at all.

No seriously though,i used my doe tag during bow,so the ladies are safe until MZ season. A 2.5 year old buck would be nice,but i think a decent 1 1/2 year old might tempt me. I might tag out early,generally i don't enjoy just having a buck tag. 

[NYBowhunter]

For me i dont shoot button bucks at all in any season, i will typically shoot does later in the season.  I love to shoot big bucks, but am by far a meat hunter first. If the momment suits me right i have no problem shooting  a 2 1/2 yr. Old buck or a big ole doe.

[BizCT]

1 hour ago, turkeyfeathers said:

I've never killed a wall hangar so why start now. Heck I've only seen one in the woods.  I'll hold out for a biggish buck and send it and shoot a big doe at any given moment.

Define "wall-hanger"?

[BizCT]

I'm hunting WNY and will impose on myself my typical buck limits. I'm looking for a 2.5 year old buck or better. However, there are 2 exceptions. 1. something non-typical/freaky i will definitely shoot. 2. Anything 6pt or better I would probably shoot unless its super tight/small rack. This may be a 1.5 year old in WNY. But I'm certainly not passing a nice 6 or 8pt because he's 1.5. Hoping for my first ever 2-buck season, but won't shoot a small just one just to do it.

[greensider]

Really big 8 or better 

[Team Hoyt]

I'm going out to fill my freezer. With no deer yet from bow season, getting low on meat. I'm out for anything except for little ones. My family only eats venison no store bought meat with additives. 

[LongWayFromHome]

Since I've been long and far from all the action for quite a spell, deer herd numbers in good shape in SZ?

Quality of bucks gotten better?

Anyone have any great revelations about the deer hunt-

ing that will cheer me up?

[turkeyfeathers]

21 minutes ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

Define "wall-hanger"?

A buck that when you see him  and trying to be calm you say Holy F aloud and then think did I just actually say that

[chrisw]

Coming off of just shooting my best buck a week and a half ago, I'm not going to hold out for something better because in reality I won't see one bigger than 135". Whatever feels right or fun at the time is getting it. A doe for sure, I'm actually meeting my father and brother on some state land even though I'm on a good lease this year with good bucks. My father is in his 70's now and I'll regret not joining them even if the hunting isn't the best, it could be my last opener with him, you just never know. I say if it feels right then pull the trigger. A "wall hanger" is different for everyone.

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[jmp5008]

Finally getting my first sit with@Chef
He is sitting in a hot spot where he saw two shooters last year opening day within a few hours.
We are both going for big bucks ( no doe tags) , we have AR, but we are specifically looking for the big boy we have on camera. Biggest buck we've seen around. He was not seen since bow season started but we still have hope that he will show.

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[BizCT]

20 minutes ago, jmp5008 said:

Finally getting my first sit with@Chef
He is sitting in a hot spot where he saw two shooters last year opening day within a few hours.
We are both going for big bucks ( no doe tags) , we have AR, but we are specifically looking for the big boy we have on camera. Biggest buck we've seen around. He was not seen since bow season started but we still have hope that he will show.

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Welcome back, bud! It's that time of year when you come alive on the forum!

[jmp5008]

Welcome back, bud! It's that time of year when you come alive on the forum!

Thanks man! I'm usually reading the forum just not posting much!

I hope your prediction is right!

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[Zag]

I'm pretty much set after punching two tags already. Buck has to be 120 or better. I have some friends that will need some meat so I may shoot another doe or 2. No pressure sits for me, although I think the rut active has picked up near me and might be a good opening weekend for some of us!!

[doebuck1234]

Would love to see two of the bucks ive had on cam.going to hold off on shooting anything smaller than bow buck as id rather have dad get a crack at one this year.doe's dont get a pass,havent gotten a freezer queen in years

[E J]

I'm hoping to hold out for a 3.5 yr old buck. I've gotten two of them on camera using my property semi regularly. The problem is there is a really nice 2.5 year old that's been here all over the place too and I could see myself mistaking him for one of the others if I only get a quick look. I probably won't shoot any does as my place but will over at an orchard I hunt where they eat the heck out out of the apple trees.

[Moho81]

Could still use some more meat for the year plus I like when I have extra and I can share the wealth to friends that weren't so lucky. My mentality has changed over the years to where I now only shoot at larger bodied deer. Racks don't mean a whole lot to me as long as the body is a decent size. Of course that also means a have a tendency to pass at the smaller racked bucks now vs what I would shoot in the past. 

[Chef]

Finally getting my first sit with[mention=762]Chef[/mention]
He is sitting in a hot spot where he saw two shooters last year opening day within a few hours.
We are both going for big bucks ( no doe tags) , we have AR, but we are specifically looking for the big boy we have on camera. Biggest buck we've seen around. He was not seen since bow season started but we still have hope that he will show.

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We’ll see bow season was pretty tough on me, I put in a lot of hours on the stand passed a lot of deer waiting for him. That first morning I’d say 8 or better but even the right 6 or 7 may do, after this weekend I will really only have one day a week to hunt so we’ll see if I don’t see a nice buck I may just wait till late Mz/bow and take a doe. I can’t go meatless this year


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[Cabin Fever]

Really haven't decided. I know of 2-3 real nice ones around, but other than that, it'll depend how I feel at the moment (AND how cold, tired and frustrated I am)! I've been out 35 times so far with the bow, logging 127 hours in the stand. Needless to say, my frustration level is pretty high right now.... . 

[WNYBuckHunter]

Same for me as it is in bow season, 3.5 year old or better. That carries through the whole season. Does will start becoming targets Thanksgiving week on my property.

[NYBowhunter]

1 minute ago, Cabin Fever said:

Really haven't decided. I know of 2-3 real nice ones around, but other than that, it'll depend how I feel at the moment (AND how cold, tired and frustrated I am)! I've been out 35 times so far with the bow, logging 127 hours in the stand. Needless to say, my frustration level is pretty high right now.... . 

Damn 127hrs. on stand, think i have like 15 hrs. tops. Ouch, thats gotta reek havoc on your butt and back.

 

[moog5050]

My only rule is that the QDMA participant has to shoot the very first deer so I can get back to hunting.  It will probably be a booner (in which case he can shoot deer no. 2).  lol

[Hock3y24]

Any doe is getting smoked, buck gotta be 2.5 or better. 

[G-Man]

Hope to get a few young hunters into spots where they will see and have an opportunity at a doe or buck. Fortunately  all the youngins got doe permits. For myself.. idk not.really in mood to shoot anything. Season is so long......

Edited November 13, 2019 by G-Man

[Red]

I'm hoping to take an 8pt or better but if a smaller buck gets my blood pumping I'll take him. 

I'm very thankful for the buck that I took during archery season but filling my buck tag on the first Saturday of the season and not buck hunting the rest of bow season was kind of a bummer.