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Yep. Wish we had more hunters who know the limitations of their equipment or their abilities with their equipment. We'd have less wounded animals in the woods. Plus, it's just to darn expensive when you release that arrow. For me the cost would be $11 for the arrow, $12 for the broadhead, lighted nock $8-$9. You release that arrow you better be sure. Cause you might not get that arrow back. I shoot a bit all thru the year. But I start shooting my bow hard in mid-July. And I still won't take a 35-40 yard shot in the woods. Just too many variables you can't account for in the woods. Now in an open field I'll reach out to 50 yards.

Stoneam2006 I'm shooting piledrivers as well. Tipped with 4 blade Slick Tricks. They shoot just like a field points. I only practice out to 50 yards. Never shot further than 33 yards in the woods. But it sure doesn't hurt to shoot out that far. Makes the close shot a dink.

Stoneam2006, Welcome to the forum! Everyone is right! This is one of if not the best forum around. Everyone is very helpful.... & knowledgeable.

Don't try to figure out the processes. You'll drive yourself crazy. Explain to me how in Pa the can fine you for not having a seat belt but allow you to ride a motorcycle without a helmet? I think that should be a choice of the driver.

Wishinfishin, Another nice thing about the restraints is the season is pretty long. In Pa. it runs from 12/26 till mid February. But I usually stop a few weeks earlier because the fox & yotes will start to rub. No sense wasting time on them if you can't do anything with the ones you catch. Has there been any talk in NY about restraints?

As the farmers start to cut their corn fields & guys start going into the woods making preparations for archery season the deer will start to move. It's coming fast! When is the archery opener for New York? We in Pa have 2 openers. One is for the Pittsburgh & Philadelphia metro areas (9/17/2016) & the other is the statewide opener (10/1/2016).

Bassin247, What weight bullet are you running through the 204? I've heard good things about the lighter weight 32 grain V-max from Hornady. I've heard some reports it screams out at around 4200fps. Even though the ballistics from Hornady say it traveling around 3900 fps. I have a 22-250 that I use the 50 grain V-Max through & it shoots great. My only problem is like I said earlier is I would rather trap canines than shoot them. So I don't shoot it enough to get crazy about the ballistics. Hope you like the caliber.

King Slammin, I have used the hay set often & you're right. For fox it's like flies to a pile of crap. Yotes are a little harder. But you can still make out on them as well. I really like to use the hay set when there's a little snow on the ground. I don't know if it's the site of the hay against the snow or the hay smell, or both. But it sure as heck works. Pap, Wow! That's kind of scary. I had a big male yote stalk me during turkey season a few years ago (he's not going to have the chance to do that again). Sorry to hear about your hunting buddy. Losing a hunting buddy is tough. A lot of people quit their sport/hobby after their buddies pass. Hope that's not happening in your case. I've only tried hunting "dogs" a few times with limited success. I mostly stick to trapping (leg hold & Cable restraints). B safe!

Nice Job! Consistently catching yotes is a feat. Those son of a guns aren't just called wiley because of the cartoon. Last year I had 1 set off the trap, pull on it till he/she got it out of the ground & carried it 100 yards away! Good thing there was snow on the ground or I would never had found the freakin trap.

Yeah it is. We had to take a 8 hour class to become certified before we're allowed to set the restraints. I didn't think it was legal in New York yet. If it happens there let me know & I can pass a few pointers along. But if you trap you pretty much know 95% of what you need to know. Take care & good luck!

Trouthunter & Whaler. I'm not sure how to attach a photo to show you a restraint. I think if you go to You Tube & type in cable restraint there will be video clips you can view. Basically you're using a cable (about 6' total length) with a built in loop to get the fox & yotes(only thing legal to use restraint on in Pa.)to stick their heads through as they walk down a deer trail or thru a field. There are limits that the loop can close as to not strangle the animal (then it would be called a snare). This why it's called a cable restraint. Usually the animal is alive when you check your restraints. You anchor the restraint the same way as you would a trap. The only other piece of equipment you need is an upright. This is usually a piece of heavy gauge wire you stick into the ground & It stands up allowing you to "lay" your restraint on to hold the loop in an upright position. What's nice about the restraints is 1. set up takes maybe 5 minutes, 2. weight, restraints don't weigh as much as hauling around the same amount of traps, 3. weather doesn't have as much effect on the restraint as a trap. High snow accumulation will affect the restraint, as will freezing rain & high winds, 4. resetting the restraints takes seconds & 5. Cost of restraints is cheaper than traps. On the down side restraints are a 1 time use item. If you catch something they're shot. You can reuse certain parts off the restraint again. And, since you're setting deer trails you will catch a deer....eventually. Usually the larger deer can break the release feature(built into each restraint) & escape. But once in a while you will catch a smaller deer that isn't strong enough to break the restraints release. Usually this deer will be dead. As the stop on the restraint is for the neck of a yote or fox, not a deer. But this isn't a frequent occurrence. I'm not sure if New York allows restraints. I know they're legal in Wisconsin, Missouri & Pa. It's a different take on conventional traps. If you like to trap you'll probalbly like using restraints.

Great thread gentlemen. I think the wind causes them to bed down a little tighter. Usually downwind right below the crest of the hill. They can still see what's in front of them & it gives them a little protection from the wind which also lets them hear a little better. And also allows them to smell anything sneaking in from behind them. But in the same token all bets are off during the rut. When remnants Hurricane Sandy came through it rained for 5 straight days in SW Pa. It was a slaughter in the woods, if you were willing to brave the rain & wind. Between me & my 4 hunting buddies we got 4 NICE bucks during the downpour. Hope everyone has a great & safe season.

That sound of a pack of yotes screaming in the evening when you're climbing out of your tree stand is down right eerie! I'm about 45 miles SE of Pittsburgh & have been using Cable Restraints since it's been legal. Done quite well once you catch on to the tricks. Only got 2 my 1st year. But have increased it every year since then, ending with 11 last year. Nothing like outsmarting those damn dogs. Been seeing quite a few lately. Saw a Mum & her 2 pups out the other day. She was probably giving them a teaching lesson. Seen at least 6 or 7 in different areas. Does anyone else on this site use restraints to trap yotes? Once you get on to it it's really simple to set up. Pretty inexpensive also. For $60-$70 you can have everything you need to set a dozen restraints.

Appreciate the information. Good to know. Tight lines & B safe!

About 1/2 way down the article.

Here's a link to the site saying the launch MAY be closed. http://www.niagara-usa.com/things-to-do/fishing/fishing-report/

Looks like either a front racoon paw or possibly the rear paw of a groundhog. They're both about the same size. I figure either a trapper skinned a racoon & tossed the carcass in the lake or the same with a hunter after killing a groundhog.

Reelpower & Killians. I really appreciate the help. I sent a PM to you with my info. Hope we can share info & put a hurt on the salmon population! B safe!