Chas0218

Can't wait to share some moments like this when I have some kids. Being a middle school teacher and seeing a lot these kids just starting hunting and coming in to share their stories from over the weekend is awesome. Seeing this and hearing stories from my students, I know there are a few parents out there raising their kids right. When is too young to buy them their first gun, I'm guessing in the womb is still a little young...

I started big game hunting when I was 14 with a bow. Since I have been hooked. I remember going out with my father when I was young maybe 5 or 6. We would sit for hours, him telling me to sit still or we won't see anything. Those were the days. Generally we always shot bucks around 8 points we had a 8 point rule on our property, other years it was a doe but either way they were some great memories. Looking back I remember the way things were when you actually had stamps that you had to sign across. I was able to buy a super sportsman for $41! Looking at the way things are now I feel like some things would have been better unchanged. I mean some changes were for the good others not so much.

I sat soybeans on Saturday had 5 doe and 1 button buck, they came out late almost dark. Looking forward to seeing some big boys. I am willing to bet the early does will be hot this coming weekend. I bet they will start chasing hard 25th/26th weekend.

Nice I have a Eskimo, love it. My buddies is a jiffy that thing is heavy at least 5-8 pounds difference. Lots of people don't think that it's much but when you pull the sled by hand and by yourself you'll be happy it's lighter. Sent from my thinking chair...

I have seen mostly does, 3 this morning with a small buck, 5 tonight with a button buck. Bachelor groups are splitting up so you know what that means! What are your guys rut predictions when will it start. I'm thinking this coming weekend into the following. Sent from my thinking chair...

Yeah on stand this morning I saw 1 small buck 2 doe and a fawn. I'm planning on sitting in a different location tonight hopefully there are a few bigger deer over there. Sent from my thinking chair...

I see a lot of good points, the other thing that could benefit from the antler restrictions is bringing more people to NY to hunt! Look at Ohio, Kansas, Illinois I have friends that take off from work/work seasonal jobs just so they can hunt "World Class deer" in other states. I mean if we had hunting that compared to the big buck states there would be a ton more revenue for the state plus better herd management. I work with a guy that hunts, lives, and owns property in PA and he was completely against antler restrictions but they passed it anyway. He said the first year of hunting there were few bucks shot but many doe (which balanced the herds). The quality of the bucks AND does increased not to mention when you sit in the stand and pass on 120 class bucks knowing there are many more larger deer. I don't see it as a pissing contest it's no more than someone catching a big fish. If you see it as those are "your deer" then more likely than not you are probably the same guy that ****es about someone fishing "your spot" on the lake.

Yeah I have the same philosophy but only because my wife said it has to be bigger than the last to go on the wall...

Kind of what I meant. But that guy you are referring too probably mentions he saw __ doe but saw this buck behind them or whatever. My opinion is that that guy still had to spend the money on the gun, clothes, ammo. That all adds up, with that money the guy probably could have bough half a cow. Does this guy butcher his own deer? If so he could cut the half a cow into what he needs. If not then there goes another $50-$70. Like any sport it costs money and feeding the family from hunting isn't that feasible anymore. Now there are exceptions to everything but for the most part in todays society it takes a long time to make back the money invested. If these so called "meat hunters" are truly meat hunting then they would shoot whatever gives them the first opportunity which isn't the case with most people. I want to add I am in no way attacking your friend or any one person. I'm just calling a spade a spade.

It's a double edged sword. I feel if you can afford to hunt now a days your family isn't starving lets admit hunting is just as expensive if not more than fishing. The argument that it is cheaper is bull and you all know it, the only time it maybe cheaper is when you have invested close to $1000 as the "start up fee". I feel there should be antler restrictions and if that one guy wants to hunt for meat kill a doe. I don't understand these "meat hunters" that insist on killing young bucks. A mature doe will give you 20lbs. more meat than any spike or young buck not to mention there are more of them and need to be thinned in most areas. I hunt 3 different areas ranging in hunting pressure from high to low. In the high pressure area I see nice deer but give them a pass hoping there might be something nicer later on knowing 100% of the deer I pass on in that area will get shot come gun season. But that is the choice I make.

I would have shot it! That makes 125" no problem. Great job!

Good deal, Real nice doe!

I had something growl at me on my way out Sat. evening. I sat in stand longer than usual because I had a skippy buck only 10 yards from me feeding on the acorns. I get out as it's almost dark and start my usual exit plan then I heard this throaty growl. I just carried on and said it was probably just my pack, then it happened again a little louder. So I picked up the pace and scanned with my headlamp, I couldn't see eyes or anything moving but on the third one I damn near ran down the hill. It might have been a buck or the 500lbs. black bear my buddy and I have on our game cams. Either way I didn't like it.

Same happened to me last night, 2 Mature doe came thru and a couple small bucks were right on them. Still haven't got any photos of anything worth shooting. Sent from my thinking chair...

Food for thought. Use a track just in front of the cup holders. Gain access underneath by removing the cup holders and use the rod locker to get at the rest.