Shotguns Seasons Over How was the Deer Take in Your Area?

[Rwalter63]

Hello Everyone,

Shotgun season is now officially over here in NY. So how did everyone fair and what have you heard about the deer take in your region. Please identify your hunting region when responding. I hunt in the Western New York area, primarily region 9. I got a doe opening day and saw 11 deer that day in DMU 9R. After opening day I went hunting 8 more times in the following DMU's 9A, 9W and 9R and only saw three more deer. I am looking forward to getting back out for the muzzleloading season this weekend. From everyone I have talked to it sounds like the deer take will be down significantly this year. I have few friends who have gotten deer but not nearly as many as the last few years. So whats your story this year?

[Daveinthebush]

I took a doe with the bow on the 19th and then a 8 point on opening day of shotgun at nine yards.  I passed on a 4 point an hour latter staring at the blood of the first buck.  I did not want to fill my sons tag on opening day.  I then, stupid me (forgot to eject the empty case) missed a doe latter on opening day at ten yards.

Saw nothing after that but only hunted three more days.

[crazyjjk]

Talked to three deer butchering shops in Tioga County. All said they were down about 50%. This could be due to a lot of factors but some of it has to be related to a lesser deer take in this area.

[ou812]

I took a small racked seven pointer during bow season in region 8h.
I've only been out a couple of times during shotgun. Saw three big does and a lot of sign yesterday in region 7M. I'm getting ready to go back there now with the smokepole.

Most of the people I work with are hunters and they are all saying the same thing. They have seen very few deer this season.  Only one other person out of about ten guys from work has taken a deer of any kind this year.


Regards,
OU812

[Trickyasafox]

dad filled 5 tags

[Raging480]

I got a doe with the bow in Oct, and a doe in 8F on opening day with my Desert Eagle.  I haven't seen a lot of deer this year, but I did pass up some small bucks during bow season.
A friend and fellow forum member and I have exclusive rights to hunt a property that has about 80 acres of woods.  We are careful where we hunt here, because there are houses on two sides of the property, and we usually only use bows and handguns.  He found some deer hair, and three empty shotgun slugs near a stand that we have. :evil:  :evil: Darn poachers ruining our spot!!  We were careful here, because there weren't THAT many deer there in the first place.  Real nice, huh?
His brother, downstate, filled several tags, and I know a guy in western NY who also filled 7 tags, but most hunters I know are complaining about lack of deer sightings.

[Mikey]

Not so hot down in 4A, or 40, whatever Schenectady County is.  Of the four in our party, only one was successful and the bugger got himself a 6 point, filled a Doe tag and bammed a coyote.  He's my 25 yera hunting buddy's oldest son.  My buddy and I bought him a new 870 for a college graduation present, scoped it, sighted it in and slung it, and set him up right.  He did the rest and we were all proud of him for some of the shots he made.  

Now, next year it might be my turn.................. Mikey.

[Will_C]

I'm from Tioga County (Region 7?) and down 50% seems to be the consensus. A good friend is one of the largest deer hide buyers locally, and he usually averages 800 hides a year. As of Friday, when I dropped off a hide, he had about 400 and expects maybe another 50 to trickle in.
Will

[bing]

Mery CHRISTmas /Happy Holidays to Y-All
3-J produced a nice 159#  5pt & doe on opening day for me,1 of 2 permits filled.
I live 2+ hrs away and after 6 more times thats all I shot , I saw more deer but they were with fawns or yearlings themselves and I really only need 1 per year anyway. live and let live till they grow up!

[Tom H.]

I hunted 2 locations in NY this year.  Sterling Forest  (3P) and putnam Valley (3M)  In the 2 times I hunted Sterling, none of us saw any deer but we did come across some fairly fresh sign.  We also found a doe that had been shot, gutted, and left (!?)
She had been there for about a week from the looks of things and was basically untouched.  It wasn't until this weekend that we went back and found the hind quarters ripped up by coyotes.

In putnam, I picked up a buck opening day (only deer I saw, but lots of shooting) My friend  picked up a 4.
Got out this afternoon and was in does in about 20 minutes.  Took a nice doe (about 110'-120') with my .58 flintlock at 130yds.  The gun certainly shoots. Thankfully I had a rock wall to rest it on  :wink:

Time to get back out after the grouse  and maybe knock the Yotes back a bit.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Tom

[trldad]

Raging 480
I am spencers bro
Take was way down in our area as far as Bucks were concerned.  I am in zone 3M, Orange county.  Out of 10 guys I go hunting with only 3 bucks were taken and a 4 pointer won the buck pool.  Does were all over the place.  On one day doing a deer drive over 60 deer were seen of which only 4 or 5 were bucks.  I spent a lot of time in the woods and I am happy with the season.  Stalked a 4 pointer with the bow and took 7 does on management permits so my freezer is full.  Passed on 5 or 6 small bucks (spikes 3's, and 4's).  During Rifle season I Shoot only 6's or better.  Spent 2 weeks looking for a monster 8 that hangs out in an area that is being developed for houses this coming year.  I SAW HIM for all of about 1 second.  Too bad I never had a chance.  With houses going in I may never get it again.  Article in the local paper says taxidermist mounts down over 40% due to the bad season.  Weather, bad winter, coyotes, bears, who knows?