Author Topic: Anyone else have a craptastic hunting season? (Read 2122 times)

dcnewyork · « **on:** December 10, 2007, 04:55:43 PM »

I spent 15 days in the field and only saw one doe (no doe tag, so I did not shoot). My hunting buddies had the same luck I did. Most of the guys I know who got anything jacked them off the side of the road after dark

. I guess sometimes cheaters really do win.

So today I went out with my muzzle loader and ended up seeing 5, but they were all just too far/too fast to get a shot through the thick stuff. As I was coming out of the woods I jumped up 3 more that were eating grass 20 yards from my tree stand (I did not climb it due to the inch of ice coating it), I could not in good concious shoot because by that time it was really dark. I don't know how the deer knew that regular rifle season was over, but someone must have told them.

If this season ends up being a bust I will probably hang up my tag, it really is becoming a waste of time and money. I used to enjoy hunting.....but I am starting to hate sitting in the woods and just sitting there seeing nothing and being pissed off. I really have much more important/worthwhile things that I could be doing, like going to work (making money instead of spending it) or even fixing stuff around the house. I think its better to just quit something which I have come to hate, than to take the easy way out and poach to fill a tag.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2007, 06:01:30 PM »

Saw a decent mule deer in Idaho, in a snow storm saw a huge mule deer but could not get off the horse or find the tracks as they were filling in fast. We saw steaming milk duds in the snow but no Elk. Other than that my Elk hunt in Idaho ended with a $1700 Snow shoe Rabbit. Including falling off the horse. It was better than sitting at home watching TV. I don't think there is such a thing as "craptastic" when it comes to hunting.
Even breaking my ankle the end of the first week of a two week hunt in Montana two years ago did not stop me from elk and bird hunting the next week. I went to the drug store got a brace and some alleive and screamed trying to get my foot in the boot every morning. Once the laces were tied I'd hobble about I had no choice but to still hunt and go real slow.
I leave for the Family farm on the 19 th to see if I can poke a hole in a deer for the parents freezer. With Jet lag and all napping in the woods is still better than going to the gun range let alone work.
Years when I have not gotten to go hunting, have had me in the back yard with the pellet rifle picking off mice and rats and thinking of Safari. Rats being cape buffalo and mice plains game. The occasional cotton tail in the garden a Kudu or Eland.
Turn in the others for poaching. Cheating should be punished!
You need to work on your still hunting skills. If your making good time your moving way too fast. 20 yards real slow and then look. Stand there for 10 min and then move the next 20 yards heel toe and roll your foot across the ground. Make as little noise as you can and look. If you can get a doe to look and you and stomp and go back to eating. Your moving slow enough. If the doe feels safe she will attract other deer.
The other way is to get comfortable and fall asleep. the little birds that are always on the ground making noise will start to fly off as deer approach. When you hear them fly open your eyes and slowly scan for movement.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2007, 02:38:41 AM »

I finished the gun season seeing only 2 does. I did not put in much time this year, bud did enjoy being in the field. Friends hunted a small area and saw 9 on opening day, and managed to hit a buck a week later, but lost it. They did not see a thing afterwards, and neither did I on that property the time that I hunted it, not even fresh tracks.

Saturday I was on a narrow piece of land between a major road and a body of water. I saw plenty of fresh tracks, deer and coyote, but nothing to shoot at (I would rather shoot a coyote than a deer).

Well, the muzzleloading season (NY) just started and I hope to get out at least 2 times.

It is easy to get discouraged, but I am not a really serious deer hunter, and just enjoy being out, although I would like to see something occasionally.

My son-in-law and his family (4 hunters) have a small parcel with a camp, and they filled their tags and saw a lot more.

nyhunter863 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2007, 03:12:40 AM »

I find it interesting how people get discouraged these days when they don't do too well and want to give it up right away. Years ago the hunting was much harder (way less deer) and people surely didn't get a deer every year, yet they kept hunting year in and year out. I think it's a sign of the times where people think things should come easy to them. Hunting was never supposed to be easy or else it would probably be called killing or shooting and NOT hunting. I think the toughest thing these days is to find some private land to hunt. If one is lucky enough to find some, I think one could be successful in just about all regions of the state. The most important thing is to put some time and effort into it. One could be lucky on open morning, but sometimes it takes an entire season to score. That is how I see it here and that is why I think we are losing so many hunters in NYS. It isn't the lack of deer, it's just that people in general want things easy and in hunting it just doesn't work that way.

dcnewyork · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2007, 12:24:25 PM »

Well now its been 16 days in the field, close to 100 wasted hours so far. I don't expect anything easy, I am just getting kind of bummed out by the fact that I have been hunting for 13 years now and have only shot once! I have only seen one deer that was able to be shot at, a little button buck which gave me about 20 pounds of meat. My father was never a hunter so I always had to do it by myself, so I never really got to have that experience with family and all.

I have 25 acres that I have built 4 stands on, cut shooting lanes, planted food plots; there are always new tracks in the morning but I never see them during the day. I practice my shooting religiously, read every hunting magazine I can get my hands on, but still have no success. My best friend has 280 acres with 7500 acres of state land out back, I have never even seen a deer there even though he takes 2-3 a year.

I really only got bummed about it when I did a cost benefit analysis. Land cost + taxes (for 10 years) + hunting equipment + work on land + time taken off work = 1 lousy deer/20 pounds of meat/no antlers on my wall + good/lucky hunters laughing at me (those venison steaks cost me about $1800 per pound).

I just look back and think I could have bought a really nice camp on a lake, or gone on some nice hunting trips out west. I have never gone on a real hunt, but would like to someday, I just cant afford to do both.

I will not just give up easy, I will be out in my stand tomorrow, and hopefully every day for the rest of the season. If I end up keeping all my tags I will have a difficult decision to make, I don't want to just quit, but when something stops being fun and I cannot justify the expense, it may just be time to toss in the towel.

ETA: I sat out in the rain all day today and saw nothing.

as far as "craptastic" season goes....that was kind of a misnomer....I meant craptastic hunting career

deltecs · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2007, 02:03:22 PM »

Well, I for one would much rather be out in the woods hunting deer than in an office or working for a living. The outdoor scenery is part of the total hunting experience whether you bag game or not. A misty morning with dew fog floating around your feet, the afternoon thunder showers soaking you to the bone, and my favorite, I'll just walk over that hill and meet you on the county line road in 2 hours. This right before I twisted around and discovered I'd been traveling in the wrong direction for most of the last 4 hours. Now the fun begins, major attempts to decide exactly where you are in the middle of the night and then using the compass you've carried for the trip is not to be believed. It isn't shooting the game, or cost effective meat, it is the life experiences and diversity that when older you'll remember with passion. The look of fellow hunters laughing at a missed shot, the camaraderie of like minded individuals, the craptastic hunting seasons, and the retelling of tall tales during the last hunt. I suggest reading a bit of Patrick F. McManus before any decision that you may later regret. I wish I'd hunted more, instead of working more.

Leatherstocking · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2007, 03:31:57 PM »

Quote

Well, I for one would much rather be out in the woods hunting deer than in an office or working for a living. The outdoor scenery is part of the total hunting experience whether you bag game or not. A misty morning with dew fog floating around your feet, the afternoon thunder showers soaking you to the bone, and my favorite, I'll just walk over that hill and meet you on the county line road in 2 hours. This right before I twisted around and discovered I'd been traveling in the wrong direction for most of the last 4 hours. Now the fun begins, major attempts to decide exactly where you are in the middle of the night and then using the compass you've carried for the trip is not to be believed. It isn't shooting the game, or cost effective meat, it is the life experiences and diversity that when older you'll remember with passion. The look of fellow hunters laughing at a missed shot, the camaraderie of like minded individuals, the craptastic hunting seasons, and the retelling of tall tales during the last hunt. I suggest reading a bit of Patrick F. McManus before any decision that you may later regret. I wish I'd hunted more, instead of working more.

Deltecs - Well said! I was thinking of a similar response, but you captured the essence of what I was thinking.

nyhunter863 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2007, 02:10:47 AM »

I really don't know what to tell you dcnewyork. What counties do you hunt in? If you go as far as plant food plots, I don't know why you aren't seeing any deer. I know a lot of hunters who never seem to see deer in areas where others do. Some hunters think that a deer will just materialize in front of them, but in many cases one has to look and listen carefuly to get to see them. They can sneak by you very easily if you are not alert. I have never considered myself some great hunter, yet I have only failed to take a deer once in the last 21 seasons. In many of these seasons I took both a buck and a doe. I do hunt on some private land but it's far from overrun with deer. When one sees a deer on the land I hunt, they pretty much better capitalize on it and bring it down because you might not see another one anytime soon. I think reading the magazines is pretty much a waste. I used to read them too until I realized that most of these articles pertain to regions that hold a heck of a lot MORE deer than most places in New York state. I wouldn't give up if I were you, I would just start to take things more lightly. My uncle used to think about the next deer season the minute the prior years season was over. I think that is a bad way to go about things. Then when he saw a deer the next season he got the shakes so bad that he missed it anyway! There is way more to life than killing a deer or hunting in general. I guarantee you when you start taking hunting less seriously things just might start to change for you!!

rebAL · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2007, 05:26:38 AM »

I don't wish bad luck on anyone but I hope NYS has such a poor harvest that they go back to the original Monday opener and begin an early muzzleloader season in southern tier. I got a deer but I have really lost my interest & motivation in hunting. Perhaps I'm getting too old, but hunting just isn't the same & it's getting hard to find a quiet place to hunt.

rimfire · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2007, 11:59:37 AM »

Please don't take offense...

You need to change something major about how you hunt.

Do you know where the deer bed and feed? Can you get to your stands without passing through either? Do you practice any scent control? Are the deer pressured much? If so, can you get to and hunt near the bedding areas without disturbing the deer that are using them?

These 5 questions above define the majority of deer hunting success in pressured areas during gun season in my opinion. I don't mean that your 25 acres have to be ridiculously pressured. If the general area sees a lot of pressure then this still applies.

str8shooter48 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2007, 12:34:26 PM »

Quote from: rebAL on December 12, 2007, 05:26:38 AM

I don't wish bad luck on anyone but I hope NYS has such a poor harvest that they go back to the original Monday opener and begin an early muzzleloader season in southern tier. I got a deer but I have really lost my interest & motivation in hunting. Perhaps I'm getting too old, but hunting just isn't the same & it's getting hard to find a quiet place to hunt.

Can't agree more.

Qtip · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2007, 04:06:29 PM »

I'll second the post on hunting over work! I love being in the Good Lord's creation. I have hunted the same area for 5 yrs. and saw GOOD bucks every year but could not get a decent shot so passed them up. This year could not hunt opening day; but got a nice 8 pt the second morning. Might post a pic or two later sometime. Just hang in there and enjoy the outdoors while waiting.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

.357 shooter · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2007, 09:51:01 PM »

RebAl:

I am confused about your statement. If the deer take is really low than there is not alot of deer. Then why would you want an early muzzleloader season for doe which is what the state proposed? I agree with the monday opener but what they should do is make the gun season a week long, one tag either sex. Heck it wouldn't even hurt to make it one tag either sex. Shorten all the seasons for a while and only allow you to use that one tag in the season of your choice gun, archery, muzzleloader, or even an early muzzleloader season if they want. One deer per year period. With the shortened seasons and one tag this would make everyone happy the meat hunter the hunter who does not trophy hunt and the trophy hunter. Because this would allow smaller bucks to live another day by the trophy hunters and the ones that got away. Plus not so many does would die. This would increase the age structure and deer population. The only people that would not be happy is the game hogs and of course the bowhunters. Which I am a bow hunter but the seasons are just to long.....Just My 2 cents...

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2007, 12:13:49 AM »

I HAVE TO SAY THE AREA AROUND HANCOCK NY ON THE MOUNTAIN WE HUNT THE HEARDS ARE STILL LIGHT .
i COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEC OPEN DOE TAGS THIS YEAR I HAD 2 TAGS FOR 4 W AND DUMP THEN IN THE TRASH CAN.
I SEEN A FEW DOES ON THE SECOND DAY BUT FROM THAT EVEN THE SAT: ON THE FIRST DAY TOTAL 5 SHOTS AND THE OPENING DAY WAS OVER.
I BEEN HUNTING N.Y.S FOR SOME 43 YEARS AND HAVE TAKEN WELL OVER 100 DEER OVER THE YEARS WITH BOW COMPOUND GUN AND FLINTLOCKS
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY YES I COULD OF FILLED MY DOE TAG THIS YEAR FOR WHAT KILL A DOE THIS YEAR AND LOOSE 3 MORE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR
I HAD HUNTING CABINS UP NEAR ROSCOE 28 YEARS AND OWNED A CABIN IN PA :DEER ALL THE DEER YOU WANT BUT YOU ALWAYS GOT TO SEE ONE OR KICK ONE
TODAY IN THE WOODS THE HEARDS ARE GONE THE ONE ON ONE PARTY PERMIT IN THE 80'S AND 90'S TOOK THE HEARDS
PA ALSO NORTH EAST PART DEER ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN

sprest22 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 14, 2007, 01:34:18 AM »

I had a "craptastic" hunting season.It was not to due to the deer numbers,even though I think they are low compared to years past,or the Sat. opener,which I don't really like,but due to other hunters.I was fortunate to take my first deer with a bow this year,a very nice 6 point on the opener of gun season too.I think the other so called "hunters" aka poachers,trespassers,... that ruined it.I have a few spots to hunt and on one that I have been hunting for years, a relative of the owner got jealous that I took and deer and started whining to the owner not to let anyone else but him and his crew hunt there.Don't really want to hunt there with a rookie hunter who knows it all anyway,chidish.Also going into the woods on private property and getting up early only to get ther and see trespassers in your spots..what in the world.The so called hunters I see around here are what ruin the season and give hunting and hunters a bad name and they are the poster children for the antis,half of them probably aren't supposed to even posses a firearm or are half in the bag out in the woods.I believe DEC should step up and and enforce some of their laws and maybe some of the B.S. will stop.Rant over.

nyhunter863 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 14, 2007, 05:23:10 AM »

This is why hunting in NY is slowly but surely dying and it has nothing to do with the anti's! Just too many hunters get p***'d off about too many things and then they just hang it up and quit. It's really sad. Just too much jealousy, greed, complaining and competitiveness in the sport in my honest opinion. Everyone wants everything for themselves and everyone thinks the other guy is a crook. Not like everyone out there who hunts is an angel, but hunters really need to cut the bickering and concentrate more on just enjoying the outdoors. No other outdoor pastime has the nonsense that hunting has. Hunters really need a reality check and maybe check out their ego problems at the same time!

dcnewyork · « **Reply #16 on:** December 14, 2007, 03:17:18 PM »

My little plot of land is located between a few corn fields and a large tract of pine trees. There is a fairly deep creek running along two of my boarders. The deer cross my property every NIGHT, They place looks like an interstate highway runs through the middle of it. the problem is that they really only travel through at night time (although they are all over during the day as soon as season is over). If I was willing to shoot a little after legal light I would be able to get all I want, but I cant bring myself to do that.
Its very very very rare that deer happens to come through during the daytime, obviously none have come through during the 100+ hours I have spent there, but its always a possibility. I use scent neutralizer and cover scent, Its just that the deer do not realize that the state requires me to hunt according to a fairly strict schedule.

I think my season has been cut short anyway, I slipped on a patch of ice yesterday, and my face bounced off my driveway. Broke my nose, put my tooth through my upper lip, split my eyebrow (4 stitches), and knocked my self out for a little while (it was weird after I went back inside I did not know anything was wrong, until I realized that I could not read, that was very odd, I actually did not remember how to read I could recognize letters but not make out words). The doctor told me its probably not the best idea to be climbing up into a tree stand for a little while. Not to mention that I broke my glasses and am basicly blind now.

At least I tried; I gave it all I had, it was just not enough.

Gregory · « **Reply #17 on:** December 14, 2007, 04:49:14 PM »

I started deer hunting at the age of 14, in NJ. Grew up in a non hunting family so I had to learn a little bit year by year on my own. Took my first deer at the age of 28, after moving to upstate NY (Ulster Co in 1980). I enjoyed just being in the outdoors for those 14 yrs just learning and seeing deer. If I measured success by the number of deer I'd killed in those early years, I'd probably would have hung it up too.
I've been very successful, if measured by deer killed, in that I've filled my tag just about every year I've hunted since 1984. Most of the success is in being able to hunt productive private property.
After being away from NY for the last 17 yrs (and enjoying hunting success in Indiana and Illinois) I came back to Ulster Co this year and took a six point on an old friends property, he took a bear. It would have a been just as good had we not tagged anything, just spending time hunting with an old friend was worth it.

bulzaye · « **Reply #18 on:** December 15, 2007, 07:42:20 AM »

I dont know but if i knew guys who were hunting illegally by jacking after dark, I would turn them in. Cheaters do not win if you do the right thing. Every deer they jack takes one away from a hunter who is trying to do it legally and ehtically. Plus if you put the emphasis of winning on a hunt by harvesting a deer, you are mising the whole premise of hunting. If deer hunting is such a chore to you and you are truly not enjoying it, why would you even do it. Dont get me wrong I do no twant to lose another hunter. To me there is nothing like being in the woods enjoying nature and the solitude of being there. If I get a deer it is a bonus, if I dont I am still ahead of the game just by being out there. So, relax and enjoy the hunting experience for what it is. It is a waste of time to read magazines and watch hunting shows as they portray fantasy hunts and not reality. It is rarely like it shows on tv and they do not tell you how many hours of film and days in the woods it takes to get that one shot. They make it look like they sit down wait 5 minutes and bang. I have hunted for years and when I started if you saw 2 deer in a season you were a hunter. But i continued to go every year. I hunt in the northern zone and have been successful. What are you planting for food plots? You seem to be in a transition place and need something to keep the deer there rather than just travel through. I would dare say that I have honestly taken a few deer from the end of legal shooting times and actual dark. I do not know many hunters who stare at their watches and give up at the end of legal shooting hours. Just my opinion but you need to hang in there and start hunting for the whole experience. I had an uncle who hunted as long as I can remember and I am 49 next weekend. He passed away about 8 years ago at the age of 81. He never shot a deer in his entire life but he was still out there. So, you are one up on him, in that aspect, but he was sure ahead of you in enjoying hunting. Statistically in NY 1 in 3 hunters is successful, so, dont think you are the only guy who didnt or hasnt gotten a deer. I hunt a lot of private land and state land too. I did get a 6 point this year during the early muzzleloading season. That is the first deer I have gotten in 3 years. I had opportunities after that, but passed because I was spending time helping others I hunt with try to get a deer who have never been successful such as my 16 year old nephew and a friend of the family who is in her earely 40's. They did not get one either. If you would like to come and spend a weekend and hunt where I hunt with me I can pretty much guarantee you will see deer and get a shot as long as you can sit still and be patient. You can stay at my camp with me so all you need to do is get here. I live in cny but hunt mostly is St Law county at my families spot in area 6a. I am there every weekend from the last of september to the first weekend in december

dcnewyork · « **Reply #19 on:** December 15, 2007, 09:58:45 AM »

Hey thanks for all the great replies, I am sorry for sounding like a whiner. I was going to go out this morning for the first time after my little slip and fall, but as soon as I started walking out through the field and the blood started to pump a little I started feeling the throb in my eye, and the cold air rushing past my broken nose was just a little too much too soon (I decided to forgo the vicodin since I had a gun), I probably could have dealt with that but the kicker was the frozen air rushing across my now loose tooth. I turned around and just went home and laid back down on my couch.

Now that I am all busted up and can't really go hunting I feel even worse than I did about not seeing deer! I am going to get rested up as good as possible tonight and try again tomorrow (last day of my season, I have to go to work on monday) wish me luck!

bulzaye · « **Reply #20 on:** December 15, 2007, 12:22:26 PM »

It didnt sound like whining to me but more like frustration and questioning your abilities. Hang in there it will get better. One of these times out it will be well worth your while.

Leatherstocking · « **Reply #21 on:** December 15, 2007, 01:34:33 PM »

Quote

I am confused about your statement. If the deer take is really low than there is not alot of deer. Then why would you want an early muzzleloader season for doe which is what the state proposed? I agree with the monday opener but what they should do is make the gun season a week long, one tag either sex. Heck it wouldn't even hurt to make it one tag either sex. Shorten all the seasons for a while and only allow you to use that one tag in the season of your choice gun, archery, muzzleloader, or even an early muzzleloader season if they want. One deer per year period. With the shortened seasons and one tag this would make everyone happy the meat hunter the hunter who does not trophy hunt and the trophy hunter. Because this would allow smaller bucks to live another day by the trophy hunters and the ones that got away. Plus not so many does would die. This would increase the age structure and deer population. The only people that would not be happy is the game hogs and of course the bowhunters. Which I am a bow hunter but the seasons are just to long.....Just My 2 cents...

I was also a bit confused about RebAl's statement, but I am not sure I agree with the shortened seasons - for two reasons - recreational opportunity would be decreased (although my wife would probably be happier to see a shorter season!). And two, with shorter seasons, I think more folks would be likely to take the "if it's brown it's down" approach and be less selective on what they fill their tag with. I don't like shooting spikes, but if the season was only a week long and a spike came by, I might be tempted to take it knowing that is might be the only deer I have a chance at in such a short season. Instead of one tag either sex, how about one buck tag per person per year. That way, guys would be very selective on what they use that tag on and perhaps lots more little bucks would be getting older.

bulzaye · « **Reply #22 on:** December 15, 2007, 03:07:03 PM »

I guess I dont get the difference it makes whether a season starts on monday or saturday. The same deer are still there regardless. The guys who are off on saturday will hunt and when it was monday, they took it off anyway. In the north the season has started on a saturday for many years and we all seem to survive and get a deer. Compared to us you guys in the south have a short season as it is now. Ours starts with archery on 9/27 and ended on 12/2. Not only will guys do the brown is down mode on a shorter season, it will also increase the accidents for guys trying to pop anything in case they are only going to see that one deer more people will get shot.

Meatball · « **Reply #23 on:** December 16, 2007, 07:43:25 AM »

I guess that I could say that I've never had a craptastic hunting season. Sure I have had a couple of seasons that I didn't take a deer but I wouldn't call them craptastic. To me the best part of the season is being in the woods. It is always a plus to take a deer or two to fill the freezer and it definitely helps save a little money with the cost of store bought meat these days. But to me nothing compares to sitting in my stand watching the sun come up as it gets light or sitting there watching some of the most beautiful sunsets imaginable and that applies to any hunting I do not necessarly deer.

This year started off alot slower than past years but I stuck it out and did fill my tags with a large doe and a spike buck (would have had more points if the dummy had learned not to break them off). I hunted every day of the regular season except for 4 days and everyday of muzzle loader so far. Not to mention all the time I spent in the woods during bow. Now that there is meat in the freezer it is all about the pure enjoyment of hunting to me. I'm not sure about some of you other guys that haven't been seeing deer because they are plentiful around here. I always try to be a little selective when hunting. I don't go by the "if it's brown it's down theory". A couple of days ago I passed on 2 button bucks that came within 20 yards of me. An easy shot for the muzzle loader but this way I know that I have a very good chance of having 2 more bucks around here next year.

I can see why some guys get depressed and are ready to give up but you just need to look past the fact that your not getting a deer. You need to ask yourself why your hunting. If the answer is just to kill a deer than in my opinion you've already got the wrong idea about hunting. The reasons that I hunt have all pretty much been covered by the other posts, the camaraderie, the bond with nature, the sights, the sounds, the smells, and above all the chance to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and work. To me it also means tradition. A family tradition that has been going on throughout my whole family history. My most memorable hunts weren't the ones when I filled my tags but the ones spent in the woods with my father or grandfather. And the most recent ones are the hunts that I get to take the kids with me.

Dc as far as your father not being a hunter there are some ways around that to learn. Read all you can but don't expect a book to teach you everything. I've been reading about all kinds of hunting for as long as I can remember and have learned alot but have yet to read a book that tells me exactly how to hunt in the woods or fields that I hunt in. Perhaps there are some guys or gals at work that are pretty knowledgeable about hunting. I belong to a shooting club and we always welcome new members and offer to help them in any way possible. Also don't be afraid to expand your hunting areas. I do quite well and I only own 9 acres. Yes I have permission to hunt a few hundred acres around me but I also don't over look public lands. In fact my largest buck and doe were both taken on state game land. Quite often around here at least the state lands get a fair amount of pressure the first few days and then nothing. Within a week the deer are back to their normal routines. Also when there is snow and the city folks come down here you can follow their footprints and find that they usually don't go much more than 50 yards into the woods and stop. Don't be afraid to get in there aways, of course use common sense, carry a compass and gps and be sure to look at topo maps before you go. Familiarize yourself with the area before season by scouting. State Lands are always there for us to use, we might as well take advantage of one of the few things New York lets us use for free (at least for now).

Well I'll get off my soap box now and apologize if I offended anyone and for my rambling on. Remember these are just my opinions and and suggestions do with them what you will.

Meatball

rebAL · « **Reply #24 on:** December 17, 2007, 04:38:43 AM »

My statement has more to do with the quality & enjoyment of solo deer hunting rather than quantity of deer. The sat. opener combined with Thanksgiving week resulted in too many hunters during peak rut spoiling things for traditional solo hunters. An early muzzleloader season would give those still-hunters & solo hunters a chance to fill their tags before they had to compete with the hoards of drivers & yahoos. Same with Monday opener. You;re correct in the fact that it would make no difference to NYS unless it resulted in fewer licenses being sold. I chose not to hunt during the peak rut because I don't enjoy being in the woods & fields under high-pressure hunting.

Leatherstocking · « **Reply #25 on:** December 17, 2007, 03:32:05 PM »

Quote

An early muzzleloader season would give those still-hunters & solo hunters a chance to fill their tags before they had to compete with the hoards of drivers & yahoos. Same with Monday opener. You;re correct in the fact that it would make no difference to NYS unless it resulted in fewer licenses being sold. I chose not to hunt during the peak rut because I don't enjoy being in the woods & fields under high-pressure hunting.

rebAl - I agree with ya' - I don't enjoy the gun season so much anymore, mostly for the same reason, namely that there are so many guys in the woods and I am hunting spooked deer (although there are less hunters than there were years ago, but that's another thread). Anyway, it is for those reasons that I love hunting with the bow more than anything and now am bummed when the gun season begins. However, it is what it is. I fear that if there were an early ML season in the southern zone, it would simply move up the hunting pressure to an earlier date because with modern in-lines everyone would own one and be out there; thereby eliminating what you perceive as an opportunity to still hunt and solo hunt unpressured deer..... JMHO

rebAL · « **Reply #26 on:** December 18, 2007, 02:40:03 AM »

I agree; That's one reason I kept my old Renegade side-lock even though I also have an in-line. Modern in-lines may be a reason why NY has not instituted an early muzzle-loader season. Making it a traditional muzzle-loader season would be fine with me. Other western states have similar regulations.

str8shooter48 · « **Reply #27 on:** December 18, 2007, 04:05:11 AM »

Quote from: rebAL on December 18, 2007, 02:40:03 AM

I agree; That's one reason I kept my old Renegade side-lock even though I also have an in-line. Modern in-lines may be a reason why NY has not instituted an early muzzle-loader season. Making it a traditional muzzle-loader season would be fine with me. Other western states have similar regulations.

Yes sir, that's the ticket. I too have a Renegade sitting in the right rear corner of my safe. A "traditional only" early season would work for me too.

youthpastorjon · « **Reply #28 on:** December 18, 2007, 05:26:57 AM »

I got a buck during bow season. I have seen a few deer here and there but not killing one does not make for a poor gun season. Any time I see an animal I consider the hunt a success. In fact whenever I see wildlife in general I consider it a success. I have seen some cool stuff this year including a bear. Just to have the opportunity to sit out in the stand with my bow or Rifle is a success.

The beauty of God's creation can be quite a bit more exciting than killing a deer. I don't hunt just because I enjoy killing.

bulzaye · « **Reply #29 on:** December 19, 2007, 12:03:48 PM »

know what I find funny about the whole thing? In the northern zone we have an early bow season that starts 9/27. During that time we also have an early muzzleloading season for a week and regular season starts the third weekend of october. it goes until the first weekend of december then we have another week of muzzleloading. I have killed more deer in mid to late november when the rut is on. The deer pressure thing to me is non existant. I hunt state land and see a smany deer later in season than in early and they will move in the rut regardless. to me it simply sounds like "it is different than it always has been so it cant be good." Parts of NY do have an early muzzleloading season and w euse inlines too