From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Anybody hunting this week in NY or surrounding states? The weather is perfect for it. Yesterday, very very close to two big deer but their tracks went onto someone's yard. Just missed seeing them when they came through my hideout. Tracks were almost steaming. Today, its very cold, no packy snow, but its still coming down. How about these conditions?
|
|
From: George D. Stout
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
"Yesterday, very very close to two big deer but their tracks went onto someone's yard."
So you're hunting a subdivision? ))))
|
|
From: PEARL DRUMS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Good luck Calvin. You'd look better in that picture with a real bow in hand :)
Maybe next season!
|
|
From: ny yankee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
What would a "real bow" be?
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
yep, we've got some huntin' weather here now. I'm glad to see you're out after them, good luck buddy.
|
|
From: Bxrecurve15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Il be in the woods in Westchester until December 31.
|
|
From: PEARL DRUMS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
A self bow. Its an inside joke, relax.
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
I'm trying to get permission myself to sit in my buddys garage in the sub-division in NJ. its baited well waiting on the call the big one has showed up? I asked him to have heater turned up and frige full of drinks and have breakfast and lunch for me that I'd take them out for dinner. He asked anything else well yeah clean sheets on my bed and then have your knife sharp. I get the VIP treatment. I told him to send his Grand mom out of town though because she hit on me a couple weeks ago. Probably 100 deer there yarded now he said. Couldn't get the shot on the big one couple weeks ago he was in among does and no does are allowed but 1 and I got one early season so I can't shoot through a doe to kill him either and that could happen they stand so close in on the bait.
He is mystic deer and knows when the Cats in town on him.LOL
He said he's seen the white one I been after this year also along with the other pie bald.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Good luck to you too, Bxrecurve.
Chris and Cal, I'm hoping to be shooting a "real bow" next season too, lol.
|
|
From: George D. Stout
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Gotta wait till Dec. 26th here for our late season for deer. Supposed to get a few inches of snow tonight...only have a dusting from that first go-round. I haven't had much of a chance the past few years to take snow pictures.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Thanks PEARL.. I hope to get after that HHB right after season, next week. I was kinda waiting for that beaver to finish cutting it down.. :) The DM is frowning at you right now though.. ;) Cat, Since you have all the amenities, I'd ask him to set you up a tripod and trail cam, so you can show us what that mystic buck looks like, plus I'd like to see the white one and piebald one. You could actually sit and wait and get a real pic with your expensive camera that they fix you up with, maybe put it right next to the bed and you can get a late night pic of it as your are falling asleep in a drunken stupor after drinks... ;) George, LOL...this area across the road from home is approx. 3 sections (sq. miles) of thick and varied habitat including hemlocks, cedar swamps, dogwood (and doghair) thickets, open hardwoods, and thick tangles of vines, small hummocks with lots of young beech still retaining their leaves, etc. and totally unroaded, and did I mention swamps? This is county land (not posted, public hunting allowed) is bordered by a heavily traveled main state highway, our road (sporadic traffic), and two moderately traveled county roads. Trouble is, the biggest and smartest deer in there (the place is very well populated with deer), like to hold out as close to the houses along the state highway, in the thickest doghair dogwood and berry bushes, goldenrod fields, as they can, since they know they are 'safe'. So these two bucks in particular, hang right next to the houses. They eat lawngrass, feed on landscape shrubbery including cedar bushes (they destroyed mine last winter), raid bird feeders, and hide out in the swamp next to the road. I can not come out into the yards unfortunately. I get real close though... :))) Bob, thanks, I hope to at least get one more shot at any adult deer this season. :) I might go back up to Waterville again too. yankee, that is my very real Rocky Miller Deathmaster...61# @ 29" and a nail driver. I just need one more shot this year..to be happiest! Then next year I would be taking out my newly finished selfbow...
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
We are heavy in snow now, upwards of 2 feet, and there is no better time to get after em, in my opinion. Hit the old apple trees, beech ridges, standing corn, if there is any. the imprinted deer remember the apples even if there are none to be found. Love getting on a track and finding a lone buck or doe curled up in a hedgerow, out of the wind..slipped arrows into a few of them that way over the years. I will be out there friday thru Monday, but wish we didn't have to share the woods with the muzzleloader guys..altho I muzzleload hunt too..best of luck, it can be done!
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
All that ground cover sends my little birds south the woodcocks can't wait next 2 weeks they will be stacked up in Cape May before they try to cross Delaware bay.
All your upper ground cover has sent the snow owls south to NJ also they are showing up said they had a good breeding season the birders so now they come south to vacation. LOL
Beautiful birds to see.
|
|
From: Buckdancer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Going out for the winter season in January here in jersey . New spot up at Stokes . Will see what happens ?
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Good luck to all you late hunters... (including me...LOL!) TK
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Late waskly wabbit goes until the end of Feb. I have seen very few or none actually rabbits this season. Not even any wabbit twacks. But there are a zillion fat gray squirrels everywhere I go. Grouse goes till then too, and I've seen quite a few of those this year.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Ralph, Snowshoe hare season runs through mid March in the northern zone, too.
I don't see many rabbits here the past several years either, Cal. I see more coyote tracks than anything else.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
The coyotes are everywhere. I jumped two of them last weekend, heard them go. I was probably 15 yards from them when they realized I was in there stalking. It was in the same spot as I called in the young 6 pt. Almost every night there are two packs of them, one on either side of the road, sounding off close to the house. I have also seen dozens literally of sets of fisher tracks, and one adult male fisher in the woods across the road. The rabbit numbers are hurting though. Turkeys are coming back strong. Nine toms flew up into roost trees last evening as I stood on watch waiting for those two deer.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Cal, I admire your dedication. It's snowing like heck and the wind's blowing hard enough up here on the mountain, that I can't see to the road half the time.
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Heres a couple been hoping to get on and have been close but no shot opportunity on 2 of the big 8's they came in and stood under me in the dark a couple times and couldn't see to get an arrow in them. The 12 been dancing with also from stand to stand. I've turned down over 30 bucks this season between Pa. and NJ. so far just not the ones I wanted to kill. Next year a couple should be nice ones. I don't need any more racks laying around unless they are good ones then I don't need any more mounts either unless P and Y.
Been a tuff year for me this year with one thing after another that could go wrong but been healthy enough to hunt hard that's been a good thing for me. Plenty of meat from 4 does taken and 1 turkey but as for bones its been my choice whats getting killed. Frustrated at some things though. One of the deer we wanted to shoot standing at my stand the camera took his picture.Wanted to shoot this big 6 pt and here his is the day I was in a different stand.LOL Figures my luck.LOL
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
I gotta get up there - perfect stalking weather!!! Find their hour old tracks, follow 'em to the State land pine plantations, or some thick old thorn apple hollow, and then stand wait on the edge next to a snow covered bush until they have to come out and eat... they walk right by at 10 yd, and oooh, baby..... the bp is going up just thinking about it. :)
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Haven't even been seeing any rabbits have to clean out the foxs and yottes.
These deer all still living around the houses and getting feed. I have 6 stands but think its to cold for me to hunt the stands and might just hunt the ground so I can walk around and stay warmer. LOL
Be out Friday and maybe duck hunt Saturday have to wait and see.
|
|
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Came close to dieing all these animals just not yet.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Nice young ones Cat, good on ya letting them grow another year. Myself, though, with my lack of kills with bow, they'd all be as good as dead.
|
|
From: GUTPILE PA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
What the ham you call that kind of hunting looks like there pen up Really!!!!
|
|
From: SB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
We don't hunt "yard" deer around here!
|
|
From: George D. Stout
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Over 30 bucks turned down? Well, alrighty then.
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
When you see 1 or 7 bucks per stand how many stands does it take to get to 30 George. I turned down probably more than that now that I think about it. No I didn't turn down any of these deer shown pictures of they just din't provide the right shot angle to be comfortable with or came in on me in the dark before I climbed down. I'm counting spikes and 4 points and small 6 and 8 points and small ones all got passed. If its not over 16 inch just not killing the animal at least don't want to unless its tall and heavy. I'll just shoot a doe like I have for meat so why take the small buck just because I can to say I shot a buck?
Seen some really big 5 and 7 points this season that got passed that should be really nice next season. Plus I have a 6 pt rule nothing dies under that.
We will only let a youth shoot less or a person who never shot a buck before shoot a lesser buck. No broken racks either no matter how big they might be either heavy weight or the One side of the rack that's a big one.
And now they are losing racks they are looked over really well to verify if they are possibly a buck then they won't get shot as a doe. Nothing to me is worth shooting a deer in the winter season and you roll him over and surprise he's got balls. LOL
Oh know what if he was one of the ones we were managing a nice buck that's pretty disappointing to say the least to me.
The smaller does get shot winter season or fawns and no buttons either. Sure there's some mistakes made at times but at least we try to manage what we can.
Most of you don't even know what yard deer are. Could be 100 acres between 3 houses if you want to call that a yard deer ok then. LOL
Are you even hunting your just talking now?LOL
You guys who don't shoot deer or are not out there hunting them and figuring them out just don't understand. I get that too. LOL
|
|
From: Pappy 1952
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Looks cold, the weather is cold here in TN. But nothing like that. We are lucky if we get to hunt in 1 snow a year and it usually don't last long. I do love it though when it happens. Cat I guess if I seen 1 to 7 buck each time in the stand and could kill a doe anytime as you seem to be able to I would pass some also, just not the case where I hunt or maybe I just ant a very good hunter, either way don't may get a pass for me if they get in range. Pappy
|
|
From: woodshavins
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
I really enjoy going during late season here. Love the winter woods! Best part, to me, is rabbit hunting! Can't wait for Carcajou to start posting some of those big snowshoes from Tug Hill! I'd consider a winter home there:-)
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Pappy, yesterday wasn't that cold, 32f, and the snow was still kinda packy, perfect for tracking. Today is was colder and I had only an hour to get to my spot and hunt it. So I was pushing it getting in, and jumped 6 deer in the deep timber before I got to their day bed sanctuary. They are up feeding all day now and were in the beeches scratching for beechnuts. They went back into the doghair thicket closeto the road and I had to give up due to it getting darker.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
I headed back toward the spot I took the pic yesterday and found the turkeys again, and they were scratching too.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
I heard some feather rustling, looked up and saw 9 birds slightly avitated by the 'white' guy below, but not spooked enough to fly off.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Today and tomorrow much colder, but that keeps the deer up. So after early out of work and dentist appt., going back out with more time hopefully. The deer will be munching the big old beech that fell this summer. Wind chill right now is -3F.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
This is a big chunk of land and I pretty much see deer in the same general spots every time I go in. I see deer every time, but they are very spooky.
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
I don't know if I can sit in stand right now its so cold. If I was getting pains in legs when it was warm out then when its this cold prob be worse and have to get out of the stand. Have to sit in blind thinking and haven't done to good in blind this year. Here's a couple you can see what I am talking about. The one picture is my buddys back yard I have a blind about 20 yards from the backs of these 3 bucks that are together. It was awful hard to not shoot but if I shoot a smaller buck buddy says can't come back thats your rules. His dad has 100 acres on the woods line. Has like 80 turkeys on property also and like 100 deer. Its insane. Never seen anywhere like this before.
Heres couple of those was telling you about.
|
|
|
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
See how hard not to shoot. Next year they will be huge. Just learned yesterday the 12 pointer got shot and big 10 by the gun club near by. There 6800 acres on the side of my buddys dads property and where do the deer want to go and live in is the housing developments near by. LOL
Whats hard is the state lands are in between these developments and a lot of the access is hard to get on and to in some cases so this is not a easy thing and these animals have to be baited to draw them off the developments or out of the deep swamps in this 6800 acres. We have some good winter spots but the real question is can I take the cold as cold as it is right now?
|
|
From: Pointer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Will be out on the very last day Trapper...12/19. After that it hogs down south in January
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Hope you get a last minite buck, pointer.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13-Dec-17 |
|
Hope you get a last minite buck, pointer.
|
|
From: Pappy 1952
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Love the picture Calvin, thanks for sharing them for us that don't get that kind of weather. Pappy
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
This is one of the best times of the season to be out there..I am chomping at the bit to get the bow and go. TrapperK is doing it, and I wish ya success... Woodshavins...only a few more days and the Snow Jack(Bunny ) Season will commence with longbows..another favorite Tug Hill Past time.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Thanks, for the wishes. I also think this is the best time to hunt. Any time is great, but stories are told in the snow. You can see what has been where, and when. And you can blend in wearing white. I couldn't believe those birds, that group of toms I've been seeing, just barely twitched when I was basically right below them. They never seem to be that unwary when it is open season on them that's for sure. Its only 10F and snowing lightly this morning. I can see the end of the cloud line to the north so if it clears up (hope not), it will get really cold. I prefer overcast and snowing actually. And wind to keep the noise concealed and my movement blends in with the surroundings. I don't care how cold it gets. Cat, those are nice bucks, and it sounds like the deer around here - they stay in the areas left alone by hunters. I'd like to see one of those walk by me though. More pics coming...
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Here's a big old HHB in the spot where I jumped the 6 deer yesterday. These old trees always seem to have the most character.
|
|
From: Shick
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Scott, one of my favorite pictures; I have one hanging over my work bench; Trapper, continued good luck; I will be heading north to the Bath area this morning around 10am. Will try to get some last few days in with my Bighorn recurve. Good luck. Shick in Pa.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Try finding a piece to build a selfbow out of this thing... ;)
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Some of the sanctuary. A very small part. Our road, yards, and neighbors houses are 100 yards beyond this thick stuff. It borders the entire three sections basically. Thats alot of doghair. Most of it is even thicker andtaller than this.
|
|
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
And here's whats left of the big old beech I pass by on all these hunts into the sections...biggest beech trunk in the woods that I've found. Seen many deer in this very spot. Lots of hunting memories made...
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Get on em Shick!! Cal, that's a helluva HHB! Don't know if Ive ever seen one multi-trunked like that ol Warrior..In the ADK, I pay homage to the Giant white pines, yellow birches, and monstrous beeches that reside there. Imagine if those trees could talk!!
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Scott, I love those huge white pines. We have some around here too, esp. some young ones right on our land. The ragged birch are great for fire starting material too. This HHB is one of the biggest ones I've found in the area.
|
|
From: Mountain Man
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Scott
Great pic always liked that Heres one of how they used to do it in the Dak's
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Scott
Thanks for sharing!! never seen that one before!!
|
|
From: SJJ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
I shot one 2 days ago and hung it in the barn. Its been in the single digits and there doesnt seem to be a thaw in sight...may not be able to cut this one up for a time
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Stephen, congrats on the late season deer. Any Pics?
And yes, Rich, I haven't begun my Bunny quest for this season yet. Gotta wrap up the deer season first. You are usually ahead of me, but this season, I will be starting in earnest. Got the snowshoes and bindings ready...4-6 feet right now on the Tug..It'll be a Blast!!
|
|
From: mgerard
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Cal, any visitors on the RR property? Good luck in the snow. Several years ago I hunted in -20 degrees. Had deer at 10 feet but did not step into my small shooting hole/lane. Those cold hunts make memories, eh?
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Mike, haven't been down there, but the snowmobile club installed a new gate free of charge so Im gonna,check it out this weekend. Its only 9 degrees,right now. Tomorrow will be good hunting. Going out after dds appt.today. I hope they are good memories..:)
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Congrats SJJ. You won't have to worry about it spoiling any time soon, will ya?
Cal, you mentioned fishers. I trapped them, bobcats and some other furbearers in the Adirondacks through the 80's and 90's. Back then it was almost unheard of to see them here in the southern zone and now I think there are more of them here than there are up there. I saw a female fisher during turkey season last year and there's at least one running the ridges here around the house. I've seen cat tracks close by too. I have a sneaking suspicion that they may have something to do with our declining turkeys.
Good luck to you guys and girls that are still out there after them.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14-Dec-17 |
|
Bob, I agree with the turkey assessment, have thought that for years. Funny, I saw a big male running through the very spot all those turkey scratchings were that I posted a pic of a few weeks ago. Ive see probably two dozen in the last sever years, most within a mile of home. See tracks in the woods both front and back of the house every time I go out.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 15-Dec-17 |
|
I was close today, tracked an old doe to her bed, and she got up a few minutes ahead of me, only to run out of daylight. There is just something about late season with bow in hand. Crisp air, cool, and quiet stalking..I hate to see it come to an end.
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 15-Dec-17 |
|
Disappointment I can't sit in the warm in garage. Got a call today you coming down or not. Nope can't take the cold right now. Supposed to warm back up next week I hope. Buddy sent me some pictures of deers on a couple of our stands. He said 27 deer on pine street and on the oak stand think was around 17 deer.
That's just to many eyes I knew they were going to yard up like this on our stands.
Wanted to go duck hunting but its froze up and I'm not taking any more of a chance to fall again in the ice or the water. I canceled out going deer hunting today it was all iced up. Not worth it right now for me to take any chance breaking any thing.
He's telling me its really good everywhere right now and the snow geese are on in droves whether I want to duck hunt or deer hunt If I come down.
I envy you guys healthy enough to be out after them in this cold.Shoot them up and enjoy it.
Right now just not up to hunting in this cold right now ol body can't take it.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 15-Dec-17 |
|
I was out all day. Got in on a group of deer around 9am browsing on young red osier dogwood shoots. Saw a doe at 60 yd, started sneaking and a buck busted oht of the brush 15 yds ahead of me unseen, spooking the rest. I followed them a bit but decided to stand next to a brushpile near trails to the dogwood. Stood there from 10 til 3:45 pm. It got up to 20 later on. Never saw another deer. So I walked the perimeter of the state land, saw tracks going in and out in three areas where they usually cross. There wasn't as much snow as here at home so tomorrow Im going across the road into the hemlocks and swamps and skirt the doghair, quietly. Ill see deer, but if I wget a shot, Ill be amazed. These deer are just plain difficult to hunt. Period. Up for the ultimate challenge? They're alot of bucks around. Had him rub right in front of me today...
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 15-Dec-17 |
|
The brushpile. Great blind, trail goes right by it, but no deer showed up. Stood there almost 5 hrs. Unheard of for me. Stayed warm though, layers....time and the sun crept by...The shooting lane and the trail. Freaking pics,wont post...arggh
|
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
There are alot of deer moving today, all of them away from me. From here....
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
To here...the stories are in the snow.. There are ALOT of lone bucks around here with big tracks, and quite a few does. But these deer run at the sound of a pin dropping. Darn near impossible to ever see one even in these conditions... Wind, snowing, and powder fluff snow 4-6 in deep. Ultimate challenge, I like it but pretty sure multiple trips out all day is putting a serious damper on the home life. Esp. at Christmas time. Not good.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
Pretty hard not to get up and out for this though.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
Right now there are two or three red squirrels above me going ballistic...scolding me. Sounds like a dozen. Go home you loser...
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
It is snowing nicely. Perfect out but gotta call it a day.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
Nice pics Cal, thanks. It's hard to beat a day in the woods. After three weeks of gun hunting pressure, trying to still hunt to within bow range of a whitetail isn't easy, but It's a lot of fun and rewarding when it all comes together.
|
|
From: George D. Stout
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
We still have over a week to go here for late deer season. Took a walk in the back yard woods today. Snow's almost gone and will be by this Tuesday. Season starts Dec. 26.
|
|
|
|
|
|
From: lawdy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
I have been PMing Cal over his late season quest. I like reading other hunter's adventures as I learn something or pick up a tip, especially groundhunting pursuits.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
Bob, Ive got more to learn than I can teach. Like when to sit tight and when to pursue. You just never know until it happens I guess. The deer were right in our yard last night, beginning their winter patterns. I should have sat in the garage and waited for them I guess, but its not heated.... ;) The deer came across where I usually go in and out to hunt. George, your snow is melting? Its only 10-20f, here and snowing steadily. No melting going on.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
They were working it pretty good in the hemlocks right across the road. Crazy.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
Everyone else has given up. Several deer went by this and another one nearby. Missed oportunities, or they had better luck and tagged out already.
|
|
|
From: Stalker
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
Great thread! Got out yesterday for the first time here in WNY for the late archery/muzzleloader season. Cold and windy. Good sign no deer! Got laid off today (I go back last week of February) with three days left. Time to hunt!
Best of luck to you and everyone out fighting the elements!
|
|
From: shade mt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16-Dec-17 |
|
nice thread trapper. I'm reading a book right now about hunting the Adirondacks. Man that's my kind of hunting! enjoy your season, best of luck to ya.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Dec-17 |
|
Thanks, its fun, and the deer are definitely coming out of the woodwork with the cold. A close encounter and a connect will be the desired icing. Best of luck to you guys still out in the cold. Let us hear your stories and see your pics. Lots of interesting things along the way out there to see. This thread is yours too!
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Dec-17 |
|
The birds are even in winter mode, and not very spooky now.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Dec-17 |
|
The stands are deserted. I found five of these yesterday, and several today in another area. Nobody out...fresh deer tracks everywhere, just could not close the gap. Today I put on the miles, 6 before noon. Jumped a good buck from his bed after finding his yesterday's bed right across the road, and following his tracks through the swamp and timber to the far side of the section, feeding along the way. Big tracks, would have loved to see him. After jumping him, I followed another tow hours and he entered the doghair near the houses and highway, again. This time I went in,and he edid the Houdini routine, circling right around me in that crazy thicket, joining up with another buck, and I had enough once they got into the multiflora rose. Just thought I'd make them work a bit, I knew I stood no chance of getti g a shot in there, or even seeing them. Just wanted to see how they reacted to my presence. They just waited to hear where I was, then went around me several times. Fun stuff...:) Cant get the pic to post...
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Dec-17 |
|
It was a ladder stand...anyway, I came across this gas pipeline that reminded me of pics that Monkeyball has posted of his area in PA.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Dec-17 |
|
It was a ladder stand...anyway, I came across this gas pipeline that reminded me of pics that Monkeyball has posted of his area in PA.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Dec-17 |
|
Here is today's adventure area...one small part, where they are safe and know it.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Dec-17 |
|
Giving them and myself a break today. Two more afternoons to hunt, if I do it, Ill take some pics.
|
|
From: Mpdh
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Dec-17 |
|
Question for Ryman. Are you taking those pics through Camo netting?
MP
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Its snowing this morning but wind is from the east, and it is supposed to warm up, wintery mix tonight, then rain and 40s tomorrow. Not happy if the snow melts. Going out after work. Saw deer in the field yesterday afternoon before closing time in the field where turkeys are above. All does, but there is a forkie there, saw him in the same field at night a few weeks ago. I cannot believe how many deer tracks and trails, scratches in the lawns, I was yesterday morning driving around. It was 5 below zero and they were out feeding everywhere. The population seems to be very healthy - large #s of deer everywhere. Coyotes, gunners, and all, no dent in overall deer numbers.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Got a few more pics that wouldn't post from my phone over the weekend. On the way to Waterville Fri. morning. Seeing this made me grateful for having to opportunity to do what I was doing - living my life here and now. Praise the Lord!
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Can't see it in this pic, but there was a very large bodied buck working its way up across the far field but there was a farm right there. Didn't take the time to glass it. This is typical farm hill country in the southern tier south of the Thruway.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Got up on the hill above the Fish and Game Club, this is the typical habitat here. Full of deer sign.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
I came to this old tree stand site. I haven't visited this tree for over 40 years although I have seen it from a distance. It used to be the Taj Mahal of tree stands when I was in High School.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
At some point it all came crashing down.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Moving right along, I came to this stand. Unoccupied. Several sets of tracks had passed nearby.
|
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Then the pipeline one. Hardly any tracks crossed this pipeline. Deer stayed in the cover for the most part.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Then, I came to their feeding area, and they were there. Saw the one doe, and began the sneak only to be immediately busted by the buck in the brush very close to me. She was standing right here.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
They are feeding heavily on the browse of this red osier dogwood.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
So I parked my fanny against the aspen next to this brush pile for the next 5 hours, waiting for them to come back out of that cover, but nothing returned. Very rare for me to stay in one place that long. The no-shows reinforced why.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Thought they might pass through this lane upwind of me, but NOOOOO..
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
So it goes, the long day afield but it sure beats watching the idiot box. This interesting sight and pic alone was enough to make that hike worthwhile.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Here's the pipeline again, next to the ladder stand. See the scent cloth tied to the bush?
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
This goes a long way parallel to Rt. 20. Great place to be a gun hunter.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
So that was Friday. This is after the hunt Saturday, when I came back to the yard. They crossed right in my place of travel.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Yesterday I enjoyed the comforts of God's home, the Casino, then our's..Pats/Steelers game, turned out PERFECT!!!! Go Pats! Homefield Adv..... Merry Christmas week everyone!!! Two more short afternoons to hunt. Story to be continued...
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
Get er done, Cal! Its back at work for me....Oprah hasn't sung yet!
|
|
From: lawdy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
In an instant this could be your greatest season ever. Being out there increases your probability to connect as every minute goes by. Stay alert and ready.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Dec-17 |
|
I got out for one hour after work. Thats all I had before dark. I just walked across the road to the spruce grove, where there has been a buck cruising around again. His tracks were inside of my previous days tracks today. But the neighbors brother was in thefe somewhere too...cut his tracks going in. I stood in one of my strategic spots and waited for him to possibly push something by. But nothing came from any direction. It was raining and kinda foggy with6in wet packy snow. Tomorrow is the last day. I have an eye doc appt. @ 2:15 so after that I am trying one last time. Maybe a spot a mile away next to the Thruway where there were some deer out in the open field before dark yesterday... There is good cover next to the field, so worth one last try...
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Dec-17 |
|
Cal
Good luck today; You can put it all together in the last hour! I am seriously considering moving to an archery rich state...the season in New York is all too short!
Now its withdrawl time for the next 40 weeks!
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Dec-17 |
|
Thanks, Scott. I hope the Dr. exam doesn't take too long. I'll probably have an hour at best. Just time to reflect. If anything bigger that a yearling doe comes by and offers a shot, I'll consider this not a chance encounter, but one arranged by the Almighty. IOW, the chances will be very slim in that last light of the last day. But if it does, I will be ready. I will some day hunt the west on a regular basis again whether or not I ever move back out there. Right now, I have three more years to work. Not a problem with me. Work is good. I can hunt around home, and maybe take a trip a year to some western mecca. I cannot complain. This year I actually got to go to South Africa... Never dreamed I'd do that in a million years. I got a wildebeest and an impala, and a desire to go back... :) I'm satisfied to say the least for 2017. Blessed it is...
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Dec-17 |
|
That sounded kinda funny...not saying the chances are slim that the Almighty would deliver another to me, just that I would not and could not ask for a more abundant hunting life than I've already had this year. I have everything to be thankful for and need nothing more than what he has already delivered. So if I don't get close today, I am still more than blessed this season.
|
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Dec-17 |
|
I'm just getting caught up here. Good luck Cal, I'm pulling for you buddy. You've had a great year, for sure. I saw some pics of Cal's trip to Africa. He shot some amazing animals and saw a bunch more, along with some beautiful scenery. Cal, after all that you've been able to spend time in the woods and killed a nice buck. Sounds like a great year to me.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Dec-17 |
|
Thanks, Bob, yeah, I did have a really good fall, hunting. No complaints whatsoever. It was one of the best ever actually. No bow kills, but a lot of close encounters, a miss at a buck and two at fall toms, and some real fun times with deer coming in to calls. Just didn't complete the deal. I got to hunt with my cousin a couple times too, that was special. He has Parkinson's now in early stages, but noticable, and may have to put the skids on hunting in a few years, so these were special times. And of course Africa... So this is probably the closer to this thread. Its been a great season. Merry Christmas all, and keep at it all you who's seasons are still open. Show us what you get, or just where you hunt. I have alot of turkey and deer prospects for next year. There were over 40 turkeys in the alfalfa field where I went today. A mile from home...watch out this spring, bird!!!
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
New spot to try next year. What could be better than that?
|
|
From: lawdy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
What separates trad hunters from others, in my opinion, is that we just don't get discouraged and quit easily. We tend to always look to the next season with optimism and plan.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
The beauty of this spot is that I saw ten does and fawns standing in this corner the day before, in the afternoon, but couldn't hunt that day. So I returned yesterday, and there were a ton of turkeys there. But unless that forkie got shot (he was also spotted in this field a couple weeks earlier), there will be a decent buck to go after next year too. I did hear two shots a few hundred yards away from me yesterday right before the end (supposed to be muzzle loaders only), but I'm hoping they didn't kill the buck. The place seems to be over run by deer anyway, and it is in an area few will hunt most likely. Looking forward to standing in this spot next to a creek (to muffle any noise), and a deer trail into this field. The turkeys will be my focus next spring...Great spot to set up deeks. I stood next to this grape vine and tree.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
The trail goes right by here into the field.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
A small segment of the turkeys a few days earlier. The spot I'll set up is to the right of the area in this pic. Until next spring, have a Happy Winter!
|
|
From: jwhitetail
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
Wonderful thread... I love hunting in the snow and we usually get to... this year I had to work the last day of the snow-less late season. HA! Last day was a wonderful blanket of snow about 3 Inches deep and me looking out at it from an office window at work... Oh well, I too feel grateful I got to hunt and had some close calls and great adventures in 2017. Sounds like you did too TK. Thanks for sharing those winter pics.
JW
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
Yep, great thread Cal, thanks for posting and congrats on a great season. The same to everybody else and good luck to those of you that are still out there after 'em.
This and 9/10 Alabama Season Hunt Along thread had me thinking about doing a small game thread over the next couple months, but It's going to have to go on the back burner for a while.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
I hope those of you out there still hunting continue to contribute to this thread. Pointer, did you get out? Shick, how about your? Scott? Let's hear (and see) about it. Season is never 'OVER' to me. jwhitetail, I really miss hunting in Washington. That late buck season, I've seen some real huge bucks during that. Saw two blacktail bucks during elk season that would have gone over 130 easily, in the Skamania Co. its a good place to muzz hunt for big bulls - with an old flinter maybe. I miss hiking up on the Toutle for sheds too.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
I didn't connect on the last few days, as I was exiting the woods on an old logging road in the truck Sunday evening, I look out into the open field and spotted 4 turkeys that were flying up to roost; looked a little closer and there stands a really nice buck against the backdrop of spruces. 200 yards away. Confirmed with binos. He was a beauty that has lived to see another season. I will begin Snow Jack (Bunny) hunting this weekend in earnest, and hope to have a few for the pot in the oncoming weeks. I will be out there, I don't care how snowy it is. The Tug has quite a bit left even after the rain. It settled the upwards of 7 feet in my main hunting area. Film at 11.....
|
|
From: lawdy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
I had a thread like this and love to read about others hunts whether successfull or not in detail. I pick up tips and things I can try. I especially enjoy threads like this one where it involves groundhunting as that is what I do. This was a great thread because it involved still hunting, stalking, setting up on the ground, and included pictures. Hope to see it continued next fall. Thanks Cal.
|
|
From: jwhitetail
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Dec-17 |
|
Trapper - I used to work in the GP... for the USFS off of the 23 road near Council Lake if you know where that is - just NE of Adams. Truly Gods co. Never hunted there but we used to run into Mr and Mrs Wapiti doing surveys. JW
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21-Dec-17 |
|
Jdubya, yeah, I know where it is and have driven to Randle a few times, but on the other road. Never actually visited that lake. I lived north of Carson on the edge of Forest Svc, on the 65 rd. Spent alot of time in Indian Heaven, and down in the Goat Marsh Wilderness sw of St. Helens. Mostly hunted the GP out of White Salmon and Carson, and up the Klickitat. Great country, all of it.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21-Dec-17 |
|
Scott, we'll get a storm here and there that dumps a few to four feet sometimes, but you guys get hammered up there on a regular basis. Gotta love that lake effect.
Please post pics of your hare hunting adventures. I love hunting them both with and without dogs, but I don't know if I'll be able to get out after 'em this winter, or not. Good luck and have a ball.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21-Dec-17 |
|
Are you seeing a fair number of tracks? I haven't been able to get up to my old stompin grounds since summer and don't have a clue.
|
|
From: tundrajumper
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21-Dec-17 |
|
Cal, you need some caribou to get you thru the winter? just kidding. hope you have better luck with the wabbits.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21-Dec-17 |
|
8>(3 Lol!!! I won't be getting no double chin off my harvesting skills... I hope I don't have to wely on the wabbits to get me through winter, I will surely starve. Very slim pickins around here on the lagomorphs.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22-Dec-17 |
|
Bob
From what I am seeing; it looks like a good up-cycle year on the Snow Jacks. While tracking Whitetails in the Adirondacks, I was amazed at the number of bunny sign. The Tug has revealed more tracks than usual also, in areas that I haven't seen tracks in, in years..The Fishers are having a Hay Day chasing them, but, hell , that's friendly competition ! Ha!
|
|
From: George Tsoukalas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22-Dec-17 |
|
Great photos! Thanks for taking me along on your hunts. Season is over here in NH as of 12/15. Go Pats! Jawge
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22-Dec-17 |
|
I CAN SAY THIS!!!... I have shot and killed 1 (ONE) snowshoe wabbit with my wecurve, in Montana, way back in the dark ages of my dark haired youth, so at least I have that notch on my quiver... 8^) I remember it being vewy tasty...I might have to stray a bit out of my home range and venture North to find some snowbunnies this season! Maybe even go skiing on the same trip. I have an unused pass for Whiteface... also a 8^) Love the Adirondacks anyway, esp. in winter. Very encouraging report, Scott. Thumbs up!
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22-Dec-17 |
|
Cal, you are always welcome to join me, if not for nuthin, we will get a workout on skis or 'shoes.
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22-Dec-17 |
|
Now he shows himself again this rascal. He's a special deer but only a button. I been wanting him but he's been slipping the Cat and been in several stands hoping he showed his butt.
Have to wait til Jan 1 to be able to arrow him. I could go with muzzle but wheres the power on that when the smoke cleared he's dead or alive? Don't think so.
I also have reservations on shooting him if opportunity presents him to me he's really beautiful.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22-Dec-17 |
|
I'd let that Rascal live to see another season or 3...too cool
|
|
From: RymanCat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22-Dec-17 |
|
I wish he could get trapped and put in a petting zoo for everyone to see.
I think I might regret it skinned out and made into a rug and laid on top of my bed were my original thoughts with this animal if I arrowed him.
I'm glad really he didn't come in when I was hunting him. Then I wouldn't have been faced with shoot or not shoot a couple months back when he was showing various days originally on camera. There are or were 5 pies in the doe bunch coming in. I had another pie button come in was so small I just couldn't shoot it either and it feed around for like an hour then I let walk off. Really incredible to see these things in the wilds.
Amassing how a slob hunter could let it go by. Imagine that bomb me or snipe me.LOL
|
|
From: GUTPILE PA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22-Dec-17 |
|
Let that guy live!!!!!!!!
|
|
From: Pointer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22-Dec-17 |
|
I got out on the very last day, Trapper, up near Slate Hill,...my brother's place..Saw just a single doe moving through a thicket well out of range. Long Island is still available to me but I'll more likely just start preparing for my hog trip down at Wild Things in late January. It was a good season overall..I had some opportunities I passed up and some I screwed up..lol. No deer kill this year but I found some new spots for turkey in May and had a good time with my brother and his boys. The autumn woods were as magical as ever for me so no regrets. Maybe I'll have a good chance at a hog next month..
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 23-Dec-17 |
|
Scott, I'm glad to hear your seeing lots of tracks. Hopefully It's the same where I hunt up there and I'll be able to get out a few times this winter. Give 'em heck, buddy and don't forget the pictures.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 23-Dec-17 |
|
Pointer, glad you got out and saw one. Have fun down south hog hunting, or LI if you make it. Cat, I'd let that deer go..much better to see it alive. I think in NY it is even illegal to shoot white or piebald deer, not sure. Even though the deer may be 'genetically inferior', ie, have recessive genes, they are rare and should be left alone,IMO.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 26-Dec-17 |
|
Have you been able to get out after 'em at all Scott, or are you too busy shoveling?
Anybody else hunting? I can't get out right now and I'd love to hear about it and see a picture or two, if you are.
|
|
From: lawdy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 26-Dec-17 |
|
Took the beagle out today. The hare population has crashed up here. Saw one hare and let the beagle run for a couple of hours. The swamp I hunted is a deer yard. Saw one deer sneaking off. Had 2-3 feet of fluffy snow and 5 degees. Hard snowshoeing. This week we are going to be forty below up here in the mountains. A good old-fashioned winter. That will send the newcomers South. Heard a couple complaining at the post office this morning. They move up here to snowmobile, love the first snowfall, smack their car up driving on snowy roads, shovel their driveways every other day, and by April when we get some big snows, are ready to go insane. If that doesn't send them packing, the black fly invasion in May seals the deal. The camp goes up for sale, a new crop moves in in July or August, and here we go again. It is 10 below right now, absolutely balmy.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 27-Dec-17 |
|
With the Holiday and the excessive amount of snow here, I haven't been out yet..will try to get after em this weekend, but we will need some sun and warmer temps to get the deep powder to settle a bit..its tuff going on 60-70" of lake effect. The bunnies hunker down under the blowdowns and spruces, and don't even venture out. My best times after em are typically mid Jan-late Feb, as the Buck Snow Jacks are coursing far and wide looking for chicks :)
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 27-Dec-17 |
|
I've actually seen a few sets of rabbit tracks out back. There are a couple living in a brush pile I have out there. Some across the road in the young spruce too, saw them (tracks) the last day of season. There's a male fisher snooping around the box of bones I have out back, and some coyotes braving their way into the dogs' territory. They are going to get a good looking at soon as I get a predator call and a cheap trail cam at wallyworld. But I haven't been out since season ended, just too much going on with the holidays and now back to work too.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 27-Dec-17 |
|
Here's a pic you might be interested in. The in-laws have this mutant cardinal coming to their feeder regularly. Its white with red wings, tail and topknot. Its beautiful.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 27-Dec-17 |
|
Cal, I agree on all counts. Cool Cardinal!!
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 27-Dec-17 |
|
Lawdy, too bad they're on a low cycle where you are, but It's always nice to watch the dogs work and listen to the music.
Carcajou, I figured you had your hands full with all the snow you've been getting and I know what It's like to try to get around on shoes in feet of powder, let alone the dogs. Even when it settles, you can get on some blowdowns, or some small evergreens and end up way down in a hole. I've had to take the shoes off before I could climb out, lol. Nope, you never know where you'll end up later in the season. The dogs may start a buck here and sometimes he'll make one circle and head back home. Nothing like listening to the dogs circle a half mile away, if you can still hear them, lol.
That Cardinal is something Cal, I've never seen one like it. Thanks for the picture.
Good luck with the rabbits guys. If the Dr. gets me straightened out before the season ends, I'm hoping to make it back to where I'm from in the Adirondacks to do a little hunting myself.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 27-Dec-17 |
|
Bob, where ya from? Hopefully the Doc works his majic in time for you. Redfield(just north of here) broke the record; 62.2 " in 48 hours), its gonna be a rough go on Snow Jacks there, one of my favorite areas. I will swing North, and try to get on some this weekend..the Adirondacks don't have as much snow, perhaps I will head there..Jonesin' for some Bunny action on 'shoes...sometimes, I have found it easier with the longbow, to get em on the soft lake effect, as they cant run as fast as with a slight crust on top. Either way, its a good way to spend the winter chasin them bastids..It not only sharpens your eyes for finding a motion-less Jack in the alders, and it builds yer lungs while on the 'shoes..hopefully everyone will get some shooting in..post yer pics if ya do!
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
Scott, I'm in Plainfield, up in the hills about 30 miles south of Utica. I have a few good spots for cottontails here around home, but there aren't many Snowshoes here. There used to be a few spots close by that had some, but they disappeared over the last 10 years. There are a few around here and there, but cottontails are king here. Snowshoes are my favorite. I think you get more shots hunting with dogs, but It's a lot of fun tracking them on a fresh snow, or just still hunting the thick stuff and like you said, looking for that eyeball. I've got myself worked up into a tizzy just talking about it, lol.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
Lawdy, if you can, take a couple pictures next time you get out. The beagle, a shot of the woods, anything would be appreciated.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
This one is from last year to wet your whistle..24 paces, just in front of the eyeball. Thrilling hunt, good memories!
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
That's what I'm talkin' about. Great picture and a heck of a shot Scott, thank you!
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
Thanks! FUN is an understatement!
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
Nice shootin', and bunny. Looks like Northern NY... And I like that bow, what is it? Thanks, Scott. Redfield always gets a ton of snow. Just 7 miles south, my coworker said they only got 10" (just north of Camden). She could see the band from her house.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
I hear ya! Any time spent in the woods is a good time, but throw some Snowshoes into the mix and It's hard to beat. All the excitement of deer hunting, but they're a lot easier to get out of the woods, lol. Thanks again for the picture.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
I meant to ask about the bow, to. Guess I've got rabbits on the brain, lol.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
The bow is an all osage Great Northern Fireball, 62" 50@28", cedar arrows tipped with a Judo that day; I typically use broadheads, but it was a long shot, and I wanted to try to save my arrow in case I missed.
|
|
From: lawdy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
I will try to get some pictures if the camera works. Tomorrow is going to be cold, it is 12 below right now. Twenty six below this morning. I will be taking the flinter tomorrow as I will be trying to get some partridge too.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28-Dec-17 |
|
Have fun and if you can get a couple pictures, great. Good luck.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 29-Dec-17 |
|
I generally don't bother any of the critters that hang around my house, but my health isn't good right now and I've been itching to do some small game hunting. I noticed rabbit tracks outside earlier, so I grabbed my bow and did a little tracking. I'm not worth a darn right now and the tracking didn't go much farther than the lawn before I had to give it up, but it was nice to be out "hunting" again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From: lawdy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 30-Dec-17 |
|
Went up into the Parmachenee today with my beagle. Drove in 3 miles on a logging road and snowshoed an unplowed logging road to get to a small swamp. Unleashed the beagle and he took a hare within a minute. Let him run for two hours but grabbed him when I cut coyote tracks cutting his several times. It was -10 on the thermometer attached to my pack. Snowshoeing out as the sun went down, the temp really fell. It was -18 when I reached my truck. Saw the hare but let him go. I really wanted a partridge but never saw one, just a little buck that got caught up at the 5 mile mark by the 3-4 feet of snow. He will make it if the coyotes don't get him. He is near a logging operation so feed is there. Met the NH State Forestry warden and Border Patrol as there has been timber thievery going on with the cold snap. A few of these logging roads cross into Quebec up by the 30 mile mark.
|
|
From: Stealth2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 30-Dec-17 |
|
One tag left...last day..got picky and didn't fill it. These guys showed up this afternoon...
|
|
From: Stealth2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 30-Dec-17 |
|
One tag left...last day..got picky and didn't fill it. These guys showed up this afternoon...
|
|
From: Stealth2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 30-Dec-17 |
|
On my trail cam...
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 31-Dec-17 |
|
Lawdy, at least you got to get out and run your dog. That sounds like a lot more fun than my poor excuse for a hunt the other day. We never used to have to worry about coyotes here, now they're everywhere. I've heard stories about them killing dogs and I always worry about it. Good luck with the partridge, they're about as tasty as it gets.
Stealth2, great pictures. It's always nice to see deer, whether we decide to shoot, or not and that buck will be a beauty next year.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 02-Jan-18 |
|
Drove thru my haunts on the Tug Hill over the weekend; -17 below zero, and 5-7 feet of the white stuff on the ground. Zero Bunny tracks to be seen, they are under the spruces now, I will await the weekend as it is supposed to get a tad warmer. Saw lots of fox and coyote tracks, and even saw some sad gobblers hanging their heads in a river bottom in the alders. The Turkeys are hardcore survivors, I have yet to figure out how they survive these harsh winters.
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 02-Jan-18 |
|
We have more rabbits than I thought previously. Tracks al around the brush pile and shed out back. They are now coming up to eat off the rose bushes around the house. Last year three of them died before winter ended. This year will be the same if this cold continues so I might as well try to get a couple of them before that happens. Bob (TB), I hope you start feeling better soon and can get out past your yard. But since its this cold out now any way, may be good time to rest up a bit. This kind of winter is what I remember from when I was a kid hare in CNY. Lawdy, sounds like a nice outing. That isn't something many people do these days - takes an extra effort to get out in sub zero temps. Sounds fun though. Scott, that much snow kind of hinders a good rabbit hunt but once it packs down than it should be better than ever. I'm not sure we are going to get any temps high enough for that to happen though, any time soon. I think Its time to take a drive over to Niagara Falls to see what that looks like all frozen up. And maybe time to gt out and ice fish a bit.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 05-Jan-18 |
|
Scott, I don't know how the turkeys do it some years and in places that get the snow you do every year. They have it tough when you get a lot of powdery snow and they can't get up on top. Not to mention the scarcity of food to begin with and I know they're well insulated, but can you imagine sleeping in a tree on some of these night when It's well below zero and the wind is howling? I found a bunch of dead birds, or what was left of them several years ago after a bad winter.
Thanks Cal and get out there after those rabbits when it warms up and post a picture for me. I don't want to hear about how tasty it was though, that would just be torture, lol.
|
|
From: Greyfox
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 05-Jan-18 |
|
That ice fishing sounds good to me. Thanks for your pictures, good luck and be safe.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 10-Jan-18 |
|
I always loved ice fishing, but I haven't been in probably eight or ten years. Old Bowyer and I were talking about it the other day and how fish always taste better through the ice.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 10-Jan-18 |
|
I'm not able to walk very far right now and I wanna hunt so bad I can taste it, so I've been waiting for some crows that have been feeding in a picked corn field here by the house, to light in a spot that I could sneak to the edge and maybe get a shot at one. I got the chance I was waiting for yesterday and everything worked out perfectly. There was more luck involved than skill, but I'll take all the luck I can get.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 10-Jan-18 |
|
Bob! That is a near impossible feat, killing a wary Crow with a longbow, My Knit Hat is off to you my friend! Yee Ha! Feed the Fire!
|
|
From: TrapperKayak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 10-Jan-18 |
|
Bob, impressive! A connected shot like that is very rare! You have my respect... Glad you're getting out a bit! I haven't been out but it is warming up enough to bring some critters out and maybe I will have time to get out too. Scott, is the snow packing down a bit yet? Ass deep to a giraffe up there probably.
|
|
From: Daven
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 10-Jan-18 |
|
Hunters with bows can't kill crows.
Hunters with skill are usually the lucky ones.
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 10-Jan-18 |
|
Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I'd rather be out chasing rabbits and they're a lot tastier too, lol.
We're above freezing and sunny here today with close to 50* predicted for the next couple days. If it gets that warm where some of you are, like Cal said, it should settle it enough to stay on top with snowshoes.
|
|
From: Carcajou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 10-Jan-18 |
|
Work kept me inside today, it was painful...a Snow Jack day if I ever saw one. My partner to the north said he saw tons of sign, the first nitely foray by Bunnies since Xmas. So, Friday will see me on shoes for the next 4 days, and we will see what Ol Ma Nature brings..Rain in the forcast of all things... Bunnies HATE rain!! I will be after em regardless, hopefully one will run into the pointy end of my arrow..we shall see...
|
|
From: throwback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 10-Jan-18 |
|
Good luck with em Scott. I hope you have a blast and if you think of it, take a picture or two.
|
|
If you have already registered, please sign in now
For new registrations Click Here
|
|
|