Opening Day is Almost Here!

[3GunDad]

Got my tags, and checked my tree stands, cut some shooting lanes and counting the days until Oct. 1st
Opening day for whitetail is on a Saturday this year and I will be bow hunting those swamp donkeys in Westchester. Took 2 weeks off work in November for some prime time in the woods, also hope to get some trigger time in on some ducks and geese too. Dang, can't wait ! I'm always interested to hear how other hunters are making out. Hope to see some posts here during the season.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Not for nothing but EIGHT hen turkeys were wandering across my backyard yesterday morning, about 20' from the backdoor...

 

[GOPerfect]

I will not be going out Opening day, can not get out of work. I will be in my stand bright and early Sunday morning. I have the following Monday and Tuesday off as well.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I'm going to skip the first couple weeks of bow season this year. I drew a CO elk tag. If I fill my freezer with elk, I probably won't be hunting whitetail much. Maybe I'll shoot one for my dad or something.

 

[speedkills27]

got my tags, got my bow tuned, new arrows cut, stand set, i just have to get some shooting lanes cut and its go time. Would love to post some pics of a harvest this year

 

[Airborneguy]

I'll be out Wednesday and Thursday that week (Thursday is my birthday). Opening day is on the table but I doubt it and sunday I'm going to Dover for the race. I am actually on vacation that week and opening firearms week too. This is gonna be an awesome season! I only took one day off over the summer so I have a lot of time built up and my boss is a huge hunter too so I shouldn't have problems getting one day off per week at least.

 

[Robin]

Last year, in this zone, we could not take bucks for the first two weeks, well the DEC recognized that as a MEGA-flop, as hundreds if not thousands of bowhunters stayed home. They lifted the ban and I, like many others will enjoy this early opening day. My wife tells me that the freezers have room for one deer this year, so I will try to be patient and shoot for Mr. Big. Does that make me a trophy hunter? HAH!
Robin

 

[Harry Hood]

Can't wait for Oct 1st. Just washed all my gear the other day and am letting it hang out for a week or so, before I take it to camp.

 

[carpediem]

Got my daughter and myself licensed and we both got doe tags this year. Hopefully we actually see one, unlike last year. The only thing we saw was a rabid raccoon. It was too warm.

 

[Criticalt]

Ready and waiting.

 

[3GunDad]

It was a mild winter this past year, food sources were not covered up with snow, and the carry over looks good for this season. Rut predictions look like second / third week in November if you follow the moon cycle and believe in that. I usually expect the big boys to start moving anytime after Halloween. I've got 2 DMP doe tags for bow in 3S, a buck and either sex tag. Last year I tagged out with 2 bucks and 3 does with the bow and passed on many doe opportunities. Had groups of 14 pass right under my feet in the stand. Saw a ton of deer last year but only saw one big buck, he was at 45 yards. Was hoping he would come in another 10 yards, was worried about sailing the pin and hitting small twigs At 35-40 yards and decided to wait, but he turned and walked the other way, they don't get big by being stupid !

 

[Mike.s]

This is the first time in my life I might decide not to go hunting. I started to put a modular home on my property last spring. It was supposed to finished in August. Well guess what. after dealing with the most lethargic and over regulated building dept. in the free world, my foundation just got poured last week!
It will be finished around thanksgiving. There's so much racket going on I'm worried everything will be spooked out of the area. I'm also bordered on two sides by state land. I hope I don't piss anyone off.
Maybe Ill put a sorry sign by the road.
Good luck to everyone else!

 

[3GunDad]

I was bow hunting in Westchester last year, behind my folks house, when the gardeners showed up with leaf blowers, figured I was screwed, they were up on the ridge making so much noise it was insane, was about to climb down and head out when a string of does quietly walked past my stand between me and the gardeners, you never know!

 

[Harry Hood]

I agree with 3GunDad, noise like that usually doesn't spoke deer. I have been running a chainsaw and they come to find out what is going on. What I have found spooks them is when the noise stops, they get freaked and bound off.

 

[Airborneguy]

There are deer on my range almost every time I'm there and they just move to the other side while we're shooting!

 

[NirvanaFan]

As long as they're used to noise, it won't be an issue.
My parents heat with wood. A lot of the time, we'll drop a tree in the late spring and start to cut it up. Once we get the trailer full, we'll take it back to the house. When we come back for more, sometimes we'll scare deer off because they were eating the tops of the trees. I've had them walk by less than 5 minutes after the neighbors spread the horse manure in the field.

 

[Mike.s]

Well maybe I won't hang my hat this year & just try. The wildlife in my area are definitely not used to noise. I have no neighbors for at least 1/2 mile and i'm on a dead end road. MAYBE 1 or 2 cars drive by me daily.

 

[Snappo]

I'm going to skip the first couple weeks of bow season this year. I drew a CO elk tag. If I fill my freezer with elk, I probably won't be hunting whitetail much. Maybe I'll shoot one for my dad or something.

You'll have to tell us stories when you get back. I was at Hill AFB from 79-83 and some of the stories I heard about hunting elk were pretty exciting.

 

[Criticalt]

Saw this weirdo in the front yard today. His antlers are growing like a cow, out and up to a point.

 

[NirvanaFan]

You'll have to tell us stories when you get back. I was at Hill AFB from 79-83 and some of the stories I heard about hunting elk were pretty exciting.

Oh, I'll be writing a huge post with pictures and videos.

 

[JohnnyQ]

duck.duck.duck.duck!!!!

 

[Bushmaster]

Last year, in this zone, we could not take bucks for the first two weeks, well the DEC recognized that as a MEGA-flop, as hundreds if not thousands of bowhunters stayed home. They lifted the ban and I, like many others will enjoy this early opening day. My wife tells me that the freezers have room for one deer this year, so I will try to be patient and shoot for Mr. Big. Does that make me a trophy hunter? HAH!
Robin

Like your tractor.... I need one of those. I hunt meat as long as it's big. No big bucks for me, just Venison in freezer. Not really in to it this year, lost most of everything to hunt - to buildings etc.... Farmers that died etc.... I'll take anything with size that walks to the bow within 35yrds.

 

[Bushmaster]

Saw this weirdo in the front yard today. His antlers are growing like a cow, out and up to a point.
View attachment 362
View attachment 363

He's freaking awesome.... I would take him, pretty cool, plus the buck hunters don't want him breeding. I love spikes and never got one before.

 

[Criticalt]

He's freaking awesome.... I would take him, pretty cool, plus the buck hunters don't want him breeding. I love spikes and never got one before.

You cant really tell but right behind his right ear there is a half inch nub of antler growing there too.
He fell out of the ugly tree.

 

[Criticalt]

This guys gonna get it!



Or this guy


Or him

 

[Criticalt]

Or either of these guys

 

[Bushmaster]

That's a nice deer, but I'm old school LOL, I want that rehab dude with captain hook tines.

 

[Criticalt]

Or maybe one of these 5

 

[Bushmaster]

Holy crap, Lolly Pop Farm LOL

 

[Criticalt]

Weve got at least 12 bucks that come through our yard daily, more than ever. Imagine thr other 600 acres!