Reel Doc

We all certainly extend condolences to the family of the bowhunter who died yesterday from what looks to be a fall from his tree stand. Certainly another reminder to all of us to stay safe in the woods. Please, Please wear your safety equipment when up a tree. If you do not have a sound safety device get one now. The hunter safety system vests are one example of a safe secure and comfortable restraint device that will protect you from serious injury. Good luck to all afield, and stay safe. Greg

That is one impressive animal I guess there are some good groceries for the deer in Ontario. Looking forward to the photo of you outdoing the son-in-law.

It doesn't get any better than that Glad you came through with a great shot under the ultimate pressure. I'm already nervous about that very same scenario with my kids someday.

Sorry to hear your nephew had a disappointing first time. Let him know there will be plenty more opportunity. That's increadible that the yotes were on it that fast. We camped at Letchworth this summer and never heard a howl. Are you hunting on the South east portion of the park away from most of the traffic? Greg

Perch is right flybuster, especially if word gets out in your neighborhood about the size of those horns. You might want to get them both mounted to sell on ebay and maybe make a couple wannabes happy and also OUT of the woods Greg

I do not think you're reading into it at all. I think just like our own mothers, they are more protective of the kids than Dads are. As a result, they know their surroundings better, and oh by the way, we let them go over and over while the bucks get fewer second chances. Then, cloud the male psyche with hormone urges and bucks are apt to make the same mistakes that we woke up next to after an evening of pops at the local drinking establishment. Greg

For all you do to allow us continued FREEDOM each and every day in the past, present and future, THANK YOU

Thanks for letting me vent, your comments remind me that I'm not alone. Some FYI's 1. 15 years living at our current location, and even though I post the property, have lost 3 tree stands, so Andre, you are reminding me that the bolt cutter bandit is still at large. 2. A few years back I invite a former client from Cortland to hunt with me. Back when I worked there and had no place to hunt he showed me the ropes on some public land, and always seemed to be an intelligent hunter. We're bowhunting 2 sides of a funnel and can both see out to an adjacent field. Close to sundown a nice doe gives me a broadside shot but I hit her high through the chest. She goes to the woods edge and lays down, but my buddy? starts yelling and crashing out of his stand. The doe takes off in the thickest pricker infested hedgerow you ever saw. I'm cussing this guy out as we had to trail her by flashlight an extra 150 yards and after the first 50 I'm confusing my blood with hers after getting gored by all the briars. This guy had far more field experience than I did, but forgot the basics you fellas talk about...give them time to go down and stay down. That doe withstood a double lung, but the broadhead must not have nicked a major vessel going through as she went a long way. Since changing to expandable broadheads and having no favors to return to past buddies, tracking distances have decreased dramatically. Good luck to you all out there, stay safe and enjoy the sporting opportunity and beauty our area provides. Greg

Pardon me while I blow off some steam about some of the people, (I cannot say sportsmen) afield in my area. The combines just rolled through our soybeans along with the neighbors. Within 500 yards of each other, 2 dead bucks, both gut shot. If you followed the rifle posts recently, then you know how I feel about the reckless few who ruin it for everyone, just another example here. Fortunately a combine head or 2 didn't get trashed trying to grind a carcass. Nobody has a perfect shot every time, certainly not me, but please remember everyone, respect the game you are after, and practice with your weapon of choice OFTEN before going afield. Be realistic about your shooting range, and PLEASE DO NOT SHOOT AT MOVING DEER. I know I'm preaching to the choir here but if you just pass this reminder on to other hunters out there, maybe, just maybe, a few less deer will end up being wasted as fertilizer in a field somewhere. Sorry to have to let it rip, but I feel better now. On a lighter note, enjoyed the scenery from a tree Sunday afternoon hoping to see a doe or 2. Unfortunately, a wise old gal travelling with 3 others had me pegged from 80 yards away even though the wind was perpendicular to us. I don't know about the rest of you, but smart old does nail me 10 times more often than bucks do. Greg

Great looking fish. Did it come out of Owasco, or is Eskimo Joe not giving out his hotspot. The secret to his success must be the hat Can you provide contact info for this Super Guide, I need all the help I can get. Greg

No takers? It'll be here in the basement staying dry for you.

Just the horns and a photo. My buddies in college got me into hunting, so I started later than most, but in the 15 years that we have lived on our current property I've been fortunate to get a couple wallhangers, one by bow, one by shotgun. For me though, the bowhunts are truly special since the trophy is always a great hunting memory with a really challenging method of hunt. I admit to getting that rush whenever a deer comes by the stand, regardless of whether it is a deer to harvest or one to watch walk on by. It's a priceless feeling that is the reason I go in the woods in the first place. Greg

The deer played trick or treat with you Nice going, nice buck

Just a great hunt yesterday afternoon. On stand by 2, not much happening other than some small does and a spike, then about 3:30 a good sized doe hops by waving her flag. She settles in some tall brush at the edge of a soybean field about 75 yards off. I wait for a buck to follow, nothing. Hit the Primos can and 20 minutes of nothing. Finally, from the total opposite direction, this buck meanders down through the beans another 50 yards beyond the doe. When he's in line with my stand and the doe I hit the can and he turns and moves to the brush and finds the doe. She teases, but not ready to stand so as he seems sick of her I hit the can again and he drops her like yesterdays news and heads right in. Gives a perfect broadside shot at 20 yards, a staight through chest shot and he was down within site of the stand and done in less than 5 minutes. I must admit, I've never had a call work that well, but that doe being a day away from standing heat gets a big assist on this one. Greg

Great buck, and great to hear about the guidance from above

Way to go Your first bow deer is a great memory that you will always remember and he is a nice one.

Nice hunt and nice deer. Congrats

I'm with you 711. But is this conversation on this forum like preaching to the choir? The frustration with poor sportsmen is you cannot get the point out to them about the dangers they pose to themselves, others afield, the game their after, and most importantly, the future of hunting and fishing for that matter. Every incident that occurs afield is fodder for the antihunting movements that get stronger all the time. Greg

Way to go Ray The future of hunting counts on all of us doing the right thing. Of course, that yearling will be far more tender than some tough brute. You cannot eat the horns. Greg

It is starting to heat up for sure. Friday had a quick stop home to pick up some things about 5:30. Down below our pasture on the woods edge two bucks were jousting, the bigger bodied brute was having his way with what looked to be a yearling. After about 5 minutes the young buck took off and the other worked up a scrape. Midday Saturday I poked around down there and found fresh rubs and 2 scrapes. If you believe in hunting by the moon, (which I do), then the middle of next week will be the time to hit the woods hard as the bucks will be looking for and probably finding lots of love. Greg

Coup, It will get really good if your little side kicks take up the sport. My oldest is 11 and already he and his brother are having a good time trying to poke holes in the leftover squash and pumpkins from the garden. I look forward to taking them afield in the future, no different then being on the water with them. Greg

Gotta add my 2 cents on this one. Regardless of weapon in the woods, it is all about responsibility. If you are a true sportsman, (that is the term of the 21st century, not hunter), then you are well versed in the use and application of your weapon, and the reason you are afield is not just about the kill, but the joy of being there. We do not fear each other when we go afield, we fear the nonsportsman who is just out there for the kill, and has no clue about the game he is after or his reponsibility to that game and to the other sportsman afield. Like the road rage driver, all of us want to avoid this person from a safety standpoint, but also, we do not want them around for the sake of maintaining the sport. With decreasing numbers of sportsmen, and the increasing age of those of us who are sportsmen, we need to take the lead in setting a good example to the next generations going afield or afloat for that matter. No doubt the DEC needs to keep the deer harvests at certain levels to maintain proper herd numbers, so adding rifles in more counties is their way of making it "easier" in the minds of many to fill a tag. I would love to use a rifle in Seneca county, (currently not allowed), only because I have never really enjoyed the shotgun kick. Either way, when the shooting starts, I only sit in stands in the center of our property, as the hunting club gang that rents the neighbor's land has some of those nonsportsmen that I prefer to avoid. In a perfect season, my harvest is done before the shooting even starts, and I'm hopeful that can be the case again this year. Greg

Jason, You were right when you said 3 weeks ago there was still plenty of good fishing ahead. Sounds like the fish are refilling post-spawn. With school on and the weather cooler, my crew has bailed on me, so now I'm looking for red meat in my free time; not really that bad of a predicament. Can I ask you about the Weenies? Do you run them off riggers, copper, or drop them down with dipseys? Are they a seasonal lure, or effective trolling throughout the year? Greg

Hey Rovente, Sounds like you were given the same advice I had from Splitshot and RustyRat. Rumor has it they sell used, slightly wet boat parts to supplement their fishing habit. Welcome aboard the LOU. Greg

Wow, what a shot. Did anyone find the remains of that buck? Be really curious to know how far that cat took him for a drag.