Turkeygirl

The last 2 weeks of archery in NY, which is when crossbow season is, also tends to be when rut activity fires up. I ended up having a wrist issue which made it hard to hold my bow so I opted to take the crossbow out. November 4th the woods came alive in the morning...I heard grunting and deer running and then had a couple small bucks coming my way when this guy came up behind them. Game on...archery season had been slow to this point...I missed a doe with my bow about a week prior. This 7 point came in, about 30-32 yards broadside and I sent a bolt right behind the shoulder, a little low but actually went through the heart. I don't think he knew what happened...took a couple leaps, stopped, walked, stopped, looked around...watched him teeter then go down...he only ran maybe 20 yards from where he was hit....easy track job and easy drag. I will say crossbows add a different element of challenge...still have to squeeze the shot off, etc. This buck was also delicious! ?

Good luck and stay safe out there! I hope those fire wind down soon.

I know....seems once FB and social media took off, it took away from forum activity for alot of forums ?

Thanks guys!

XT - well check the Deer Hunting room for a story ? Archery starts October 1st so not far off, gun in mid-November. Definitely ready to hit the woods with bow in hand! Last season ended up tagging a decent 7 point during crossbow season...I am glad I had a crossbow because my wrist was messed up, otherwise I still love hunting mostly with my regular bow! Then tagged my biggest buck ever during gun season...that's the story ?

Good luck XT! ?

Good luck and welcome to RT! Usually by the time our deer season starts in NY, it's not typically hot but we have had some warm falls and I do not like hunting in warm weather because of wanting to keep the meat cool....and our deer here do not move much. I don't want to worry about hurrying to recover a deer because it's so warm and risk meat spoilage. 40s to 50s for a max day time temp. I like...if it hits 60 or higher, I'll like skip the deer and hunt small game instead.

It's been way too long since I've been on here and sharing in everyone's hunting stories and successes. I'm back and figured one of the 1st things I should do is post a photo of my biggest buck, taken just this past season in 2019, with the 20 ga shotgun. I'd actually had trail cam photos of him in 2018. 2019 got 1 photos of him in August then when season started, he was showing up on my trail cameras and I knew then he was staying in the general area and while I made no expectations for myself of him showing up in daylight and getting a shot, I was sticking it out and though maybe we'd meet up at some point. Did not see him in person during archery, just on trail cam. 3rd day of gun season and get into my stand in an area I'd had a photo of him a day or 2 before. Morning started out slow, had a flock of gobblers come in fighting which was cool to hear then I thought to myself "usually where there's turkeys there's deer". Sure enough around 8am, I look to my right and catch a deer with a large rack about 80 to 100 yards through the trees walking towards one of the other stands! I grabbed my grunt call and threw some grunts at him, he disappeared then I realize here he is coming towards me, cautiously. He stopped at about 70 yards, quartering towards me, looking for where the grunting came from, I put the cross hairs on the front of his shoulder and 20 ga rifled slug hit it's mark, he dropped in his tracks....boy did I cry, lol! But here he is, I was so so blessed and still am each deer season I can be out hunting!

I'm so glad to see this still going. I'm signed up! ?

Sign me up! ? Ruth Ireland Turkeygirl 37 New York October 1st-December 22, 2020 (Archery starts in October, gun season mid-November, then muzzle loader/late archery mid-December)

It's been a long long long time and thought I better check-in! I'm hoping a few of the old timers are still here and welcome to all new people! RT Forums went by the wayside when I got going with college and work and life in general but I'm here and back and hope to catch back up!

Yeah the price of bows is getting nuts. I actually sold my Mathews Halon. Just didn't shoot it as well as my Hoyt but I did try a Bear Sole Intent recent;y and I have to say Bear has some nice bows for the price, which is pretty much a few hundred dollars less than the rest!

I don't know who that is. I do know everyone is going crazy it seems over this Garmin bow site. I think it is just taking away part of the challenge of bow hunting. I go to the woods to get away from technology. Almost a $1000 for a bow site is nuts.

Anyone watch any of the coverage online? Lots of coverage this year on Facebook. If so, what caught your eye?

Going to start applying for Elk in PA. Might be a few or many years till I'd get drawn but figure might as well start putting in for an elk tag.

Wow...you have a good taxidermist, beautiful mounts! My 8 point I shot this past season with the muzzleloader is going to be in a similar pose as your bottom buck - wall pedestal with a little bit more turn. Will be an exciting day to get him back, which won't be for awhile. Congrats on your mounts there!

Great story and photos! Congrats to everyone! Good shooting!

Amazing how fast season goes isn't it? Seems like it will never get here then it comes and next thing you know it's over

Checked a couple of my cams yesterday; this cold is brutal on the the cams. The morning of NY's Eve was a busy one apparently. Got what looks to be a forkhorn fawn....usually they are all button bucks so he's got a good start. Also this beautiful 8 survived and I hope to not only find his sheds but see him next season, he'll be a stud!

Does it looks like both this bucks will make it to see next season? The broken one sure is a fighter!

Yes, give them a try, you might be suprised ;-) I got a CVA Accura V2 this year, tried some hornady sst out of it, wasn't grouping how I'd like so didn't take it hunting. Going to try a different load or two and a new scope.

Worked a few hours today. Hopefully get some trail cams checked but nothing major planned. A little R & R.

For any of the women hunters or maybe some of you guys looking for the women you know, Prois has some great deals going on, 70% + off on almost all camo. I just got some stuff ordered. Check it out: https://www.proishunting.com/

I was wondering if with this deep cold in my area if bucks will start dropping a little earlier this year.

Congrats to your and your boy, how awesome! Looks like a pretty nice hunting area!