I live in Western NY in the suburbs of Buffalo. I primarily hunt 2 state forests one of which is 1,500 acres and the other is 3,000 acres but really cut in half by a gorge.

I have hunted the 1,500 acre forest for 17 years and know every inch of that place. My father has hunted for 40 years, my brothers 23 and 19 years respectively. In that time only my brother has killed what anyone would call a "trophy" it is a big 'ol 8 ptr with huge mass and large palmated antlers. His picture is still on the wall of the deer check station as one of the all time greats. That's it. My dad has a bunch of 8's and under.......he has killed so many deer I lose count. He has never even seen a big boy in those woods in 40 years. We know just about every guy that hunts those hills and it's the same take every year.........8's, 7's 6's, 4's, spikes, buttons. Nothing that even comes close to what most would consider a wall hanger.

The 3,000 acres I have hunted a little more in the last few years because my friend and his family go there and it is fun to have a cabin to relax in. That is where I killed the 13 pointer this year and even there the old timers say it's the biggest deer they have seen come out of there in 40+ years.

I have to drive 1 hour to get to each spot. Yea, I could drive to Steuben county or some other places known for the big bad boys(Allegehny State Park) etc......but I have a wife and a home and a business that I own. I can't go on week long hunts or drive 4 hours one way to hunt a day......nor do I want to. Where I am these are the closest places I can go and still hunt with all the people I enjoy hunting with. All the private farms I ask some say OK to me but that's it......no friends and no family. I tell them I on't hunt alone and they say they don't want a crowd of trucks........I say thanks and leave. I won't leave my friends and family just for a shot at some better land.

We enjoy our hunting very much. This year sucked big time but that isn't the norm for us. We kill our share and fill the freezer and are happy with what we have. In the last 2 years I have taken a 4, 6, and 13 pointers and a mature doe. That is great as far as I am concerned. Was it great to kill that big buck when no one else for miles has ever even seen one like him??? You bet your arse!!!! Am I going to forget the last 17 years and pretend I am suddenly transformed into a Primos video full of big bucks now?? Nope. I had my moment in the sun......my 15 minutes of fame......next year I will fill my tags just like I always have. every chance I get.


I know people will read this and think to themselves....."There are big deer there, he just isn't finding them". Well, like I said not only have we been there for so long......we know and hear about every deer taken from where we hunt. If there were huge deer there.......SOMEONE would get them during all the relentless gun drives year after year.......and they don't.

Hopefully this year was just a bad dream..........because if it wasn't, we are REALLY gonna be hurting next year!!

So basically to make a long story short Rack Attack..............my year blew so bad that if you had called me and said "Wanna hunt tomorrow??" I would have drove across the state out of sheer desperation.........and to see your cute little deer carrier on your truck

I have yet to talk to anyone in my area that didn't share my misfortunes in the woods this year.

Fingers crossed