RE: How would you rate this deer season?
 

I have to say my year has been great so far, I got my first deer with my bow this year, a smaller doe but still a trophy in my book. I have seen alot of deer so far this year, and I have let some smaller bucks go. I have gotten to get out alot this year, alot more than the years past, and my wife has been very understanding. I wasnt overly impressed with the rut this year either, alltho I have seen more bucks this year. I would have to say that all in all, my year has been great.:D

RE: How would you rate this deer season?
 

This season was about below avgerage for me. Passed up a spike at 5 yards a 4 pt., which was fun to watch work an early scape. and two does. and jumped two other deer not sure what sex. Up north we always see deer in the past. at lest one a day. I saw nothing for a week and my buddy got blown at once. I have tried hard to fullfill my goal of a 6pt. or better. I have got smaller deer in the past, but I still got a tag and a fall turkey bow tag also.

sunday..12-14 will be my last hunt of this year.(Bow) A doe is looking good. a storm will be moving in. hopefully the deer will be out feeding in the afternoon.

RE: How would you rate this deer season?
 

So far it sounds like everybody has had a decent season. Keep the posts coming!

RE: How would you rate this deer season?
 

Excelent year , saw more bucks durring bow than I have ever seen . Shot a doe and buck during bow , my good friend got his first in archery this year , and shot a doe in blackpowder and a doe in gun .

RE: How would you rate this deer season?
 

great 10 point & doe during archery & big body 7 point during shot gun best part was just being out there

RE: How would you rate this deer season?
 

The weather was almost always bad on the days I could hunt, but I still had good fortune. My first 4 arrows shot resulted in 2 bucks and two does. I bowhunted during firearms season and saw several which would have been easy kills with a gun. I haven't been out much over the past few weeks, but might get an afternoon or two over the next few weeks.

RE: How would you rate this deer season?
 

I would define my season like this:

* Mother nature is in complete control. There was some bad weather in Ny this season. I've never had so many unhuntable days. Wind storms came one after the other. If it wasn't windy it was raining during bow.

* I am a bumbling idiot this year and would like to know who the hunter is that possesed my body is and hope he leaves soon.

* I stalked the biggest buck I've seen in my life for 3 hours only to blow it in the last 10 seconds from 30 yards. I still wake up at night screaming.

* I just about got in a fight with a buck who thought I was trying to go after his girlfriend. (she wasn't my type.)

* I passed on 7 different bucks this season. I went through the routine of drawing on them and putting the pin on them. Then just let them walk. Some satisfaction knowing I could've taken them.
I had 3 chances at taking a shooter buck but as stated in point #2 I was a bumbling idiot.
Why is it the ones I let pass I could get to full draw and shoot them if I wanted to and the ones that I wanted to shoot I made a mistake of some kind? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

* I've learned I need to locate those underground tunnels somehow during gunseason.

* I reconfirmed Murphy's Law on several occasions.

* I learned that when you take your bow with you it is a big plus to remember your quiver with all those arrows in them and not leave them back at the lodge.

* I learned that my hunting life is in the hands of the farmer leasing the land. And when he comes in there on opening day of bowseason and cuts 200 acres ofswail, nothing good comes from it.

All in all I loved it and wouldn't trade it for the world!!!:)

RE: How would you rate this deer season?
 

This year was HORRIBLE!!!

Hunted more days and covered more land then I ever have and saw very few deer.

Last year we had deer all over the place and I was seeing them right up until the end of the seasons. This year the deer were very few and far between.

My brother and 2 out of 3 of my hunting buddies got skunked all year. My brother had taken at least 1 deer for the last 5 years and my buddy hasn't been skunked in 16 years......until now.

I saw about a dozen deer. Hunted well over 40 days and walked I don't even want to guess how many miles. Saw 2 bucks all year. One was a 4 pointer during bow that never got in range and the other was a big 13 pointer that I was very lucky to kill on Thanksgiving day. The rest were does and all but 2 of them were running from other hunters.

Bought a new Patriot this year and a new muzzleloader......also put a scope on my shotgun. Didn't shoot any of them.....killed the big boy with my fathers gun because I took it out to change my luck.

My other brother who lives 2 hours from here had a decent year but around here it just sucked big time.

I took the best buck of my life in the worst season I can remember.

That was 11-27-03.

I did not see one single deer since I killed him.

Last year I saw MANY more deer........and so did all my hunting buddies. I killed 3 last year......this year lucky to get 1.

Man, I hope this is just a fluke and the DEC isn't falsely stating the size of the deer herd around here.........according to them they are almost out of control and they want to open the gun season on Saturday next year to get more hunters out and kill more deer.

I haven't talked to anyone in my area that hasn't had my same experience.

Scarey.

RE: How would you rate this deer season?
 

Atlas,
I think the DEC in Ny may want to consider doing their deer herd studies while NOT under the influence this year. The herd is wayyyyyyyyyyyy down. Stop the nuisance tags and stop being able to give out, sign over, give as christmas presents, whatever deer tags. This is by far the worse season I have ever seen.

RE: How would you rate this deer season?
 

NY Bowhunter , you had me laugh'n , sounds like my season last year . The first day pulling my bow up 3 of the 4 arrows in my quiver got caught on a vine a tumbeled down to the ground . It did'nt matter anyway as I did'nt see anything that first day with the one arrow I had , great start for the season .