Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Extreme Archery Deal of the Day on Groupon


Maybe you had archery in gym class or remember shooting a toy bow and arrow as a kid. Either way you probably enjoyed it, so why not give it another try?

Extreme Archery is Westchester County's first archery shop with an indoor range. Located at 801 East Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck, Extreme Archery has a friendly staff that offers lessons for archers of all ages.

If you've thought about giving archery a try, but didn't know how to get started now is the perfect time. Extreme Archery is offering a Groupon deal for those thinking about getting into archery or just looking for something different to do on a Saturday afternoon.

Choose from the following options:

For $25, you get an archery outing (a $61 total value) that includes the following:
  • A half-hour archery lesson (a $30 value)
  • A half-hour of range time (a $10 value)
  • Three arrows (a $21 value)

For $49, you get an archery outing for two people (a $122 total value) that includes the following:
  • A half-hour archery lesson each (a $30 value per person)
  • A half-hour of range time each (a $10 value per person)
  • Three arrows each (a $21 value per person)

For $25, you get an archery package (a $81 total value) that includes the following:
  • Three one-hour range passes (a $60 value)
  • Three arrows (a $21 value)
Helmed by a team of veteran archers, Extreme Archery teaches the regal sport at its 20-yard indoor range. In the first two options, budding bow-persons equipped with three arrows apiece from the adjacent pro shop square off at the head of the range against haughty targets as instructors teach the fundamentals of stance, arrow nocking, and Robin Hoodian economics. Students then get a chance to let fly their feathered missiles for an extra half-hour of range time, aiming at distant clusters of concentric circles that represent packs of wild Pac-Men.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Late Season Bowhunting in New York


Mike Coyne and his dad were hunting in late December when they saw two different 8 pointers - a 90" buck and a 100" buck. A few days later Mike had a young 90" seven pointer come within 30 yards of his stand around 7:30 am.


Later that morning Mike caught movement as two deer headed off the hill towards his stand. The first deer was a bigger bodied buck, but as the buck approached Mike realized it had shed its antlers. With the an 8 pointer close behind the shed buck Mike prepared to take the shot. At 35 yards the buck gave Mike a slightly quartering away shot.


The buck ran off and was out of sight after crossing over a stone wall 40 yards away. When Mike found the buck he was just 20 yards past the stone wall. The buck scored 103 5/8" and was aged at 3 1/2 years old.

DEC Releases Draft Bobcat Management Plan

ZHEDRBJYZVSN

ALBANY, NY (01/23/2012) - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the release of a proposed five-year bobcat management plan for public review and comment. "The plan, once final, will guide the management of bobcat in New York State for the next five years, a wildlife species which continues to fascinate and intrigue both the hunting community and nature observers," said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens.

The draft management plan is available on the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/9360.html. The comment period on the draft plan runs through February 16, 2012.

The draft plan describes three primary goals for bobcat management:
  • Maintain viable population levels and monitor trends in bobcat distribution and relative abundance; 
  • Provide for sustainable use and enjoyment of bobcat by the public; and 
  • Minimize negative bobcat-human interactions. 
"DEC staff worked closely with trappers and small game hunters to gain preliminary input regarding the future management of the bobcat resource," said DEC Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathleen Moser. "Input obtained from these groups was used by DEC biologists and managers to develop the recommendations and management actions contained in the draft plan, said Moser." The plan includes proposals to greatly simplify hunting and trapping season dates by making them consistent throughout much of the state as well as establishing new hunting and trapping opportunities in several wildlife management units in central and western New York.

While hunters and trappers are the most common users of the bobcat resource, wildlife enthusiasts, nature photographers, and others also benefit from a healthy bobcat population. As is the case with hunters and trappers, many wildlife photographers also view the elusive bobcat as being a "trophy" species and a rewarding challenge to capture on film. "As evidenced by the number of observation reports fielded by Department staff, the public is very interested in bobcats and can play a role in their management by facilitating the collection of data on the species," said DEC Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resource Director Patty Riexinger. "DEC strives to provide sound management for bobcat and other furbearer species for the benefit of the resource and the people of New York," said Riexinger.

Comments may be submitted in writing through February 16, 2012 to NYSDEC Bureau of Wildlife, Bobcat Management Plan, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754 or by e-mail to fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Sunday, January 22, 2012

First Bowkill of 2012

Bowhunting has ended in New York, but continues for the month of January in neighboring Connecticut which just so happens to be a quick 15 minute drive from my house.

My favorite time of year to hunt is the late season and Connecticut allows me to stay in the woods a whole extra month - if they would just change the law to also allow Sunday hunting it would probably be where I spent all of my time.

Yesterday I took advantage of the freshly fallen snow to hunt whitetail deer as they scoured the covered landscape in search of food. The morning hunt was interesting and after arriving late due to my alarm not going off and the snow covered roads I walked up on four deer, drew back on one and killed a tree - so much for that.

By mid-afternoon I was back on stand and spotted two deer at 3:00pm. As the deer worked their way in a third ran towards them and instead of walking by my shooting window they all ran by it. It wasn't until roughly an hour and a half later when I spotted my next deer. With my rangefinder battery dead, I estimated a 45 yard shot and watched as my arrow sailed over the deer's back. The deer went 10 yards and I nocked a second arrow.

The deer then turned and walked back the way it came and I began to draw back in anticipation for a shot. The deer was a few steps away from an opening I know is 40 yards, but right before the opening the deer made a hard right and started walking right at me. I continued to hold at full draw as the deer slowly worked its way in. When the deer was about 15 yards away it knew something was up and I could tell the deer was getting ready to bolt. I had to lean around the tree to take the shot and as I released the arrow I watched as it buried into the deer's shoulder. Unfortunately, I didn't get a pass through, but I knew that at close range shooting a 425 grain arrow out of my 75 pound Hoyt Turbo the deer wouldn't make it far.

After 45 yards the deer wobbled, but then got a second wind and charged up the hill. With no blood in the initial area, I decided to back out and return in the morning to trail the deer. After following tracks in the snow for 40 yards I found the first sign of blood. The pictures below tell the story of what happened next:








Not exactly how I wanted to get my first kill with the new bow. Last season I saw several coyotes, but this year I haven't seen, heard or taken any trail cam pics of coyotes in the area so I figured they were hunting somewhere else. Obviously I was wrong and the coyotes are hungry - this is the deer after 16 hours. Looks like I won't be leaving any deer over night anymore.

Friday, January 20, 2012

The Quest Continues for the G2 Buck


For the last two years I've been after one buck - the G2 Buck. My first encounter with this deer was in 2010. This is when the buck showed up on trail camera for the first time, but would usually show up during the evenings after shooting hours.

Being a nocturnal deer during the summer, I knew this was going to be a really hard deer to hunt. I also knew that the deer was probably not bedding close to where my cameras were which was why I was getting pictures at night.

It was the second week of the season in Connecticut when I saw the G2 Buck for the first time. I was in the stand by early afternoon hoping the deer would filter out of the swamp and feed on the acorn flat I was hunting. Slowly does and young bucks started filtering in and eventually I was surrounded by deer.


That's when the G2 Buck stepped out of the swamp and headed right towards a smaller 90" eight pointer to challenge the smaller buck. At the same time a doe was working her way within 10 yards of my stand. I had the G2 Buck at 50 yards broadside when the doe picked up my sent and snorted at me. As she turned and ran back towards the swamp she took every other deer with her, including the G2 Buck that I was getting ready to shoot. That was the one and only time I saw that buck while hunting in 2010.

Fast forward to 2011 and the G2 Buck continued on his pattern of sparingly showing up after shooting hours. After showing up on trail cam a few times after shooting hours the G2 Buck starting moving at first light. It was mid-November and at the time I was in Kansas.

My father was after the same buck and finally got his chance at the G2 Buck at first light. With the buck at 40 yards he released an arrow, but the arrow just barely skimmed the bottom of the buck's chest and the deer ran off and would recover from the minor wound.


One month later, I got my first trail camera picture of the G2 Buck during shooting hours. He was 20 yards from my treestand, but only stayed for a few minutes. It would have been plenty of time for me to get off a shot only I wasn't hunting that day, I was working. I was thrilled with a picture of the buck during shooting hours and was determined to continue hunting the stand. Several sits later all I was seeing were yearling bucks. I couldn't even get a doe to come in.


Then once again in early January 2012 the buck showed up. Unfortunately, he was back to his after hours routine and he was there and gone just like that. Now there's two Saturday's left for me to hunt in January (you can't hunt Sundays in Connecticut). Time is quickly running out and all I can do is hunt hard and hope we cross paths. Guess we'll see what happens tomorrow, who knows, maybe the G2 Buck will show up.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Muzzy Introduces New DX-3 Broadhead


I'm really excited about Easton's new Injexion arrows with the smallest diameter of any hunting arrow on the market (just .236 compared to .294 for a standard diameter carbon arrow). The smaller diameter arrow shaft allows for increased penetration and decreased wind drift. The smaller diameter arrow, however, required Easton to develop the Deep Six insert.

Deep Six inserts, which use a non-conventional thread pattern (40 threads per inch instead of 32 threads per inch), provide 25% more thread engagement to keep points secure inside the insert. Additionally, the inserts are made from stainless-steel instead of aluminum for a 25% increase in strength. It also means your standard broadheads won't work with the new Deep Six inserts and only specially designed broadheads will work. One such broadhead is the new Muzzy DX-3.


I had a chance to stop by the Muzzy booth at the ATA Trade Show and get my hands on a DX-3. Speaking with the guys in the booth I learned just how painstaking of a process developing the new DX-3 was - moving 1/10 of a grain from one end of the broadhead to another while still maintaining the 100g final weight was no easy feat.


The DX-3 is in essence a modified MX-3 with a slightly thicker ferrule and a tapered end to meet the shaft diameter for less friction and drag during flight. The same .025" blades found on the MX-3 are used on the new DX-3 which also has a cutting diameter of 1-1/4".


The Muzzy DX-3, coupled with the Easton Deep Six System, produces less wind drag than other larger broadhead-arrow combinations, resulting in increased accuracy and deeper penetration. When the same amount of energy is concentrated in the smaller Deep Six/DX-3 package, the result is devastating. The DX-3 also fits Easton's Axis and Full Metal Jacket with Deep Six inserts. The Muzzy DX-3 has an MSRP of $29.95.

I'm really looking forward to shooting the new DX-3 and comparing the penetration against a MX-3 on a standard shaft. I have a feeling there will be a very noticeable difference in penetration. Now I just need get my hands on some Easton Injexion shafts!