Getting the younger generations involved in our great tradition of hunting is something all sportsmen should strive for. Whenever you have the opportunity to take a youth hunting or fishing you are helping preserve our life long tradition of the great outdoors.

Recently the Central New York branch of the Quality Deer Management Association held a youth hunt. This year Brooke was one of the nominees for the hunt. The twelve year old young woman put the first deer on the meat pole with an excellent 85 yard shot. Brooke took the largest doe of the group and was very excited about her hunt.

I was fortunate enough to introduce my brother to deer hunting last year. We ventured onto some public grounds during the shotgun season and, similar to Brooke, he took a nice buck at 75 yards. That hunt got my brother interested in deer hunting, enough so that he took his bowhunter safety course this past summer.

This past September I took Derek on his first bow hunt and he had a great time even though we didn't see any deer that morning. That afternoon we had two deer come out of a bedding area and one came close enough for a shot, but wouldn't stop when Derek bleated at her. About an hour later the second deer came into range and Derek dropped it in its tracks.

It doesn't take much extra effort to take someone new into the outdoors. The experience is rewarding and to be a part of that person's first hunt is something you and they will never forget. So next time you have the chance, introduce someone to the outdoors and share with them our hunting tradition.

As many of you know, I hunt some of the QDM managed DEP lands in New York. I've had great success on them and there are plenty of deer. It's a tough hunt, but if you're willing to wear down some boot leather you'll find that there are some giant bucks roaming the woods. Check out this monster buck that's walking around on public land - yes, there are big bucks on public grounds!

If you read my post from last weekend where I missed that nice 8 pointer, you'll be glad to know he's not lost forever. The miss will live on through this video so I can watch it over and over again! In all seriousness though, it is awesome to have the opportunity to watch video of your hunt after and relive the sometimes brief moments that happen in the deer woods.

Unfortunately, I'm new to videography so sometimes I do things like bump the camera when I'm about to shoot the deer and film a tree instead of the deer my arrow is flying at! It's still a pretty cool video - nice 8 pointer, two bucks fighting and a buck chasing a doe and grunting. The pre-rut is one of the most exciting times to be in the woods!

This father and son team had this buck's pattern pinned down. The trail cams showed this giant showing up  several times in a small creek bottom surrounded by hardwoods.  On the afternoon of October 18th the buck showed up and didn't make it more than 70 yards before finding its final resting place.

Here is a nice Westchester County buck that was shot in Pound Ridge, NY. The buck was taken on an afternoon hunt on October 19th. Mike put a double lung shot on the buck at 20 yards.


Just a few days later on October 21st this hunter also took a nice buck in Pound Ridge. Looks like Pound Ridge is the place to be right now! Congrats to both hunters!

It was opening morning of the New York archery season and this hunter only had an hour to hunt before heading off to work. He grabbed his climber and headed to the deer woods. Never having hunting this spot before the hunter was unsure of what to expect.

He saw a scrape under a big oak tree and decided to set up near the scrape. Not more than 10 minutes after sitting down the big 8 pointer came walking through the clover field and headed directly for the scrape!

At 10 yards the 8 pointer turned broadside and the arrow was on its way. The buck dropped within 40 yards making for an easy tracking job in the rain.

Date: October 25, 2009
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Location: Westchester County
Temperature: 52 degrees
Skies: Sunny
Wind: From NNW at 9 mph


I haven't been writing many field reports this season because I haven't been seeing any shooter bucks or letting any arrows fly at does. Well that all changed this morning when I was out filming myself on my first New York hunt of the season.

This was the first time I would be deer hunting this spot and my buddy Joe directed me to walk 50 yards off the main trail, cross the stone wall and set up in the third tree to the right of the fallen pine - yea, okay, you try doing that in complete darkness!

So onwards into the darkness I went until I crossed the stone wall and found a tree I could get my climber around. As it got light out I noticed I wasn't going to have many shot opportunities due to the vines and branches that surrounded me. I set up with my back to where I thought the deer would be coming from so they wouldn't see me. At 7:30 a.m. I looked to the trail about 80 yards away and saw a big bodied deer. I quickly got the camera on and started filming.

At first I thought this was the big bodied 6 pointer Joe had told me about on the ride over, but then I quickly realized it was a nice 8 pointer and one I would like to shoot. Now I had to film the buck and grab my bow at the same time - the video shows my disorganization quite well.

I had ranged a few trees earlier and one was at 40 yards which was where the buck was headed. When he got to the small opening I grunted with my mouth and he stopped. I thought I had the camera on him, but I had bumped it so I was just off - another rookie mistake!

As I held the bow at full draw I started to think that he was further than 40 yards and I should maybe hold high, but then I thought, maybe I'm just thinking too much, I already said he was at 40 so just shoot him like he's at 40. That's what I did and that's how I missed. The arrow flew on course the entire way before dropping right under the deer. The buck turned and ran out of there as fast as he could.

I thought it was a little odd that the buck ran out of the area so fast, but it was probably because he was an older smarter deer that had been shot at before. Well, when I found my arrow it turns out I did hit the buck, which explains why he ran off. However, the arrow looked as if it skimmed right under the rib cage. There was white hair on it, some fat and a spec of blood. Even though I was confident the buck would live and it was just a superficial wound, I searched for the deer with Joe anyway. We came up empty handed and couldn't find a single drop of blood or hair. We're both confident he's still alive and hopefully I'll get a second chance!

On October 19th, Steve stepped out into the crisp autumn air to hunt a nearby swamp. The frost covered leaves and thin ice in the swamp made it difficult to keep quiet.

Not too long after settling in Steve heard some noise behind him and looked to see a doe making its way towards him. The doe began snorting and then ran away after figuring out that something was up. As day continued to break another doe appeared and was headed right for Steve. When the doe got within 30 yards she turned and started walking away from the hunter.

Suddenly a buck appeared where the doe had just been not more than 35 yards away. The buck slowly made its way down the same trail the doe had used, nibbling on some browse along the way. As the buck turned to leave Steve used his grunt tube to let out a soft grunt. The buck turned and started coming right in to see what was up.

At 25 yards with his head behind a tree the buck stood broadside giving Steve the perfect shot. Steve's arrow flew true and the buck crashed through the swamp and made its way back up towards the field edge.

Steve waited in the stand to give the deer time to bed down and climbed down 40 minutes later. When he recovered his arrow he only found half of the arrow shaft and was having trouble finding a blood trail. However, with half an arrow in him, this buck was not going far. As Steve approached the edge of the field he saw a sight that makes every hunter jump with joy - the deer he had worked so hard to get was lying on the field edge, not more than 70 yards from where he was shot.

After eight years of bowhunting, Mike has taken 5 deer with the biggest weighing in at 125 pounds. Last Sunday one of Mike's friends gave him a call to go hunt his grandparents house in Cayuga County. When his buddy called, Mike wasn't too thrilled knowing he would have to wake up at 3:15 a.m. and make the 3 hour drive to get in before first light.

Mike woke up and made the 3 hour drive with his friend. The morning was perfect - cool and no wind. Not more than 10 minutes after getting set up in his stand Mike heard something over his left shoulder and glanced to see a monster buck headed his way. With no time to stand up, Mike drew back his bow and settled the pin - it was now or never! He let his arrow fly and the buck took off.


When Mike climbed down from his stand he found his arrow and saw good blood on it. At 9:40 a.m. he radioed his buddy to come help track the bruiser buck. The buck didn't make it more than 100 yards and weighted in at 205 pounds dressed - now that's a big buck!

On Sunday, October 18th Dan finally made it out for his first hunt of New York's 2009 archery season. The plan was to get to the stand around 3:00 p.m. and sit until dark. It wasn't until 6:00 p.m. that Dan saw his first deer - a big 8 pointer slowly making his way towards the hunter. As the buck got closer the wind swirled and the buck turned and started walking away. Dan only had one chance. The buck made it to a window 40 yards away and let the arrow fly putting the buck down in sight.

Joe sent in some pics of a nice Putnam County buck working a scrape on October 11th. I think he'd be hard to pass up.


This is a nice buck with some good tine length. Taking a little closer look at the third pic, it looks like this buck is missing its brow tines. Not sure if they were broken off or if he just never grew them.

Well the buck activity is definitely picking up and rubs and scrapes are showing up throughout the state. Check out these pictures from one of our readers of some nice bucks working a scrape mid-morning.


I've been finding that the scrapes in my area are typically on the same type of tree - not sure if its a swamp ash, walnut or hickory - but it has smooth gray bark and big green leaves. The deer tend to prefer these trees in the area I'm hunting for making scrapes. Whatever the case may be, I hope to come across a buck like this working the scrape one morning.

On October 16th, John dropped his buddy Sean off at the honey hole around 3:30pm. This spot was not hunted much, but John knew there was a big one in there.

Around 4:30pm Sean saw the bruiser through a small hole in the brush and the deer was walking away. He grunted at the deer, but nothing happened. Another grunt and the buck turned around and started coming in very slowly. As the buck approached the opening Sean drew back and let the arrow fly.

Sean called John to tell him the good news as the buck laid dead not more than 30 yards from his tree. The buck had a 20" spread and rough scored 127".

My buddy Joe from Beyond Backpacks gave me a call the other night to tell me how his opening day went in the Southern Zone of New York. Joe was out trying to shoot a doe and was only seeing young bucks. Then around 6:00 p.m. the big 10 pointer came out and was feeding on acorns at the base of his tree.

At 5 yards, Joe drew back on the buck and the arrow blew through both lunch and the buck's heart. About 60 yards later, the buck was on the ground. Congrats to Joe and his beautiful opening day 10 pointer!

Don't think we forgot about New York's other big game - the black bear! Although not quite as abundant as our whitetail deer, New York has a growing population of black bear. Here's a few from the Adirondacks:


Jeff Allen killed his first Adirondack black bear this season while still-hunting a beechnut covered ridge in the Southern Adirondacks.


This monster black bear was taken on October 3rd in Hamilton County. The photo was taken at the Adirondack Hotel in Long Lake, New York. This monster bear weighed in at 503 pounds! Imagine taking a bear that big with your bow!

Ben Secor of Remsen, NY took this 155-pound, 8-pointer on October 5th during the Northern Zone archery season. The buck gave Ben a 20 yard shot.


Ryan Rueckert of Queensbury, New York arrowed this 6-pointer, his first buck, on September 30th near Potsdam, New York.


Rick Peters of Fort Edward, NY arrowed this 165-pound, 6-pointer on September 30th in Saratoga County.

If you would like to share your success stories and photos with us email info@nybowhunter.com.

One of my good friend's Joe from Beyond Backpacks recently passed my email address along to his cousin Mike so he could share his early season success with us!

It was on the afternoon of Friday, October 2nd when Mike was setup in a ground blind on a corn field with his hunting buddy Mike T. filming.  The big 8 pointer came out from the left and presented Mike with a 22 yard shot.


When Mike released the arrow, the buck ran and the arrow hit him far back. Thanks to the massive cutting diameter of the Rage broadhead, the buck piled up 40 yards away.

This is the biggest deer Mike has ever taken and to have taken it with his bow makes it even more special. The buck will probably score in the 120's. Congrats to Mike on a beautiful chocolate antlered whitetail. What a great buck!

It was almost a week ago when this beautiful 6 pointer was taken in Long Island. What makes it even better is that it was the hunter's first buck - not a bad way to start if you ask me!

Over the last few seasons I have seen more and more of these giant 6 pointers showing up. My buddy Paul got one a few years back, his friend John took one and I found a shed from one last season on some public land.

I've never taken a 6 pointer in all my years of bowhunting and I know if I saw a big one like this I'd be very tempted to let an arrow fly!

There is so much going on lately with archery season opening that I can barely keep up with the deer showing up on trail cameras and the deer being taken where the archery season has begun.

If you remember back to earlier this season we had a few posts on a droptine buck in velvet that was showing up on one of our reader's trail cams - well, he's back!

This droptine buck is huge! I only hope we get a good story on what comes of this deer over the coming weeks. He'll probably be chasing the does towards the end of the month and once the rut starts he'll be in for it!

On October 14th the NYS DEC will be hosting a public meeting on deer management for Region 3. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Town of Bedford Court House located at 321 Bedford Road in Bedford Hills, New York.

The DEC is hosting these meetings to gather public opinion on the current state of the deer herd and to help manage the local herd in Region 3. They would like to consider the many differences in regional deer populations, habitat conditions and social interests.

A series of public meetings are being held throughout the state in an effort to help the NYS DEC prioritize the issues that are more important to NYS deer hunters and the general public. These meetings will be used to provide an update of the deer herd, highlight current management challenges, identify key issues and concerns as well as solicit input from hunters.

The meeting will have a Q&A session where the DEC will respond to written questions to clarify the information presented.

Additionally, those who can not attend are encouraged to write the NYS DEC at: Deer Management Program, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4750

It is extremely important for all hunters to attend these meetings held by the DEC. They are giving us the opportunity to have our voices heard and we must take advantage of this opportunity. A few topics that may come up could include an earlier opener for the archery season, a one buck limit, antler restrictions, and expanded opportunities for antlerless harvest.

Next Steps (from the NYS DEC website):

The DEC will summarize the input received during these meetings and focus management attention on the key issues identified. We intend to craft a survey for deer hunters to get additional feedback on specific ways to address issues related to potential hunting regulation changes. Results from the survey will help guide DEC in future changes to the deer program.

Here's an interesting buck from Long Island that was taken a few days ago. It has a really interesting split brow tine on its right main beam and it looks like the left brow tine wanted to split as well. The season opens this weekend in the Southern Zone and I'm sure the deer photos will start coming in!

This buck was taken on October 3rd in WMU 6H. Bruce drew his bow back and took this buck at a mere 10 yards! The deer went only 40 yards before piling up. It is Bruce's best buck to date and one to be proud of. Congratulations to Bruce!

Each year the Dougherty's of NorthCountry Whitetails put together their famous Rut Report following deer activity throughout the season. This year's Rut Report starts soon:

Well, it’s about time to fire up the old rut tracking machine for another year. Due to popular demand we will once again be writing our weekly deer report to keep you wired in to what’s going on at Kindred Spirits, and what is happening rut wise.

We will also be hosting a blog on the website of a new national magazine called Whitetails Only. The blog will be tracking the rut and will feature 3 live cameras operating at an “undefined” location in southwestern NY. Craig is the new Publisher of the magazine and Neil will be directing a variety of field projects for the organization.

Our weekly deer report will be more “personal” than our Whitetails Only blog. Many of you are close personal friends (and that’s how we like it) and most of you have been to Kindred Spirits. The report we send you each week will have more detail than our national blog. In addition to our weekly report we will also be posting some updates and camera photos of Kindred Spirits locations on our website that will not be seen on the Whitetails Only site and will not be in our weekly report.

Now, we need your help. We pay special attention to the “unique” bucks that show up on our cameras. They seem to ramp up as the rut approaches and peak slightly before breeding time. They are great indicators of the rut. We would like you to start tracking your unique bucks as we track ours.

Start counting now and finish on Oct. 4. That is your “unique buck baseline”. Let’s say 20 uniques by Oct. 4. After the 4th count every newcomer (you might add 1 or 2 or more each week) your cameras pick up. Tally only the uniques your cameras pick up each week until Dec. 15th. Tip, you might want to copy a “mug shot” of each unique as he shows up as well as all the bucks in your initial survey. Some bucks leave early only to show up at a later date. Keeping a mug file will help you keep track of who is coming and going.

We will develop a reporting form for you as the season progresses and asking you to fill it out when the season ends. It will really be cool to keep track of uniques and this will serve as a pilot for a large national study we will be kicking off next year with our new magazine. Imagine, thousands of hunters tracking buck activity as the rut develops, peaks and ends.

Best regards,
NorthCountry Whitetails

Well it's finally here and it's finally happened! Check out this awesome early season 10 pointer from Long Island, NY. Hopefully this a sign of what's still to come this season. October 17th can't get here fast enough for me.

One of the guys from Butternut Lures shared this photo of a buck he killed in the Adirondack Mountains on opening day of the Northern Zone. After a 4 1/2 hour drive and a night sleeping in the car Kris had no idea where he was other than it was a Multiple Use Area.

An hour before dawn he was sitting in a large pine with some Apple Boost Butternut Lure in front of him. It was an hour after first light when this buck stepped out and took an arrow from Kris's recurve. This was the third buck that came into range! The deer went about 80 yards before piling up.