Hunting updates. Post here, good or bad.
Connecticut
Contributors to this thread:
Between the rain, breaking in my new Mercury 150, fishing, and 2 golf leagues, I went out for the first time last evening.
Few acorns in Litchfield.. WTF
Didn't see anything. It started to rain fairly heavy, so I left around 5:30.
I don't take any chances of losing a blood trail.
So far I’ve seen 6 bears, 2 bobcats, 1 deer.
Predators are not helping the deer population.
UWS, all you ever talk about are the predators where you hunt… go somewhere with less predators and more deer.
OK coon, I’m just gonna pick up & move… lol Great idea. Love my land, love my property. This is a public forum and I’m just letting you all know what I’ve experienced.
Maybe you don’t have a bear issue.
I’ve had years here where I’ve killed 3 deer in one season. Seems deer sitings are becoming less and I think bears are contributing to same.
The OP asked for good and bad…
Now, maybe if you’d help me with the deposit and closing costs on my next property, I’ll heed your advice.
Prost.
I’ve seen more deer so far this season than almost all of last year. Lol. Passed three deer so far. The acorns are definitely helping movement. But we need some consistent W/NW fall winds. And far less rain.
Seeing deer every time out except for this morning. One property is loaded with deer. Crazy. Saw 5 does one sit. Four bucks the next, two together. Saw the two again yesterday afternoon walking in. Lots of nuts, all kinds
went twice , shot on nothing the next time.. cameras have slowed down . had 2 8s sparring last night.
Hunted twice, saw a 6 pointer and 2 does the first hunt, no shot opportunity. Adjusted, next hunt I killed the 6 pointer. It was on a larger white oak with abundant acorns. The ground is torn up like crazy with tracks.
Hunted 5 cooler mornings, saw deer each sit, took this spike on 9-27 when it was 40 degrees eating acorns from a big white oak…
No, buck tags left
No, buck tags left
Took my second six pointer of the year two days ago. It was a 40 yard shot with my mission crossbow, and the buck went about 40 yards and piled up. I’m very fortunate to get to young bucks this early in the year and from now on it’s only big does. My wife said now is the time I’m going to see that monster I’ve been chasing lol. Good luck to all.
Only been out 4x (3 properties). Two mornings (1 seen, unknown sex), two evenings (5 seen, all does). Also saw one raccoon and two red fox the same morning as the deer. Killed one of the five in the evening. No bucks yet.
I am trying to get out tomorrow morning.
Been out 2 times in CT saw 0 deer and a bob cat. Only deer I saw was standing on road to property
Im so jealous, I'm still waiting to be able to walk without wearing a walking boot.
I'm kinda happy/relieved I removed all my cell cams before my achilles accident so I don't get disappointed of huge Buck pics walking by my stand.
Congratulations BAT! I'm not sure what would be worse, watching a Booner walk by without a tag or my predicament.
Was out this morning and had one come by at 7:30. I think a small buck from the look of the body and the way it walked. It was in and out of the leaves….Then two does and a fawn came by shortly after from the opposite direction. All deer were 35-50 yard away. No shots taken.
This is from all state land spots.
Blood...What are you waiting for? Do you have a specific buck targeted?
passed on a 120's in CT yesterday evening.
Bwhnt, I’ve been at this for 37 plus years. I’m back to having fun again and truly enjoying my time in the tree. When the right opportunity comes along, I’ll take advantage of it. I’ve still got 5 weeks left on state with the bow. It’s going to keep getting better as we get deeper into October….and November will be very good! Thank you for the positive wishes! ;)
“All deer were 35-50 yard away. ”
Those are some mighty long pokes!
May the Little Red Gods of the Hunt reward your patience. Scary to realize that state land Archery is over so soon. But I guess at that point the bow-only areas should be nice, quiet places to go for small game?
Good luck Blood I was just hoping you had a nice buck you were going after, exp on state land. Can't beat seeing deer it keeps you going back!
I have some very nice ones on camera and I’m hoping that they, and new ones, show up for the rut. But I’ll most certainly take a doe if I get the right opportunity.
Corax, bow only spots are tiny and are not nearly as good as regular state land in most instances. I think next year they are adding bow as a lessor weapon for state land during shotgun. I’ve been asking for it for years with a few folks.
That’d be good. I don’t think my O/U skeet/skeet is the best choice and I’m afraid to think what may have become of the bore in my .54 after 25 years on the coast and a crapload of hurricanes….
But I remember telling someone up there that they were INSANE to not allow muzzleloaders as “lesser” because they’re (point of fact!) anything BUT…at least for that first shot….
I don’t know why they wouldn’t allow bows as lesser except if they somehow figured that they need to hold onto those tags to distribute to hunters who haven’t purchased Archery tags— or maybe a preference point system in the oversubscribed units to make room for some folks who only hunt Shotgun.
I would probably know a lot more about hunting Public in this state had I not been so fortunate with Private access the first years I was out here. I had it so good that I thought it would be kind of a dirtball maneuver to be part of the Public land pressure problem…. But man… once the boys showed up and then when they started playing hockey, my time to look into Public spots far away just dried right up. And I was already spending over 12 hours a week at the wheel just getting to work and back, so the last thing I wanted to do on a Saturday was drive someplace…..
It’s really a simple process. You purchase a shotgun tag and you use your bow and tag your deer with your shotgun tag. One and done. CT DEEP can’t seem to understand that idea…. Believe me. I’ve had conversations with them in depth.
Yep, “process” is Dirt Simple— all that’s necessary is for the COs to not issue citations to anyone with the correct tag (and enough orange on).
Corax, the regs are black and white. They’re not difficult to read or understand. Bows should be a lessor weapon during shotgun and muzzleloader seasons on state land.
I don’t think anyone is having any difficulty understanding what they regs are. It’s WHY they are what they are that strikes many of us as nonsensical.
Yeah it’s pretty simple. Other states do it. Buy a general tag, hunt with your bow.
No time for anything but baseball! Been playing since April with a 3 week break in Aug. My oldest is getting the itch to head out with the rifle and my youngest wants to tag along bad. Hunted once for geese in Sept and shot a few. Not sure I'll get out with the bow before gun season. Good luck to all and congrats to those that have connected already.
I'm surprised I haven't heard anyone mention the "October lull" this year yet. Movement has been pretty good I guess.
Went out this morning to a new area, first light until 11:30. Didn't see anything.
Acorns still dropping.
I found 3 large, fresh scrapes. I'd say from during the night.
Woods seemed to have quieted down in my areas.
Gentle breeze and a good spot.
Gentle breeze and a good spot.
I’m out now. Super nice. And crunchy too. You can hear them coming on afternoons like this. Acorns still falling.
Here’s a boot pic. I guess some guys like these pics :)
Big guy showed this morning, was gone for 2.5 weeks
Congratulations to those who have already taken a deer.
IMHO, it has been too windy, then rainy lately and the moon phase is only now good. I'm retired and not into wasting time when I know conditions are less than OK. Next week(best moon phase) I'll be out for the practice, and Lord willing, shoot any deer that presents a shot. It looks like, starting the fifth of November will also be perfect moon phase and rut activity should be hopping.
Good point bwhnt, Not many have mentioned the October lull yet... I'm optimistic!
I’m out this morning. State land again. Just had two does with two fawns come right past. Didn’t shoot anything because of the fawns with them. It’s been a good season so far!
You have a bunch of tags to fill, I'd start by putting some meat in the freezer pretty soon.
I went out for the first time this season yesterday. A few minutes before sunset, 4 does emerged from cover out of range. They slipped down the river bank and crossed to the other side. I was unable to see what happened when they entered the river, but one of them either slipped or jumped in. It sounded like a fat kid doing a cannon-ball in a pool. So much for stealth...
Beautiful morning today. 41*, almost zero wind from nw. Sat until 1015, nothing but squirrels and chipmunks. Acorns all over.
Looks like both of those does were pretty interested in some things happening around you….
Any ideas what they were noticing?
I heard one of the fawns bleating/grunting a ways off. Like constant meh, meh, meh, meh over and over. Then about 10 mins later they all paraded in. One of the does was looking up the hill at something….I was hoping it was a buck….but nothing ever showed. I couldn’t turn around because they would have picked me off. They hung around for 10 mins just eating acorns. Then moved off. I could have shot either of the big does at any time.
OMG Blood. I'd be dragging that last one out.
Nice pictures Blood. Good luck.
I also pass on does with yearlings. Two buddies, separately, told me that they shot a doe with yearlings, and both said that the yearlings wouldn't leave.
One buddy said as he was gutting, a yearling kept coming right up to the doe and bleating..
I don't want that to happen, so I pass.
I will however, shoot a lone mature doe.
I’m sure the State Bios would beg you to take ‘em both. And I probably would. I’m watching my cholesterol these days and it has been quite a while since I had a good steak :D
I’d pass on a Button, though. They’re likely enough to be killed when their dams run them off as it is, so their odds of surviving are basically better if you knock her off.
Corax, all new studies are showing that high red meat consumption has no relation to high cholesterol.
Definitely starting to see some of the big guys moving around. Had this cam picture of a mature 10 point chasing a doe in Fairfield.
Definitely starting to see some of the big guys moving around. Had this cam picture of a mature 10 point chasing a doe in Fairfield.
Well, I’d rather eat venison anyway, and it’s been a minute….
I rattled in 4 different bucks this morning and saw some chasing does. It’s on.
Haven't hunted CT since 9/22 (NY since 10/5). Not much on cams, but I'll give it a go tomorrow morning in CT.
Hunted this morning. No deer seen. Got an 8pt on camera. One day he's clean and 3 days later he's got junk on his head. Maybe black mesh or fencing? hard to tell.
Looks like the stuff you throw over fruit trees to keep the birds out. And we know that deer raid fruit trees. My brother has a terrible problem with mule deer in his yard….
Guessing this is a private land opportunity….
Its plastic deer fence. I shot a nice 8 that was dragging 10 ft of it.Poor thing kept tripping .
My cell cameras have been relatively quiet up until past 48 hrs. Was getting lots of squirrels and an occasional doe. All of a sudden several good sized bucks are showing up, all in the dark. 1 or 2 more weeks and hopefully they will start showing up during daylight.
It's public land. Hopefully he shakes it off and comes back a day I'm hunting!
Another beautiful morning, 43*, very light north wind. At 7:30, a big doe with little fawn, and second doe came from the east. Big doe gave me a 15 yard broadside, but the fawn was little, so I passed on her (Thanks Blood, lol). She finally got a little antsy and walked off with her youngster. The second doe stuck around for a few minutes, and I got to full draw, just as she turned towards me. I got to about 3/4 draw a second time and she did it again. When she finally gave me the right pose, she was staring at me and had me frozen. She turned and walked away. Less than five minutes later, another doe with a single fawn came from same direction, but stayed out of range.
Except for the 1.5" spike (button?) I shot on Dec 26, I haven't seen a buck since 2021.
But you know, Brian, that’s what makes all of this worth doing! Sounds like a great day in the woods to me….
You’re shooting stickbow?
Yes, any time I have deer that close is a great day. Five in one sit is exceptional. Yes, recurve.
My buddy tagged a monster in CT last night. I’ve been having deer chasing does like crazy. Back to the Midwest now just in time for the action to be lights out!!
Awesome buck. I just saw that one on instagram too! what town?
Sat for an hour and 45 tonight, light rain almost the entire time. Ten minutes before sunset I got a quick glimpse of a deer. I think I saw antler but it was so quick I'm not sure. It was 50-60 yards through leaves. Lots of nuts falling.
Nice buck Swamp.
Sat this morning from first light until 11:00.
Very few acorns here in Litchfield..
Fresh tracks and crap, didn't see any deer.
I won't mention the nice 8 that walked in front of my stand this past Monday morning, at 8:24...
While I slept in after watching the Giants game Sunday night...
I've had the opportunity to get about 10x this season so far. Sightings have been very limited thus far, 4 doe and 2 bucks. Encroachment and limited nut production seem to contributing to lack of sightings. Very fortunate though to secure some new private parcels, but late so more scouting is needed.
Been seeing road kills starting. My son hit a doe last night leaving my house. Got about halfway home.
Things are starting to change for the better. Looks like a little more cruising starting to happen. This guy showed up this week at this scrape and now I’m getting a picture or two of him every night/day
That's a nice one, git him
That’s a great-lookin’ buck, Rich! Especially gotta love those beefy hindquarters ;)
I hunted yesterday over the border in NY. Saw nothing in the AM in Putnam county, and young 6pt and 3 turkeys in the PM in Rockland County. Temps about to get crazy warm. I was thinking of hunting CT on friday, but now maybe thinking i wait for next week?
CT, what else would you be doing if you didn’t hunt? I’d go hunt.
Great buck Rich! Make him your birthday present tonight! Happy Birthday Longbeard!
My first try/sit of the season is Wednesday afternoon. Doctor gave me the thumbs up to only walking in fields. So im going to sit in the tick infested briars.
BLOOD was nice enough to offer his services of dragging if I shoot one. He also made me some new arrows, trying the 4 fletch vanes. Unbelievable quality, he knows his stuff!
Beautiful afternoon!
Beautiful afternoon!
Good luck to all. Shoot straight in the coming weeks!
Good luck Ne. You’re on the home stretch with your injury. I’ve been there more than once.
Great looking arrows from our main man Blood. He just finished a dozen for me also. Can’t wait to try them out!!
I'll be out in CT tomorrow morning. 37 degrees before the heat wave
I still have bucks running together.
I almost stepped on a couple this evening… they sure do know where they’re safe.
Felt like an amazing morning. 37 degrees and no wind. zero deer seen. but more bear pics. ugh.
No deer seen this morning
As I drove home this morning I see a nice 8 feeding in a field at 9:30..... further down the road I see another deer in a different field.
38* here this morning. No wind, no deer. Down at 0945, Found a couple scrapes and rubs on way out.
Drive to Middletown NY from central CT today. Counted at least 10 roadkills on the trip. Mostly does. They are starting to get antsy. Won’t be long till the bucks start cruising to find them.
Awesome year so far, I took this nice big doe yesterday morning from the ground at 30 yards. Four walked out of site at 7:30 and I got out of my stand and stalked them for almost an hour and a half until I had a perfect shot. She went 30 yards and piled up. I’ve been doing this for over 45 years and this was by far the most exciting hunt of my life. I am done hunting for the week due to other commitments, but will try and use my last tag next week. The deer god are definitely with me this year. Good luck to all.
Nice one! Gotta love getting it done down in the dirt.
My big news is that I may actually have gotten the OK on a small piece of property that gets used regularly. One of those “gotta ask the girlfriend” deals, but both have had Lyme 3-4 times, so I’m guardedly optimistic. Next time I see this guy, I’m gonna have everything I need in the buggy….
Wish me luck!
Congrats Extreme, nice doe.
Went to my hot spot this afternoon, where I shot the doe last month. Saw a Boone and Crockett gray squirrel but that was it. He was huge. No deer.
Good eats extreme, congrats!!!..I saw a few deer on the side of super 7 in new milford this morning, first time in awhile..I have yet to get out,milking the ot train for every thing it's worth
Sat this morning from first light until 11:00.
No runs, no hits, no-one left on base..
Different Buck
Different Buck
Starting to show up at my farm.
The mature Bucks live deep away from the fields at this place. Thousands of acres of oaks.
Last three days shooters are making appearances, never seen them yet this fall.
Just passed a 2 year old 6. Nice wide set of antlers his mouth was wide open and a few small grunts as I heard him walk off. Second time I’ve seen that deer this season
Had two does at closing time as well
Had two does at closing time as well
Passed a doe with two little fawns this morning on state land. Maybe 10 yards. I have the fawns on camera in late September with spots so I figured they were born in July. They were still very small.
Hunted this afternoon at a private spot and saw one lone doe too far to shoot. And then a pretty good sized black bear about 80 yards away.
this is the 8 that came in with my 7 .. hopefully a monster next year
That's a great picture of the does in snow!
Last two times out, I saw a total of 2 does.
Deer are starting to move. Last night, a spike and small 8 showed up on camera, 10 minutes apart..
I'll start to get out more.. I'm retired, where's the fire?
Corax_latrans's Link
“where's the fire?”
I’ll let The Man explain that one to ya….
Sensei not me is passing on knowledge and wisdom to young grasshopper corax...... Sidenote...I shot a coyote on the ground yesterday at 18 yards as I was taking a climber off of a tree. I swear tinks attracts coyotes more than bucks. Deer just started showing up on camera as of last night.
Great morning today. 36* to start. At just legal light, it sounded like antlers banging together behind me in the direction I walked in. 7:23 a lone doe casually walked through, staying 50 yards out on her way to bedding. 7:44 a few deer ran into a overgrown field, the button buck came out my side and gave me a 10 yard shot that I passed. After he walked away and I was watching the doe to see what she would do, I looked to the north to check on the button and there was another deer walking toward me. Thought it was a doe, but was a spike about 6". He came within range, but didn't give me a good shot. He walked into the field towards the doe and other fawn(?) and the doe bolted out the other side. A minute or two later she came running, 60 yards out, and met the button and they both ran north. Expecting the spike to come along on her trail, a mature buck showed up instead. He was at least a six, but think an 8. At 60 yards his rack looked pretty damn good. I stopped him with a grunt and he looked my way. He started making a scrape. I gave a snort wheeze (never did that before), hoping he would come to kick butt, he did a snort wheeze back to me. That was cool, I'd never heard it in person before. He turned to work his scrape and did another snort wheeze, so I copied him. Then he really started to tear up the scrape, crap was flying everywhere. He raked a few branches and walked away from me. As soon as he left the scrape, another deer walked to it. I think it was a doe because I couldn't see any antlers and it didn't scrape or rub branches but did lick the branches. So in 40 minutes, I saw at least 6 deer, maybe 7 or 8. I couldn't keep track of whether they were different or just walking back and forth. At 8:10 it was over.. Sat until 10:15. Fun morning, hope it continues tomorrow.
Sometimes those are the best mornings bud,they give hope
There are deer everywhere right now.
Brian, enjoyed your narrative
Had a great afternoon in the woods. 5 deer in total. Couldn’t get to where I wanted to go because on the walk in I had a small two year old cruising around so after he worked off I popped up in a tree and immediately had two doe come by then another small spike was harassing them but the does just walked off from him. Then around closing time I saw a nice racked buck crossing the swamp where I originally wanted to get to so that was tough to watch him walk off. He was about 75 yards away then I had a nice two year old 8 come to about 10 yards right under my tree. Hopefully tomorow is the day !
I went out this afternoon. Was planning to stay til sunset. Around 4pm a pheasant hunter with his dog rolled in making noise yelling at his dog, jumped a bird and shot 3 times. Then walked past me and left. I climbed down and went to scout another area.
I had 4 new bucks show on camera last night all different places! there moving !
I’m afraid my “update” is that my car is in the shop all this week, which has prevented me from following up on a possible Private Land opportunity, I’ve got a Parents’ Weekend to attend, and so I might just be able to sneak out somewhere on Monday afternoon….
One of these years, maybe….
Shot another coyote this morning. Same spot. Came by at 9:20. I swear they are attracted to doe in heat scent. I know that there's 2 big ones, at least left.
Everything was perfect this AM except I didn't see a living thing : not a bird, chipmunk, squirrel. H--y S--t, I was in the twilight zone !
Got my private land permit today and will be out Saturday evening. I'll probably be setting a camera out also to hopefully get a nice picture of some sort. Must remember to face the camera north.
Keep killing them Soap.
29* here at hunt time. Sat a stand for first time this season. Tucked into some hemlock. At 9:20, when Soap was killing a dog, I had an unknown deer come from behind and started blowing. Wind was right, or so I thought. I know it couldn't see me. It has happened before at this stand, so maybe the terrain swirls the wind, not like it was windy though. Anyway, I got down at 10:10 ,took my stand down and found a new spot 50-60 yards north. I should be able to see them coming now.
When I got home, my wife says two deer were in the yard at 11:00. Lol
For the time of year and the cold temps it was certainly quiet. A few squirrels that were only out for an hour, one raccoon off in the distance and a yote that is no longer with us. I'll be trying a field edge this evening.
You guys have me jonesing for some coyote pelts…. Are they getting thick yet?
The two I got this week I would say no. The other two I've seen, definitely
Had my first draw back on a deer. He was quartering to at 20, but I was shaking too much to get a shot off. He spooked when I let down, but hopefully he’ll be back
SCT if its your first shot wait for a broadside or angling away a lot mor forgiving.
You had the best Day SCT! God I miss that feeling,
Yeah I'll be waiting for a better shot. Didn't want my first shot to have any regret to go along with it, so I let down, which he saw unfortunately. I had held it for at least a minute or so and just couldn't hold it stable at that point
Thanks guys. It was a harder decision than I'd like to admit, but very glad I did it
Hunted CT yesterday morning saw nothing. Perfect weather. Hunted NY in PM and passed up a spike under 5 yards after i grunted him in from 70 yards hoping something bigger was near.
Wednesday afternoon I climbed down at sunset, didn't see anything.. At the truck, I get a picture at 6:13.. 8 pointer in front of my stand..
This morning, I'm getting ready at my truck.. 6:25... I get a picture.. same 8 in front of my stand....
So who’s patterning whom??
I’m basically philosophically opposed to those things, but I have to wonder…. Does that motivate or just aggravate?
I will confess… it would probably take a lot of fun out of the whole proposition for me…. You guys must feel otherwise, or you (presumably) wouldn’t go to the trouble….
Just wait until Sunday....the deer will be an hour different, happens every year lol. Yes the deer pattern us. A property I hunt, I share with others. I saw deer every time up until one guy started hunting. He drives through the hayfields to the woods in the morning instead of parking and walking in the easy quarter mile. I mentioned this and he said that he's still driving in. The deer are now up by the houses.
Since Steve is tagged out, maybe he wants to sub-lease to me for $200 per day?
I have only have a 8 and 9 around you wouldn’t be interested. LOL I went for coyotes tonight
Great cold morning. Didn’t see anything but still a great morning. My cams show some decent bucks at night and some huge bears. Hunting with my son tomorrow which is always great! Can’t fit in that double stand anymore lol.
Caught one cruising today on state land! Crushed him at 28 yards quartering away. Only deer I saw. Came in at 3pm definitely cruising !
Steve....use doe in heat to attract those yotes. Hanghunt.... sweet
Congratulations, any better pics?
Truly nothing better than November.
Hangn, what part of the state?
Every single antler was busted up. He’s been fighting like a mad man. And the central part of the state. By the Middletown
Every single antler was busted up. He’s been fighting like a mad man. And the central part of the state. By the Middletown area
Cockaponsett. Lots of area there. Congrats.
Congratulations to everyone that's taken a deer this season.
Nice afternoon hunt but no deer. Saw and heard pileated woodpecker. Watched a large hawk cruise by and noticed only two squirrels all the while out there.
Deadsville this morning in the spot I moved my stand to on Thursday. Quiet, a couple brief sprinkles and no wind to speak of. 2 gray squirrels and a red squirrel. I don't think I even saw a bird. Two new scrapes though, within a couple yards of one that was already there since Thursday.
Pretty nice Shiras bull moose I encountered yesterday evening at 65 yards while rifle elk hunting.
Hunted 3N in NY saturday morning (saw a spike). Hunted CT sunday morning (saw a doe and fawn). Hope to see some chasing soon.
40*, NE wind. Another one of those days I don't get to often. 0657 I hear crashing directly in front of me at 80 yards. One of those OMG moments. A huge buck, antlers past the ears, G2s at least 12", into the overgrown field. For 20 minutes I couldn't tell what he was doing, but suspected a doe close by. Sure enough, a doe runs out. She would stop and wait for him, tail up. I called, but knew there was no way he would come my way. They went the opposite direction. Even at 150 yards, his rack was a beacon of light. I have no doubt he was a 130 or larger deer. Ten minutes later I heard a grunt but couldn't see another buck. Five minutes later another grunt. This time a smaller buck is going down the doe's trail, couldn't tell if he had four points or 8. He kept going too. Another 10 minutes and I happen to glance to my right, where I see deer occasionally, but always heading from opposite direction. A young 8pt at 30 yards. He missed the break in wall, so I gave a single bleat hoping he'd change direction, but he just bounded away.
It's going to be hard to drop a string on a lesser buck knowing that big guy is there.
Killed a skipper in October. Had a pretty nice six point come by on Saturday morning just out of my comfortable range. Tried to call him in but he wasn't interested.
Sat til 0940 this morning. Nothing moving, not even a chipmunk. Not much confidence in my stand placement, but did find a couple new scrapes on way out. Walked a different path, so they may have been there all along. Really weird, I usually see plenty of deer on this 150 acres, especially with all the acorns. I've hunted it 8 or 9 times this season and haven't seen a deer, turkey or coyote yet.
I couldn’t go today. But I let my friend go and sit in the stand. I shot the doe out of yesterday. He had a nice eight pointer following a doe all around for over half an hour. And a spike showed up on the scene, and scared off the other two. And that was it for movement this morning for him. None of them presented any shots.
The last two days I’ve had a big 8 pt show up on the same camera each morning following a doe between 7:30am and 9am Of course my schedule wouldn’t allow me to hunt and it was killing me to sit on the sidelines. So today, I figure I’d bite the bullet, so to speak, and sit in my stand until 8am and hope to catch him on the third day of a mistake mission. Of course, no such luck. And he wasn’t the only deer on that camera the past two days at that time. But nothing today! The grind continues!!
4am buck on cam today. I'll hunt tomorrow in CT (not sure AM or PM yet)
I've been out a half dozen times in the past two weeks, close but no cigar...
Of course the mornings that I didn't go, deer were walking in front of my stand.. on camera.... LOL
Smoked a real toad yesterday!!
had 4 new bucks on camera this afternoon 1 shooter. Must be moving!!
Good was I saw deer yesterday and almost had a shot. Bad was I could have used warmer boots and another shirt layer. Also, I went up a new tree with my climbing stand fairly easily, but coming down was hellish. It was an oak that had a big bump thirteen feet up. Of course I pitched my foot platform to flatten as the trunk was thinner above. At fifteen feet there was still a nice upward tilt on the edge away from the tree, just like I like it. So the deer came in just before sunset. Two doe, one a yearling and a spike buck. The doe sensed my presence and began looking for me. At ten yards she looked up at me, but didn't bolt. A few head fakes and she wasn't comfortable and began the stiff legged march away from me towards the direction she and the others came from. The spike watched her but didn't follow her lead and actually moved in my direction. Of course his approach was after sunset and by that time I was working my camera. Eventually I was able to catch a little video of him sparing with another spike that came from another direction , at forty yards and the yearling had passed directly under me and then gone. As the moon was rising I striped off my outer layers and lowered my bow and gear. Then I hit the bump on the trunk and the stand would not clear it. I considered a couple of possibilities of opening the retaining cable to make the cable looser, but instead I thought I'd try moving around the trunk and meeting the bump on the cable side. I turned the stand 90degrees from the side I was on and that was the ticket. After clearing the bump I moved the stand back around and registered a mental note to leave the loop larger on my next visit. Also I will be replacing the elastic strap that holds my feet in the toe loops as it was too loose for all that footwork on moving the stand. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that when I arrived there was continuous gunfire from the hillside below. Seems it was a target shooting session that cause me to doubt I would see deer, and wouldn't you know, that's the direction the deer eventually came from.
2WB, I know that tree, lol. I hate those bumps, unseen tiny branches, and chunk of bark on back side that catches the cables. I've had a couple trees that I started on one side and had to spin 180* to sit on the other. The tough part is figuring the cable length before going up.
Broken Beam (life saver)
Broken Beam (life saver)
First time to a rifle spot to check 2 cameras. Well I should be using Bear boxes.
One Tactacam totally broken, antenna chewed up, cover broken off. Damn Bear ate it one day after I hung it, smelled my scent (I should have prevented that). Had a few different Bucks during the best day's, wish I was around.
Not hunting today but appears to be a P&Y bear skull in CT on cam. We need a CT season! I think it’s the same one I saw wrestling the neighbors garbage can at 11pm last night when I got home. He ran off into the woods looking like a VW Beetle and 2 hours later i got this pic
Not on here much but just a heads up keep your head on a swivel. We definitely need a season for bears, they are starting to associate gun shots with dinner bells. I was gutting a deer in Warren and had a big one walk right up to me. Scared it away yelling but didn’t much like it so I brought my rifle closer. 3 minutes later he came back, but had no intention of stoping. Huffing, swatting at my deer and trying to push me off. Shot a round at his feet which made him run off again. I suppose I may have been within my rights to shoot him but I didn’t want to test that theory. Needless to say that is about the fastest I have ever gutted and drug a deer….
Again, seen way more bear than deer in litchfield county. Second year in a row. One day I saw 7 bears, but def not as close as you were Natty. My recommendation- Always have a sidearm available if you’re in my neck of the woods. Bears are killing the deer population in NW CT.
Good thing black bears aren’t dangerous! UWS, you always crack me up.
Guess you find the truth funny. Black bears aren’t dangerous son? Who in the f*ck are you kidding? Some kid in Morris was mauled, an elderly woman was attacked walking a dog & where I live - there are way too many home invasions. Also, a fellow member here, talks about fighting 1 off while hitting a deer? Are you calling him a liar, mor*n? You’re the guy who did the photo shoot after killing a deer if I’m not mistaken. Pretty weird.
Anyway, not sure if you have children, own a business or have to take of others, but in my world, while having the luxury to hunt your own land which I you hope one day you have that privilege, you have to protect yourself bc so many depend upon you.
You keep on telling yourself black bears are harmless. Ya sound like one of the lib politicians who want to ban bear hunting.
Btw, irrespective of what bears are capable of, I love it, live for hunting, have an insane piece of property that you’d cut your pinky off for. Heading to the stand now.
Wish me luck Cooney.
In the same boat here, have seen more bear while hunting than deer this year in CT. If the acorn crop was better in the area I hunt, maybe it would be different. I hunt big woods, state land surrounded by large tracts of private in both PA and CT. Had many encounters with bears over the years and all pretty positive, especially in the bigger woods. Only one time turkey hunting when I unknowingly got between a sow and young cubs did it get a little dicy, but all good after realizing and adjusting accordingly. Just had a sow with two older cubs come in when on the ground a couple weeks ago in CT and she turned around with no issue when she got too close at 15 yards and I let her know. Got pretty good video of it too. The neighborhood bears are definitely a bit bolder, but still no issues with them yet. I’ll say they are all different individuals and just like people you can have that one with a hair across it’s ass, but for the most part my encounters over the years have been pretty good, but I still won’t let my guard down with them.
I’m all for black bear hunting and love eating black bear meat. I think CT needs a season in the worst way, but you will never see it happen. You just constantly promote illegally carry a pistol while bowhunting in CT. It’s comical. Why would you constantly talk about doing something illegal on an online forum that could potentially cost you your hunting privileges and right to buy and own firearms?
And yes, I still do not think black bears are a threat to humans. Statistically there are on average 40 bear attacks on humans WORLDWIDE; with less than one coming from black bears. Black bears are predators, but hardly will ever show aggression unless provoked. Black bears aren’t out seeking to attack people no matter how dense the population is in one area. They’d much rather eat berries and grasses and mix in the occasional fawn during the spring and summer. They do not pose a threat to us.
Brayden don’t you know that black bears are seriously dangerous animals? They’re scarier than grizzlies. They have an insatiable appetite for human flesh and you should be carrying a .50 Desert Eagle every where you go. At least I do. I can’t speak for others.
What’s comical is the magazine photo shoot ya did after killing a deer.
Second, if I choose to carry a sidearm - that’s my business son. I know a damn good lawyer, myself. Second I got a family to protect and pay for college tuition,
If I’m a betting man, you & high water pants you wear for hunting - you’re single, no kids & think you’re invincible.
Son, tell your bears eating berries story to the mother of the poor kid who was mauled in Morris or the elderly woman in Avon who was attacked while walking her dog.
Stop with your BS statistics and smarten up.
Now give me your knife… lol
Your whole argument is fear based. Fear clouds judgement and the truth. Statistics don’t lie. Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If you’re actually a lawyer that passed the BAR, then you should know the laws better than anyone on here. You should know not to spout your mouth off online about doing illegal activity. Especially a forum that is frequented by DEEP employees. Furthermore, resorting to insults is a sure fire way to get yourself kicked off the site. Not to mention that it shows you’re losing the argument. It’s the exact same tactic used by the libs you clearly hate.
Smarten up about what? You have a 1 in 2.1 million chance of being attacked by a bear (yes broadly stated “bear” so that can be black, brown, grizz, or polar bears) in North America. The bear that “mauled” the child in Morris was startled and acted out of fear then ran off quickly. The old woman who was bitten on the forearm had a small dog with her that she continued to let bark at the bear until the bear grew irritated and acted. Black bears are not out to get you or anyone else. Facts don’t care about your feelings.
It is illegal to carry a firearm while bowhunting in CT. And it’s illegal to carry a pistol on state property unless it is of the proper caliber to hunt with.
I don't know if it’s illegal to talk about doing illegal firearm things on an open public forum. There used to be an old crusty guy on here that would find where you lived and worked and report stuff like that. So there’s that. Lol
CTbobcat that bear is fattening up for winter. I had a large bear walk down my driveway yesterday at lunch time.
“And it’s illegal to carry a pistol on state property unless it is of the proper caliber to hunt with.”
I thought .22LR was the most potent round permitted on Public?
And call me crazy, but I don’t see much sense in pissing one off unnecessarily. Pepper spray may well be more effective in the hands of most, and it’ll keep you out of legal trouble. Sounds fair enough.
But if I had a bear trying to take my deer and I was carrying some kind of a deer gun, I’d sure as hell inflict the maximum possible hearing damage. And I wouldn’t feel too bad if there were to be a few nicks on the nose from rock chips or whatever if a bear were that bold. Not like a bear that comfortable around people is long for this world…
Jerry Leblanc's Link
Coondog I remember reading a different version of the Morris bear attack that makes it sound more predatory. I attached a link. By the way in general I agree with you that black bears mostly have no interest in us. But like people there is that occasional bad one. I am not sure about the wisdom of raising the red flag on a public forum when carrying while bow hunting.
I'm happy there are stats stating most bears don't pose a threat. I can recite those scientifically gleaned numbers to the next rogue male bear I encounter. It'll be better than pepper spray. Has anyone here endured an all out charge by a bear ? If you have had that experience then you know that it is both an attitude adjustment and a wake up call that makes stats pale in comparison.
Glad somebody got that one ^^
I’m with Jerry that that attack was pretty clearly predatory— at least according to the version of events offered.
I still don’t think I would be any worse off with my bow than a .22LR, but I think I would be better off with pepper spray than either. That stuff has worked well enough on enough grizzlies that overall I would enjoy my day more feeling Protected Enough from bears and completely protected from legal troubles…
And if I ever were to end up in front of a judge, I sure as hell wouldn’t want the prosecution to be able to pull up a post on Bowsite where I had stated that I was such a sharp lawyer that I could get myself off on the charges which (surprise!!) had been brought against me….
Corax,
Some lawyers graduated last in class you know.
https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/connecticut-lawyer-faces-charges-after-video-shows-him-slapping-another-attorney
What do you call someone who graduated last in his law class?
Lawyer…..
Everytime I get a bear pic, I get no deer pics for 3-4 days. Got a buck pic last night. Hoping to hunt CT tomorrow morning before work.
What do you call someone that graduated last in his law class? A lawyer I would never hire.
Hey @this aka Rachel Maddow, I take that is a dig at me. FYI the only exam that counts is the Bar Exam. That’s it. I didn’t graduate last in my class but I had a great time in school, drinking & playing golf with professors, etc..
In any event, irrespective of my grades, I donate the most. $ in my graduating class especially to kids who are in financial need. I work on a contingency basis, so I don’t have an hourly rate, but if I did you couldn’t afford me anyway. Happy hunting.
Hunted CT this morning before work. Beautiful morning, no deer seen. Bumped one on the way in and it ran past a cell cam. Doe or spike at best
Haven't seen anything the last 3 days out. Bumped one in the dark yesterday morning. Second rut should be kicking in any time.
Seeing all small bucks. Nothing arrow worthy. This dude came in to check out a carcass I was gutting. You gotta love it when they die within view of the stand.
Rachel Maddow? Haha that’s funny.
“Nothing arrow worthy.”
I dunno…. I decided a long time ago that I’d never take more than one buck a year from the same state (unless I had no legal alternative), and I don’t feel any particular need to take another whitetail buck other than for the freezer… Not saying I’d pass up a monster if it fell into my lap, but knowing that I’m only going to take one in a year always made me pretty picky, up until that last day or two….
But this late in the year, I’d take that one in a heartbeat unless someone had asked me not to. The only thing I don’t like is that I don’t know what’s on the other side of that bush. Well, that and the fact that one deer is enough work for me for one day… ;)
This bucks butt is almost touching the tree I hunt from.
CL, on the other side of the bush are more bushes, LOL
That’s great if you know for sure! ;)
When I was about 10, my brother and I shared a little red Bear recurve, and we used a thick Juniper bush behind the house as our target/backstop. Then one day I shot right into the middle of the bush, and instead of stopping like it was supposed to, it zipped right through, angled up a bit, and sailed over to the neighbors’ yard…. where it stuck in the fence. Left quite an impression on me….
I have been learning a lot about tuning the past few years, so beyond just grouping my broadheads with my FPs, I’m pretty sure that my arrows are flying well enough to clear the far side of a ribcage and keep on truckin’…. With at least as much oomph as that little cedar that lodged in the fence, and probably a whole lot more, especially from the Elk set-up….
So Hunter Safety 101…..
4pt and spike sparring yesterday. I'll hopefully get back out early next week for a bowhunt.
Definitely some late rut activity. Had two bucks chasing does and managed to grunt this guy in for a shot.
Nice buck! I would say 2nd rut, not late rut.
This morning at 0650 I saw a doe and spike nonchalantly walking in the same direction, but not necessarily together. They kept their distance from one another and stayed wide of my stand. At 0810, I spotted antlers in the overgrown field. Not the big guy that I saw a couple weeks ago, but if came my way, I'd gladly end my season with him. As he walks the length of the small field and is just about to disappear, I look behind him and just a few yards back was the big guy. I don't know why they are traveling together, but no sparring or grunting going on. It was like early September. No response to calls, but I got one of them to come back a little to my rattle bag. I just tickled it, didn't want to scare them off. Then they walked out of sight. Great morning. Typically I just accept the gift in front of me when it happens, I don't have the patience to hunt a specific buck. I hardly ever even see a good buck a second time. I want this one. I think he's a 10pt, high, wide and thick. The other was a decent 8pt. Glad he made it through gun season, hope no one gets him with a ML before I get a crack at him. I only bowhunt this property, unless I have a terrible season, then the ML comes out.
Brian it sounds like you do have the patience to hunt a specific deer
He’s certainly doing a convincing job of it…. ;)
Longbeard, as long as the rest of them stay out of range. He will have to come within 20 yards, preferably 15.
CL, many thanks ; I'll take the safety tips under advisement , Just probing for a semblance of a sense of humor. LOL
I have this guy roaming around my area.
Looks inbred.... doesn't affect the flavor... said my uncle lol.
I hear ya, BD, but having gotten lucky once….
That was nearly 50 years ago, so I guess the lesson stuck.
And yeah, sometimes my sense of humor is on, and then there are a lot of times when I’m just a total Stiff! LOL
Cool buck Rackem. I'd shoot him!
I will CTBobcat if I get a chance at him. Pretty unique. All tastes the same Soap!
Beautiful morning in CT. 28 degrees and minimal wind. Unfortunately saw no deer this morning.
Late season for bucks has been tough for me the past couple years. I only have state land to hunt I just think after all the pressure these animals become very hard to target. Plus they’re not laying down the sign like they do in late October and November. Just gotta keep plugging away till the 31st. I’ve always wanted to take a mature buck in the late season !!
They sure were out in numbers at the end of Legal hours this afternoon, driving the Merritt from NY line up through Stamford….
Go figure I hunted Darien yesterday evening instead of my Stamford spot and didn’t see a thing other than squirrels
Sherwood, great fly fishing shop near Darien called The Compleat Angler .
Big Dog, I’ll have to check it out before next year’s salmon run in NY. I’ve seen it before but never gone in. It’s right near Bob’s Gun Exchange in Darien.
3 hour hunt for me this morning. I may have heard the pitter patter of a K9, but didn't see anything but squirrels.
Hang....my experience. Late season deer in general move later in the morning (Southside facing) and stick to the limited cover that is offered. No matter how small. They also seem to really like the briars this time of year. I experienced pressure on private land. Other guys with permission would drive through the hayfields in the morning to get closer to their stand. Lazy. Once they did that the deer moved on. A week after gun...the deer are moving back in
Crazy thing happened this morning. Got into my stone wall hideaway at perfect time this morning. I hit the jackpot on hickory nuts as 30+ squirrels running everywhere digging up nuts.
I can hear one stepping on every leave at 75 yards, but momma Bear and her 3 cubs walk 10 yards beside me and not a noise. Not sure who was more scared, them or me. Glad they ran the other way, they might have slipped on my tainted boxer's.
when i was in canada you never heard a branch snap when they came in. Just remember when they chase you only have to be faster than the slowest guy. sorry to say aI think your on the slow side right now. LOL
Backed out of driveway this morning and headlights on 3 does. Drive to spot and pull in with headlights on two nice bucks. Not too spooked, so took some time getting ready knowing they were near. Spooked em on the way in and otherwise didn’t see any deer sitting in the tree this morning
Soooo.....your handle should be changed to ....see um no see um lol
No see um, Some years ago, in Ridgefield, I had a private land spot that was similar. Near the address deer would be crossing the road ahead of me or just standing roadside and watching me, but on the stand, I was rarely seeing anything close enough to shoot. Once I had two coyote chase a huge buck that blew by me at five yards. The second coyote stopped to investigate what the yelling was but was behind a bush and gave me no shot. That spot wasn't productive, but educational, nevertheless.
nehunter, Carry pepper spray, it deters them from running after you and leaves a bad taste in their mouth. Yesterday I had some chicken vindaloo (mmmmmm good) that would have worked also, had I dumped it running away. :)
Soap dish I took the handle from a sign my uncle had made for our camp in PA about 20 yrs ago. PA hunting was tough for many years and got much better once they put antler restrictions in place.
Wild Bill that was a rookie mistake on my part. I always turn the lights off when turning off the road and into a parking area since I don’t want to shine light into the woods I will be hunting. That was the first time with that happening and had 2 bucks 25 feet in front of my truck. There is clover at the parking area which is at the top of a clear cut and think either they were in there eating that or on a doe. Saw three deer when I bumped them below and one was a doe. Been hunting that spot for a while now and can usually get in undetected.
Reminds me of a time when I had a buck pass across the dirt road I was on in PA a while back in the dark morning on rifle opening. Wasn’t where I was planning to hunt but decided to stop and hunt the area. I took that buck 2 days later and found a great spot that I have hunted for many years since then.
Monster CT bear. we need a season!
not sure why i can't post the pic
CTBobcat,
Toooooo BIG????
Not sure why it won't work. But, 400lbs+
Sent the pic to CT DEEP on instagram. They agreed it's huge.
I took the CT DEEP's advice and emailed 4 legislators (2 senators) in CT about a black bear hunting season today.
CTBobcat, good start, but that's only a start. We got 9 or 10 Bear Hunting Bills introduced last year (they got severely watered down into a "you can kill one if it's attacking you" bill).
I live in Sherman and my Rep (Pat Callahan) and Senator (Steve Harding) both sit on the Environment Committee and they both fought hard for both Sunday Hunting and Bear Hunting. We need MANY more hunters to not only get in touch with their legislators but to testify in favor of these bills. That can be done in person in Hartford during a public hearing, or in writing in response to a specific bill. The Antis are VERY well organized, and very well funded, and they turn out in force. Hunters are about the most apathetic bunch you can imagine, we bitch and complain, and do nothing, and in large numbers! Welcome to the fight.
I agree with you. I'm new to CT but willing to help. Senator Steve Harding responded to me yesterday actually saying he completely agrees with me and we need a bear hunting season. He said every biologist he has spoken with has agreed. He will be working this sessions towards addressing a season.
It's not fun walking out to my stand early in the morning know there are a couple of bears in my hunting area. More bears on the property this year than in the past.
Just call UWS, he’ll walk you to your stand. He’s always strapped. Lmao.
Went out this morning for first time since shooting the little 6pt. Looking for the big guy. A doe and button showed up around 0922. The button came to within 20 offering me a broadside shot. Not today. Big guy didn't show. Nice morning to sit. Merry Christmas all.
Next Morning.
Next Morning.
I sat Saturday afternoon with the landowners Son. He's very interested in learning about Deer hunting. It's unbelievable how good a 20 Year olds eyesight is compared to my 60 set of eyes. He spotted a few way off , I needed a 9 power scope to see it.
As usual Bears followed our path and wouldn't leave until I bluff charged them. (2 -3 year olds).
A couple of hours after we left two shooters followed us into the field.
nehunter's Link
Those two Bucks are on these YouTube videos.
nehunter's Link
Tons of bears in the woods i hunt in CT, but I'll be honest and say i never fear walking in before sunrise. I also hunt roughly 50% of the time (no blind). I've seen bear when hunting but never in the dark. Always figured they would run away before I saw them.
That's a wrap on the season for me. Hunting this morning, but no deer seen.
I still have a nice buck showing every afternoon
My last day out today and despite the rain and fog I had a good time. Two hours after taking my stand I had a large spike buck come looking for me. I spotted him at 70yds with the wind at his tail, so he was all eyes and ears. As I watched him stealthily approach, I realized he was hunting me just as much as I was hunting him. I took him a half hour to close the 70 yards and was within ten yards of me. As he passed, I could see he was still alert. I had some white oak scent wafers out and he wasn't interested. Instead, he sniffed my trail to the stand and when I drew my arrow holder wouldn't release and I pulled the string out of the nock. I managed to get it back in, but when I then pushed the arrow holder off it squeaked and that spooked him. He circled back to in front of me and looked up at me. then he made me and jumped towards the direction he came from and slowly walked away out of sight. At that point I realized I must have bumped him going in and he was back to investigate what disturbed him. Another hour later spotted a big rack buck following a doe, then another doe moving downhill away from me. I made a bleat, and they stopped but not for long and wandered away. I hate hunting in rain and even though it wasn't too bad my pack took a soaking. The fog was really bad at times too. The tree was slippery, and I worked hard with my climber to insure a good bite both up and down. I took out two branches on the way down so that next season I have a clearer shot in that direction. By next season I will have a better arrow holder with no squeaking.
Hey everyone, don't forget a new year means you need a new license.