Went out turkey hunting a bit this past week...saw a few scattered rubs and that's about it so far.

Oh yeah...WMU 4O, October 12-14.
Modified by outdoorsman at 12:45 AM 10/17/2005

We hunt in Catturagus Co. near Salamanca. Got out Saturday nite and Sunday morning, little or no rutting sign. Saw no deer. This is typical in our area, as we have no access to crops. Acorns are heavy this year. The crop harvest will be early due to dry conditions so we are expecting better activity this year in the big woods.

Three guys in our plant tagged bucks this weekend near feeding areas. A very good start, compared to past years

Was able to get out last weekend in Boston, saw some small scrapes and some rubs, went out again to check the scrapes near my stand, and there were 2 more. I know there is a dominant 8 pointer that Ive missed 2 years in a row, Im hoping he is still the one who is marking the area. Today is my B-day, so Im taking a half a work day and heading out for an afternoon hunt. Maybe with any luck I can tag this 8 pointer today. Let ya'll know how I make out. Happy Hunting!

Stick him ans post us the pics!

I hunt in the finger Lakes region. See a 4pt and two 6pt. I let them walk and im kicking my self in the butt right now. I havent seen much rutting action yet. I havent even seen a scrap yet but one of my friends seen some. The full moon hurt me pretty good the last couple of days. I seen a nice deer"at least 8pt" right at that time when i cant see my sights. Oh well he will be back. I will inform you guys down the road. Good luck to all.

Sat out yesterday for about 6 hrs. Seen absolutely nothing.

I did find a new scrape and a new rub not far from where my stand is. At least he is letting me know hes still there. The trees he's rubbing are pretty good sized. I'll be watching for him as soon as the rut is in full swing. Doe's are walking around during the day, I dont know if this is a pre-rut activity, or its starting now. If I get him, I'll post some pics. Happy Hunting!

Here we go i have story to tell you New Yorkers. I went hunting yesterday morning and around 07:30 I had some does walk under me. Then i herd grunting? " what is this already"? Then i seen a huge 12pter right behine the does. What is this i hear some more grunting here comes a big 10pter. So i grunted and the 10pter came in closer so I threw a arrow at him. Nice brod side shot. you cant get any better than this. I hunted for about 3 more hours. I got down from my stand and all i see is blood every where. I looked at my arrow and it looks like a beautiful shot. My buddy showed up we started to follow the trail. About 80 yards from my stand i lost sight of blood. We looked for blood for a few hours and then we started to do rescue search paterns in the woods. 8 hrs later still nothing. What the???????????? I am not quiting on the big guy yet. Let me know what you guys would do? Oh what is with the rutting already?

Quote, originally posted by mossy923 »

I am not quiting on the big guy yet. Let me know what you guys would do? Oh what is with the rutting already?

Again, hope you find your buck.

As for the rutting already, this is the first really cool weather we've been having, so maybe it sparked something. All deer are somewhat different, and the rut could begin earlier with specific deer. I would assume that the chasing has just begun though.

search hard at the nearest water source, a wounded deer will alot of times need to drink. I also just read something about deer tracking dogs and an outfit in N.Y. that you can pay to bring the hunds to you and track em down. Good luck.

Thanks Casull!!!!!

any luck tracking him????

454 no luck yet I m taking 5 buddies out this week and doing another search. thanks for asking

Mossy,

That really stinks! Hope you still find him, even though there won't be any meat.

Keep us updated.

OD

Anybody hunt this past week??? Some areas got snow...any impacts on deer movement???

I hunted Bristal Mountian yesterday. The same place i shot the big 10pt."still no luck" We had a little bit of snow. These bucks are trailing hard. I have seen a nice 8pt and two 6pts and they were chaseing still. My other propery that i have i lower elevation there no signs of any chaseing or when i grunt they dont even look up. Good luck stay safe

Catt. County. 10/29 Evening. Saw a 4pt at 3:00pm at 30 yds. I was hoping something bigger would come through. 10/30 Morning. Saw a couple deer casually feeding, could not tell buck or doe, and a lone doe between 8 and 9. Only a little sign of rutting yet. Found one small rub and scrape. 10/30 Evening. Many does feeding, no bucks. The woods are still thick, the understory is just starting to turn.

Hey Mossy,sometimes they will backtrack their own bloodtrail. Try looking for a jump off spot along there. Best of Luck!!
Modified by grizz5946 at 8:04 AM 11/1/2005

I don't have any reports of my own, but a friend of mine has been seeing quite a few does being followed by bucks. He's also seen loads of scrapes, but not many rubs. This is in the Finger Lakes Region, but I don't know exactly where he hunts.

The rut is beginning must be.

I live in Dutchess County, NY and am starting to see some signs the rut is starting. Saw a real nice buck chasing some does over the weekend and heard a grunt in a totally different direction while all this was going on. The second time I saw the big buck he was chasing two does about 100 yds away. Started grunting at him and brought him into about 60 yds but that was it. I had his attention !!

Hopefully this year is better than last year !!
Modified by wags819 at 1:15 PM 11/1/2005

I hunt in Erie County and the action has been slow by me, some sign rubs and scrapes but none visted during shooting hours. Deer sightings are way down 3 bucks and 2 does. i have apple trees that are loaded and they are not coming to them, the deer seem to be browsing on the grass along the paths. Iam going to hunt the southern tier this week and see what is goin on there.

I went home this weekend "Region 4O" and didn't get out scouting much, but I did take a walk through the woods looking for a grouse and didn't see much deer sign at all. No rubs and no scrapes in the area that I walked. It was over 70 degrees here today, and the deer aren't moving around much at all. Did see a few deer in some fields this morning along the road, and last night feeding "mostly does". Other than that, not much going on.

Well I havent found my buck that i shoot earlier and so i been hunting hard all week. I have missed a nice 8pter. and i Seen a nice 10pter. but i just couldnt get a good shot. My buddy had a nice buck come in on him but of course he choked. I have seen a lot of scrapes and i have been seeing bucks chasing does. The big bucks i seen there necks were swollen and i could smell them when they were up wind of me. I Have noticed that I have seen more bucks in the late morning and early afternoon than any thing else. I will inform you later. Good luck and stay safe.

i went to the southern teir this weekend and the weather was lousey, but on sunday during the worst wind storm i have seen, it was some of the best stalking action i have had in years. The deer were hunkered down in tight cover and made walking up on them very easy lol "Huge wind" i saw 16 deer of all age classes including 2 wall hangers.

Catt. County again. Warm weather seems to be retarding the rut. Virtually no new rubs or scrapes. Very slow compared to normal years. Saw a 16" 8pt, would have been a tough shot but didn't try "only a 2 1/2 year old". Seeing more deer overall. On Monday the 7th, saw a forkhorn moving with his mouth open on a mission. It was cooler so they are very close to running the does. Developed photos of a nice 150 class 10pt. I am assuming there is little rubbing due to the really warm weather.

I live in the Hudson Valley. I noticed a buck mounting a doe this morning on my way into work and yesterday I saw a buck cruising at 1:00 in the afternoon. Is this the beginning of the rut? If so, how long can we expect it to last?

I have also seen bucks chasing does, a ,buck will stay with a doe for several days untill she is ready to stand, she will only be in estrus for a short period of time 24 Hrs. if she is not bred she will come back into heat 28 days later. This is a great time to be in the wood I think the bucks are really gearing up if you have the time, spend it in the woods . this year I have had alot of bucks come into calls more so then previous years luck ? maybe but I think the rut is on and what a great time to be in the woods... Jay

Jason,

It's nice to see someone from very close to my area posting. I live and hunt just 15 minutes away of you in 4O.

I won't be out until the opening day of rifle...can't even scout because of college. But I'll bet this cold snap is really pushing things along in terms of the rut.

This is a great area to hunt I have property in Masonville also, but I mostly hunt here or New Lisbon. I sat out tonight and had a spike walk right past my stand he looked more interested in feeding, the larger bucks though are chasing the does from what I have seen. I shot a nice 10 pt. 5 days ago but never found him I searched for 2 days with help from deer find they have these dogs that are pretty awesome we think the deer survived the hit. I hope so but I did all I could do to find him, I saw him at 70 Yds. and grunted him in to 30 Yds. I had a pass through but it must of been high and missed the vitals lost blood after 400 Yds.

Well, all you can do is hope for the best! At least it sounds like you did all you could. He could have made it, never know.

I can't wait to get out there hunting. I haven't hunted the first day of rifle season for the past couple of years because I'm in college. This year rifle season coincides with Thanksgiving Break, so I'm taking that whole week off!

November 12, 2005I recently moved to Columbia County "30 min south of Albany". My new hunting plot is about 10 acres that consist of a narrow funnel, creek, hardwoods, brush, apple orchard, and open field "previously soy beans". I have hunted there the last 3 days. In just this time I have seen an explosion of large rubs 3-5 inch trees, and a line of 4 small scrapes. The does were under my stand long enough that I did notice their tarsal glands are just beginning to stain. I haven't seen the big boy yet, but I may have spooked him this morning on my way to my stand 30 minutes before daybreak. I put out 2 film canisters with Tinks 69. This resulted in one doe knocking the canister off the branch and pummeling it into the ground "unusual to say the least" and the other was approached by 3 different does who all snorted and ran off. I did have a chimunk sit on the toe of my boot for a long time while which also made the day wild. I'll let you know how it goes.

Well I got to say that i finally got some meet in the freezer. I have been passing up a lot of does this year so i guess the doe i took was under my stand to long so i had to taker. I havent seen much horns this week. I might go out one more day before gun season. Good luck and stay safe.

I hunt in Schenevus in Otsego county. We saw a 6-pointer mounting a doe yesterday. The rut is definately on. We saw different bucks all weekend with does & their tongues hanging out. The buck population is so out of whack here that the 1 1/2 yr olds are doing the breeding. That's what you get when you have neighbors that shoot anything that resembles an antler on the head.

Quote, originally posted by kotten »

The buck population is so out of whack here that the 1 1/2 yr olds are doing the breeding. That's what you get when you have neighbors that shoot anything that resembles an antler on the head.

I feel your pain.

The rut is on, but I seem to be missing them. My buddy saw three "shooters" with does on Sat. but couldn't get a shot. They're rutting but its been so warm its not as distinct as usual. Still almost non-existant deer sign. Shot a doe for meat on Sat. Let some small bucks walk. Shot a 40# coyote on Sun. so that finished my weekend. Still have Friday morning before the guns come out.

Rifle season in just a couple of days now.

Good luck all.

I saw the 10 pt. the other day !! I was hoping he made it well good luck on Sat.

Same to you.

Well how,d ya do anything ? I am still seeing Bucks chasing does I shot an 8 point yesterday and his neck was swollen, real big. Well good luck !!

Congrats.

So close, yet much of a difference.

No bucks chasing does at all here...I haven't even seen any antlers yet. Dad passed up a 4 pointer and a spike, neither were chasing does. Opening day in the morning I saw 5 antlerless deer, mostly does with a young button buck or two mixed in. That evening I saw two small deer, and the next day I saw 4 does. Dad has also seen many does. We do have doe permits "DMAP", but I've been holding out for now, I can always get one later.

I don't know where those bucks we passed up last year went, but I know there are bucks on our hill because of the rubbing...they just are not showing themselves because they have no need to move far for food and also are not chasing.

I'm hoping this cold snap starts making them chase.

I also cannot figure out what people around here are shooting at. Shots were coming from all over on opening morning, but none of the people hunting our 500 acres saw a legal buck. We are also one of the few around who have doe permits, so I cannot figure out how people could be shooting so much "unless many of them are taking illegal deer". We're also the only ones in our area trying to manage deer for quality, but I doubt we will do that any more if we cannot get neighbor cooperation. Seems like we let a little buck walk and it takes a step over the property line and gets blasted.

I have pulled the trigger twice...once on a running coyote, and once on a standing coyote. The running coyote was in the thick stuff and I most likely hit a branch...the standing coyote came up behind me, right on my trail, and I took him where he stood at 30 yards. There are loads of them out there.

But as for the rut status: Seeing a good rub line or two, but haven't found much in the way of scrapes. No bucks chasing does at all.

Columbia county looks good. Lotta bucks taken opening day. I got a glimpse of a nice buck as he was running away. I ended up filling some doe tags. I hope to have another opportuity at a nice buck tomorrow.

OPENING DAY SAT NOV 19THWE SAW LOTS OF RUTTING GOING ON WHERE I HUNT IN STEUBEN COUNTY BUCKS CHASING DOES ALL OVER THE PLACE, KINDA-OF ODD TO BE GOING ON THIS LATE BUT BEGGERS CANT BE CHOOSERS. MY DAD SHOT A SPIKE CHASING DOES AND I SHOTAN 8PT WHILE HE WAS CHECKING HIS SCRAPE AND BLEATED IN A NICE BUCK FOR MY NEPHEW HE GOT BUCK FEVER AND COULDNT PULL THE TRIGGER AT 30YDS.WE ALL HAVE DONE THIS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, HE WILL LEARN TO SHOOT OR HE CANT GO WITH ME ANYMORE LOL. GREAT TO SEE THE LOOK IN HIS EYE'S AS HE SAW THE BUCK HITTING HIS ANTLERS ON ALL THE TREES AS HE WALKED IN

Well after over a week of hunting I still have not seen a buck chasing a doe. I have smelled the musk once, and have not heard any grunts. I did see a couple of tracks that looked like bucks chasing does though, so I will assume that the few bucks that are around are chasing somewhat. I've seen no bucks with does at all, except for yearling button bucks.

Yesterday I shot a big doe and passed up a 4 pointer that was not around any does at all.

I think the baiting station above us is beginning to hurt the hunting in the area, and we tried to call in the coordinates of it today but weren't able to get through...will try again tomorrow.

I shot a 6 pointer, a 4 pointer & a doe. The 6 pointer had gang green & I couldn't use the meat so that's why I also shot a 4 pointer. Every deer I saw breeding this year was a 1 1/2 yr old buck except for one. That one was a 6 month old buck with about 2 inch spikes. What a great herd we have here in NY when a 6 month old has to do the breeding because there is nothing else to chase him away & do it. The state has got to come up with something. I'm tired of trying to preach my views on deaf ears.

Quote, originally posted by kotten »

I'm tired of trying to preach my views on deaf ears.

Me too.

People just don't listen, or don't want to listen. We need antler restrictions of some sort...these bucks need to grow up!

I agree. I learned my lesson last year. I'm not going to let every little buck walk only to be shot by someone else as soon as it crosses the property line. That's why I shot what I did this year. I'm fed up. I think the state wants all the bucks shot until there are none left to breed, then they will be able to reduce the herd size forever.

We are passing up the bucks for one more season...but I don't know about next year. If we get rid of the baiting station above us "we called it in to the DEC", it will be a lot better for the deer in the area. Also we are planning on doing some deer habitat management stuff to try and hold them on the property a little better.

The only antlers I saw was a small 4 pointer, and it was well over a week into the season, so his chances of survival are much better now than they were at the beginning. Of course, we have some DMAP permits this year, so we can still get does for venison. Probably won't fill all of the tags though. I've got my doe and I'm after a mature buck now...if there is such a thing.
Modified by outdoorsman at 5:29 PM 11/29/2005

We tried management & food plots but nothing works. We have 400+ acres & can't hold the bucks on the property. If you don't have tons of acres, nothing will help. Until the DEC does something, we changed our tactics. The does are the only ones that stay put, so we are trying to keep as many does on our land as possible. The more does that have to be bred means more bucks are going to have to come in from somewhere else. We slaughtered the does the last 2 yrs by taking at least 12 of them. We figured we would reduce them to have a buck to doe ratio of 2 to 1. Problem is the bucks we left alone got shot by neighbors & there wasn't a single one left when the season was over. The doe I shot this year came from state land. We decided not to shoot any more does on our land.

The problem where we are right now, is the does aren't holding on the land, and they are most likely leading the bucks out with them. They are drawn to the feeders across the way...

The bucks we pass up were getting shot by neighbors, but in the past the deer used to really hold on our property "after the gypsy moth came though the canopy was opened and there were monstrous briars that would hold deer like magnets, and big ones too". Now the briars are in small patches, and we are left with ferns, striped maple, and beech saplings under the mature trees. We are logging extensively this year "and last year" so the good briars should come back and hold deer once again.

Did you ever try safe zones??? I've heard that they hold deer better than a lot of things, especially big bucks, even on smaller plots of land.

We have some safe zones but nothing is in them. The does stay on our property. They have sooooo much to eat I can't see them leaving. We have plenty of oaks, beech, & apple trees. We planted clover, winter rye & brassicas in food plots. There are plenty of saplings & water. This year we are going to have a standing corn field & see what happens.
Modified by kotten at 5:50 PM 11/29/2005

do you have any pine trees on the property and thick brush, the deer use them for cover and weather breaks. until the state makes a point restriction the masses will do what is in there best interest.