I never heard of it. Anyway, maybe I was lucky. Most times I am lucky and don't get any bucks.
-
The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
-
We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules
I Finally Saw a Deer
- Thread starter bj139
- Start date
Matki15
Well-Known Member
Definitely “lucky”. You say in your post you thought it was a spike and shot at it, then later seem to remember about the antler restrictions. Not trying to go full game warden on you or anything, but really read the rules and regs. If I remember right it was you who was questioning why someone would shoot a duck without knowing if that duck was legal, right?I never heard of it. Anyway, maybe I was lucky. Most times I am lucky and don't get any bucks.
Yes. You are right. I should have made absolutely sure it was legal instead of thinking I saw additional points. I didn't shoot it so all is good. No one seemed particularly upset about the unknown duck which was shot, including you.
Kurt
Well-Known Member
I feel like lighted nocks take the guess work out of knowing if the shot was on the mark. it burns the trajectory into your brain. It does add weight to the nock end of the arrow but i feel like the trade off is worth it.
I shoot lighted knocks too and your right you can see that arrow flight running thru your head over and over, helps in recovery of deer and arrow too. I'm really thankful to find my arrows since by the time I add broadhead etc each arrow is pushing $30+
At 7:00AM, I went to the place I shot the doe last night and when I pulled into the parking lot there were 3 trucks in the parking lot. Today is
Veterans Day. If I wasn't trying to follow up on my alleged hit deer I would have gone home immedately. I didn't see a black Dakota truck
which I thought was the brand of the guy who yelled at me in the past. There was a black Silverado. I didn't think to take a photo of that
license plate. I walked down the trail and went past where I knew his stand was just in case. I went into the woods and heard a yell from
about 50 yards away. I tried to find my tree and then headed away from him. There was more yelling and I yelled back that I shot one
yesterday and came back to find it. There were vultures overhead in a wide circle and I pointed up at them. As I was looking, he came
down from his tree and walked over to me and asked me where did you hit it. He said, I am going to help you find "First Blood". He
asked if I hit it and I told him the scope view looked good and the deer bounded off. He said I kept on ruining his hunt. He said 5 times
and I said I only saw you one other time and you must have been yelling at 3 other guys. He said he saw me put down salt a block and
had photos. I told him I already reported them to the PA Game Commission and I didn't place them. He said I was near his other tree
stand before which also had a salt block under it. I posted a picture on SH of this bearded guy before. I hadn't realized this picture was
the same guy in this other stand. He said you set up near my stand the first time he walked by me. I told him no one was in the stand and
I was there first and asked him if he thought he owned this land. He said no he didn't. I then said the first time I saw you I was up a tree
and you walked by my stand and "you ruined my hunt". He said, "I ruined your hunt"? Then he turned and walked away saying I hope your
GPS battery runs out and you get lost and have a heart attack. I was worried about my safety and the safety of my truck and figured that it
was dark and starting to rain. I was having no luck finding my tree and I was a little frazzled. I thought the chances of me finding the deer I
shot was pure luck at this point. Maybe I didn't hit the deer but the vultures were saying otherwise. I decided to walk back to my truck. I
went wide right to avoid this guys stand and found a minor trail going out to the main trail. As I was walking I heard a whistle. I looked
around and didn't see anything so I kept walking. A few feet on, I heard another whistle. I looked up and a hunter was sitting in a stand. I
gave a sorry look and waved and he waved back and we said nothing. It made me appreciate the nice hunters. I was walking quietly but I
hope I scared an eight pointer which circled back around to him. When I got to the parking lot the salt block guy's truck was gone. If I had
known today was a holiday maybe I wouldn't have shot. Maybe I'll just get a camera and use that but I can't eat pixels. Any way there are
deer there. I might go back up later and do another search in the rain.
Veterans Day. If I wasn't trying to follow up on my alleged hit deer I would have gone home immedately. I didn't see a black Dakota truck
which I thought was the brand of the guy who yelled at me in the past. There was a black Silverado. I didn't think to take a photo of that
license plate. I walked down the trail and went past where I knew his stand was just in case. I went into the woods and heard a yell from
about 50 yards away. I tried to find my tree and then headed away from him. There was more yelling and I yelled back that I shot one
yesterday and came back to find it. There were vultures overhead in a wide circle and I pointed up at them. As I was looking, he came
down from his tree and walked over to me and asked me where did you hit it. He said, I am going to help you find "First Blood". He
asked if I hit it and I told him the scope view looked good and the deer bounded off. He said I kept on ruining his hunt. He said 5 times
and I said I only saw you one other time and you must have been yelling at 3 other guys. He said he saw me put down salt a block and
had photos. I told him I already reported them to the PA Game Commission and I didn't place them. He said I was near his other tree
stand before which also had a salt block under it. I posted a picture on SH of this bearded guy before. I hadn't realized this picture was
the same guy in this other stand. He said you set up near my stand the first time he walked by me. I told him no one was in the stand and
I was there first and asked him if he thought he owned this land. He said no he didn't. I then said the first time I saw you I was up a tree
and you walked by my stand and "you ruined my hunt". He said, "I ruined your hunt"? Then he turned and walked away saying I hope your
GPS battery runs out and you get lost and have a heart attack. I was worried about my safety and the safety of my truck and figured that it
was dark and starting to rain. I was having no luck finding my tree and I was a little frazzled. I thought the chances of me finding the deer I
shot was pure luck at this point. Maybe I didn't hit the deer but the vultures were saying otherwise. I decided to walk back to my truck. I
went wide right to avoid this guys stand and found a minor trail going out to the main trail. As I was walking I heard a whistle. I looked
around and didn't see anything so I kept walking. A few feet on, I heard another whistle. I looked up and a hunter was sitting in a stand. I
gave a sorry look and waved and he waved back and we said nothing. It made me appreciate the nice hunters. I was walking quietly but I
hope I scared an eight pointer which circled back around to him. When I got to the parking lot the salt block guy's truck was gone. If I had
known today was a holiday maybe I wouldn't have shot. Maybe I'll just get a camera and use that but I can't eat pixels. Any way there are
deer there. I might go back up later and do another search in the rain.
So to recap: you shot at an illegal buck not even knowing what the law is in your area for taking a buck. Then you shot at a doe and immediately left not knowing what happened and if you even hit her, knowing rain was coming. Then you went back in to look at 7 am prime-time in the early morning the next day instead of just waiting for some decent light to find her?
If I was the other hunter, I would be very irritated as well. Just because it’s public land and you have the right to access doesn’t mean you can’t show them the same respect you would hope for in return. I’m not trying to criticize you here or cut you down at all Bill, but don’t you think you should know what deer are legal to take in the woods you are hunting and that going in to an area you know multiple hunters are actively using at prime time is going to create confrontations?
If I was the other hunter, I would be very irritated as well. Just because it’s public land and you have the right to access doesn’t mean you can’t show them the same respect you would hope for in return. I’m not trying to criticize you here or cut you down at all Bill, but don’t you think you should know what deer are legal to take in the woods you are hunting and that going in to an area you know multiple hunters are actively using at prime time is going to create confrontations?
If it wasn't a holiday they wouldn't have been there. What am I supposed to do, shoot around holidays? The deer is gone now since you don't think I should try to recover her. Thanks for defending the loudmouth..
I did say I thought I saw multiple points.
Last edited:
Matki15
Well-Known Member
“I am not sure if the buck was legal since it had no forks I think. Is this true in PA?”
“ I think it is a spike with 12 inch spikes about 30 yards away”
You only said you thought you saw multiple points after I said you shouldn’t have shot at it without knowing the rules. No offense but you made a mistake. Wether or not you actually killed the deer, you shouldn’t have shot at it. I wish you luck on finding the doe, but it seems like every time someone on here disagrees with your opinion regarding every confrontation you have on public land you try and get smart with them. Obviously no one can control what you do, but please try and listen to what some of these people are saying. I’ve hunted public land for 5 years and have never had incidents like you have, simply because I try to be courteous to other hunters in the area
“ I think it is a spike with 12 inch spikes about 30 yards away”
You only said you thought you saw multiple points after I said you shouldn’t have shot at it without knowing the rules. No offense but you made a mistake. Wether or not you actually killed the deer, you shouldn’t have shot at it. I wish you luck on finding the doe, but it seems like every time someone on here disagrees with your opinion regarding every confrontation you have on public land you try and get smart with them. Obviously no one can control what you do, but please try and listen to what some of these people are saying. I’ve hunted public land for 5 years and have never had incidents like you have, simply because I try to be courteous to other hunters in the area
Wait til say 9-10. The light's better anyway.
Sounds like you had an interesting morning. Really do hate it for you.
I don't wanna defend any loudmouths, but I can't say I don't understand where he's coming from. Imagine you're sitting in your tree hunting and somebody shows up wandering around at prime time. The guy doesn't know where his tree is or have an idea of where he hit the deer. I'd be quite irritated, especially if I'd had that guy wander by me before.
Public land can be a tricky dance. I look at it as restroom rules. Yes it's a public space and I have just as much right to it as the next guy. But I'd be in the wrong to try and share the urinal with him. If he's there first, it's his until he's done. And really, I'm a bit of a douchebag if I use the urinal next to him when I could use the one at the other end of the row. If you gotta use the adjacent one, get in, get out, don't stare, and if eye contact is made just nod and mind your own business.
I've walked in on guys and been walked in on. But in 20 years of public hunting I'm yet to have the excitement you've had this year. I'm not gonna guess at why because I don't know enough about where you're hunting or how experienced a dancer you are. But nobody is gonna have a good time if the song doesn't change soon.
Don't let it spoil your season, but do try and see if you can't figure a way to change the pattern. I'm not saying you're in the right or the wrong.
Let us know if you go back and find blood. Hope you can recover her if you hit her. Good luck! Stay safe!
I don't wanna defend any loudmouths, but I can't say I don't understand where he's coming from. Imagine you're sitting in your tree hunting and somebody shows up wandering around at prime time. The guy doesn't know where his tree is or have an idea of where he hit the deer. I'd be quite irritated, especially if I'd had that guy wander by me before.
Public land can be a tricky dance. I look at it as restroom rules. Yes it's a public space and I have just as much right to it as the next guy. But I'd be in the wrong to try and share the urinal with him. If he's there first, it's his until he's done. And really, I'm a bit of a douchebag if I use the urinal next to him when I could use the one at the other end of the row. If you gotta use the adjacent one, get in, get out, don't stare, and if eye contact is made just nod and mind your own business.
I've walked in on guys and been walked in on. But in 20 years of public hunting I'm yet to have the excitement you've had this year. I'm not gonna guess at why because I don't know enough about where you're hunting or how experienced a dancer you are. But nobody is gonna have a good time if the song doesn't change soon.
Don't let it spoil your season, but do try and see if you can't figure a way to change the pattern. I'm not saying you're in the right or the wrong.
Let us know if you go back and find blood. Hope you can recover her if you hit her. Good luck! Stay safe!
I have walked in on several different hunters over the years and I've always just waved an apology wave and then left the area even if I had a perfect right to be there. Good manners go a long way. That said, I read your original post and that guy certainly didn't have much for manners and it sounds to me like he was a slob hunter breaking the law by putting the salt blocks out.
huntin_addict
Well-Known Member
What's with the pictures of license plates and pictures of guys and then you posting them? Bro, I'm exclusively a PL hunter in PA, very heavily pressured. There is an etiquette. To be honest, the saying "first come, first served" comes to mind. If you get to a spot after its already breaking light, wander around aimlessly knowing other guys are set up, you are setting yourself up for some issues. I'm an early in, late out hunter. You come de de deing in after I've been set up for 1.5 hours, personally I'd be a little incensed.
Aside from that, please read the antler restrictions portion of your booklet again. And yes, I've seen spikes multiple times with antlers approximately 12 inches in length. When light is fading you better let them get close.
Hope you find your bolt, that will tell you a story.
Aside from that, please read the antler restrictions portion of your booklet again. And yes, I've seen spikes multiple times with antlers approximately 12 inches in length. When light is fading you better let them get close.
Hope you find your bolt, that will tell you a story.
I hear what you are saying but I'm really not sure what holidays have to do with you shooting a deer. If you are so unsure about releasing an arrow that you plan for the next several days then you should rethink your strategy. I didn't say you shouldn't try, but maybe go at 9 or 10 when you can see blood better or just dont leave in the first place and then go back and leave again without even finding your tree. You can be as mad at me as you want I am just trying to help you and if you are shooting at deer it is your responsibility to do everything in your power to recover them. I don't understand why you take things so personally on here and make everyone tip-toe around your defensive attitude. We are all ON YOUR TEAM. If it makes you feel better to feel like I siding with the "loudmouth" and blame me and him so be it. I'm just pointing out that maybe you should consider things from his perspective as well as your own.
Hey now guys. It's not the end of the world if someone stumbles into your set up at prime time. There are much more important things in life than killing a friggin deer. I'll be the first guy to admit that I did just that once or twice while I was a greenhorn. How many of you are raggin on old @bj139 that have used the tactic of letting the other hunters push the deer to you? Not much difference there. Now if he sees me and sets up close by then that's another story.
I really, really don't want to pile on here...but "thought" isn't good enough. If you don't know, watch 'em go.
Also, lighted nocks are such a huge help in arrow recovery. Ideally if you don't know where you hit I'd wait in the tree a bit longer (but sounded like light was fading fast) to not bump the deer, and after waiting put a high value on finding the arrow/impact point.
It's also worth considering how what you're doing might affect others, and whether there's something simple you can do to make it better for them and you (or at minimal cost). 7am light sucks for finding a track anyway this time of year.
LOL. I tied pulling that trick to pick off some overflow from a youth hunt the other day. But unfortunately one of the hunters came up and set up <100 yards from me. Flashed my light, but I suspect they had a prehung set they couldn't really move and hunted anyway. I think they got a deer and I hope the kid was pumped. I was initially annoyed but thinking about it I quickly became more pumped that a kid (hopefully) had some success.
Speaking of youth hunts. I'm headed out now to see if I can help my 12 year old grand daughter get her first deer. Or 2. She does have a bonus antlerless tag. Wish us luck.
DanielB89
Well-Known Member
I think there have been many good points made here.. Enough kicking a man while he is down.
I am glad you got a shot off on an animal. I wish you had had different results, but a sign of a maturing hunter is learning the in's and outs of both the quarry were chasing and the people who choose to chase the quarry with us. I have been in your boat before on wanting to search for an animal and I have learned it's best to wait until a given time 3ish hours after and before daylight and dark. There was a thread a month or so back that you were talking about coming out of the woods early and interrupted someones and they yelled at you(or something similar to that) and I know it felt like everyone was attacking you, but that was certainly not my intentions not anyone elses imo. If it were me, I would have also been highly angry if a man was walking through "prime time" when I had been set up for quite some time. I want to encourage you to just keep after it and continue to evolve into a public land hunter who shares the woods with other public land hunters.
Good luck, bud!
I am glad you got a shot off on an animal. I wish you had had different results, but a sign of a maturing hunter is learning the in's and outs of both the quarry were chasing and the people who choose to chase the quarry with us. I have been in your boat before on wanting to search for an animal and I have learned it's best to wait until a given time 3ish hours after and before daylight and dark. There was a thread a month or so back that you were talking about coming out of the woods early and interrupted someones and they yelled at you(or something similar to that) and I know it felt like everyone was attacking you, but that was certainly not my intentions not anyone elses imo. If it were me, I would have also been highly angry if a man was walking through "prime time" when I had been set up for quite some time. I want to encourage you to just keep after it and continue to evolve into a public land hunter who shares the woods with other public land hunters.
Good luck, bud!
This was the same guy as before with his illegal salt blocks. I am planning to go there tomorrow but now I don't know if I should go in the woods if there are hunters there. I don't want to ruin anyone's hunt. I think the guy left quick after I told him I reported his salt blocks to the game commission. I guess I was inconsiderate.