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Extreme Archery Deal of the Day on Groupon

2012-01-25T09:54:00.000-05:00

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

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

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

Choose from the following options:

For $25, you get an archery outing (a $61 total value) that includes the following:

A half-hour archery lesson (a $30 value)
A half-hour of range time (a $10 value)
Three arrows (a $21 value)

For $49, you get an archery outing for two people (a $122 total value) that includes the following:

A half-hour archery lesson each (a $30 value per person)
A half-hour of range time each (a $10 value per person)
Three arrows each (a $21 value per person)

For $25, you get an archery package (a $81 total value) that includes the following:

Three one-hour range passes (a $60 value)
Three arrows (a $21 value)

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

Late Season Bowhunting in New York

2012-01-24T21:17:00.001-05:00

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

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

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

DEC Releases Draft Bobcat Management Plan

2012-01-24T14:38:00.002-05:00

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

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

The draft plan describes three primary goals for bobcat management:

Maintain viable population levels and monitor trends in bobcat distribution and relative abundance;
Provide for sustainable use and enjoyment of bobcat by the public; and
Minimize negative bobcat-human interactions.

"DEC staff worked closely with trappers and small game hunters to gain preliminary input regarding the future management of the bobcat resource," said DEC Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathleen Moser. "Input obtained from these groups was used by DEC biologists and managers to develop the recommendations and management actions contained in the draft plan, said Moser." The plan includes proposals to greatly simplify hunting and trapping season dates by making them consistent throughout much of the state as well as establishing new hunting and trapping opportunities in several wildlife management units in central and western New York.

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

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

First Bowkill of 2012

2012-01-22T13:52:00.001-05:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Quest Continues for the G2 Buck

2012-01-20T23:22:00.000-05:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Muzzy Introduces New DX-3 Broadhead

2012-01-19T17:01:00.000-05:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

DEC Amends Chronic Wasting Disease Regulations in Response to Maryland Discovery

2012-01-18T21:49:00.000-05:00

DEC Amends Chronic Wasting Disease Regulations in Response to Maryland Discovery

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has revised its Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) regulations to prohibit the importation of certain parts of white-tailed deer taken in the state of Maryland effective immediately, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.

The first case of CWD in the state of Maryland was confirmed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources last year. In response, DEC has amended its CWD regulations to prohibit the importation of the following parts of deer taken in Maryland: brain, eyes, spinal cord, tonsils, intestinal tract, spleen or retropharyngeal lymph nodes.

"Hunters who take a deer in Maryland must butcher the animal and remove the prohibited parts before entering New York State," Commissioner Martens said. "Most successful hunters will opt to butcher a deer and put the meat in a cooler before traveling back to New York."

DEC has conducted an extensive surveillance program since CWD was first confirmed in New York State in 2005 and has not discovered any additional cases of CWD since that time. CWD is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. It causes a characteristic spongy degeneration of the brains of infected animals resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death.

It is not known exactly how CWD is transmitted. The infectious agent, a prion, may be passed from animal to animal through feces, urine or saliva. The minimal incubation period between infection and development of clinical disease appears to be about 16 months. The maximum incubation period is unknown, as is the point at which shedding of the CWD agent begins during the prolonged course of infection.

The movement of infectious material is believed to be one route of transmission. This amendment to the CWD regulations will prohibit the importation of those parts of a deer where the disease is most likely to be found. DEC advises hunters not to consume the meat of any animal that acts abnormal and to exercise precautions when butchering animals, such as using rubber or latex gloves.

2012 Bowtech Insanity CPX and CPXL released at the ATA Trade Show

2012-01-17T22:28:00.000-05:00

Following on tradition, Bowtech once again unveiled it's new flagship bow at this years ATA Trade Show in Columbus, Ohio.

Advertisements with the phrase "Contain the Insane" were showing up everywhere and fueled anticipation for the unveiling of Bowtech's latest creation. At 9:00 am on January 10th it happened - the Bowtech Insanity was unveiled to an enthusiastic crowd on the showroom floor at the ATA Trade Show.

The Insanity comes in two versions, a 32" model shooting 355 feet per second and a 35" model shooting 340 feet per second.

Featured on the Insanity bows is Center Pivot Extreme Technology, which resists shooter induced torque for greater forgiveness and accuracy. The OverDrive Binary Cam System to eliminate cam lean issues and provide exceptional tuning to produce cleaner arrow flight for greater accuracy.

HardCore limbs boost efficiency for more speed without a harsh draw. On typical limbs, most of the bow's energy is stored near the outside of the limb, while the core stores minimal energy and serves as little more than a spacer. HardCore Limbs put the core to work, storing energy not only near the surfaces, but also inside the limb. By sharing the workload, stress is reduced, producing exceptional durability. The carbon core is also significantly lighter than other limb materials available today, which produces a tighter physical response for increased energy efficiency, less noise, and less vibration.

The FLX-Guard greatly reduces cable guard torque to produce better arrow flight and easier tuning for greater accuracy. As the archer draws back, the cable guard flexes inward absorbing the cable guard torque that would normally be transferred to the riser. This also reduces lateral nock travel which increases the tuneability, forgiveness and accuracy of the bow.

The Carbon Rod String Stop is made of carbon, an extremely strong material with vibration-dampening properties. It is positioned directly in line with the stabilizer to effectively transfer vibration from the string to the stabilizer. This optimizes bow balance and dissipates noise and vibration efficiently.

Both bows come standard in Mossy Oak Treestand. Alternative finishes include Mossy Oak Infinity, GORE Optifade Forest or Open Country, Realtree APG HD and BlackOps. Target colors AnoRock Onyx and Inferno area also available. All finished except Mossy Oak Treestand include black limbs.

The insanity CPXL has a longer axle-to-axle length for added stability and forgiveness, which makes it the perfect fit for archers with a draw length up to 32". The Insanity CPX will have a suggested retail price of $999 and the CPXL will retail for $1,049.

I had a chance to shoot the Bowtech Insanity side by side with last year's Invasion at the Bowtech shooting lane. Shooting the Insanity was exciting as the bow really put some heat behind the arrows as it sent them down range.

One thing that stood out to me when drawing the bow was the short valley. Upon releasing the arrow I felt a lingering vibration throughout the bow. However, this was a bare bow so some vibration is to be expected and a hunting rig outfitted with a stabilizer and other accessories should significantly decrease if not completely eliminate any vibration.

Another notable mention was the overall balance of the Insanity. When shooting last year's Invasion, the bow slightly kicked back after the shot. The new design of the Bowtech Insanity makes the bow extremely well balanced and the Insanity remained steady even after the shot.

Overall, I think Bowtech did a good job with the Insanity and there were noticeable improvements over the Invasion, specifically in the overall balance of the bow. The bow was fast, the grip was slim and the bow was easy to keep on target. The valley was short, however, and I did have one draw where I let up a little while at full draw and the bow pulled me forward.

If you have a chance, take a trip to your local Bowtech dealer and shoot the Insanity to see what it's all about.

SPECIFICATIONS

CPX

Brace Height: 6"

Draw Weights: 50, 60, 70, 80

Draw Length: 25.5-30 inches

Axle to Axle: 32"

IBO/ATA Speed: 355 fps

Kinetic Energy: 98.0 ft.-lbs. at 70 lbs.

Effective Let-Off: approx 80%

MSRP: $999

CPXL

Brace Height: 7"

Draw Weights: 50, 60, 70, 80

Draw Length: 27.5-32 inches

Axle to Axle: 35"

IBO/ATA Speed: 340 fps

Kinetic Energy: 89.9 ft.-lbs. at 70 lbs.

Effective Let-Off: approx 80%

MSRP: $1,049

2012 ATA Trade Show

2012-01-13T20:39:00.000-05:00

It was 2:00 am on Wednesday when Jenn and I got in the truck and began the 8.5 hour drive to Columbus, OH for the 2012 ATA Trade Show.

As an archery gear junkie, the ATA Trade Show is an event I look forward to all year long. All the major manufacturers have booths set up and several unveil new products for the first time. Although it's a dealer show and not open to the public, there are several members of the media in attendance to get the inside scoop on what's new in the archery industry.

We arrived at the Greater Columbus Convention Center just in time for Nikon's 5th Annual Monarch Awards. All of Nikon's television partners were at the luncheon including Lee and Tiffany Lakosky from The Crush, Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo from Archer's Choice, Pat Reeve and Nicole Jones from Driven TV and the Keefer brothers from Dropped in Alaska, just to name a few.

Archer's Choice with Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo took home the ID Tech Award for this year's "how -to" video. Pat Reeve and Nicole Jones of Driven TV won the PROSTAFF Award for their commitment to using Nikon optics. Last but not least, the winner of Nikon's most prestigious award is Tim Herald and James Brion of Nosler's Magnum TV.

Following the Monarch Awards, we made our way to the showroom floor and began our tour of the showroom floor starting with the QAD booth and ending our day at the Sitka booth where they unveiled some new products and previewed a trailer for an upcoming project that everyone at the booth was excited for.

This week I'll be posting photos and write ups on some of the best looking new products for 2012. There's a lot to be excited for!

NY DEC Seeks Info About Sick or Dead Deer

2012-01-13T11:24:00.001-05:00

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is asking the public to report any instances of deer appearing sick or acting abnormally. DEC is only investigating deer that appear to have died from unknown causes and not those that were killed by a vehicle, the agency announced today.

Anyone who sees a white-tailed deer acting abnormally or who finds a dead deer that was not struck by a vehicle is asked to report the animal to the nearest DEC regional office or to an Environmental Conservation Officer or Forest Ranger.

"One of the ways that DEC monitors the health of New York's deer herd is by performing post- mortem examinations to determine the cause of the illness or death," said Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathleen Moser. "We depend on information provided by people who are outdoors to tell us when they see something that does not look right to them."

Recently, DEC identified an uncommon bacterial disease in a deer from Warren County. This bacterial disease does not affect humans. However, DEC is seeking additional information to determine the prevalence of this disease in the deer herd and is responding to reports of deer that are acting abnormally. Deer with this bacterial disease may have a swollen head, neck or brisket. They also may exhibit excessive drooling, nasal discharge or respiratory distress. To aid in this investigation, DEC would also like to examine any deer that are found dead from unknown causes.

People should not handle or eat any deer that appears sick or acts abnormally. Sightings of sick, dying or dead deer should be reported to the nearest DEC regional office or an Environmental Conservation Officer or Forest Ranger.

First Bear Taken in Putnam County New York

2012-01-09T21:21:00.002-05:00

John Corrao is no stranger to the Putnam County woods. As the President of the Westchester/Putnam Branch of the QDMA, John spends countless hours in the field improving habitat for whitetails and other game.

After his bee hive was destroyed twice in late September, John had a feeling a bear was around. With a newly established bear season in Putnam County this would be the first time that John would be able to take a bear in this part of the state.

With trail cams running throughout the property, John was hoping to get pictures of the bear, but the bear never showed up.

John had about two hours to hunt on the afternoon of October 26th and decided to try and take a doe between two food plots near the house. John watched as 12-15 deer fed in some clover that was growing in the fruit orchard.

Suddenly, the deer scattered running in every direction. A full twenty minutes passed before John saw what scared the deer as a black bear appeared. Instead of walking in the clover where the deer were the bear hooked a turn towards John's ladder stand. John drew back his Hoyt Carbon Element took aim as the black bear approached. When the bear presented a shot opportunity John squeezed the release and watched as the bear turned and ran, crashing just 30 yards away.

The black bear weighed in at 250 pounds and had very little stomach contents - this was one hungry bear. What made this bear so special was that it's the first bear John's ever seen while hunting, the first arrow he release from his new bow, and the first black bear taken in Putnam County! That's a lot of firsts! Congrats to John on an awesome black bear and a great hunt.

New York Bowhunter Takes Big Idaho Bull

2012-01-06T08:33:00.001-05:00

Doug Erickson, president of the Westchester County Bowhunters Association, went on a DIY backpack hunt this past fall for Elk in Idaho. The self guided hunt led Doug on a four day journey with daily encounters with bull elk. On the fourth day of the hunt this beautiful 6x6 bull elk came within bow range and Doug put a great shot on the bull.

GEAR GUIDE: Octane 1 Piece 5-Arrow Quiver

2012-01-02T19:42:00.000-05:00

PROS: Quiet connect and disconnect with Teflon connections, self centering magnetic hood, easy to load/unload arrows, works with both mechanical and fixed broadheads, 6" of vertical adjustment, 30 degree mounting adjustability, optional foam insert with corrosion inhibitor

CONS: The overall weight of the quiver with the magnetic hood could be an issue for some.

MSRP: $129.99

My fascination with archery equipment always has me searching for the next best thing. I am constantly searching for the best equipment and only want the best with me in the woods because equipment failure is never an option. I work way to hard to get a chance at an animal only to have a poorly made piece of equipment fail and cost me the shot.

I've been through five quivers since the beginning of deer season last fall and I've finally found one that is functional, quiet and easy to use with both fixed blades and mechanicals - I'm talking about the Octane 1-piece 5-arrow quiver.

The Octane quiver mounts to your bow sight with two small allen screws. The top hole of the quiver mount is fixed, but the bottom mounting hole is a curved slot that provides you with 30 degrees of adjustability. This allows you to offset the mounting bracket so your arrows don't stick out past the bottom limb of the bow. If that's not enough to get you clearance, quiver spine allows for six inches of vertical adjustment providing you with additional clearance. Simply move the red mounting hardware up or down to adjust the height.

To mount the quiver to the bow you need to hold the quiver at a 90 degree angle to match up the red "H" shaped top male mount to the female top mount of the quiver bracket. Insert the quiver mount into the bracket and turn the quiver 90 degrees clockwise until the quiver hits the rubber stop. Then tighten the red knob on the quiver to secure it to the bow. This locks the quiver in place and is a quick and silent operation.

With the Octane 1-piece 5-arrow quiver you have a two choices when it comes to quiver hood inserts: a foam insert or a molded rubber insert with five magnets. My personal preference is the molded rubber insert with the magnets because it ensures that the broadheads are always secure in the quiver and the blades never touch anything to get dull. The magnets work great with both fixed and mechanical heads and they prevent mechanical heads from opening in the quiver. Another benefit of the magnets is even in low light conditions you can easily get your broadheads put away safely instead of trying to figure out if the blades are lined up with the cut outs in the foam. I hunt whitetails with fixed blades and turkeys with mechanicals so it's nice to have one quiver that I can use all year long no matter what I'm hunting.

There is a single arrow gripper at the bottom of the quiver which makes it super easy to remove arrows from the quiver or put your arrows back into the quiver. The arrow gripper is able to accept both carbon and aluminum arrows and is one of the quietest grippers I've ever used.

As far as downsides are concerned with this quiver, the only thing I'd mention is that the quiver is on the heavier side when the molded rubber insert with magnets is used. Personally, it's a non-issue for me, but for those who want a super light quiver, this one is on the heavier side.

2011 Recap - Bowhunting Westchester County

2011-12-31T20:13:00.000-05:00

Today marked the end of the 2011 archery season in Westchester County. It was one tough season with not a single acorn to be found. The deer were sticking to the lowland swamps where they were feeding on low preference foods such as barberry, ferns and bittersweet.

Personally, I had an awful season compared to years past. I started hunting on September 15th when Connecticut's archery season opened, then I began hunting New York on October 15th, made a 10-day trip to Kansas during November and then finished the year back in New York and Connecticut. I closed the season with one doe down in New York and another in Connecticut. Luckily there's a January season in Connecticut so I'll have two tags to fill next month!

Even with the warm weather, never ending full moon and lack of food, some hunters were able to get it done and put their tag on a big buck. Each season I get hundreds of texts and emails from hunters across the state showing off their bucks. Some of these pictures come directly from the hunter and others get sent around from person to person and no one ends up knowing anything about the photo being sent around.

Here's a few pictures I was sent this year that are part of the latter group. I don't know who any of these hunters are or the story behind the deer, but they're supposedly all from Westchester County during the 2011 archery season. So now that we have a big mystery, check out the photos and if you're the hunter or you know the story behind the buck let us know because we'd love to hear the story!

1. This first buck is a great big 8 pointer with a cool kicker off his left G2

2. Just another great big 8 pointer

3. This looks to be a 10 pointer with decent mass and tine length. A great buck for our part of the state.

4. Looks like this buck was taken off the power lines somewhere in Westchester. What's really cool about this buck is the matching split G2's.

5. This might be my favorite buck, I think I'll name him "Masszilla"

If you know anything about these bucks comment below or send us an email at info@nybowhunter.com.

Happy New Year everyone!

One Hunt, Two Deer

2011-12-29T21:34:00.001-05:00

On December 9th, my cousin Ken had a pretty awesome morning in the woods. Ken had planned to take the day off from work knowing a drop in temperatures was just what was needed to get the deer moving.

By 6:00 am Ken was in the cold dark woods and just getting settled in the stand. As day began to break, Ken waited in anticipation for the deer to begin moving. As the first hour passed Ken was beginning to wonder if he picked the right spot to hunt that morning.

With nothing happening, Ken decided to try calling and sounded off a few soft grunts. Then at 8:15 am Ken finally caught movement as two does began working their way in from behind. As the lead doe stepped into a clearing at 20 yards Ken sent the arrow on its way and watched as it blew through the deer and stuck in the ground. The doe took off on a quick 40 yard dash before collapsing.

Ken was pretty pumped up (probably did a fist pump in the stand) and then caught movement not more than 20 minutes later as a buck worked his way down the mountain towards Ken's stand. As the deer got closer Ken had to reposition himself in the stand. Now at just 15 yards and closing Ken would have only a few seconds to draw back and shoot the buck. At 9 yards Ken came to full draw and grunted to stop the deer. Caught in the moment, Ken had pulled the shot and the hit was far back.

Ken watched as the deer bedded down 65 yards away. Over the next half hour the deer got up and bedded down twice, ending up at 90 yards. Once Ken could no longer see the buck, he climbed down and began to stalk the wounded buck.

Crawling on hands and knees through dirt, mud and rocks Ken slowly made his way closer to where he had last seen the buck. When he got to a point where he thought the buck would be below him, Ken started heading back downhill and spotted the buck 55 yards away bedded against a stone wall.

It took another 25 minutes for Ken to close the distance to 20 yards. Ken's heart was pounding as he made his way to a large boulder to hide behind for the shot. Taking a moment to calm down and relax, Ken took a deep breath and then drew back on the wounded buck. Picking a spot and settling the pin, Ken made sure the shot would count and sent the arrow into the boiler room putting the buck down fast.

Congrats to Ken on two awesome deer and sticking it out through the ups and downs. Ken did what all hunters should do when they mortally wound an animal - he did everything in his power to make sure he put that deer down as fast as possible, even if it meant crawling through mud to get there.

Coming January 2012 - Bloodsport

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Gillespie Buck

2011-12-20T00:06:00.000-05:00

For the past few years Sean Gillespie found the sheds from an impressive buck roaming through a maze of suburban woods in Westchester County. Finding the buck's sheds year after year in the same vicinity could only mean one thing - this was the buck's core area.

Although Sean had seen the buck while hunting in past seasons he opted to pass on the buck on three separate occasions, hoping the buck would continue to add inches and mass to his already impressive rack.

It was Sunday, November 27th when the southeast winds began to blow and Sean was finally able to sneak in and hunt a stand that led to a bedding area. Sean knew this buck was in there with an even bigger one and had high hopes on this day.

Settled in his stand almost an hour before first light, Sean patiently waited for the woods to come alive and shadows of deer to begin moving in the early morning light. As day began to break, Sean had a small buck and some does move through the area. While the morning started off with deer movement, things quickly got quiet.

Around 8:30am things started to change and three does came in to Sean's set up. As he watched the does work their way closer he began to get nervous - another ten yards and they would pick up his scent.

That's when the big buck came charging through the woods right at the does. At the 30 yard mark, the buck began scent checking the does - it was now or never.

Sean ranged the buck at 32 yards, moved his HHA slider sight to the 32 yards mark and drew back. A quick grunt from Sean stopped the buck in it's tracks and Sean sent the lighted nock on its way watching it bust through the buck's vitals.

Forty yards later the buck stopped and looked around wondering what had just happened, but it was all over. The majestic whitetail tipped over and Sean had his whitetail on the ground.

The buck was aged at 5 1/2 years old, weighed 225 pounds and grossed 142 3/8" P&Y. This buck is Sean's 12th Pope and Young buck from Westchester. Congrats to Sean on another great buck!

2011 Deer and Bear Harvest Update

2011-12-11T21:35:00.001-05:00

This weekend brings the final days of deer hunting in the Northern Zone and the final days of the Southern Zone regular seasons. Muzzleloader and late bow seasons for deer and bear in the Southern Zone will begin Monday, Dec. 12 and continue through Tuesday, Dec. 20.

It has been an interesting season with generally mild conditions all around, but now with a little snow finally on the ground in many upstate areas, this weekend could be productive for a lot of hunters. Of course, you can't fill your tags if you're not in the woods.

As it stands now, deer harvest reports seem to be on par with last year at this time. We started out with reported deer take through mid-November running about 5% less than last year. Then reports during the first week of the Southern Zone regular season were slow, near 20% less than the opening week in 2010. But hunters did well Thanksgiving week, and currently reports are tracking very close to reported take in 2010. At this point, we are just tracking harvest reports and aren't yet calculating the total harvest. That will come after the January deer season closes on Long Island and after we review all the data from our field checks of harvested deer.

For bears, this season has shaped up to be quite different from last year, with preliminary harvests down in the Northern Zone but at record levels in the Southern Zone. Bear hunting was expanded into eastern New York this year, with the newly opened area spanning from Westchester County to Washington County. Hunters in the new areas have taken over 40 bears so far. Even without these additional bears, the preliminary take in southeastern New York (DEC Regions 3 and 4) looks like it could be one of the top harvests. In central and western New York (DEC Regions 7, 8, and 9), we're on track to top 300 bears, which will shatter the previous record of 189 bears taken in 2008.

If you get out this weekend, enjoy and hunt safely. Otherwise, the Southern Zone muzzleloader season runs through December 20, and bowhunting continues in Westchester and Suffolk counties till December 31. Finally, the special firearms deer season in Suffolk County runs weekdays, January 9-31 (see www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/40409.html for details).

Jeremy Hurst
Big Game Biologist

Where did all the deer go?

2011-12-06T16:40:00.001-05:00

A few days ago I was going back and for via email with Dan Aitchison, the Curator of Wildlife for Westchester County and the manager of our hunting program and forest research. We were talking about the deer season and the lack of deer sightings and Dan had some great points:

The "lack of deer" has become a state wide phenomenon this year. I believe it is due to 1) lack of acorns 2) abnormally hot weather 3) extremely bright evenings (has it seemed to you that the full moon never ended?) 4) already diminished food resources 5) a later rut than we've had over the last several years.

The deer this year seemed to be in lowland swamps eating low preference foods such as barberry, ferns, mile a minute weed, bittersweet, and any leaves (even those that had turned color) that fell in storms. Once the barberry turned the deer moved out of the swamps and folks are seeing bucks - does seem to have disappeared from the landscape. Fawns have poor fat stores this year. The deer have been seen eating evergreens already, even though we don't have snow. If we end up having a bad winter I feel we will have a terrible winter kill.

I've been seeing extremely low deer numbers this year and have noticed that the does and bucks 3.5 and older have completely disappeared from some of my hunting areas. It's been a very strange year and I'm not sure that it will get any better before the season comes to an end at the end of December. It will be interesting to see what happens where I hunt in Connecticut during January once there's snow on the ground. With no acorns for the deer to dig through the snow to find, where will they be eating?

On a side note, for those of you that aren't aware, the 2012 proposed budget for Westchester County calls for the entire Conservation division to be terminated as of December 31. This includes all County owned nature centers as well as Dan Aitchison's position, the Adaptive Deer Management Program and research to protect and monitor the forests. Tonight at 7:00pm is the final chance to keep the Conservation division alive at the BOL Budget Hearings at the BOL Chambers, 8th Floor, MOB1.

State Land Acquisition Expands Cranberry Mountain WMA

2011-12-06T15:40:00.001-05:00

ALBANY, NY (12/06/2011)(readMedia)-- The Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area has expanded by a third with New York state's acquisition of a 261-acre property in Putnam County that is prized for wildlife habitat and water quality protection, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The property, known as North Hollow, is located within the Great Swamp watershed and was acquired by the state with federal grant money and a private donation.

"Adding North Hollow to the Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area will preserve forested and watershed land for use by the public for expanded recreational and sportsmen activities," Commissioner Martens said. "This acquisition is an example of how New Yorkers can benefit when state, federal, non-for-profit and private entities all work together to achieve a common goal. The preservation of North Hollow will be a valuable addition to a network of protected lands within the Highlands and Great Swamp areas, further protecting one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the state that is home to many plant and animal species."

DEC sought to add the North Hollow property to its 467-acre Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area to further protect the Highlands region for its abundant natural and cultural resources. The Cranberry Mountain WMA now totals 728 acres. Since 2006, DEC and the Trust for Public Land, a national conservation organization, have worked with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the family of the late Gerald Blumberg, a long-time resident of the Hudson River Valley, to conserve the property.

North Hollow features steep upland forests protecting the nearby Haviland Hollow Brook, a pristine trout stream. The brook watershed connects with the Great Swamp, Croton River and reservoirs in the New York Highlands that provide drinking water to New York City. The area is used for such recreational activities as hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing and trapping.

A federal Highlands Conservation Act grant for $653,500 was used toward the purchase of the property. The federal program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is designed to assist Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania with conserving land and natural resources in the Highlands region.

The Highlands Conservation Act grant required a non-federal match on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The Blumberg family generously donated half the value of the property to meet the federal match requirement.
Marc Matsil, the Trust for Public Land's New York State Director said: "Completing the conservation of the North Hollow property is a vital addition to the Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The Trust for Public Land is grateful to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for its dedication to protecting land in the Highlands and to the New York congressional delegation for their commitment to the Highlands Conservation Act, which made this project possible. This diverse cover type provides superb recreation opportunities and great economic value by enhancing regional ecotourism and builds on the vital work of the State and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to safeguard drinking water for millions of New Yorkers."

Senator Greg Ball said: "As Chairman of the New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus and an avid sportsman myself, the expansion of the Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management area couldn't make me happier. I believe it is vital to protect our watershed, promote strict clean air initiatives, and preserve natural wildlife areas and I look forward to working together to continue to keep Putnam County, and the Hudson Valley as a whole, beautiful by preserving our environment."

Ron Essig, Acting Chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration in the Northeast Region said: "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been pleased to have the opportunity to assist the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in protecting the North Hollow Property by awarding a Highlands Conservation Act grant to the Agency. This project is a great example of the important conservation results that can be achieved with Highlands Conservation Act funding, and illustrates what a difference the Act can make in assisting states with protecting the natural resources of the Highlands Region."

New York City Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland said: "Land acquisition is an important tool for the protection of water quality. The purchase of this 261-acre parcel that sits within the Croton watershed will keep this land unspoiled. Having the Trust for Public Land and the State of New York take steps that are in concert with our own, means a great deal to the nine million New Yorkers who rely on this water source for their daily drinking water needs."

Lawrence S. Blumberg, a New York City attorney and seller of the land said: "My father acquired this land over 50 years ago. During this time, he turned down many offers to develop or sell the property because he was waiting for something special. Several years ago, before his death in 2009 at age 97, he was so happy and gratified to know that we were working with The Trust for Public Land. I know that he would be very proud that his land has been preserved forever."

Jim Utter, Chairman, Friends of the Great Swamp (FrOGS) said: "FrOGS is thrilled this area is protected and thanks Larry and Robyn Blumberg, DEC, TPL, and the Highlands Coalition for making it happen. This parcel is critical in maintaining the exceptional water quality and ecology of Haviland Hollow Brook, a major tributary of the Great Swamp, and the acquisition by DEC ensures it remains pristine. We hope the matching parcel on the south side of the Hollow will also be protected soon."

Raymond Merlotto, Putnam County sportsman and DEC Region 3 representative to the Fish & Wildlife Management Board: "The Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area is an important destination for sportsmen and women from throughout the Lower Hudson. The addition of the North Hollow property to Cranberry Mountain will provide not just expanded opportunities for the region's hunters and anglers, but the acquisition will also provide further protection for the Croton Watershed, the Great Swamp and other important resources in the area that provide habitat vital to the fish and wildlife that thrive there."

Ontairo County Droptine Buck

2011-12-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

After I pick my jaw up off the floor I'll say WOW! This buck is incredible for New York. In the southeast part of New York it's been slow this year, but looks like the guys in western New York are doing quite well this year.

According to Joe over at New York Antler Outdoors, this huge 16-point was taken in Ontario County and has an impressive 22" spread.

Giant New York 22 Point Non-Typical Scores Over 200"

2011-12-02T21:52:00.001-05:00

Check out this MONSTER buck that Ray Mortimer took in Westfield, New York. According to New York Antler Outdoors, this brute has 22 points and green scores an incredible 201-2/8".

New York State Black Bear Ties State Record

2011-12-02T21:18:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving day is a favorite day of hunters across New York State. The rut is usually in full swing and the woods are alive with deer moving - and bears too!

Dieter Herbert headed to his family's Thanksgiving destination in Elka Park, New York where Dieter and his dad, uncle and two cousins hit the woods around 4:00 pm.

Knowing there wasn't much daylight left, Dieter split off from the group and headed to a river crossing where there was always good deer and bear tracks. As Dieter walked down the river bank he spotted an enormous black bear shoulder deep in the water and headed towards the opposite bank.

Quickly, Dieter picked up his pace and closed in on the bear that was 200 yards away. He knew he would only have about thirty seconds once the bear got out of the river to make the shot before the bear disappeared into the thick brush.

Dieter lost sight of the bear as he closed in and decided to cross the river where the bear had crossed. Now on the opposite bank of the river Dieter scanned the brush looking for the bear when he spotted the bruin behind a spruce tree a mere 30 yards away.

Dieter shouldered his .308 and dropped the bear in its tracks as adrenaline flowed through his veins. The massive bruin weighed 600 pounds and has a 22" skull unofficially tying Dieter's bear with the New York State Record Black Bear.

Congrats to Dieter on an awesome black bear, definitely worth the six hour drag out of the woods!

Deer Hunting Season Continues in New York

2011-12-02T20:55:00.001-05:00

Chris took this beautiful 10 pointer in Long Island on election day, looks like this buck got Chris' vote!

Ian Bruckner from Holland Patent, NY took this doe after getting pounded with 11" of lake effect snow. Ian was on stand for the evening when this doe passed by at a mere 10 yards. Ian let the PSE rip and watched the doe go down just 40 yards away.

Arthur took this big Saratoga County 10 pointer on November 12th, what a brute!

Congrats to all the hunters on their awesome New York trophies. If you have a success story and photo you'd like to share with us email them to info@nybowhunter.com.

Success Continues for Bowhunters in New York

2011-11-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Kevin took this awesome 10 pointer on November 4th in Italy Valley, New York while bowhunting. The buck has G3s that are 9" and 9.5" long, great buck Kevin!

Duane arrowed this tall tined buck during the early season on October 18th in WMU 9J.

Larry arrowed this 217 pound 8 pointer on October 28th in WMU 8N, now that's a BIG buck!

As if it wasn't enough to take a mature buck with archery tackle to begin with, Mike stepped it up and arrowed this beautiful 10 pointer with his traditional bow on November 2nd. Good old fashioned muscle helped drag the 205 pound brute back to the truck.