First deer of the 2017 season!

[vonsmog]

Today is opening day of bow season. I was in the stand of all of 20 min. when this fella came strolling in at 18 yds. Saw the rack and knew I couldn't pass on this one. He has a huge body and will make for some good eating.

[vash]

Wow!

[Eric Hahl]

Nice!

[DanielDudley]

I'll bring the beer.

[Jeff Higgins]

Congratulations! Beautiful buck.

I'm envious of those of you who can say "first buck" of the year. How many are you allowed to take in NY? Can you hunt multiple seasons, i.e. bow, muzzleloader, and modern firearm?

Here in Washington state, we only get one per year. On top of that, we have to choose one method (bow, muzzleloader, or modern firearm) and only hunt the seasons and units open to that method. We used to be able to hunt all three methods until we got a deer. Not anymore...

[vonsmog]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Congratulations! Beautiful buck.

I'm envious of those of you who can say "first buck" of the year. How many are you allowed to take in NY? Can you hunt multiple seasons, i.e. bow, muzzleloader, and modern firearm?

Here in Washington state, we only get one per year. On top of that, we have to choose one method (bow, muzzleloader, or modern firearm) and only hunt the seasons and units open to that method. We used to be able to hunt all three methods until we got a deer. Not anymore...

Jeff, We can take from 5-7 deer, two bucks, one by bow during bow season, and the other by bow, crossbow, muzzleloader or gun during the regular season. Then you get a doe tag with the bow/crossbow/muzzleloader tag, and two doe tags. And if there are any doe tags left after Oct. you can buy two more for $10. So the total I guess would be 7 deer per season. I like to get about 3-4 as it is just my wife and I at home now, so you can only eat so much.

[enzo1]

Did you camo the Unimog?

[cabmandone]

Soooooo jealous right now! Nice deer!!
By the color on the head it looks like an older deer. Nice that you could get him early in season.

[HardDrive]

Congrats sir, fine deer.

[Craig T]

Beautiful buck! Congrats! I could only dream about a deer like that in this area.

[HardDrive]

Oh yeah. Higgins, its 6 deer total here in OH, only 1 can be a buck. The archery season is from Oct1-Feb4!

I'll never forget the first time I got the official WA state hunting guide. Thick, 8.5 x11. Pages and pages of detailed maps with hundreds of bizarrely shaped game units. In many cases, the borders of the unit did not correspond of any natural geologic feature, so knowing what was legal or not was next to impossible. Dozens of footnotes about special restrictions on certain units. It was impenetrable. The best part was that violating any of these byzantine rules could get your truck and gun confiscated, and a hefty fine. Utter bullschiat.

[billybek]

From the first photo I was thinking wow did he get him on the golf course?
Nice!

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by vonsmog

Jeff, We can take from 5-7 deer, two bucks, one by bow during bow season, and the other by bow, crossbow, muzzleloader or gun during the regular season. Then you get a doe tag with the bow/crossbow/muzzleloader tag, and two doe tags. And if there are any doe tags left after Oct. you can buy two more for $10. So the total I guess would be 7 deer per season. I like to get about 3-4 as it is just my wife and I at home now, so you can only eat so much.

That's awesome. Are deer much of a nuisance in New York, as in crop damage and getting hit on the road? Are they considered "overpopulated" like so many Eastern and Mid Western states?

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Oh yeah. Higgins, its 6 deer total here in OH, only 1 can be a buck. The archery season is from Oct1-Feb4!

I'll never forget the first time I got the official WA state hunting guide. Thick, 8.5 x11. Pages and pages of detailed maps with hundreds of bizarrely shaped game units. In many cases, the borders of the unit did not correspond of any natural geologic feature, so knowing what was legal or not was next to impossible. Dozens of footnotes about special restrictions on certain units. It was impenetrable. The best part was that violating any of these byzantine rules could get your truck and gun confiscated, and a hefty fine. Utter bullschiat.

It doesn't appear to have improved since you moved. I have not hunted my home state in about 15 years because of this. I'll still hunt primarily out of state, but I did buy my Washington license and tags this year. What an ungodly mess our game department has made of all of this. It is unbelievable - and inexcusable - just how complicated they have made such a simple thing.

[aigel]

Nice work Vonsmog!

Deer hunting in CA is tough, so seeing a bruiser like that sure makes my heart pump. I'll be going out soon - very different hunting here. Over the counter tags it is either dense coastal mountains or high desert for me. When I draw a premium tag every 3-4 years, that's when it gets interesting up here. It has gotten easier to get a bear here still hunting than a deer for me.

Good luck to all you deer hunters - have fun and be safe out there!

George

[vonsmog]

My buddy and I butchered him on Monday, he dressed at 180lbs. Did a European skull mount and finished it today. Turned out real nice and is very easy to do. Have it hanging in the family room over the fireplace.

[vonsmog]

Originally Posted by NotaBRG

Looks great!

How did you hang it? I had one fall and shattered the whole nose piece.

I have a 4" screw in the rock wall and just place the skull on the screw at the base where the spinal cord goes the into the skull. Have not lost one yet by doing it this way.

[aigel]

Do share your skull trick - boil?

I use maceration which is probably overkill for a deer - learned about it cleaning bear skulls, where it is important to not shrink them if they are in Boone and Crockett reach.

G

[vonsmog]

Originally Posted by aigel

Do share your skull trick - boil?

I use maceration which is probably overkill for a deer - learned about it cleaning bear skulls, where it is important to not shrink them if they are in Boone and Crockett reach.

G

I start by skinning and removing as much tissue as I can, even remove the eyes. Then a low boil for about an hour with Borax in the water. then I take the pressure washer to it! It removes anything still stuck to the skull and removes the brain as well. Then if there is still anything on it, it goes back in the hot water for another 15 min. then pressure wash again. Next a soak in hydrogen peroxide 40% for about an hour, then rinse with water. Put it in the sun for a few hours to dry and then matte clear spray paint and hang on the wall. I have done three this way, the oldest one is about 8 years ago and it is still white and looks good.

[yel911]

Congrats!! Good skull info there, thx.

[vonsmog]

Second deer of the season! Got this one this morning with the crossbow. Weighs about 120lbs.