Drove down the road from my house about .3 miles yesterday evening. Wow! A Big buck, with a handsome rack (looked like a 10 pointer) walked calmly in front of my car. I stopped and observed he joined four doe on the other side of the road. They all paused for a moment to watch me watch them. Been seeing alot of deer NEAR my property lately. Alot. And this deer would be a keeper for sure. Hopefully deer season in the Finger Lakes area of NY wll be bountiful this year.

Got back after I picked up gasoline for the generator. I told my girlfriend we had a change of plans and she could go to Ithaca by herself tonight. Before she had finished backing out of the driveway I had my bow out and was launching arrows from my porch into the broadhead target... (hahaha) But it was getting dark so I only had time for a short session. Shooting low and right. But consistent. Time to adjust the site and get back on it this evening.... Anyone else getting the bow hunting itchies?

Oh yeah, cant wait, i hunt southern N.Y. and the itch is on! Looks like the leaves will drop early, or so i hope.

Season starts here on Saturday. I've been shooting every other day since July. I have 4 stands up and the weather looks like it will be decent. Boy, am I ready.

I had a doe walk outside the upstairs bedroom window yesterday AM. The girlfriend and I just watched it. It was about a 30 yard shot. I have a treehouse attached to our house and that is where I intend to sit sometimes although my preferred permanent and climber tree stands are "in the woods" and where i intend to do most of my hunting from. However, having the deer come right up to the house sure would make carrying the meat out easier!

I have been walking in the woods more---looking for signs of bucks and getting a gauge on the traffic of the deer---and sitting in the tree stands just watching.

Had to scratch the "itch" so I drove down to Washington county Pa to hunt the opener today.Didn't score,but saw deer(3 different buck) and passed 2 small ones,all in all just great to be out hunting. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Yogi

I would be real careful sitting in stands you plan to hunt, your scent may drive deer to skirt your stand location. I have seen deer cross my path many hours after i came in and spook, and thats with rubber boots and not touching a thing!

I hear ya on that. And I only did it once so far. However, I have deer coming right up to within 30 yards of my house and I am out there all the time. But still, I do try to stay away from spending much time in my deer stand before hunting season.

I was shooting my bow last evening into a block target off my side porch. Flung about 40 arrows. Got my arrow throwing back into form.

scratch scratch scratch

I had 3 deer come within 10 yards of my side porch this am. I stood in the open doorway (perfectly still) and watched them munch on the fallen nuts from the trees. I let the cat out and the deer were very curious about her. They stamped their hooves and started to approach her several times. The cat was far more interested in the chipmunks. It was like watching an episode of Wild Kingdom. The cat is running first toward one chipmunk, then another pops up from under the porch so she dashes back for the second chipmunk, meanwhile the 3 deer are very interested in her and are watching her like fans watching a tennis ball at Wimbleton and there I am the Max predator watching the 3 deer. (hahaha) Finally, after ten minutes of very close encounters with these deer, I said to myself I am going to be late for work. So I moved. The biggest deer said snort. And they jumped back a few feet, watched me some more, and then took off but not at a very fast pace. Jeeeez, I may be hunting off the porch this year!!! forget about all that tree stand stuff.... hahahhaha.... just funnin of course.

Bow season opens up here in less than 48 hours. The weather is predicted to be cold and rainy (30's F) for the opening AM. The leaves have been falling due to a stout westerly wind. It rained all night last night and temps are expected to start moving south. I am starting to see more deer movement on the land i will hunt. Everyday I've seen some deer from the house. The acorns have fallen and the deer love them. Been practicing with my Spitfires. I will have to get some new ones or learn how to sharpen them. And I have a day to do either.
How is everyone else doing?