2025-2026 Hunting Season

Saltwater60 · Aug 2, 2025

If I get out once or twice I’ll be happy. I’m not sure I will. Things are crazy and I’m behind on house work I need to get done.

FP1201 · Aug 2, 2025

I'll see literally dozens crossing the Road going to my Son's House, and in the Spring when the Snow is just melting off there are hundreds out in the Fields...Season opens: not a fucking one to be found anywhere.
Hopefully I'll get to fill a tag or two instead of being issued one for road kill with the Car.

JRtraderny · Aug 2, 2025

Carlos Hathcock said:
Trying to get a head start this year. Getting stands and blinds in order and looking for some new spots. Checking trail cams, and things look promising.....as they always do before the season actually starts.

Post up your pics, plans, and thoughts for the coming season. Hoping for some success for everyone.

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These guys were loitering around right under my favorite stand.

Ah the good old boys club , they won't be friends for much longer .

Saltwater60 · Aug 9, 2025

FP1201 said:
I'll see literally dozens crossing the Road going to my Son's House, and in the Spring when the Snow is just melting off there are hundreds out in the Fields...Season opens: not a fucking one to be found anywhere.
Hopefully I'll get to fill a tag or two instead of being issued one for road kill with the Car.

I’d hunt and see them, never get a shot off because it’s real brushy where I hunt. I’d set up where I could get the best view and only see a tail. No one hunts where I do so no one to push them to me either. I’d drive home and there was a field and always see 20-30 of them just chilling. Of course couldn’t shoot them.

Varmint · Sep 1, 2025

Carlos Hathcock said:
Trying to get a head start this year. Getting stands and blinds in order and looking for some new spots. Checking trail cams, and things look promising.....as they always do before the season actually starts.

Post up your pics, plans, and thoughts for the coming season. Hoping for some success for everyone.

View attachment 270698 View attachment 270699

These guys were loitering around right under my favorite stand.

Gotta say I’m a doe man… mowing down the veggies and soybeans
I’m not looking for trophies…ha everyone is a sniper until I ask them to get rid of them

Saltwater60 · Sep 1, 2025

Carlos Hathcock said:
Hujg a new stand in an old spot hoping to nab a couple of the above suspects....

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Nice sight lines and pretty view.

Saltwater60 · Sep 2, 2025

Carlos Hathcock said:
I call it the Dead Swamp. For some reason all the trees in that area died off.

They are all pretty small diameter trees. Must be something to it. From what I can see is they appear to be maple trees. I wonder if a bunch of Norway maple trees got in there because their roots are so dense they end up bothering each-other out. I can’t tell for sure since the bark on the trunk is part of the identification process.
I had a Norway maple in my yard and it was problematic. I could not get a thing to grow in the area of its roots. I raised up the soil and the roots invaded it. Terrible tree. It’s gone now and I’m thrilled.

Robin · Sep 3, 2025

Probably ash trees.
Robin

Xae289 · Sep 16, 2025

Went out yesterday for early bear/antlerless. First deer I saw was a doe while walking into the woods, around 10 min before legal shooting. Held the flashlight on her for a few seconds before realizing there was nothing I could do but let her go and keep making my way to my spot.

Unfortunately, the only other deer I saw was a young buck. Hopefully no one takes this guy out during regular season, because he looks like he's gonna be a real beast if he's allowed to grow.

Tisto · Oct 8, 2025

Has anyone else noticed that the deer are getting their winter coat already ? All the deer near my house are already very dark and appear to have rather thick coats already. I hope this doesn't mean that winter is going to set in early and stay until June. I'm all in for a mild winter.

Saltwater60 · Oct 8, 2025

Tisto said:
Has anyone else noticed that the deer are getting their winter coat already ? All the deer near my house are already very dark and appear to have rather thick coats already. I hope this doesn't mean that winter is going to set in early and stay until June. I'm all in for a mild winter.

Everything seems to be early this year. Squirrels are going nuts by me. Everything is bulking up. I saw juncos today and that’s pretty early for them. Finches are putting the feed on heavy by me as well. Robins are all but gone

Bustedknees · Oct 10, 2025

I turned the big 60 this year. It's also a very frosty morning today. I think my remaining years in the woods will be warmer sunny days. I find no joy in freezing my ass off anymore. I enjoy going to the kids kills more than mine anyways.
I'm still looking forward to the Northern opener though, but its damn late this year.

Robin · Oct 11, 2025

No picture but my 14 year old Grandson got his first deer this morning. They live in Maryland.
Robin

FP1201 · Oct 11, 2025

Hillbilly77 said:
I found this guy laying near the swamp this morning.

NICE BUCK!
For as long as we've lived here, there's always been a small herd of Deer literally behind out House (bastards wiped out my Garden while ignoring the fence and sprays) SO this year I'll put an Arrow through at least one if I can.
DEC released Pheasants about half hour from here...haven't got a Dog, but think I'd like to go kick the Goldenrod to see if I can flush a Bird or two...Hunted Perch River with my Son and his Friend last year, the shot one, I missed one, they Dog they hunt with is at 477 Birds, going for 500. (lifetime) they go out West to the Dakota's and either Montana or Wyoming; I need to go out there too before I can't.

Hillbilly77 · Oct 19, 2025

Re-post of my archery buck.
I guess I deleted the first pic I posted trying to edit something.

Edit:

Working on a European mount.
I think I’ve got it clean enough. I’m going to let it dry and inspect it closer. Then I’ll whiten it.

Saltwater60 · Oct 20, 2025

Hillbilly77 said:
Re-post of my archery buck.
I guess I deleted the first pic I posted trying to edit something.

View attachment 274464

View attachment 274465

Edit:

Working on a European mount.
I think I’ve got it clean enough. I’m going to let it dry and inspect it closer. Then I’ll whiten it.

View attachment 274466

I think it looks great as is. I wouldn’t even whiten it but it’s not mine

Robin · Oct 21, 2025

Hillbilly77 said:
Re-post of my archery buck.
I guess I deleted the first pic I posted trying to edit something.

View attachment 274464

View attachment 274465

Edit:

Working on a European mount.
I think I’ve got it clean enough. I’m going to let it dry and inspect it closer. Then I’ll whiten it.

View attachment 274466

I went the other direction with mine and coated it with a natural shellac. Gives it an old timer parchment look.
Robin

repete · Oct 21, 2025

First time out with a crossbow today, 40 minutes in my stand and three does come walking down the hill on my right and turned to their left and started to cross in front of my stand. I shot the first and biggest and they ran off to their right, I got down and looked where they were and found no blood or hair! I waited a very long hour and started looking, found a couple drops of blood about 30yds from where she was when I shot, then all off a sudden I see blood on waist high weeds on both sides of the trail, found her laying just around a turn.
I've gotten lots of deer with long guns and hand guns, this is the first with any kind of bow! I'm happy

Bustedknees · Oct 22, 2025

Just completed my first online hunting license purchase. I didn't want the damn optional phone app so I chose to print my license and tags. I'm not good with these things and it looks like I printed duplicate tags.
I have my T/C Greyhawk and a Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster pulled out for this weekend.

Hillbilly77 · Oct 24, 2025

My new Henry in .360 Buckhammer is getting the nod for opening morning of rifle tomorrow.

Bustedknees · Oct 27, 2025

Spent the weekend in the adk

with my son and some life long friends. I took my rifle for a few short walks in my sneakers. Still milking a bad foot. Saw a few doe then of all places we kept getting attacked in the camp yard by what the locals are calling a retarded buck. He did a couple of fly byes but it was always when everyone was only armed with beer cans. Also supported a few local watering holes for beer n wings. A great weekend!

S&W Fan · Oct 30, 2025

We’ve had a lot of rain on snd off here in Springville today. Everything is soaked and the wind is getting up now but it sure as Hell beats a day at the office.

Robin · Oct 31, 2025

Bustedknees · Nov 2, 2025

After having one of these bastards somehow slip the trap in my garage on Saturday, I am thrilled to make this kill today. Got the prick on my 3rd attempt at about 60 yards from the bedroom door with a 22lr. Shot em right in the rear quarters too, but these little f#$kers are on speeders. They dont sit still for half a second.

Robin · Nov 5, 2025

Beautiful evening with a big moon rising, I had a little success.

Good luck everyone.
Robin

2025-2026 Hunting Season

.450/400 Nitro Ex

20×102mm Vulcan

.338 Win Mag

6.5 Creedmoor

.450/400 Nitro Ex

20×102mm Vulcan

.450/400 Nitro Ex

.450/400 Nitro Ex

.44 mag

20×102mm Vulcan

.450/400 Nitro Ex

20×102mm Vulcan

.577 Tyrannosaur.

.223 Rem

.308 Win

20×102mm Vulcan

12-gauge slug (smooth bore)

.577 Tyrannosaur.

.338 Win Mag

6.5 Creedmoor

20×102mm Vulcan

.577 Tyrannosaur.

.338 Win Mag

12-gauge slug (smooth bore)

6.5 Creedmoor

12-gauge slug (smooth bore)

.475 A&M Magnum

.577 Tyrannosaur.

12-gauge slug (smooth bore)

.577 Tyrannosaur.