In the Adirondacks, old signpost rubs indicate that an area has traditionally been home to one or more big bucks. Shortly after I was dragging him to my truck. Look for thicker softwood areas surrounding the sign. It’s because throughout much of the season, they probably aren’t located there during daylight hours. The farther away from other hunters the better. Adjust accordingly. You must think of increasing your odds if you're going to find that big one and staying away from others in the field will help you do that. You notice I said consistently. The Wall of Fame is not about the biggest bucks. And like the big bucks you need to make sure that they can't pattern you. It is equivalent to 1 buck harvested for every two square miles or 1,280 acres. Is it windy? First buck down in the Adirondacks. The more the pressure, the deeper big bucks head into this kind of cover. Go. Big bucks were taken in both the Northern and Southern zone by bowhunters, crossbow hunters and those hunting with various firearms. 120 talking about this. Weather, food and the time of rut will influence where the deer will be and what they are doing. Change up your plan of attack, the way you enter an area, etc. These factors might seem obvious - but we sometimes deceive ourselves into hoping there are big bucks in the area. Don't shoot the small bucks! A sure way to get the big boys to hole up tight. Praise the Lord: Baptist pastor bags trophy, 11-point Adirondack buck. If you don't have the time or won't take the time, there is a good chance that you will never have a big buck mount hanging on your wall. 1 of 3 Go to page. We have been hunting this area since my brother Steve move there more than 20 some years… Read more Pennsylvania Big Buck Pictures Talk to others about deer locations, sightings, behavior, etc. Is it wet and quiet? He didn't sit on stumps, waiting for a deer to wander by, and he didn't cruise back roads in a car: He hunted. That means that your true desire to shoot a big buck is lacking. New York and “Backcountry” aren’t always considered synonymous to  people outside the region, however the Adirondack Park includes some of the most remote, roadless, rugged wilderness areas east of the Mississippi River. Places like thickets and hard to reach places are usually a good bet. Have you ever found rubs, runways and tracks in the Adirondacks? Like anything else you want to be good at you need to learn and do what other successful whitetail hunters have done to harvest their big bucks. Deer are excellent swimmers. Be a loner when you hunt for big bucks. I know many big buck hunters that track the remote parts of these mountains by themselves and have filled there walls with trophy bucks. If you find a good food source next to good cover you might have a winner. Hoping to catch the buck on the other side of the ravine for a shot. Learn about Todd Waldron’s 2018 Adirondack big woods buck on the East to West Hunting Podcast Episode 39: Adirondack Deer Hunting on Snowshoes by clicking HERE. Look for tracks coming out of these areas heading into thick cover, high or low. Photos can be viewed individually by clicking on each, at which time you can navigate forward or backward. Are they on their feet all day looking for does, or with one waiting to breed (early to mid-November)? If so, let the smaller ones go to mature into bigger bucks. 35 talking about this. I find great hardwood scrapes and rubs, hunt that sign all day, and see no deer. Older bucks aren't on a schedule. They like the thick cover the wetlands provide because it gives them security. What are the deer doing? There is no exception to this rule. Luck has helped some over time but by and large the hunters who take the big ones year after year know things you don't. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made this mistake over the years. Frosts is a family owned group of 4 award-winning centres offering inspirational plant nurseries, great events calendar and beautiful restaurants. Cover - mature bucks like plenty of cover. Great guest blog from my buddy Connor Burns from up in the Adirondack Mountains: Three summers ago, we set out trail cameras at our camp in the great Adirondacks. When you’re using a tool like Google Earth, the open hardwoods typically show up as ‘grey’ and the thicker softwoods generally show up as ‘dark green’. Remember there are no rules, just tips, ideas and experiences. How to Consistantly Harvest Monster Bucks. Check them out. It is the perfect vantage point for him to see any approaching predators. 103 talking about this. Hunting Pressure - Monster bucks aren't real fond of being pursued by hunters and the more hunting pressure there is the harder the big bucks will be to find. That Wild Country with Mark Kenyon of Wired to Hunt This week, we’re thrilled to be speaking with Mark Kenyon of Wired to Hunt as we talk about his new book That Wild Country. If its unusually cold, they may be sunning themselves on south-facing hardwood slopes. Review of the 2019 Adirondack hunting season. You must do the same. That being said, its an incredibly satisfying feeling to be roaming around freely in remote hardwood and spruce covered mountains with the earthy smells of autumn lingering in the cold fall air. I hope you had a good one. It means there aren’t a lot of deer and you’re going to have to work harder than ever to find them on a consistent basis. Avoid going to the same area a lot. Sounds simple huh? Published by Todd Waldron on February 15, 2018February 15, 2018. Use every skill you’ve ever learned about deer hunting and be flexible. They don't have to be anywhere at any certain time. This is a universal suggestion that applies to wherever you hunt deer or any other big game species. and recieve our upcoming newsletters and other site info. Jan 15, 2020 #1 longbow Administrator. It was a large-bodied buck with a heavy 10-point rack and long tines that made all the long hours and effort worthwhile. If one area doesn’t hold deer that day, then keep moving. All Rights Reserved, and recieve our upcoming newsletters and other site info., Get $2 Off by using the promo code NYANT at checkout. I once tracked a buck for two days. Although the areas we spend … Remote areas or land that has limited access for others are best. It's a tad long, so fair warning. Tip 5 –  There is no ‘right’ way to do it that will work in all parts of the season or conditions – Adirondack hunting often morphs into an “all of the above” type of hunting experience. 3 plus miles from road. Here are five tips from an average Adirondack DIY deer hunter that will hopefully help shorten your learning curve and address the challenges above. The Adirondacks are a good example. Identify and hunt hardwood ridges and remote basins that might hold food sources or show sign of feeding from the previous night. Bark on top of the snow is proof that a good buck is nearby. About 3.5 miles in. and you need to treat them as such. You must use big buck tactics to consistently bag the monster bucks. Listen in this week as Todd talks about hunting on snowshoes & tells the story of his 2018 Adirondack buck. The Adirondack Mountains, located in northern New York State, form a rugged area of 6 million acres. Big Adirondack Buck. You shouldn't be Either. You’re looking for pockets of deer and working through the process of elimination on the majority of acreage where there are none. We Read more…, West Kill Brewing – How Great Beer & Public Lands Bring People Together Special Guest Mike Barcone – Founder, Craft Beer Brewer, Conservationist We’re in the Catskills this week talking about how great beer, wild Read more…, Episode 31: Colorado Elk Hunting Part 1 – Gut Punches & Adjustments 2018 Colorado Elk Hunt – 2nd Season Rifle Hey everyone, we just got back from our DIY 2nd Season Rifle Elk hunt in Read more…, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Episode 93: That Wild Country with Mark Kenyon of Wired to Hunt, Episode 75: How Great Beer & Public Lands Bring People Together, Episode 31: Colorado Elk Hunting Part 1 – Gut Punches & Adjustments, East to West Hunting | Podcast | Conservation. Only this time I made my mind up that I would run after the buck, on the track that left the bed, to a ravine that was located at the end of the finger of woods. Mature bucks have learned to swim, crawl, hold tight in cover, and use their natural color and stealth methods to avoid even the most experienced hunters. An Outdoors Page built for , and Based out of the Northern Adirondacks. The younger, less experienced bucks will usually flee sending them into the path of another hunter. I was able to top my freezer off with a nice doe taken near my home in northern Washington County. real woods real hunts, two beautiful adirondack bucks in the coarse of our season thus far It only stands to reason that the more hours spent in the woods the better your chances of seeing a monster buck. Pat Salerno Jr. with an impressive collection of Adirondack shed antlers. Thread starter Dougfirtree; Start date Nov 22, 2018; Nov 22, 2018 #1 Dougfirtree Well-known member. Next Last. The cameras had only been out a few weeks before the excitement got to us and we had to make … Remember the big picture and hunt it accordingly. Adirondack buck fight: Two big deer spar with their antlers for dominance (video) Updated Nov 20, 2019; Posted Nov 19, 2019 . Hunter must be an ACSCI member in good standing prior to the start of NYS hunting season (Oct 1st) Existing ACSCI members must have their Adirondack-Catskill chapter dues and SCI national dues paid in full prior to October 1st; The deer entered in the contest must be taken in New York State ; The deer must be legally taken and tagged by the … I thought some of you might enjoy a hunting story from the public lands of the east coast. Copyright © 2010-2021 New York Antler Outdoors. Spend time snooping around, scouting and hunting the edges of the dark green. Hunt different areas now and then. Here are a few factors to remember when looking for a big buck area. Yet, how often do hunters spend hunting in areas where they never saw a really big buck? In "How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life", he shows how. 3 years of scooting and learning the land. Small, heavily hunted areas usually don't hold the monster bucks. But to consistently kill older more mature bucks you must think like an old buck. Today, if you want a semi-auto rifle for hunting big woods bucks, you turn to Browning. If you want to bag a monster you have to maximize your chances of finding one. Big Mature Bucks Are a Different Animal and you need to treat them as such. If your goal is to find real monster bucks - you need to find out where they are and hunt there. Monster Bucks Love Swamps and Wetland Areas, Any experienced big buck hunter will tell you that mature bucks like to frequent the heavy cover around these areas. Sure enough after a tiring run through the snow I reached the ravine and looked across to find the handsome 10-pointer standing on the other side about 100 yards away. Even some lucky novice hunters have accidently wandered upon and killed a mature buck. There are some great Adirondack deer hunters out there that are far more successful and consistent than me – Jim Massett, Joe DiNitto, Todd Mead, the Salerno brothers, some of my closest friends and many, many others who work hard and find success in the form of a full winter’s freezer on a consistent basis. Although I didn’t get my Adirondack buck this year the Iron Sight Gang has nothing to complain about. Statistically speaking, if you can find and hunt 10 square miles (6,400 acres or an area 3.5 x 3.5 miles), there are hypothetically 5 harvestable bucks out there. ALL really BIG bucks are old bucks and it only makes sense that they don't grow old by falling prey to normal deer hunting tactics. Many times, we find sign we think is fresh, hunt it hard all weekend and seldom see deer. Updated Oct 31, 2019; Posted Oct 29, 2019 . It can be an incredibly satisfying hunting adventure. That and the weather will dictate your strategy on how and where to hunt. Twitter Share. They don't typically panic and run at the slightest sign pressure and may often hold tight and wait for the hunters next move. This buck was shot near Blairsville, Pa. on Penn View Mt. Some areas don't hold even one really big buck, let alone a few. Tip 4 – Cover lots of ground to find deer – Its fairly common to have to make 6 to 10-mile daily swings throughout a variety of landscape and forest features to find deer – targeting potential food sources, cover, edge and topography. An Adirondack Deer Hunting Story. If its early October muzzle-loader season, bucks will probably still be in their feeding and bedding patterns. Just the fact that they have made it to a ripe old age indicates that they have found a … Tony Salerno with a beautiful big woods buck. Plus, with heavy hunting pressure comes more human scent which is a hunters worst enemy. From my experience, the three most difficult aspects about Adirondack deer hunting are the following: Most of my knowledge has come from the many mistakes I’ve made over the past three decades and the numerous seasons that have ended with unfilled tags but great memories and satisfaction in hunting hard with some of my closest friends and family. Are bucks in a feeding and bedding routine – such as the early and late season? They are older, wiser, heavier, more mellow, slower, and much more deliberate in their actions. November 14, 2017. You can't do the same things over and over and expect to get different results. Is your goal really to find the big monster bucks? It’s especially important in the Adirondack Mountains. We knew we had some good bucks on our property; we’d seen them during deer season the previous year. If you’re thinking about an authentic DIY mountain hunting adventure that is located within reasonable driving distance of most eastern US population centers, New York’s Adirondack Mountains offer a rewarding big woods deer hunting experience that you’ll never forget. He said it … When the early rut and seeking phase commences, bucks can travel for miles and miles every night and will be almost anywhere. Take the best ideas and the ideas that fit you and try them. Welcome to 2021: Greetings Adirondack hunters, and Happy New Year. You can't kill a big buck from the diner or from the comfort of you livingroom couch. You’re not alone. Thinking outside the box is sometimes the best monster buck hunting method. The BAR with its aluminum receiver weighs in just under seven pounds in most cartridges. If you’re not picking up tracks, zigzag from cover to cover – check out the downwind side of softwood cover and hunt ‘through and across’ likely terrain features that are normal pinch points for deer travel – benches, saddles, points, edges of marshes and softwood/hardwood cover lines. Most of all, enjoy the experience. If you’re looking for snow, some northern Adirondack wilderness areas and the High Peaks region may get it slightly earlier in the season than lower lying areas in the southern Adirondacks – perhaps by early November. Facebook Share. When it’s the peak of the rut, look for does. Or perhaps they are more persistent. Episode 54: Learn two key rules of thumb to improve your Adirondack bigwoods buck hunting opportunities. Here’s a quick 19 minute rundown on the two main rules of thumb to help you improve your big … My home hunting grounds are the high peaks of the Adirondack … NY State Lands Interactive Mapper (SLIM) is a great online tool depicting available public land locations – click here. Just the fact that they have made it to a ripe old age indicates that they have found a safe way to exist and avoid hunters. If you see two ‘zig-zag’ running tracks during the rut, it might be a buck chasing a doe. Joined Jun 22, 2014 Messages 7,012 Reaction score 1,039 Location North Jersey Woods ( NJW) Shot up in NY, I was told, in the Lake Placid area. Food Source - bigger bucks need to eat to prepare for the long New York winter after breeding. If you’re hunting in the early archery or muzzle-loader season, look for public lands that have red oak and acorn mast or other food sources – in areas like  Lake George and the Lake Champlain region. Hang tight for an hour, they might be back. An Outdoors Page built for , and Based out of the Northern Adirondacks. An Outdoors Page built for , and Based out of the Northern Adirondacks. Tip 2 – Adjust your hunting strategy to the time of season that you’re hunting. The odds are stacked against you from a harvest perspective, but the thrill and freedom that’s associated with roaming the endless spruce and hardwood studded Adirondack Mountains in search of a wild big woods buck will always leave you hungry for more. Pat Jr. and Tony with their father Pat Salerno Sr, the man that got … So, if you continue to shoot a smaller buck than you set your goal to shoot, then you are compromising. Adjust to the conditions. If it's a trophy buck that you truly desire you will take as long as it takes to achieve your goal. If they aren’t with a doe or using spruce for bedding (either high or low) they’re using topography – like a high bench 2/3rds of the way up the mountain where the wind is at their back and then can watch their backtrack. The truth is... that if you're using all your old small buck tactics, you are probably going to miss out on bagging a monster buck. Give Adirondack deer hunting a try sometime, enjoy a unique wilderness experience and adjust your expectations and goals. New York’s Northern Zone enjoys a long season – stretching for nearly 9 weeks including the archery, muzzleloader and regular firearms seasons. You might still-hunt, track, and sit before dark all in the same day. 9 point, 144 lbs, 17 1/2" inside. Reactions: … You won't bag a trophy by using the same techniques that you have been using on the smaller bucks and does. You can't shoot a ghost that doesn't exist. You must understand that consistently harvesting a big buck will completely rely on whether you are willing to throw your old small buck mentality and normal tactics out the window to ultimately shoot the buck you have set your mind on killing. There is a reason that most larger bucks follow the smaller ones, because the big bucks are much more weary. What does this mean? That's how they get to be big bucks. Thread starter longbow; Start date Jan 15, 2020; 1; 2; 3; Next. It’s about a photo that captures an Adirondack deer hunting moment that will live forever that captures good deer display, happy hunters or perhaps a great setting. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but big Adirondack bucks often like to be in spruce cover during the daylight hours of most non-peak of the rut scenarios. This means that your hunting strategy at the beginning of the season will be entirely different than the waning days of early December when you’re frozen solid and the snow and wind is blowing in your face. If you take a four or six point buck every year on opening day at 7am, you have harvested your buck and are done for the season. Have fun with your close friends, try to learn a few new things and enjoy the trip. 315# dressed, A friend in town gave me the pic.. Joined Jul 27, 2016 Messages 1,154 Location Adirondacks.