I dont know where all these guys are hunting, but there are deer all over the place. The problem is, guys dont know how to HUNT anymore. Deer are a lot smarter now than they used to be, and you cant go and sit on a stump and think that deer are going to come by you. You have to work for it. You have to get out and stillhunt, which hardly anyone can do anymore. You have to hunt more during the midday, not just dawn and dusk. You have to work for it. Get out and look for sign. Figure out where the deer bed. Learn what they feed on through the season.Dont sit in the same stands day after day, you have to work, move them, and try new spots. Learn about the WOODS, not just killing a deer. Try to be a woodsman. I would never think any hunter would think the gun season is too long, I would hunt well into January if I could. On many occasions I will hunt for days and see hardly anything, but then shine a spotlight into the fields at night, and they will be covered with eyes. So they are definitely there. Theyre just a lot smarter. Putting regulations in place so people shoot less deer or dont shoot small bucks just makes it EASIER to bag a larger buck, because now there are more available. Its the way things are now. Everyone wants the big bucks, but dont want to work for them. Food plots and trail cameras have ruined us as hunters. There is definitely no shortage of deer.

Del, I thing you hit the nail on the head, our gun season is rediculously to long and it only stresses the deer out give guys to many weekend to go out and slaughter our herd, if DEC had half a clue to what they were doing they may get more people into the sport but not when they issue a million doe permits and kids and adults alike go out ten times in a row and dont even see a deer, then they more then likely arent going to be very excited about going back out the following year, as of right now this state is a mess and someone needs to do something about it because everything that DEC tries to do just isnt cutting it, plus i dont even what to get started on the nusince permits and how poorly regulated and managed those are, plus look at all the states that have successful hunting programs, they do it because they care about their resources unlike NY, I think that we need a longer bow season , much shorter gun season and go to a one buck limit and make guys really think about weather that little buck is worth filling your one tag on!

need to correct last message. Deer netted @ 208. Woops.

On October 26, 2009 at 6:15pm a new potential all time record deer was taken in Suffolk County, by bow, rough hand green score in excess of 245, with 20 score-able points, field dressed at 205, with a 27/28 inch neck and believe it or not was only 5 1/2 years old . . .

Do you have categories for record deer taken with muzzleloader and handgun???????

Oct. 20 2009 sceen a 4 pt. chase a doe for a few seconds only, and sceen two year & 1/2S sparring for twenty seconds. very lightly.

I agree with Del Nichols of Massena New York has gone down hill with its deer population and size antler restriction would be nice around here seeing how most "hunters" shoot any buck that comes through im not one to say you cant shoot a 6 if thats big to you but let that 6 go another year and hell be a hell of a buck almost guaranteed

The heaviest buck shot in New York Weighed 388 pounds field dressed

my father shot a book buck years ago (1969 ? ). scored 151 or there abouts. It I believe was # 12 largest when shot, now down list a ways but at 71 yrs he is still as proud today of that deer as he was when I was a kid. Ya he still hunts to.

Am I the only deer hunter that has come to the conclusion that we need major change in New York? Greed and the lack of meaningful regulations by the DEC has made hunting deer in New York a joke. You never hear anyone from any other part of the country stating "Im going to NY for their outstanding hunting".
I am an avid bowhunter of nearly 30 years and have vowed that I will not spend one single dime on the hunting that the DEC of NY offers any longer. Third longest firearms season in the country while only being ranked 28th in deer density.....its a travesty!

hi, i just shot a beauty of a buck. had been watching him all summer with plenty of video as he grew and shed his velvet. then after labor
day, no more "big boy". he went into hiding or something. didnt see him again for 2 1/2 months, till nov.19th. when he came out of hiding and i got him.

can you please tell me how to go about entering him in the nys big buck contest?? or is it too late to enter?

thanks for your time,
fred krizan

have you heard of a buck that was tken in 1972 from green mt. in essex county that held the state recordfor a time?