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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Mint on December 01, 2021, 11:18:26 AM

Title: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Mint on December 01, 2021, 11:18:26 AM
I started a new job on September 7th so I knew I would only be hunting weekends this hunting season. Last year i hunted a public land spot that had limited access due to the fact that it was surrounded by private land but you could access by walking close to 3/4 of a mile along a major highway. When i scouted it last year i found a lone wolf stand on the public land but right on the edge of the private farm. I made sure i was 150 yards away from that stand. When I went to put out a camera after hunting season started I found that my stand was stolen.

My guess is the person that has been hunting that property doesn't want company even though it is open public land. On another close by piece of public land that is permit access only I went in to check my camera and found that that stand was also stolen and they cut my lifeline so it was unusable. Sadly that is what hunting on Long Island NY has become.  Both of these spots the stands were at least a mile in to access and had to go through some really thick brush. I decided to hunt another area and bring my wedgelock stand in and out each time I hunted. To tell you i wasn't bummed out would be telling a lie, bothers me that we have slob hunters in our ranks and to steal from someone, especially another hunter. Thankfully I could afford the monetary loss without it being an issue like some folks.

Well I decided to scout a new spot and hunt it that afternoon. The spot I picked was about a 1/4 mile in and I found a decent rub line. There was several trails running  basically north and south that it looked like the buck was using. I selected a decent size red oak with some leaves still on it and set up for the evening. I saw a family out for a walk in the woods on a nearby trail which is typical surburban hunting and then around 4:00pm a spike came walking by. I let the spike walk by but was up for shooting a doe or basically anything else. Nothing else came by but my mood was lifted being in the woods.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving was my next chance to get out. I was going to hunt a different stand further out east on Long island where i shot my biggest buck to date. Well the wind was going to be 22mph further out east and only 14mph at my new spot. Decided to hunt the new spot, got up at 3:30am and made the 45 minute drive out east. I was in my stand by 5:40am with first light coming in at 6:20. Nice crisp 30 degree morning. Sure enough i hear a deer walking at 6:45am on one of the trials I'm hunting. Looks like he is a four point which is ok by me, I want some meat.  Now I'm hunting a cross wind and i will have to shoot him before he gets to the 1:00pm position of my stand. He decides to take a different trail and walks right to the bottom of my stand and starts browsing. After 5 minutes he walks directly away not giving me a shot. My spirits were high though on the encounter.

I'm thinking to myself, no way he made the rub line, since the trees were decent and it must have been a bigger buck. then I hear another deer coming from the same direction. Sure enough I see antlers and then the deer slowly ambling along. He is on the trail I'm hunting and I had just checked the wind and know i have to shoot him before he gets to the twelve o'clock position since the wind had shifted a little.  He walks into my shooting window at a slightly quartering too position and then stops. He turns his head and body to scratch his side moving his shoulder out of the way and my arrow is off. I hit him a little high but under the spine angling downward and he books out of there heading towards a power line road 100 yards away. I lose sight off him around 70 yards but hear a branch break. Is he down?

I wait 1/2 hour and then leave my stand to check to see if i can find blood or my arrow.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Mint on December 01, 2021, 11:26:09 AM
[attachment=1,msg2983774][attachment=2,msg2983774]The view from my stand and what I found about ten yards from the shot.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Mint on December 01, 2021, 11:30:03 AM
I found the arrow about 5 yards further but it was filled with green gut material and blood. I'm thinking did i hit him too far back? No he had twisted his body to scratch himself so I'll bet I went through him exiting the gut. I decide to pack everything up and bring it to my truck first and then follow the blood trail. 
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Mint on December 01, 2021, 01:42:13 PM
[attachment=1,msg2983785][attachment=2,msg2983785]I made sure i walked out as far away from where the deer had run keeping close to the houses on my left. I hit the power line dirt road and decided to check the road to see if the my buck crossed the road to the other woodlot. Saw tracks going the other way and one track going the way my deer would have run but no blood and the track was from a younger smaller deer. I got to the electrical power line tower that my buck was heading to before i lost sight of him. I decided to take a quick look to see if he was piled up or bedded just inside the woodlot. I walk to the edge of the road and see what could be a log or a deer about 40 yards in. I dropped my stand and pack and nock an arrow and walk slowly to the "log". I see that it is a deer and as I get closer I see that he is dead. I thank God and marvel at my buck. Especially special since a good friend gave me his Rocky Mountain Recurve he couldn't shoot anymore and he knew I admired it. I also used a knife that belonged to a great friend that passed away in 2010.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: PrimitivePete on December 01, 2021, 01:47:10 PM
Congrats on the Deer Mint, as a fellow LI'er I know the nonsense we deal with in order to hunt. If it's not over regulation and rules or it's anti hunters honking and yelling at us or the fact we don't have access to large tracks of land and the deer are very spooked, LI is a challenge indeed.
Last year when I was exiting DEC land, I hand this nut case block the road and stare me down as I tried to drive off, and as far as theft, I know of at least 2 trail cams that were taken or tampered with. But I still go hoping for my first LI Buck.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: GCook on December 01, 2021, 02:22:43 PM
Enjoyed your write up.  Congratulations on your buck.  One we'd all be proud to take.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Baylee on December 01, 2021, 02:40:24 PM
Glad it worked out for you with the nice buck. Maybe look into some cable locks for your stand or take them down when you leave and hide them. Public land 101 don't leave anything out that you want to keep. I don't use cameras myself but every single time I come up on one in the woods there's a stand within 30 yards of them. Makes stealing them real easy.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: hessian on December 01, 2021, 02:54:33 PM
Congrats sir!
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Adirondack Bowman on December 01, 2021, 03:07:14 PM
Hi Jeff, great buck and story. Miss seeing you at  Muzzy.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: South MS Bowhunter on December 01, 2021, 03:48:14 PM
Congrats!
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Judd on December 01, 2021, 04:01:40 PM
Mint-
if you are so inclined you ought to try tree saddles.
Visit saddelhunter.com to learn more, you enter and leave with your "stand" so no theft.
No one will know where you hunt as you leave no sign.
I am 64 and still hunt from a tree saddle, specifically a JX3 style.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: kennym on December 01, 2021, 04:22:21 PM
Nice job brother!!  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Jim Brennen on December 01, 2021, 04:43:07 PM
That is a great story and awesome buck. Sorry about your tree stands, Congrats on a nice deer
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Mint on December 01, 2021, 05:57:56 PM
Thanks guys! I actually had both stands locked in so they must have had bolt cutters to cut the lock. Where i hunt further out east i haven't lost a stand in over 25 years.

Judd, i have a Kestrel Saddle and hunted with it a couple of years ago and like it a lot. Then last year I lost 35lbs and the Saddle wasn't as comfortable after my first sit so i stuck to my stands. You can bet i will be using it on some short afternoon sits from now on dialing in to wear it will be comfortable again. That will be my go to equipment for these two spots. I actually was planning to pull one of the stands out since i found  a really thick spot with major rubs but only small trees that only a saddle could hunt. 
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: mjh on December 01, 2021, 06:09:11 PM
Nice Deer!   Some places it is not legal to leave stands up overnight.  Don't know the rules in your area.  Don't know that Conservations Officers have the time to cut down not legal stands.  They are pretty busy.  But yea,  thieves........well 'nough said about low life's.

Your Buck says a lot about knowing  your hunting areas well and being persistent.   :clapper:
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: electricstart on December 01, 2021, 08:09:59 PM
Congratulations on a nice buck . Sorry about stands though .
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: JamesD on December 01, 2021, 08:18:59 PM
I enjoyed the story! Sorry about the stands, that's a real bummer. Congratulations! That is a great buck!
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Bisch on December 01, 2021, 08:24:58 PM
Congrats on a great buck!

Bisch
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: beemann on December 01, 2021, 08:29:49 PM
Nice work congrats...
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: ron w on December 01, 2021, 09:21:10 PM
Well done :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: rastaman on December 01, 2021, 09:22:50 PM
Way to go sir! Very nice buck! Thanks for sharing your hunt.. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Steelhead on December 01, 2021, 10:43:28 PM
Great story of persaverance and ultimatly success!

Congrats you earned it!
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: JDunlap on December 01, 2021, 10:48:01 PM
Great work!
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Gun on December 01, 2021, 11:23:58 PM
Great story! I'd say you earned that one. Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: durp on December 02, 2021, 12:41:06 AM
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Deno on December 02, 2021, 02:04:08 AM
Congrats.  Great pics and story   :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


Deno
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: glenbo on December 02, 2021, 04:49:39 AM
Congratulations Jeff,nice buck.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: huckbuck on December 02, 2021, 06:31:39 AM
A very hard earned buck!  Congrats Sir!
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: TIM B on December 02, 2021, 07:11:37 AM
Congrats!
Tim B
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Sam McMichael on December 02, 2021, 08:44:59 AM
Congratulations on the buck. As far as the theft goes, maybe it was not another hunter at all. There are still a lot of people that don't like hunting or hunters. Perhaps one of these people took them. I would hate to think another bowhunter would do this.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: fmscan on December 02, 2021, 09:07:53 AM
Mint, Great story of not getting down, keeping your chin up etc. I had a similar thing happen, got to stand and its gone, decide to sit and enjoy the morning - hour later  a buck comes to a scrape and I get my first traditional buck! Its not the cards your dealt, but how you play the hand...
Nice buck.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: ALDO on December 02, 2021, 12:31:48 PM
Way to go Mint!!!
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on December 02, 2021, 01:22:38 PM
Congrats jeff. Sorry about the theft issues
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Judd on December 02, 2021, 04:27:50 PM
Mint-
You should look at the JX3 it is so much more comfortable than the other "soft" saddles.
My biggest problem is staying awake in the JX3 !!!
I can easily hunt dark to dark and be very comfortable.
They are not cheap, but sometimes they are for sale in the saddlehunter classified ads.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: NANUK on December 02, 2021, 05:02:57 PM
Congrats on a dandy buck! Well done!  :shaka:
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: TIM B on December 02, 2021, 06:16:03 PM
Persistence pays off!!  Way to go!
Tim B
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Bvas on December 02, 2021, 06:53:31 PM
Nicely done. Way to stick it out and come out on top.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Ken Sorg on December 02, 2021, 07:25:44 PM
One word, perseverance! Congrats!
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: huntingcop on December 02, 2021, 07:56:02 PM
Congrats on the buck Mint! Sorry for the loss of your stands, its a shame you have to worry about that stuff now.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Basinboy on December 03, 2021, 07:58:40 AM
Congratulations Sir!
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Bowguy67 on December 03, 2021, 10:33:25 AM
Congrats on the buck but the stolen tree stand thing never ceases to amaze me. I never leave stands in woods. You need to move with the deer anyhow. Using a climber means it cant be stolen nor do you give away locations.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Al Dente on December 04, 2021, 07:49:43 AM
Jeff, congrats on persevering and not letting those negative issues deter you.  Long Island is a nightmare.  Between the thieves, slobs, inconsiderate hunters, and tree huggers, I am amazed that anyone is successful.  I tried a few times, and to me, it is not worth the aggravation. Kudos to those who can.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: chefrvitale on December 04, 2021, 10:00:39 PM
On public with a trad bow! Nice
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: Homey88 on December 07, 2021, 08:37:45 PM
Congratulations to you! Fine buck!
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: LC on December 12, 2021, 01:32:07 PM
Congrats, NICE buck and on public land to boot.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: bkspyder on December 14, 2021, 03:23:17 PM
Good stuff, Congrats!
I have only had positive encounters on LI public but I have only been out there a few years and am always east of Riverhead.
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: LookMomNoSights on December 16, 2021, 10:00:45 AM
Too bad you have to contend with the stand issues.   That's just plain rotten and I'll never wrap my head around that sort of thing.
Great story though and a fantastic buck and I say congratulations to you Sir!  Well done! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Two Stolen Tree Stands and a Buck
Post by: LIBowhunter on December 16, 2021, 10:23:45 AM
Congratulations on a nice buck! I also hunt on Long Island and public land is not a treat! That's terrible on your stands being stolen. I am disgusted with the trash  I see left on public land as well. Getting a deer let alone a nice buck is quite a trophy on public Long Island!  :clapper: