The Importance of the Camera

Many more hunters are bringing their cameras into the woods for each and every hunt in efforts to get their hunt on film and share with family, friends or the rest of the world.  I have two different outdoor channels that I watch and am amazed with the amount of videos shown each day.

It appears to me that shooting with the camera can be just as challenging and rewarding as shooting with the gun or bow.  Especially if you do not have a camera man and are doing this all yourself- now that’s a challenge, particularly during bow season.

I think every hunter should have a camera with him, not just to record the hunt or snap some after shots, but to capture all the awesome-beautiful things that happen throughout the day while sitting in your stand or patiently still hunting across the forest floor.

Opening week of bow season here in NY was very slow, did not see many deer but wish I had a camera handy.  One morning I was sitting in my stand and as I looked to my left I noticed two large objects come crawling out of the thick brush.  I’m thinking wow those are huge squirrels.  Wait!  Those aren’t squirrels, they are raccoons and they are heading right to my tree.  As I continue to watch in disbelief the two raccoons stop right at the base of the tree I am in.  Tell me they are going to climb my tree!  I am not sure what to do, these raccoons could probably mess me up pretty good if they wanted to, but how often do you get this close to watch raccoons be raccoons in the wild.

Just has I think they are going to start climbing my tree do they turn and begin to climb the tree next to me, which is about 7 – 10 feet over.  I am roughly a little over 30 feet in the air as I watch these guys climb, wish I had this on film.  Finally when the one raccoon gets to the same height I am at, I begin to slowly reach for my cell phone thinking that I might be able to get a decent shot this close, but as I reach for it I get detected and they both climb back down the tree and take off into the brush. 

Though I did not shoot a deer nor even see a deer that morning, those raccoons made my day, and to think how much cooler it would have been to have it all on film to share with all of you.  Also that same week I had a huge hawk land in the tree next to me and same thing- as I reached for my phone to take a picture it flew away.  This hawk had to be 3 foot tall has it perched on the branch next to me and had a wing span of at least 5 feet.  Wish I had got photo.

I currently do not have a great camera set up and plan to invest in some equipment next season, but for now I am going to try to remember to at least bring the digital camera out with me and have it easily accessible for moments like the ones I just shared.

Bushnell- Trophy Cam

I currently am using four different kinds of trail cameras, well actually 3 now - my Wildgame Cam decided to stop working, lasting just one season.  My Bushnell is my most reliable camera and favorite to use for many reasons.

• It’s Dependable
• Light and small, only 3 ½” wide and 5 ½” tall, making it very easy to pack your bag full of them.  My other camera’s are ok, but are so big, heavy and bulky.  This Trophy Cam is the perfect size and mounts to just about any tree with ease.
• The set up is very easy, and the battery life is excellent- up to one year on one set of AA batteries.  Will run on four but will take up to eight AA batteries.

To see full product specs check out, http://www.bushnell.com/products/trail-cameras/trophy-cam/

My Bushnell is the first trail cam I have ever purchased making it the oldest, currently going on its 5^th season.  I will be replacing my other cameras with more Bushnell Trophy Cams!

Here are some of my Bushnell photos

Lumenok Review

The Lumenok has to be the worst purchase I have made this season giving it a rating of a generous 2 stars, only because in previous years that I used the Lumenok they worked great.  This year I had purchased a 3 pack of these nocks for $30.00 and none of them worked.  I went the night before opening day to my local archery shop and bought two at another $10.00 a pop, thinking maybe I just got a bad pack that sat on the shelf too long.  So now I have spent over $50.00 on nocks and these two did not work either.  

Now I am frustrated and begin to fool around with them, twisting and turning.   I was able to turn a few on, but then when I would turn them off and shoot the arrow they would never turn back on. Not sure what I am doing wrong, they worked in previous years, maybe just a bad batch?

This, in my opinion is just too inconsistent.  I am looking for a nock that is going to work every time I release that arrow.  One product that has caught my attention is the nock called, “ Nockturnal”.  These nocks have over 20 hours of battery life and 20 grains of total weight.  The thing I like about this nock is that it is string activated with a tiny switch that is on the nock, no magnets, glue or special assembly required

I have not personally used the Nockturnal nocks yet, but think I am all done with the Lumenok.  If anyone has used the Nockturnal, please leave a comment and let me know what your opinion and experience with them are.

Backyard Big Bucks!

Two years ago I was hunting with my uncle behind our house where there are two fields, roughly 45 acres.  This is a great evening spot to hunt.  The deer start funneling out of the woods and naturally come to these fields to feed in the evening.  It’s a great spot, very close to the house.  Making it very easy to rush home from work, throw on some camo bibs and sneak up to the edge of the field to see what pops out into the field just before dark.

I started noticing huge buck sign very close to the house and road.  These are spots that I typically never hunt because I am always trying to get up to the field as quickly as I can.  One morning my uncle and I were hunting the fields, and the wind was not to our favor.  I am thinking that we are going to have much better luck hunting across the street from our house where there is a huge swamp and several hundred acres of hardwoods on the other side of the swamp.

I meet up with my uncle to explain to him the change in plans.  We are now standing on edge of the hedgerow that separates the two fields.  He has his back to the house as I am facing the house and road which is probably 300 yards down from us.  As I am talking to him my eye catches something very interesting down by the road near the house.  My uncle notices my distraction and asks me if I see something.  I reply, “I think I do”.  I throw the binoculars up and sure enough there was a huge 8 point buck with two does standing in the goldenrod.  It was like looking at a photo on the front page of a field & Stream magazine. 

The buck realizes that he has been spotted and turns around, crosses the road and into the swamp he goes.  I can’t believe what I just saw, and rush to the house to throw on my waiters to go in after him.  I spent nearly 5 hours walking through the swamp in hopes to find this monster.  I really do not recommend this kind of swamp hunting.  There were several times I thought I was going to die.  Once I got in, the brush got thicker, the mud got deeper and the water higher- not good! 

Well to make a long story short, just as I was giving up and coming out of the swamp on the opposite side, there he was with the same two doe, in what I call prairie grass.  The deer get up and start to run up into the woods, when I shout to them, and they pause for a moment.  I set my sights on the buck and shoot.  He instantly disappears and all I see are white flags bouncing through the prairie grass heading towards the woods.  I again can’t believe what just happened, and radio my uncle to let him know that those dear where heading up towards him. 

As I begin to walk towards the direction where all this went down, I notice the grass moving around.  As I approach this area and look down to the area of moving grass, I shout on top of my lungs, “thank you Lord”!  I got him- when I shot he instantly dropped, I honestly thought I had missed him.

This hunt taught me many new things about hunting whitetail deer around my property.  I couldn’t believe how close he was to the house and road, and this all started at about 7 am.  Since then I have set up trail cameras near the house and have got some nice 6 point buck and many other deer on camera.  So never underestimate your boundaries.  The hunt should start the second you leave your property, you may be surprised what your passing as you're leaving your yard.

The Big Game Magna- Lift: Review

The Big Game Magna- Lift is probably one of the coolest, handiest hunting gadgets I have ever purchased.  There really is no better way to get your gear up the tree, than using this 30 foot retractable line.  The Magna- Lift has a convenient clip on the back that you can very easily attach to yourself or self climber.  It’s great!  No tangled lines or knots, has a retractable line with clasp mechanism that easily lifts your equipment up.

Another great thing about the Big Game Magna- Lift is that it is dirt cheap.  For less than $20.00 you can enjoy pulling your gear up the tree with ease.  If you have someone on your Christmas list that enjoys hunting, hint-hint, these make excellent affordable gifts.  I purchased my Big Game Magna- Lift from the http://www.sportsmansguide.com I give this products a rating of 5 stars! 

Snow Camo- The Invisible Suit!

It’s hard to believe snow in October here in NY.  October 27, bow season in Washington County- southern zone.  Just a few days ago it was nearly 80 degrees and today I am throwing on the snow camo.  Yes- snow camo, or what I would like to call it, “The Invisible Suit”. 

The deer have absolutely no idea what you are when you’re wearing the snow camo.  Typically I am not able to break out the snow suit until late rifle season- black powder, but boy was I excited to bust out the invisible suit in late October bow season.

For years I was told by many of my hunting buddies that I had to get snow camo, but was never really sold on it.  Until I began realizing how quickly I was being detected as entering the woods when the snow has or is falling when wearing my regular Realtree camo suit.  Makes sense, the landscape is all white with me a dark object walking right through the middle of it- Busted!

So I finally broke down and invested in a snow suite.  One of the best hunting purchases I have made, and so much fun!  Not only do the deer not see you, but nothing does.  Don’t be surprised to have birds land on you or rabbits crawl under your leg for shelter- its crazy!

I was standing on the edge of a field last night, just to watch and see where and when the deer funnel through; this is a new area that I have never hunted.  It’s snowing like crazy and I have my invisible suit on, it really doesn’t get any better.  To my right is a little oak tree that still has all it’s leaves on.  To make a long story short, a buck pops out just on the other side of this little oak tree making about 10 feet of distance between the two of us.  He just about jumped out of his skin, as did I.  Both of us startled, the buck takes two bounds and is now 20 feet in front of me, stops and faces me.  He is so puzzled and cannot figure out what I am, so he starts to approach me, of course I just can’t wait another second and send an arrow his way- Thanks Snow Camo!

Welcome to The New York Outdoorsman

Hello, and welcome to the New York Outdoorsmen Blog.  The goal of this blog is not only to tell great hunting stories, but to share and educate on how we can become more successful in the outdoors.  Expect funny stories, great hunting and fishing tips, product reviews, videos, and much more.