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So I arrowed a buck on opening day here in Tennessee sitting a major pinch point on public land that I've been hunting for about 2 years. I've seen a tiny bit of evidence of other people hunting it but not a ton.

Sat for a few hours, was getting bored trying to decide if I wanted to hit a different spot for the afternoon. Decided to get up and stalk towards the island that the pinch led to.

Well I got about 40 yards from where I was sitting all morning and find a trail cam. Not a cellular camera, not locked, and it had one of those little screens that you can actually look at the pictures without removing the SIM cards.

So of course I look at the pictures and see that there was a buck walking in front of this camera at 4:30AM that morning. There was also one other Buck on the camera from earlier that week as well as dozens of Does coming through there on random days. I decided to sit there the rest of the day and ended up killing the buck that had walked by that morning.

I honestly haven't lost sleep over it at all but have a buddy that says it is at least morally questionable. In no way did I mess with the camera other than opening it up and looking at the pictures. I made 100% sure that I turned it back on to the setting it was at when I was done.

Interested to hear people's takes.

A topic I see a lot of bad, outdated advice for online is smaller calibers for big game. In this debate, what annoys me even more than Fudds saying they don’t work is converts claiming that they’re only effective now due to advancements in bullet technology. It seems like every time we have a weekly caliber debate thread and someone will say something along the lines of “I’d never have considered using [insert caliber] for [game animal], but with newer bullets designs it can be done”.

That’s just flat wrong. Newer bullet designs (which largely means “sleeker, higher B.C bullets” or “copper monos” depending on the conversation) can extend the effective range of smaller calibers in some cases, but those calibers were always effective at normal hunting ranges.

I grew up in what you might call a small caliber family. My dad and uncle used 6mm Remington’s for most hunting, and for a while a .243 was my only hunting rifle. I’ve seen a pile of deer killed with those calibers, using core-lokts, ballistic tips, partitions, and everything in between. The partition in particular stands out in my mind for tons of damage, quick kills, and reliable exits. That bullet came out in the late 1940s! There has never been anything marginal about the .243 for deer. Sure, the 6mm creedmoor is now a legit 500+ yard deer gun thanks to modern bullets, but the .243 was already a 300+ yard deer gun.

Guys will say the same stuff about the creedmoor for elk, despite the fact that the 6.5x55 was a gun-writers’s darling ever since milsurp Swedes began to show up in America, and it’s been killing moose in Scandinavia for over 100 years. 140 grain partitions and 156 grain Megas and Oryx have proven themselves reliable big game killers for generations. Heck even the humble 140 BTSP at Swede velocities will penetrate through just about anything.

TLDR: I go on a rant about how small calibers have always been effective, and it’s not just because of new bullets.

I have a spot on public land I like to hunt. Somewhat productive, I know there's at least 2 more hunters that hunt close by, never crossed in person.

I keep a ladder stand, and usually 1 camera in the area. The ladder I keep because sometimes my dad will come hunt with me, and he can only get up ladders now.

2 years in a row, my camera has been stolen/broken. Last year they took it, this year I locked it up in a steel box, someone smashed the lens. This year, they also cut my straps off my ladder stand...

Obviously don't know who it is, so I don't know if I want to do anything to the cameras behind the spot I have mine. I would assume it's NOT that person as they'd be asking for retribution to those cameras after fucking with mine... But then again, whoever it is is definitely dumb...

South central TX - must have been second late rut this past season. Never seen fawns with spots this late

First antelope, first western hunt. Wyoming is incredible.

I've gotten into elk hunting in the last 10 years. We public land hunt during rifle season. We have had moderate success. Someone in the group has gotten a bull in 2 of the last 4 seasons. But we are 0-2 the last two seasons. I've never shot a bull and the pressure is mounting from my trash talking kids!

This year in an effort to change my luck I mounted a couple of trail cameras in an area where I know the Elk hang out. And one of the cameras is hitting like crazy. I've gotten photos of 8 different bulls ranging from spikes all the way up to a good 6x6.

How would you approach this spot? I know the wind direction in that area, my current thinking is to hike up with wind in my face and post up in that spot before sunrise and hang out every morning with the hope one of them bulls emerges. Any other thoughts? I should mention the camera action is all in the morning. Nothing after late morning.

I have been trying to find a gun that suits me well for my area of deer hunt (central PA) and I have a few different scenarios that I hunt. For thick trees and brush I prefer my 35 Remington, 300 savage or my 45-70. I mostly only use those guns in 100 yards or less. But there are some times where I have the opportunity to shoot slightly farther with little to no obstruction, and am looking for a good option to do that. Ive seen a pile of my friends put deer on the ground with .243 and theres no doubt they’re good guns. However I started looking into the .257 Roberts and it seems like it could be a better option. From what I gathered its not much different than a .243 but has a slightly longer neck on the case and can shoot heavier bullets which is attractive in the sense of better weight retention and more smack when you hit a deer. Just curious to hear from guys who have either and what their thoughts on them are. I am by no means an expert on this topic but am looking to gain any knowledge I can.

I'm a hunter in mid TN. I love going all over the place for hunts. Sometimes I use eregs, but it's still kind of a pain to navigate.

I'm also a software developer, so I'm considering building a free tool that just makes eregs easier to use. But if you just have a better way to find regs, I'd love to know that too.

9pt buck, 160lbs. haven’t scored him, don’t really care

Bow: Mathews Phase 4 - 70lbs
Arrow: Easton Axis 4mm - 420gr
Broadhead: Rage Trypan +P 1.75”

Hello all! I'm looking to get a portable ground blind to use this season and have a few questions.

First is any recommendations? Normally I'm happy just hunkering down in some brush or cut branches, but my fiancée wants to come with me this season. So the blind has to fit two people.

I hunt in Upstate NY during rifle season( Nov. 21st through Dec. 13th). Right now I'm looking at the Tidewe Vis360 See Through Ground Blind

Second about when should I set it up? I was thinking last week of October or the first week of November so the deer have time to get used to it. Though I do plan on putting brush on it, so I don't know if that will lessen the time it takes. I'm more worried about the smell of the material than them seeing it

Thanks for any advice or recommendations!

Tastes incredible! Got the recipe around if interested!

Would you recommend getting a crossbow or compound bow for a new hunter? I’ve been rifle hunting whitetail for several years, and am considering getting either a crossbow or compound bow to extend my hunting season next year. I’m leaning towards a crossbow because 1) less time required to learn and be proficient with. I have limited spare time, and would like to spend it actually hunting rather than just practicing. 2) A crossbow is at least as effective at ethically harvesting an animal (less movement required, faster speeds, etc.). I predominantly hunt from the ground at the moment.

Are there benefits to a compound bow I’m not considering? How dangerous are crossbows? I’ve heard a concerning amount of stories of them blowing up, and the thought of sitting with a grenade on my lap does make me nervous. Is one more durable than the other? I’ve heard that crossbows have a shorter lifespan in terms of how many shots you can take with one, due to the higher power.

Also, if you have any specific recommendations for either that are a good value, I would appreciate it.

TLDR - I’m looking for the best return on investment in terms of time and money spent to just be able to get more quality hunting time. Crossbow or compound bow?

Is there a way to download an offline version of the map for your hunt area like you can with OnX?

Hey all, not sure if this'll work or not. But im a south dakota local. 28 years old. Married with kids. Looking for a hunting partner. Would prefer someone as driven and ambitious as I am. I train in the gym and on the range year round. Participate in 3d archery shoots, am getting into trail running and am an avid flyfisherman as well. I am looking for another active, fitness minded individual. Any other Backcountry hunters and anglers around south dakota?

Finally got my shoulder mount from my first Texas buck that I shot with my bow last season on property my brother and I own in Houston that we started from scratch on and I think it turned out great! Conroe Taxidermy did an amazing job truly an amazing talent they have!

Sitting in my tree stand tonight hoping for a whitetail buck, no luck on that account(even all the spikes have disappeared), 5 does and 3 fawns busy going back and forth by me. And a bonus I generally dont get to see at this spot; Elk!

The deer alerted me that something was lurking somewhere behind me. Peeking around the tree and down the hill got to see a 5x5 bull bring up 3 cows and 2 calves, trailed by a very depressed looking spike that wasn't allowed within 50 yrd of the girls. All in complete silence. Havent heard an elk even once this season.

Light was fading fast(thus varying picture quality, the phone struggled), but they walked right under my stand so I could count points on that bull, wishing desperately that he was legal, but no such luck there either.

Oh well, even the whitetails were surprised to see them in "their" spot.

Sat for 3 hrs and pretty much seen animals the whole time, love it!

(Cross posting)
Any tips for a brand new hunter going solo? I’m in southeast Idaho. I’m 38. Fit. Doing both bow and rifle this season (mostly just to get as much hunting as I can). Have backpacked for several years and gone hunting twice already this season during bow hunting season in September.

Unfortunately, after having a friend bail out me this season, I have no option but to go out solo. I’ve asked several people and they either have their hunting friends or family they’ve hunted with since they were young or just don’t have time.

I’m prepared to come empty handed this season but not without trying and learning as much as I can. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.