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I'm a mass resident but lucky enough to live right on the nh border. Nh muzzle loader starts end of October and fire arm season opened Nov 8. Can use guns all during the rut. My son and I have one deer each in nh and still got till Sunday (yeah....and Sunday hunting is legal) to try for another one. Heading out today actually. Mass can take its stupid 2 week shotgun season and stuff it up its ass. I have mass license but won't go out during shotgun season. If I'm bored later on during the muzzle loader season I may take the Thompson center for a stroll.....but I'd say this may be my last year even buying a mass hunting license.
Tail end of rut still rolling....I haven't seen any deer around but guys with cams have a few bucks in the dark hours as usual, and that is the indication, as in Sept/Oct their cams show nothing, or the occasional doe.
The only reason I buy a MA lisc is for pheasant hunting now. Deer hunting is an afterthought, and if I have an extra few hours to kill I just walk out back. Putting actual time and effort anymore has been a waste over the last few years for me. I tried hard last two years, with stands, and cameras, and time scouting and hunting, and was very dissapointed at what was out there compared to what used to be out there before I started hunting CT 15 years ago.
I'm wondering how many wma properties have low deer numbers due to the fact that recreation other than hunting is allowed. Ffs 15 years ago when I'd hit a mass wma for squirrel in mid September there was nobody there. Last year I went to a mass wma for squirrel in September and it was like a f***ing mountain bike super highway! Had to jump off the hunter trail to let bikes go by about 10 times! Some gave me a strange look as they went by.....me with an orange hat and a shotgun over my shoulder. Then I discovered new bike trails being beaten down all over the place. The f***ing signs in the parking lot specifically say you can't make new trails too. I wish all states were like louisiana......you cannot enter a wma unless your a licensed hunter.
I wasn’t exactly next door, but did check out Wilmer and hock swamp outside Taunton today. Plenty of deer shit and about a dozen stands in a circle jerk, but didn’t see a single rub or buck bed.
Just about all. Either does or very young males.
Dog off leash is what made me call it a day today. The dog crossed paths with me and I asked the owner which way they were headed. I doubled back to give them time to work their way out to the parking lot and about an hour later that same dog comes crashing through the thickets with his nose on my trail. I hope the owner wises up before the weekend
Was simply scouting today and coming over the top of a hill I see a dog off leash with an orange cover and owner with an orange cap. I just had on an orange cap and as soon as he saw me at 150 yds he called his dog and rushed off towards the opposite direction into the woods. I thought it was odd behavior but maybe his dog was not adequately trained yet around other humans in the field. Looked to be a younger brittany or irish springer.
This...its a tale of two states...in the east you guys have deer......but I'm guessing you have to deal with a lot of people too when hunting. Infested is probably private lands.
My buddy is on private and this jackass always walks his dog off leash, with no orange on either of them, like every year for this is now the third year in a row. He's told this guy every time, that he's on private land, and he's hunting and could he please not walk his dog in here. Both times last two years......the guy ignores him and keeps walking.
This is how it should be....at the very least during ANY hunting season, you should have to stay the fxck out if your not a licensed hunter.
In her defense, I probably spent more time looking for other hunters than I did looking for deer signs. I love hunting but I don’t trust the orange army, especially when deer season is the only time they pick up a gun all year
Should have tied him to a tree
Depends where you are....this is middle week of shotgun season and there is no one parked on any state land near my house this morning. There were a few the last two days but I;m sure lack of shooting/lack of deer/lack of vacation time has them gone til the Saturday at least.
Excellent job!
Had a big tall spike or 4 pt...non basket, and a doe walk by after someone opened up at Barre Falls across the street from where I was hanging out after work this afternoon. 5 quick shots my guess shooting at the same deer's tails. I let them walk......both of them looked fine and not wounded.
