Hunters, Is This New York State Whitetail Buck A Shooter?

Hunting season for whitetail deer in New York State is getting a little closer. As August begins and hunting licenses go on sale, deer season is almost officially underway in the Empire State.

For Many Hunters, Deer Season Never Really Ends

For many of us, whitetail season never truly ends. While you have to wait until the legal season opens to harvest a deer, the scouting and preparation begin months in advance.

Trail cameras have become one of the best tools for keeping an eye on New York’s whitetail population. Whether you’re checking a favorite tree stand, scouting a new field, or simply seeing what’s moving through the woods, there’s always something to learn long before opening day.

Trail Cameras Have Captured Plenty of Wildlife This Year

This spring and summer have been outstanding for trail camera activity. From large black bears and coyotes to foxes, turkeys, and plenty of deer, there has been no shortage of incredible wildlife footage from across New York State.

Every memory card seems to tell a different story, making the wait for hunting season just a little more exciting.

This Velvet Buck Is Off to a Great Start

While checking one of my trail cameras recently, I noticed a buck that is already growing a pretty impressive rack. He’s still in velvet and has several more weeks of antler growth ahead of him, but he’s off to an excellent start.

Of course, we won’t know exactly what he’ll look like until late summer, when bucks begin shedding their velvet. That’s when we’ll get a much better idea of his true size and potential.

Would You Shoot This New York Buck?

If this buck walked into range during the season, what would you do? Is he a deer you’d let walk for another year, or would he earn a spot in your trophy room?

That’s always a tough decision, especially when you never know what other bucks might be roaming the area.

With New York hunters now able to take advantage of the state’s expanded opportunities for harvesting a second buck in many areas, that decision may be a little different than it was just a few years ago.

Fall in New York Is Almost Here

As much as I love summer and everything it brings, it’s hard not to get excited about what’s just around the corner. The cooler evenings, crisp mornings, changing leaves, and quiet hours in a tree stand are tough to beat.

In my opinion, there aren’t many places better to spend a fall morning than sitting in a tree stand somewhere in New York State.

Now the big question is whether this buck sticks around our area until hunting season or decides to move on when the rut begins. Either way, I’ll be keeping a close eye on the trail cameras and hoping we get another look at him before opening day.