This is a typical cover for NY Game+Fish magazine.......which I enjoy reading and subscribe to. What I can't figure out is why on earth they put deer like that on the cover......issue after issue after issue. This is a magazine obviously catering to and read by new yorkers.......local hunters and fisherman. These people know the woods and waters of this area better then anyone. You wanna throw a 30lb salmon on the cover??.....7 lb smallmouth??.......55 inch muskie???.........no problem. Those are all realistic for this area and an average skilled/lucky sportsman can expect a shot at all of them given a fair effort and some patience. This will be my 23rd year in the NY woods.........my family (me+2 brothers+dad) all together have 128 years of combined time in the woods of NY both public and private. We have not only never killed but never even laid eyes on a deer this size in NY. Do they exist??............of course. Are they a realistic goal for an average NY hunter?.........not only are they not realistic but they are about twice the size of what I would call realistic for NY.............public land??.......probably three times the size. Why would a magazine that has a reading audience that KNOWS the woods and deer as well as anyone do such a thing? They aren't trying to lure out of state hunters or being read by people who don't know any better. Why not just accept reality and put some nice 100" 8 pts on there and then show the stories of the monsters that really do get shot by a handful of guys each year. Just seems like a weird thing to do..........may as well put a Rhino or Elephant on there. Guys from other states not known for big bucks.........do your local mags do the same stuff??
Sells to who Greg?? The readers of this magazine are all local hunters.........NONE of which would ever believe these are typical NY bucks. It's like McDonald's putting out a magazine with skinny people on the cover. I could understand if the readers were not familiar with NY but that's not the case. Strange.
Horn Porn ,,, that's all .... it's here too ... I believe EVERY deer hunting desires to shoot a monster buck ..it's just not THE priority for some (me) .... I will put meat in the freezer, first and formost ...THEN it's time to get picky ... Atlas, I have seen deer as big or bigger in NY ..mostly when I would pheasant hunt ....ONCE while I was bowhunting ... if I am not mistaken, you hunt Stueben county ... maybe not, but there have been some slammers that have come out of there
It's all marketing. They sell a lot more magazines putting a heck of a buck on the cover then just an average one. McDonald's puts skinny people in their commercials all the time, not everyone that eats McDonald's is over weight. You do know McDonald's sponsors the Olympics? Even though your saying it is really tough to harvest a deer of this caliber in NY, it is possible. I totally agree with what you are saying. The problem is most people are not as educated as yourself, they see a giant buck on the cover of a magazine and want to know how to increase their odds of shooting one. That is exactly how marketing works, they just want to sell the magazine. SH
That's what makes it so weird to me........it doesn't matter what they put on the cover, it's not going to change what you see in the woods. I think it's cool when they put a bruiser on the cover that was actually killed somewhere in the state........neat to see and read about. But putting these deer on the cover makes about as much sense as a polar bear.........as I have seen them just as often. It would make more sense if their reading audience didn't know any better but being a local mag it's pretty much like Ben + Jerry telling cardiologists their ice cream is good for you. If they put a moose or elk on the cover people aren't going to start hoping to see them in the woods.
I get what your saying Tony but what I don't get is..........do they REALLY believe people are looking at those covers and thinking "Yup.......that's a nice NY buck right there". If I desired to shoot a Lion I wouldn't believe I could in NY just because they put one on the cover. I never said they didn't exist........a handful get killed every year. Don't forget though, a handful takes on a whole new perspective when it's out of 700,000 people. My friends uncle won $5,000/week for life on a scratch off ticket...........does that make you feel better about your chances of winning now?? I have hunted there twice in my life............no doubt it's the place to be to give yourself as good a chance as you will ever have around here. The REAL stories inside frequently come from Steuben hunts. Having said that........do you believe the average hunter (even in Steuben) can expect to see 140" 8 pointers strolling around?? It's just funny to me.
You've GOT to be joking. They put big bucks on local mags in FLORIDA??? That is 10 times more rediculous.
Damn that is a nice buck, lol We all want to shoot a big one, they know this, and they want to try and sell the magic ______ that's put you over the top. To shoot a mature buck in states like NY, PA, or MI where you have high numbers = higher pressure, you need time and a killer location. Both hard to come by these days. Good luck getting that big SOB Atlas
Ive wondered the same thing for a long time Atlas, i used to get that mag but my subscription ran out and i just never renewed it, not a big fan. Something deep down is telling me our state government is behind this.... lol
Im not saying its right or wrong Mark, but I have to agree with Greg, I would guess its for marketing. I dont think its to decieve people per say, but get attention to pick it up and look at it. Its like when you buy a Hot Rod magazine or Harley/Custom bike magazine, most guys will never have a car like one on the cover. Or if you work out in a gym or at home, wether its to just stay healthy, or to make yourself feel better when you look in the mirror, whatever, but most men and women will never look like the pics on the cover.
So write them a letter explaining your point(s) and quit buying the magazine. Maybe suggest that they support NY photographers by using photos only taken in NY... Until they see that it's affecting their ability to sell, they're going to keep doing it. They aren't about educating you to kill bigger, better or more deer in NY although they'd like you to think so. They're about selling magazines.
Sure is.........wonder what state he lives in. Agreed.........but what is wrong with being realistic about what a "big one" is for your state? I think more hunters would identify with reality then be fooled into thinking these Booners were roaming around in NY and they just haven't found 'em yet. LOL...........did you catch his license plate # so I know what state to start looking fo him in.
