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This is my first Osceola, taken on a WMA hunt last spring. Mike Mizelle (Blackwing Turkeys) did the taxidermy work. His work is world class and I can't recommend him highly enough. I'll let the photos speak for themselves. I added the artificial greenery myself, otherwise this is how it came out of the shipping crate.

When one starts to get a little age on them you tend to start looking and thinking light weight. I picked up this little Marlin 44mag a few years ago, it has the 16 1/2 inch ported barrel. It is amazingly accurate with some ammo I purchased about 20yrs ago put out by an outfit called Top Notch. 300 gr Noslers that will all group touching at fifty yards. I had a Williams receiver sight on it and I had no problem putting them in there on target in decent daylight. But I had it out hunting a couple of years ago and had a doe meandering around in front of me at about sixty yards when the daylight was fading early with all the leaves still on the trees. With no intention of shooting I lined her up in the sights and had a very hard time seeing her clear enough where I would take a shot. If that had been the big one in her place I would have been in trouble. Now I really loved that receiver sight because it contributed to the overall handiness of the rifle but I had to get real, I knew that I needed a scope in the above conditions. So keeping with the theme of the rifle I looked up the lightest most compact scope that Leupold makes and found their Vari 2 2,5 lightweight. I also got some quick detachable Leupold rings and got this gun set up right I think and hopefully will get a chance to try her out and kill one this coming fall. Al

It's my son's 10th birthday today so he picked where we would go out to dinner. Kid has good taste. Went to Frank's Italian restaurant. He had Shrimp Fettuccini Alfredo, and I had Veal Parmigiana with a homemade spaghetti side with Vodka sauce. Wife and daughter had Alfredo as well. Dessert, yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Good night!!!

Dad's shed find 1929.

No idea where I got these from but you haven't helped me catch crap cuz mine haven't come out of the packages!

Kermit for Veep?

The following words are supposedly from Trump's long time friend. "VOTE AS YOU WISH, AND LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT TRUMP - - A personal note from Peter Ticktin who knows the guy from high school: As a law firm, we at The Ticktin Law Group do not like to get involved in politics. As soon as we endorse one side, we risk alienating everyone on the other side. Also, our lawyers and staff are, themselves, on both sides. Politics is not our game. However, Justice is! If you saw a guy get publicly smeared, and you knew him well from the days you were friends and seniors together in high school, if you knew him to be a decent and honest man, would you want to say something? This is why I need to share what I know. I was aghast at watching last night's debate. It was a set-up. The moderators, Cruz, and Rubio were all like little alligators trying to take a bite out of Trump. Yes, Donald Trump has had some failures, but he has been exceedingly successful. None of this came out. Instead, there was a general attack. Rubio simply makes up lies. He pretends that Trump has small hands and makes fun of him for something which isn't even real. He pretends that Donald wets his pants, and makes fun of him, as though it was true, and then he calls Donald Trump a "Bully." I am not suggesting that you should vote or not vote for anyone. I just need to defend a former friend who is being smeared. Like Donald Trump, I attended New York Military Academy ("NYMA") for high school. In fact, in our senior year, together, Donald was my captain, and I was his 1st Platoon Sergeant. I sometimes joke that I ran his first company for him, Company "A." People don't really change much from the ages of 17 and 18, and I know this guy. I know him to be a good decent guy. We lived and breathed an Honor Code in those years. It wasn't just a rule. It was our way of life. Neither Donald, nor any other cadet who graduated with us would ever lie, cheat, or steal from a fellow cadet. These values became irreversibly intertwined in the fabric of our personalities, of who we are. Of the 99 guys (no girls in those days) in our class, there is not one who I know who has a bad word to say about Donald Trump. Think of it. With all the jealousies which arise in high school and thereafter, with all the potential envy, not one of us has anything other than positive memories of this man. How could we? He was an "A" student, a top athlete, and as a leader, he was highly respected. We never feared him, yet we never wanted to disappoint him. He had our respect. He was never a bigot in any way, shape or form. He only hates those who hate. Of course he denounces the KKK. As to the discussion with the New York Times, it is his choice to release the 'off the record' remarks. However, if he does, it opens the door for all political opposition to make that demand for everyone, and that means that our press will never get those 'off the record' remarks which help them to understand the realities of the campaign. Moreover, the idea that Donald Trump confessed some alternate theory of his position is preposterous. Can anyone believe that all those NY Times reporters are walking around knowing some deep dark nasty secret about a guy who is seeking an endorsement? The Republican establishment is afraid of Donald Trump. Why? They are afraid that he will lose to Hillary. They don't hate Donald. They hate her. They are so fearful that they fail to see that by expanding the base of voters for Trump, he is more likely to win. Watching the chorus of whiners, decriers, denigrators, and self-righteous put-down experts from so many directions, from Mit Romney, to Megyn Kelly, Little Mario, it has to make you wonder. Why? Why are so many people so angry with Donald Trump, that they are lying, name calling, ridiculing, and demeaning him as they do. Either they are afraid, or they know him to be evil. This is why I feel the need to speak out at this time. I know this man. He is a lot of things, but he is not evil. He is a decent honest guy who loves this country, and who is willing to sacrifice so much of what is left of his life, because he knows that this country needs to be fixed, and that it is going to require someone who can do the job. He just doesn't see anything around him other than political hacks, so he is willing to take this huge responsibility. I'm not saying that he is the only one who can do the job. My point is simply as to his motivation and his goodness. This next decade is going to be one of major changes. We all see the climate changing, and the world food supply is getting lower. Our fish stock around the world is running low. Oil prices will cause countries to fail. The Middle East is beyond repair, and we have become weak and ineffective around the world. Donald Trump sees the issues and knows that he can assemble leaders who would have the best chance of fixing things. This is why he is running. He does not need it for his own aggrandizement. He doesn't need another big jet or to take up residence in the White House. He just wants things to be fixed, and he knows that the politicians won't fix anything. I knew Donald Trump and was close to him in our senior year in high school. I just want you to know that there is nothing to fear from him. His character is as good as it gets. He is a patriot, taking on a heroic task, and being thanked by massive abuse. If you want to see a true reflection of a man, look at his children. Need I say more?"

Once again, my daughter has outgrown her spring turkey clothes ( she's a tall and thin 14 yo), don't mind paying for new stuff, but just wondering if anyone may be throwing away clothes that your son/daughter may have outgrown. She's about size 8-10 but rail thin. Additionally, if anyone is in need of clothes for their young hunter, I have plenty to donate. Thanks !

Every year I need to buy 13 year old daughter new camo and boots. Well worth it just to have her along though. Memories forever . Been taking her turkey scouting pre season since she was 4. Every year, new camo. This year it's her year , youth hunt. At $90 a pop for new pointe shoes ( ballet ) every 6 weeks camo seems cheap

One thing that bothers me about the deliberate attempt by the GOP establishment to sabotage Trump's candidacy is the 'gaslighting' that's going on. The insiders are creating alternate realities in order to make voters question their own positions. Case in point, the "poll" that was released earlier this week claiming that Trump cannot possibly win a general election against Hillary. This "poll" was not done by someone specializing in polling, but was in fact done by two PR firms who probably have no idea about how to construct, deliver, and analyze a legitimate poll. It was released as knowledge-backed 'truth' when it's actually nothing more than an opinion piece meant to 'gaslight' the public.

LMAO! If you send them back to me I'll autograph them for you! That way you'll have a good excuse to get them wet to wash 'em off! To Zem Love, wooly

There, I fixed that for ya.

Nailed it. Boneless chicken breasts from the smoker. Little yellow mustard coating for dry rub to adhere Then the pulled chicken topped with Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce

Anyone here going to the show this weekend at the fairgrounds? I missed it last year so planning to go look around again for a bit and set the mood for spring gobblers. If I leave with anything more than a bag of kettle corn I'll be surprised.

Ahhh yes...., you know spring has finally arrived when you see the first "North American Hula-bootie" of the year,lol!

That little Leupold really makes this rig right, it fits the gun, it does not weigh hardly anything and has huge eye relief and nice big field of view. I picked it up used on ebay and saved $70, from the looks I do not think it was ever mounted. That being said I still liked that receiver sight an awful lot. Al

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I dont think I want to live in a world where Ryan Fitzpatrick is a marquee free agent

I don't recall seeing a ban suggested in this thread. Just a suggestion that we consider non-lead as a smarter and safer alternative. And then, the ensuing outrage.

No need to stalk Paula. Just stop by and say hi. I'll buy us a pitcher of beer with 2 straws,lol

The whitetail herd is a "matriarchal" society. Small herds are usually comprised of a mature doe & her female offspring. Doe fawns, except when actual breeding is taking place, will stay with the older doe for life. Male fawns are usually run off by bucks in their 1st autumn but may return to the heard until they reach sexual maturity in their 2nd autumn. Once they reach sexual maturity, the mother will no longer tolerate their presence. The dumbest thing on 4 legs is a button buck that has been separated from its mother. The last doe in the group that was flagging" was probably the mature leader of the herd. She was warning all the other deer in the area. In my experience the "lead doe" is usually either the 1st or the last doe in the group to emerge, depending on the situation.

The "Walking Lead Zombie Apocalypse" that is what some seem to being trying to imply. Humans have been eating game shot with lead bullets for hundreds of years. Millions and Millions of tons of meat shot with those lead bullets have been consumed, can anyone show me any incidents of people getting lead poisoning from eating game harvested with a firearm using lead. Where are all these sick and dying people because by the way some represent lead bullets there should be thousands of them? The picture of a retarded kid's appendix who swallowed a handful of shot and the corny speculated story to go along with it has no sway with me. Every stinking thing we eat these days seems to have somebody coming up with something in it that is bad and will kill you. The least of my worries is eating a deer I killed with a lead core bullet!! I will butcher properly and enjoy with zero fear! Al

???????? I'm on a 12 hour fast so no beer. To make it worse, I picked up a good mixed six on the way home from dinner tonight. Guess it'll be good and cold tomorrow night.

Haven't been there in years, seems it's turned into a atv, boatshow, outfitters are there but most good shops don't seem to attend anymore. I ll save the $ and just shop on line or local

I usually lightly coat asparagus with olive oil , dash of black pepper and broil for about 4 minutes. Crunchy asapargus is where it's at for sure Although peeing the next day. Not so good lol. Gawd that stinks !

I like to look at who gets really pissed off by a person, if the pissed off are largely those I don't care for, than that guy is for me . Trump it is !

For me the evidence is clear from 2000 years of working with lead, since the Roman's to modern times each generation has become more aware of just how dangerous lead is to humans and wildlife. It is no mistake that the stated level for safe lead has been dropping in modern times as we learn more about it's dangers. I have switched to non lead ammo for all big game and am moving more toward non-lead for small game. Ultimately the decision is ours to make. I love hunting, but I started hiking and camping first and have a great love of the outdoors given to me by my father. So I would say I am a conservationist first and a hunter second. We as hunters can take the high ground and compel ammo makers to make more and cheaper non-lead ammo through our choices and ideas.

Her you go! Man was this good I actually smoked a balsamic reduction. I would think that would be right up biz's alley.

Is that Jan Levinson-Gould from The Office??

My six-pack abs quickly turned into twelve pack abs, and I'm rapidly approaching quarter-keg abs. DOH! Best of luck to you both this year.

Thanks. I have good gear, the only place I ever outgrow is in the waistline. I'll look at the bargain stores for her

Shawn - You really think that someone advocating a ban would come here to do so? You may not think I am very smart but I can assure you, I am not that dumb.

For the record I use steel shot where I have to, because my shotguns were purchased before the late eighties and not proofed for steel I had to incur the extra expense of purchasing another shotgun so I could hunt waterfowl. I have also loaded some copper bullets and tried them out but in my case they did not perform as well as I would have liked accuracy wise when compared to conventional bullets. I am not a rich person but I have a taste for double shotguns, it took awhile but over many years I scraped and saved enough money to get myself several. Because I can not use steel shot in them it costs me a small fortune to obtain non toxic ammo so I can use them for certain types of hunting. It raises my hackles when the holier than thou tell me "tough crap", retire those guns and buy yourself something you can use. easy to say when you are not the one left holding the bag for several grand in shotguns! I have no problem switching to and hunting with non toxic shot in my doubles, I would just like to see a more concerted effort by the ammo manufactures to produce non toxic shells at a reasonable price for the hunters with shotguns from the late eighties and back. Al

Jeremiah Johnson. It didn't work

I'm in for $20..... Just need 9 more members to join in. Shoot me a PM for where to send funds.

so dang good !! Pic in What's for dinner thread.

Longer barrels shooting (significantly) harder/faster is a throw back from black powder days.

Smoked boneless chicken breasts for BBQ pulled chicken

Anyone still really think Cruz isn't a washington insider?ha ha !!! He is covering all the establishment bases. A Bush to join the ranks with Robert Mercer, toby neugebauer, the Wilkes brothers and Goldman Sacs. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/08/jeb-bushs-brother-neil-joins-ted-cruzs-finance-team/

You are arguing against a ban. I am arguing for people to voluntarily switch. There are compelling reasons for deer hunters to use copper bullets: human health ( yes you can mitigate how much lead is in your meat by butchering yourself but did you get it all? Probably not.); wildlife health; and, better terminal performance. How many of you who do not use monolithic bullets for deer hunting are willing to switch? If not, why not?

Yes really. Very lame. I never claimed all Europeans were good. You just made that up. I was asking what group poses a bigger threat, to the U.S. and the world than Muslim extremists. What other group has slaughtered more people recently than Muslim extremists? You won't answer that. Instead you bring up the constitution and immigration and try to label people. When it comes to a large group of scum, murdering people I don't care what ethnic or religious group they belong to. They are scum. And why are you even responding to political topics??? Stop picking and choosing which political topics you want to join in on and which ones you want to whine about.

When I was in grade school, my old man used to pay me and my sisters $0.01 for every complete worm harness we could bead, clevis, and blade, after dinner and before homework. He'd pre hand-tie 1000's of hooks on wire and monofilament, and crimp the sleeves on the line end. We usually made $5-$10 each/week and got FREE meals and lodging for our labor,lol. He also sold these to "Dustys" and many other tackle shops in the area, so I may have also indirectly had a hand in turkeyfeathers worms indirectly helping you catch a fish! Here's a few I stole from work for my own tackle box before I "retired"! I still keep a few in there un-open as a reminder of where I got my start. Some will call this my allowance..... but trust me, it was a job,lol

You can tap walnut , and also tap birch trees for syrup. Not sure what the sugar content is for yield.

We gotta get you out of the NYC area more so you have a more realistic view of what the rest of the world is like...lol

Don't buy one! I have one new in the package you can have.....In town on Friday, and if nothing else I'll swing by and drop it off. I have a couple of standard types too, so let me know if you want a spare or two of those also.

That's not snow on the ground

Hit a few road bumps with ROWs and deeds but all appears fine. Hopefully closing next week. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I didn't carry the camera as much as I wanted to this past fall, but I did get a few new shots. Figured I'd post up some color since we're stuck in this white and brown pattern for a few months yet.

I have been reloading for a few years . I have reloaded 223 , 25-06 and 44 mag for myself and reloaded 270 for 2 of my sons as well as 44 mag and 357 for a son . I went through a couple of reloading books before ever starting . When I reload , no radio or TV or any other outside distractions .