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I've mounted several whitetails from outside of the state over the past few years, but this Montana buck is the first mulie that I've put together. Pretty cool deer...

My daughter wearing her mask at daycare. Protest away little one!

It's been an interesting summer. Not in a good way but one like I have never experienced. On a positive note, this year the farmer that works my field did no till soybeans and once they came up it seemed to draw the wildlife like we have never had before. One day in July I looked out about 7:30 pm and counted 18 bucks out there at once. I began to pay more attention on a daily basis and they stared showing up every night religiously between 7:45 and 8:30. I never saw 18 together again but there have been between 4 and 11 just about every night. I set the spotting scope up on a tripod and watched them every night for about a month. The most interesting part for me is the fact that most of them were tall & wide 8 points. I have only seen a couple of spikes and small four points. At one point there were a couple of nice 10 points but I believe one got killed on the road not far away. The other ironic event was three hen turkeys hung out there all summer with about 6 poults and are still here. The hens would form a circle around them and kept the poults in the middle for quite some time. I got to witness the first time they flew up to roost and when they came down the next day. One of the hens flew up first, then the poults flew up one at a time while the other two hens stayed on the ground until they were all up. The next morning one hen flew down, then the poults, and then the other two hens. Believe it or not; I also got to see the deer interact with the turkeys on a couple of occasions and actually witnessed what looked like the deer were playing tag with the turkeys. There were many evenings they were browsing within feet of each other. I have lived here 25 years and have never seen the population of deer I have seen this year. I don't know if it is the soybeans or what but they have really been a draw for sure. I finally put a couple of trail cams out in hopes of getting pictures of the bigger bucks but they have been dodging the cameras on a regular basis even when I move them to different locations. Based on the cameras and lack of sightings the last few days all indications are they are beginning to disperse and move at night. Last night I shined the field and counted 14 deer in the field bedded down about 9:30 pm I've seen more mature doe than usual and only a few fawns. With so much going on it has been the highlight of my summer along with Nomad picking up (and delivering) some primers when none were to be had just about anywhere. Hell of a guy!!! Historically this property has not produced in years past so I will probably be hunting state land a lot more this year. I lost access to the adjoining 60 acres I have enjoyed for the last 20 years due to the owner(s) dying and disputes in the family. It was my best spot to trap fox and coyotes plus I had it all to myself during trapping. I will continue to trap my own property but it won't be the same and it was a great place to bow hunt along with being very convenient. I can only hope one of these guys shows up when I am in my stand and not when I am hunting state land.

One of my friends told me about a powerful lesson in her daughter's high school class recently. They're learning about the Salem Witch Trials, and their teacher told them they were going to play a game. "I'm going to come around and whisper to each of you whether you're a witch or a regular person. Your goal is to build the largest group possible that does NOT have a witch in it. At the end, any group found to include a witch gets a failing grade." The teens dove into grilling each other. One fairly large group formed, but most of the students broke into small, exclusive groups, turning away anyone they thought gave off even a hint of guilt. "Okay," the teacher said. "You've got your groups. Time to find out which ones fail. All witches, please raise your hands." No one raised a hand. The kids were confused and told the teacher he'd messed up the game. "Did I? Was anyone in Salem an actual witch? Or did everyone just believe what they'd been told?" And that is how you teach kids how easy it is to divide a community. Shunning, scapegoating and dividing destroys far more than they protect. This is how the US has become so divided. Individuals and groups the elites want to control are vilified. Do not allow the political elite to divide us. We must remain united against those who would do so.

Well, this is interesting. This is about 500 feet from our cabin, guess we better check the cabin this weekend for damage.

Anti's cut the high vis green strap to my stand. Broke two others and hit a cam with a hatchet. All because those stands became visible with the high vis. So it literally affects safety - in both directions. Common sense laws are generally anything but common sense, which is why that term gets used. States like VA make clarity around using BO while on the ground, but not on a stand higher than 10 ft., even county specific, too. They are purpose built laws. This was a law that likely isn't going to have a statistically relevant benefit macro level. We were generally as safe or safer than states with the law and similar demographics. I get that you hunt the war zones, but that is where common sense comes in. Wear it there. If I hunted SL I'd wear orange, too. I doubt the rulebreakers will all of a sudden wear orange while they trespass, poach, etc. I wear BO the large majority of the time, but while in stand visible to anti homeowners/neighbors and a busy road (all while being legal/safe), I do not. And it proved to be the right decision for three years until we swapped straps and got careless with that thought process. Next thing I know, I'm down $500 in gear and almost fell off a ladder. For people to be short sighted and only think that this law can only do good, I won't change your minds, but it is tunnel vision. It goes both ways.

You resent "rich people"? I live in a town with a very wealthy population, I do just fine but am well below the average income. Because of rich people my kids go to amazing schools. The rich should be thanked and appreciated but in todays society they are vilified, its absurd. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

2020 turkey is up. Looks like a great mount. One and only turkey I will ever mount lol.

I got a little one the other day myself. They're so deceiving to me as far as size on trail cameras.

It hasn't been that long ago I was swayed by the idea that people who didn't agree with me were my enemy. It was wrong, and I was wrong for believing it.

Just picked up this Mini 14 in 6.8 to compliment my Savage 110T 6.8 for the woods this year. These are very hard to find and it even came with the original box and paperwork. Ruger only made these for 5 years. This is now my third 6.8 for the safe. I think I have my bases covered. The AR will only have to come out when the SHTF.

My taxidermy bills overall this year have added up quite a bit .I wouldn’t change a thing though .

So she’s going to repeal the bail reform? That’ll go along way to curb gun violence Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bought two BOCES Building Trades mock houses that my son and his classmates built during the year at the end of the school year. Changed a few things to the design including the shed roof. Clad it in galvanized siding I bought at auction. Got 25 sheets of 3 X 8 for $400. Have a second building and enough siding so that'll hopefully get done in the next month. This currently sits overlooking 3.5 acres of brassicas and about 10 apple trees. Can't wait to hunt in comfort this year.

10 quarts of canned tomatoes 6 in pressure cooker now 4 to go.

Thanks everyone!!!just another day at work,might try to scoot out early for a couple back yard beers,thats an everyday thing though

I think I have the same form and 1 ear back. I did it so you could see the drop tine brow covered in velvet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

How about the novel notion of enforcing the gun laws already on the books stringently, start locking the scum up and throwing away the key. It would go a long way in reducing gun violence. Al

Breaking in a new glass. Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Not the best pic but he finally get rid of r velvet and is hard horned.

Relaxing

Happy Birthday guys! hope its a great day! @blackbeltbill @doebuck1234

Hot, mild, and medium…

A positive message , nevertheless - inspiring too. Youre negative reply exemplifies divisiveness, the spirit of which continues to undermine any progression towards achievement of greater unity.

One of hunter educations golden rules is "Be 100% Sure Of Your Target And What Lies Beyond It". I have made that statement over, and over in hunter ed classes for years. Do I actually think that this was followed by 100% of the people I told it to?? Heck No!! As a matter of fact, most instructors felt that if they ever mandated Blaze Orange, would that give the green light to shoot, if you don't see it?? That could conceivably be, a costly, or deadly mistake. As not all people in the woods, will be wearing Blaze Orange! Simple as that. NYS has had one of the safest hunting records in the country for many years. I see no reason to mandate blaze orange. Especially while hunting an elevated stand. Remember??? Be sure of your target? I have always worn BO and it has not affected my hunting at all. But when you mandate something, most will assume ALL others will comply. That could actually lead to more shooting "incidents" Our farm property borders state land. And we have had issues with anti hunters trespassing, banging pots, yelling, and all sorts of stupid stuff. DEC gets called, and just gives them a slap on the paddy's, and tells them to leave. Only to have more come back the following weekend. I had the ultimate revenge some years ago, when they drove a nice buck right to me, and I dropped it. I kept yelling back THANK YOU!!!!

they say bears and antelope are the two hardest animals to field judge when hunting.

I'm still going through everything from last weekends cards, last night I found this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkjks6De8pE

Why can't the lawmakers just leave the HELL alone????

I've had several instances where I'll get up in my climber during gun season and hunt for an hour before I see a flash of orange sticking out from behind a tree. It turns out that person had been tucked up against a tree the whole time, if they hadn't have moved (exposing orange) I would have shot in their direction. It only makes a bit more sense now that the hunting hours have been changed (not that too many people followed it anyways). Sent from my moto g fast using Tapatalk

El Ranchito and Aletheas for dessert

That is a great post Grouse. I'm going to mention exactly this to a couple of my daughters teachers....

CNN ran a "scary" stat today. 1 in 500 Americans have died from Covid. 1/500 = 0.2%, which is still sad for those we have lost of course. But 0.2% doesn't sound scary, so they say 1 in 500 instead

I am not sure my "Fantasy Pick" would qualify in this particular game, but would still be a lot of fun I can assure you! lol

3N : Two different hard horned 4pts, 4 hours apart. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I would think you would be more concerned with the criminal acts by politicians,loke the ones with a 200k a year job that somehow are worth 100 million dollars off investments.

There is no logic to not wear hunter orange - other states have required it since the 1970's. Didn't matter if on public or private land, it is a safety measure, just like unloading before crossing over/under a fence or climbing a tree stand, or having working brake lights on a car. Just because you know where you are and hunting buddy are, doesn't mean some else wanders into a high brushy area in full camo that you can't see due to the full camo outfit (happens public or private property). I have experienced it more than once in deer season, kind of expect it in turkey season on public lands. If you are on a new parcel of public land and get turned-around, will they find you easier in orange or wearing full camo? What if you fell and got hurt, could they find you? The answer is not cell phone GPS and 911 call, there are plenty of places that if walk 10 minutes into the woods there is no service in the southern zone, don't believe me, I can take you to a spot a ~ 1/2 mile behind a firehouse in central Orange county on public land on a hill top. Verizon and T-Mobile maps show service there - neither device had any service. Wearing orange does not affect hunting deer, squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, or quail (or Dove hunting where I grew up). Even had a red fox walk up within 20 yards of me wearing orange while sitting on the ground facing him. Small game and deer gun season with no orange to me seems backwards like that you would expect in places like Appalachia. No trade-off to me, if cool enough, will give early doe season a look (actually was very quiet on opening where I was, had to repair mower and then mow the yard and other home things on Sunday), gives me an scouting excuse while carrying with less people afield, and considering Black powder since that added a few days. Since have to work, the reality was only two additional days to hunt if hunted with a muzzle-loader, now 4 additional days (two weekends) it is worth considering the costs of additional tags, powder/ball, etc. Who ever is out there for early season, stay safe, hope for a short drag if successful while temps are up, and easy access to ice to cool off the meat until reaching your butchering location.

Yes a good article from a left leaning news publication that you picked some left leaning lines from. You sure are one weird republican/conservative simping for the government with it’s bs mandates for 12% but you do you.

So approximately half the covid hospitalizations are not going in for covid at all but test positive going in for other procedures. Talk about pumping up the fear porn with statistics to make things sound twice as bad as it really is. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/09/covid-hospitalization-numbers-can-be-misleading/620062/

20 something. Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

I’ve never seen a deer wearing jeans

You don’t have to be specific religion to ask for an exemption. That would be discriminatory. Otherwise anyone could just sign up with jehovah’s witnes and get exempt. You’re better off being honest and talking about conscience type things like this. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I used to deliver to SNL he was such a nice person always said hello and joked around when he saw me .....

Legend

Me too, but we won’t do business with anyone who asks to see it , as long as there’s options . Going to try and ride it out in NYS through hunting and Christmas, then FLA for the winter . So sister inlaw called she went to the eye DR. They took her BP 130/115 . That’s not good, called her DR, for first available appointment , JAN 24 th .ha ha only 4 months away just wait till more in healthcare walk . Glad I only see a DR every five years or so .

30 yard lunch shots. Bring it.

Good luck!! The apple trees are loaded right now.

Tajmahal begins, actually tajmahal finished! We rebuilt the damaged blind from last year back in May and finally finished putting it back up today. This time it's anchored down so even Ida won't be able to blow it over! Got screw in trailer anchors from a friend and secured it with 5/16"coated cable.

Goodfellas glass and movie with Mortalis Icarus golden stout. (Tastes like golden grams ) and Horus Mortalis Nyx falcon collab. So heavy on macadamia nuts.

And FWIW, I used a new-to-me type of jar lid for this canner run. They're from China, purchased on Amazon by the gf. They are definitely thinner than your standard Ball brand lid but they were inexpensive and everything I ran yesterday sealed nicely. I know local supplies can get limited at this time of the year so this might be an alternative to someone if they get in a bind.