Doc

Are you people still going on about all this? .... lol. Let's face it, you can all say that crossbows are bows over and over in hopes that repetition will make it so. But the fact is that some people want to shoot crossbows, and they are determined to shove them into archery season. That's all it really boils down to. You really don't need all this ridiculous arguing over totally insignificant points. Just simply state that you aren't really all that concerned with what goes into bow season and let it go at that. You know that's really the basis for it. They did it back in the 70's with compounds and now they use that precedent to include crossbows and some time off in the future there will be something else that wants to be included in bow season and the precedents of both the compounds and crossbows will then be used to include that. What is all this nonsense that goes on everytime somebody wants to bastardize the bowseason. Let's face it everytime someone gets frustrated with the demands of becoming an archer, it is simply easier to change the groundrules and take more and more challenge out of the equipment to satisfy those that can't or won't master the weapon. This isn't the first time its been done and it won't be the last. So instead of everybody repeating over and over all the silly arguing points, simply admit to the obvious and get out of the way of the will of the majority. Bow season will become what human nature and the search for the "easy way" wants it to become. We needn't dig out dictionaries, or go on and on and on about each little feature of each weapon. That stuff is all obviously irrelevant, silly, and a complete waste of time and a source of division and angst. It's probably time to simply give it a rest. Bow season will become what the majority wants it to become.

Just got done talking to a relative who is up visiting from North Carolina. The first question he asked is, Are you guys having any problems getting ammunition up here?" Apparently they have the same exact problem as we do. Severe rationing and empty shelves within a short time of deliveries. Interesting.

Anyone finding any changes in availability of ammo or components yet?

I suspect that it is a case of someone thinking that they had found an abandoned fawn and raising him. They probably eventually decided to ditch the thing by turning it loose.

I have never seen an actual venomous snake, and I would really just as soon not. I don't even like non-venomous snakes for the most part.

Weird fish! It's a fish-dinosaur....lol. What on earth did he catch the thing on? How long did it take him to get the thing into the boat?

I have to wonder just where these cradle-to-grave big-government enthusiasts draw the line. Just where do you say that the "nanny-government" is over stepping it's bounds ..... or do you even draw such a line? Do you want daddy-government to set you up with a government approved menu that meets their latest version of healthy eating? Do you want them to tax McDonalds out of business? How about regulated exercise hours to ensure that we all lead a good healthy lifestyle? Should we outlaw hiking in certain areas that the government deems to be potentially hazardous. Should the government demand that Nascar be eliminated and all other versions of hazardous sports? Do you understand where your philosophy of taxing away all activities that might have some impact on medical costs or other costs that the public may in some form have to bear? I mean, stop for a minute and think about what you are saying when you support the weight of government controlling your day-to-day behavior. Sure there are some controls that are needed. I am not an anarchist, but when you start advocating government controls on personal medical behaviors and life-styles, I hope you realize just how invasive a government you are proposing. Frankly it sounds a bit weird to me. The whole premise of the revolutionary war was based on a whole lot less invasive government than that (not even close). Where in the heck do people get that kind of need and desire to be ruled? That is some real strange kind of thinking.

Oh, of course you do. You do know how it all goes right? ..... The one who dies with the most toys, wins. Let's get those priorities adjusted .... lol.

Well, if you mean by "class" the ability to simply nod my head and blindly agree with someone who doesn't understand the concept of personal responsibility, I guess I am not one to do that. I'm sorry if that disappoints you.

Is that a common thing to have trailers coming loose from the truck? I never heard of that before. And then the trailer was loaded with crushed cars. Imagine seeing something like that coming at you.

Our propane grill will undoubtedly last forever .... lol. It's still sitting in the shed .... unused. We have gone back to charcoal, and if there is a lot of time, I prefer a good bed of coals from a wood fire. It's a flavor preference thing.

It's good to know that there are people that still believe in giving the DEC a helping hand and seeing that the game-crooks get what's coming to them. Congratulations on a job well done. I wish it happened more often.

I think there are way too many people who are always looking for a scapegoat instead of honestly examining situations. And while I have no love for any industry, I think that people need to take personal responsibility for thier own fate when it comes to self inflicted behavior. I do. I may still insist on making poor choices, but those choices are mine alone and I have to own up to them. I doubt that there was ever a time when anybody thought that tobacco was harmless. The term "coffin nails" was not invented yesterday. We used to joke about it, thinking we were invincible and going to live forever. But nobody put that cigarette in anybody's hand and forced them to smoke it. I would like to be able to blame others for whatever may go wrong with my health, but I honestly have to face up to the fact that every bad decision that I have ever made has been made completely by me. All those years of smoking were my conscious decisions and acts done with full knowledge of cancer and emphysema possibilities. Every McDonald's french fry goes into my body as a conscious act performed by me alone, again understanding that those are simply a different brand of poison. Also if you want to describe horrendous ways to go, do not be so narrowed in your view as to ignore those who have lost body parts ... one at a time ... through diabetes. Don't be ignoring the clogged arteries and organ failures of the obese. Don't be thinking that smoking is the only self-inflicted, industry pushed, cause of suffering and lingering death, because it is not. So while you are looking for someone to "strangle" save enough of that rage for all of those health related abuses that are peddled by the food industry as well. But I will tell you that you will exhaust yourself from all that hatred. How about blaming the wine, beer and liquor industry for each and every drunk-driving fatality or case of liver disease. Did somebody force them to take those drinks? Can we hate the auto industry for making cars that can go at speeds that exceed the speed limit or should we blame those that choose to use that capability in a reckless manner? We also have a lot of people who have a misplaced hatred or at least a severe distrust of the firearms industry because their product occasionally gets misused. And on and on ..... You can concentrate on misplaced hatred, or you can spend your time recognizing that responsible decisions belong to each individual that makes them just as those decisions that are not as well thought out. And to that I say, "so what?" I'm not trying to be flippant, but I always thought that was a large part of participating on a forum.

I have to admit that we seldom even weighed those old port orford cedar shafts, but I have to believe they were quite heavy. And as a matter of fact, even when we went to the aluminums, spine was king, and weight just simply was not an issue. This craze for speed is a relatively recent concern among archers, and I never really did get seriously involved with it. I have not gone to the ultra-light arrow materials, and all the gadgets designed to increase speed. I hunt with the same arrows that I used back in the 70's......Easton aluminum. I find that most bowhunters like to argue over insignificance. When you actually see the differences that a few fps really makes, it truly is unimpressive.

I have never had anyone from the tobacco industry force a cigarette into my hand. I will also say that I do not take my marching orders from any tobacco company. I do take responsibility for my own decisions (good and bad) as opposed to randomly blaming others. I've been around a lot of years and I can't say I was ever confused about the fact that smoking is bad for you. I also don't know anyone else who was unaware about health risks with smoking. So when it comes to looking to assign blame, make sure you put it where it belongs. And as far as my having opinions, I believe that that is the main purpose of internet forums. If you find yourself opinion-challenged, that's your problem, not mine, but don't be whining about people having and expressing opinions.

Lol ..... The old "speed" argument. Makes me wonder how we ever killed deer back in the recurve days, or even with that old Bear Whitetail Hunter that took so many deer. Those old arrows were probably doing well if they broke the 200 fps barrier. Technology for technology's sake. Don't feel bad ..... I went through the same phase. You'll likely grow out of it ... lol.

There is a very likely thought that I would be checking into. Perhaps you just got a little "heads-up" about a problem that could be a whole lot more serious in the future.

And now it is clear where the phrase "cradle to grave" came from. And even more scary is the fact that some of us actually believe in that sort of government.

We probably should be strangling those that market sugary, greasy products that are laced with fats and other unhealthy ingredients. Let's at least be consistant.

Were the swings bought as pre-built units or did you have to build each one?

When it comes to the "experts" (the DEC), and what thoughts go into the limiting of coyote hunting to a specific part of the year, I am not sure what all issues they incorporate into that decision. I really don't even know how much actual science is a part of that decision. Hopefully they have well thought out reasons. I have always thought that they see the coyote as a financial resource (a furbearer) and therefore a critter that has a "useful" place in the outdoors like foxes and such. But whether or not they are being managed properly or not .... I don't have a clue. I can only point out that other than disease and starvation, we are the only population control that the coyote has. And given what appears to be exploding numbers along with a low level of actual coyote hunting, I have to wonder if the job is getting done. Perhaps it is the same question that those proposing year-around hunting are asking as well.

Hopefully someone noticed the forgotten guns and is holding them waiting for the proper owner to show up and claim them.

That basically is the definition of an "opinion". And I am not claiming that anything I have said is anything other than my own opinion that is based on logic and observation.

Hard to imagine. Is there any kind of manufacturing going on upwind? Are the brown marks on anything other than the flags? On bushes .... on the sidewalk .... on the side of the house?

No .... no!!! Get another camera. The beaver pond is where the action is. You are getting great pictures there.