Doc

I really hate to see these kinds of battles over hunting rights. I would rather see some kind of agreement between you and this guy that results in a place for both of you to hunt. Land is getting so tight these days, and so many people now are scheming to take access away from others, it just seems like a battle that really doesn't have to be fought. There must be some kind of accommodation that can be worked out.

I have been checking out what it is like shooting from a sitting position. That is kind of weird, but I am getting used to it. So many times I have been caught when I try to get off the stool and stand up for a classic shooting stance. So I thought I would see what happens when I try to shoot without getting up off the stool. As long as I can set up the exact shooting position it works great. But once I enter into situations where the target is not in the perfect position and I have to get into any twisting, things get a bit more unpredictable. But I'm working on it.

My wife and I fished out of a canoe for a lot of years, but the years that have passed have left both of us in a situation where neither of us can sit in the same position for too many hours (minutes) before it starts getting damn uncomfortable. That is a function of age, and may be something you have to throw into the selection formula now or a few years from now.

There are all kinds of people getting rich selling us expensive chemical products that we buy without a single drop of real proof that they even work (other than the manufacturer's word for it). I have had this vision of Tink Nathan with a beer in one hand filling bottles of Tink's 69 with the other.....lol. And then there are all these people claiming that spraying their magic potion all over yourself will make your scent disappear. We spend the money, but how do we prove that it works? Special body soaps? ...... Special laundry detergents? Guaranteed attractants? So many things to tempt us into handing over our hard earned cash. Sure, I've done it too and quite often felt foolish when I started to realize that there is absolutely no way that I could ever prove whether it worked or not. Even when you have a successful outcome, there is no way that it wasn't just that deer's time to walk by.

You guys putting in any practice time getting those archery muscles tuned up. I usually begin getting a bit more intense at the beginning of next month (August), but this year I I have started a little early.

So many of these old pictures remind me of a time when hunting was a lot less demanding and represented a time when people "just hunted". No farming activities to train deer to make themselves concentrated and more available for easier hunting. We hunted the deer as we found them and did not try to train or program deer to behave in ways that we needed to take advantage of. There was less reliance on the efforts of some product designer trying to negate necessary skills. Many of the pictures in this thread were taken at a time when landowners did not post their land and there was free access to anyplace you were fit enough to walk. You could still-hunt without constantly stepping out in somebody's backyard. The bow seasons were known for rare and almost non-existent encounters with other hunters. Deer created real patterns that would stay stable without armies of people (hunters and non-hunters) interrupting them (except for gun season). Public lands were the domain of hunters, and not throngs of birdwatchers, hikers, and mountain bikers. State lands were not treated like shooting ranges. Deer hunting success was measured by body volume and/or the number of antler points and not some crazy intricate system of antler measurement. The 10 point buck was the talk of the neighborhood, and the mystical 12 point that everyone claimed to see but nobody ever got was what kept everybody out there trying. And probably the best part of those days was that there was no fighting and arguing over methods and seasons and equipment. The rules and laws and seasons were set and there was no constant loud combat about changing them. Hunting was a part of the rural culture, and never had to be defended. It was just something that a farm-kid was expected to become involved in. Even the teachers in school were known to have taken off an occasional opening day of deer season along with nearly all male high-school juniors and seniors. It was an unwritten day off.....not like today where you are practically spit on for taking the life of a critter. I began hunting in the last days of those times depicted in some of those pictures, and I feel quite privileged to have known that kind of hunting. I have seen a lot of changes since those days, and I often wonder where those changes and future changes will lead the activity in years to come.

I guess I would like to hear the supposed motives for NYS and most of the other CWD states to conspire to hoodwink the public about CWD. What are they getting out of it?

I did check, and I had to get separate insurance. Basically, if the barn burned down and the ATV was inside, it was not covered until I got separate insurance.

I have a question related to the original post, regarding ATV engine size. Has anyone ever been able to get all of the horsepower out of their ATV. What I have found is that the wheels will slip before the engine is ever seriously being over-taxed. So, it makes me wonder if it really makes any sense to buy these ATVs with the huge engines. Is it money well spent or value that will ever be actually realized in performance. My experience involves plowing a 1000' driveway, so I get plenty of hours of real work for the little critters. The Yamaha 400 seems to have more guts than traction but still does the job well for me. I'm Just curious as to what people think about the usefulness of the ever-increasing engine sizes. Do you ever find jobs that can really use the extra power? Perhaps in the area of food plotting you all have found situations where you can get more useful power out of these bigger vehicles.

Years ago when we went moose hunting (mid-80s) it was not a guide that was required, but an outfitter. Have they changed the law? We used the outfitter's camp officially, but we went off on our own miles and miles away and set up our own tent camp to hunt out of .....on our own. The law was just a subsidy for their outfitter industry. The good thing was that the cost was minimal and they did get all the tags that we needed, and they had a walk-in cooler for the moose when we finally got back from the hunt. Also, it was nice to have a cabin to spend the night before heading home. I'm not sure they are even still in business, but we used Three Bears Camp near Shining Tree, Ontario. But that was a lot of years ago.

Well anyway, thanks for the info. It just reminded me to put the dates, in big print, on my calendar here next to the computer where they belong.

All I have is a folding aluminum and canvas stool that fits in my pack.

I have a similar arbitrary rule of posting except I have always used 3 signs as the minimum number that are always visible no matter how you approach the line. There is no using the story that you didn't see the signs.

Actually, back when I was competitively shooting I had both boys and my wife involved, and all the members of the club were a great bunch of people. It was an "add" to the list of friends and additional time spent with the family. I guess you make of it what you want. It's just another hobby and a whole bunch of fun for those that enjoy archery.

I spent quite a few years shooting NFAA events, back when I was a young squirt. I have to say that even though I never got real great at it, it was a blast. Just a whole additional aspect to archery. Also, I can't say that it did my hunting any harm either. You should try it. You might get hooked.....lol.

I see reading is not one of your strong suits. I have not disputed any of the statements (fact or otherwise) that you have made. My posts regard the fact that you apparently have no credentials to be able to claim your feigned expertise. And more important is your tone of condescension and frankly just your nasty personality that you come across with at every post. I have to tell you, I quite often have problems with boasting blowhards that spend most of their time patting themselves on the back and demanding that everyone recognize their self-proclaimed expertise. I don't even care if you might be accidently correct once in a while. I will say that when it comes to credibility of those that are trained and educated in the field of biology, vs. someone whose claim to fame is that he is a deer farmer, you come off a poor second in the area of believability no matter how much you rant and rave and pathetically claim to be the world's leading authority on CWD.

The real amusement is watching the left melt down. They have gone into a self-destruct mode, and it is getting hilarious.

You are definitely skilled to the point where you need separate bulls eyes for each arrow. Avoid the expensive damage that is sure to happen to your arrows. Have you considered competitive shooting? It can be an addictive thing that is a heck of a lot of fun.

As I said before, the burden of proof for all your nonsensical prattle is on you. I am not the one challenging the organized biological entities of the state. It isn't me that is so desperate to show what an expert I am. Where are your credentials that show how much more of an expert you are than the college educated NYS game management biologist. Before you launch your tirade against other members claiming that they are saps or all the other derogatory terms that you are so fond of, maybe you should have at least some credentials that give you some status as an authority on the subject yourself. Otherwise you are nothing but just another person with an opinion and an overblown view of yourself and an overly aggressive and unfriendly personality. Perhaps you should dial it back a bit, settle down, and try to have a calm, intelligent conversation for a change. You might even get some people that are willing to listen to what you are trying to say.

The very first critters I ever hunted was pigeons up in our hay loft. I used a hand carved hickory longbow and un-fletched willow arrows. Dad always wondered how those shingles got blown off the barn roof from the inside. I got quite a few, butchered them like little chickens, and found out that they were some darned good eating. I also learned that bowhunting and archery was a hobby that would last a lifetime.

It's kind of nice that you don't have to plow or shovel heat. Also heat seldom causes your car to slide off the road. I can't remember the last time that heat affected my water pipes. I will admit that heat does cause me to go into an "activity-slump", but then, that's what they created air conditioning for.

Actually, the burden of proof for what is being blabbed about is on you. As far as I can tell, you are simply laying statements out there and saying that we have to believe because you are calling yourself some kind of expert. I have seen no credentials listed that make you a credible expert or anyone who is worth listening to. You seem to think you know more than the NYS game biologists, but at least they have a degree that lends them some credibility. Where's your wildlife management degree? I'm sorry, but there comes a time in all your raving when somebody has to call you out. Let's see your long list of credentials. If it so desperately important to you that we consider you some sort of expert, at least give us a reason to believe anything you have to say.

About 3 minutes ago, wifey just dropped off a 1" long section of kielbasa wrapped in bacon. I'm ready to go out in the kitchen looking for more. It's not something to offset the heat, but as a party snack (appetizer), it was pretty darn good.

I don't have to be a CWD expert to recognize rudeness, distasteful personal attacks and an almost frantic need to be considered some kind of expert. I am curious as to your credentials that make you worth listening to. I am also curious as to how you think those credentials are enhanced by displaying an argumentative and belligerent personality. I also must add that just because you have been in the deer farming business does not make you a wild game biologist. But it is for sure that someone who stands around trying frantically to convince every one of their expertise probably doesn't really have any. Hard to believe but I guess you have never heard the term of "having an ax to grind", but it is always kind of smart to regard with suspicion the arguments of someone who has a financial reason to color their opinions.

It sure does look like a fresh antler rub, but I think that at this stage of antler growth, the antlers would be a bit too tender for rubbing. It will be interesting to see what others think. But one does have to wonder what else that could be. I don't even have a guess unless somebody is playing a trick on you with the back side of their hunting knife.