Fat Dan

I think the trail that I have see in Fort Ann might be controlled by this club. I'm not 100 percent sure. Home (foothillsatvriders.net)

Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of it but there is a trail system. I think you need an annual pass to ride on it. I have seen people riding it in Fort Ann, NY and there is a sign there for it.

Besides hunting and fishing, mountain biking is probably my favorite activity. I don't ride much from October until April, unfortunately. The snow and wet trails have kept me away.

Wow, you do it the traditional way. I rarely grind meat.

That’s crazy the airbag went off that easily.

Nm

I have planted apples, crab apples, pear, and Chinese chestnuts. Apples are the highest maintenance because insects really go for the leaves. Pear is a good fruit that is low maintenance but you have to get cold hardy varieties if you are far north. Otherwise, they will freeze out. Chinese chestnuts take a few years to produce but I think they are my favorite of the trees I have planted.

It’s possible. Based on my observations in PA, I think allowing crossbows had a bigger impact in suburban areas. The big woods are hard to hunt with a rifle, never mind a crossbow. I saw people near me (urban-ish) who didn’t have the time or space to practice with a bow take up crossbow. The people who were passionate about archery seem to have frequently stuck with a standard bow. I am in between and I use both/either depending on how I am feeling at the moment. Based on my observations and unscientific conclusions, I think a good number of rifle hunters have taken up crossbow hunting in PA. I think a lot of them fill their freezers close to home. At least that is one of my theories on why I see a lot fewer hunters on the big public tracts in the mountains here. I haven’t compared harvest stats so I could be way off. All I know is that crossbows didn’t increase hunting pressure at all where I hunt in the mountains in archery season and our number of rifle hunters seems way lower.

Yeah. I live in an sort of suburban (technically designated as urban but not all rowhomes) area. There are deer in high numbers anywhere that there are a few acres of woods. There is no legal hunting in my town but a bit farther into the suburbs, there are a lot of small, private woodlots where people bow hunt. It is hard to get access though. Some of these places are crawling with deer. I personally hunt as much for the experience/pursuit so it doesn't appeal to me enough to seek permission in these spots. I know people who do really well though.

Versus this: (I need a better camera)

We used to have really intense hunting pressure where I hunt. There is about 10,000 acres of public land and it was crawling with hunters 25 years ago. Sometimes it was downright scary and I would dress head to toe in orange. This year I saw 1 other hunter that was not in my group. There are cars at the access points and you hear some shooting but it is amazing how few hunters there are compared to when I started hunting. Back then, I think very few bucks made it through. On top of the pressure, there were no antler restrictions and nobody I knew passed up a shot at a legal buck. I don't know it the change is just less hunters overall or if it is because archery has gotten so popular. Guys that I know who were always mountain hunters are killing most of their bucks these days in suburban woodlots with bows or crossbows. I think it must be a combination of those things and maybe others as well. The bucks are living longer now and there are some surprisingly good bucks on public land now. Here is one that made it through last winter. I am starting to think it might be the same buck that I posted above. The pic was taken in the same spot around this time last year. What do you think, same buck?

1. Cherry 2. Ash (probably dead or soon will be) 3. Beech 4. Ash (enjoy it while it lasts) 5. 80 percent sure it’s a sugar maple

Here too. I have several decent bucks that have shown up on my camera since the season ended. Our property is surrounded by public hunting land but the pressure has been light the past couple years for some reason. I guess next year should be a good year. This is the the biggest one:

I was watching some videos last night of people catching steelhead in the Pacific North West. Out there, a lot of guys catch them on Spin-N-Glo rigs. Sometimes they use bait but they also catch them on the plain Spin-N-Glo. Does this technique translate to great lakes steelhead?

I use a Maglite if I am hunting close. If I am going deep in, I wear a head lamp (a long drag with a flashlight in your mouth sucks, I've learned that first hand). I have never bothered to use a red light. I do have a couple red lights for predator hunting and they do seem a lot more stealthy. Like some of the guys who already posted, I frequently don't use a light at all if the hike is short and I know the area well. Eyes adapt well without a light. However, I use one even when I don't need it when I hunt public land. I have a concern, maybe irrational, that some overexcited hunter might mistake me for game if I pass them without a light. All things being equal, if I had a red light on hand, I would probably use that.

Good advice. Try the washer to find out before cutting anything, though.

The drawings for a lot of States - maybe all - for 2021 hunting have not happened yet. There is still time to draw a tag for the fall. I did one public land DIY hunt in Colorado. I drove out there alone and bowhunted solo in an OTC zone. It was tough hunting and I didn't connect but I had a great experience. I also saw elk and other wildlife. I am planning to try again in 2022. I have a few preference points for Colorado so I will probably go back there. I have considered MT too though. I guess you have a much higher success rate if you are willing to drop $10,000+ on a trip but I did it cheap and enjoyed it a lot.

Yeah, this is good advice. I used to have problems with cams in the cold and also with my GPS. I switched to the lithium batteries and it is much, much better.

Thanks Chris. I think I am going to buy one and give it a try. I keep a list of gear to purchase when I have the cash so I don't go bankrupt buying it all at once. I keep a separate account for this (I have a wife and kids so I am restricted). I would like to get a longer rod of about 11.5'. I was going to put a spinning reel on it but I found a reel called a Raven Helix that sells for $200. It looks like it will do the job. I think I am going to order one before I go to the river. Buying gear could be it's own discussion. I think I am crazy but then I talk to other people who are just as bad and I feel better. I need to get waders too but for the Oswego, it looks like I can do without them. Between gear for fly fishing, ice fishing, salt water, spinning, mountain biking, hunting, food plotting, camping, etc., etc., I think I am headed to the poor house.

Feel free. Sorry if I delayed in responding - I'm at work and have to leave my desk periodically.

Hi Vinny: I'll text it to you now. Unfortunately, I am an work and can't really talk at the moment.

I spent a couple hours last night reading about float fishing with a centerpin set up. It looks cool. Now I want to buy one and try it. Does the float fishing work for species besides salmon and steelhead? It reminds me of fly fishing nymphs with a strike indicator. I don't know if mending line with a spinning reel would be good enough or if the centerpin is something I need. I hate to blow my all my money on gear. It has definitely piqued my interest. I just don't want to buy one for 1 trip if I can't use it closer to home.

Haha, I hear you. That's the issue though. If you are hunting a nearby stand or blind, you don't need high priced stuff. I wear Cabela's MT050 for that type of hunting and really like it. I don't know anything about SKRE. I'm going to check it out.