NFA-ADK

We all work hard for the land we own. Hard to give it up so easily for hunting when that is what you purchased it for. Tax and insurance brakes and helping out the ecosystem, only incentives I can think of.

The reason I pack heavy is I usually plan to stay overnight, never had to yet. Guess you can say the many lost hikers and hunters in these deep ADK woods puts the scare in me enough to be prepared for the worst possible scenario. Better off safe than sorry when it comes to solo hunting. To many things can go wrong if the circumstances dictate it and if it does it can be days before help arrives.

It is a bunch of crap but when I am solo and a few miles back and darkness sets in I have no issues getting out. Plus when I find a spot a few miles back and its 4 pm that last hour I have to put on all my clothes just to keep warm as I get really cold from hiking then sitting for an hour or more especially that last 15-20 min of light. I have gone lighter but found its just easer to carry it with me. I have gone in with just the gun a knife, gps compass, calls on lanyard and a flashlight but I always seem to need something not with me, like extra gloves or a hat to replace my soaking wet hat from sweat. Or I find and extra parker would be great so I can sit the last hour in this great spot, but without it I shiver. So after trial and error, I find the farther back I go the more I bring, lol almost the opposite of what others do. The flashlights and batteries are the most weight but I always get stuck in the dark, so its not an option for me. Most of my liquids are done by 2 pm or I finish them on the hike out.

RIP so sad, condolences to the family. You are unreal Redneck! Show some class. You want to bash the police do it on your own post! Wow

I bring my pack everywhere even up a tree. Flashlights 3 because I usually stay till dark so I have to walk out in dark. map, rope, knife, extra gloves, (cold weather/rain gear) clothes for when I stop and post or call, extra compass, pens, batteries, fire starters, lighters, GPS, radio if I am hunting with friends, phone if I have reception, binoculars, sandwich, energy bars, snacks, water, soda. Orange vest in case I get lucky and have to drag, dressing gloves, hot seat and if it's below zero hand warmers, extra warm hat and large gloves to go over my skiing gloves. Add water purifier and single man tent if going overnight with a little more food. As mentioned I do not think having a back pack will determine if a deer will see you.

Welcome aboard, great to have you!

Welcome aboard, great site with great people! Glad to have you!

Happy B-Day, hope you are out enjoying nature!

I think you are both right. When bucks rub saplings they tend to get those antlers twisted up into the stems and like to rip the hell out of them, this can cause both sides of the rub area to get torn up. This is typical early season when velvet removal is the primary goal along with frustration release. Antler shape will make a difference as will the bucks attitude at the time and personal preference on the type of tree that is rubbed. Some bucks like small saplings that get tangled into the antlers, other only rub small trees 1-4 inches this can be any age group. I find a tree larger than 6-10 inches and my heart starts to race, above 12 inches and I am going after that deer. Large bucks do rub saplings and small trees but I rarely see small bucks rub large trees and when they do they tend to only because a larger buck did it previously like at sign posts. Smaller bucks do much less damage than a mature buck and tend to stick to smaller trees and saplings. Mature bucks rub more than younger deer. 1-2 years old. Rub lines are great to determine travel direction, bedding or staging area's and possible food sources. Sometimes you can determine size if the rub is right. Larger deer tend to have rubs higher up on trees and will rub larger diameter trees than small bucks they can rub low but a small deer can't rub as high. Sign posts are a good indication of multiple deer and a good spot to scout for a mature deer. While this is a good place to hunt during pre-rut the rut time is better to key in on doe. Larger bucks tend to avoid narrow trees they can not get their antlers around when traveling, they can leave scrape marks on the ground when rubbing low and tend to rub larger trees than smaller deer are capable. They also have more frustration and anger and larger necks so the trees they damage are usually torn up with bark removed completely on one side. Each deer just like people are different so these are general guild lines. Some bucks have antlers that are not capable of rubbing large trees due to shape and other just prefer to beat up small trees and saplings regardless of how old they get. Most of this info is from experience and knowledge learned from reading. One thing is for sure, we are fascinated by the antlers and the rubs made by them. We are not really hunting deer, we are just preserving the forest from these horrible creatures who kill saplings and trees just to sharpen their antlers. O and they eat all that poor vegetation! Don't worry Vegans we will take care of this issue as best we can! Anything to help out!

It is really good! Sautee in some garlic and onion and any other spices you like and it's tasty! If you never tried it you are missing out.

Funny but sad. People are being brainwashed into thinking all guns are bad and people who have them are bad and do bad things like fish and hunt game and enjoy the outdoors. People forget that if it where not for fishing and hunting most of us would not exist because our four fathers did it to survive. They will remember that day forever! Hats off to ya! Sounds like fun! Bad boy, lol.

LOL DoeWhacker!

Few days ago, does get you into the mood! Not to far off!

ok, I was looking for a personal message that was sent to me and I closed the page I think by accident, don't see the message in the history. Was looking to reply, I will check much later today. Might show after you are finished. If not I can just create a post for it.

Good luck with him Lawdwaz, hope you get a crack at him!

Nice video.

Happy B-Day!

Happy B-Day!

They usually do not look like that this time of the year. If that was recent I would say it won't be long before it is gone forever. Hope it is not anything that will spread!

Nice looking buck!

Happy 4th of July!!! Be safe!

Happy B-Day!

Did a solo jump, static line out east. Chute did not open right away after getting caught on my wrist and yanked me pretty good. It was fun!

While 14 ft deep V works great for 2 with all our gear, we where able to fish 3 but it was not very comfortable. If you are talking 3 people I would go with at least a 16ft, 4 I would get at least 18ft. Good luck with whatever you get Doewhacker!

Done, good luck!