Salmon_Run

Great choice for moose.....enjoy and I hope you manage to bag some game with that gun....

I use compact binoculars and they also reside in my fanny pack. They are Bushnell but I don't know the model. They are light and durable even in poor weather conditions; my old Cabela's coat has a bino pocket along the front zipper so the stay close and safe when hunting. Like most of my hunting goodies they always reside in my pack year around and get cleaned every winter and ready to go in the spring for turkey...

I like two different lights for field use, first I have a Browning small flashlight that uses triple A batteries for intermittent use, walking or small chores. It is plastic but seems pretty rugged. Secondly, I use a headlamp for walking after dark, hands free use and such chores that take longer and that also uses triple A batteries. I carry a set of extra batteries and practice changing the batteries in the dark....Crazy I know, but when they suddenly die and you need to change them in the dark I can.. Both are lightweight, rugged and fit easily in my fanny pack where they reside. I often carry that pack during off road stream trout fishing trips and day hikes as well.

I carry a small fanny pack with shoulder straps in the woods; I never use a sled or cart and subscribe to the drag ahead and then move your gun and pack along with you. I have helped in many a deep woods drag with my Grandfather over the years. The worst drag ever was a bear I harvested. It was like a 250 pound bag of jello to drag. It rolled down hills sideways, hooked on everything imaginable and sucked...... It was the first and last bear I harvested miles form a trail or roadway. I am willing to try the bone out method and pack frame a deer out as they do in Alaska. Not sure why deer are often dragged miles when lots of hunting customs skin, bone and carry..

Well, the season is well over in the Adirondacks and how was your adventure and what did you learn and take away from the trip? I hunted my area and the weekend before Thanksgiving I received over 30 inches of snow. It dampened my trip and just a few miles away they only received inches and had great tracking. A few of the most important things for a successful hunt are, good boots, a compass and enduring attitude. You walk miles and log hours between sightings of deer. The rewards are big bodied deer and solitude you don't get hunting elsewhere.

I also looked at the Nosler in .308; but my local shop has the 700 SS on their shelf and looking to move that. That may be a determining factor unless I find some objections to the .280. I also own several other Remingtons and the functionality and fit of them have been solid over the years.

Very Happy Birthday to you !!!!

I also have a Browning X-bolt in .338 if I ever encounter a brown bear.......so I don't need another cannon in my safe. I am looking for a lightweight, weather resistant rifle for mid-size game. That's why I feel the .280 is a great fit and if I can get a deal locally than the Mountain SS will fill the niche nicely... I really appreciate all the input....

The Kimber Montana is around $1200.00 locally and I have a local shop sitting on the Mountain 700 for $850.00 they are looking to move. That 150.00 puts a dent in a nice piece of glass to top it off with...But I love Kimber !!! Still wheeling and dealing...thanks guys!!

That was a good one !!!! If they paid for a stool sample I'd just sent them my old tighty whities and they'd get all three in one sample...

I like the Kimber Adirondack or a synthetic stock but out of the family budget... The .243 is a little on the light side for my liking, the 7mm-08 or Creedmoor would be a better fit for me.

The 280 Remington has great ballistics compared to the others with good velocity and reasonable accuracy out to 300-400 yards. I did some research and this round has been around since the late 1950's and seems to be making a general resurgence of late. It kind of falls between the 30-06 and .270 in performance. Several major ammo companies are expanding their selections with very reasonable prices (30.00-35.00) and all components are readily available for reloading. Sounds like it packs a pretty good down range punch without much punishment on the other end. The only negatives I found were complaints that the barrel heated up after 5-6 rounds and grouping was compensated until the barrel cooled down. I didn't see this as much of a concern in the Adirondacks. I love my Kimber but would like a "bad weather" lightweight rifle for the woods.

On the flip side of that; I introduced my wife to hunting and we have twice the equipment, a remote deer camp and I get a free pass whenever I want to get away....

This past fall the bear activity I observed in Hamilton County (state land) was notably increased over the last few years. I haven't seen this much activity since the 1970's when the towns still utilized town dumps. I know of several area guides that train their bear hounds in the area and they all had great success and observed (treed) some really large bodied and healthy bears. As with most wild game in the Adirondack they are difficult to pattern, very unlike game from farm like country. They're there, but you have to log miles early and find likely locations from scouting and you may have success. I have at least 7 adult bears on my trail cam pictures but logged miles and time beginning in mid-summer to establish patterns. Best of luck and start your scouting soon and talk with locals that know the area. This guy here was on state land.....

Same camera at the same location.

Guess this guy was keeping an eye on things last fall. He was soaking wet and climbed the tree I had my camera on.

Two good books available locally and online are from Todd Mead from Queensbury. He is a long time big woods hunter with his family of the Adirondacks and Lake George area. Both good reads..... http://www.toddmead.com/index.html

I have been thinking about this over the holidays. There are so many subtle little things I enjoy about the hunting experience; from just being at camp with family and being by the fire at night. The smells and ability to cover such vast terrain in the Adirondacks right outside my front door. Crazy things like sitting in the outhouse on a brisk morning in total silence watching smoke curl from my chimney. Hunting in snow and listening to the snow fall on the evergreens while sitting in a swamp alone. The more I thought of these subtle things I found the harvest of any animal was on the list but was removed from some of the greatest joys I experienced. I still hunt in the rain at least one day every year just to ensure that I still don't like it !!! Enjoy and hope all for a safe 2017!!!!

I am looking at a new Remington model 700 Mountain SS, rifle chambered in .280. It is weather proof, bomb proof and lightweight. I love my Kimber 84 but cry carrying that in the big woods swamps in the rain and snow. Any thoughts guys ? I would likely top it with a 3x9 scope and use it in Western New York as well as it is a flat, hard hitting round suited for open fields as well...

My Remington model 742 in .308, that gun has many miles logged on it and the blueing is worn off in several locations. Just cleaned it yesterday and placed in back in the safe.

Thank you all for your input.

PM if you need help.

Just a tad too much scope.

I have the 35 in the Remington model 700 when they made a yearly special production rifle. Love it and it shoots flat and taken several big body Adirondack deer, a bear and several yotes over the years. Enjoy !!!

I would utilize the Fenwick and lighter reel for steelies and the heavier setup for salmon in the fall. You can use an amazingly light weight rod if your reel drag is set correctly and have a good quality line and knots. Good luck joining the chosen frozen steelie crew!! I use hand tied flies and as spring gets closer and the water warms egg sacs and pink worm imitations. The drop backs like meat and take larger presentations as they migrate back to the lake. PM me if you need any help getting setup.. Dan