New York Hillbilly

I'm no expert either but I do have a bear rug, one tanned hide, a full body mount (1st one and small) and a shoulder mount from my past bear hunting experiences. I have also spent days taking pictures and filming them during hunts. It's tough enough to judge a bear even in the field when emotions are racing, aside from the fact that they just all look big, furry and scary enough to eat you, let alone from a picture of one in the dark walking away. But based on what I have seen my guess would have been 275 to 300 range. Too my way of thinking that is a good bear. PS that is one hell of a cat! : ) PSS if I stumble on my videos from Manitoba while getting ready for my upcoming move I'll try to find away to post it.

Very true stoneam2006! Sad but very true!

Well there you go ants, not only did the guy try to kill a squirrel but a famous one at that. No other than Rocky J. Squirrel himself. See how mean those moose get during the rut? Not sure if Mr. Winkle may be involved somehow, but the story does seem to have a load of bull in it. Anyone who draws down on and shoots another human in the field should go to jail. End of story, no excuses, it's stupidity and murder in my book!

C'mon Biz, and that thing you're holding is a house cat! hahaha

pewlodar, does that mean since 2012 another 20k people escaped NY?

I'll tell you what. Take that picture and a tape measure with you, and figure as best you can where that bears back comes to on the tree it is next to. I know I'm guessing here but it looks about three feet up that tree, and that is the height of an adult male. Then look at the hind end, legs and overall roundness of that bear. If that bear is three feet or better tall and that stout, it is a big one. Now I'm really curious so let us know if you go back and do some measuring. Don't get eaten in the process! lol

Holy smoke that is a NICE bear. I have taken several bears, hunting in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec (got ripped off) and have seen lots of them up real close. That is a good one!! Good luck!

This looks like a new spin on Hoover's promise of "a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage". You just get to have your chicken before the election this time around. lol I'm not usually a fan of potty humor but a friend of mine told me to watch the movie "Idiocracy". I did, and sadly as the saying goes "many a true word is spoken in jest".

Just imagine the impact of having what appears to be such a vote buying tactic backfire and fund the opposition. The public relation optics would be profound, and actually make for a hilarious news story that would resonate with voters and the media.

How many on here bitching about Cuomo going to put their money where there mouths are, and sign over those checks to the Astorino campaign?

About 120, by my guess.

AaronBlain I don't think rabies is going to be your issue. You may however get an overwhelming desire to fly south. That will mean your mind is starting to "quack" up! lol

I'm looking forward to learning how to smoke salmon when I get to Soldotna. It is supposed to be one of the best salmon fisheries in the world, on the Kenai river.

No time to fool around this year if I want to put one in the freezer. I'll try to tag out first week and then take off for the new job in Soldotna, AK. I plan to fly home to hunt opening firearm season and through Thanksgiving, then return to Alaska until next year. I'll leave the brother in law and nephews to hunt and keep people out this year. : ) Thank goodness for this site to keep me from getting homesick. I will make believe I still here through all of your eyes.

You see! That's the type of stuff that makes my blood boil. The thought of shooting at anything next to a house you don't own or have permission is deserving of an ass kicking. I don't screw around when it comes to safety, and the disrespect issue is a close second for me because it threatens safety. People who deliberately make poor choices in one area likely do so in many areas. Poor judgement and disregard for others is a dangerous combination when firearms are involved. A guy who would shoot a coyote in someone's yard is just as apt to shoot at a deer up on the ridge behind my house. And the chance of hitting one of my family on my hill is no less likely than in that yard. I was just thinking. Maybe a thread should be started on just how a trespasser should be approached.

Hey Curmudgeon, do you really have coyote hunters coming onto your posted land? I have never run into that problem. In fact I have even asked fellas here to got get them on my property after deer season but they hunt with hounds and for whatever reason have never taken me up on the offer.

I agree fully Predate that they are extremely smart and cunning hunters. I also am very happy for guys like you and some of my buddies who actively pursue the buggers. Keep up the good work!

Yup, I'm in Sangerfield. The beagle of mine killed actually happened in Deansboro and was years ago. Since that time though I have had close calls with them coming in on my hounds. It has always been the early morning first runs or the last ones of the day. Attacks on my hounds has been more related to a territorial thing not to eat. I have witnessed on one occasion several of them actively zone in on my beagles as they were running a rabbit, and I had to race in shouting to break up the party. About recovering deer, I was referring primarily to archery season. Yes, darkness was involved. I used to sit and wait a half hour before going after a deer once I shot it just to be safe, but it is tough to do these days. I also used to gut my deer and take a slow relaxed stroll back to the house to get my four wheeler or truck, rather than drag a deer so far through mud and weeds, but not anymore. The only firearm killed deer we had coyotes get to was my brother in laws first buck that he hit it to far back and then bumped it from its bed. I'm not an expert about their breeding habits and numbers but did here a theory out there that the more you shoot the more there will be, and that their population ebbs and flows with the deer population. Interesting thoughts! However, I hear that stuff from the same experts who used to flat out argue with me that there were coyotes even in NY when I was representative, and then an officer for the Oneida County Federation of Sportsman back in the 1980's and 90's.

Do the right thing and wait until season starts. Once it is open however, have at it and kill everyone you can lay a bead on. Whether you love them or hate them is a personal matter, and I for one don't judge people either way. As a beagler who has had one good bitch killed by coyotes, and had several other real close calls with my beagles while rabbit hunting, I fall into the hate them camp. Over the years most of my beagle buddies have had the same bad luck dealing with coyotes with their hounds either tore up or killed. Even recovering deer on my property has taken a new direction. There is no such thing as sitting and waiting a bit before you get on your deer following the shot anymore, because you will show up and find the deer ripped open and half eaten. To each his own I guess.

Suppose the bear ever noticed the rust on the gun? Lol!!

Thanks OMG. I was going to post that exact same thing but was my turn to drive on I90. No matter how you cut it the flow of water does come from Upstate. The city only provides the few big "drips" that run the state. Hahaha!

Here we go again Upstate vs Downstate. Steve863 you must have eaten at the wrong place. I agree there are those up here that suck but others are excellent. In my trips to the city I have had the same experience, good and bad. As far as Alaska pizza goes I will let you all know soon. Other than deer season here I'll be living and working there for the next two years.. With the way things go here in NY with the city dictating how Upstate lives, I may just stay there for good. No matter what the pizza is like there. lol Time will tell.

Congrats on your new home and hunting area. Lets see how soon some nit wit tries to tell you it's not posted correctly, and you are to blame for them being on your land. That seems to be all the rage here lately. Welcome to the world of hunting property owner and the responsibility to take others by the hand and protect them from themselves. I was just thinking; can putting posted signs to close together to get the point through peoples thick heads also technically be considered improper posting? I'm not sure, but it might be some trespasser is shrewd enough to try and be a smart ass and use the excuse. lol Anyway, even with the hassle, I do agree with Bubba and others that it does have it's advantages. Again, congrats!

stubby68: I'm certainly not blessed (or damned depending on ones view) with 400 acres, and I think it's great you can identify every line. That is an excellent thing and should help avoid conflict to be sure. However, and all due respect, but I think your statement that; "There is one neighbor who is from the city and owns 84 acres and every year when they come out we have a problem. Why? Because they think they own more then they do and we have to get out the maps and prove them wrong every time" strongly supports my argument. I refuse to believe those people are so stupid that they cannot understand year after year. To me it speaks to a bigger problem. In my opinion they do not accept the truth and have no respect for you or themselves, and will do damned well as they please because they must figure there are no significant consequences. I would go so far as to say they probably bust out laughing every time you leave, and give you the middle finger wave as you head out the door with your back turned. Just like every other trespasser! As far as "locals" knowing someone's property "better" I clearly can't speak to others, but I assure you that is not the case with my approximate 180 acres. I can actually close my eyes and see every square foot of it.I know every ankle twisting hole, rock, tipped over tree, gully and spring. That comes from 25 years of really living, hunting and working it year round. I'm lucky enough to have had a board member just lease land that borders me this year, and as a test will share with him every characteristic and detail of the common line we share. If he choses to do so at some point I will invite him to let you know how accurate I was. : ) For me I will say it yet again; it boils down to a loss of respect, loss of personal responsibility, absence of consequences, and a screw you mentality so many people have towards others. All of this is shrouded by pitiful excuses like a bunch of irresponsible, ill behaved children. Just how I see it I guess!

Here is a novel idea. If you don't own it stay off it. Another novel idea; find out who owns the land, ask permission and offer to pay half the taxes! I post my land but it sure as hell isn't doing me any favors to incur the cost, time, and aggravation. Why should I, or any other landowner feel compelled to post their land as a "favor" for strangers who want to bumble about aimlessly in the woods. I just don't get what's so hard about this. It seems part of the same handout mentality. You got it and I don't, I want it and I'll take it if you won't give it to me and too bad if you don't like it...after all it's your fault because you've got it and I don't. Oh yeh...and I want it for free!