coonhunter
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Posts posted by coonhunter
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I am officially done ice fishing for the year. It has been a good season for ice after a couple years of hit and miss ice and a shorter season. But dang, the weekends sure seemed to be bad weatherwise. It was either super cold or really windy, or both most of the time. My buddy and I went out one Saturday morning when it was calm and 6 degrees, and we were saying how great it was to finally get a nice morning to fish on a Saturday. So, it was 90% of the time spent in my shanty with a heater instead of being out in the fresh air.
I had a great year for panfish with lots of perch, crappies and bluegills, and a couple evenings with a bunch of big pumpkinseeds. I actually caught probably a third of my fish on jiggin raps, z vibers, and z viber micros. When it was low light early in the morning, or close to dark at night, the crappie and perch really came after them. Of course I caught most on tungsten and spikes. I also tried out beavertail baits that I cut a little smaller, and they also produced pretty well on the tungsten.
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I lived in Chenango County, and still own property there. I know that I shoot as often as I like. Other than opening weekend of gun season, deer hunters are mostly absent except for the weekends.Private Land to hunt is harder to find unless you lease, but there is a lot of state land. Like BowmanMike, I am just one county over, and not very far at that.
Phade mentioned the quality of deer, and I can confirm that. I have hunted my whole life, and killed a lot of nice bucks, but have never cracked 140, and only three over 130. I will say that you can get some large bodied deer in the private lands, and once in awhile in the state lands. Two year olds are easy to get if you have even a little bit of desire and knowledge.
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Although I love steak or pot roast dinners, I have these frequent enough that I wouldn't choose them. I'm with Bill, and would take a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with the same family and friends as always. A special day and meal for me every year.
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Yup, I have seen more turkeys in the last few days than I have seen in a month or more.
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I'm telling you, the ice where I was fishing today was smooth as glass. You definitely needed cleats, and even then, I was taking my time. It hasn't been smooth like this in a few years.
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Count me in on the 2 3/4 inch high brass shells. I shot one of the big shells out of my brother's gun, and said never again. That is just too much for me to enjoy my hunting. I'm an up close and personal turkey hunter anyway, so it doesn't really matter with me.
I will say that it sure is impressive what the fancy chokes and new loads can do for the guys that prefer to hunt the fields.
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I was fortunate that my immediate area didn't get much snow. I am reading horror stories of slush on a lot of lakes, making machines tough to use to get on and off the lakes.
The lake I fished this weekend, I just walk out on and pull my shanty on a sled. Just three inches of hard snow and a little slush at the bottom. nothing at all to worry about. It was windy at times, but manageable in the shanty. The fish were way more cooperative than they have been. I brought home 10 perch and 10 crappies to fillet up for a few dinners.
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Good for him. I have to say that when it comes to puppies, it is tough to beat the cuteness of a lab or hound.
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Any of you guys try out the Z-Viber Micros? I got a couple for Christmas, and I have to say that they seem to do a pretty good job on the crappies and bigger perch. I usually just fish with tungsten and spikes, but decided to give these an honest try on one of my poles. I have a jig with bait on one line and the lure on the other. Sometimes the fish lock on to the Z-viber, and sometimes they go over to the jig, but, they are definitely worth a try if you fish for panfish a lot. I am sure a pickeral will come along and take them from me sooner or later.
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During bow season I spend quite a bit of my hunting alone because that is what I like to do. But, I also mentor a youngster and a woman which I enjoy also. I would prefer to have a partner when I am hunting alone just to be able to cover another area, and stay in touch by radio. Unfortunately, I just don't have anyone to partner with on big bucks anymore due to deaths, work, family, and life in general.
For rifle season, I don't think I have sat alone more than a day or two the last five years. For me, Rifle season is like the old days with people hunting together, eating high on the hog, cards, booze etc. Hunting and fishing have always been a lot about having fun with friends and forgetting about work, bills, and any other of life's problems. I help a lot of youngsters and women get deer every year just because I am good at finding the deer, or knowing where they will be.
I can tell you, I drag way too many deer out of the woods every year, but I enjoy every single one of them because of how happy the hunters are that they got a deer. I honestly am not sure the last time I shot a buck with a rifle. I just shoot a doe or two on the one farm I hunt to fill a d map or two. I leave the bucks to my friends because they mean a lot more to them.
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Oh, I agree that is a typical crappie bite. But these were putting slack in my line and I had to lift darn near a foot before I hooked the fish. They were just rocketing off the bottom and not even slowing down as they took the bait. Seemed good to not have to coax them into biting.
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Much nicer weather, and the fishing was better this afternoon. Must be with the storm coming, the fish were on the feed. Crappies were so aggressive that my spring bobber was lifting up instead of going down. Pretty much, if you could get a perch or crappie to come off the bottom, they would bite.
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I got on the ice this morning for a couple hours. It was a rough one getting out and set up. I don't mind the cold usually, but when it is down below zero, it doesn't take long for the cold to get to your hands. Luckily, everything went smooth with the shanty and equipment, and I was set up with my heater going about 10 minutes after I left my car. The fish cooperated for about an hour, and then became lookers.
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I agree spacemanspiff. It is always nice to get a few perch that get past the 12 inch mark in the lakes that I fish. Same way with crappies, but I seem to get more of them over a foot long.
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Glad to hear Grampy
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Have fun on your trip Daveboone. I hope you and your wife have a trip of a lifetime.
And grampy, that is a hell of a plan. I hope it works out for you too.
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I go to the Tuscarora Lake derby most years. I usually set up some tip ups and let any kids around take care of the flags. A few years ago, one of the kids won 50-60 bucks for a pickeral he caught off my tip up. He was trying to split the money with me, But I settled for a burger and fries so he could keep most of the money. Good kid. He was still trying to give me more money afterwards.
Like Rob said, they do have a great raffle after the derby, with all sorts of prizes, some of them good, some not so good. But, it all goes to the lake association I believe.
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For me it is the clothes. It is so much easier to bow hunt in cold weather when i can have a couple thin layers and a light coat. None of mine are the fancy name brand stuff. Just cheap stuff that cost $15-$20 for a top or bottom. I am fortunate in the fact that the cold does not get to me as bad as a lot of people.
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I bitch about this every year. Fish and catch to your hearts content. Keep some fish for eating. Even give a batch or two to friends and family. But dang!!!!, you don't have to catch and keep a limit day after day just to post it on social media.
It is pretty sad when you have to be careful who you take to your fishing spots because they will come back and take fish over and over. I fish relatively small lakes, and there is a limit to the nice fish you can keep.
Unfortunately, these new limits only apply to one lake that I usually fish a couple times a year. I just never can understand the greed, and the need to post pictures all the time. I usually post a few pictures during the winter of the kids getting a big pickeral on a tip up, or catching some nice perch or crappies, with big ol smiles on their faces. To me, that is a lot more exciting to see than a 50+ year old man with a bunch of limits of fish.
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For the first time in years, I bow hunted all last week. Usually the weather goes cold enough that I call it quits after regular season. I hunted three spots, with two being state land or public land, and one being private that is hunted in regular season just as bad as the public land.
I sat in a climber or a pop up 5 times in nine days, alternating spots trying to keep them as fresh as possible. I saw 7 different bucks, and at least triple that number of does and fawns. Not all came in bow range, but 3 of the bucks were in slam dunk range, and one other was at the edge of my range, but with saplings and brush, probably never would have been in danger.
Now, when I say these spots are heavily hunted, I am talking about groups pushing the woods several times a week all regular season. There are deer there every year, so obviously, they don't kill all of them. I have just found some spots that the hunters and drivers don't hit. The deer find them and group up in these areas.
My best advice is pay attention to cars, people, and their tracks. Then, get some maps that show terrain, trees, water. You may have to do some walking to get familiar with private property lines, but in the end, it can pay off.
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I thought I was the only to get dragged by a deer! Years ago I shot a doe that came out of a drive. It piled right up in sight. I waited for the drivers to come out and we went over to check it out. It was laying by a big briar patch, and i went over, poked it, and touched its eye. Nothing. I rolled it and poked my knife in, and all hell broke loose. It got up and started to go, and I panicked and grabbed it around the neck. I was stabbing away with my knife while it dragged me through the berry briars. It only went about 10 feet, but it seemed a lot worse. I was scratched to hell and bleeding, and my buddies were laughing their asses off. It has been at least 20 years, but it is still their favorite story to tell. And there is a picture right in the album of our hunting/fishing adventures of me with a bewildered look on my face with blood dripping off my nose and scratches on my head and face. What a dumb ass!!!!
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I got gas yesterday, and the manager was telling me to wear a mask as I walked in. I told her i didn't have a mask and if she wanted the money, she would have to come to the door then. She just let me in to pay. I am in the group that won't do business with stores that require masks.
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I agree with the people who say the deer are where the hunters aren't. I have three spots that I can take someone late in rifle season, or the late season, and have a real good chance of getting a shot at a buck. And, I have a few little briar and brush patches for someone that can hit a moving deer in an open field. These are all spots that people either overlook, it appears too wet, or it is too much work to get into. These are all on state land or farm land that is heavily hunted.
All my deer hunting is done within a 20 mile circle from where I grew up. I have learned and found these spots from hunting the same lands for 40 years. Most of them I learned just by watching other hunters. People are creatures of habit and deer hunters are even worse. They hunt the same one or two stands, park in the same spot, and walk in the same way every time. The groups that put on drives do the same patches and sections, and they park in the same spots and walk the same paths over and over. And, a lot of deer are killed by these people, but the deer quickly learn to avoid these spots soon after the season starts.
One spot I found going to my hound treed. Like everyone else, I didn't think you could get into this old beaver swamp. Well, I walked right to my dog over a little sliver of dry land. That has been one of my go to spots in the end of rifle season. It is in very heavily hunted state land, but even the Amish don't go in there. I'll be honest and tell you that I have never seen a real big buck in there, but whoever I take in there can get a rack buck as long as they are patient enough to wait for a clear shot.
All I can say is be aware of your scent and wind direction. Take the time to see what the neighbors are doing, or if you are on state lands, watch where the cars are and where the groups do drives. Look for really thick areas, wet areas with cover, or a steep hill to walk up. It is truly amazing how many deer will pack into these areas.
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Glad you got one Cabin Fever. You sure have had to work for them the last couple years. I'd say you are about due for an opening day bow kill next year.
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Hygrometer longevity
in General Chit Chat
Posted
I smoked a Romeo y Julietta 1875 today that I bet has been in my humidor for at least two years, and probably more. It just happened to get overlooked or passed on for a long time. It smoked like it was just bought fresh. My humidor is on my dresser, and I just check it every night so I don't need the more advanced hygrometers. I'm just rambling a little off topic because, although I knew a cigar store or warehouse could keep them fresh, I had doubts on whether a relatively cheap home model would keep the cigars good for so long.