Uncle Nicky

Congratulations! Are you planning to hunt with them? I was looking at getting one some day down the road, but just a little too much dog for what I need (squirrel hunting). There is a great group out there if you do Facebook.

Actually, it happens a lot. The toms are anxious to get the party started, and the warm weather just accelerates things.

I won't go as far as to say I am an expert. But I've hog-hunted every year for the last 20 years, mostly in Florida & Georgia. Between myself, my sons, & friends, I've probably seen 100 or more hogs die, 95% has been hunting with dogs, a few times night vison with a rifle, a few times off of a baited stand. They become EXTREMELY nocturnal once they know they are being hunted. Hogs breed fast, no doubt about that. But they breed and become established much faster where there is more food for them and the weather is warmer than in PA or NY. Is it plausible that they can get north of the Mason-Dixon line & become established? Sure, but I highly doubt with the higher densities of hunters and harsher conditions, that they will ever become the nuisance that they are in the south & Texas. But if you ever see the damage that they can do to a newly planted field or what happens when an irrigation pivot wheel hits a spot where hogs have been rooting, you will understand the concern to keep them under control. They will eat eggs and destroy turkey nests, and occasionally get aggressive with humans, but they are mostly an agricultural concern.The farthest north that I'm aware of an established population of hogs is in Culpepper County, VA, but if anyone has different information, please let me know. I also think that a specific road trip to PA isn't going to be very productive, and once you are done buying an out-of-state license, paying for a motel or costs to drag a camper, etc. you might as well head further south and go where they really live. But that's just my $.02.

I have never seen one, but supposedly there are some running around in Bedford county. Nowhere close to a population explosion, I'm not sure I'd make a long drive for hogs in PA, might make more sense to keep on driving south if you want to hunt true wild hogs. I had a friend in Tully, NY who has since passed away, but he showed me pictures years ago of a hog a neighbor had killed, supposedly there was a group of them living in the area, this was around 2007.

I clicked on this, while at work, REALLY hoping this wasn't something porn related.... Glad to hear your pup is doing OK!!!

I've eaten woodchuck many times, really not much different than a squirrel or rabbit, just bigger. I draw the line at eating coyotes & foxes. I haven't worked up the nerve to eat an opossum or raccoon, but never say never. I paid to tan the hides of the only fox & coyote I ever shot. I never got into trapping, I do realize that a lot of areas are over-run with them and they have to go, just not for me. I wouldn't think twice to shoot a coyote & let it lay if it came at me or my hunting dog.

Thanks. An acre pushed by hand isn't what I call fun. I already own the quad, I'm sure a regular garden tractor could handle it (very flat and the grass doesn't look to be all that thick). But might just be more cost effective to buy a tow behind mower and a ATV snow plow (already have a winch on it) than spending for a garden tractor & snow blower which I probably won't use much anyway (moving to southern Delaware).

Im looking for a tow-behind finish mower to use with my ATV. About an acre of grass to cut with my new home, and the ATV is already paid for. I'm looking at a DR Power (possibly re-conditioned), the reviews on Swisher aren't real good. Any other suggestions, or comments yay or nay on DR Power?

There are a lot of good videos & books out there on training, and even 1 or 2 sessions with a good trainer will cut the learning curve. Introducing the dog to birds as soon as possible and letting him know they are what you are heading out to the woods for is a big part of it. Play catch or hide seek with a dead bird or drag a dead bird around the yard on a fishing line & praise the dog when he grabs it. Let him chew one or two and get the smell/taste of a real pheasant in it's mouth. Some dogs have the prey drive, some are half-way aggressive, and others just become house pets; even in the best breedings there are duds in a litter. But a good breeder will let you return the dog if it isn't cut out for hunting (provided the family doesn't get attached, LOL).

Cool, I volunteer my time with a pointer rescue organization, it's amazing how many people go into this blind without knowing what they are getting into. And how many realize that their bird finding machine that they enjoy for 4 months a year becomes an anxious, depressed, disruptive family member for the remaining 8 months of the year when they aren't exercised or stimulated properly. But sounds like you know what is ahead of you. Personally, without knowing anything about you other than what you've posted here, sounds like a lab or springer or Boykin spaniel is what you're looking for. A beagle would also be a good choice, but sounds like that's not an option. Feists and smaller curs are USUALLY good in the house as well, and will chase just about anything that moves if you let them, but treeing squirrels is their strong suit.

Not to sound like a jerk, but a well behaved hunting dog that is fun to hunt with and does it's job well requires a LOT of training, at least in the first year or two. Not so much training on how to hunt or prey drive (that's either in the dog's personality/breeding/genes or it isn't), but in basic obedience and attention to commands. Growing up, my father had beagles, spaniels, and pointers at different times, all would chase rabbits or flush pheasants. Lots of guys I know use labs to hunt pheasants, they don't generally range far and are usually pretty easy to control, not sure how they'd work out for rabbits. Again, not to sound like a jerk, but every dog I ever saw that was high energy (which is what you usually want in a hunting dog) was generally a handful in the house unless they were given a LOT of exercise, and allowed a good run off leash as often as possible. Good luck!

I braved the elements yesterday and got in on a 6-pack charter for cod off of Long Island. The weather wasn't bad for this time of the year, and the ocean was kind. I didn't get a limit but close to it. Cod is at the very top of my favorite fish to catch & eat, great start to the New Year!

I am no expert, but I would start the dog from square 1, the same as you would with a puppy. And yeah, it will suck doing this while it is cold out, but.... Keep the dog crated most of the day. Then block out some time, and take the dog outside, and don't return inside until the dog does it's business. When it does, praise the hell out of it, give it a treat. Then let the dog back in the house out of the crate, but at the VERY first sign that it is going to pee or sh*t, rush it outside and stay out there with her until she does; again, make a big deal in a positive way when the dog pees or sh*ts outside. As long as the dog won't soil the crate, this ought to work. It may take a week or two, but if it's carried out consistently, the dog will pick up what's expected. Good luck!

If you look long & hard enough (and are willing to put some miles on the truck), there is still a lot to hunt this time of year. Weather looks to be mild all the way through New Years, and ocean fishing is pretty hot now. Small game is open, I'll probably get out with friends with dogs & see if we can knock a few squirrels out of a tree (but sitting for them isn't all that productive when it's cold). There's goose & duck hunting all the way through March if you want to try for snows. And of course the VA fall turkey season is open until the end of January, my pup is raring to go NOW!!! I never trapped or ice fished, but that's also an option. Anything beats bickering on these internet forums!!!

Looks like high of 45 degrees, moderate wind, & 2-3 foot waves, shouldn't be bad at all. A friend was there a week ago & they killed them. Biggest problem this time of year (and later) is finding a window weather that will cooperate. But yeah, if I froze 1/2 to death & didn't catch anything, I'd be in no hurry to return.

Cold weather or sea-sick?

LOL...the cold weather lull, where most seasons are closed & we start turning on each other. Weather looks nice this weekend, I'm headed up to Narragansett, RI Sunday & Monday to fish for sea bass & cod, it will make a nice Christmas dinner accompaniment. Anyone want to meet up? I'm doing 2 days on party boats, shouldn't be too crowded.

I don't have a picture, but I remember a friend had a chicken that was missing both feet, supposedly it had gotten frostbite. Maybe the same case here?

Ceviche, made with sea bass caught yesterday.

My mother is doing Thanksgiving dinner today, this should be interesting.... I made up a meal for deer camp in PA, got a last minute invite. Going to try & fill my PA fall turkey tag with my dog Friday (last day), then Saturday PA deer rifle season starts. Fried squirrel, biscuits, gravy, stewed okra, & greens. And of course a couple Heinekens to wash it all down.

The world has changed. When I worked in a kitchen and in a supermarket meat room, we joked a lot with the girls, had Playboy calendars hanging on the wall, nobody thought much of it. Fast-forward 25 years now to the corporate job I am at, I have seen a number of instances that make me shake my head. We have a young, pretty girl in the office who dresses every day like she is going clubbing, yet she's filed 2 complaints with HR already (there about 4 years) about guys "staring at" or "stalking" her...one of the guys was let go. Needless to say, I give her a wide berth. So glad retirement is on the near horizon, I feel sorry for anyone young starting out in the current work environment.

Good heavens, reminds me of the movie "Hannibal".

Shot my 2019 NY buck with a Model 99 .358. Honestly, I have lost track of what has met it's demise to this rifle, dozens of deer, a couple fall turkeys, a couple hogs & a bear I think. Many offers to sell it over the years, but it's going in the coffin with me when that day comes.

Yes, presidential elections are always in leap years.

I've made sopressata & pepperoni in the past, but in the recipes I has used the meat was raw, I used Prague powder #2, and was VERY specific about temperature & humidity....I know for a fact if this wasn't followed correctly the sausage wouldn't dry correctly and there would be "air pockets", which aren't good. I gave it up when I moved to a house that didn't have a basement. But this looks to be much simpler. I follow the recipes & techniques you have posted, the only questions I have are: 1). At the risk of sounding dense, this works using only Prague Powder #1 as a curing agent? 2). Do you dry the sausage at room temperature? 3). Do you have any problems with flies or mice showing up inside? Thanks for any input in advance.