Daveboone

Ive had porcupine several times. Quite a meaty critter. Best barbequed, very fatty. You need to be careful because with all the fat, if you dont do alot of trimming, it burns easily. Actually tastes alot like woodchuck, and similarly muscled.

I like it!

It is distracting to get used to the 1800s style of writing, but otherwise pretty good. Written in the same era, Moby Dick is also a great read, and much easier and fun to read.

I started reading "Last of the Mohicans" recently...gotta get back to it.

I love historic fiction, and recently have been spending alot of time reading Chris Durbins series o Carlisle and Holbrook...two officers in the British Navy during the time period of the French and Indian war (between France and Britain over possession of Canada, mostly). the most recent three books specifically, including the current book I am reading "The Niagara Squadron" follows the conquest of the French possessions from the campaign for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland up the St. Lawrence seaway to Montreal and Quebec, and Lake Ontario. The current book follows the path of the Brits going up the Hudson, Mohawk river to Stanwix, to Oswego, then the campaign to capture Fort Niagara. Great story and characters, and I love the details for the local area which are spot on....my stomping grounds. As well, it explores a lot of the politics with the Iroquois and the confederacy for the time period. Great stuff.

I read this a few years back. FAscinating read...especially interesting was noting where he specifically went to elk hunt back in the day. Like most books of this era, they refer very little to the arms they use, but you gather that what the author had and used was overall very utilitarian and basic ...usually a shotgun loaded with whatever they could find, which was blasted at whatever they came across. Woodsmanship at its most basic!

Yep. So the exception is made for a silly pastime and its no big deal. That said, I agree totally that the state/etc. has no responsibilty for helping folks out with their identity crisis, wherever they are.

Girls have been competing on boys teams in school for decades. And it had nothing to do with "orientation". I am not so cut and dry as that though, and in practice probably not too far from you in though....I just dont politicize it.

This is much more common than folks think. Much more. It was a primary reason for infertility (still is) because in times not too far past it was difficult to identify. I have family members so afflicted. The degree of visible/physical traces noticeable vary tremendously. Most aware folks allow thier children to develop in the direction they have a natural inclination to, as they mature. I laugh when folks try to say a political party is to blame for these decisions. Yup, I have heard all the absurd so called exceptions....most of which no one can site a source for. As time goes on, I think it is very apolitical to wisely say " live and let live".

perhaps if you already own the land, the best approach would be to contact surrounding land owners and see if they want to buy it for a realistic price (taking into account it is basically worthless to you if you cant access it).

We used to spend quite a bit of time watching the areas county tax sales (for real estate). Several times we looked at chunks of land that were "landlocked". It is up to the buyer to determine if there is a historical access and to obtain a right of way. The surrounding landowners have no obligation to surrender non historic access through their land...that was per a conversation with one of the clerks...a lawyer, at the Oswego County Clerks office.

For many years we couldnt justify one. Simply put neither my wife or I could remember an outage that lasted more than an hour or so in our lives (well, there was the regional blackout in 66', but it was summer and we were kids). When we got our camp we could justify a portable for use there (no electricity) with projects. We got the Yamaha 3000 also, great machine. In theory we could bring it back and forth to home if needed, but that isnt very easy either, so it stayed at the camp. About 8 years ago we were given a 10 HP 5000 watt Black and Decker, generic work generator, but after I cleaned the carb and gave it a new battery, it runs like a champ. As seldom as we need it we just run a gang extension inside the house for the pellet stove /whatever if needed, and keep a couple of five gallon gas cans with stabilizer (two more at the camp) in reserve. I have read through a number of recourses that a freezer will keep food frozen unplugged for over 24 hrs, so I wont even worry about plugging one in until that long. Hell, worse case I have two Yeti coolers we can pack for several more days, and I have numerous Aladdin, Dietz and Coleman lanterns for light, and propane cook stove, which was a choice for when the power goes out. Really we dont worry at all, but we do remember back in the nineties when the Watertown region had that huge ice storm which wiped out the electrical system for quite a time. March if I remember right.

I have had a string of dedicated field dressing knives...starting with the high quality but very affordable Buck 110, retired because the clip point and blocky handle were difficult to use and hold on to. For years I was very happy with a 2 1/2 " drop point with a lanyard that I made myself. very easy to handle, but needed frequent resharpening. A lanyard on the handle is a must for me, as I can just let go of the knife without dropping it to reposition the deer, etc. without losing it. The Schrade Sharpfinger is an excellent knife which took some getting used to. Again, a relatively small blade but easily handled and stays sharp ...and you can put a lanyard on it. My favorite for about the past ten years though, is the Grohmann #1 fixed blade. Great steel, keeps an edge forever, and its somewhat unconventional blade shape is very natural in use. I have about 6 in different configurations. The blade is a bit larger than I normally go for, but it is so well designed you dont realize it...about 3 1/2 inches. Of course it has a lanylard. Alot of folks end up with a much larger heavier knife than they need, and never realize it for not trying one of the smaller designs. Heck, I have cleaned several deer with my swiss army knife and had no problems...except holding on to the dinky little thing.

Got one. Actually a horrible field dressing knife. It is based on the Buck 110 which is a proven design, and I used one for years...but the clip point aint the best for field dressing and the handle desing is clumsy in use field dressing. The automatic version quickly clogs up with fat, blood, etc. requiring a difficult cleaning process, which never seems to get it all out. Automatics have their utility place, but it isnt in a deers body cavity.

Most likely the family wasnt aware if it was hunted...but just the same, probably lightly in that case. You certainly have a great opportunity to check it out and find prime spots. No time like the present to start.

Why not? The "elders" advice would also be applicable to walking on hillsides where you could slip, etc. My advice would be to walk the stream as you discussed pre season to find just what you may run into.

Not much out there on my wish list. I recently bought and rough sited in a new Mauser M18 in .308, mounted with a Leupold 2-7. Great, beautiful mfg, best trigger pull I ever had. It is time to semi -retire my near 100 year old Oberndorf 98 Mauser. Lots of life left but time to bring my main shooting arm into the 21st century....which brings me to the only rifle that I really want now.... A northern PA style flintlock, probably about 50 cal. I can get what I want built for around 2800., but a kit will still use up most of the 2 grand.

I dont think Sharps originally made any in 45-120...Quigley shot a 45-110 which was a rare custom gun even back when Sharps were commonly used. My father in law had a modern Sharps made up in 45-120. Beautiful rifle, but the recoil can make a big mean guy cry, and shells even 15 years ago were pretty much strictly custom order .

I was bumming not to get a 2nd deer this year for sausages...my favorite is the Cajun, but their pepperoni is awesome, ham and cheddar outstanding....hell, it is all great. I am planning a trip out there soon just to buy some of thier own pork based sausages.

Just a thought.... A twelve gauge slug has massive energy, even out to 100 yards. Without being a spine or double shoulder shot I have seen countless deer still run with an imperfect shot (back in the day we used to do alot of brush busting and drives with jump shooting with the required shotgun). Round ball tends to be a very clean wound, killing from the immediate wound damage. That means accurate placement. You will not substantially make any difference with boosting that velocity. Penetration yes, collateral damage, no. That is one of the things I love about hunting with cap and ball. There is almost no surrounding tissue damage with a shoulder shot, just a clean hole.

Like Airedale says...alot has to do with weather....if it is sub zero or close, they will conserve their energy and stay warm. Like all critters, they want to eat in the a.m. every thing else being equal, and before going back in their nests. They also like to sun themselves in the top of trees on sunny days, sometime for quite a while. They certainly get more alert and see us out further with the leaves off of the trees. I prefer some leaf coverage on a still day. Listen for them rustling or chatting and slowly stalk in on them. This is killing me...I havent been out after them this year and we are burning season now!

Maybe the better question.... with open sights, can you consistently hit a deer at 100? With a scope on my inline I can, but with my GPR I self limit 50 or so...Sure, I can hit a deer somewhere in the front quarter, but I sure as hell cant pick my shot as I would expect with my scoped rifles at 100.

What time of day did you go out? I normally go squirrel hunting about when the sun is hitting the trees in the a.m. and mid to late afternoon, when they are most busy. Also, sometimes they clear out the food in an area and move along. Also, sometimes it helps to pull a deer hunting trick and just plant the butt in a likely area and let the woods be. You probably stand out pretty prominently against the snow, and maybe alot fo snow crunching?

I am surprised with that charge...100-120 gr.! Shoot your gun in for accuracy. Best group, best charge. I actually only use 80 grains of FFg with my patch and ball. Keep in mind the conservative ranges you will be shooting at. Placement is everything. It doesnt take alot to kill a whitetail with a properly placed bullet.

Flintlocks have a lot larger learning curve...With some work they can ignite almost as instantly as a percussion....almost. Of course they are much more moisture/rain susceptible, and you will need to learn to tinker with the flint. Follow through is the name of the game...really, the same as any rifle for best shooting. Practice at follow through with the trigger pull. Most folks just dont shoot enough to get proficient. I have a flintlock pistol which is alot of fun, and I have learned alot from. I desperatly want a northern PA style flinter myself, but dont have the 2g or so to get what I want. Lets face it, they are really where it all began. I wouldnt recommend one if you dont WANT a flinter. They take dedication to get proficient with. If you are patient, you shouldnt have any problem finding a Lyman GPR like what you want. Black powder rifles were not affected anywhere near as much as moderns with supply this past year, but still a bit. Finding you rpowder may be a bit tougher. Now, if you want to be dedicated with patch and ball, go real black powder. It still ignites the easiest, is easiest to work up a load for, and to me isnt any more difficult than the modern loads to clean up after...if you are disciplined enough to do it right away, everytime.