Daveboone

Last fall I was delighted to have pictures of two Bald eagles on my gut pile, showing up for about four days. I don't remember even having seen hawks previously, but eagles I guess are more carrion eaters anyway.

Just two sins for cooking venison: smoking and well done. smoking because invariably you are overcooking it (slow but through) and you always want it on the rare side...no fat to moisten it. Like someone else said, usually best hot and fast! McCormick seasoning has a number of different meat rub mixes we like a lot, including a New Orleans style, and a Chipotle garlic....but they are all good. The New orleans is my favorite....season well, get cast iron piping hot with a generous amount of butter (adds fat) perhaps with some garlic in it, and sear it on all sides. We like ours plenty rare. Venison is well done when it is medium rare.

Wow! that is a monster! I have seen them a number of times. I found one hit by a car a few years ago, and saved the pelt. It was late summer and it was far from at its best, but I hated the animal to go to waste.

I sold boots /footwear for years. Without going into brands, the single most important thing you can do is try them on. No two feet are the same. I strongly recommend going to a real store (examples...Bass Pro, Cabelas, etc) and trying them on and walking in them. Once you know the shoe/size/width, sure, then you can buy them online, but if you have problems with them it is that much more a pain.

Hmmm? maple syrup? If I got paid in syrup, I would be happy! I would get tired of the pancakes though.

well heavens to Betsy.... I sure hope you have a Red Ryder bb gun to go with those!

It used to take me ten minutes to hook up my boat, drive to Godfrey point and launch, park and motor away... I haven't been out fishing on Oneida more than a couple times in the past five years. I used to have a 16' Grumman with a 20 horse on the back and go all the time. I sold that for a smallish pontoon to satisfy my wife. it is almost impossible to launch or take out the pontoon by myself, so I go almost never. killing me. I would love to get a rig like Robhunt has.

Wow, is all I have to say...but am I the only one who thinks lakers get ugly as sin as they get bigger? not sure I would want that on the wall. And the smaller lake trout absolutely taste better and have better texture. probably in the old days that old whale would have just been fed to the dogs.

As of Friday a.m. really no accumulation still so to speak of. I would like to drive up to the camp (Town of Lorraine) over the w/e to check on it, but am recovering from a bad bout of bronchitis and would have to walk in, so probably not happening.

I would check out the leasing landowners Isuch as Cotton Hanlon) too...and if you hear of a property don't delay in getting out to check it out.

So far (17:15 right now) it is blowing and cold, but not really much accumulation, maybe 1 inches max? but it is blowing off the driveway, so I am not even bothering yet

our local news (the late great Post Standard) has no other news of their own, depends on the weather service and police blotters. A snow storm gives them something. Here in Constantia up to 24'' but I don't expect anything like that. At my camp in Lorraine, max. amt up to 36'' or more. I was just up there a few days ago to check on things, and was optimistic of going up for a w/e in a couple weeks. probably not now. Luckily it has been a very mild winter so far, and the deer are doing very well.

Same as around here, less severe winters aren't getting the deep freeze that keeps the tick numbers down.

Vermont and NH, and actually large parts of southern Maine are bedroom communities for the Boston area..thus very high real estate. it isn't unusual for folks to communte up to 2 hrs EACH WAY for affordable housing/ quality of life. A good friend of mine and his girlfriend just bought a house which is an avg. of 2 hrs commute each way, both working in Boston...they go the other direction, into Connecticut.

I like the uninsulated Burlys for the money myself, but think the mucks have better soles and support. I think with average use 4-6 years is about what I expect out of most any boot nowadays. I did try a pair of the Cabelas 2000 g insulated boots which were comfortable and warm, but came apart at the seams after a few seasons.

I have seen similar damage/ affect to the poplars and birches on my property. It appears to me that the trunks are literally twisted by the wind in their canopies?

I am not one to hang onto sheds, but that one would find its way onto a wall! I have seen pictures of the inside of Irish and Scottish hunting lodges/ castles where they display these relics also. The set he found isn't as big as some, amazingly enough.

I have had a pro chrono for a number of years, and like it. It seems very consistent, but mine is at least 15 years old now, and requires a communication cord from the shooting bench control to the tower. It certainly would be an improvement and worthwhile if someone makes a cordless version. It is a great tool for really knowing what your loads do...it can be very eye opening.

No way you are skipping out without more details on this trip dude!

I agree with what someone else said....book it but with cancellation insurance. My only advice is to eat early at the buffets before every other goober nose and fingered kid smeared themselves all over the serving instruments and counters.

I think a lot of folks over think seasoning...but then again frequently we are talking cast iron that is generations old (my favorite dates to approx. 1900). I don't think you need to worry about putting it in the oven so specifically. Once you have it nice and clean, I put them on the stove on a low heat and oil them well, letting them heat and soak in for 15 or so (but don't let is smoke...but if it does a bit, don't lose any sleep) and then pour some more in. I think the best way though is to just deep fry some fish/ chicken in it. Just remember to avoid cooking tomato based/ acidic foods. It will remove the seasoning, and the iron lends a metallic taste. Overall, cast iron is very forgiving, but eventually I did get a ceramic coated 8 qt pot for my soups and stews. And remember, always pre oil as you would any pan before you start cooking. The seasoning does not take the place of it.

My take....the more they advertise it, the crappier the brand. Famous Grouse is a great inexpensive Scotch. I tend to prefer bourbon more though, personal favorite is Woodford Reserve, but my wife bought me a bottle of 1792 for xmas, and that is very good, and reasonable. Crown Royal in its different varieties is a good deal for the money, and when I can find it I like Gibsons (but Gibsons is more of a tribute for compatriots known, as it was his favorite drink).

I don't ride as much as I used to, but I used to commute on my HD. Currently the wife and I carpool together, and my main riding buddy doesn't ride any more. My 88 HD Electra glide, which currently is awaiting funds for overdue maintenance is off the road for now. I have about 80,000 miles on her. My rider the past three years is a 2004 Yamaha Tour Star Deluxe, which is a great ride, but proportioned for someone smaller than me. I really need to get a custom saddle, but the funds are low on the priority list. For some reason I cant find any pics of either that I took! This is a stolen pic from the internet of the Tour Star. I really hope to get the HD back up to snuff...She fits like an old shoe, and I have a few extended trips I want to take that the HD will be much more comfortable than the Yammy on. I have taken the HD up to the James Bay in northern Quebec, and around Nova Scotia (leaving from NY). I want to circle the Gaspe Peninsula and New Brunswick, and hopefully get up to Newfoundland on her. probably both trips solo it looks like.

Our Annie was cousin to Dash (via the now gone Lynnhill LLewellyns out of PA.. They are all very birdy. Annie would point grass hoppers, and a flock of geese flying over head would put her in overdrive. We once had to borrow a canoe when she charged into the water and swam half way across Stillwater Reservoir after a couple mergansers!

I used to work in a orthopedic/trauma unit. There is a shock reflex ( I forget the name, but it functions similarly to the mammalian reflex if I recall correctly) that with sudden massive trauma such as this guy had, gives a contraction to the arteries resulting in somewhat controlled blood loss. Also the cold can restrict it. LUcky, no matter what. Invariably in both motorcycle and snowmobile crashes, the rider always told me "ya know, it was the one time I wasn't drinking"...well duh, we had the toxicology reports on paper and knew better.