Daveboone

I have had a full carry permit since getting it in the early eighties. I do not carry at all times....first, my work place absolutely forbids it, and in my opinion actually does create more of a risk. Although we can not control our surroundings at all times, I believe I am pretty good at understanding my surroundings and knowing where I will be. That said, to carry one must have a full understanding of where it is legal to (and in this day and age there are more legal restrictions ) and my ability to truly keep it concealed. When I am traveling, especially overnight I will be carrying. When I go into the city or unfamiliar areas with my wife, I carry. My intention is that no matter what, I am optimizing our ability to get home again safetly. When ever I am out in the woods or off the beaten track, I will be. Now, if I am deer hunting, my handgun will probably stay in the camp or car. I figure my rifle /shotgun easily takes its place, and not only that, the actual human threat when in the woods is near nonexistent. as important as carrying the gun is avoidance. Know where you are going, and keeping yourself informed of potential changing social situations. Do NOT make yourself look vulnerable or go where angels would fear to tred. do NOT dress to bring attention to yourself. Myself, I never wear any clothing that would stand out....Logos, team wear, etc. In my opinion, if I am advertising your product, you pay me to do so. Blend in to the crowd.

Dog.

a number of years ago I watched two chase a small deer across a clearing, road and into the woods on the opposite side. No firearm, wouldn't have had a chance even so. They were tailing pretty close....wasn't looking good.

In the early seventies I found a Seiko seventeen jewel automatic in the road...needed a new crystal and a cleaning, but it is still running. I would have to think about one of their line, I would say Rolex but can you get one within that price range? They are the standard to go by otherwise.

I used an auction house that posted them online, I got much better price than what I would have selling to a dealer, and they handled all paperwork (except for removing pistols from my permit of course).

How disappointing for those kids!

Llewellyn Setter! We had one for quite a while. Wonderful disposition, nice size, beautiful. A lot of folks never heard of them, but they are a strain from English Setters back before the AKC etc. started to "domesticate" them. They are much smaller and compact, breed for the field not the show. The only problem...As soon as we got to our camp and she was out the door, she was hunting! She would be gone for hours.... In truth, she was never far away, and we could usually hear her bell. As soon as I walked into the woods, she would somehow know it and be at my side. They are an upland dog, usually used on grouse/ pheasant/ timberdoodles, but are often trained for ducks (but are too small and light for serious use). I would happily get another, but they need a lot of exercise to keep in shape, like any true hunting dog.

Looks like a Savage combo gun on the wall....my choice.

A few years ago during a long winter, I became too frustrated with not seeing and hearing any birds...I bought a couple Zebra finches. They can be very prolific, constantly laying eggs. You can stop it by substituting plastic eggs for the real ones. We decided to let them have a "litter". We had great fun watching them hatch and raise the little babies, and were amazed how quickly they grow and learn to fly. Several times cleaning the cage we had mass escapes. Luckily we had our Llewellyn setter at the time. She loved to track them all down, never missed one. If one was on the ground, she would gently pick it up and bring it to us unharmed. Probably a nightmare scenario for the chicks.....

They are goofy critters, my favorite bird. Although I love to grouse hunt, the ones on my property are honored guests and left alone. I love seeing and hearing them way too much to bother.

Great photo, very sorry to hear.

ONe of my favorite winter chores when the weather allows. Also be sure to cut back brush, trees etc. that block sunlight or are moving in on them. And make sure someone is around to hold the ladder!

Sounds interesting, but I lose interest in hunting shows very quickly if they are too...commercial. I have long dreamed of Kodiak Island, but I don't think I would hunt the bears. No problem with anyone else doing so, but I am just too much in awe of them. I also like "Meateater" which is on Netflix. It is the only hunting show that I make a point of watching. He isn't a trophy hunter, more and frequently the host isn't even the main hunter, Often it is a friend or family. I like the details and the respect for the animals shown, and NO sponsorship visible.

Does the DEC have a website? I would think with a bit of digging it wouldnt be too difficult to find.

No need to split the pelvis or sternum. A long thin blade allows cutting around the rectum to easily pull through, and I can blindly reach up to the top of the chest cavity to separate the esoghagus, etc. I prefer to hunt cool weather, so with a stick or two to prop open the carcass it cools fine. As well the carcass does a pretty good job of partially enclosing itself to keep garbae out. Especially when opening the pelvis, the legs flop all over, and the chest can act like a scoop.

Okay, I am at least a bit interested. I love my muzzleloading, and my preference is my Lyman Great Plains rifle with round ball. That said, even with my TC inline, it is a royal PIA to pull the breech plug and clean...really, I think the old fashioned soap and water is easier in the Lyman. With this, you can remove the powder charge in between and easily knock the projectile out. I am not sure if the Firesticks are a one time use thing coming preloaded or if they are reuseable. I wouldnt be interested if one time use, would be if reuseable.

whenever we are in the region we make sure we stop. I have done very well on some firearm purchases there...but then I am looking for older used stuff, and don't mind wear on them. I found two (actually more, but only came home with 2) pre 64 model 94s well under what we would have found them for around here.

"Last Stand" is awe inspiring.....I bought a few used copies to give to friends...it is a must read. to loosely quote from the book: "This battle will be studied by our enemies and taught in our schools, so all know how Americans fight when their backs are to the wall in a hopeless situation".....poorly quoted, but I think I get the gist of it.

He went out...messy.

Obrien is the absolute best. Each book holds up on its own, but I am rereading them....starting with the first, which helps understand alot of the back story. Lambert is great also, just written in a more modern style. The first few books kind of put me off with his...amorous adventures, but he matures and so does the story. I forget the authors name, but the Richard Sharpes adventures are great too..he is a foot soldier under Wellington, starting in India and following Wellingtons career through to Waterloo.much lighter reading, but he is a great character, As he advances in rank in the books, it helps to read them in order.

I probably have about a dozen going at any one time....I am currently reading to finish "Road to Huertgen", which is a world war 2 memoir, but I love historical fiction. The Dewey Lambert novels are great on the napoleanic naval battles, as are Patrick Obriens, but I also love travel adventure books, esp. motorcycle oriented, and historical adventure/ hunting books.

He wrote one of the all time great motorcycle travel books, Ghost Rider. I highly recommend it, regardless of your taste in music.

1933 1898 Oberndorf Mauser in its original 8x57. It was somewhat sporterized when Dad got it in the 50s with an excellent aperture sight on it, but over a period of years I modernized it with a low swing safety and scope mounts. It wears a 1.5 x 5 VX 3 Leupold. The old 8 mm is tough to beat, and loves to be handloaded. I load 175 gr. Sierra Game King spitzers. The gun is in far from its original condition...in what I read the year it was manufactured, was just before Germany really started to gear up its military, and these were manufactured actually to civilian specifications to bypass treaty limitations. As well as the scope and safety, it has a Timney trigger, upgraded firing pin and spring, alloy trigger guard with button release magazine The barrel had been turned down pre Dad, and front sight removed, with a synthetic stock added (Dad had put it in a Herters birdseye maple stock, in his configuration the gun weight over twelve pounds! Now it is closer to 7 1/2. I am pretty much done with it, but I need to give it new paint...still unsure of what, but probably a matt ceramacoat. She takes my deer (including my first buck in 1983) and two moose so far, and I hope to take it to Africa in spring 2020. I actually have another model 98 (1943 Steyr armory, as I recall). A friends dad paid 50 bucks for it in the mid 70s, I acquired it about 5 years ago. It was also wearing a Herters stock, plain walnut but was already drilled and tapped. I decided to try to keep it in the same character..a 1950s era sporterized Mauser, thus lightly done. I am leaving the stock, but bought a new dropped handle bolt to better use with the scope, a low swing safety and put a Redfield 4 power vintage 1950s scope on it. I shoot the same load. I hope to hand it off to my friends younger generation some time, but none are interested t this point. bummer.

Cool! A number of years ago, my uncle offered me his Springfield .22 semi auto. I declined it as I had a surplus of .22s already. Some time went by and in some of my dads stuff I found the factory hang tag/price tag from a Homer NY hardware store, for the Springfield .22! Dad had bought it for my Uncle for highschool graduation, if I remember now. Boy, I sure wish now I had taken the .22 for that connection (Unc sold it at a garage sale shortly after).

As I age, I think I am less...thrilled about being way up. That said, I have two stands that are only 8 foot, and considering where they are I wouldn't want them higher (on knolls looking along and down into brushy areas), two ten footers in wooded areas and one sixteen footer in an open woods. Each is as high as needs to be for appropriate visibility and best background cover. And sure, steel corrodes....I just took two stands down this year to steel wheel and rustoleum to keep them in good shape...doesn't everyone?