Daveboone

I go up to my camp several time a winter, but it is designed for low maintenance. No running water, I bring a 5 gallon jug along which is plenty for hand washing/ cooking for a couple days, and put dishpans in the sink, dumping the waste water in a grease pit. A whore bath ( washcloth and towel) suffices for a couple days....or longer if you are a whore! We don't use the toilet, I have a commode I bring in from the shed for frigid climes. One of these days I will build an outhouse for winter use. I try to time trips when temps are moderated a bit. Every inch of the cabin is as cold as the outside temp, so my normal routine is to go up early, start a roaring hot fire, lite the propane lamp to help warm the walls and turn the oven on. It will still take 4-5 hrs to get the main room wrmed up to around 50 or so. In the mean time we usually go snow shoeing or some such thing. Week ends like the one past, it will take a lot longer, but wisdom dictates to wait for a warmer day. I have never noticed any harm to the camp from periodic warm ups, but before I leave I allways open the doors and windows to allow the now moisture laden air to dissipate, rather than condensing inside.

If I am home bound, 12 gauge pump slug gun (870 or Ithaca). It stops what it hits, variable ammo, bulky ammo not an issue in this environment. If I am moving, woods bound, .22 rimfire semiautomatic. I myself have a strong preference for Marlin model 60s over Rugers, despite their hoopla. they are bombproof, easy to maintain, 17 rds in the tube. Perfect for potting game, you can carry more .22s than ANY other round, No, it may not stop a crazed drugged up Mongol biker with one shot, but no one will choose to be shot by it, any knowledgeable and experienced shooter CAN put a determined foe down with a well placed shot.

-17 when I got up at 6 am. That is the coldest I can remember seeing. About 35 years ago we were winter camping about this time of year though, and the rangers cabin thermometer registered exactly the same (-17). We were pretty comfortable though, dug down in the snow at night with a nice dusting for insulation on top of the tarp. Two candle lanterns brought the inside temp up into the thirties, which was absolutely balmy in comparison. I was going to drive up to the camp, snow shoe in to check on it, but wisdom is telling me however, that however it tis today, will probably be how it is next week end.

Having professionally helped many heart surgery patients recover, I cant emphasize enough to closely follow your cardiac surgeons recommendations. Do NOT try to "push the envelope" Unfortunately cardiac surgery happens in the absolute worst possible anatomical position for archery shooters, and non adherence to recommendations could be catastrophic. Be sure to discuss with your surgeon your activities, so he fully understands your concerns. Frequently, post op patients feel up to doing things far sooner than is actually safe. A good friend of mine had bypass surgery, had recovered post operatively wonderfully well, and felt he was up to doing some light chores....using his wood splitter. He was found face down on the ground.

Very tough call.... I love and am rereading the Patrick Obrien naval tales(about 28 books) that the movie "Master and Commander" was based on (and very well done). "Hell, I was There" by Elmer Keith I have reread several times, and Robert Ruarks book about his first AFrican safari "Horn of the Hunter" reads like you are there. For novels, the Longmire books are great fun, and I wait for each new edition to come out. Great characters, great story line (ignore the tv show, which is lame). Robert Parkers western chronicles which start with Apaloosa , read as easily and are as enjoyable as any. Probably my favorite book though, to pick one at this time...."jupiters travels" from Ted Simon, a shoe string travelogue from the 70s of a motorcycle ride around the world. at any given time, I have about 4-5 books on my reading table, depending on mood, so favorite list fluctuates ...

No matter the debate on the parks hunting information, there is no question the lucky hunter shot a totally legal and beautiful bear! Some folks were mentioning how the picture looked.."funny" . having been the photographer and subject of quite a few bear pics, it is very common to sit just a bit further back to make the bear look bigger....In this case, not really needed. As small as the head is in proportion to the body, it is easy to see that bear has mass, and is one great trophy. It appears to me it went to the right hunter...someone smart enough to know the current regulations, and hardworking enough to make it happen and take best care of the trophy. Good for him.

I wore a pair of Sorel Caribous for about twenty years, and never had a warmer boot. I simplty wore them out. I cant affort a new pair, and since haven't had another boot to compare. Closest were a pair of Cabelas rubber packs, I don't remember how much insulation , but it was their coldest rated boot. Only benefit the rubber boots had was being totally waterproof to the top, and being a bit higher.

I have no issue with the canned "hunt" as long as it is called a "shoot" , not a hunt. it is growing all too common in our quick satisfaction society to expect immediate results, and to be able to brag with no discernible reason. I was raised to believe (and still do ) an 8 pt buck is a thing of beauty. The genetically enhanced bucks they offer on some of these canned hunts look like abominations to me.They are NOT representative of the species.

Buy less beer and buy better boots.

I hate Facebook, don't actively use any social media as such (though I guess this qualifies)... I see no reason for the world at large to know my or my families business. If I have something to share, I use an email directed to them .

paracord is too thin to haul anything of weight...including yourself .with. I am not referring to its potential breaking point, just that it will cut into your hands and be difficult to grasp I would do the same as others suggest....use anchor rope. avoid the loose braided economy stuff, the woven style will hold up much longer and be easier to grasp, and is still inexpensive.

Porkies are very mellow. a number of years ago, I saw one eating acorns outside where I worked. it was a pretty small one. I took a box and scooped him up, along with a few hand fulls of acorns, to take home to show my son. Porky was apparently not too upset. He just kept munching away in the box. When we got home I gave him an apple to munch on, which he seemed to enjoy. After my wife and son got home, we went in the back yard and slid him out where he just meandered around a bit, didn't appear the least concerned. after about fifteen minutes I scooped him back up and delivered him to the base of a few big oaks in the woods we border.

Slow down, make sure coat is unzipped, take it easy is the first most important thing. Next, quick drying underwear....absolutely no cotton....just as cotton towels dry you off quickly, they also hold onto the damp, chilling you. Smartwool is great stuff, but there are a lot of synthetic materials that work great....

When I was a kid, I delighted in reading everything I could on Bigfoot, aliens, and Nessie. To this day, I kind of wish ( and many people will want you to believe) that there are boogeymen, and lets admit it...life would be more interesting if there were. Once we stop sleeping with the light on and checking under our bed every night, the next step is sleeping out in the back yard....then walking in the woods after dark....in time, surprisingly enough the boogy men disappear. After spending as much of my spare time in the backwoods (sometimes VERY backwoods) from the Adirondacks, to Georgia, Ontario, up to the James Bay region, New Brunswick and beyond, I can easily and with total convictions state nowhere do I feel safer than as far from a road as I can get....even without a firearm. I am pretty good at meeting the locals, and love getting them talking about local history, etc. The folks who are the real deal, and live in the woods...allways laugh themselves silly if someone brings up the subject of squatch, etc. There are big dollars / fame and fortune at the root of all of the "researchers".

Snow kill varies tremendously....both counties have very extensive remote woodlands as well as farmlands, with changes in deer populations accordingly. Put your time in looking for a chunk of land surrounded by managed public lands for a good mix. I live on the south edge of the tug hill where the snow fall is average for the area, with minimal winter kill....my camp is on the north west edge, also just off the heavy areas, In between....lots of snow. Western Oswego county is mainly agricultural, 81 east...woodland. Oneida is kind of split the same way, but northern and southern wise. You may want to check out the county tax auctions for Oswego...you can do very well, and you own the land clear at time of auction.

Great for you! I will look forward to the movie. I understand he spends most of his time nowadays salmon fishing in Scotland.

After the fact, but I was excited to have a long w/e for what I hoped would be great conditions. WRong.15 degrees at the camp Friday am, but a nice light coating of snow. all day friday I couldn't cut a track, didn't see a thing. I had Saturday off, and it was even colder in the am, I slept in.

I hate the thought of changing our season length. I love every day I can be out in the woods, and the longer the season, the better. I pass many deer early on just so I have more reason to be able to go out later. In my book , the longer the season is spread out, so are the hunters, and the safer the woods. I would like to see our buck take changed to one buck per licensed hunter per year...that would spread out the bucks more widely for other hunters. If folks want to shoot more venison, as we all know there are plenty of opportunities with management tags, primitive seasons, etc. I don't fall into the commercialism/ mine is bigger gab of needing to get the biggest / bigger buck. Originally, hunting was about putting meat on the table.

"survival" or "tactical" anything

never a reason to split the sternum....only going to get more dirt / etc. into the cavity, Probably there are more Buck 110 series folders out there gutting deer than any other knife....for darn good reason. Holds an edge, strong, does the job, will never wear out. I don't care for the Pirhrana (sic?) knifes... too long and slender a blade, no faith in em. they appear fragile to me.

for years I used my Buck 110, but allways thought it on the clumsy side. for about the past 20, my favorite has been a 3" drop point caper I put walnut handles on. great little knife, my all time favorite but the fat thick little blade left something to be desired loosening the rectum (kinda odd sounding) and needed frequent rehoning. The past couple years I have gone over to a vintge Schrade Sharpfinger.....probably the best combo of design and edge holding I have used so far. After using it a few days ago on my ML spike horn, I had to take a minute to realize just how dang effortless it made the task.

Heaven forbid! Don't believe a word of it! But, just like so many folks who talk down about poorly prepared/ cooked venison, the same goes more so for bear. Properly cared for bear is fine eating, with exceptions...if they are garbage fed, they tend to be off taste. Just like a deer or beef/ pig, etc. once killed you need to quickly gut and cool it. the black hide soaks up the sun. they usually have a lot of fat, and you want to remove absolutely as much as possible, though In the old days, it was prized for lard. Keep it clean, and do not hang it in the sun! We prefer to cook it like pot roast, it must be well done for trichiniosis concerns. SEveral friends who avidly hunt them each year prefer bear over venison, especially ground. I decided to risk complicaitons, and grilled an awesome rare steak a couple times....no trich. concerns yet! the backstraps marinate and grill like you would pork tenderloin. Once you clean and trim them, you will be surpised at how beautiful the roasts appear....not at all greasy, etc. Definetly the voice of the inexperienced.

Tough thing about reading on stand is not getting too engrossed in it....I cant do it deer hunting( sometimes a deer , as we know, is only in view for seconds), but bear hunting on stand you can. Perhaps Robert Ruarks "old man and the boy".... his wonderful short stories, originally written as magazine articles, about hunting and fishing with his grandfather in the rural south. great stuff!

HAh! I have to laugh as I read my wife was annoyed as stale coffee beans, with my search for a good Revere ware perc coffee pot. Only fresh ground.....silly traditions, but part of the pace of camp life......

When we were looking for our camp, the two must haves from the wife were: shower, and indoor toilet. Our toilet flushes from a bucket, and there was room for a shower stall with a hand pump....she was happy. Water is essential for washing, etc.....we collect rain water from the roof into two 55 gallon drums....that lasts a long time, and rain water is seldom short of hand in NY. We have propane throughout for lights and cooking. Our Yeti cooler is miserly on ice, and keeps food cold for an easy five days. We have a rule of no electronics/ tv there, camp is where we go to be with people. (we do have a radio, and e-readers for our old eyes!).