Daveboone

With our limited means of hunting bears (no dogs or baiting), spring hunting probably would be even less productive than fall....where most bears are stumbled on while deer hunting. Sows with cubs of course are off limits, (As they should be)and they and the boars don't have mast/ berries to center on yet. Most areas that have a bear hunting tradition do so because they can be productive: bait or dog hunting.

Mostly private land in that area. I would plan on driving a bit. about 45 minutes away towards Parish is Happy Valley wma, a very large underhunted area. Big woods hunting, you will do your footwork but it is a a worthwhile area. Up along Ontario is a number of large wm areas. Otherwise do the old fashioned but effective knock on a door and ask routine.

When I worked retail sporting goods, (for a good many years, as employee and manager), we had very generous discounts. It was also stated in co. policy in both companies that the discount was for employee use only. Any breech was cause for termination. Ethics? Simple trust. Breaking the agreement is highly unethical on a simple basis.

Get the topographical maps for the area, and spend plenty of time with them. make copies of the immediate area you will be working to carry with you. Go online and google earth the area, and you may well get some great aerial view info. Explore the surrounding ridges, looking for beechnut/ any other mast they may feed on (but by November, most will be gone). I would try to spend a day early on circumnavigating the swamp to get a real good idea of corridors, funnels, etc., the maps will help with this a lot. Don't worry about bugs that time of year. Make dang sure your boots fit well. If you have light weight portable stands, they could be invaluable, and any potential old homestead sites may have apples. Have fun.

Charlie Daniels, Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Mozart

Not a single example given would hold up in a debate: of course whale or seal "hunts" are not hunts. They are today commercial harvesting. No hunt about it. Pigeon shoots are not hunting. (not that I agree with that either, but I have raised pheasants myself for dog training...but I did treat them humanely until ...shot.) the film maker was very good at piecing together odd pieces of film. The whale hunt pics are probably at least 35 years old. Seal hunt...god only knows. Doesn't do much good debating this idiots agenda here, we are preaching to the choir.

If you have the 1911 covered, what about having a good smith do some range work on it? It is one of the easiest platforms for custom/ accurizing out there.

should be a great time.

Never understood the fast follow up shot either...take the shot you know you can make, or pass on the shot. Sure, anyone can have an error..a twig you didn't see, etc. but that makes the 2nd shot even less optimal. Now the animal is moving, you aren't as prepared. etc. When we hunted southern tier when shotguns were the norm, we certainly got pretty dang good with working the pumps purty dang good, but that was also before learning of the importance of patience and shot placement, and the lack of importance of needing to bring a deer home.

I picked up a big one near my camp this year, and decided to clean and cook it. I was amazed how long the turtle was still active after being dispatched. It was trying to crawl away beheaded, for about an hour. after that, the legs were still waving away as I cleaned. it. The heart was beating 2 hrs later! I found cleaning it really pretty simple and strait forward. I didn't split the shells...first hose it off real good, and gave the shells a quick scrub with a brush. The I used a long fillet knife to loosen the innards from the front and back, inserting into the soft skin along the shells and cut as deep around the front and back opening as I could. Pull the skin back to the feet, and cut off the feet, head, tail. You will with just a little work be able to pull everything out, and separate the leg quarters and the neck (LOTS of meat there). I was surprised the meat looked so clean and appetizing, red meat. Trim off the yellow fat, and you should have quite a pile of meat. If you try to keep it clean, no one will be grossed out by the by product. I made a soup ...Louisiana style from one of Emerils recipes I found on line. Every one liked it fine, but it was a bit rubbery . Next time I will par boil it to tenderize it.

whoa! I have heard plenty of bleating, etc. from dying deer, but that is gut wrenching...I probably would make the same noise if I was being chomped on. I think I would shoot the deer first, and see if the bear runs off....then call the DEC, report it. If the bear comes back then I would shoot it. I am a firm believer In critters being critters, but I would be very concerned for the bear coming back to feed. I am guessing the deer was already injured for the bear to be able to capture it.

I feel a hell of a lot safer out in the woods, then I do in town. My experience is that folks I want to avoid are found closer to or in civilization. When deep I nthe woods/ Adirondacks , That said, chances are I will have my carry piece with me for the traveling to and from. I have no concern for the wildlife. Close to home, on county lands, day trecking etc. I am sure to have my legally concealed carry piece. I don't/ wont bother with a long gun. Too big, heavy, unnecessary.

It appears Four Seasons may have a vested interest in making us believe wild game is unsafe to hunt, and that we will be better off shooting cattle behind high fences.

As far as protection while scouting, I would follow the example of the guides, etc. who are out there daily. Don't worry about it, they don't.. Bears are far more alert than we are. They are high tailing it in the opposite direction way before you are in eyesight.

A lot of farmers /land owners are much more receptive to wood chuck hunters, turkey hunters, small game hunters etc. Pre-planning, getting the foot in the door so they get to know you goes a long way. Then after a few seasons, inq. on deer hunting, unless they bring it up.

The quality of scopes and risen dramatically. With all the advances in triggers, barrels, bedding, etc. to optimize accuracy, it wouldn't make sense to not place a scope for many types of shooting.

I will be very surprised if the state builds/allows an established public range. About 25 years ago there was a public shooting area near Cicero which was closed down because it became a dump. The state will not want to be liable.

it also is very independent on the local ranger/ dec officer. Even though technically allowed, they can stop you and direct you to a preferred location (or not). Keep in mind most any damage to trees, brush or ground cover is not allowed.

I have the same 1/5x5 Leupold on 3 rifles: my 45-70 Browning single shot, my .308, and 8x57 mauser. I spend most of my time in woods country, and they give me all the magnification I could need, while giving a quick pick up wide view, as well as great light transmission for the darker hrs and shadowy woods. Cranked up to 5, I can still take any deer I can see in open finger lakes country.

the final shoot out in Unforgiven. Close, brief, unpredictable,brutal, and everyone is scared poopless.

It would help if cats were regulated and licensed like dogs. The next step, (as a prev. cat owner) is getting the cat owners to understand that if it is a pet, it should be indoors, and not outside where it is constantly at risk - disease, fights, cars, etc. Myself, I have had to take "drastic" action against a number of nasty feral cats in our neighborhood. Luckily, coyotes and fishers are doing a great job of keeping their numbers down in this area.

We used to do quite a bit of winter camping, usually on state land. Actually, colder is better. The snow doesn't melt on you so readily, and you don't sweat as much...but you need to know what you are doing. Some folks like lean to camping n the winter, but other than having a dry base for operations, it is the cold way to go. We would dig down in the snow, run a rope between trees and put up a fly over our whole, closing in the ends. During the day you keep busy hiking, hunting or whatever, and when the sun goes down hide in the shelter. After putting down ground sheets and foam pads, and lighting a candle lantern or two it could get quite comfy. We used to go to the same few areas so in warmer seasons we would pre cut fire wood and clear our shelter area. We had a "dog sled" we built which we carried water, etc. in, much easier than melting it. We buried the water jugs in the snow, and it wouldn't freeze. Coldest we were out was +- 20 below at night with no problems.

Thompson Center Encore with a .308 bbl would be a nice package...

whereabouts are you located? I need to get up to my camp on the western Tug, but am waiting for a bit of a warm up. I only have wood heat available, and am going to have to wade about 4 feet of snow to get in.

I would be delighted!I will send note.