Daveboone

Butcher and freeze asap. I have read a number of times and been told by a butcher that two months in the freezer gives the same affect to the meat as control temperature ageing=which is very difficult to do on a household scale maintiant consistent temperature and clean environment.

If I am planning on walking in the dark, I make sure I have walked the path several times previously and cleared potential eye pokers, etc. out of the way. Then I use a headlamp-it keeps the hands clear and will provide enough light to find the way.

They are primarily found in large stretches of woods like are found in the Adks, Tug Hill, the Catskills,- not really border country, or hedgerow farm country.

Orthopedic RN. It is nice in that I get to meet alot of folks from different backgrounds, and alot of other hunters and fishermen. Luckily it enables me to usually take whatever time I want off during my preferred seasons.

I watched one for about 10 minutes pre-turkey season a couple years ago. He was investigating a creek edge and just prowling around. Very neat. About 10 days ago I had another run across the road about 30 feet in front of my car. They are a beautiful animal. Was it in condition for you to try to save the hide?

A week ago just about dusk, I had a fisher cat run across the road about 30 feet in front of me. At a dead run, as it was, I can easily see how the inexperienced observer may mistake them for a (black) cat...or panther, depending on how mush ...I mean much tape measure you have blin blinjkiinig.

I keep a running journal of my outdoors trips, and what I did.. Frequently no more than a paragraph or so, unless something memorable happened. I keep a separate journal for my camp. Each visit I document the weather, who was there, what we did and saw, etc.

I have gone on a number of spring baited bear hunts, and still get the willies coming out at night. Bears have phenomenal hearing and sense of smell. They know you are around if you are shuflfling around in the woods, even at your quietest. Black bears are actually very timid, and terrified of man. As I said, I still get the willies, even knowing I dont have to worry...it is part of the fun. Then again, at scout camp (almost 30 years ago) a counselor friend of mine actually fell over a bear! Both were so scared witless they didnt know what to do! Carry a penlight. It is all the comfort and protection you need. He didnt have one.

Hound hunting bears isnt legal in NY.

There were a few deer flies around, but all in all not bad. I used to camp around Williamstown -Happy Valley, to be specific, quite alot. That is a high bug count area, but I still love going there.

No pics, but my go to rifle for deer hunting is my Ruger Mk !! .308 with a Leupold 1.5x5 on it. Muzzleloading sees me with a NEF stainless Pardner in line. Occaissionaly if I am in a wandering mood I carry my pre-64 Win. 94, aperture sighted. I have a love affair with my Browing single shot 45-70, which also carries a Leupold 1.5x5. It is primarily my bear gun, as it is too dang long and heavy for traipsing around much with, but I am eager to take it out on a couple nice days for deer tree stand hunting when I have a chance.

I just returned from a quick overnight up at my camp on the Tug Hill. I left after dinner bringing the rider mower and weedwacker and me dog. A short distance before arriving at the camp I had a Fisher cat cross the road just in front of me. Very nice start. We arrived about 8, which left time for the dog to run for a bit, and for me to settle down on the back porch with a Saranac and a book. Life dont get any better. A short time after bringing the dog in, just about dusk, a whole mess of Coyotes started a coying across the road, within a 100yards. After the best nights sleep in a month, I woke up to find a couple turkeys feeding in the yard. After mowing and weed wacking, I was chased inside by a couple groundsoakers. While sitting back with my book waiting it out, I had several deer in the clearing across the road browsing. LIfe doesnt get any better.

Bass Pro is also very reliable and usually good quality. I have ebayed quite a bit of stuff also at quite a savings.

I live in Cleveland, (midway between Camden and Constantia, for you out of towners). I have never seen one..and dont expect to. About 2 years ago, there was a fair bit of local news of a lion sightings in the Camden NY area.They ended apparently that fall. I though it was pretty funny how many people "saw" the lion once the sightings started. My acquantance who saw the liion cross the road swore by what he saw. Mebbe, but I dunno...

I actually talked to an individual who told me he had a 250 lb mtn lion cross the road in front of him with a 35 lb wild turkey in its mouth, seen at 2 a.m. coming home from his favorite watering hole, back 2 years ago when apparently Camden was over run by the critters. (unclear if it was the lions favorite watering hole or the viewer). Which leads to the question, why did the wild turkey cross the road? Didnt have a choice.

After having a seemingly endless run of scopes go bad over the years, (Bushnell, Simmons, Tasco, Cabelas Pineview (may have goofed on that exact name), and even Redfield (original company), I finally invested in a Leupold VX 111 20 years ago. A chunk of change? Yup, about 350. then. But never a problem after, and they also hold for the tightest zeroing groups I have ever managed. I now own three. If you are depending on the scope for the rifle, I figure it is just as important as the gun itself. Even a used Leupold is warranted the same as a new. I paid 1/2 price for my last 1.5x5 variable buying used. When asked if they could inspect it before I mounted it (expecting to pay for it) I was told to send it in, and they would go through it to make sure it was to specs...for free. I have shot with Nikons also, and found them to be very good quality also, and would certainly consider them too.

about 20 years ago a friend and I were walking along the edge of a snow covered field bordering a woods, an area we hunted year round and knew well. A shot rang out, and we both found ourselves buried in the snow, not really knowing what just happened. When we stood up we found a gentleman getting out of a tree less than 30 yards away (no orange). Upon asking if he shot at something, he pointed to a cornfield 50 yards away, angling away from him and us, stating he shot at a doe. We were still baffled, so offered to help him check for blood. When we next turned around, he was running for all he was worth. We then realized he shot at us, and the round went between us. We were dressed hat through bibs in safety orange. I have no faith in it since then. BUT if he was, we probably would have seen him, and helloed him. In the southern tier, I wear orange. In the northern tier, I seldom do. I generally know when and if someone else is in my area due to limited access, and put more faith in my seeing someone else than I do in them seeing me. If hunting with others though, I think it is smart to wear orange.

My first buck I shot with my fathers 1933 Oberndorf Mauser, 8x57 mm. It had a Williams aperture and ramp, and a Herters birdseye maple stock on it, otherwise was stock. I still have it. The 8x57 is a great round, in the same field as the .308 and '06.

I was raised on classic rock (a child of the 70s), so Neil Young, The Stones, The Who, as well as a good chunk of punk light me up. The past 20 years though, I have gotten deep into classic country and rockabilly. Cash, Jennings, H.Williams (Sr.), Charlie Daniels, Creedence, Allman Bros.

Certain areas I think it is OK, (high deer population densities) but where the pop. is traditionaly low, I dont think I am for it. Last year I shot a 3 year old buck that had small forks. big body, no antler. I have seen and shot many bucks in the area similar. The nutrition and genetics dictate other. I have several fine racks, and dont really care anymore. I want my venison, so that is my (and many others) concern. I would rather see a one antlered deer per hunter limit per season. That would spread the take out to more hunters, and as many bucks are taken by the same multi season hunters, would also likely result in more larger heads. Bow and ml hunters can still take a 2nd deer, but not an antlered one.. Perhaps a 2nd buck earn a buck, but tagging a doe...

although I know there were alot of deer in both places I hunt, I only had one shootable deer within range. I took a 3 yr old 4 pt at my camp on the Tug Hill the week after thanksgiving. I was pleased, it was the first deer taken there since I bought it 4 years ago.

[/img]Here is a pic of my bear from Lindsays this year. He wandered in at exactly last legal light (9:33). He wasnt the biggest (or the smallest) bear taken, but he was mine! A beautiful 300+ sow was shot the same evening as mine by a bow hunter.

bear meat is similar to pork, but with alot more flavor. Most people who try it like it. I will post some pics once i have them straitened out.

Hello Mr. Moderator Nice start here. Can you post how to insert pictures? Thankee kindly.

Yeeehaw! I get the first post here! we just got back from New Brunswick last week from a bear hunt with Lindsays Sporting Camps. This is the 2nd year for me there, although my wifes family has been going there for 30 years. This was my third hunt for spring bear. I have found it a great spring tide me over until the fall. It is mainly relaxing or fishing during the day, heading out to the stands around 3. We like the meat, and surprise alot of folks serving it at summer get togethers- everyone looks for more. Last week everyone saw bears with six taken for 7 hunters. I got my best bear so far, a nice 4 -5 year old boar shot the last night out with my single shot Browning 45-70. Due to the early onset of warm weather, the bears were rutting early. Even if you werent seeing bears, you could hear them grunting, snuffling and dominance smacking the brush. I was pleased with my bear this year, but there are alot more bigger and prettier ones out there, so I guess I am going back next year.