Daveboone

I totally agree with what has already been said about powder vs pellets. Also, I got much more consistent accuracy with heavier projectiles...My groups shrunk by half when I went from 245 gr. power belts to 295...I am sure it is due to the longer length, providing more stablity. I would recommend trying the same move. (heavier /longer projectile, with powder).

experienced hunter who can pick his shots...ok. If the firearm might be used for anything bigger than white tail...much better choices. It doesnt have mass for heavy penetration or bone breaking.

Just look it up via the counties tax office. It would be close enought for a general idea. If you are checking out the property, the ownder should have a map and it would be surveyed at time of sale.

Breakfast is my favorite meal...when hunting, sometimes before, sometimes after the a.m. hunt. for me, it is going to include venison steaks (served RARE only, if you want them well done, dont show up) eggs, sausage/bacone from the local Mennonite market, french toast and perk coffee.

Wind aint happening without changes in barometric pressure. I think critters are aware on some level of dropping pressure, and are more active before fronts come in. Rising pressure after a change...not so much, but the critters are moving because the weather is better allowing it. As far as me hunting...I will try like heck to be out before and after a front, and will hunt in breezy conditions, but not once the trees start swaying and branches falling. I love to hunt the sloppy weather. It has treated me well over the years. As an aside...I certainly hunt according to the wind direction. There are times deer dont seem to catch me, but they have enough times that I plan around it.

We used to spend alot of time with our .22s wood chuck hunting, then in the fall squirrels. For many years my trusty Marlin 39 reigned supreme....its open sights were all I knew. As money flowed a bit more, I had a stable of semi .22s, all scoped. Marlins, Savage, Ruger, etc. Accuracy wise, they all were pretty even when scoped. I sight for 50 yards for head shots on squirrels, at 100 a wood chuck will get hit solid, but not much oomph left, even with the CCI mini mags which are all I shoot.

Grouse drumming, followed by the peep peep peep of a little flock of chicadees bobbing about nearby.

I carry a small 2 aa light, white. I know where I am going, and there will not be any other hunters in the area.I very seldom need it in the a.m., I have it more for if I shoot something at last light.

We have been down that....very nice. Might be low, be prepared to drag a bit.

they can be unfriendly.

We have gone up to the Moose River in past years for ML. Always enjoyed the time in the woods...productivity...eh. Where are you paddling in to? Due to poor planning, opening week end we are up to the 1000 Islands for a long week end fishing for the opener of ML, not a bad thing...but I have the rest of the week off following for hunting. I will be up to my camp on the Tug Hill for most of the duration. I am hoping to break in my flintlock this year.

Get some prussian blue...it is a machinists " paint", that is applied to one surface, to see where it is making contact with another. Apply it generously to the trigger/safety, and place into stock. Where it hits you need to shave/sand, etc. I used it when final fit bedding the flintlock I built last winter, and it was invaluably. Likely, you have a very large margin of error around the trigger and safety....that would be a non -=bedding area of the action. hack alot out, no damage done.

Just to mention...if you include Africa in "across the pond", my wife and I went to South Africa this past April, and had an absolutely amazing trip. Hunting there could be on private or public land. Most is on very large tract private lands...tens of thousands of acres (though some are much smaller...closer to the pay to hunts in the U.S. I chose an outfitter that was 100% fair chase spot and stalk, wild born and sustaining populations. I had a simple common modest bag...Impala, warthog, kudu and zebra (NOT A HORSE!!! Three days of the most challenging stalking. Moose is a gimme in comparison! I added an Nyala. We were treated like gold, first rate food, accomodations and company. We would go back in a heartbeat. Unfortunately with the change in govt. and politics...the way of life of the white farmers/hunters will be coming to an end down the road.

Almost all game is owned by the landowners and regulated closer than thoroughbred horses. I am somewhat interested in a stag hunt in Scotland, mainly because I would love to see the country. It is affordable, very guaranteed, they put you up usually in the old manor houses/castles where you are treated like royalty. Half of my interest is because my wife would so enjoy the setting. newer opportunities in eastern europe have opened up which are a more wild experience including for rams, bear, etc.. Eastern Russia has massive bear and moose, similar strains to Alaskas, but needless to say...no one is booking right now.

Hoffmans! The only brand we will eat...almost. Something about the way Heids in LIverpool though, improves on even them. One Texas hot with a weiner, and one snappy! I have to admit, Costanzas venison hotdogs are outstanding.

A fine deer...on the hoof and on the wall!

I have long wanted to get into metal detecting, even have some friends who do it...just too many other things going on and not enough time. The magnet fishing would be easier for me to do though....at least a bit when out fishing.

Cool. I have seen pretty much every other critter, still waiting for my first bear. Nothing really in the area to attract them though except some measly apples.

Before buying any new firearm in this day and age, I would be sure to look carefully into ammunition availability. No way would I buy a rifle without being able to buy ample ammo at the same time (for sighting, then several seasons worth). It is said that our current supply issue is going to resolve...and appears to be improving, but who really knows? Myself, I am sticking strictly with what I have and reload for...and have ample supply for. I know several shooters who were all excited about their new rifles which are still unfired for lack of ammunition.

Black powder/substitutes are all intended to me measured by volume, so use a black powder measure. You can certainly set up a smokeless powder measure for the same volume, but the amount will vary if you go by weight.

I have shot them all, including 777. I have found unburned pellets downrange smoking from all the pellets. I dont think it is from the pellets themselves, i think it is from poor ignition of the forward pellet.

If you are primarily a meat hunter, I think the quote even holds. I prefer a nice older doe for size and eating, and will pass many smaller /younger ones earlier in the season. Early on I have passed on good does ...and gone hungry. My area isnt known for big trophy bucks, but a few wander through later in the season. Unfortunately, a lot of the "meat hunters" around me dont pass on the first one...or the 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc.....

Traveling through the maritimes in Canada, it is very common to see the floating salmon farms off shore. I was always interested in learning more of how the operations worked.

A class act.

If the same as last year...more like what rifle am I NOT shooting a deer with... The plan though.....54 cal. patched round ball in front of 80 grains ff powder, open sight Lyman flintlock.