Fitzy

Holy crap. What a story. I'm still crying in laughter! That story ranks right up there with 'how to rope a deer'.

It's not uncommon for a shot bird to go over 100 yds. before going down. That's when you mutter 'oh crap'! So get a boat to chase the cripples. Otherwise it's 'Wanten Waste'. Keep up the cleaning habit. I always come home with other peoples trash. It's a shame how some people are such slobs. I will never consider them hunters or sportsmen. Just self centered polluters. Good luck.

Rich is right on with his advise. If you really become a serious waterfowler people will think you're weird that you get excited about when it's going to sleet sideways! That's when it's the best! One of the first things you need is a boat. You can't retrieve a cripple without one. And it's cheaper than having a dog! Having a boat lets you hunt the better places and puts distance between you and the walk-ins. I hunted timber point a couple of times without much luck. Birds just swung around out of range and ignored my deeks. Probably from all the sky busting from hunters on foot. I've seen that happen anywhere people can walk in. Also had a group of bozos come out to the island after dawn and set up 50 yds.from me. When nothing was happening, they sent a couple of kids out with the boat to chase the birds that where rafted out in the middle of the bay! After he came back, I heard the kid tell the older people that he couldn't chase the birds back to them! That set me off and I went over to let them know that what they had done was illegal. One of the older people, with an accent, didn't like what I had to say and threatened to shoot me instead of the ducks. Needless to say, I didn't turn my back to them as we parted company. I informed an ECO about the threat but that was as far as it got. Without observing the situation the ECO couldn't do anything. So welcome to the looney world of duck 'huntn and good luck.

Wow, that was quite a piece. And very good.

Simmered heart,sliced thin with strips of liver, dredged in flour,onions, butter(or marg.) and a little dry red wine. Long ago, that was the camp dinner when I was invited to a "hunt'n" camp. I still remember that meal and enjoy that dish tremendously when I'm fortunate enough to bring a deer home. Mmmm Mmmmm good!

During the 2009 archery season I hunted the Great Swamp MUA on weekdays. There was tons of deer sign in the wetlands just beyond the fields. I never saw or heard any 'yote sign. After six all day sits I only saw five deer! No deer=no 'yotes. The place had tons of people and dogs chasing released birds. Was like a skeet range with shooting, yelling, whistles, dogs,more shooting,stomping through the brush and woods edges,crow hunters with the loudspeaker recordings,some more shooting,then silence! They all leave only to be replaced in an hour or two with the next bunch to repeat with more of the same! It drove me nuts! Finally threw in the towel and took my stands out near the end of the season. It's a nice piece of property with mixed fields and tree lines. With the bird season over you might see something. I know that the deer spend the day deep in the swamp to stay away from all the 'recreation'. So be careful because it's tough going. You could step into a muck hole and sink up to your hip! If it's frozen you'll be able to move much easier but remember, IT'S A SWAMP. Good luck and keep us posted with what you find.

I've got an old Model 24 that is .22 over .410. My dad used to use it for spuirrels early in the season when the leaves where still up. A few years ago his grandson used it to take a couple of pheasant! That old gun seems to always bring home something for the table. They where made in several combinations. They're out of production and I think most people are hanging on to them. Good luck finding one. I only wish that mine was over 20ga. for a little more wallup.

I haven't hunted either place but read about the rifle prohibition at one of them. You did the smart thing by calling and asking about the regulations. If you get the chance to get some squirrels, make sure to make brain shots! A hit anywhere else could result in a wounded and lost animal. Even with an eventually fatal shot they can get into a hole and die where you can't recover them! The head shot also won't damage any of the delectable meat! Don't waste your time trying to skin them by starting an incision near the tail. Those u-tube videos won't work with our northern greys. Their hides are too tough. Make a cut all the way around the middle of the body without piercing the abdomen. Then work the hide off like a shirt and pants. Clean out the entrails and get out the crock pot! Enjoy.

You better check the regulations for Sterling. I don't think they allow .22's. I could be mistaken. Good luck.

My dad started me hunting when I was eight. Of course he mentored me but we where small game hunting and never too far from the old car (hunt'n car that is.We couldn't afford anything else.) I once got turned around on an overcast day and was contemplating how and where I would spend the night. I was considering the old three shot help signal but I only had four rounds with me and I might need them to get some game to survive! Lots of things go through a nine year olds mind when faced with a survival situation!It started to get dark and a few minutes later my dad comes up behind me and says," How long you gonna stay out there?". I hurried over to him and he was standing on the dirt road we drove in on! I was never so glad to be 'rescued' but never said anything to detract from my fledgling 'woodsmans' persona. I learned a big lesson that day and started to carry a compass and pay closer attention to where I was and how to get back! These days I'm alone in the woods but carry a phone for a semi-false sense of security. But I know if I ever really need it, technology might fail me and the only real way to come home with a 'hunt'n story' is to be self reliant and be confident in myself and my abilities.

When I make ground venison I add a little beef fat just to keep it together. Maybe an 8 to 1 ratio. That amount doesn't alter the mild flavor but helps keep a burger in one piece if you don't poke at it too much.

You've got a couple of options. You could swab the barrel ,cap it , see what happens. Muzzle loaders have been known to discharge after many years of being stored with a charge. If it doesn't go BOOM you have to pull the ball and charge. TC recomends soaking the breach in water for a day before you try to pull the load. Check your owners manual, it'll guide you through.

Gold Tip 7595 XT Hunters with three red 4" right wing feathers topped by 125 gr. Super Lazer Pro three fixed blades (Cabelas).

When the kids where still living with us I would always take them 'tree hunt'n'. The wife hated what we brought home 'cause they where always a 'Charlie Brown' special! A few extra branches wired into the naked spots usually made them look OK when all decorated. I'm lazy these days and have a synthetic.

I hunted L.I. for years and was my own dog! In big water I was able to run down cripples with my grass boat that a dog could never had caught. I also recovered birds that landbound skybusters hit but could never retrieve! If you hunt birds long enough, you'll sometime think you missed, but watch the bird and it'll go a quarter mile and just drop dead on the wing from a 'golden BB' hit! A dog could never make a retrieve like that!

I use a home made hitch hauler behind my old Cherokee. When I was younger I could 'clean and jerk' an animal up to the roof. I don't even attempt that anymore. I put a tarp under the deer to keep road grime off while getting plenty of air circulation to keep it cool 'till I hang it at home.

I agree that the back tag is an outdated idea but. It's better to follow the rules than have a conflict with an ECO that will only go one way. His way.

You can have temporary stands on state land. Climbers, hangons and ladder stands are OK as long as there isn't anything screwed into the tree. If you leave the stand in the woods you take the chance that someone will want it more than you do! I take that chance but use 'economical' stands from Sportsman's Guide. I also put them in places the average slob would not make the effort to get to. If you know of homemade stands nailed to the trees the local ECO or Forest Ranger might be interested.

I took my son out for the first time when he was 4. He carried a 'kiddie' bow and I has a .22. Hitting a grey with that bow was out of the question but I gave him the green light to go after the chipmunks that infested the stone walls. It was like watching the natural instincts of a new puppy on its first time in the field. The spot, the stalk, the miss, then do it all over again. I almost had to dress out a couple of chipmunks that day ! When I got a couple of squirrels, he insisted in carrying them and his bow! Not an easy feat when you're only three feet tall! What a great day. Fast forward sixteen years of sports, friends, high school, girls and not much father and son time in the woods. I picked him up from college last saturday and we went back to his 'favorite spot'. The tables have changed. He limited out and I only got one! He didn't rub it in but I gave him an atta-boy anyway. Of course I made the excuse of my rifle being worn out and not shooting straight anymore! Ha ha. On the ride back, just before he dozed off, he said:" Dad, today was great. With my schedule I really needed a day in the woods, thanks". It doesn't get any better than that. 'Till next time.

I wonder what would happen if the sportsmen and women staged a boycott by not buying licenses? Very few of us need the wild fish and game to survive.

I've been hunting with a Ruger Super Blackhawk for many years. It is a real pleasure to not carry eight or nine pounds of long gun all day. I use open sights and enjoy the challenge of having to be up close. Just like the bow!

I'm in central Suffolk. Don't hunt the island any more 'cause of the chiggers'n ticks. I go up to Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess. Since I started wearing Under Armour the ticks have been shut out.

After I get the loop length correct, with about an 1/8 inch tag end, I remove the loop and mushroom the end with a hot knife. That ensures that the end won't pull through the clove hitch. As with any release or loop be sure to draw with the arrow aimed down so if something slips there won't be any chance of a wild shot.

FMJ ammo is a poor choice for hunting. They won't expand. They are OK for plinking.

When I go out with a gun it's my Ruger, old model, Super Blackhawk .44 mag.. I use 180 grain Speer hollow points and Blue Dot powder handloads that do a terrific job! Great penetration and expansion. I recovered a fully mushroomed bullet once and it only lost 12 grains! In the off season I used to hunt woodchucks to keep sharp. I love the handgun 'cause it's a challenge just like the bow!