nyslowhand

Excellent photos as always, Dave!!!

Some of our complaints are that the DEC is unaware of what is actually going on in the woods. So, participate and tell them. DEC wants to know. You could have some input into next years DMPs for your unit. http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7193.html *** Attached is the Log from the DEC by WMU by Year - burmjohn

Multi flora roses and poison ivy are the curse of my abandoned farm property. If I'm not itching, I'm all scratches up. BTW - I read somewhere that the runners on those roses can go 200-300yds from the original root. This is the machine to conquer the multi flora roses.

I'm a sucker for the "perfect" lure or attractant. Won't admit how much $$ I've spent on that stuff over the years. ??? Very limited success with any of it!! Saw these roll-on sticks advertised and was immediately curious. I typically put up scents when arriving at stand & remove when I leave. Just something about this being rubbed onto a tree and left on when I'm not there. May work -don't know! If it's anything like all the rest of the scent lure or attractant gimmicks.....?

Be the 1st to admit I'm far from a perfect hunter or marksman! Have lost a few deer over the years, mostly as a kid with an automatic shotgun. Too concerned with the next shot & not concentrating on the shot that was chambered. Last one was with my bow about 4 years ago. Couldn't control my adrenaline or "Buck Fever", took a very bad shot. Looked for the deer for 2 1/2 days, never found it or the remains in following years. Try to do everything within my power to prevent this from happening, it really bothers me to lose a deer!!! Stands and shooting lanes are setup for broadside shots and as close as possible. Put up the open sight shotgun due to failing eyesight and use a ML w/scope for regular season. It's a part of hunting. Unfortunately it will happen again and I will regret it (again)!!

Ladder stands stay up all year. Check ratchet straps and move if necessary annually. One thing I haven't done and have regretted is not removing the seats at the end of the season. Weather and squirrels destroy them in a couple of years.

Funny you should mention this !!! When I was working, I never owned specific gear for rain, hunted 'til I couldn't stand being soaked or cold. Now that I've retired and the potential of hunting more days and varied conditions - I've looked into rain gear. The low-end gear may last a few seasons with intermittent use and for still/stand hunting only. The better quality gear is sooo damned expensive, can't justify that much $$ for occassional use. Got a Rivers West jacket w/hood on eBay for under $40. Supposed to be highly rated stuff. No pants/bibs this year. BassPro has ~$50/60 StormTex rain gear that gets okay reviews. Maybe next year!?!

HUH! Do you have a high level of confidence in your newly aquired knot tying skills? Or do you test it at 6-8' off the ground? Just me, but I'm testing my new skill before risking my limbs or life. The wrap aroung rope with the Prusik knot is $25, well worth learning how to tie one yourself.

Interesting article you wrote in the newsletter. Hope it lights a fire under all interested in the 2nd amendment.

When I 1st started hunting deer I had the logic that if I got enough lead in the air, one slug would eventually hit the deer. Second time my Dad heard me shooting that way he was PO'ed. Took my Wingmaster away and gave me his rabbit gun, single shot 20ga. Best thing that could have happen to me!! Changes your logic when shooting at deer. When I hunt now during regular season and heard the numerous 4-5 shot volleys from the same vicinity, makes me laugh and think of my Dad.

Started when I was about 13 dabbling with tobacco. Quit once for six years, cold turkey. New born, marital problems and loss of job - started up again. Quit again last December cold turkey. Only a smoker or ex-smoker knows how strong the addiction is. Watched a video years ago, an autopsy of a smoker. Pretty gross when they pulled the lungs out!!!! ??? Don't know what NYS will do when everyone eventually quits. Combined taxes on a pack of cigarettes is ~$4.50. Now you know why they are fighting the Indian sales with no taxes on cigarettes.

The draft could have been summarized in less than 5 pages. Pretty sure that's DEC's hope that the general public will be overwhelmed by the 348 pages of BS. Probably about 2/3 of the draft contains background & historical info. Interesting reading, but merely "filler". IMHO - The plan is attempting to win the vote of the environmentalist and general public as opposed to any true conservationists. The basic premise of the plan is terrific news, but the hidden agenda is strictly financial gain. The draft plan contradicts itself in at least a couple of places that I noticed. Gives history of NY deforestation and how NY Forest Lands were established to prevent further denuding. Interesting comparison of late 1700s surveyor notes on amount of forestation in Finger Lakes to current Google interactive maps. Categorizes current timber age & structure and attempts to justify increasing timber harvest. Goes into detail about preserving forests for wildlife habitat and recreational usage. Then they discuss how to prevent wildlife damage to these resources. They even mentioned high fences as a means of preserving timber from deer browsing. Also mentioned possibility of area specific increased DMPs to preserve these resources.

Don't know, sounds a little too complicated..!?! We are talking about the NYS DEC here. :-X

Thanks for the reminder and I will wear my safety vest. I tried hang-on stands with the strap-on ladder sections twice. Sold them! If God wanted me to climb trees like that, I'd have been born with bear claws. That's not for me!! ??? Eventually everything will heal!! BTW - You were lucky!

Read 1/2 and skimmed through the rest. Up front the plan states this is in response to DEC budget cuts and hiring freezes. Lot of BS about how they are required to maintain all the eco/bio systems and plan on continuing this. THEN - increase revenues from forest products. Cut more timber! At the same time protecting these timber resources from disease, insects and wildlife. Specifically addressed deer and their browsing nature could damage this resource. DEC want more involvement by commumities, organizations and volunteers in maintaining these resources. Kinda like the "Adopt-A-Hiway", only abopt a forest, trail, building, etc. A sugar-coated plan filled with BS and a blattant attempt to increase revenues from state forests.

Here's the link to the DEC's draft plan, all 348 pages. http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/spsfmdraft090310.pdf

That 6pt(?) looks like it has a little mass at the base of his antlers, maybe a 3 1/2 year old. Are you thinking he may look decent when his neck is 2x its' size & he walks under your stand? Have photos of one very similiar on my property. Big bodied, tall rack, 6 pt. Did you steal him?

If you look at Patterson's stradegy of squeezing every nickle out of any available resource, how can this plan be any different?

I'd like to see the draft of the plan before I make assumptions. First glance (to me) appears they are attempting to get more revenues from the state forests...? My guess is that the draft will be a sugar-coated business plan. Have to see!!

Black friday is after Thanksgiving. Would we call this Blaze Orange monday? ???

I was out in the woods today and I heard the weirdest noise. Thought it was a neighbor hunting predators. It sounded like the distress pup yelp used for fox or coyote, series of 3-4 every 5 minutes or so. I hunt turkeys and have heard all their kewies, clucks, purrs, putts, yelps, gobbles, etc - was nothing like I've ever heard. Eventually I saw them and couldn't believe it actually was turkeys. Maybe it was just a young one trying to yelp...? Weirdest noise!!!

Had to zoom & crop the photo, doe & fawns were ~25yds off center to the right. Another deer ~15yds in the center of the photo was grazing & triggered the shot.

BTW - The leaves are really stating to change!!!!!

The initial concept of a "workbench" is great. Mine start out looking like your 2nd photo, then some more tools, more parts,... until there is no place to work on the bench. Unless you're unique or have OCD, most workbenches end up as temporary storage areas. Back to your question, just retired from a production machine shop environment. All of their workbenches at each machine had the wood butcher-block tops. They do take a lot of abuse and if sealed properly can tolerate coolant, oil, grease or gas spills. They are not cheap. They can be sanded, planed or refinished and last a long time. I've seen guys get irregular kitchen counter tops from places like Mr. Seconds, Big Lots, etc and make workbench tops out of them. Mine all are framed similar to yours but end up with painted or sealed real plywood as tops. Diamond plate sounds ideal - impervious to almost any abuse or spill. It is a hard work surface that may be less than ideal for protecting the items being worked on.

Don't take it personally, just messin' with ya'... Too many heated discussions and intensity recently, need some light-hearted frivolity. I sharpen mine also for the same reason you mentioned, an etical kill.