mike35mmnut

I have been turkey hunting now for 4 years. I am lucky enough to have 52 aches of my own out my backyard and I do have some good birds there but the roasting areas are off my land and it can be tricky to get them. The last few years the population seems to be down and I am looking for a backup plan. I went with my boys today to drive around both Plainfield and Exeter State Forest in the Otsego County. Plainfield looked a little more promising but is further. I did see some spots that might be good in both, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with either or any other public land in Northern Otsego or Southern Herkimer County. I am looking for a good backup most likely for weekdays. Thanks Mike

I live in Southern Herkimer County and have 52 Acres and a nice pond. I live at 1400' in the area that got all the flooding. Although we did not have much of a problem with the flooding cause we live at the top of the hill, we did have a family of beavers move into my pond. It took me a few days to realize they were there because we kept getting rain and thought maybe it was just flooding. When new growth started to end up cut down and around my pond it became pretty clear that we had beavers. After a night or two of watching they were easy to spot and honestly do not care much if I walk around the pond. I started to Google for information and found out you need a permit to break any beaver damns or kill the beavers. I also called the DEC in Utica and they told me most likely I am going to have to get rid of them. That was about a week ago and I am going through the process to get a permit, but due to the limit sources for my pond and the fact it is always fairly close to the banks things have gone pretty much back to normal without doing anything. The beavers have cut down some small trees around the pond and I have seen at least two of them in the pond, but that is the only thing they have noticeably done. First with a permit, I have no problem shooting them and getting rid of them but if I do not need to then I see no reason to get rid of them. Here is lays my question: Since they can not flood massive amounts or anything that is not already wet what could go wrong if I leave them? What are other people experience with them? Is there anything else that I am missing? I have posted a picture of the pond so people can understand the area. The bottom of the pond has an outflow and that is where it is damned and there house is somewhere in the wooded swamp at the top. My lawn is to the left and a hay field is to the right. At point point only the swamp is still wet but it is always wet and the pond is pretty much at normal levels for the amount of rain we have gotten. I have no problem doing whatever but want to make an educated decision. Thanks, Mike

As someone who travels the state for work and has been looking for ammo all around things are dire, but I do not think it is due to lack of product but more demand and hoarding. I have walked in 5 or 6 times when x store has just got their ammo and it does not last 20 mins. I was in one store in March buying a new turkey shotgun and the store got 24 22cal Brazer 500 packs. I got one and by the time I had filled out the paperwork and gone through the background check all the packs were gone at 12:00 am on a work day. The Gander in Utica has 50-60 people standing in line at 6:00 on ammo day with no idea of what ammo is coming in. I for one will continue to buy 22lr and 22mag rounds until I have 10,000 rounds and 2,000 for my mag. Not because I think the world is going to end but rather I want to be able to plink and play with my sons. As long as people feel they might not be able to by ammo at will and they are scared about NY Safe ACT Ammo rules ammo is going to be impossible to get. NY is not the only problem but we do have a lot of people in upstate that have 5-10- firearms and use them all year round. If you are willing to go store to store and city to city then you can find most things but 223/556 but it is not easy. Albany has more Centerfire Rounds then Utica cause less people hunt. Syracuse tends to have a different selection but you have to go around. Also understand that some store like Gander keep 33, 9mm, 223 rounds behind the counter if they have them so you have to ask. Lately 12ga shotshells are getting hard to find but 2 months ago you could find them everywhere. 270, 30-06,7mm, other centerfire rounds are getting easier to find. Things are real bad but don't think that tone of ammo is not flying off the shelves everywhere and until all of us either have what we want or stop think we will not be able to find it, it is not going to change

Thanks for all the info. I am still in the looking phase but like to make a plan. I think I want a 30/30 before the muzzleloader but I was having a problem starting the process. Thanks again for everyone's time and I have looked all of them up and have a much better idea now. I really like the TC line but they are expense. I am not sure about CVA but they are more in a price range I would like but I will have to go hold a few and see. Thanks

I know I am new at this but after last year I would shot it and save the another tag for the big one. Also my guess is that it would make better soap. LOL

congrats

I am interested in buying a Muzzleloader this year but honestly do not know much about them. I know they require more care and need to be cleaned (but I clean all my firearms so not really worried about that). I am looking for a quality firearm to hunt deer next year on my own land. I am looking for suggestions?

congrats

Good Luck all. Saw 3 Toms right in my hunting area during my dry run this morning.

Good Luck all. Saw 3 Toms right in my hunting area during my dry run this morning.

I can understand this and as much as I like my red dot I can see your point. I do not come from a family or hunter since I married into it but tradition as a very important part. Also I think the point can be made that skill and understand of the sport, land, turkeys, and hunting in general id the most important thing. I my case the red dot on a purpose built turkey gun hopefully takes the firearm out of the things that can go wrong so I can focus on the many other more important things I still need to learn. But your point is taken and I wish I had that tradition to fall back on

For me I am two years into a five year plan. I try and read anything I can get my hands on and listen to people I trust. I have 52-arces so I can make mistakes on my own land, but I figure it is going to take five years to get any good at this deal. Youth weekend this year I was able to call in turkeys with little problem and feel I have started to learn some things, but I am not an expert and although I wish I was I know it is going to take time. Trying to add a moth call to my bag of tricks this year and we will see, but hunting is a lot more of a thinking man's game then outsiders give us credit for. If I can not get a turkey after five years I will be mad but if I keep learning and having fun I know the results will come. A bad day hunting beats a good day at work!

I love my TruGlo Red/Green Dot. It took a little bit to get it true but I have a bore sight and that worked great. It is dead on at 30&40 Yrds now if I can only hold it steady I will be all set. At least I will not be able to blame the shot gun.

I have 1,2,3 off from work and plan to be out all three days. I am like a kid on the 20th of Decemeber. My son wants to go before school on the 3rd, but we will have to see. It is my only time to hunt for myself. Although I love hunting with him it is hard to not let him take the lead.

My nine year old and I were over back and he was firing my wife's 410 for the first time and a bobcat just walk by on the old side of the field and just walk through like he owned the place and did not care that is were we were firing minutes before. It was the coolest thing I have witnessed in my woods.