Two Track

Finally found some Savage 300 - old stock - in Rockland in a small shop that I never knew of before. Remmington 150gr clean-bore haven't seen that on a shelf before (except in my grandfather's gun cabinet). I remember as kid shooting some Western Super XXX ammo (rifle and shotgun) - guess they are long gone these days. Now not worried to hit a range to sight in (iron-sights and scope) for the season with the Savage.

There is no logic to not wear hunter orange - other states have required it since the 1970's. Didn't matter if on public or private land, it is a safety measure, just like unloading before crossing over/under a fence or climbing a tree stand, or having working brake lights on a car. Just because you know where you are and hunting buddy are, doesn't mean some else wanders into a high brushy area in full camo that you can't see due to the full camo outfit (happens public or private property). I have experienced it more than once in deer season, kind of expect it in turkey season on public lands. If you are on a new parcel of public land and get turned-around, will they find you easier in orange or wearing full camo? What if you fell and got hurt, could they find you? The answer is not cell phone GPS and 911 call, there are plenty of places that if walk 10 minutes into the woods there is no service in the southern zone, don't believe me, I can take you to a spot a ~ 1/2 mile behind a firehouse in central Orange county on public land on a hill top. Verizon and T-Mobile maps show service there - neither device had any service. Wearing orange does not affect hunting deer, squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, or quail (or Dove hunting where I grew up). Even had a red fox walk up within 20 yards of me wearing orange while sitting on the ground facing him. Small game and deer gun season with no orange to me seems backwards like that you would expect in places like Appalachia. No trade-off to me, if cool enough, will give early doe season a look (actually was very quiet on opening where I was, had to repair mower and then mow the yard and other home things on Sunday), gives me an scouting excuse while carrying with less people afield, and considering Black powder since that added a few days. Since have to work, the reality was only two additional days to hunt if hunted with a muzzle-loader, now 4 additional days (two weekends) it is worth considering the costs of additional tags, powder/ball, etc. Who ever is out there for early season, stay safe, hope for a short drag if successful while temps are up, and easy access to ice to cool off the meat until reaching your butchering location.

Last week Walmart only had 2 boxes of 270 in Spring Valley(rest of the shelves were empty of ammo), and only BB and pellets in Harriman location. Haven't been there this week to see if anything has changed. Squeezed into Davis Sport Shop in Sloatsburg at 6:50 as they close at 7, they just got some ammo in, no Savage 300, but had the Sabots for the 20 gauge. Basically $30 per box of 5. Picked up stuff for father-in-law too that he needed. I handed my wife the reciept, Now the wife understands why I said that she is not going to use the 20 for target shooting/learning to shoot a gun. She thought the Savage 300 rounds were expensive that I bought 3-4 years ago at about $2.25 per round. She told me to make every shot count at $6 per round.

Found no Savage 300 in Rockland or Orange county so far, or in Bergen county, NJ. Will have to check a shop in Sullivan county on next camping trip up that way.

I am having issues finding .300 Savage, 16 gauge anything, and 20 gauge sabots. Have been checking last couple of months for the upcoming hunting seasons. Stopped at Ramsey Outdoor Sports in NJ - they haven't seen much of the standard hunting caliber's coming in (like 308, 30.06. 30/30, 270, 243). Most of what they get in are the AR calibers and some pistol rounds, but gone in two days. Similar experience at another shop in Rockland County. Another shop I was at in Goshen said they have sold 100 guns in 12 days, of course if ammo is in stock, they pick it up with their new gun. One site I checked has .300 Savage marked as clearance with nothing available. Wonder if they are stopping any production of it, or if temporary until production starts meeting demand of the standard stuff.

Opening day of the Southern Zone regular season - sit in the cold all morning in Sterling Forest and had 1 doe slip by quietly just out range (plus no doe permit for 3P). Come home for lunch and there were two does in the back yard - too bad I live in town. Saw nothing all afternoon. Sunday tried pushing though another part of the same woods - nothing but squirrels. Okay, slow start of the season, but it is a start. Last Saturday morning I had a bunch of leaf clean-up to do around the yard, and got my grill propane bottles refilled. Looked up after putting down the 2 tanks to see why my dog is fussing and there is a buck in yard. Changed and went to Stewart, took 45 minutes to find a spot that was not filled or in the swamp. Hiked to an area I want to hunt and saw a doe run through one of the power line right-a-ways. I grabbed my grunter and made a soft grunt and she slowed down and disappeared. After a while, I started munching on my apple that i packed to snack on - half-way through started hearing a few different sounds. Something that sounded like huffing and a couple roars. Roars got louder and I dropped my apple. A doe burst out of the tree line opposite of me running with two deer right behind her. The second was a buck with short heavy antlers in hot pursuit. Shouldered my gun and took a shot, it was a bit on the long side. The three kept going and I quickly lost sight of them going through the trees and over the crest of the hill. I checked for blood and tried following their trail - no signs of blood. Their trail split in two directions - leaves kicked up in both directions of the forked trail. Check both directions for 30 minutes each - no blood or deer laying down found by 4:30. Hiked back out without any deer, but it was sure a good afternoon otherwise. Can't wait for the next day off that I can get out again.

I am looking at a 1/2 - 3/4 mile hike in and back out - it will be hot hiking out for sure - pants, long sleeves, gloves, mask, hat, vest, calls, etc.

Been busy with new job, doing things for kids for school and preparing one kid for a two week foreign study trip and looked at the date - oops time to check gear and retreat with Sawyers. One time i did leave the house without most of my calls. luckily I keep one or two mouth calls stashed just in case. Once it was a very short trip out - left the parking permit home. Being they are calling for the temps in 80's, thinking shorts?

CCR, Def Leppard, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, Enter Sandman - Metallica, Guns-n-Roses, Scorpions, Possum Kingdom by the Toadies, In the Still of the Night - White Snake. Magic Carpet Ride & Born to be Wild - SteppenWolf, 7 Nation Army - White Stripes. Joan Jett, early Bon Jovi.

Ground pine looks very similar to he crow's foot we use to harvest for Christmas greenery (wreaths's, vases with winterberry cuttings) on the now defunct family farm. I know of three park lands that have the stuff growing in it, one in Rockland county in a passive county park, and 2 places in Orange county. My turkey season ended on Saturday just like deer season did - invaders on motorized vehicles. A side-by-side and 6 motor bikes this time. The previous weekend I had a single rider on a motor bike in Sterling Forest where they are banned too. The motor bikes literally rode around me in a circle on the woods road in the state forest I was in. They didn't seem surprised to see me wearing full camo, face mask, vest with a decoy, and carrying my gun. After they pulled away and I could hear again, I made a phone call and DEC met me in the parking lot 20 minutes later. Two of the riders were doing wheelie's while going up hill. At least they were wearing riding gear and helmets. Not sure if they got caught, but that DEC officer high-tailed it to the other side of the forest to check the gate and to try to catch them.

No real great buys as of Saturday night. Only things I saw drop in price was some clothing - got a turkey vest at 30% off, last time it was only 20% off. Tree stands, blinds, calls, decoys, gun cases, coolers, camping gear, generators, boots still 10% off. Nothing i looked at was 40% off. Only 1 register open on a Saturday.

Saturday I set up where I have heard a few gobblers in the past and I heard a few gobbles, but couldn't get anything to come into view. So Sunday I moved to the other slope that I thought this bird may have been on Saturday and heard nothing - tried clucks and yelps from slate, glass and crystal pot calls, purs and yelps from a box call and clucks from mouth call. Even pull out a gobbler-shaker to do a couple jake gobbles and nothing. Get back to the car at 12:15 and hear clucks behind me - the turkey was sitting 35 yards from my car by the gate. To top it off I had some kid go riding through on a mini-bike at 11:20 - state forest land that bands all motor traffic. Called that one in. he's been tearing up the fire road in every damp spot turning it into a big mud hole and tearing up some of the woods by riding through it. Not sure if the ranger did ever find him. Last I saw and heard the kid, he was headed towards the Appalachian Trail. If I am lucky, I get two more days to hunt out of a three day weekend and two tags to still fill. Good luck out there, stay safe.

Due to heavy rain and canceled vacation time so far - only had two days afield. Seen nothing and heard one. Now having to cancel all my vacation time - the person I am covering will be out for at least another month. So can't get to cousin's wedding out of state or class reunion out of state. guess that leaves two additional weekend days to hunt and no week days. Did I mention that having to cover for this person also removes Memorial Day from the hunting days list even though business is closed for the holiday? Lucky me. Hope everyone else is having a better and less stressful season.

On Monday night they had lots of various Yeti coolers in stock - 10% off. Ammo shelves were very thin on stock. Was 10% off of the Hunting Stands and Blinds - their end-of-season sales were more than that. I may swing by there Saturday to see what dropped price wise after Turkey hunting. A turkey vest may make a bit easier than rummaging though several pockets (pants and jacket) to find that my slate strikers are still in the waist pack behind me, the pouch with my box call never made it onto my belt, or the face mask is still in the car. Once didn't have my license on me as I switched from a heavy warm coat to a lighter one as the season warmed up. Wife says do you really need one - well, I think I do.

Finally got to Gander Mon. night. Wow 10% off hunting and shooting accessories (ammo, cleaner, cleaning pads, cases, calls, game cams, decoys, etc) Same deal on tents and cooking and most camping gear. I saw nothing 30% off - but I didn't get over to the boating and fishing area. No ammo left on the shelves for what shoot. Guns in-stock was way down - 30% of their firearms left and being bought out with just 10% discount is surprising. No single-shots or 22's left. A couple double barrels left at $2,400. So basically I saved on taxes for basic gun case. Doesn't seem much like liquidation discounts - I had better deals at radio shack; electronic parts (90% off) and UPS replacement batteries (60% off). Will have to stop by later/next week to see if the discounts increase on the other items i was looking at. I saw the same signs that they are looking for help to run the store that they are closing in Middletown. Guess the smart staff were like rats - fled the sinking ship.

Great, another place less to pick up Savage .300 and 16 gauge ammo and licenses. Only finding 16 gauge slugs most places and no Savage .300 ammo. Getting low on 6's. Wally world by me sells fishing licenses (sometimes), the rest of the time if ask for hunting license, the person who is trained is not there or they claim the machine is broken and I had to make a trip to Gander Mountain on more than one occassion to get a license. My hours and schedule don't get me to the town clerks office or Davis Sporting Goods. Dick's doesn't have much selection of camping or hunting gear/clothing that Gander has. May have to plan occasional trips to Campmor in NJ for some stuff going forward. I need to replace a gun case, so I better hit Gander Mountain soon. Hard to carry with no carry-handles or shoulder-strap.

Sorry for your loss. I know it hurts and I hope you had many years of time spent together afield. Remember what he taught you to pass along and remember all those good times together. I had 5 years hunting rabbits, going frogging, and crabbing with my grandfather. The last season he was around his health was to bad to go out. He never got to see my first deer or buck, let alone any grand-kids go off to college at the family Alma Mater, get married or any great-grandkids being born. He died Labor Day weekend when I was a junior in high school. Still miss him 30+ years later - during season, July 4th weekend and Thanksgiving when we spent the most time together. I have his daily-carry pocket knife, barn-coat style hunting jacket, hunting suspenders, and his deer rifle. They go afield with me at some point every season. My son has his folding buck knife that I used to learn how to sharpen a knife back in Cubscouts. They may not be valuable, but the are to me. I am sure it will be the same for you. Eventually it will hurt less. When you are out afield, you may still feel his hand on your back or his presence guiding your hunt. Let that comfort you and console you.

Youth deer hunt started after my son aged out of that - Now he is away at college. Missed opportunities with that. So lost that partner for now. I would take my daughter out now for Turkey, but all she wants is Pheasant. She will be old enough for deer next season if i can get her interested in that. She can't use bow for deer, just not the strength for 35lb +. She is not a fan of bugs, so Spring Turkey season is not a good time for her. Youth Spring Turkey may have worked for her - but this year had a conflict, her girl scout troop had family camping. So of course there I was out-numbered camping with the girls. Youth weekend hunt to me seems a safer time to start them out: less hunters afield to be concerned about easier to keep re-enforcing safety without having to watch for the orange-army mob on a regular opening day less competition to get youth basic skill sets only have to watch/mind the youth's gun There is no temptation to take the first shot an allow the youth to do all the shooting, and its a good time to re-enforce everything for the start of a new season for those 2nd and 3rd years youth hunters.

I think i know the sound you are talking about. Heard that out turkey hunting in the spring. Made a few clucks and purs and heard nothing but an occasional leaf rustling sound, moved closer to the sound, moving down hill along a rock wall and then heard that sound. Never heard that before and froze behind a large tree. My thought was maybe a bear. Peered around saw nothing. After a minute I backed up to the spot I was sitting at 20 yards away and all was quite. 30 minutes later heard a sound that I thought was just a squirrel moving behind me and it was a bear, uphill looking my direction. I scared it off and it came back. Scared it off again with my voice and I was one paranoid guy walking fast out of the woods. It went the general direction I had to go to get out to the parking area. I jumped at every bird and squirrel movement all the way back to the car.

Not sure why I keep hearing hearing take the guns out of rut. According to article, for the Southern zone gun season starts at the end of the rut. Bow hunters get the entire rut to hunt and yet complain that the problem is the gun hunters. You don't hear me saying take the bow season out of the rut, nor are most other hunters. I see nothing wrong with a 1 buck rule, even if it just short term to bring numbers up for the bucks. I grew up with a 2 deer max for the year, one being a buck. Archery and Muzzle-loader were included, not special tags for additional deer issued. Gun season was split in three 1 week seasons - early Nov (all deer), mid-Dec (does only), mid-Jan (all deer). For a few years there was an chance for a 2nd buck tag, but it had to be something like 10 points and a minimum spread of ___ for an additional fee. Herds increased since then and the rules have changed even more since I moved to NY. Like next year, my dad will be able hunt on Sundays for the first-time. Antler points do not indicate the age of the buck, except the spikes & forked horns being yearlings. Body size & neck size are better indicators of a mature buck than the rack it is sporting (which may be smaller from broken tines, genetics, environmental factors). AR's do not make complete sense. Reducing the number of bucks allowed to be shot does make better sense. Shoot the small 2-3 pointer or wait to see if a bigger deer shows up, no second chance in another season if you take the small buck. That leaves at least one of them to bred and grow instead of taking out two bucks. DEC managing reg's makes more sense than the legislature - all know how everything the legislature passes make sense (thumbhole stocks, adjustable stocks, muzzlebreaks being illegal for semi-auto shotguns and rifles for instance, features that make it easier to handle and control a firearm). Can't we all at least agree to keep the NY legislature out of this and keep it under the DEC?

Don't go to Sterling Forest to sight in/pattern Firearms are between limited dates (by permit only) and no target shooting allowed there...period. Possibly can at Stewart if you can find a spot to set up, It is also used by hikers and mountain-bikers, so you have to be very careful where you set up. (There is a range there at Stewart but is Police only, and you know when it is in use very quickly). I know of another parcel in Orange County that it can be done at, but unless you know where it is exactly, it is easy to miss. It is currently snowed in and will be very muddy and rutty to get in there. Unless have an SUV/truck with decent clearance, I would not go there. Blue Mountain is probably your safest bet this time of year. Or call Davis Sporting Goods - Goshen location. There is a range there, just not sure about patterning at the range.

May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you, and heaven accept you! Happy St. Patrick's day from a Scotch-Irish, etc, mutt.

Since your birthday is on St. Patrick's day, here is my wish to you: May the winds of fortune sail you, May you sail a gentle sea. May it always be the other guy who says, "this drink's on me."

Chas0218, I know when crossbow season is currently, but there was a lot of push to keep it out of bow season when the DEC implemented it. A lot of bow hunters were highly suggesting to reduce gun season to add the crossbow season. Claiming crossbow hunters would ruin their season or have you forgotten that? This just after they increased the length of bow season. I get just over 3 weeks for a season, you get 7 weeks of archery-only before gun season and then another week after. I never said browtines do not count currently, but who knows how the state may write the legistation for AR's, that was an example of what could happen, We would have to wait years for it to be corrected and passed - DEC could correct in it within the year. Normal (non-rifled slug barrel) shotgun range is a little further than an good archer, rifles are an entire another story. Your set up to hunt makes all the difference in being at the right spot to shoot a deer, no matter what your implement of choice is. 5 yards out of range is 5 yards out of range not matter what you are using - that was my point. So AR's should be implemented evenly between Archery and Gun season, not one over the other. Which fish is legal size doesn't matter whether you use a baitcaster, fly-rod, or spincaster to catch a trout, why should it matter whether you use a bow or gun for deer. Same game being sought, so why different rules on implement on which deer would be legal. This "me because I am a bow hunter", "need extra time because a bow hunter", "need to keep crossbows to a small section of my season",... stuff needs to stop. We all hunt. We want all fairness and not have our hunting rights taken away. We have to work as hunters together, not as bow hunter, or a gun hunter, ... By the way I work at least 5 days week and lucky if i get take off 3 days during deer season, The few days I do get to hunt (which is on highly used public land that has limited spot availability) I need to make the most of it. No, I don't shoot spotted or nursing deer. I know someone who shot a 65lb deer - 20 years later, we still raze him about it. If I am in desperate need, don't tell me what I can't shoot. We don't need Jane from LI, and Jack from NYC who never hunted, let alone handled a firearm or bow, write legislation and vote on it on things they know nothing about or care about. This AR stuff should be with the DEC where and when it needs to be amended, in a more timely fashion. Not years (or decades) if the state handles it.

Allow bow hunters to take what they want? Gee, Bow hunters get to hunt first, have the longest exclusive season and then a 1 week late season, plus can continue to hunt with bow during regular gun season, and a lot have attitude about sharing another bow type (crossbow) in their season. If you modify a long bow or compound to hold the arrow for someone with disabilities, doesn't it look like a rotated crossbow? AR's should be for all seasons or none, not any exclusive hunting implement. Since I do not bow hunt due to a shoulder issue, what if I said AR's are great but only in bow season and must have 4 point each side, excluding brow tines? This would leave more deer options for me if i get to shoot anything. It doesn't matter what implement you hunt with, you have to be at the right place and time for what implement you are using. Ever year during gun season I have come up on other hunters in full camo (boots to full-hooded jacket and face paint) that also just gun(also in full camo - stock to barrel). I would never be able to see them in the brush 60 + yards away. So I have to hunt accordingly, no extreme shotgun distances. So a good bow hunter and I both have the similar shooting ranges. Once i take a shot, bang, deer is down or gone - Archer may have second chance. It there was a real deer over-population issue and they wanted to reduce doe numbers, it would be fair to say that your first deer has to be a doe, no matter what season you hunt. Not only bow hunters, or only muzzleloaders, just gun hunters. Just a flat rule across all hunting implements. If we jostle for regulations that favor only our own favorite implement or method, we are interfering with other hunters rights and privileges. If we do not support each other, where will this leave us in the end? If AR's are needed is one item, not for a particular implement, but for all. Then it is where should AR's be regulated - state legislature, a slow tedious process to change anything, or by the DEC which actually is in the field to make observations and can make adjustments easier. How many persons in the NY assembly would actually go out to see what the herds look like and other concerns involving wildlife. They have many other concerns in the state to consider. For the most part, it is just another item to look at on print out of a bill to vote on for the legislators.