Two Track

My granddparents had chestnut and black walnut trees on their farm. Chestnut was gone before I was born, but we shelled a lots of walnuts growing up. Now those trees are gone too and the farm sold off 20+ years ago. Had to keep the german shepards away if we wanted walnuts. They would crack them open and eat them too. Competition from my grandparents dogs to get the walnuts. Would love to see a comeback of the American Chestnut trees - not just for the nuts, but it produced some nice lumber too.

Pygmy, Of course we found her. She was screaming " help, I'm stuck", plus there was only one set tracks and they stopped where there was a deep hole in the snow. As a reward, every snowball fight we have had since then, she throws the first couple ones at my face, coating my glasses so I could't see. Now her vision is worse than mine and she is the younger one - that's Karma for you.

I was about 9 during that one and living about 200 miles south of NY. We had ~3 foot snow. Mom was stuck for 3 days in another town at the daycare center she was a director of. National guard had to bring her home. We had only seen dad cook eggs and bacon in the house, and grill a steak or some chicken outside. So we thought we would starve at the time. Only had one door to the house that would open and we had to keeping opening it up every hour to clear off the steps to still be able to get out. The other door was frozen shut and had snow drifts against it. Couldn't tell where the yard stopped and where the ditch was before reaching the road, that is until my sister sank 4 feet into it and dissappered from view. Didn't see a plow until the morning of day three. We did puzzles, and played games since the winds took out the TV antenna. One of the farmers down the road that my dad was friends with, came by with his largest tractor and cleared 70% of the driveway in 2-3 sweeps of his plow blade. Saved us a lot of shoveling, and caused a few dropped jaws by our neighbors. We helped them shovel out once we finished our driveway.

Office unoffically just closed. All the C-level execs and department heads left. No one said a peep. I'm one of three people left in the office. Sucks being in back corner not seeing everyone else go. Be safe getting home everyone.

You would think since the recent crap we had from the hurricanes, more peole would stay prepared. We just did out normal grocery shopping this weekend (very crowed of course with the panic shoppers) and picked up some kerosene for the space heaters in case we lose heat. Since office is open all day, tossed in my zero degree bag, water bottle, backpacking stove, and a pot into the car in case get stranded. Have to get through 2 counties in the blizzard zone to get mine, which is also in the blizzard zone. Expecting 2 feet by me, 3 feet near the office. School closed early by me. Just enough time for a AP or regents exam and sent them home. First real storm without my 4X4.

I see them in my yard still, even in the snow where they are safe in town. Go to the woods and see none or they spot me 60 yards out and disappear. Lack of leaves may be the difference.

If you have a muzzleloader pistol (single-shot) and a permit for it, you could carry that during muzzleloader season. I don't recall seeing that you couldn't carry a brace of pistols.

One of my great-uncles had a pack of six beagles for bunny hunts. We'd have them start in the old grove of Christmas trees and then hit the woods behind it. Talk about hearing the dogs on a chase... Got my first rabbit on one of those hunts with my grandfather standing by me to mentor me. Miss those days. Enjoy the rabbit hunts with the dogs. Its much easier that way.

Last time i was on the Nature Trail, which is a very short one, in 2013, the sign in the parking lot indicated no firearms allowed. Things may have changed though. I think I saw a sign about it being a wildlife refuge? and habitation restoration area. Asking never hurts though.

We shot a few off the roof peak of my great-uncle's old barn back in my youth. The only thing using that barn was the pigeons. I am sure it has either collapsed or was taken down by now. We shot from the yard side of it and pick them up on the field side with his rabbit-dogs baying to come out and hunt with all the excitement going on. We use to go out rabbit hunting in the morning and then hit the out-buildings for pigeons when-ever the hunt ended without any rabbits kicked up. Enjoy the hunt.

I went out on last Saturday in December, just me, no dog. Hit a large field on Barron and saw a couple others with dogs on New Road - not one shot in that area. I may try Sterling this weekend. Anyone have any success there lately?

Tempting to go try it out, but no permit for there and 4 hours or so from me. Add in gas, food, hotel - expensive hunt for me. If my kid gets into Cornell for next year and gets enough scholarship funds will have to keep this in mind for next year. Visit my kid and go hunt together could be a nice long weekend. Is it a shotgun only area or is rifle allowed? Future planning...

Skeets, like the signature, my favorite Frost poem. The metal reminds me of some of the abandoned vehicles and hydraulic mining equipment from the 1930's that I have seen in the Rockies. But I would think the stock would be gone if it sat there in the open since the 1880's. Unless they had better finishes back then.

I picture a couple different scenarios: somebody kicking themselves, "that's where I left grampa's rifle" someone lost track of it while retrieving their black-tail deer left it chasing down their spooked horse

There is parkland in the northern part of the Bronx, but it has ball fields, etc for public use. Not much for wild lands that I saw when I have driven by there. Maybe they were in Yonkers or another part of Westchester County? Or did they drop it along the rail lines in the Bronx to have the train euthanize it later?

Sterling Forest and Stewart restocks ended week of Dec 7th. The are done by OCFSC. Saw a couple of them survive into Spring Turkey season last year..

Elmo, Not sure of exact location, but one hunter I spoke with last year (fall 2103) kicked up a pack a coyotes in Sterling Forest on the west side of East Mombasha Road. Said they were near the top on the mountain there. I saw some large canine tracks this fall around Wildcat Mountain trail, not sure if coyote or dog as I was looking for deer at the time. That is only a couple miles from where the other hunter kicked up coyotes hunting season.

My dad has it in 20 gauge mag w/bull barrel. Killed several deer over the past 4 to 5 years with it. Only had 1 miss with it to date. Scope set up to 130 or 140 yards. He hunts mainly from fixed stands. He retired his 12 gauge semi since buying this one.

You only need one if using the right caliber/gauge and make an accurate shot. Don't put us in the empty your magazine slug hunter generalization. Those you are describing are not ethical hunters. They are doing a shotgun version of spray and pray - put lead down-range, and pray you hit the deer. They should be verifying their target, and taking careful aim. My normal gun is set for federal migratory bird hunting - so 3 rounds. Between the last 3 deer I got, I shot a total of 4 slugs. I had one miss. Yes, I was using a semi auto. Been a while since I had a deer in a position to take a shot (for a clean kill, or a safe shot - only getting one of the two, not both lately) Why waste ammo taking bad shots, or tearing up your game by putting extra holes in it. Guess some people have money to throw away. My dad is using a single shot slug gun, no rifles allowed in the part of the state he lives, its all flat land there. He shot 5 times this season, got 4 deer (this year they allow 4 does by him). Some were 130 yards out. Rifle distances. But being that the highest natural point in the county is 32 feet, a rifle shot could easily go 1 mile. The shotgun round would not make it that far. So for safety reasons, no rifles. It is not fun having to lay on the floor, because someone takes rifle shots without a back stop and the round goes through your front door and then the closet door of your house. That happened when I was about 4 years old - !$%^! poachers using rifles where they are illegal to hunt with. My county is mixed. Some areas are bow only, some are shotgun only (like parcels near the airport), others allow rifle. We even have an area that allows some public hunting on a military base, but for deer only via special permit, and part of that is shotgun only. Towns can determine if rifle usage is allowed within their jurisdiction, or restrict to shotgun only, when the county laws for that particular area allow rifle. If a county says no rifle - then no rifle.

I just have to finish wrapping up 2 items for the wife, once home from work, and before heading to Christmas eve dinner at brother-in-laws. My son finally had an idea for mom and had to take him shopping at 9:30 last night. Only been nagging him for two weeks, and he spent 2 days sick that he could have at least looked at mom's wish list and a few suggested websites - teenagers just don't listen. She joked about getting a new car, so he picked up a matchbox car as a gag gift, and then something she had on her wish list. My sister has normally picked out stuff for dad to give to mom since we were in college. Some years he comes up with some good ideas himself, but mostly he has not a clue what to give mom. Sometimes it pays to make notes of something you spot or just pick it up when you see and stash it for the weeks/months until Christmas. Just don't forget where you put it and hope they don't find it until then. Merry Christmas everyone.

I know a few high school students that have a ball playing Crimes Against Humanity card game. Of course one of the answer cards is Hitler, but on what what question it gets played on can be quite hysterical.

Why manscape and get razor burn there? Then have it itch, no thanks. Then cause "carpet" burn from your stumble a few days later. All this manscaping, manicure, pedicure, and facials talk is starting to sound like getting ready for make-up, lipstick, and a wig. To each their own, but I am starting to picture hunters in drag - not a pretty sight in my head. A haircut, shave, and clip the nails for a night on the town/go to a concert (quartet, orchestra, opera)/play with the wife is all good.

Get her a really naughty looking outfit to spice things up. She gets to feel sexy in it and you get to show her how sexy she looks in it. Pair that up a weekend retreat for just the two of you. Dose she have a really good sense of humor - crimes against humanity game.

Find something that will appeal to her inner-child. Somehow Santa always brings some type of coloring book, with either Crayola markers, colored pencils, or crayons for my wife. She spends part of Christmas afternoon coloring while chatting on the with phone family members that are too far away to see over the holiday. Maybe something like a paint-by-numbers kit, water colors if she is artsy. Maybe a fun game to play (traditional types, like a card game[skipbo, Mille Borne], or board game) Something relaxing like a back massager. Birthstone earrings/necklace set.

You can also make family calendars. Each month features a season appropriate family picture. Have all the family b-days, anniversary's, etc pre-printed on it. If you have funds for it, have a family portrait taken and then converted into a painting.