Two Track

Try a PVC rainsuit in the heavy rain with the hood up - couldn't hear anything but rain bouncing off of me. I wear a quiet jacket and a carry a rain poncho incase it does start to come down. If it looks bad, I don't go out until it lightens' up. Never see any game moving on all day rain hunt yet except ducks. May want to scotch-guard the pack to make it water resistant in bad weather. Packs are a personal thing. Fit varies with design and the wearers body type. You still have 2 months to get what you need before getting desperate. My day pack for hiking I settled on - fit is good and carry either water bottles on outside or a water bladder on the inside. Just can't carry everything I want in it for cooler weather. Get something with a little more space than you think you need.

I just did the circle beard thing 2 years ago and keep it trimmed. I skip shaving when out hunting or camping and shave off the extra before going back to the office. Too many bare spots to grow a full beard- seems to run in the family too. I have more "blonde" hairs in the beard than brown. The mustache is mostly brown, but the beard seems get "blonder" every few months. May have to shave it to get my "young" face back. Wife ok with it, youngest daughter says too scratchy. Can't please them all.

Hunting3m, I was in the Monroe-Harriman Walmart this evening. Only a couple options in stock, unless you like pink trim. The currently stocked ones only have thin 1" waist belt, no padded wings. They may be ok if not carrying anything heavy in it for a long time. They are stocking up on the camo clothing if need to get some. I like the moisture-wicking, scent-free long sleeve camo on warm days and use it as a base layer on cooler days when I know I will be moving around alot. Have not be in the Middletown Walmart in months, so not sure what they have there, as the stock does vary store to store. If you want to try before you buy, see what Dick's has in stock. Otherwise, some of the ones Cusehunter found on Amazon look good. May have to convince your dad to order it for you if you go that route. Use to have the same belt problem. Had to get a smaller belt on an external frame pack when went backpacking at your age - no such need now. Waist is 8" bigger now. My son is about your age and goes to M-W High. Not sure if you are in my part of the county or not, or would even know him. But it is good to know that there are still some youth here that keep up the hunting traditions and enjoy the outdoors in this county.

a day pack with an internal is not the same as an external frame pack that is used for real backpacking - those come in 3 frames, youth, women's, and adult male in order to fit your torso and distribute the weight properly. Unless you will be doing a combo backpacking/hunting trip, stay away from the external frames (they start around $80). a day pack with an internal frame is usually just two stays (flat metal rods) to provide stiffness and shape to focus the weigh close to your back and down towards your hips. They are made male or female (different shoulder strap shape and different shoulder width to accommodate the body shape on the women). Sizing [example 800 cu, 1400 cu] is for volume size of items carried. If you will be carrying heavy items in it (sweater, flashlight w/spare batteries, lunch, water, extra ammo, heavy rope(for a drag or repelling), look for something with a thick padded belt on it. It will focus the weight to your hips and your back will thank you for it later. If going all day in warm weather, you may be carrying a lot of water whichs gets heavy, 8lbs/gallon. Plan on saving space for your jacket. You may need to stash it when dragging out a deer. If sling-carrying your gun, look for a narrower design on the daypack in order to get the gun on your shoulder. Look for sturdy zippers. I would lean towards a bag with a hydration system or designed to add one in. Alot less fumbling around to access water and you can drink and walk. For hydration, do not get no-name brand - have seen them leak. Look at platypus or camelback hydration kits. If purchasing a camo colored pack, try to get one that blends with the rest for your camo gear. Sharp-eyed game may notice that something does not look right. Personally, I wear pants with cargo pocket for small items and use a waist pack that holds waterbottles and a snack. I go back to vehicle for lunch and change to different area if no fresh signs during morning hunt. I have a millitary clip-on pouch that I squeeze a turkey decoy into for turkey season.

I prefer face mask: no dirty or questioning looks from face paint no getting face paint on other layers if need to change clothing layers no running paint when getting hot during walk-in/out face paint and facial hair do not mix well some times (why is your mustache green?) no smearing paint into eyes if eyes itch/get dry (happens with contacts) stay cooler in way in/out by removing face mask have mesh face mask for warm weather and a warmer/thermal one for cold weather can remove face mask and slash face with cool water to cool down in warm weather face mask keeps the mosquitoes and black flies off the face and ears (I disdain using repellant on face) easier ID if have to show Driver's license if getting checked by DEC Face mask does make it awkward to drink from water bottle and munch on an apple, but I am not eating/drink camo paint in the process. Yes my shooting glasses fog up with the face mask sometimes. Just move them further down my nose. Of course on long and strenuous uphill trek, the glasses fog up without a face mask on. I will try using my anti-fog cleaner for regular glasses on the shooting glasses in the upcoming season to see if that is a good solution.

Maybe he is looking for early archery season tags in Northern Zone. I know I am thinking about hunting in the fall for deer, pheasant, and turkey. I have been making mental plans for it over the past 2 weeks and thinking about purchasing my next set of tags for 2013/2014. Come on August...

I am afraid to look at the temps for the daytime. My central air went out at home and I am relying on a single window unit for the living room and dining room. Just have a fan in the bedroom. Had 3 window units before bought the house. At least I still have the one. Just happy the A/C works in the office or I would be shutting down the servers and yelling at everyone to power off their PC's and monitors. According to the weather channel, it is supposed to be 88 at my house - means it is probably around 80 in my living room and 90+ in my bedroom. Hope there is still something cold in fridge to drink. This heat has me getting up at 2:30/3:00 in the morning to re-hydrate, and then going back to sleep. Can't wait for it to cool down some without anymore thunderstorm threats so I can take the canoe out to one of the ponds or lakes around me.

The state east of the Mason-Dixon line, Delaware. No hunting on Sundays, but can chase Red Fox on Sundays. Fishing 7 days a week. No beer/alcohol in the grocery stores. No rifles except .17/22 for squirrels, and use on ground dwelling varmints like ground hogs. No rules on coyotes yet as they are just migrating in the last couple of years.

Ever try sneaking up to blast a groundhog with a shotgun? Bet they move away or crawl down a hole before you get in range with the shotgun. Much easier to take them with a rifle from 50 yards +. They tend to be ground shots and not shots parallel to the ground, like deer hunting, which increases the safety. Similar deal to take care of coyotes going for the chickens, ducks, or other small farm animals. Taking long shots at coyotes and groundhog would otherwise mean using a slug gun, like a H&R 20ga magnum rifled heavy barrel with scope set for 100 yards. The cost using of those sabot rounds on them will eat away at funding your deer/bear season (assuming you have a ground hog/coyote problem on your property). I just don't get using a rifle on squirrels, especially when they are sitting on a tree limb. Where does that 22 or .17 round drop?

Looked at current regs from former home state - some will make you jealous, others you will cry over: DEC recommend separating license from back tag back-tags must be worn while afield (no zone or other exemptions) No hunting on Sunday 400 squares of hunter-orange gun deer season and for small game during gun deer season if hunting in a deer blind, 400 squares of hunter-orange must be displayed 10 ft from the blind and 3 feet off of the ground if archery hunting during deer gun season wearing 400 squares of hunter-orange is required no small game hunting during deer regular shotgun season deer archery Sept 1 - Jan 31st (includes crossbow) Antler-less gun season - a week in October and another in December baiting/salt licks allowed on private land only must report any Sika deer taken to the Division of Fish and Wildlife Spring Turkey - 1 beard male (no fall turkey season) Turkey public land hunting is by drawing for specific week Mourning Dove - limit 15 birds/day You get 4 deer tags - 2 antler less (no or less then 3 in. antler) and 2 doe tags with your license. Can buy a choice tag and a Quality Buck tag for a buck with minimum of a 15" antler spread (one set only per hunter) Residents can purchase additional doe tags. It will cost me $300 or more to go back to hunt (license, buck tag, gas & tolls).

They left out tin foil cooking - hamburgers, baked potatoes or a packet of sliced potatoes and onions, and baked apples all in the campfire. For a sunny day, there is solar cooking. Uses two boxes, aluminum foil, and saran wrap(for the window). In the fall, collect some fallen leaves, acorn tops, maple seed pods. Then use them to make faces or other pictures. Use a small bath mat inside the door to take off/leave shoes on - reduces the dirt/mud to clean up. If going to have a couple days of rain when tent camping, buy a very large tarp and make a tarp tent over your tent creating a covered entrance to the tent - tent stays drier to pack-up and go home.

Back home through the mid-1990's the carcass tags were considered used/invalid if pre-detached from your license/back tag. According to the 2012/2013 regs, it only says back tags are required to be displayed on your back except for in the North Zone and Catskills. Nothing about requirements for separating the carcass tags before going afield. I just keep mine together so I don't have to worry about when switching jackets/vests for the weather and I just have to move the license holder with everything in it. I also keep my permit for Sterling State Forest there too.

Be careful what you wish for. One year in the late 60's/early 70's where I grew up, the back tags were white. That was a peak year of hunting accidents for "brush shots" during deer season. Don't suggest having really light colored back tags in the white/pale yellow range. Through college, my back tags were large with large lettering on card stock paper - no smudging on there as there were all pre-printed by the state and each dealer was provided a few cases of tags (It was not fun finding another place to get your tags when the closest dealer ran out and you had to try the next county [the days before google, mapquest, etc]). The dealers/Sport Shops had to record what tag number they issued to whom and send in to the state. It was nice having a pre-punched re-enforced hole to use to attached the tag to a deer. Of course the turkey and fishing licenses were on separate paper.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if camping in Harriman State Park and then hunting in Sterling Forest: no hunting or firearms in Harriman State Park except for lands west of I-87 (mainly an archery zone) maximum of two nights staying in a shelter or back-country site tent/shelter camping will require you to use a bear bag Shelter/Tent camping means filtering/treating water from local streams no pets along when camping in the back country (think fresh bear and coyote food) 6' maximum leash when walking a dog The Appalachian Trail does cross part of Sterling - that corridor can not have firearms in it. **one exception, one area that is a hunting zone is only accessible via the AT - gun must be unloaded while traversing the area.** I suspect very few people hunt in that area. I would not want to dragging a deer down the AT and then be stopped by the DEC. You will most-likely have to back track a couple miles with the DEC officer to prove you were in the hunting zone. You may be able to sleep overnight in your vehicle for one night, but I recommend calling ahead first. To get permit valid for opening weekend of deer season for Sterling, purchase license in August and then immediately apply for a hunting permit. If scouting pre-gun season for deer, wear orange so the Archery deer hunters and turkey gun-hunters see you. There is nothing like hearing something slowly approach you that you can't see through some pines and it turns out to be 2 guys wearing full camo just wandering around - it is a surprise meeting for everyone.

I've camped there before. It does have a boat launch for hand launching. Have not had a boat there, so not sure how shallow their launch is. If you get a creek-side site then there is room for the trailer. If you are in one of the circle sites, then it will be tight. Last time I was there, place was kept clean, grass mowed, friendly staff - but that was 2 years ago. They had a cold spell in August when I was there - had to head into town to get sweatshirts for the kids. We pulled in at 3:00 in the afternoon and everyone was wearing sweatshirts or jackets already. First 3 days we stayed away from the water, as it was too cold to swim. They have a large living history museum on the northwest side of town - school house, farm museum, working blacksmith shop, etc. Of course there is the baseball hall of fame and ball field too. Close to Richfield Springs is a working cider mill and country store. There is another campground, Beaver Valley Campground, that is south of town. No place to use a boat there, but it is another decent place to camp. They have a regulation ball field there and a fossil pit to explore. Yes, my kids did find several fossils. Enjoy the camping.

Late follow-up post to my hunting week as there was a lot of changes at the office when I got back to work. Saw 3-4 hens in Stewart during the week, which is much better than 1 hen over 2 full weekends plus a week day at Indian Hill. I had a turtle block my path on the way in. I got close to snap a pic on my phone. Later I realized he could have "snapped" me. Boy did the snapping turtle stink, but he was moving and turning to block me from passing him. Did end up sharing a field with another hunter at Stewart. He was in the tree line and his decoy was in a depression that I could not see into. We spoke late morning when going to try out another area. He couldn't believe that I hiked in the that far - recommended biking in to me. Problem is I can't pedal uphill without tiring out - even in low gear. I grew up in very flat terrain, highest point in my county was 32 ft. I have a shoulder sheath for carrying a semi-auto, but how do a carry a bird without a bike basket or turkey vest? I have a very small budget so any inexpensive solutions are welcomed. I guess my first step is to start biking a bit to be able to do the hills. Working on plans for the fall turkey and season now.

Is anyone having any luck for turkeys in Stewart State Forest? I managed to get the last week of May off, and need to where to try next - still looking to get my first wild turkey ever. After only seeing a hen for 2 weeks in Sterling Forest, I attempted Stewart. I was out along southern portion of Baron Road and on Lindsay Road. A couple other hunters I spoke with saw hens and a couple of jakes. No one I talked to has heard any gobbles there. Saturday wasn't a bad day out there over all. Heard a few shots, but the police were at the range and another area had dog trials with blanks. The police rounds I could identify, but not sure if the rest were blanks or for birds. Followed a deer, and observed some deer trails where I have not hunted yet - filing that knowledge for the fall. I did surprise a couple cyclists who decided to wander into the field I was set up on - at least that was 11:30 and would have ruined any chances for the day otherwise. Sunday I was chatting with a hen, but saw nothing other than geese and blue heron. Heard 3-4 shots between 11:00 and 12:30 that were not from the range. Tt sucked hiking in 1.5 miles in the light rain, sat in the rain, and then hiked out 2 miles in the rain (was not raining when I started out). Sitting in rain made a good excuse to break-down the A-5 in the house and give it another cleaning and wipe-down - after a nice nap of course. Being stuck in the office until 7 or 8 PM does not allow me the 1 to 1 1/2 hours driving time to even reach the parking lot to try to see where the birds are roosting. To top it off, I have had family obligations Sat. afternoon's that last until the evening. Needless to say, I have been winging it. Any tips of where to set up are helpful. I have two dekes, a hen and a jake, not sure how I should position them or even if I should have them both out. What seems to work, field or open woods set ups?

Last spring, 1 bird was hanging out one of the parking areas for Wildcat Mountain - it just sat there behind my 4x4. Couldn't call it into the woods where I could shoot it. I am sure the coyotes in the area do not help much - saw one of them as I was heading back to the trail head. I will either need to check out another area in Sterling, or go up to Stewart. Problem with Stewart in the Spring is that you have to hike in from one of the parking areas. The area I saw turkeys in during the fall is a couple miles up one of the interior roads and then head in on a trail. Fall season would only need to hike in 1/4 mile from the interior parking spot. Watch for turkey hunters in deer stands - came across a stand on Sunday when surveying an area that had lots of deer tracks during the winter. Found acorns and some hemlocks for cover there. When I looked around and up, there was the stand overlooking exactly where I was standing. The stand is fairly new and was not there during last deer season - so it is either there for turkey or poaching.

Last year I sprayed my apple tree and some of my flowers with deer repellant. Worked for the tree until I had several days of rain wash the scent off it. Due to frequent rain I did not get back out to respray it for a couple weeks. So the deer snacked on the blossoms and all the leaves during the light rains. Came home one night and found 3-4 deer eating the grass near the tree. Walked towards them to get them to leave. Spoke out to them too. Said "stay out of my garden and don't eat my apple tree". The larger doe was defiant and seem to understand english - it walked over to the apple tree and starting eating the leaves. She wouldn't budge until I was 10-15 yards from her. They also snacked on the branches during the winter. Tree is smaller than when I planted it 2 years ago. Hate to have to put in a fence for 1 apple tree.

So far, I have only been hunting north of 17a in Sterling. Only called in a hen last week Got busted by a bird that flew over me on Saturday.

They were down the street from my office in Yonkers two weeks ago. So I know how you feel. 5 years ago one was sitting on the trunk of my car in my driveway. I had not tried turkey hunting at that point, and I was renting property in town at the time - so no chance then either.

Pretty quiet again this morning. Had the woods to myself yesterday. Today there were a couple other hunters around - not one shot or gobble. Heard one bird purring nearby twice and it shut up. Only thing I started calling in was another hunter walking on the woods road below me - sounded like a pot call, so I went quiet. After he stopped for a couple minutes, I let loose a loud bad crow call in his direction to shoo him off. He got the picture. Here is a picture of the bird I saw yesterday:

Put on a light blue ball cap, dark brown pants and shirt. Then squat-down and walk like a duck. ...wait, that would be too big for a turkey. Maybe he fell asleep and took the shot all bleary-eyed.

Even my sixteen year-old knows better than that. He passed on deer at 90 yards because he was unsure of what lies beyond it to stop the shot.

this was my first day out this year. Not a single gobble by me in the fall or today. Did call in one hen around 9:30. She clucked around 9:00 briefly and went quiet. Before then the woods was quiet except for a couple small birds, a couple bees and of course those pesky little flies. I even heard a spider tipping over a dry leaf at my feet.