Two Track

Shotgun for rabbit and squirrel, especially since the closest area for me to hunt is no guns until Nov, the next area (Stewart) is no rifles -period. 7 1/2 or 6's are good for rabbit and squirrel, and if pheasant is around, 6's do well for them too. Head-shots are great if you can get them, Just don't shoot a rabbit 10 feet away or less with 7 1/2's. makes a big hole and a bloody mess to carry around. Not enough distance to allow the shot spread out at all. At least that wasn't my rabbit, that was my dad's bloody messy to carry out. My sister was our dog for rabbit hunting, until she realized she was just there to kick the brush for us. She really couldn't shoot anyway and was too young to hunt at the time.

Must have a good pair of boots, preferable waterproof. That way no worries for muddy trails, snow, rain. I always pack in a small first-aid kit (cut your self skinning, thorns, tripping on rocks), a decent pocket knife as a back up blade, map of the area, compass, FRS radio (some places no cell service, but may raise a hiker or another hunter, or HAM operator if an emergency arises), water bottle and some snacks. If you are thinking about full day hunts and not going back to a vehicle for food, get a small backpacking stove and pot.mug for coffee/hot chocolate/tea/soup for the cold days. Something like a SnowPeak Giga-power stove or Pocket-Rocket. They are light-weight and small. I carry one in waist-pack for all-day deer hunts. If morning hunts then out for lunch, a good thermos will do the job for a warm beverage on a cold morning. I mainly use a standard semi-auto shotgun. Use rifled slugs for Deer/bear season, and shot shells for everything else - mostly number 6's (rabbit, squirrel, pheasant. duck, turkey). Only one gun/barrel to clean at end of the hunting season. For longer range, a rifled barrel for sabots will put you in low-mid rifle distances (75-140 yards or so). The most simplistic gun with least to repair will be a single-shot or a double-barrel. It is up to how you want to hunt and personal preferences, and what are willing to (or have available to) spend.

Back when had private property in the family to hunt, we usually went in a three person group in single-seat ladder stands (moveable ones) in an L set up. Hot seat was on the corner - watched trails going to a natural spring along a woods road. One was a bit further in the woods along another old woods road by another game trail, and the last was on the woods edge watching the bottom closer to the spring and the apple orchard. The deer had a 2-3 day rotation of which fields or the orchard they would go to - different bedding for each on different sides of the highway that split the property. There, the deer liked to take a morning drink of water, so set up on on trails to water source.

No agenda there in those questions. Here are some proper answers to version B questions 1 & 2, which would probably piss-off the anti's who enjoy fishing.. What are the differences between hunting and fishing? In fishing, baiting is legal and beating them to death is legal. Why do you think people get a thrill from hunting and killing animals? They get to have a meal of fresh meat not pumped full steroids and growth hormones, completely free range fed. At the same time, they are sad for taking its life.

They are mainly stocked birds by me, but I do tend to see a couple during the Spring turkey season - possibly survivors. A lot of the "wild" trout is stocked. I have been at one of the hatchery's in the Catskills. Go camping and canoeing near there. Never hear any complaints on them being stocked. They are native to the state, but necessarily to all locations they get released.

Hardly ever see rabbits afield any more, pheasant keeps out me there. Never heard of them being an issue in three states I have hunted (or tagged along hunting as a kid). They are a keeper in my book.

Your pictures aren't that bad. If I take my good, and heavy, camera and lenses with me, it will take me while to post them, will have to wait for the film to be processed and have a digital copy made. When I hunt I carry a pocket-sized digital camera, hopefully I will remember to grab it before I hit a trail. You are right on the money on those berries. I have to get out on a hike to get some wineberries - my son's favorite. Only problem is only he knows were to find them. I know where to find some wild blueberries/huckleberries and blackberries, he doesn't. Guess it will have to be a joint effort. The blackberries should be coming on soon, but those are normally a lot more painful to harvest - more thorns and they are larger thorns too. Good time to hit the trails to get some of nature's wild bounty if you know where to look for them. By the way, the view looked nice from those pics.

If you are fairly stationary, perhaps a .410 w/rifled barrel and stock up on .410 and 45 long colts if limited to one barrel. Otherwise get an over under like a .243 and 20 gauge.

If any one goes to Indian Hill area of Sterling Forest, there are a couple areas getting overgrown with wild Blackberries (and a couple trails disappearing in them). Good spots to take a break and watch for birds and butterflies if you have kids with you that are interested in them. Sometimes there are ducks in the small pond too. If you go off trail, may find a couple abandoned wells (as in lower your bucket into them), and several old abandoned roads not on the trail maps, some are dirt and a couple are stone. There is a trail across from the Harriman train station that leads to the Appalachian trail and Indian Hill, so a car is not necessary to reach the area.

Elmo, When my youngest was about 3, we went to the Smokey Mountains, and there was paved path to Laurel Falls so we used the stroller. Then found the path broke in spots by tree roots and few sets of steps. Should have use the child back carrier we had, similar to yours. On the way back, we went to Shenandoah, did a guided hike through part of an area I back-packed through when back in college. Figured no problem carried gear through there, so used back child carrier. made slower going as she wanted to walk instead staying in the carrier for 1/2 the hike. Enjoy taking them while they are that small and stay fairly content to ride on your back. After than, plan for short distances that will take 3 times as long to travel as before. It is worth it. Now we go camping and hiking (despite ...ewe.... bugs) they still enjoy being out there about 10 years later. Streams are wading magnets for kids, so plan on dealing with wet feet/socks/shoes in the future.

My brother-in-laws lab spent her last hours at my house - it was closer to the vet for the morning appointment she never made it to. She spent her last afternoon sunny in the backyard. In the morning she spent a few minutes with each of us, then went to a spot to be alone and went to sleep before it was time to go to the vet. She knew her time was ending and made sure she said her goodbyes to all of us. Thinking about this is making my screen a bit blurry. She is still missed 7 years later. We feel you. Hopefully the pup will be able to fill the tracks Oz left to follow-in. Each dog has its own personality and traits, and leaves its mark on your life.

For my wife, she only goes if she has an airbed or cot to sleep on and can make coffee in the morning. For some those are must haves, for others those are luxury items. If you have a big heavy dinner, and comfortable spot to sleep, should make it easier for her to go to sleep. My wife was Brooklyn girl who never tent camped before. After a few years, she has gone tent camping (car camping) without me a couple times with the girls while I was camping with the Boy Scouts. If alcohol is allowed, a bottle of wine is nice with dinner, or a couple of Mike's hard lemonades sitting around the campfire in the evening. Some friends take a heater with them for use in the pop-up camper (non-electric site), we just add a blanket to the sleeping bag if cold and cuddle-up. Luxuries we use car-camping: Stove stand (frees-up picnic table space) occaisionally 5-ft folding table (as alternate to stove stand and provides more prep area) usually when camping with another family screened-in dining fly lanterns (instead of just personal flashlights) additional single burner stove for coffee or camp toaster while main stove is in use for eggs and bacon occasionally gas hibachi for burgers and hotdogs or steak (faster than using the campsite charcoal grill and it works in the rain) airbeds (for the wife) portable radio camera FRS radios for hikes (kids tend to like running ahead) or to let us know when to head back for dinner when fishing (cell phone use is extremely spotty where we camp in the Catskills) extra large tarp (if expect lots of heavy rain, set it up over tent as extra protection from the elements - have had heavy blowing rain come through the zippers). I have the list of the must-haves (checklist) at home. Always take extra rope and stakes, and a ground cloth for under the tent (keep all edges of it under the tent or water will pool between the tent and the ground cloth). As for sounds at night just tell her that is the bats eating the mosquitoes or an owl, a deer passing through, or the neighbor in the next site snoring. They freak more if you tell them racoons, foxes, swamp monster, bigfoot, etc.

We have had a few storms that took out a few trees and lots of limbs this year in the area. There are also lot of pine trees that are sub-cumming this year to infestation and disease, and there are lots of pine stands in Harriman State park. There are also a lot trees down along the NJ Turnpike in the central and Southern portions of it - all storm damage.

Congrats Wooly. I am willing to bet that your sense of smell has improved. Of course the down-side to that is really smelling that buck you open up field-dressing it that is in full rut. My grandfather smoked for 30-40 years and quit cold turkey to be able to spend more time with his grand children. My sister and I are the only ones who remember him smoking 2-3 packs a day - ephysema from smoking was the major cause of his death. He died in his early 60's when I was in high school. Every year you stay smoke free going forward, will improve your health. I never smoked but there is some cigar out there that I like the smell of and it reminds me of my great-uncle that I hunted with in my youth. i keep wondering what is and what it tastes like, but so far have never tried to find out - probably better off that way.

We have 3-4 16 gauges in the extended family - SxS and a semi-auto. Used for squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, duck, goose and deer. Although no duck or goose hunting for the past 20 years in the family. #6's and rifled slugs for the most part. I do have some other shot sizes, but it mostly goes through #6's like Pygmy said. I currently use one that my great uncle had - pre-WWII. Slugs still pass through deer at 60 yards.

i need a small dry spell so I can take down the canopy tent from my son's graduation party, which it rained for of course as it was suppose to be a backyard event, Since it was cool and cloudy for the last two days, it didn't dry at all, then it rained again last night. On the plus side, have barely watered the garden this year - keeps the water bill down.

What city did you refer to in another post. There are several in the state: Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, NYC, ... If you are referring to NYC, there is public land in Dutchess and Orange Counties, or go a bit further and hit the Catskills.

At one time i worked with a scout troop that would hike into Doodle town and camp there for the night. They had things to find there to learn the local history like the oldest grave in the cemetery, number of homes along a side of the road, etc. There is a nice cold stream by the shelter we camped at (I day hiked it as had to work the next day). Another nice one to stay at for the view overlooking the lake in fall or early spring is Fingerboard.

I wouldn't be here if an ancestor wasn't sent to prison and then shipped to work in the ironworks for 20 years as a prisoner of war for serving with the Scots against England. People also forget about the free blacks that came here as indentured servants. First person killed in the Boston Massacre was a free black man, Crispus Attucks. Red legs, nice group of guys, if you are with them... otherwise, you end up in ground when your body was eventually was found.

I grew up in a border state that sent troops to both sides. My known family genealogy has two in the Union army - copy of discharge papers of one, the other never came home. I also lived in the rebel capital for a couple years after college - what does that make me a yankee or rebel? I moved to NY for more opportunities - I am sure others have as well. Then there is family that have moved to Tennessee, Georgia, and other states. A lot of people have moved around this country in past 3-4 decades. Companies transfer employees around, relocate offices, etc. There is a lot of pride that people carry with them from where they grew up or family came from. The South fought to protect their states' rights to determine how their lives are governed and felt the Federal gov. was taking that away. It was not only about slaves. To some the flag may be something the reminds of: home - the south family that fought for the south or they are just rebel at heart - no matter where they are from.

Back when I lived in Richmond Virginia (fireworks are legal, but there are still idiots) a neighbor sent up a fireworks, took out the transformer in the alley way 11:00 at night. We hear pop -> whiz , the second or third time, the lights go out and sparks are coming out of the transformer. This was in an old part of the city, as the ally was all cobble stone and still had carriage houses along it. Smart place for fireworks...

It is not something frequently mentioned, but there were black troops on both sides of the civil war. The flag is mainly a southern pride thing, only a few use it as racist symbol. The war was not only about slaves, but also about who holds the most power, a state or the federal government. Most southern troops were not your plantation slave owners, but small farmers. I grew up in a border state that sent troops to both sides. We had slave runners and underground railway stations during that time period. Part of the state, some people still display the Stars-and-Bars - some of for southern pride, some of it as non-conformist/Rebel to some aspects of state laws. It is displayed mostly during the car races. Some of the most racist persons I knew of were not white. A lot businesses in towns by the battlefield parks that cater to tourism display both flags, stars-and-bars, and the stars-and-stripes. At this rate, these flags will be take down as to not offend someone into thinking their business is run by racists. All you need next is someone to claim anything confederate is racism and offends them. This is a slippery slope. After all, will they stop selling white bed sheets just because you can make KKK robes out of them? Anything can be used as symbol by anyone for anything they desire. The Nazi symbol was used previous by some Native American cultures in the southwest. Sure take the flag off the state capitol, but basically ban it, ridiculous.

I have also heard that Buttermilk Falls is nice. I know a couple people who go to George Lake. Some will rent a private cottage with private beach access, or go to one of the camp grounds. If you really want to get away and rough it, you can rent an island on Lake George and get dropped there until pick up on last day (weather permitting for the pickup of course). If you are into camping/outdoor gear, the Coleman outlet store is by Lake George. One my wife's friends goes to Lake George for their annual side-walk sale to a little shopping while on vacation, her husband does his shopping at Coleman. They usually rent a private cottage.

That is a good one.

A couple nights a week for the past 2 weeks (when it is not raining) a couple people have been setting some off in my town - some to the east on or just over the ridge, some to the south near a lake. We are not talking Friday or Saturday night, but like Tuesdays 9-10 PM. My kids are still taking final exams, my dog thinks there is another thunderstorm rolling in and starts shaking, and my wife asks if that was a gunshot. New Years eve, okay, kind of get that. Two days before and the week after New Years, 3 weeks before July 4th - what the hell? Guess some people have no respect for anyone else. People getting busted for it - zero. Mind you, this is not occurring in the countryside/rural area, but in town. among older neighborhoods and newer cookie-cutter developments.