ANTLERS

Well I just returned from a successful moose hunt in Vermont.First let me start out saying this was the most physically demanding hunt I've ever done.My guide and I hit the woods early on sat. morning, opening day.After hiking several miles at the lower elevations and not seeing much sign, we moved higher up the mountain were we began seeing a lot of tracks,rubs that went 7 feet up a sapling,droppings,area's browsed out completly ect.Well after 3 days of hiking 4 miles a day at the higher elevation and seeing no moose at all,We began to decend the mountain.With an hour of sun light left,my guide whispers urgently for me to look to my right.The cow was standing 50 yards broadside looking at us but seemingly unconcerned.The first shot from my Sako .308 only caused her to flinch,The second made her unstable,and the third dropped her.A sense of total relief and celebration was quickly dowsed,When it dawned on us that we can't get an atv any where near this moose,and with an hour of sunlight left,We are 2 miles from the logging road.Well we spent the next 6 hours capeing,quartering and packing out all the meat with a packof coyotes trailing us in the darkness.The guide estimates her weight at 750 lbs and at least 5 to 6 years old.

I arrowed a bear in 2000,Searched for 3 hours.I felt the way you do right now.However,I didnt give up the search and found that bear less than 80 yards from my stand,Buried in thick mountain laurel.Must have walked past him 3 times,Good luck

Perhaps they were hunting on a private preserve?

10% is about what I figured.And yeah If he puts me on to a big bull,He gets a few extra peso's.He sent me a picture of a bull he guided for in '09.Scouted heavy all week,opening day they found him in the same spot and dropped him 15 minutes into opening day.

I'll be leaving next friday for a Moose hunt in Vermont.For his fee,The guide Ive hired is scouting heavily in the zone were hunting,He will make arrangements to remove the moose,If successful,to the check station and handle all butchering.He's not providing food or lodgeing.Successful or not,Assuming he works hard,Lives up to his reputation as advertised as a reputable outfitter,What percentage of his guide fee should be a decent tip?Ive never been on a guided hunt before so I have nothing to go on.

Maybe they were reporting a mountain lion sighting

70 - 80,Perfect tick weather.

I'll be in Vermont on Oct 15th for opening day of Moose season.I'll gladly give up opening week of bow for a once in a life time Moose tag in VT.Im off the whole week and if i tag out in VT that weekend,Im coming home and heading up there.

NY Hunter,My first bear was with a bow,Searched for him for 2 hours.Finally found him less than 200 yards from my stand,buried in thick mountain laurel.Must have walked past him 3 times in my search.Arrowed another one 5 years later,because of the thick fur,There was little to no blood trail.Again,searched for 2-3 hours before giving up.Great satisfaction in taking any game with a bow,But with a bear,the thick fur is a draw back.

I'll be up there on sunday,try for some turkeys in the morning,then a little pre-season scouting.

My first one was archery 2002 field dressed at 180.2009 (sow) dressed at 160.Not huge.The one in your picture John ,looks like a bruiser,Big ass and the belly hangs down.It would be hard to pass on a bear thats 300+ lbs.

Sad part is I have 2 bear rugs on the wall all ready from 3H another that I arrowed and could not recover several years ago,Tracked for hours.That one still haunts me.I know it was a fatal shot and I hate to waste an animal.My wife will kill me if I take another.

My Brother in law was up on sunday and said we have a lot of trees down from Irene.I'll be going up next weekend to do my yearly check on posted signs and clearing out the road that leads in to the property.

How is that dancing cat saloon? I pass by it all the time,I usually go to the stone arch inn in jeffersonville.That buck is a beast for 3H,No doubt that AR is working in our area,Geez after seeing that pic,I really can't wait till OCT.

Where in Vermont?I have a place in the Sugarbush area and Im going up next month for the moose hunt.

If they cut them into tootsie rolls,say no more than 2 feet long,I should be able to split them with a mauler.

John,I'll take the wood from that tree if you dont want it,Always looking for firewood.

This is a buck I got in 1997 in 3H.Came in just at sunset.I was in the process of unloading the rifle to begin my decent out of the tree stand when I gave one last look around,And here he comes right to my tree.Had to quickly put a round back in.

On the 17th/18th,Hallockville farm is having its annual Agricultural fair,Not a bad afternoon.

Power went back on thur afternoon in Cold Spring Harbor after 5 days.I just went 5 days without the outdoor chanel.Started to get withdrawl symtoms I.E. shakes,night sweats,cranky.But all better now.

Same here john,Ferns all over.But they die off after the first freeze.

We got hit hard in the Cold Spring Harbor ,Long Island area.Tree's down every where,On top of houses.One fell in my back yard and missed my boat by 2 feet.We have no power and were told its going to be 2 to 5 days before its restored.

We suffered big damage here on Long Island,This is the picture im sending FEMA.

Just think in about another month,when that testosterone kicks in,Their going to be bitter enemy's.What females do to us!

I would recomend the Shelburne museum in Shelburne Vermont.They have the collection of James Watson Webb,A avid hunter of the 1920's,30's and 40's.A very impressive display of alaska yukon moose,full grizzley mounts, Big horn sheep,caribou ect.And an impressive display of vermont made fire arms of the 18th and 19th centurys.Well worth the stop if your in the northern Vermont area.