Dinsdale

That is standard practice of all mammalian studies for conception dates. Most base lines are derived from captive animals, so where in are the "big problems" in this on a scientific level? Sample sizes are tyically large enough to arrive at a base line and use of a scale such as shown in the pics on that report is considered statistically accurate. Deer biology for conception dates isn't exactly new and has been around for some time.You will notice that particular scale is from a 1986 issue. I have one that was given to me at Cornell that dates from the late 70's(that study had well over 1000 animals in it for that scales basis) Even human embryo's have had the same samples done. The pics of the fetus in the article are from a cull hunt done on a local Hudson Valley college by pro-shooters. But this article and the principles with in are the basis of animal husbandry around the world on the conception material. The rest you can argue amongst yourselves.....

How do you explain increasing hunter support in the units over the last 2 years?

I started with some tube framed Tubbs. Decent for the money and I still have them around for loners. You can slide on downhills a bit, so you have to be a bit more careful so you don't turn a knee. Here is a tpical tube frame at a decent price and similar to my first pair; http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___38322 I do more than hunt in mine including some steeper terrain so now I have these;they are very stable on all surfaces because of the agressive frame design..... http://cascadedesigns.com/msr/snowshoes/ascent/lightning-ascent/product A friend uses these, a little more aggresive between the ones above and typical tube frame styles. I think the solid panel is noisy for hunting, they wouldn't be my first choice unless you hunt in powder conditions..... http://cascadedesigns.com/msr/snowshoes/ascent/evo-ascent/product You need to anticipate total load when choosing sizing (re. add about ten pounds for gun and gear for a day hunt) I happen to be light and have a pair of womens as they fall between the mens sizing for me.

+1 I hunt far from the roads and carry enough to spend the night if need be. Often I plan on an overnite bivy, if I get a deer late in the day its easier than a few miles in hilly terrain at night. If planned carefully I can do this out of a small pack with a light load. All the time for an away from home all day affair; First aid kit, headlamp and 2 extra batteries, fire starter kit(cotton balls and vasoline a mini-lighter, spare 1/2L platypus bottle(folds flat), victorinox paring knife, fixed skinning knife, 20' para cord, TP in plastic bag, water filter(Sweetwater), compass+map, puff bottle for wind(baking soda), a few feet of flagging tape to mark a blood trail if need be. I'll take a ID sil-nylon tarp for shelter(7oz.) my 1lb Marmot bag, and a tyvek ground cloth (3oz) if I plan do overnight. Or just the tarp if I'm not sure. And I throw a HD survival mummy bag instead. Extra ammo (5 round plastic clip), Binoculars are on me. I have a lightened/cut down Jetboil for cooking(14oz with fuel) Kahtoola microspikes if snow is coming for the hills depending on the forecast. This all fits a smaller pack at around 7 lbs, add 750ml water and 2 1/2 lbs of food for 2 days...about 10 lbs.

Interesting article. Thanks for posting, as I hunt in 4Z which is the Eastern half of Columbia County, the info is even more of interest. Here is where one may find the info is some what contradictory however. The article states buck take is down due to a drop in hunter numbers..... However there are no DMP's for all of 4Z this year and only 100 issued for the unit last year(2009) and 1000 in 2008. So the herd, according to DEC, must be down in #'s, and doe take is not required in the first time in the 20 years I have lived in 4Z. With no doe take in 2 years and half of the fawns being bucks, it would seem that deer numbers are the issue and not lack of hunters for the decrease.

Those are some nie first pictures.

Yes;it does take some getting used to. I find it easier to transition from bolt to strait pull than the other way in general.With a little solid practice before a hunt,as I do anyway, that seems to get me good to go. I shoot year round with a little of everything, that seems to help keep muscle memory fresh. I'm a big believer in snap cap practice year round also. As for the Mule Deer...I have an unguided hunt with a private landowner tag on 18,000 acres (12,000 private/6000 public).It has been scouted and will continue to be, until we show up, by the ranch manager; so we won't be totally cold going in. Most deer run in the 150's typical 4x4's, but not the huge spreads seen elsewhere....maybe 24-26". More a glassing hunt planning for a stalk, than stand hunting. I like that style of hunting best, so this happens to suite me well. One fellow has been trying for a few years on public land, so I'm hoping we can get him a deer first. That's my goal anyway.LOL Hoping Diana smiles on him just for a few days anyway. ;D

For those looking to plunge in to doing it yourself, the videos here by Larry Metz are very good. Especially the "Boning out the Carcass"; which starts with a basic skinned and gutted deer. He used to give live demonstrations on carcasses at the Harrisburg show start to finish a few times a day. His technique de-bones the meat as each quarter is removed. Good shots and easy to follow along as you go if you want. http://www.meatprocessingproducts.com/deer--venison-books-dvds.html Some of his equiptment is also sold at Gander,Basspro, Cabelas, etc. All are decent lighter than commercial quality; good for the couple deer every year type guy(or gal).

You like to play that "buy American " card, huh? Like that makes you a bigger patriot than anyone else. : You may wish to research who actually owns the companies you are espousing. Hmmm...I like nice guns and to travel, guess a middle-class kid who grew up in Buffalo can't do those things. Jeeze I bang nails for a living too.....yep, just a carpenter for about 20 years. Sorry that is somehow irritating to you. Can you teach me how to kill something more dead like you do? Please? And I own a camera! Will the injustice never end! Guess I can't go to Best Buy with out ruffling a few feathers either....oh dear. A humble gray squirrel and a deer...didn't know you would consider that resume building...guess I have to dumb it down for you in the future. Cheers.

Some guys like Remingtons/Savage/Winchester etc Others Chevy/Ford/Toyota No one is telling you to buy one. And I'm certainly a fan, and not embarassed to say so....just as others will be fans of other makes.They have a small following here in N America and I'm just trying to help out a guy who needs some info....both vids show fairly well operation characteristics of the actions.(and I think they are damn cool to watch too! love the 2 buff in 2 minutes one) Lots of choices out there and as both a Ford Focus or a Carmry can get some groceries, one can place a value judgement as to which one fits their task.(I had a Focus but can appreciate a ride in something else if thats what spins your propeller). I like the light, compact travel, and accuracy. I get the choice of around 40 calibers from 17HMR to a 416 Rem and have the exact same trigger pull, feel, and operation. Sorry if you feel that is some how an infomercial...just stating why I like them.....nothing more. I wasn't aware that posting a few photos of game I recently shot or a video was somehow over my limit. Just think if I posted more...the horror of having to view another hunters success. Wait til you hear I have shot animals at over 400 yds ??? I also own some "American guns", mostly custom....but if it makes you feel better they shoot good too. I have to think more when I use them as I happen to use the Blaser more for everything. CulverCreek....Have done a couple trips to Africa and a few other places (first in 2005). I wished this rifle had frequent flier miles. ;D I sold her to a friend who needed a second gun for some travel this summer with the condition I could buy her back. She did good again and went around the world....NY,LA, hunted NZ,Aus,Africa,back to NY and the only bad part........ was I didn't go with her. :-[ Atleast we get to try NM for a crack at Muledeer this fall

Could just add a white hooded sweatshirt ???

Can't argue with that ;D Poor hits with a bigger gun doesn't exactly help.

Capilene 1 for most times and Capilene 3 for stand hunting in the later seasons when cold. http://www.patagonia.com/usa/patagonia.go?assetid=2301 Lots of places on the web to get good pricing if you look around. I have an allergy to the Merino products, but they say they are good for keeping odor down when used for several days, better than the synthetics. I don't sweat much so I like all synthetics for most clothing.

Damn good advice.... Glad I'm not the only one who takes a 375 for a walk on occasion.

Here's a fun one with a 375 H+H.....

The newer version is an R-8......the R-93 is still being produced as well as barrels and kit for such. All the scope bases are interchangable between every Blaser ever made. The newer gun has a slightly different bolt head to accomodate 458 Lott and 416 Rigby brass and pressures. New barrels will NOT be interchangable with older recievers. Same concept, different gun. If you travel they are an outstanding way to transport and carry a rifle. They also happen to be very light and are shorter by 4" than any conventional bolt rifle. They have no floor plate and the magazine sits over the top of the trigger group; eliminating the mag well length. In addition they are the safest gun to carry with a round in the chamber. The firing pin is cocked on applying the saftey to a firing position. During carry; there is no compression of the firing pin spring to strike a primer, rendering the trigger with out any tension in its parts. This makes the saftey firmer than the normal flick on conventional bolt guns. This video has 3 switch barrel guns....Blaser, a Mauser M03, and a Sauer 202. Here in slow motion you can see the operation of the bolt and such..... The first shot on the fox is an R93 with the short Tracker barrel in an Professional stock(their composite) I think its a 300win mag.

Yes for quite some time R-93 in 300RUM, 8x57 IS, 270 WIN, 28ga shotgun. Opening day of squirrel this year. As a 270 Win As a 300RUM Some might say they are one of the most accurate rifles made. Even after reassembly I do not change scope settings. Be warned they are kind of addicting....and new parts can be pricey. However there are lots of used items on the market that are often in very good condition. Barrel steel is the hardest in the industry making them very difficult to burn out. If you care to PM me I can easily tell you if the price is good or not and put you to a web-site devoted to just ordinary guys who shoot Blasers. I post there often ;D

Hey! Just shot your 3 D course today. First time on one anywhere and had a great time. Nice facilities.

There of course several factors;building type,footage,construction,degree days for the season...... I heat a 2 floor building (shop downstairs on insulated slab, and living on second floor) Around 2200 sq ft total, decent construction, and on average about 5 full chords per season. I always figure 20 weeks (mid Nov-mid April); A little more than a face cord per week,when it's real cold. That keeps me around 70* upstairs and 65* down. I have a custom air handler to move the air(heat) around, and to shut off any draft from the shop when making a mess down there. (I burn oil if I'm busy to heat upstairs...around 75 gallons/year) My wood is free...either my property or scrounged....I enjoy cutting and splitting, and the fact I carry the mess in the shop makes it easier I feel. I hated burning in my house and carrying the mess inside. I think I would do pellets in that case. I think the key for saftey is burning good dry wood, I have never had a problem in 15 years for a chimney. I just give it a good brushing after the season....sometimes twice if the snow melts a bit on a decent day.

all done here too

Thanks.... Very few parts are required. I pre assembled 2 leg sets then stood each up. As the braces are all the same they were precut to start assembly, the deck boards screwed on last. I had myself and 2 friends in it...around 600 lbs....very steady. I think a 12' version would be perfect. I needed some extra height to see down onto a flat where the second picture was taken from.

This is a free standing tower that uses a cheap Cabelas popup for the top. 16' high has a 5' square deck with trap door. I use 2x material for the deck for strength. It allows for a pad lock to secure the door. The 2x2 railing is sized to fit the pop-up, I put some foam on the corners to stop chaffing the blind. It forms a secure railing for the inside also. A tall directors style chair allows for use for a bow if needed for downward shots and better view. Fender washers and 4 screws secure the blind to the deck, a temporary ridge pole of 3/4 emt to the roof center hub when not in use. It took 7" of wet snow last year ithout any issues. I had it up for about 4 months last year with no issues. By using Hemlock legs(4x6) and reclaimed 2x materials with inexpensive blind; total cost was around $225 the bulk of which was the $135 blind. This way I also use the blind on the ground for turkey season and with out a heavy top structure no foundation was required for the wind.

Cause its fun to watch? I find it ironic to the topic. It was done in an independent lab. All done the same way on obstruction; all 300Win IIRC. The report is like 30 pages long; I'll post a link if I can find it and add it to that post. If you watch close you can see where the barrels flex in all the guns they just don't have failures as dramatic. In all cases the barrels are toast. Some might conclude that the steel in the barrels is of higher quality. You are certainly free to believe what you want. After all it is the internet and you get to do that. Cheers.

Most proper dealers supply a set of rings that will be appropriate for the chosen scope. Some might feel that the lack of requiring bases eliminates one more piece to mount and effect accuracy. As to why choose one.....guess thats up to the buyer. The fit and finish and barrel quality of any gun needs to be evaluated by the individual. Just as some will buy a Ford, some will buy a Lexus; both can get you to the store. I like pretty oiled wood stocks; doesn't make the gun shoot any better...but I still like it. That said I also have a nice 375 H+H in a tupperware stock, and I appreciate what that is too. An accurate shooter in a heavier package to suck up recoil for quick follow ups. I like to think that both have their place in the safe.... As for accuracy....depends on your use. That 338 Lapua is just starting to play at 500 yds and 1000 yd regular groups are when it shines. At over a 1/2 mile away things start to get interesting. I only occasionally get the opportunity for longer shots and it has been loads of fun. This video is interesting. You will note that the Browning(Japan) and the Remington(US) are the only catastrophic failures :-[ Doesn't really prove much other than to check for a bore obstruction, but its fun to watch.

The Sako Optilock system they use has many ring sets availible for distance between rings. Most are in the $80 range.....a few specialty ring sets do run more; but that would be the exception. Many aftermarket ring makers have sets to fit for less; the Optilock tends to be the standard for accuracy and reliability. At around 7 1/2 lbs. I would say they run about average for a wood stocked gun for the longer action Finnbear. I am not to much a fan of the newer 85 but have owned an L61 and a 75(which is a great gun).