Dinsdale

I'm not sure what is so polarizing about Brian Olesen for some on this forum......seems many can't even utter the name. Whats the secret? I've spent not a small sum there over the years including trading/selling/buying new and used. Always get to speak with him on phone to make a deal if hes not around with no issues. Sold me my first Blaser and that may have been my downfall in life. LOL

Woodbury site was cleared and prepped; but the sale of Cabelas to Bass Pro halted construction. Johnny Morris was smart to leave BassPro in basically private hands, although he brought on board several investment firms to finance Cabelas purchase. One of the reason Capital one has bought the credit card business of Cabelas Visa. Cabelas family made out like bandits when they went public, I don't blame them, the sold at maximum profit potential. But running a store based on bottom lines in a board room can take away the traditions built for a customer base and that was the beginning of the end for the quality of their house brand IMO. I've dealt with new Capital One customer service several times in last couple months. Has been as good as any one I have ever called. I call to make sure to put a note when I travel out of the country to approve purchases by date and cap total amounts. They called on my date of return to make sure a hotel lunch buffet bill was approved as I inadvertently clipped a day off my travel itinerary.

But I think Culvers thread on his QDMA branch developing new hunters by providing a mentor and more important a place to hunt is way more important then one store selling cheap hunting pants. Access is the problem for many and the quality in a county like mine for public land is problematical at best. I did surveys with DEC; the number of deer on the local, relative small public land is abysmal at best. (On contrast numbers on neighboring private exceed carrying capacity, we surveyed by permission those properties also). Cheap jackets and a place to buy bullets is not going to change larger context issues for hunter recruitment.

For me I guess its how the message is delivered. Recent fishing trip had a couple folks in camp getting pretty preachy on how they used to hunt but just couldn't kill anymore blah blah blah.....then I poked the cage some just to irk them a bit. I'm good at that. But they had no problem catching fish to chunk for bait for "the big one". I don't believe that "evolution of a hunter" bull crap either. Some days I can trophy hunt, stack a few for Leopard baits, and let one go cause it didn't feel right. I don't need to gain a higher understanding to be one with nature gods.

I did drives with a few guys years ago, all have either passed or moved away. Miss doing them. Pushers still hunted and took some time; but deer came through walking often when we set up on likely escape/travel routes. Just some pressure to get them moving; for us that was 3 walking and 2 sitting and sometimes still hunters got in a shot too. Fun times with guys I trusted.

I don't care for taxes, but I have to keep working, and the grass is greener seems to be the case for me. Can't compete with Latino workers in the Southwest, and have not much interest in low population states of the west as there is not enough work; and if there is enough work, cost of living is actually on par with what I have now. After travelling a bit the proximity to 6 major airports all with in 1 to 1 1/2 hours of me is not a drawback. Fishing and hunting opportunities are good, like the change of seasons though the winter can be longer then wanted.

I run German #4 as a favorite. Had that put into last 2 scopes I bought. Learn where the picket shoots for yardage on the verticle and can easy stretch effective distance; and the heavy duplex shows up well in poor light or on dark animals.

I'd skip the B&C reticle and go with simple plex. Defeat the purpose of buying a Nula with a heavy scope IMO. I'd be more inclined to a VX3 2-5-8x36 as a good solid overall choice. Not sure what Lawdwaz is running on the ones he has? I like that Swarovski Z3 as suggested but your already balking at a Zeiss $, you won't buy a Swaro. (though they sell used at very fair prices especially) I have a little of everything Redfield, Leupold, Nikon, Zeiss, Schmidt&Bender, Swarovski.....honestly the Redfield is a joke after looking through other glass, have it on an inline I shoot once a year. Leupold VX3 series in average conditions are solid for the money as are the Zeiss Conquest lines. In tough light, night,poor weather; higher end are a real treat to have, but average deer hunter won't see much difference in daylight in closer distances. Its when things suck, that high end glass can make a difference.

Old bull, a bull in his prime, and a youngster stand on a hill looking at some cows. Old bull says," I can still hang in there and will breed some of those cows." Prime bull says "I'm a stud and will get many of them cows to stand for me." Young bull says," I may be young but I'm gonna try for the first time to breed a few cows." Just then the farmer pulls in with his trailer and the biggest, badass bull anyone has ever seen charges out..... Old bull says,"I'm past my prime and guess I'll sit this year out" Prime bull says," Ya, this breeding thing is overrated and think I'll just hang here and chew my cud" They look over and the youngster is snorting and pawing the ground, putting on a challenge to this new comer. The old bull says," ain't worth it son, that bull is going to kill you; what are you thinking?" "I just want to make sure he knows I'm a bull !"

Taxidermist who did these I met at Harrisburg show when we were both working booths next to each other. Did a couple deer and several safari animals for me at the time and visited his shop when doing the moose mounts. All together the mount is almost 20' long and quite impressive.

From GreeneHunter's link above; VALATIE, N.Y. — A Saratoga County man was shot in a hunting accident on private property in this Columbia County village, the county Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday. Deputies responding to a 911 call shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday found Robert Potter, 54, of Corinth, with a gunshot wound to his left leg, the Sheriff's Office said in a press release. The Sheriff's Office said Potter was accidentally shot by his deer hunting partner, Ernest Sutliff, 38, of Albuquerque, N.M. Potter and Sutliff were hunting with two other family members, according to the press release. Potter was taken in a private vehicle to CMH Rapid Care for treatment of the wound, the Sheriff's Office said. He later was taken by ambulance to Albany Medical Center.

Couple of European makers have fully rifled .410 for slugs......not common, not big numbers by any means, and boutique even for them; but do exist. I have both a smooth bore made for Brenneke and a full rifle 28ga slug factory barrels for a switch caliber rifle I own. 28 Rifled is a semi custom run not available in US market. Someday I want to take a deer down south where legal with one of them. I had a full rifle insert .410 in a 12/12/8x57 rimmed, Guild built drilling some years ago. Mostly you find the Euro version of 22 Savage Hi- power (5.6x52R) or 22 mag as an insert (Shotgun,big game,small game in one package).

I was blown away how hardcore most of the folks who showed up were. I see fishing as a way to relax and eat/drink in a boat floating around. This will knock you off the chair but I actually passed up going along on a small game hunt and to look for Jaguar to FISH on last day. FISH over hunting.....what a dope. Turned out good with last minute fish; blind squirrel finds an acorn. Actually I held my own on catfish on chunk bait as that's what I dick around with most in Hudson. Link to more pics in OP at last line.....I need to add birds but shot RAW and need friend to help process pics yet. Might be good timing....I have a few pokers in the fire next few years. Asia hunt /fish trip will complete all 6 continents for hunting/ fishing them for me; then I may repeat a few things here and there. If I can get a group of 4 together; can get a very nice deal for everyone as a repeat customer and booking a group. Almost stayed the extra week; but my dog is struggling a bit being in kennel extended periods now, and wanted to get home. Before flying to Brazil I fished for Peacock and Smallies in Miami canals with internet friend from there and had a nice time for a few days.

I have one of these in 16 oz and like the slim design fits a bottle holder on my pack. Works fine for a full day and take it to work often in cold weather. Also like the one hand, no spill design.

Just a FWIW.... If stopped by DEC in the field somewhere; say fishing next spring and they ask how you did during deer season; you'd better remember to keep your mouth shut if you are not reporting. They will give you a ticket for failure to report as they can field check that right on the spot.

For guys who can really fish.....I'm just a duffer.....this place was pretty amazing. I think between 8 of us we caught an example of all the major featured game fish offered except a White Drum. (about a dozen in all). I took a course in University on the culture of this particular area and I booked as an overall experience. I was always into fish, but my partner Martin after 15 trips put on a clinic. He was here on this river 5 years ago in a tent camp before building started as a lodge/cabin camp. Outfit also has floating camp and a houseboat based trips. This trip specializes in multiple species; others target Peacock bass varieties with occasional other catches. 4 guys in the group fish 200+ days a year all over most being Canadians from Pacific Northwest and having multiple fishing cabins from the coast to interior Provinces. One American guy booked 2 weeks and added a third when we were there to fill a spot this week! We all ended up on this particular trip because the outfitter has trouble booking Americans over Thanksgiving and we all ended up at a discount price by booking this week. I booked at outdoor show in Suffern NY, most as repeat guys received email offer. Outfit (Acute Angling) is based in New Jersey and owners have been doing this for over 20 years, it was very pro and all inclusive including layover hotel at both ends of trip and all floatplane rates etc. Soup to nuts other then airfare to Brazil from US; and they have have an agent that sets that up too if you want (I did that and was cheaper then I could find on my own)

Sure is, terrific thread.

Thanks! I am going to add that link back in post if someone wants to see additional pics of camp and area from album, and post a few on thread for those just want to see some highlights. I'll add some descriptions too.

Trying to post link and pics....will try again. Edit.......Just need to sort some text now.

This might be a few posts in the thread....net' issues for some reason. LOL Spent a week fishing over Thanksgiving fishing in the Amazon basin of Brazil (and yes I blew off Deer season opener for the first time ever in 28 years) This trip was lodged based on the Rio Travessao, a steam that eventually feeds to Rio Negro and then the Amazon at Manaus, Brazil where I flew into from Miami. Conditons ranged from 85-95* with high humidity and occasional thunderstorms. Rained sometime on 5 of 7 days and this is their dry season. River gained and lost visible depth during our stay by about a foot. Equiptment; you are responsible for all terminal tackle and outfit supplied up to date rods and reels; A light spinning with Shimano 2500, a casting with Shimano Curado , heavy spinning catfish/chunk bait Ugly Stick with Diawa 6500 (100lb braid). I chose to additionally take a TFO 3 pc casting rod and Shimano Curado K reel just to have something familiar in hand; but it wasn't necessary to bring. Casts are frequent and rapid; Peacock bass here are fast and aggressive; I was under prepared for the technical aspect and this ain't no chuck and duck trip for smallies. Nothing for a 6lb Peacock to straiten a 2x heavy 2/0 treble. Bent the Ugly Stick all the way doubled on more than one occasion on multiple fish. I was one of the only first timers of the group of 8, 5 of whom had already been Peacock fishing on another river for a week before changing to this camp. All where super helpful and I was assigned to a boat/cabin with a guy who was on his 15th Amazon trip all with this outfit. He was terrific partner to get me on fish and we shared a great experience, I hope he feels the same. Bird and vegetation were spectacular, a real treat to see untouched wilderness. The fishing is by agreement with local indigenous reservation who gains employment and currency for exclusive fishing rights. Guides are VERY respectful of catch and release and are expecting anglers to be the same. But most folks just like pics....so here are a few and some comments. Red Tail Catfish; best one for the week in camp; Bait; Chunked Piranha Peacock bass.....holy crap these guys can fight. Multiple jumps and runs. Always watchful Caiman looking for some lost bait scraps; Record class Black Piranha; these guys got serious teeth and require careful handling; Wolf fish....Trairao.....35 lbs (best in camp was my partner at 38 lbs minutes after this one). Caught many of these on chunk and big lures from 16-24 lbs. 20 lber Last day of last light and the reason I went fishing here; Paraiba catfish....64" and about 100+ lbs; 40 minute fight to land; And Francisco expert boat handler and guide; The end. Link to more pics;https://imgur.com/a/IrU2Rnf

I've met the guy in this clip that does the run and kill. He was working for a guide as his tracker in a camp I stayed. Wizard throwing his spear, its quite impressive in person. Ate a porcupine the guys caught and cooked whole buried in the sand in a traditional way, and me and one other American went along for a day on their hunt and gathering trip for water and plants. There is a fellow in Poughkeepsie that works with several governments to help keep these folks way of life around (oldest on earth) and can set up a visit. They also hunt with tiny little bows about 3 feet long tipped with poison made from chewing a grub and a nut mixed with spit and multiple coats are applied to a small arrow point made to break off in muscle. Must track for 24 hrs to find the kill. Start training.....

I've shot a fair number of game animals and every once in a while it happens, but its rare. But thinking back on it I notice the more I practice from actual field positions prepping for a hunt, the less it happens. I dont do much bench shooting with rifle now; and with a bow, never set distances, always square to a target. I'm fortunate to have some terrain change and can practice on my own land and not under confines of a range or club setting. Trying not to overthink the shot, and have become much more comfortable using the confidence built from good practice to make a kill. Now I try and have a mental picture of ways a shot can develop and go about the task of getting a good shot in, and its headgear is not in equation anymore. Think the bow has made me a better rifle shot by having to acquire the target in a smoother rhythm and to follow through. Maybe why I just enjoy shooting a bow even though not much of a bow hunter. Have taken multiple shots on last three hunts that I would have dicked around with 20 years ago and that in turn leads me overthinking about the actual shot, getting thinking about the rack/horns, and things go sideways. LOL

Huge fan of A frames in rifle; go to bullet and have taken everything from heavy to light game with them and always get outstanding performance. When I recover they never have any separation even after bone hits at magnum speeds. Midway seems to discount in the spring in general when I have bought on sale; maybe worth watching.

I'm kinda embarrassed..... I use a cardboard box, a light bulb, a fan out of broken computer to move air, and some cheap cooling trays from dollar store. If one is looking for softer version of jerky, google up "biltong"; its easier to chew and jerky like. Uses a different spice(heavy on coriander), but same idea. Never tried jerky gun, don't like the texture of pemmican but I guess its more rich in fat that makes it so.

Interesting to me that an almost 50 year old film has enough name recognition to use still; glad they don't name it after that horrible CGI effects "Pearl Harbor" flick. You may note that CAF has been running this particular show for years and allows WW2 Vets in free to their own productions; they have north of 130 airworthy planes IIRC. The modified Japanese painted T-6 Texans date back to that film and have been used for almost every representation on screen for WW2 aircraft since then. Always been an aircraft fan; trough a friend and contacts, I cut Sitka Spruce parts for some WW1 and WW2 plane restorations back some years ago when I was running shop full time; cool fun to see old birds fly again. Always say that all the money I have wasted on hunting home and abroad I should have spent on flying. LOL Any thoughts that Ford is no longer making cars as the dirty Japs Accord and Camry have sunk their profitability? What a kick in the nads.......J/K