Dinsdale

He's from Dutchess (Ulster is across the Hudson) Voted in as Mayor of Tivoli, which is a small hamlet, at age 18 Went on to County Legislator and now is County Executive. Been a favorite with Republican party here and hope this isn't a fall on his sword payback.

Used to have a group picket and make a general protest at local 800ac state land about 8-10 years ago. Forest Ranger with jurisdiction didn't do squat, but then a ECO got involved and they seemed to have lost interest last 5 years or so. I have been yelled at and even had State Police called on me walking on the road back to my place during season; SP have no clue at all on environmental laws by the way; so DEC had to come and say I could walk home. LOL

Heres link to app version of paper map I have; https://www.avenzamaps.com/maps/75110/motor-vehicle-use-map-sacramento-smokey-bear-ranger-districts-lincoln-national-foressacramento FWIW I'm not technology guy, my phone still opens and closes and has a tiny screen, so I can see this is correct map; but have no clue about the ability to use it on a phone or what is required. Never did an "app" thing.

I did semi guided muledeer on landowner tag in the south on a ranch of roughly 14K acres. Then when done spent a day driving roads to get familiar with elk area with the outfitter scouting elk for his upcoming season. We'd stop and glass and check animals out from the truck and spotted some real nice bulls often. That also tended to be on much of the private land that makes up a fair amount of area along the roads in that was south of Cloucroft that he had access too. Then I spent time that trip and another hiking public area and looking for elk and covered some distance each day looking in likely elk areas; found some good animals each day. I glassed a lot with 10x42 binocs as I like to glass and have a pretty good knack at it, but its not always real open so have to have a little patience to spot animals hiding in pine timber. I have not been to the southwest of that unit up in the mountains (as opposed to SW down on White Sands) and there is a huge amount of public land there. And a road/trail system that crisscrosses much of the entire unit. The absolute best map that has a ton of info is the US Forest Service; Motor Vehicle Use Map Sacramento & Smokey Bear Ranger Districts Lincoln Nat'l Forest Sacramento ranger district is mostly unit 34; that local office according to my file (575) 682-2551. Office is just outside village of Cloudcroft and super helpful when I was getting hiking info and such from them. That overlook White Sands pic taken right near there too. I'm pretty sure you can download that map as an app too for free now. Someday I'm going to try for a bow hunt there for elk, maybe this post will get me back on that plan.

Heres some pics all in 34..... Looking down to White Sands from just south of Cloudcroft; Typical terrain in much of 34; Public land access at end of Forest Service rd, note the line of elk close to 150 in this herd; Elk coming out to feed after being in timber all day; And just to give an idea how that unit changes for rainfall/vegetation in the south, this is just outside Pinon looking back to Cloudcroft to the north;

I've been in unit 34 between Cloudcroft and Weed.And then down along Rt 24 to Pinon (where I hunted for muledeer) Most of the unit is less than 9500 and thats far different than say 14,000. Rolling terrain with lots of pine ridges. A good portion in the middle burned bad back in mid 2000's (know someone who lost everything) and made for great elk habitat. Far west of the unit drops extreme down to Whitesands Missle Base/Alamagordo and extreme east and south is high desert. Cloudcroft is a nice town with a couple decent places to eat. I was doing quite a bit of hiking at the time and covered quite a bit of terrain scouting for elk as there is extensive trail system in that area. Just south of Cloudcroft there is a US Forest ranger station with lots of maps/info. Elevation didn't bother me at all; but you have to (1) stay hydrated and (2) no booze, alcohol will mess you up, save the beers when successful.

That's terrific; and enjoyed the pics along the way. You've done more sunrise hikes than anyone I have seen too, good stuff. So, whats next? On to the NE 115? W46 solo? 46Grid?

2 years for me also; no issues and prefer it to waiting somewhere. I always get the clerk who has never done one before.

There's one set of detailed plans on line that uses a mini mill for $780 and some cheap Chinese tooling for around $240 with all the jigs required in detail.

You can already buy receiver parts to make a serial number free gun. unfinished AR and AK sheetmetal I have 2 Mausers with no numbers, and actual made one up so I could take one on a hunt so I could get a customs form; used the licence plate off my old truck. LOL There are plans on line already for machined ways to make a firearm and its perfectly legal to do so, but you cannot become a manufacturer and sell them. Go to 'Home Shop Machinist' a recognized national magazine in multiple detailed instructions. There is a sizeable group that do these. Criminals are just going to buy access to a street corner gun and not buy a 3D printer or a milling machine. Why? Its stupid easy to get a handgun in any city for stupid cheap.

Due to commercial/promotional material not posting anything. But hope Ryno keeps posting, that Sable above is a dandy for age and length.

Go to airport, check baggage, get on plane, on arrival do some paperwork and get permit(can be done ahead in some countries), go hunt. Not much harder than that. Follow some basic airline/TSA-Customs/permit rules. Just had fun earlier in month, 6th trip. You'll have to leave the semi-auto stuff home.

Up to mid 2000's maybe 2004 or 5? you could donate mounts for a tax deduction for educational purposes and more than a few schools ended up with big donors giving mounts away setting up a room for the mounts. Now the rules are more strict re. taxes. Who ever hunted these spent time in Central Africa most likely CAR or Cameroon. Many are mis labeled too; thats not a Sitatunga; Duikers as Bushbuck, the Bongo as a striped antelope(and ironic the most valuable of all those listed), last Duiker is a Yellow Backed and the largest of all the Duiker (similar to a whitetail in size) Can't sell the CITIES cats across state lines and need a permit depending on state. Mount value is not great vs cost; only for the memories. There are several companies that specialize in liquidating large trophy rooms

Lancelot, they work great.

Dangerous game, especially elephant, is about getting in close. Like as close as a bow hunter would take a shot for a deer here, 10-25 yds. You are invading their space, trying to do it on the stealth, and hoping everything comes together. The consequences for screwing up is what makes it what it is. Its about the tracking, evaluating, making a plan, getting in for a closer look and getting out without them knowing you are there; the team work and nervous relief for all when it comes together. To be in a herd of pissed off females is amazing, chaotic, scary, thrilling, all rolled into one; and its all happening crazy fast. I been fortunate to experience that and it was a game changer for me. It all slows down, like slow motion for me, I can remember the smell, sounds of branches breaking and chest rattling trumpets. To see a whitetail still gives me a thrill.....but it will never be the same. Its not everyone's gig.

Ya, Mikes is worth a stop if in that southern Maine area......

Well I guess we wouldn't have much to talk about..... If I won the lottery I'd spend every penny on elephant hunting the best areas as often as possible starting with Nyae-Nyae in Namibia and moving to Tsholotslo in Zimbabwe. And spent last few days cleaning up multiple baboon skulls. Have zero interest in high fence deer.

Parents would drive to Wells (near Kittery and south end of state; and then drive up there for a few days before back to Wells; twice a year for many years. Guy who mounted moose in lobby of KTP did a bunch of mounts for me, that was a poached moose from Maine F&W. He did a double locked horn set for LL Beans main store. Won world championship with moose calves where I met him. Mark Dufresne.http://www.wideopenspaces.com/incredible-true-story-battling-maine-bull-moose-mount-made/ Like the pics and have a terrific time there, beautiful area and hope you post some more!

Its not just you....it can be tough to find places to hunt around these parts.

Run by NY City.... They own tens and tens of thousands of acres in watershed areas that make up water supply for NYC. Some you can hunt and fish, some you can't, by free permit. They also buy up rights to watershed lands.

"Hooper drives the boat chief"

I have my day pack that I used for UB as a book bag....1983.....still going strong from that store. Often used as truck bag to leave extra's and DSLR on hunts. Gal that works in Hartford involved with a trip they do in Nepal hiking to Everest base camp. My back has been a bit dodgy this year and if I can get that working better and get back into shape I think I can handle it. Cold (0*-35*F) hike at altitude(18,000ft) makes for awesome views but tough on physical side. Sort of a bucket list if I get there type thing.

Geeze don't be mentioning this on 24hr.......you'll be labelled as a greeney tree hugger. LOL I go to one in Hartford and hoped they'd put one in Albany. Swear by their brand of pants for function and fit for hiking and warm weather hunting; and they'll stand behind they're product 100%. Been a member for a long time. Been itching to try out one of their trips they run through their travel operation, they get terrific reviews. I miss that old EMS store on Niagara Falls Blvd in the old days.

I jump right in on my hunts, considering the reaction I get, I think a few hunters on these trips don't even know which end of the knife is sharp. Same as you doing Caribou especially got my learning how to cape a shoulder mount proper. But its often made me friends with camp staff like skinners and the trackers being involved in recovery/ skinning/ quartering/loading/etc.. No guide has shooed me away yet for being involved. My pants and boots smelled so bad from that Elephant field work of blood and guts I hung them in a tree that night. Next day PH was surprised Leopard didn't take them, camp Hyena walked around the tree that night. 6 guys, 6 hrs strait of cutting and 4 truck loads worth of skin panels and meat. Best hunt ever.

This is whats called Dip&Pack. Salted skins last a long time. I know where there is a full mount Lion lost for years that is stunning. Some folks get taxidermy done overseas.......some is lets just say amateur at best. The average American taxidermist is MILES ahead on skill and technique. Most outfitters there won't agree with me, but my mounts are my memories and I like good work. Tanning for flat skins (think rugs) is often OK, but I don't know a single taxidermist that will use a mounting tan from there. Its a real wash up cost wise; used to be dirt cheap mounting in Africa but now shipping fees are eating up the bills. But there are hunters who do use taxidermists there and have stuff shipped; its not for me. I have a pile from April 2016 hunt waiting at my taxidermist, and I'll wait to add this tanning and have everything done at once. Thats my choice, he'll sit on them as long as I want.