Dinsdale

I'm in Dutchess. Several places I used to hunt have gone from $2400/year for 80 acres to $5000/year for 160 ac w/ running agriculture and some very nice stands. (I should know,I built the stands and the current leaser paid me for them rather than have me remove them). Not sure where a 60 and 120 ac are exactly with price but I know north of $1500/year as I was offered both at a discount rate. (I didn't take either, I wouldn't pay 5 cents to hunt a whitetail deer) All those are in Milan/Rhinebeck area. Contractor I work with regular has about 140 ac to hunt in Lagrange near the Taconic and 55 and he and son shoot some dandy bucks off there. I would think $2K would be just about right from what I hear folks paying in general for typical property. JMO

Just realize that machine is shown working in some pretty optimum conditions for a wheel machine.......hard pack, dry , and flat. I own the same New Holland in the video and have a couple thousand hours on it. I use my toothed bucket and can do pretty good at cleaning up brush and such without much stripping of soil. Start with some easier terrain and you'll get the hang of it; watch a couple you- tubes of how to use bucket to get your self un-stuck and that'd be a handy skill. I've had mine in a few spots that it really wasn't designed to go and do OK getting around; if you have a few skills manipulating both drive and bucket controls simultaneously.

I have a South African issue Martini-Henry with appropriate markings, but a post Zulu wars issued gun. Also been to Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana (and Blood River, but thats Boer/Zulu battle) Lots of Nepal issued Martinis around in good shape.

Hudson Valley QDMA banquet is on Feb 23 this year..... Contact info Dick Henry (845-687-7434), or by email at rjhenr@ AOL.com. Most likely be there on Monday..... Tough part of meet up at this show is the 10 day run, lots of different days that folks head there; but I have met up with a few exhibitors for dinner afterwards and a few folks here and there.

Met just a couple members from here; met a few from other forums, some half way around the world. Some hunts and some just socially for dinner/drinks. Never been disappointed and always have had a good time. Be nice to put a face to name with a few more from here.

Most of the Winter Catskill 35's and a sprinkling of ADK 46's; tapping trees, occasional job site, a little winter hunting here and there. Most flat land cleats are useless hiking and roll off boots or can feel awkward to painful after 20 miles on winter trails. Street price can be down around $50 if one shops careful.

Covered quite a few miles including steep terrain using Kahtoola microspikes. Very comfy to walk in, fast on/off, rugged , and fits on all kinds of footware. http://kahtoola.com/product/microspikes/

Nice day for a boil so ran what I had......made about a gallon. Since weather doesn't look to sappy in the near future; bottled too.

I'm sure that the case, I don't have much occasion to need a 12 ga load; so it has not been shot enough to get over that, maybe someday.

Most international auction hunts sell fairly reduced in price at auction 50% or less; I have bought several. However I usually add around them to give back a little something to the outfitter for the donation. Been treated very well for doing so. North American hunts sell closer to full value in general, US/Canada/Alaska is still closer and an easier sell. Have to research them as much as a typical booking for whats included etc. The show is massive if you are looking to expand horizons both for firearms and hunts, and cash is king. Pretty much sums up this thread for me......

Have a pre war Simson boxlock 12 ga. I tend to take a 20 or 28 ga O/U afield more. I would like to get better with the sxs, but I shoot a O/U much better.

Just been a SCI Member for some time (life member actually) and although I have no issue with entries and books and such; but contriving slams just to get the mine is bigger club to pony up some funds is not what I hoped where the organization was heading. Prefer to see some actual advocacy and hard numbers of whats going where, and thats been lacking. IMO

I more surprised that there are several folks on here that know what SCI is, let alone their scoring system. Anyone see that stupid bird slam they are doing now to get more 2nd Pinnacle of the Diamond Gold fat old white guys, award money?

Never heard of the pickles thing? But have done the syrup on snow. I like hot off the evaporator on some real good vanilla ice cream tradition. Yum!

Bought the McKenzie's Caribou skull for a set of antlers and they hung outside over my shop door for years and years with no problem. Also have put deer sheds on a real donor skull using epoxy and some threaded rod with success. http://www.mckenziesp.com/North-American-Skulls-with-Pedicles-C5949.aspx

Everyones worst nightmare, a pair of Blaser owners.....LOL

I think a bunch of guys are selling themselves short here. Sure, you may not be able to scramble across scree fields with a full pack on a sheep hunt. But there are places and/or quality outfitters who can give an honest experience to folks even with challenges. I hunted Muledeer with a guy I met off another forum who needed both hips replaced at 60 and he shot a fine deer on his own terms, and went back with another forum member the following year and did it again. Private land, ranch tag, guide helped him out moving around to glassing points; I did my own thing. Finally he's getting squared up medically 4 years later and hopefully trying to drag him to Namibia with me in the near future.

Interesting, don't think I've ever heard of NZ hunters using dog to hunt deer there, pigs yes. Tracking wounded too. Found some nice sheds exploring some DOC (public) land there when we couldn't get out of camp due to high winds when doing a Tahr hunt on bordering private land. Brought one home. Seen a few Red deer hinds and a few smokin' bull Tahr and would love to fly back in there and take a crack at one or both. Seen a few deer on another piece of public when flying out the following day from the air. Including 2 very nice stags, good enough for the chopper pilot to go around and get a closer look for me. They ain't exactly what you see on the high fenced farms there, more akin to what you see on average hill stags in Scotland and other free ranging stag areas.

Put a few taps in and have enough to make some early light syrup tomorrow. Those lines are coming out and being re done in the future and didn't plan on using them this year, so its a bonus. I'll keep that for me as its what I like. Will see how weather plays for a "real" run, but where I am is often a full month before folks upstate. Usually done and wrapped up down here when others are just starting. Ticks galore in the woods today and mostly finished up repairing, reorganizing tubing on new mainline. Eliminated a few trees, added some new ones I couldn't get pitch too before; think its about the same tap count for this section, and the tank is easy to get to now.

Good choice. Poor mans Buffalo. Blue Wildebeest hunted in some thick cover can be a hell of a fun hunt. Tough critter like Gemsbok for their size too. Wow.....lots of Moose hunters with a bow in this crowd.

The next hunt I do is the current dream hunt for me, or I wouldn't be there. My list is a little more far flung than most and have checked off a couple of boxes here and there. Dagestan Tur or Mid Asian Ibex is hot on my list right now. That'll put me on all six huntable continents at least one time with an Asian hunt; nothing special about that, just a personnel goal. I'd like to finish my "Tiny Ten"......10 of the Africa's smallest antelope. 1/2 way there. Tuskless Elephant in the herds, one of Zimbabwe's most dangerous hunts. I need to buy a newish work vehicle and thats screwing up any plans this year and I hate everything about that.

TFF

Ain't been shot at, been scoped a few times though; close enough for me! Tracking through a thick area and the wind changed and hits on the back of the neck and got winded by a Elephant herd with calves. The group carries one 458, two 375's, and a gov't game scout with a AK-47 with 3 rounds issued to him. Herd splits around a termite mound and goes by both sides of us, everyone with guns on shoulders; they mow down 3" saplings as they go by. 5000 pounds of pissed off pachyderm is an issue, a dozen of them can be a train wreck. Feels like you're holding a toothpick when they start to grumble and trumpet; hurts your ears, your hair stands on end, everything is in slow motion. Thankfully they didn't find us and press home a charge, but everyone stayed cool and collected. In a thicket/ ground blind made of a few brush cuttings on a moonless night and a stiff breeze, waiting for a Bushpig to come in on a bait pile. A Cape Buffalo herd starts to feed in. One cow comes so close she hooks the end of a pole set between two bushes as a shooting rest with her horn and it tumbles into my lap. The rest slowly come down wind now and rumble off after a few tense moments. Shot a smokin' pig last hours of hunt the next night at 1 am, off to airport at 4 am and headed to another country to start it all over again. That was the best 30 days ever..... Wouldn't trade either experience for the biggest Booner buck in NY.

Well that's just ruined my dinner.

That'll work!