Fletch

At this stage of my hunting he would get a pass unless it was the last day and I had nothing in the freezer!! I would not begrudge anyone shooting him though he is a nice deer and I would be happy for them. I have taken many smaller bucks. I will say though .5 and 1.5 year old bucks taste really good. I took a 3.5 a 2.5 and a 4.5 or 5.5 deer last year and the quality goes down with age for sure!

Biz I shoot broadheads that you can replace the blades. I have shot multiple deer with the same broadhead quite a few times. The broadheads I shoot are 40 bucks for 3 and half of that to just replace the blades. I thouroughly inspect each and replace the whole broadhead if needed. 20 broadheads would cost me about $270.00!!! yikes Hair shaving sharp broadheads are the only kind to shoot. Even just being out in the elements your blades will lose their edge and need to be sharpened.

Well it is that wonderful time of the year again!! The leaves are changing and falling. The pesky bugs are thinning out. The bucks are hard antlered and their coats have gone from red to grayish brown. I am a bit behind in getting ready for the weekend!! I have yet to get all my gear together. I did change out some broadhead blades. And of course have been shooting. I also put in a new ground blind above the "hole" stand. I needed a good watch to get out with the kids on. The weekend weather sounds a bit interesting but we will see. I am looking forward to reading everyone elses journals this year and I hope to return the favor. Good luck to all of you, now off to finish the "to do list quickly"!! Fletch

I definetly read. I spend a lot of time in stand and it keeps me still and in the stand longer. I do not read when it is wet out or usually the first week or so while it is too thick still. When the leaves or snow have a bit of noise to them I can hear vey well and will read a paragraph or two and then scan for a bit then read........Some days it is just so nice out and things to watch I do not read others I do. I also always have my berry with me as I am on call 24/7 and have to reply to emails and such. That is not any fun but a necesity.

I need to do this as well and washer kicked this week. Have a new one ordered it better get here this coming wek!

Way to go D and a fine start to the season!!

Way to go!! Congratz!!

As some others posted when not cool enought o hang, and remember it could be 50 out in the sun on a hill but down in a cool shady spot closer to 40, I have packed with a couple bags of ice and packed in a sleeping bag. Now I have an old beer cooler. The horizontal kind that went under the bar. I have that in the garage. In the summer it seconds as a party cooler for drinks and such. In hunting season I could stuff two deer in there no problem.

Boy my Gander in Cicero (Syracuse burb) has been very disappointing lately. For the past year the store has been like half empty. I was there the other day looking for a camping stove, I had almost 200 bucks in Gander cards in my pocket and left the store empty handed. They had less stoves on display than The Sports Authority. Where I ended up getting my second choice stove, a Coleman 1/2 burner 1/2 grill model. Gander did have that one but it was $99 it was $89 at SA plus 20% off all Coleman special then pulled their 15% off coupon online so it cost me $62. $37 dollars cheaper. SA had 8 grill choices and Gander had 4 or 5? Not sure why but they stock half of what they used to here.

I think key is layering. The technology of what we used to call thermal underwear is crazy now. Get a thin wicking base layer, a medium layer and a heavy fleece varity layer for cold. Then I have a medium weight camo pants and jacket windproof, quiet and water resistant.Then just make sure outer layer is roomy and depending on weather wear one, two or all three underlayers. In extreme cold I will add a good quality extra fleece top layer. The main reason for getting cold is losing heat at the head/face/neck area so get a good hat, again I use a double aproach where I have a thin one and have a heavier one to put over. Get a neck gator that you can pull up over nose as well, fleece is good and soft. Next is hands. Get a muff and put a chemical hand warmer in it. Last is feet. Always buy boots wearing your hunting socks and make sure they do not squeeze your feet in any way. Slowing the circulation in your feet by tight boots equals cold feet quick. Wear a wicking liner sock then a good qulity cold weather sock. I like boots from 800mg for regular weather and I have 1800mg high boots for cold and snow. If super cold and sitting you can drop in a chemical toe warmer, I would not do this walking due to it will make your feet sweat. Sweat is bad. Carry in outer layers to your watch and go slow. If you get all sweaty you will not last long as well as give off a lot of human odor. Everyone has their favorite brands and usually in this instance quality does cost more and is worth it. But do your research a couple of the big names and highest priced are not worth it in my opinion. You can usually get some good stuff reasonable if you do your homework. But as well an outfit you pay 15 bucks for is gonna work like something you paid 15 bucks for when it is 10 degrees out. Good luck.

I have just about always done it with frozen that has been thawed out. Always been very good.

lol "ass" = add. What takes the most time for me is trimming the meat to pack the jars. That can take some time. I can usually do a couple batches in one evening. It probably takes 20 to 30 minutes for the cooker to drop temp and the pressure tab falls, then you can open and pull jars to finish cooling and start another batch. The link above is pretty much the way to do it, I add the salt but otherwise right on. It lasts well over a year but I doubt if you do not polish it off before that.

I do cold pack in sterilized jars remove all air bubbles with a non metalic say spatula handle and ass 1/2 tsp. per pint 1 tsp. per quart of canning salt on top. Leave 3/4 to 1 inch oh headspace. Cook pints for 75 minutes and quarts for 90 minutes at 12 to 14 pounds pressure. Let cool normally do not release pressure from canner after removing from heat. Steps to cool quicker end up loosing liquid as in steam out of the jars. It is very easy and very good. Best recipe is warm up with a can of mushroom gray and a can on mushrooms and serve over noodles.

I am heading out for a camp trip this weekend. With the huricane forcast coming up the coast I hope it holds off till I am out Sunday!! I did pick up a new Coleman stove/grill combo so I won't starve. Still want to do the hunt camp thing but have not talked my bro into it yet. The wife wants to do a kayak/camp trip which sounds cool. As long as it is with the current!! Anyone ever do a canoe or kayak camp trip in the Dacks? just 2 or 3 day jaunt.

Hate the little buggers. I have had more than a half dozen over the past 8 or 9 years here. I find them mowing the lawn. Later that night they get a half gallon or more gas and then light. It has always worked for me. I even had skunks one year that after I barbecued them they would dig em up and eat them!

I have quite a bit of it on my property and some other places I hunt. I am also very allergic to it so I get it a couple times a year. I have had it on every part of my body at some point or another. Not fun stuff.

I pulled my cam just yesterday. Has not been touched in 6 weeks. Had 260 pics on it. Had a couple fawns lots of does and some good looking bucks. One bachelor group of 5. And a couple with some good bases. Also had a yote. I will get a couple pics up.

Any of you guys have any input on youth ATVs? I want to get one for my sons 9th Birthday coming up. But not paying thousands for a kid ATV. Anybody familiar with any online sellers. http://www.powersportsmax.com/index.php is one I found http://www.usaatvs.com/ is one my cousin got one for his kids and said it was pretty good.

I am in a battle now with chipmonkjs getting into my work truck. I put mothballs under the hood and it seems to keep them away but I need to get a perminent solution. I can not do poison or traps that a dog can get to. Would they get into the bucket trap outdoors?

We usually do the weekend camping trip once a summer. It hurts the body more every year!! I have always wanted to do an Adirondack hunting trip by tent. I have been really thinking about doing it the last year or two. I am thinking doing the early ML season so chances of real bad weather are slimmer. Hunting is tougher and bugs most likely but probably a safer start. Would really like to canoe back in to do this.

I have 2 home made kits. One is always in my pack. It is packed in a sweet tarts tin just a bit bigger than the old sucrets tins. In it I have; 2 band aids, 1 sting ease, 1 alcohol pad, 1 candle stub, 1 compact compass, 6 aspirin, fire starter, box waterproof matches, bottle purifyer tabs, mini LED light, fish line, 2 hooks, sew kit, 1 antiseptic pad and a bit of tin foil. The second is a bigger kit in a swiss army tin about twice the size of the other that I throw in as well when needed. This is for excurtions into new areas or farther in trips, or longer trips. It has; 9 band aids, coil saw, Swiss Card, fire starter, aspirin, candle, fishing line, some foil and a space blanket. I also always have a tactical flashlight in my stuff as well as a led cap and my cell phone.

I have just a small peice of 12 acres that my house is on. I also have permission to hunt 20 something acres of a neighbors. It is a great bow spot and in the 10 or 11 years I have lived here I have taken 11 deer off it. I have been traying to add to it but have not convinced any neighbors yet. I also have been looking for that perfect waterfront 75 to 150 acres for a decade now for a camp. I almost had one once but got outbid. Someday!!!

I go occasionally to BPS and seldom and overwhelmed by any prices. I have bought arrows on sale and had no prblems. Last time ended up getting some shorts and shirts that were priced real well. I do go to Gander because it is close and same as BPScI like feeling and seeing stuff in my hands. You can not do that online. I already know the online price so if Gander is higher I just by online. I have also noticed this store has strange stocking patterns and at times is out of a lot of stuff. Dicks I usually hit for simple needed items and always keep an eye on their clearance stuff.

Once you try it you will see the advantage. And yes it makes any cut tender. Also you can store without refridgeration for a long time. I personally would not go more than 12 to 18 months but who ever has it last that long?!!

Very cool, I would bet more than 4 times rarer. I see a few pics of albinos and piebalds taken each year but have only seen one or two pics of these.