HUNT6246

I'm not familiar with calibrating scales, but as long as the scale works, could you borrow or use a rifle bullet say 100 grains or so to calibrate your scale? I'd think that would get you pretty close and would likely be accurate enough. It would save the cost of buying a whole new scale.

I took a Fall Hazard training class at work several years ago. Using the CDS to jump off the training tower was one of our last things & kind of a graduation exercise for the course once you had developed confidence in the continuous protection concept and use of the equipment. With equipment we used at work, you'd go to the ground very quickly, but it sure beats a free-fall. I think they're a great idea - although I have no experience with the brand you mention. You might compare prices at Safety supply store. I don't go up trees anymore due to health reasons. But, if I did, I'd use one of these or a rope with a Prussic knot system for safe ascent and decent.

Sounds like you're asking about using your bird barrel with slugs. If so, I'd suggest a saddle type scope mount, use a improved cylinder or cylinder bore screw in choke and go to it; try different brands of slugs until you find one you like. A smooth bore slug barrel (with a saddle style scope mount) should do about 3" groups or so at 75 - 100 yds with the right foster style slug. If you want possibly better groups and want to interchange barrels for other uses, I'd go with a rifled barrel with a cantilver scope mount and shoot sabot bullets. In either case, for a scope I recommend something in the range of 1 3/4X-5X or 2X-7X; and pick a good one like Nikon or Leupold. There are a few things you can do to tighten up the barrel to receiver fit that will help improve accuracy in both cases. If you want a lighter combination and have good eyes, a slug barrel (smooth or rifled) with iron sights will do the job too and will be more pleasant to carry.

Here is a good one for breakfast sausage patties. I prefer a bit more of the fennel seed though. You can vary any of the ingredients and fry up a small amount until you come up with what you like. Full Batch One-third batch 18 pounds ground venison 6 pounds ground venison 9 pounds ground pork 3 pounds ground pork 8 tablespoons salt 2 TBsp +2 tsp. salt 1 quart water (32 oz) 1 1/3 cup water 4 tablespoons fennel seed 4 tsp fennel seed 4 tablespoons sugar 4 tsp sugar ½ pound grated cheese (8 oz) 2-2/3 oz. (1/6 pound) grated cheese 6 tablespoons red pepper* 2 TBsp red pepper* 4 tablespoons garlic (minced/ jar) 1 TBsp + 1 tsp garlic (minced/ jar) 3 tablespoons coriander 1 TBsp coriander 8 tablespoons parsley 2 TBsp +2 tsp parsley. Mix all spices and cheese together – add into 1 quart of water – pour into venison/ pork mixture. Mix Well. 6 tablespoons red pepper – you might want to reduce amount. 6 tablespoons made the venison a little to ‘hot’ for us!!

I have a Flambeau decoy - standing, head up posture. I usually break it out a couple times each year. I've used it with horns and without, standing and bedded. I've tried not calling, grunt calling and rattling; away from and near scrapes. I've tried scents, no scents and tails that would flip in the breeze or tails on a string that I could flip myself to get some movement. I've only been sure that I had another deer see it, once. It was a spike in a lightly wooded area. He was probably about 25-30 yds. from the decoy and cross wind when he saw it. Once he spotted it, he froze, and soon turned inside out and couldn't get out of there fast enough. I've shot a lot of deer but no real luck with a decoy.

I'd sugggest that you call Remington. I have a left handed Mod 700 that I bought in the mid 70's (used). You couldn't work the bolt on that with the safety on. Remington had a safety recall on them after someone got shot - I believe trying to unload their gun. I sent mine back and had it fixed. Now I can work the bolt with the safety on. Check with them. They may make the change for no cost.

Good looking results. I'm just starting to paint one myself but was going to use the sponge camo technique. Yours looks much better though. Can you tell us how you did it?

I've been looking at expanding the hunting opportunities for my three grown sons, myself and our growing families. We've been looking at Wyoming County. The area seems to have good hunting and you can use a rifle if you choose. I've looked at buying property, but, it's kind of pricy - more of an investment and hoping that the land value will go up with time and hoping that the hunting will continue to be good. I'd like something around 100 acres if possible. Does anyone out there know if there are any leases available in Wyoming County? And if it might be lease with the option of purchase, all the better. Thanks!

I believe there are outdoor shooting ranges for rifle at North Forest Sportsmans Club (Lockport), 3-FClub (Lewiston), Niagara County Sportsmans (Lockport), and other clubs in Gasport, and Middleport to mention a few. Not sure about Tonanwanda Sportsmans club (just off Bear Ridge Rd.) In most cases, you would likely have to be a member though unless you could get on with a member as a guest.

I live in Newfane - Northeast Niagara County. Since opening day, I've heard shooting only 4 times; one shot opening day, last Saturday - a three shot volley at about 5:30 and two other shots spaced minutes apart shortly after 7 AM. Our home is in the woods where turkeys usually hang out this time of year. When I can't get out, I can hear if there's any calling from our open window. About two weeks ago, I saw one bird in a field North of the house but couldn't tell if it was a hen or gobbler. So far - Nothing. Doesn't look like a good year!!!

Never ceases to amaze me on this site! I ask for information about a simple blank permission slip, and see where the conversation goes!!!!

Fasteddie - That's the one I was looking for. Thanks!

Several years ago (if I recall correctly) I got several blank permission slips for hunting, fishing, trapping and tresspass purposes. Now they're all gone! I wanted to use one before the start of turkey season. I believe the blank permits came from a DEC booth at a county fair. They were a blue two part form and one part went to the property owner and you kept the other half. The part you kept was about credit card size and could be stored in your wallet. Before I start from scratch does anyone know if these are still available or is there a template anywhere that I can use to keep from starting at ground zero to make one up?

As a suggestion, you might try going to ShotgunWorld.com under their forums section they have a specific topic for slug guns and slug shooting. Lots of good intormation there. Pertains not only to loading slugs but to guns that shoot them most accurately.

Another idea may be a forum topic on 'Reloading'.

My (grown) son's like to put our (portable - hang on) stands up in September and leave them up through the end of muzzleloader season. Trouble is the stands were rusting and we found that critters liked to feast on the padded cloth seats. My wife got tired of replacing the cloth seats and I didn't like the stands deteriorating. This year, I took 6 of the stands apart and spend quite a bit of time replacing the cloth seats with wood, raised them so they were higher and covered the wood with a rubber covering, removed all the rust and repainted everything. Since I didn't get help with the project, I didn't let the boys put them back up until just before archery season. That's too bad - maybe next time they'll help. Putting the stands up in October didn't seem to make any difference in the deer take from them either. I have a metal ladder stand that's been up for the past year, if I could get help taking it down and putting it away, I'd get that down until next year too. I lock the sections of the ladder stand together and lock it to the tree. A neighbor's ladder stands were stolen only a couple of 100 yards from mine.

Silver Salmon - Yes, I got my trees from Schlabach's on Murdoch Rd. with a Medina address. They're located roughly between Lyndonville and Medina. I started with 10 trees this year. They said I was late because I didn't plant until the end of May. I know that I lost at least a couple. But, we had a long dry spell and I wasn't home to water them like I probably should have. What's left looks good and they've done much better than trees I've tried from other nurseries. One other thing that I don't believe was covered is that the new trees should be pruned somewhat to help them put growth into a root system the first year. At least that was what I was always told and my family was in the fruit farming business for many years so that's what I did.

I haven't had any luck with Bushnells. Too much parallax at any range. Make sure if you get a scope for the .22 that it is adjusted for parallax at 50 yds or so, not at 100 yds like a regular big game type scope would be. If you could pick up a used Leupold, you'd have a top rated scope, lifetime warranty and they will change the parallax setting for you for a nominal fee.

Have your soil PH checked and go with recommendations for lime and/ or fertilizer as well. If you want your apples for hunting season choose varieties that will remain on the tree through season. Pears are a very good thing to try as well - deer really like them. Deer (like people) will go after the sweetest apples first. As others have said, get as much sunlight to them as possible and go with the largest trees possible. We have an Amish nursery nearby that sells wildlife fruit tree packs. They're trees that may not be the most suitable for farming but are cheaper and just as hardy.

I wanted to go over to the Blackhorn powder this year. But, spotted a warning on the label. You aren't supposed to use it if your primer isn't recessed in the breach plug. I have a Remington 700ml and it has an exposed nipple. I called Blackhorn on it and they recommended not using their powder. I hadn't heard about this before in all my reading, but am glad I found out before handing out the money for the (expensive) powder.

Just wondering how others did in 9A. I know there had to have been deer taken, but just wondered if the success rate was there for others. I'm hunting in the town of Newfane and this has been my worst season ever. Other family members only saw a few deer as well and they were during archery season only. Don't know if this is a widespread thing or just the limited area we have to hunt. Opening morning of shotgun, there were more shots in the 1/2 hour before dawn than there were the rest of the day. With all the DMP permits issued, there should have been a deer behind every bush. In our area, the corn didn't get cut until late and I think the deer spent a lot of time in there and with the posted signs many areas just weren't accessible. When I did some long range scouting, I just didn't see much for tracks either. Hope the rest of you had a better season than we did!

Perhaps your friend could look into a Non-Ambulatory Hunter permit from the DEC and see if he qualifies. It doesn't let him shoot from the highway, but it gets you off the couch and gives you a chance to get outdoors. The permit holder can shoot from a vehicle when the vehicle's engine is off. This gives a person with a vehicle on a farm lane or using an ATV a chance to still get out and enjoy the outdoors. It may not be the way he or anyone else prefers to hunt, but it may be better than nothing at all.

I've shot a number of deer from the ground in years past. Used to try to sit next to a forked tree and built a little 'pig pen' of sticks and limbs around the sides and front to sit in to help camo me and hide any movement - it worked pretty good. But, I've also shot deer without the pen. Several years ago I bought a doghouse blind and had a very large bear in to 12 feet but couldn't shoot him in the head with the bow and didn't feel comfortable having him that close. Finally hollered and told him to get out of there. Luckily he did!. More recently I bought a ground blind that's shaped like a slice of lemon; about 41" high by 9 feet long. Very nice to sit behind on a stool but haven't shot anything from it yet. MIne's from LL Bean and probably somewhat overpriced. But easy to carry and set up. You might look elsewhere for another product to do the same.

I'm interested in purchasing some property for hunting. One parcel under consideration has the large commercial windmills nearby, but not on the property. I've heard stories that windmills may adversely effect game (deer, turkeys and so one) nearby due to noise, blade reflections etc. etc. And, in fact drive them from the area. For anyone who has hunted near these windmills which are located all over the state, what are your observations? Thank you

Another thing that works well is to knot or glue a small feather to one end of a short piece of fine thread (about 4-6 inches) and tie the other end of the thread someplace on your bow (like a stabilizer) or front sling swivel on your gun. Works well except in really wet weather. It's always handy and ready to use, plus you don't have to be carrying additional items in your pockets. If you don't have a feather handy but have a friend who is a fly tier, ask them for a feather. They short have the thread too if you need it. A small breast feather from a wood duck or mallard works great.