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The drag line was soaked with Tinks 69. The old standby.

Deer moving in 8H, just not what I want to shoot an arrow at. Three doe a spike and a one antler unicorn. Both bucks following my drag line and grunting.

Live from the lawn mower. Beyond my targets and under the Apple trees. See her?

First sit of the year after recovering from an injury. Twenty minutes and the woods are popping! Had a doe at ten yards but a buck was back in the brush grunting and thrashing a tree pretty good. I caught a glimpse of a dark body but not the head. He’s running around on the hillside in front of me chasing the doe. Man, it’s good to be back!

Interesting, Turkey Feathers and I had the same beer today. Never saw this one before my BIL gave me a four pack the other day.

World Series and beer. Even without the Yankees, it’s a good evening. Broken Skull IPA from El Segundo out in California. Another state that’s disappointed not to be playing tonight.

Pan seared pheasant yesterday and spaghetti with home made venison Italian sausage in the sauce today. Two simple but delicious wild game meals.

My Live From the Woods story is not what I hoped it would be at this point. Injury has made it impossible to hunt so far but I just couldn’t take it anymore. I had to get out in the woods. No bow but I sat in a ladder stand this evening and watched four doe and one small four pointer milling about in the food plot till well after dark. Damn! I need to have a bow in my hands.

I have a set in western pattern that I have used for two elk hunting trips. I love it. Wind lining, very warm and not very heavy when wet. Some kind of treatment helps shed water.

State land straight across rte 70 from Swain. That was 43 hunting seasons ago and I knew nothing. Over a foot of snow fell the previous evening and all I knew was that this was state land that I could hunt on. Parked on rte 70 and slogged my way straight uphill till I was near the top. I was surprised to spot a number of other hunters along the top ridge and wondered how they got up there as mine was the only vehicle parked along 70. Then I hit the road.......that comes up the hill from just south of where I parked. Found a tree to climb up in and about one hour later a buck comes strolling along! One shot and he drops right in his tracks! OK, now what? I climb down out of the tree, lean my shotgun (Ted Williams 12 ga from Sears) against a tree and pull out my knife to get to work, not that I really had a clue as to what to do. Turns out, I didn’t have to do anything. The deer jumped up (minus one antler) and ran off. Finally went back there after 43 years but it has changed in many ways. Didn’t shoot at another deer for the next three seasons but started learning a lot along the way. Not a great hunt but great memories.

Above Giants Washbowl on Giant Mtn.

Unimaginable for us retirees. I prefer working to drag my old butt up a mtn. like Giant. And then, of course, a few job well done brews at Ray Brook Brewing. Great new place.

Golf at Tupper Lake was great but no beer to be had! First time I’ve gone 18 holes dry.... So, back at Raquette River Brewing. Nice IPA.

Way to go! It’s great that you’ve made the choice to get healthy. I’m down fifty since retiring and it feels great.

Sitting at Raquette River Brewing having an IPA by the fire pit. It’s gonna be a great week. Staying at a place on Upper Saranac Lake all week.

Napa Wood Fired Pizza. Just off South Clinton. Great pizza and nice spot. Good beer also. Hope all is going well for your dad.

Best of luck on the hunt. My advice after a bunch of western hunts is like many others, enjoy the hunt and learn all you can. The only thing I will add is that two days is likely not enough for acclimatize for the altitude that you’ll be hunting. If that’s all you can spare, work your way into it not only those first two days but the first two days of your hunt. Start easy and work into it. Good luck and enjoy.

So today I’m playing chauffeur for my wife in Buffalo. I call it driving Miss Ginny. The perk is dinner at a place of my choice. Woodcock Brothers Brewing in the old Wuerletzer building. Very nice west coast IPA.

Please, someone put me out of my misery! The evening started out great, with dinner and a few good beers at Resurgence Brewing on Chicago St. in Buffalo. Good beers. Problems began when we showed up at our hotel. Marriott Harborfront. A room facing out to the harbor park.... where a concert with rapper Nelly is so loud I can feel the window shaking on the 15th floor! Help me! I’m in hell. More Resurgence IPA, please.

29 years ago this week my wife and I climbed Katadin on our honeymoon. That just confirmed for me that she was a keeper. Didn’t know a thing about the trail but found a brochure and set off from Bar Harbor to make the climb. A wicked long climb and snow on the flanks but made it up and back in a long day. The drive into Katahdin was more dangerous than the climb with log trucks hauling ass down one and a half lane dirt roads. Also one of the first craft beers I ever enjoyed, Maine Brewery was in the basement of a house at the time. Damn, time flies by...

A day for golf ( good and bad, enough good to keep me going back) and beer on the deck. Official, a hazy NEIPA from Bell’s. Great flavor without being too citrusy. Life is good.

I’m having a pint of Voluptuous IPA (homebrew) with my girlfriend and wife on the deck. One of them loves me unconditionally....

Having something different today. A Brut IPA blended with Pinot. From Rogue. Tastes like champagne with hops in it. Not bad on a hot summer day but nothing I’m gonna have on a regular basis. Still, good to try new things....

Johnplav, Hayburner IPA is a favorite of mine. Got it on tap in my basement right now. Having a new for me pale ale (dry hopped) from attire Brewing. Very tasty while cooking wild boar cutlets on the grill.

Trump Tower in Chicago. Half Acre Daisy Cutter Pale Ale. Really good pale ale. Lots of good hop flavor.