grampy

Sitting through the class with my grandson, set me on the course of becoming an instructor myself. There is a need for more. Our class next Saturday, filled very quickly. During our preclass meeting on Thursday, we decided to open five more spots. They have since been filled as well. So cool you and your daughter will be attending together sodfather! Wishing you two a lifetime of hunting memories!!!

Very true. Either way its gone. And it saved me having to load it on the trailer for a trip to the transfer station! It still worked fine, just a little rust showing was all.

Replaced my four year old cheapie grill, with a new cheapie grill. Put the old one with a "FREE" sign on it, at the end of the driveway late yesterday afternoon. Was gone by the time I looked out there this morning! It lives on.

John and Haley you've had an exciting morning so far! Those gobblers know where ya are. From the sweet hen sounds they heard. Once the hens with them are taken care of, they will come looking for you. Hang in there! Sending all my luck! Go team Haley!!!!

That’s good! Puts the Yankees one game closer to leading the AL East!

My grandson has an injury from baseball. No youth weekend for us. Hope to get out during regular season when he's feeling better.

John Deere and the push mower all set to go with fresh oil and filters. Got some spots out back that are getting long. But it's pretty soggy out there with all the rain. Next week will find me out there hacking away for the first time this year. Once I start, it's once a week, weather it needs it or not, until the first of October.

What does Nobody want for their Birthday? Nothing.......

Got some great turkey hunters on this forum. Who have called so many birds before em. They'll hit the woods before it lights up. To sweetly purr, yelp, cackle and cut. And get pissed when the gobblers ignore them.

My hunting buddy put one of those up last year. I'll have him check it. Thanks Larry.

Every time I write Gardner off, the guy comes up BIG. After his dismal overall performance last year, he should have been playing second fiddle to Frazier this year. Hard to hate the drive and zest he has for the game though. But he's way past his prime.

As a certified NYS instructor you are not allowed to take any monetary compensation to give a course. Strictly volunteer. Same as our Deer Search sorties. That said, I see your point Bob. If the situation you described were to happen, strictly speaking for myself, I would come and do it for free. As in doing something along with your Field to Fork program. That is legal. But the shortage of certified instructors is a real concern. Just not enough to go around. So that's why most classes are given at the sportsmans clubs and such, where there are more than one instructor. Very rarely are they given in an instructors garage like they were years ago. Doing it with a sportsmans club, allows us to have more DEC supplied materials. Like training firearms, a guest ECO officer to speak at the class, a cadre of instructors, each with their own individual input, and a very good selection of printed material. Not all courses have the live fire. We are set up with state approved ranges. I feel, it really adds so much more to the safety course. And keeps youngsters more involved during their time with us. We actually have to cram a lot in to eight hours. And it goes by very quickly, with a good portion (at least four hours) of it being outside, hands on stuff. That is the kind of learning, younger folks do best at. I have yet to have a youngster fall asleep on me. Not that it may not happen at some point......as I am a boring old guy. But my greatest "payment" is at the end of the class, when they get their certificates. The smiles, fist bumps, thumbs up's are all priceless.

Both the Yanks and the Sox are struggling at this point of the season, and the Rays are arguably one of the best teams in baseball. Definitely the best in the AL east at this point. It's still early, but as it looks right now, I think either the Yanks or Sox will be second to the Rays at the end of this season. Of course if the Yankees can get back some of their starters from the IR list, and cure the injury bug, they could turn things around big time. The Red Sox just look flat to me? They still have much of the talent that carried them to a WS win last year. Long way to the end of the season. Got a lot of games to be played. I'll enjoy watching to see how it all plays out. Soooooo........Let's Go Yankees!!!!

One of my reasons for getting involved with Hunter Education, is not enough instructors to go around. Hence, not enough classes at times to fill the needs, of all that would like to attend. Our next class of 30, on April 27th filled very quickly. (they always do) We give usually four classes a year, that's only 120 new hunters. We are meeting tomorrow night, to see if we can add a couple more classes, "IF" we can get enough instructors. One of these will be in early bow season. It takes a lot of time and commitment to become a certified instructor these days. But coming full circle, and giving back to something that I have loved all my life, was an easy decision for me. But we need more!!! The course now, is really just a review of the online homework that must be completed prior to attending the class for eight hours. I have been given the 'ethics' and 'firearm handling' parts of this class. There is much to go over in those eight hours, and no time for telling old boring stories. But.....we do share with the class our experience. All the instructors at our club have decades of it. We try very hard to not be boring!! And try to relate to the young people, in a way to get our clear message through to them. We split the time equally, between indoor instruction, and outdoor hands on activity. We have live fire, for both 22lr and shotgun 20g and 12g skeet, (set for easy straight away shots). Must be at least 12 years of age for this. Tree stand safety, with actual tree stands and various harnesses. The hands on, safe carrying, and handling of firearms instruction, using many different situations, while alone or with other hunters. True to life blood tracking, and tips on how to recover deer. Hands on with the various types of long guns, single shot, pump, and semi auto. And how they all work. In my opinion this is much better than just reading a course from a book or computer, then give them a licence. It is the interaction between the instructors and students, to make important points that will sink in, and be carried to the field with the future hunter. Not that we as dads, granddads, uncles, and mentors don't do a great job. We do!! We are the backbone of our future hunters! But when I took my grandson to his Safety Course, I noticed he listened much more intently, to what the instructors were saying. Seemingly more so, than what I was always saying on our field lessons. And he confirmed through the course, what he had learned from me. So my point is, I think we should keep the instruction part of the Safety Course. Done right, it can make a difference with new hunters. I can still remember my own safety course, so many years ago. Given by a well experienced outdoorsman. He said a couple things that day, that I still carry with me to the woods and fields. If anyone gets a chance, give back, make a difference, and become a certified instructor. No pay, and many hours, but well worth it.

Congrats on the tag draw Skillet! Very cool. I too will be following your adventure from here. My grandmother was full blood native american. As a boy, I visited the reservation with her, quite a few times, and learned some of the 'old ways' from my great uncles. There is something deeply appealing to me about hunting a bison with the bow. Wishing you fun and success.

Where are you now bugs? In my younger days after getting out of the army, I spent a few years in S. Carolina and Florida. The hunting, fishing, hiking and beaches were excellent. But I never did get used to the heat and humidity in the summer. Still have family in both places. Nice to visit, but would never live there again. The mountains of N. Carolina, may be where I go for retirement though. You still get four seasons there, and green grass by mid March. Low taxes and no Safe Act!

Good time to bump it too. With the Yankees shutting out the Red Sox 8 to 0....... Sox had a great run last year. They can't even crawl this year so far. Go Yanks!

Oh yeah..........that is so cool with the skull and rocks!!! Yes sir.......

From what I am seeing and reading, the fire cause appears to be accidental. "NOT" terrorist related. This time. Sorry to down all the conspiracy theories.

Happy Birthday sir! Enjoy all the good stuff coming your way today, and everyday!

Nice boat!!! Looks to be in perfect shape. Have fun! Hey......................where are the downriggers and pedestal seats?????? lol

You come from good stock Jay. And it shows. Sam will carry on the family values. You are a lucky man my friend. Wonderful tribute.

hahahaha........I was trying to come up with one, but you nailed it my friend! Got a funny look in the office, when I lol'ed.

Another sweet carving wooly! And a real nice hot dog cooker when the work is done!

When I get caught up a bit, I have a bunch of 7mm-08 brass. I could make up some handloads for hunting, if you like? Nothing hot or maxed out of course. Could even go low end for reduced recoil.