grampy

Great work, and they look awesome!!! First attempt came out really good! I'd think with that machine and your skills, there are alot of projects you could do for outdoor stuff!!

NYSDEC will become more hunter friendly, once it becomes it's own entity, and can make it's own decisions. Being straddled with clueless, influenced politicians, not biologists, making, or not making policy and sensible decisions.

Got my two shots last year. That's it for me. No boosters, no more shots, no nothing. If I get the virus so be it. That will boost my immunity against further infections. Next thing you know, it will be advised to get regularly scheduled boosters. Nope. No thanks.

I usually put a new one in every three years. Just to avoid a weak battery. I use the Wally World ones.

Hunting rabbits with a good beagle is as much fun as you can have in the woods! We always had a couple good ones when I was growing up. The best of them all, was Babe. She never failed to put rabbits right in front of me! She also had a certain dirty look she would give me if I missed! I miss her to this day. I gotta get out soon and do some rabbit hunting! Haven't gone in a year or two. Will need to get the ok from my doc. Or just go, and keep close to the juniper bushes? Our secret!

Would absolutely be awesome to have a bunch of the SENY crew come up! This GTG could be epic!!! And well attended. As we have all been in somewhat isolation long enough! I now have a couple family members that tested positive. They don't live with us though. At work, the positive cases are mounting to all time highs within the district. I'm still good! But expect to come down with something at some point? I feel by the end of January, the tide will start turning to lesser numbers. As soon as we feel the risk factor is safe enough for us all to gather, the GTG, WILL be scheduled!!! Hope to see you all there! The venue is pretty large and will accommodate us! Could possibly even have our own space downstairs?

In my situation, "the old guys" lived on the farms they hunted. They were in the fields every day. If there were deer around, they would've seen them. And true was the fact, that in hard times, it did not have to be deer season, to put meat on the table to feed their families. It was a different time and place during the first half of last century. Hunting was primarily to feed yourself and family. Not so much for sport. Perhaps that contributed to a degree, the low deer numbers of that time period?

As far as deer numbers go, we are living right now, in "the good old days"! The deer numbers have never been higher. When I start hunting in the 70s it really was something to just see a deer. Getting ANY deer, was a cause for celebration! The old guys when I started would say, "back in the day", they'd go years without seeing a buck!

Not worth risking one's life for a stupid fish!!! I always have to shake my head at the first one's out there, with iffy conditions. Some badge of honor, for the less brilliant among us???

Happy Birthday Bob!!! All the best to ya my friend!

For the extra $33 may as well bite the bullet if you are in need of them. 1000 will last you quite some time, if you are a normal shooter/hunter. They won't really make that much difference in accuracy than CCI or most any other primer. They will just be a touch hotter.

Nice!!! That is all you need, and will do a great job cleaning up your casings!!!

Well.......since so many people I know are now coming down with Covid. Both at work, and my private life. I think it would be prudent to hold off on any GTG for the immediate time being. Will see what the situation is in a few weeks. Not canceling this GTG! Just postponing it for just a little bit. My hope is that delaying a little bit, will make for a better turn out!

Meat Bags you say????..............hmmmm............. Might be worth making a road trip!!!!

Thanks Matt! If you happen to see Chris or Amanda, see what they can do to accommodate us?? I will also try to contact them by phone, to set up a date.

For each and every hunter........"Shoot What You Like! Like What You Shoot!". I've said this many times. Never be caught up in what others do, or don't do. It will only take the fun out of it for you. The reasons why we are all out there, are as individual to us, as our fingerprints. No two reasons for hunting are exactly the same. We all have different goals and situations, that are unique to US!!! Do whatever makes YOU happy! In the time YOU have to enjoy the hunting season. It's YOUR time! Make it good time! Even if you don't see a deer. The time spent with others, or by ourselves in the woods, should always be cherished, regardless if we kill a deer or not. It's that time spent in nature, that makes us hunters. Not the size of the rack we drag out. When I first started deer hunting, it was a time to celebrate if ANY deer was taken! Now days, there is too much media hype,and a certain amount of "pressure" to shoot huge racked bucks. Why though? Every deer, is an accomplishment to be proud of! I feel it's wrong to talk down on anyone else's accomplishment!!! From a doe fawn, to a booner, they are all accomplishments to be proud of. As we hunt more, sometimes our goals will change, and we may want more of a challenge. I get that. I try to challenge myself to shoot at least a two or three year old buck. But that's just what makes ME happy! I am just as happy for the hunter who shoots a button buck. And in no way do I feel superior to the hunter that put that nice tasty meat in his freezer! We are BOTH happy! But putting shame on what any other hunter kills, or doesn't kill, is to lack in a true hunter spirit. Just the opinion of an old and sometimes not so wise huner................

Dinsdale has many African trips under his belt, and I'm sure he can, and will give some tips. It's on my bucket list after retirement, to accompany him on an African adventure!!!

As for gutting, most times it's done in the field right away. But sometimes, we will get the deer to the hanging/skinning shed and gut it there. But it's always done asap. That works for me. Have had to retrieve deer left overnight on rare occasions. And the neat was fine. Gutting this year's buck with my partners help.

Begin???? They've begun already!!!! For the most part, I'm trying to just tune it all out, and keep with the positive.

Sounds like the trip of a lifetime! Wishing you good travels and great hunting! Looking forward to the pic's!

I do like the changes made in legal hunt times this past season. That said, it didn't benefit me much, as the deer stuck mostly to very thick cover on our property. Those very thick areas get dark much sooner than the more open hardwoods or fields. Like others have said, had there been snow on the ground, it would have helped more. It does not appear, that there were any more obvious hunting "accidents" due to the regulation time change either. So that is another positive. The wearing of mandatory orange didn't effect me at all, because I have always worn it during firearms season.

As of right now, most all the local lakes in the capitol region are still open water. Hope to get some ice by the end of January?? In the mean time, use extreme caution whenever venturing out! Be Sure, there is enough ice to hold you and your gear.

You're right. It does look weird! Like you said, perhaps a camera nearby? Hey, check out the GTG thread Carlos. Would be great if we could meet up again!

Perhaps a small game hunter got a couple squirrels. Then got a lucky shot on the coyote? Pure speculation though on my part. But why dump the squirrels? I've never seen anything like that before!

Wouldn't be a GTG without ya Paul! Looks like it will be a Saturday afternoon. Now to nail down a date!