Bionic

That sounds perfect!

Its like road sign metal, NOT galvanized, but I guess like 1/8" thick steel plate as heat shield. Bolting/unbolting could work. They also sell that fire proof rope(like pellet stove doors have as a seal) if you find the seems leak too much smoke.

If you have the time to tinker, and build one, I would, the smile on my dad's face everytime I see him use it, is priceless.

I should have mentioned that the smoker I described is more for bulk smoking, when he makes snack sticks, smoked sausage, smoked hams, pork bellies... My dad will use a regular metal drum style smoker if hes smoking ribs for dinner though, or meals like that.

Very cool, I always hope to get a deer of such size even on a trail camera. I live/hunt 3k though.

My dad built a smoker, it works incredibly. it looks like an out house in a way, but is about 2'x 2'. The fire box is on the bottom and it consists of stones concreted together sort of like an old house foundation, it has a wooden door that has inside heat shield so the wood does not catch fire, the door also has a ait flow adjustability. He also has metal that sits over the fire with small perimeter gapping to allow the smoke to rise. The top box where the meat hangs, is made out of wood, sort of board and batten. It has metal rods to hand the meat from. He also has the witeless temperature monitor that allows him to know what the inside of the smoker temp is, and meat temp I believe. its his passion, he loves it.

Wow, Orange County? I work in Orange County, and I know there are some big bucks in Goshen/scotchtown area, but those deer pictured are VERY nice. good luck!

Well I spoke too soon lol. I saw a bear tonight in my front woods.

crops as in farm fields? There aren't any farms within i'd say 30 miles. They must move to other sections of the forest for foods. I wish I could figure them out, some big bears around.

Ok, that makes sense, thanks for the info.

I live in Sullivan County, and in the spring, until around the wnd of August, early September I see numerous bears. I see bears at my house more often than deer, and see a lot during my commute. I lose track typically around 25-30 sightings, which i feel is a lot of sightings. Anyways, once September comes around I don't see bears anymore, even during my 37 mile commute to Orange County through Forestburgh, and Oakland Valley which is heavily forested. I was curious if anyone can teach me why. I assume its dur to heat, and they start to not move as much, but then when I think deeper tgst makes no sense because I see them regularly in June, July, August, and I stop seeing them when they should probably be starting to fatten up. Maybe my home is not near fatty food for the bears.

My last 2 deer were taken with a 25-06, all one shot kills, none of the deer went far either. My dad gave me the gun, so it's something I can't bring myself to stop using, and so far its proven itself. I am uncertain though about its effectiveness on a black bear though? I firmly believe in shot placement, but I know on the deer, you really do not see the entrance wound on a deer with the 25-05, and the exit wound is pretty small. I feel like a bear's fur would clog the entry/exit wounds with 25-06, resulting in a slower death. Anyone have input?

In a blind at a new never before visited area on the property.

Congrats!

Papist- good for you, I have zero luck with cameras this past month, its driving me nuts. Yes, i'd rather have a picture of myself WITH a buck, but it's reassuring have trail cam pics beforehand. Good luck.

Sat until 11. I saw my breath. Congrats to the previous harvests.

Standing by a tree in 3K.

Sorry for the delay guys, it has been a busy day. Anyways, I showed you guys a map of an area just past where I can actually hunt. The area has a couple ponds, and I just plain mistook the two. The land I showed is still on this piece of land though but at the edge. I have the correct pic of the maps this time. Thats what happens when I rush, i mess up lol. I tried to get the 3 maps as close as I could, its not easy. I want to hunt the multiple use area. I will draw on a pic to show where the multiple use driveways are, and where I think might be key areas to foot scout/hunt, and maybe you guys can chime in again to let me know if im applying the info correctly. The black lines are dirt driveways to drive a vehicle on. These black lines are the only vehicle access on the property.

Culvercreek- I understand I need to scout, as I mentioned early on, I am trying to just get myself focused on areas to scout in person from looking at the map, because where I typically scout, and where I decide to hunt is not working out lol Moog, great suggestions, still picking my brain on these maps trying to learn. Looking to walk in these places this weekend, looking forward to it. I'm in 3K Sullivan County

Good luck guys.

Congrats on the new camp, and doe, thoughts sent to your family.

Would these marked areas be on the right track, of a someplace you would feel confident would not be a wasted walk? The two parallel long lines im thinking are a place two look in between those marked lines. The single short mark/line I am thinking by what was described could be a potential area for bedding.

Would you guys mind if I browsed topo maps, and marked areas on them, and post pics? This way I know I am on the right track as far as places to actually walk....