Rebel Darling

If you remember, holler back and let me know how the hanging process goes. I'm curious to know how easy it straps to the tree... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

I didn’t get his name as I moved into the aisle and walked off the plane. It didn’t feel right to ask him for it. Names are for the offering between men. I handed him my business card. I think he said his name aloud, though, low on the breath as if to hide it from anyone who might be listening, but I can’t be sure; I was already fidgeting with my pack, and focused on imagining a barstool at my favorite Midway breakfast and beer joint. We did shake hands and exchange warm smiles. That seemed to be the limit of what he would express in the cluttered hurry of de-boarding, and likely the limit of what I was able to retain at the moment. Breakfast beer is for the first to arrive between men. We chatted for the first half of the flight, initially chatting about work, but quickly latching onto hunting as a shared interest and passion. I don’t know why he mentioned elk hunting. It seemed like he knew I was a hunter. He uttered the sentence as if adding additional butter to a recipe, understanding that I was the only other soul in the kitchen. For work, he’s established himself as a contractor with at least 40 full-time employees at all times. He’s in large-scale industrial maintenance, and payrolls an employee spectrum of engineers to unionized mill workers. At first, I thought it may have been a euphemism for custodial duties, but it ain’t. Guy works in placing 100-plus ton equipment on spot, dealing in 1000ths of an inch. Shit. I only ever dealt in 16ths, and cunt hairs thereafter… Judging by his properties in Idaho and Ballston Spa, he’s doing well for himself and his family, and more power to the guy. As a veteran of the Navy, he gets his tax breaks after putting up his name and body on government contract, but it’s clear he’s added to his life’s richness post military service, and ain’t basking in some notion of glory days. As for hunting, he’s hunted moose and grizzly in Alaska, and a generous host of other North American big game species on and near his Clear River property, which butts up to federal and state lands. Whitetail, mule deer, wapiti, black bear, mountain lion… He’s hunted and harvested them all. One specific story he shared involved moose hunting on Athabaskan land with the village chief. Spotting by helicopter is legal on native land, so they’d wait for the radio call, and then hop on the ATVs, or in a truck and head to the given coordinates. Boom. Moose down. Didn’t seem like much sport to me, but he seemed to relish the experience of hunting with Athabaskans, however in the hell they chose to harvest. “Sure is efficient,” I told him. “They live off it,” he told me. He built them a bridge. He also mentioned that the Athabaskans send boats out on the lake, loaded with cases of shotgun shells, manned with hunters. The boats would disappear around a bend, or reduce their image over distance to pepper flakes, and as that happened sustained reports of shotguns would bounce across the water back to the docks. He said that the hunters would drive their boats through flocks of fowl resting on the placid water, which flushed the birds up into the air while the hunters knocked them down with lead shot. Once the low, shell inspired thunder reached the village children, the kids would hop in boats of their own and return not long after with hundreds of ducks. Retrievers, and likely jealous of the older hunters. There’s pride in advancement yet. The remaining village members would meet the kids at the docks and start to feather and divvy up the birds. “It’s all legal on native land,” he reassured me, though I required none. As we continued chatting, it became clear that he stayed true to his military roots, hosting crews of veterans through Wounded Warriors on his Idaho property for hunts. He worked directly with Wounded Warriors, which is both admirable and honorable, in addition to being worthy of additional accolades. Fella helps out, ya know? He mentioned that he’d bust the Army guys’ balls “over being Army,” and I reminded him that recent news provides plenty of ammo for the Army guys to shoot at his this season. He smirked quick, and moved on faster. “My daughter’s an Olympic Shooter,” he said. That statement hit its mark. “Yeah, she’s 16, and competed out in Colorado. She also took a buck this past Fall at 260 yards.” So at this point, I’m taken aback, and pretty enamored with this fella’s situation and lifestyle. I think he picked up on my excitement to share hunting experiences. Armed with that knowledge, he gave out a practiced yawn, pushed his chair back, and closed his eyes. I imagine the first phrase he thought on before he fell asleep was something along the sentiment of, “Mission accomplished.” Indeed, Sir. Safe travel to Vegas, man. See you around…

Yeah, when I see pics of blood trails from mechanical broad heads, I'm almost persuaded to give up the fixed-blades. But blood trails with the Montecs have always been adequate, except for once, and that was my fault: poor shot placement - a gut shot.

G5 Montec CS, 100 grain. They're pricey, but easy to sharpen for multiple uses. I use the "preseason" at 100 grain to sight the bow and for practice, and it makes for an easy and confident transfer when time comes to draw back on a deer.

Did a moderator start up the 2017 DMP thread? Have yet to find it... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

In the areas in which "total eclipse" is forecasted, birds are expected to sing their evening songs, and evening behavior is expected from most animals... That's according to a radio program I listened to about a week ago.

The itch is strong. Had to drive to Long Island today, and decided to roll down the Taconic and through some prime deer country. The woods are inviting, almost beckoning, when I choose to ignore the deep-seated thoughts of Columbia County ticks. It's only an hour down to the Taconic State Park, and it's 700 some odd acres (I think...). If I get a moment, I'm going to give it a walk around in the next few weeks to see if I can learn some on where the hunters hang, and to then head a bit further back. The itch is strong, and it's almost time to spray down the camo with permethrin to avoid unwanted itches while satisfying others. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey, Biz. I shoot fixed blades, but use the Montec G5 CS. In addition to having been recommended by a local bow shop (easy to resharpen), I chose them because Montec also manufactures the G5 "Preseason" which is the same broadhead without the sharp blades. The result is precise sighting-in with my "practice" broadheads. They weigh the same, they fly the same on the arrow, etc. Figured I'd throw that out there for you to think on.

From DEC's website: "The New York Bowhunter Sighting Log is designed to provide information on long-term population trends for selected wildlife species. The log was started on an experimental basis in several areas of the state in 1995 and expanded to cover the entire state in the fall 1998. These type of data are collected by New York and a number of other states as an index of wildlife populations. As data accumulate, we are better able to track population changes and improve our ability to make management decisions for a variety of species" http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7193.html

I scouted a bit in the Capital District WMA a little over a month ago. I found some decent sign, and bumped a bedded doe, who, most likely, wasn't alone. I found some heavily flagged areas with surveyors' tape. The tape seemed to snake across large swaths of forest, back and forth, and, in my opinion, are most likely used by a still hunter. There's an old orchard I came across, but I'm betting that section is well known to the locals who have been around a lot longer than I have. Looked to be visited pretty well by human feet. Didn't see any trail cameras, though, as I have in other parts of the WMA. I also saw a beech tree loaded, and I mean loaded with nuts, and I made sure I made note of that location. I think it's going to be a pretty good beech year around here. I did find a rub and some trail in an unexpected locale, not too far off a foot trail, and I'm excited by the possibilities presented there. I think that'll be a good spot for mid-morning to dark sits. In other 4L news, I noticed that DEC issued DMP tags this year. I didn't get one because a preference point was required, but I did get a preference point, should they offer them up again next year.

Just got this in the email - http://www.fieldandstreamshop.com/p/millennium-outdoors-m100u-hang-on-treestand-16mtsultrlthngnsftsb/16mtsultrlthngnsftsb

Yesterday afternoon, I set up a pair of cameras on the property. The first is by the stand from which I arrowed last year's doe, and that camera should show me a fairly consistent stream of does in both the morning and evening as they make their way to and from bedding and food sources. I plan to hunt this stand mornings unless the camera shows me reason to do otherwise. I hung the second camera from a tree in a location I have yet to hunt. It's down near the property edge, by the marsh. There are clusters of pine saplings, and a few of them have rubs from this past fall. It's tight and thick in that area, so I had to look around for a while to find a climbable tree in a location that would provide one or two shooting lanes. I'll likely hang a stand with a ladder if the camera shows me bucks moving through. I don't really know what to expect from this second camera. While there are rubs close by and some cris-crossing trails with piles of fresh deer scat on both sides, I'm skeptical that I'll see a buck older than a yearling at this point in the year. The way I'm learning the property (only 2 years in...), is that the older bucks don't show up until the pre-rut and rut start kicking in. Mostly, this property and the series of connecting properties, mostly lots of 10 - 20 acres, hold does in and close to a large area of red oaks and beech (s a side note, I think this year is going to be a good year to hunt near beech). Those does bring in the bucks as the rut approaches, and I think they bed in the marsh thicket. My hope is to catch one on his way home, or on his way out for the evening. If I'm lucky, I'll catch one cruising in the mid-day hours. Gotta run... Fussy baby, and a morning presentation to prepare for.

I have a pair of the M150s. The mesh seat allows for a cozy sit, so I imagine that the full chair will be just as cozy, with some back support (which you need, according to your post). The biggest benefit for me, and the reason I returned another brand to purchase a second Millennium, is the hang on system. Dropping the stand's steel tab down into the receiver is soooooooo much easier than wrapping straps around the tree while holding the stand against it at 18'.

I completed the survey last bow season for the first time. I enjoyed logging the different types of animals I saw during sits, and recapping the day at the end of the hunt usually provided me with some additional reflection that I found beneficial. As an example, remembering which path the deer walked and pairing that info with the weather, mast supply, and wind direction enabled me to hunt better and more precise (hopefully) locations during the next sit. The survey, which I filled out when I arrived back home, was a good prompt for that reflection.

Sunday afternoon's first shot. I placed the target in the ADK chair to bring it to the approximate height of a deer's vitals. This is 25 yards, straight on. Time to get creative with the setups...

This was from July 28th. 25 yards, simple, straight set-up. I've been keeping the muscles toned, and the form settled. I'll start target set-up variety, and shooting position variety in the next few weeks.

Thanks, all!

I ain't been around on the forum much, nor on the Internet generally, and it's with good reason. While I've been practicing bow, and hauling and chopping wood to stay fit for hunting season, I spent most of my spring and early summer preparing for the arrival of a different sort of creature. On Saturday, July 15 at 2:02 a.m., we welcomed Jackson Rose Poulopoulos to the world. Weighing in at 6lbs, 11oz, the fella is light on his feet, and will be up and down trees for bow season in no time. He has a sharp eye, and discerning character, as you'll note in the photo. I'll purchase his lifetime license once I get his birth certificate. The wife and I are smitten, and, surprisingly, not entirely exhausted. He's pretty chill, but for the 9:00 - 10:30 p.m. stretch. After that, it's a matter of getting him fed and his diaper changed, and we're back asleep for a few hours. G-ma will be taking over day-time baby duty come mid-October, and I've been encouraged to get more venison in the freezer this year. I'm excited by the prospect of putting more food on the table, and even more so to introduce my boy to the natural world, and a lifestyle that aims to live within its provisions as best we can. That news aside, I'm pasting a link to my 2016 Journal, just so I have it handy as I transfer over to this general thread topic: Cheers, Everybody!

Thanks, folks. Very much appreciate the ID and insight. I've read that they're not particularly useful unless one can pulp them for veneers, which is not an option for me. I saw an article on homeopathic uses, but haven't read up on those. At any rate, it looks like I'll be taking many of them down, especially in open canopy areas. If I buy that darn chipper shredder, they'd make some fine trail to tree stands... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm in on this question too... I just read that it never becomes a canopy tree, so does it have to do with choking out all other, more valuable, trees to maintain forest health?

Does anyone know what species of tree is in the below photo? I've been unable to find this type of palmated leaf in the book I own. Thanks in advance! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great story!

Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter. Purchased this year as my first turkey gun.

My buddy texted me this picture this morning, from up in the ADKs. The feed looks like it lacks a knock-down today, and here's one for the viewing:

It's been three years, and the model number is not on the amplifier, but I remember it costing somewhere between $500-600. The cellular data plan depends on how much you think you'll use, so you'll want an idea of that before you chat hot spots. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk