left field

If the tree is alive but suffering from neglect, you could lop the majority of it off in the spring and graft a new variety of apple on. You will need expert help for this.

Are we hating on foxes now? What's next? Shrews? Garter snakes? Venus fly traps?

Clearly you are new to the internet.

You could have saved yourself a lot of typing and just said, "complicated issue, no easy answer, let's drink beer."

"Noble death" is a little flowery, but to die pursuing your life's work is as good as any of us should expect. I too know a lot of working dogs, have worked dogs, have written about working dogs and have seen working dogs die. And when the tears or regret, the grim reality or the emptiness are past, most owners I know say, "he died well."

Shocked to see that predators are good at killing things. Hunting dogs that are killed while doing their life's work die a noble death. Livestock that is being harassed by coyotes should be warded by livestock guardian dogs. No coyote will get through an Anatolian or Kangal. And as I like songbirds, I'm not a huge fan of cats running free. Nowhere am I saying that coyotes shouldn't be hunted, trapped or managed in some other way. I'm simply putting forth the idea that a forest or field is more magical with a coyote in it.

Really? You're asking what useful purpose predators serve. I said, "majesty". I like hearing and seeing coyotes and the few times I've heard wolves in Northern Canada I was thrilled. If anything, I am probably more excited to see a predator in the wild than any other animal. I see my place as an outdoorsman to slide into a "balanced" eco system and would manage for that. Generalising here, but managing for the maximum amount of animals to shoot at the expense of another animal seems counter productive to what excites me about the outdoors. I have no livestock to protect so not concerned there. Even if I did, a LGD is far more effective than a gun. I have no fear of coyotes attacking me. And my wife doesn't need another fur coat. So I'll sit on my back porch at night, drink whisky from a tin cup, and listen to the coyotes sing and think all is right with the world.

Majesty. If you can't see that then I doubt there's any answer that would satisfy.

Steve is currently making me a B 55 Flemish string for an older '70s bow I dug up for those weird right-handed people who visit me and want to shoot. I'm pretty confident he'll make me a great and appropriate string.

Ask them.

Interesting. And thanks.

I seem to have a good number in 4O including the one who strolled across the road three feet from me without a care in the world.

Thanks for posting that. There's a show on tonight that may be worth watching.

I am loving shooting my new recurve. More than I thought I would. Wish I could bring it home to the city but not sure the NYPD would like me shooting on my rooftop deck. I should have bought 40 lb limbs instead of 30 though. Now I need another set to legally hunt. Oh well. Moog turned me on to Mountain Muffler and Steve has been great in answering all my questions. My second string from him is being ordered today.

I recently grabbed the i-Flash device for about $15 and it works great.

At this point I'm just experimenting with form and technique. I was surprised by the effect of taking my concious mind out of it. Think i'm still getting a full draw as I'm hitting my anchor. I just release the moment I'm there.

Changed my grip. Now my fingers curl around and the tips of the first two press into the grip. The ring finger barely touches the grip and the pinky is extended for style. Much better. Also played with aim. If I focus and really really try my groups are high and to the right. (I'm a lefty.) But if I snap shoot - draw, barely aim, release - my groups are centred and tighter. Thoughts?

The $30 homework test is a scam.

My Bow Ed was great. Good instructors and learned a lot. I guess it's a mixed bag.

I find moderation the hardest program to follow. RFL is basically a protein only diet with a few small cheat meals per week. BRC is a program for those at less than 15% that want to get below 10% and retain their muscle. It's four days of low carb depletion exercise then super loading carbs and doing a strength workout. On the carb load day, I would stuff my face with bagels, pasta, FF ice cream and chips and still lose weight. I once did it for six weeks when my wife was travelling and got down to about 8%, When she came home her first words were, "baby, please eat a sandwich." The good old days. Good luck.

Congrats. What program are you following? As you seem to have experience with lifting are you familiar with Lyle McDonald's work? Body Recomp or his PSMF aka Rapid Fat Loss? I've used both in the past with good success.

It's not just a course, it's a license to bow hunt. And if someone fails they should be required to retake the class. My Hunter's Ed was a disaster. The guy was so overwhelmed he just screened a silly video from 1972 on safety then handed out tests. When we were done, he took the completed test and handed over the certificate and didn't so much as glance at the answers.

Jeez ... Trump flavoured Kool-Aid. What would that taste like? Insecurity and moob sweat with a tinge of spray tan?