Will_C

Clothing and gear are items that make hunting more enjoyable, but the antler craze has changed hunting. When I first hunted in late 70's and 80's, everyone was happy to kill a deer-big buck, small buck, doe. At some point it changed-shooting anything less than a slammer gets comments from many hunters. Will

Sharp looking truck, and Honda is top notch. As far as not being a "truck"- I think you made the right choice for you if it works. I am amazed at the people who buy 3/4 ton diesel pick up to haul groceries. Will

I planted an acre of turnips and radishes on 7/14. Have about 6 inches of growth. Hit it with 100 pounds of nitrogen tonight in advance of rain forecasted for T and W. I'd post a pic but they all seem to be upside down. Will

Let's see if I can remember: 16, 12, and 20 gauge. 7mm-08, .243, .30-06, .308, .250-3000 and .25-20 in rifles. .357 handgun .50 cal Encore A bush hog- the only one I regret. Will

Don't need anymore guns-but would like a Browning BLR in .358 and a .44 or .45 revolver. Will

I have had a pro model Stihl for 16 years. Had to replace the ignition module last year. I paid $300 for the trimmer, and $70 for the repair-works out to $20 a year or so. Will

Don't need one, but I will have a BLR in .358 someday! Nice rifle. Will

I have become a very seasonal drinker. Robust beers (dark porters, stouts, etc.)and whiskey (Jim Beam-manhattans or old fashioneds) in the winter, summer ales and vodka( Grey Goose, Absolut)for the summer. I have come a long ways from swilling back Genny Lights at $1.68 a six pack!!!

I have a Savage 99 in .308 that I enjoy using. If I was to buy a new lever for hunting NY, it would be probably be a BLR in .358. I did handle a Henry Long Ranger at a gun shop. Very impressed. Will

Great trip. About 180 miles for us-often go for an overnight. Nice store to see and every place you could ever think of to eat. Red Robin is usually our lunch after driving down. The Microtel motel right across the road is a reasonably priced, clean place to spend the night-has a decent little bar/tavern attached. Will

Had a neighbor like that who passed 9 or 10 years ago. Used to help me out plowing and such when I only had a little tractor-after a few years I was plowing for him, mowing when he was ill, etc. He was a WWII vet, and I always got a kick out of showing him deer I shot, guns I bought, etc. Even today, I think of him every snowstorm and wish I could show him my new tractor, new truck. I am not a braggart-he just such a kick out of things like that.

Some good thoughts. I hVe slowly but surely built up an assortment of quality clothes and boots to handle any weather conditions over the last 25 years. Because I spent to get quality, I have 20 year old clothing that is still good. i am a sucker for new guns, and will experiment with different loads to get a good group-but once I have a load with a Nosler Accubonds that is good, that's it for that rifle. No experiment with the bullet-used them with good results since they were introduced. Will

My cousins in Pa. have several large blinds. They have Buddy heaters in all of them attached to 20lb tanks. They last all season. Always have at least window open, so CO gas isn't a problem. Will

My vehicles are as clean as can be, depending on the weather. I try to detail my fiancée's once a year, but it is a job! She has already for the lecture that when she buys a new one, it will be kept like my truck!

I have several rifles for deer hunting. I sight most of them 1" high at a 100 yards-7mm-08, .308, .250 Savage, and .243. I will sight my .30-06 in to be on at 200 yards. I have some fields I hunt in Pennsylavania with that rifle where 300 yard shots are possible. Will

I have became a convert to the e-free gas. I use it, along with Sea Foam in all my small engines-generator, lawn mower, pressure washer, ATV and all 2 strokes. My buddy runs a small engine shop-I've seen carbs full of the whiteish/ yellowish gunk he has replaced for customers. Will

I would read the Cabela catalogs for hours. Like another poster mentioned, in those days I didn't have enough money to buy anything, now I don't need anything.

Just another example of his dictatorial side.

Under armour cold gear and merino wool. The cold gear fits so close that it doesn't bunch up, and wicks sweat like crazy. The wool absorbs the moisture and is warm. Wear them both when it is cold.

I would probably pick a 12 gauge pump gun, but other strong contenders would be a .22, or my .357 lever action with my revolver on my hip and a collection of .357 heavy loaded and .38 specials loaded light for small game.

I read that article and can sympathize with the poster. I was hunting in Pa this year and saw a deer about 80 yards behind me in a lane. I had a DMAP permit, so it was legal for me to kill a doe. I didn't see any antlers and the deer stepped behind a tree. I had a clear shot through its shoulders, I was about ready to take it-but for some reason, I decided to wait. The deer stepped into a clearing and put it's head down. I was shocked to see some kind of growth on itshead-the strangest little Antlers I have ever seen. My cousin's husband told me that he had watched that deer in a field for 20 minutes at dawn. Using binoculars it took him 5 minutes to see a pair of spikes and a kicker, all the size of man's pinky. It probably would have been legal for an antelerless deer, but I wasn't going to chance it. I understand how someone could kill a deer, taking a safe shot, and be confused about the exact details of the antlers.

Stay in and have our usual steak, lobster tail, and shrimp. Have a few drinks, a bottle of champagne when the ball drops and off to bed. Been 20 years since we have done any thing different.

If you are getting good 100 yard accuracy with your current set up, I don't think a rifled barrel will be that much of an improvement. If you did want to make a change, I'd suggest a modern bolt action slug gun, like the Savage that had been mentioned. Just reading these posts makes me so happy that we can use rifles here!

That's a good plan in theory, but as others have pointed out, nearly impossible to finance and manage. I don't have the answer, but agree that increasing land access in the number one problem in hunting's future. If people don't hunt, they don't care about hunting and that will be reflected in laws, etc.

Years ago several of us would go to the Wallingford area of Vermont for opening weekend. I shot a 4 pt. one year-I think that was in a 15 year time frame. That was on 120 acres of private land. I know the guys that hosted us would come down here for a week. They shot many more deer down here in that week than they did in a whole season in Vermont.