Will_C

After seeing 15 years of AR in Pennsylavnia, I have a few thoughts. I do see, in my hunting area, a marginal increase in bigger bucks. I have also seen hunter participation decline a lot-not sure of percentages, but it is significant. i know I have had to pass up 15 or more bucks through the years, and have only shot 2 since AR. I keep hunting there because of tradition-it's also the only time I see some relatives all year. I can only hunt 3 days, so it doesn't really make sense for me but I still go. I see AR as beneficial for hunters that have good access to land and the time to hunt. I don't think it works for those us that have limited time and are looking for some venison for the freezer. I worry about the future of hunting if people continue to drop out. That can lead to more hunting restriction as non-hunters don't have the respect for the hunt that we need to stop anti hunting laws. Will

All great advice. Slow down might be the moast important. I too have poly and merino underwear and they both work well. Us hunters are unique-times of high activity coupled with hours of sitting still. Good base layers, packing clothes in and trying not to sweat are the keys. Will

I think your equipment will get you off to a good start. I would spend a few hours loosening everything up with your middle buster, and then disc and/or drag-I don't your set up would handle a 6' disc-more like a 4'. Lime is going to be some money or some work! A spreader when work fine with pellet lime, but 3 ton will cost 5-600 dollars. Bulk lime would be much cheaper, but I don't think a broadcast spreader would handle bulk lime. It wouldn't be so hard to do it by hand if you got a couple of buddies. Will

I too am sold on the Arctic Mucks. I have a pair of Rocky super PAC boots that look like they should have their own zip codes, but the Mucks are 95% as warm and much easier to wear. i wear a pair of polypropylene liner socks and Smart wool heavy socks, and some toe warmers when it gets in the teens. Will

The most consistent thing I have noticed about blood trails is having a low entrance and/or exit hole in the heart-lung area. If you have that, you will have good blood trail. Higher up, it can be take a while to coat the ground. Will

Thermos of coffee, water bottle, Pop-tarts, a sandwich or two if I hunt all day. Oh, and any left over Halloween candy fnd sits way into my bag. Will

I don't shoot near enough! I used to shoot 200 or 300 rounds of center fire a year, but just not have the time anymore. My goal every year is to do more-wel will see how next year goes. Will

Taking the Wed before Thanksgiving through the PA opener the next Monday. Will

I won't let myself sleep in a tree stand, but on the ground or in a hut-look out! I can be lights out for a couple of hours. Will

I'll mow until the end of the month, but will store the mowers the weekend of the 28th. I am mind of a mowing fanatic, but enough is enough. Will

I went through the same process 2 years ago. I am a Toyota guy. I could have by with a Tacoma, but comparing a Tundra with a similar equipped Tacoma, the Tundra was only $1800 more. I get about 2mpg less than a friend who has the V6 Tacoma-and I have the big V8. For me, the extra room and capacity was worth the extra up front and the few extra gallons of gas. Will

I think you'll get some growth. I have a cousin who plants rye in his no-till corn fields after harvest. I think he planted in mid October last year and had 3-4" of growth by gun season. Not much for food plot use, but the deer were in it and it's good for the soil for next year.

I like 2.5-3 lbs. I think I have weak fingers! I never have a problem with them, even with gloves on. Will

That's some good looking growth for 2 weeks. Will

I have been following this thread and hVe a question about over seeding a brassica plot. Do you just walk through and spread the rye over the plot? I have a plot that is doing well, but have a few bare spots-I'd like to get something growing. Thanks.

I had a BX for 9 years. Great tractor. I think it would be too small for what you are talking about doing.l think you will have problems with ground clearance, using implements, and generally ride quality (it doesn't take much of a bump or rut to get one of those 45 degrees sideways!) in the woods and tilled fields. I now have a B, and that is more suitable for what I'm doing now-bush hogging, roto tilling, snow removal, spreading seed and fertilizer, and mowing a rough 2 acres that I don't do with my zero turn. I'm actually thinking about buying an L series Kubota to get more ground clearance, etc. Will

I have a 2003 Honda Foreman and a 2013 Kubota RTV-picture shows the RTV set up to spray food plots. Will

I have shot various .300 magnums, but 12 gauge slugs in general bothered me more than the rifles. They were tolerable in my 11-87 but downright nasty in my Ithaca. Will

I have been using a chainsaw for 35 years-both my father and now my brother heat with and sell wood (self-employer excavators that do the firewood in the winter) and I help them. I never used chaps until I bought them 4 years ago-wear them all the time now. I wear glasses, and use a earmuff/face shield combo-work mostly on log piles. I do have a hardhat combo for working in the woods. Will

I have had Kubotas-a 2000 BX 2200 that I traded in 2009 on a B2620. The BX had 1257 hours on it when I got rid of it-normal maintenance, and I had to change the power steering hoses-that's it! The 2620 now has 750 or so hours on it-not a single problem. I have a loader on it, and have a 54" bush hog, a 60" finish mower, a rake and a back blade. I also use a 60" tiller for my food plots-it's really too if for the tractor but I get the job done. I look at Kubotas like Leupold scopes- they are the gold standard of compact tractors. I won't bash other brands, but you can't go wrong with a Kubota! I also have an RTV 900. Will

When it comes to working up soil the first time, I don't think there is a substitute for a plow and disc, or a tiller. Some local farmers use an implement like that field cultivator, but with 200hp and a 45,000 dollar implement. Will

I'd just like to be able to own the guns other Americans can own, and I'd like to be able to buy ammo that I want-not just what the local store has in stock. There is no reason for the recertification process but harassment-any of us who have permits have been investigated thoroughly by local authorities who, especially in upstate, know who we are.

Jim Beam. My secratary bought mesome sort of high grade Jim for Christmas-it is good!

A couple of years ago my. Rother and I shot 44 and 46lb coyotes here in Tioga county. A wise old trapper buddy told us they were as large as he has seen. Will

Even though we move stands with 2 or 3 of us working together, we always use a collapsible ladder- we fasten the stand to the tree using the ladder. Another idea is to tie the stand to another tree, or a ATV or tractor on the back side. Will