Dave

Thanks I needed a good laugh. But so true. Dave

Have been receiving my subscription for the past 3 yrs. Great articles, very informative. Dave

I don't think that you will agree with me but since the opening day is on Saturday traditions have changed. We use to have the whole weekend to be together and catch up on the past year. Cooking getting things ready for opening day etc. Now many guys come up Friday night and leave Sunday night, not like it use to be. And I am sure it hurts local businesses. Dave

Can't fool you bubba!!!!!!!Dave

Served in The US Army 1969- 1971 101st Airborne. 10 months in Nam.

About 18 yrs ago I threw in with a group of guys who already had about 75 acres of land. So they asked me and my brother to invest in a little over a 100 acres of land that adjoined their property. They had about 7 members but only 3 were owners of the land so now there were 6 shares to buy the new piece of 100 acres. In the beginning everything was great and as usual there is always one ball buster that thinks he rules the roost. But the members let him have his way but complained about him and never did anything about it. So after a few years there was a 10 acre piece in walking distance from our club which I bought. Well after a few years I finally built a house and then a garage on the property and there was 10 acres that bordered my property which I bought. So now I have 20 acres a house and garage to store all my stuff. The club was great the only problem was during hunting season with about 12 guys it was pretty tight especially with only one bath room. Now I don't have that problem with my own place, plus I can now have my 4 sons hunt with me where before there was on room at the club. We are starting our own tradition in the house now and hopefully they will have in the future. So It's different now almost like two clubs, so things change and sometimes for the better. I can invite who I want to hunt and now there is plenty of room. We make special dishes, cut and split wood, drink beer have some great dart games that last all night, well the boys not me. Summer time they come up and have camp fires and look at the stars and does it get dark. Canoe down the Delaware , barbacue and just enjoy the land. I feel blessed and lucky and it doesn't get any better than that. And every once in a while we get a few deer. Dave

The problem with cabela's free shipping is it costs $150.That's not free!!!!!!!!

Been away from the site for awhile due to a death in the family, things starting to get beak to normal. I read that a DEC officer say a pick up truck parked near a logging road and checked it out he saw bags of acorns in the back of the truck. Followed the logging road for awhile and found a bow hunter in his treestand hunting over the acorns. And busted him fines the whole 9 yards.Dave

Tell us the story behind your successful hunt.Dave

In 1999 I rode to Sturgus from Long Island, had a great time. Best roads to ride. Seemed longer of a ride on the way home. Don't ride anymore. Dave

I have posted it several times on a couple threads... I'm getting tired of repeating it... lets just say.. it isn't about trophy buck hunting As for passing on small bucks.. I don't caare if you or your naighbor shoot the buck I pass on... I pass on them because I choose to pass on them... if I pass on a young buck that leaves a chance that he may survive... If I kill him ... I am 100% sure that he will never grow to fill in another age class in the buck population... it's that simple. You're right, me passing on a buck is not going to have much impact on any overall management improvement... personally I don't pass on bucks thinking its going to change anything. I do it because I personally think its the right thing to do.. and frankly, young bucks are so easy to find and kill that I don't find it a challange. What others do has no influence on my choice of hunting.. I do it to satisfy me... Like you.. a statewide AR will not impact my hunting experience what so ever... as I have stated many times before.. in my opinion I still think AR's are a good idea along with any solid management plan, but thats my position on the subject if asked... I am not lobbying for any program or really care one way or the other if it ever happens in NY. But, I am very well versed on the subject and have done numerous seminars on the subject as well... long before most guys on this forum ever heard of it. I am only interested on passing on correct info... to help combat the BS that most of the guys spout... Other than that.. I just think its an interesting topic Well put.Dave

That thought crossed my mind.....maybe plant a small orchard of mixed trees, fruit and other. Would take a few years to really do anything though. Have planted a verity of apple trees about 4 yrs ago. Not producing much,few small apples on some trees and none on others. Know of a good fertilizer to use to kick start these trees.Dave

Thanks Bball, that's what I thought, have always had good success with the 180 gr. So there is no need to change.Dave

That is true, also have seen trail cam photos over pile of corn and no mature bucks there either. You can't hunt what you don't have.Dave

I've been shooting winchester soft point in 180 grain for the past 30 yrs. Just wonder if there is something better I should be using. Or 180 gr. is too much.Dave

Guys whats the best cartridge to use on deer? Also what grain is best? Dave

One thing I can say was there were more does this year than I have seen in a long time. Last day of season 6 came by my stand and I had a doe permit and didn't take the shot. Hope to see more next year along with a few bucks. Those does didn't get here on their own.Dave

We have access to about 400 private acres and have been letting the spikes walk for the past 10 yrs. But we have not seen an increase of big bucks . We have about 14 hunters on and off thru the season an this year we only killed a 6pt buck, and a doe during bow season. Also we only shoot does during bow season and most guys in out club don't bow hunt that much any more or just don't shoot them. So where are the deer? The people who border our property also let the small bucks walk, so whats the problem?Dave

What about the land next to you, they reposter and infringe on your property. Always taking more of your land, when this happens I just tear down their posters and repost myself.Dave

Just finished off a rabbit stew and it was great. Wish I shot more rabbits. My venison stew is good too, First I dip the stew meat in flower and brown it in a frying pan with butter. Don't cook it long just long enough to brown on all sides. Put it in a crock pot with the following , potatoes, carrots, onion, celery .Cover with water add Two beef bouillon cubes, also add Sazon Goya seasoning which ever ones you like, and add salt and pepper. Set crock pot on high for 6 to 7 hrs. To thicken the gravy just add 3 tablespoons of flower with 1/2 cup of cold water, shake well so there are no lumps then add to crock pot and mix it in with the stew. Add this about an hour before stew is done. I make my rabbit stew the same way always comes out great. A very hearty meal for a cold winters dinner. Dave

Wooly, just add some home fries and I'll join you.Dave

I don't know what part of the state you are from but where live to renew my pistol permit it's $200. That's not chump change, they want to price us out of our guns. If we can't afford the permit we lose our license and have to turn in our guns. That's alot to pay for a permit that has restrictions, to an from the range, and hunting only.Dave

Pygmy, sounds like you have a great retirement going, lots of things to do and friends to have a few beers with. I am just starting to get the hang of things. Sometimes I get bored with watching TV too much mostly news and hunting shows. I do have a place upstate but it is a 3 hr drive if I don't stop so I am not there till spring. I love it up there hunting, cutting and splitting fire wood for deer season. But too cold and isolated in the winter months, not many year round residents in my area. I got a nice dog who keeps me company and take him on long walks, he loves when we go up state. He can run loose not like on Long Island too much traffic. Sometimes I get stuck doing a lot of nothing and that bothers me to no end. Maybe it's a case of cabin fever we shall see. Have to expand and get more active before I bore myself to death. Well, spring is just around the corner. Pygmy thanks for some ideas, especially the having a few beers with the guys.Dave

Now that you're retired how do you spend your time? Hobbies, travel, family, etc Dave

Colver, I have to agree with your logic, as a hunter we should be united not divided. I'm not against the crossbow but it has advantages over the bow's . It's just another hunting implement like switching to a different gun that you never used before. If it is legal than anyone who chooses to use one could and if you don't you don't. It would be up to the hunters preference just another tool in our arsenal.Dave