greybeard

I know that the tip is for good service, (I'm assuming that the service will be good) I just need to get an idea what you guys think...Now I have some good ideas. I don't want to over tip, but don't want to be cheap. I just got back from Hawaii, so I can't go back right now..I shoulda listened to my wife and booked a hunt for this last trip. However, since I didn't I'll have to go back sooner. I'm hoping that I can get to it in 2014.

Thanks..for the tip. I've researched everything that I can think of, but am unfamiliar with tipping a guide. It's only gonna be a hunt. I'd stay at the hotel where I just stayed when I was there in June, and drive to the location. I couldn't go to Hawaii and not take the wife.

I'm tryin' to calculate costs relating to a Hawaiian hunt. I got most of it, but was wondering what you think an appropriate tip for a good guide would be.

Those are really professional looking. Some time ago I made a pair from squirrel (uppers) and deer(soles).. They didn't look any where near as professional as yours.. Great Job !!

Mike Rossi.. Your waterfowl hunting discussion was excellent. I learned by myself. I wish I could have had that advice when I started.....Also, I'll read those sites, thanx. Ricpac..I agree with LI Outdoorsman..I've been to a number of their festivals, and met some good guys there, and at the Waterfowl ID course.

Rocky Point and Otis Pike are the 2 that I am most familiar with.I've hunted those areas since the mid 60's.. Different spots.. different cover...I prefer Otis Pike, but that's my opinion.. I'm mostly a small game hunter,so you may have a different opinion. Check the saltwater wetlands(you need a permit, it's free).. they're for waterfowl, but some have small game, and, or deer hunting...The DEC website'll let you know which spot has different hunting. I didn't care for Saranoff, but I met a deer(bow) hunter who said it was very productive.. It was very thick cover There's Montauk also, but except for coon hunting out there many years ago, I didn't hunt there... Lotsa ticks in all of them. Thanx for the info on the boar.

Welcome....You will see in time, as I did, that this is an excellent forum and the members are VERY helpful. I hope you find some good spots on LI.. (You probably know about the Coop on LI and that they stock pheasants) Where did you boar hunt ?

Today's newsdsay has an article about Blue Green Algae in some ponds on LI.. The writer's name is Emily.. Is one of you Emily ??(ha)

Thank you for all that information, . I'm noting where this post is and when I see of my old waterfowl buddies I'm going to ask them to read about the Algae I saw some changes in the migration, but didn't know why, but thought that climate change could be one of the reasons.. The Brant seemed to stay longer, and this year, and I believe that the Old Squaw stayed longer also. I used to keep track of when I started seeing the birds arrive, but I did not track when they left, so I think that they're here later, but can't verify it. I learned a lot from your 2 posts.

I haven't fished for smallmouth in many years. I used twister tails, in line spinners, live minnows, and crank baits. I got a few good ones, and had a few(very few) good days. I did use the flyrod once in some lake, and got some. I just never did well enough to really target them. I was, and am really into largemouth.. Also, on LI we only have small mouth in a couple of lakes.

Thanx.. I didn't know that you were into the freshwater fishing.

Thanx.. I'll note that in my logs for things to try, when I get up to smallmouth country..

Congrats on those fish.. VERY nice catch.. What did you use ?

The media creates and thrives on controversy. This 'll go on until the next media induced crisis .

Sorry, I sent the last before I finished. As far as sharks ( I'm not including sand sharks because we got lots of them) : I've had seals swim by me during the regular waterfowl season, but never saw a shark. But as far as September, when the early goose season is on, I'd say yes they're here. I saw one last year, in the fall, . It came in thru the inlet, while I was fishing. It swam in from the ocean into the bay.It was swimming on top with it's dorsal fin and tail out of the water. Also, one September I watched a pretty big brown shark swimming in the back bay of the South Shore. I contacted a DEC guy and he's the one that said that it was probably a brown shark.They are reportedly common here. I didn't measure it, but I'll bet it was every bit of 7 to 8 feet... So they are around, even in the bay, and I don't know when they leave. Of course, along the ocean beaches, sharks are occasionally seen . Some beaches more then others. I don't fish for them ,so I'm not familiar with shark's movements. As far as that Algae you described, can that be here in September ?? Can the bacteria be in waterfowl meat ? Like everywhere, I guess, we got tons of resident geese and they create a smelly mess in ponds and even in some salt areas. I used to fish for largemouth in a pond and it smelled and looked like a toilet for geese. I always wondered how much bad bacteria was in the water. Of course, I stupidly still fished there because it was a good spot. I did stop crabbing in some canals because of the goose stink, and presumed bacteria. Thank you for that information, I will pass it on. Maybe it'll save a retriever.

Mike Rossi.. Many times I would hunt near the Channel and when that current came ripping through it would take a dog pretty far away.

A good dog is a wonderful thing, and I would never downplay using a dog. In my case, I don't have the time, or interest at this stage of my life to train, or care for, a retriever. ( I was a hound man anyway) For most of the type of waterfowling that I did, the kayak was perfect, but we all have our thing. If someone prefers a dog then that's the way to go for him(her). I mostly hunted over open saltwater bays, so losing a bird in timber, or vegetation was not an issue. I never had a problem with that, and launching to retrieve a downed, even wounded bird was a bunt. That being said, the few times where I hunted in timber, or marshes I would have sold my soul for a good retriever.

LIoutdoorsman.. You answered my next question, which was about the taxidermy.. If I do hunt on my next trip, I thought that I would have the head(s) mounted there and shipped. I'd love to see your photos.. I have dreams about the horns on some of those goats.....(Funny what you dream about when you get old...scarey !!) New questions.. Were there any extra fees at the Parker Ranch ??? Would you hunt there again, or try another outfitter? No turkeys near the beach where I was.The main things that I saw on the beach were turtles.. lots of them..There were loads of Mongooses running around too in the rocks, and brush. I'd like to hunt them with an airgun.. When they'd run, I'd squeak at them and many times they'd stop, perfect for a shot.... They have some kinda bird that looks like a hen pheasant with no tails,I'm probably gonna get it wrong, but I think they are called francolins, or something like that.. I saw quite a few there and have seen them on Maui.. I "think" that they hunt them, but not sure.

LIOUTDOORSMAN..The ranch that I saw was the Parker Ranch. I've been researching it lately, and just got info about another place from Dinsdale. Now I'll check both places. I have at least a year before I go back, so I have some time. The terrain is incredible, it's different from Kauai and Maui . I took a wrong turn one day and wound up driving 190 for a while and was amazed at the open land. I never cared about goat hunting before until I saw some really nice horns on some. I would like to hunt boar and goats, but not sure if I want to spend the time, so will probably go with boar on my next trip. I didn't see turkey, but the locals told me that there were loads of them. I did see 2 wild peacocks though. I love turkey hunting,but I doubt that I could add that for the next time... Maybe a trip after that one Thanks for the info.

Dinsdale, thanx, I'll check it out

I didn't listen to my wife, so I did not book a hunting trip before I went to Hawaii. I spoke to her about it the last couple of times that we were in the Islands, and she kept telling me to do it. I didn't do it and as I passed a ranch that books hunts I kicked myself, and am regretting my decision daily. I saw lots of wild(feral) goats while we were driving around the Island and some had impressive horns. They also have boar,which I did not see, which would be my priority, but would hunt for goats . I'm thinking of going back in the next year, or so back to the Big Island, and was wondering if anyone has any hunting experiences on any of the Hawaiian Islands., and their opinions.

Like I reported earlier, I don't care about the case, but I do like watching some reports. The other day, I did what I do during elections. I go back and forth from MSNBC to FOX. It's funny to hear the different takes. It gives me a better look at both sides of the case. It amuses me to watch both extremes on different issues.

What about an Airgun Hunting section. Now that airguns are legal in New York, I would think that some hunters would have an interest in learning, or reading about airgun hunting

I was going to answer exactly like jb.. Ticks are a problem. Use spray and dress as recommended to keep ticks off your skin. I always built my ground blinds when scouting, and put camo cloth over the blind and sat in a small camp chair with a back(for comfort). I had to practice shooting from the chair though.

I don't care about it, one way, or the other. If I was to question it I would ask, If someone was following you at night near your house, would you stop and stand YOUR ground, or run away ?? Was Martin standing his ground ? When you carry a side arm, you have a responsibility to not put yourself in an unnecessary position to cause you to use it ? Was this necessary ? I don't know . So I can't judge it.