greybeard

Those photos are great.. I love redtails !!!! I hope you keep posting photos....thanks for sharing them

Maybe it's where I've been hangin' out, but in the past year I've seen more Red Fox, then I ever have before. I have a spot where I fish in the kayak and have been calling them in pretty often. Not hunting, just calling when I take a break from fishing. I try out different calls and techniques. No one calls there and there's no hunting in the area, so it's a nice place to play. Two days ago I paddled near the den and I used my syco tweety call and made bird sounds . I was sitting in my kayak in tall grass by the shore and called for maybe 30 seconds and he came in so fast I thought he'd jump in the 'yak. I was glad he saw me when he was within 10 yards from me and trotted off.(I didn't want company in the kayak.).I'm glad no one knows that they are there (great fishing spot too) Has anyone been noticing more fox in their area ?

Good Luck. I hope to read a story about your success.

I haven't duck hunted in a couple of years, but I still like to watch for the migration of ducks. There has been a small group of Eiders hanging out for a while at Jones Beach. Today, while I was fishing and watching Bluefish breakin' in the bay at the inlet I saw a few Bluewing Teal fly over. The Brant should come down in a couple of weeks, or so. As I fished I was listening to a loon cry , which is among my favorite sounds. I guess it doesn't take much to make me happy.

I also use a razor blade , but sometimes a scalpel. When you gut it watch that the bladder doesn't leak on the meat. Seems to me that their bladders are usually full. I gut them straight down the belly very soon after I shoot them . I skin ,and bag the meat and put them in a cooler on ice before I leave for home.. I also bag the skin because I don't want fleas in my car Grey squirrel skins are tough, but I never have a problem gutting/skinning with a single edge blade. I debone the tail for fly tying and I used to tan the skin, to mount them,or to make pouches because the skin is strong.

Culver, You're right... Tularemia was the reason I was told to wait to eat the rabbits until after the frost,. I heard about that in the 60's when I started hunting.

Culver, You're right... Tularemia was the reason I was told to wait to eat the rabbits until after the frost,. I heard about that in the 60's when I started hunting.

Since I was young I was told never to eat a rabbit before first frost. Generally, I followed the same rule for squirrels. Does anyone know if waiting is necessary?

I've kept a hunting/fishing journal since 1965. This year I decided to not document as much since I'm slowing down a bit , but I still do keep some good records of game/birds that I call including the type /brand call I used,response time, if any, details of the locations, and actions of the game called For me the journals have been valuable for : reliving past adventures planning a new trip back to the old spot details about the area including terrain type of game/fish found there equipment needed (type of boots/ waders, game calls, decoys,, weapon, ammo, etc. safety issues pheasant stocking when appropriate heavily hunted, or not other details that I haven't listed, but those are game/ spot specific for my method of hunting (which is usually alone). My fishing records are much more detailed I can't imagine not keeping journals

I guese that makes it a good reason for me to be home when the mail comes..

Papabear.. I thought the same at first, then I saw something on tv that said that all persons who bought the license would get a rebate.I wasn't sure if I was reading too much into it since I had heard that it was only the lifetime licenses, so I did hear it right.

I received a check in the mail today from New York State refunding my $10 for the saltwater license. I guess I'll go out and buy a lure, or some fishing line.

Hi Virgil....I never fished Mt. Sinai .. all of my Kayak fishing on the north shore has been west of Mt. Sinai . I think the furthest East I've fished was Stoneybrook Harbor. (I used to fish there a lot.) Sorry, wish I could help

yesterday I found numerous pods of Bunker on the North Shore of L.I., but nothing on them. I snagged a few and live lined them and also tried chunks, but no takers. I saw some cocktail blues on the north shore chasing small bait a couple of times yesterday, but couldn't paddle fast enough to get to them. I usually don't catch blues on the North shore until June,but there are some around up there. The south shore's got better numbers of blues now. I've been getting them from shore and the kayak.I've seen better years for blues, but when ya find them, you can do o.k. I'm a bluefish fanatic, I target them more then any other fish. I can't wait for them to come in to the harbors from the sound. Hope more stripers come in also.

those birds can really get your heart going... I've been picking up some blues on the south shore under the birds... they've been feed ing on sandeels and spearing when I hit them.. Stripers have been tough for me to find this year, even in the kayak...but last week when I was searching for bass, in one of my "secret fishing spots",, I pulled up to a beach where I had seen fox a few times last year and figured I'd try out a call ( I usually carry a crow all and, or fox call with me.) I called a red fox in right away.. then a 2nd fox. I noticed movement in the trees behind the 2nd fox and there was the whole family.. guess the parents brought the little ones for what they thought was a rabbit dinner.. wish I had a camera... I got no bass, but had a fun day anyway.. good luck on the beach

Jr. deerslayer....yeah, I figured I was too old....but they're gettin' a refund...I'm glad they're gettin' their money back because that's a bit of money to lose...I can't figure why there was no provision for those of us who bought this years license, but.... it is what it is .. I'm glad it wasn't more then $10...

I bought my yearly saltwater license in Jan., or Feb. 2011. I contacted the DEC about getting a $10 refund and was advised that there is no provision for refund of yearly licenses...I'm not happy, especially because I was against the license from the beginning. So I gotta eat the $10 fee.... Such is Life.... glad it wasn't more.. .. I hope they use the money well...

to nyantler.. I agree.That is and has always been my policy...

I'm not opposed, and maybe it's a senior citizen thing, but at this time of my life I agree with your father and like to see them. I still spend a lot of time calling them ,and have hand called in quite a few reds this year. I just take some pictures.I figure it's kinda like catch and release fishing.. When they come in close I stand up, and off they go,that's good enough for me...The thrill is in the hunt. I call in places where there is no shooting, because even though I don't shoot them I don't want to educate them and ruin it for guys that hunt'em, because like I said I am not opposed to it. The fox are still very alert and sppoked by people even though no one shoots at them, so I find it challenging. Sometimes they come in real fast to the calls so I do carry a long stick. A few times they got real close and at times I didn't know they were almost right next to me, so I don't want to get bitten and figure (I hope) the stick could push them back if need be. I do "think" that with reduced trapping and hunting that overpopulations contribute to diseases spreading in predators, so I believe control is necessary.

I've fished freshwater a few times .I was looking for pickerel, but didn't get one yet.. I did get a small largemouth bass today, and a fat 20 inch bass a few days ago... slow pickin's as they say, but I'm more then happy with the 20 incher.

Although I am opposed to the saltwater license, and saltwater fish in areas, where at least for now, I don't need one. I do spend some time surf casting in areas where it is required, and since I comply with the laws, I purchased one again this year. I have many reasons for my opposition to the law, but I won't bore anyone here with my views....Besides complaining won't change it anyway

Karpteach.. no, not for a few years....That turned out to be my mistake last year. When I used to go, I had the empire pass, and at that time you could fish in the day for free. Without the empire pass, unless you were 62, you'd have to pay the entrance fee.( I don't need one now, except if I go on weekends) You needed the fishing pass at night even then. I was "told" by some fishermen that now, even in the day, you need the fishing pass. The pass, I believe is $25.They only issue a limited number.. I think 250... They run out real quick. I never verified that the pass is now needed in the day to fish so I can't tell you for sure. I could have gone with guys that I know last year, but they were goin' at night and I'm not as young as I used to be and just don't fish at night anymore.

Karpteach.. I've seen a couple of reds and deer near lloyd harbor, outside of the park.I've fished at Caumsette a number of times a few years ago, but never saw fox, or deer in the park. I knew they were there, just never saw any.

growalot..I tried...I failed.. I have a terrible crow voice, can't sing either. I knew a guy years back that was real good at it.He's the only guy I ever saw do it..

Pygmy.. That's what I meant by gargling, but you described it much better.. that is a perfect explanation..