Judoka95

2 yearling doe hanging out back while the kids argue about who gets the swing.

I don't know if it has really changed that much. I can see that the "Hunting Lease" thing wasn't a thing decades ago. But I also see it from a different angle. Leases can open up areas that you may never have had access to if you weren't from an area and knew a landowner. And the picture in the add looks like it already has crops aka food plots. At that point you are paying for some exclusive, premium hunting land. I'm willing to bet if someone respectfully asked a farmer about hunting their land, and they did it well before the season started and offered to do some work to earn that privilege, a lot of landowners would be willing to allow that. I know that I offered that to a landowner before I purchased my land. He gave me permission I did some clean up with the quad and I dropped off some fresh caught lake trout during the summer and a backstrap after I harvested the first deer on his property. Both he and his wife couldn't have been happier to have us there. There is still a ton of public land to hunt in NY and pull off camping/hunting areas in ADK. Again, someone needs to be willing to work for those deer, but the experience of a Big Woods hunt is what it's all about.

It's 8 days from the start of Early Antlerless Season 9/10-9/18. I resisted as long as I could but, I broke out my pack yesterday and started going through my gear, installing batteries in my flashlights and getting my hunting cloths out. There is a certain smell from the gear that now fills my office. Next Saturday can't come soon enough!!

These bucks were all at one of my job sites in NJ. The first was an old double drop tine that I saw when I did the pre-construction walk. The rest were taken on the first day of the job. They didn't even care that we were there. The big buck walked around us and bedded down about 50yrds from our trucks.

I hear people complaining all the time about how they HAD access to a place and now the new owners won't let then on the property. "I've been hunting here for 20 years and now they tell me I can't hunt here". Well, someone paid a lot of money to buy that property and they have to pay taxes and insurance on that property. Maybe the new owners want to hunt the property with their family and friends. If it was on the market for sale anyone could have purchased it. If someone hunts on a property free for 20 years maybe they should have planned and saved to eventually purchase that property or gone in with a few people to purchase some land. I started hunting State land, eventually I got permission to hunt some private farmland owned by a friend's grandfather. We did workdays in the spring clearing trees that had fallen during the winter. We would spend weekends to cut and stack firewood in the fall (with beer and pizza) and watched the property throughout the year. I joined a hunting club in ADK and paid annual dues + 2 work weekends a year (not to mention the 4hr drive each way) and eventually I purchased land where I now live. I work hard and spend a lot of time and money to maintain and improve the land. Now my family and friends have a safe private place to hunt. I have good relations with most of my neighbors who all hunt their own property and are like minded. When I hear people say they should be entitled to hunt someone else's property it drives me nut's. Many times, these are the same people who complain about others who expect free money from the government but it's the same thing. It comes down to "I want something for free that someone else had to pay for" There are a ton of options for hunters. State land, build relationships with landowners, join a hunting club, lease property with some buddies, purchase land solo or with some friends. It just depends on how serious you are about hunting and where you are in life. If you really want it go out there and work for it.

The issue is people have a tendency to look at things as if they exist in a bubble and doing one thing is going to be the answer to all the problems. The electric car is a perfect example. Electric Cars put out zero emissions: But the production of the materials for the car put out tons of emissions, power generation produces tons of emissions. We don't have a power grid or power generation system that can handle everyone going to an electric car. Upgrading those systems would produce even more emissions. Do we know if there is actually a net reduction in emissions? And even if there was, you start the changes at the power generation end, then upgrade the grid then move to the end user. If people were serious about reducing emissions, there would be more talk about nuclear power generation. or producing items in countries that don't have horrible emissions and pollution issues (like China at nearly 30%) The US accounts for less than 15% of the world's emissions. We have continuously cut emissions for decades while other countries have increased emissions. (back to the bubble) Even if we cut our emissions to 0% (which is not possible), if the rest of the world doesn't cut emissions there is going to be very little change. And this is assuming the humans are causing a major negative effect on the planet.

Fried Italian long hots.

I'm assuming it's $2500

Congrats on the new tractor and welcome to the club and by club, I mean Implement Addicts Anonymous. Soon you will find yourself searching CL for hours looking for the next used implement you "need". Then you'll start dreaming about projects and using acronyms like MMM and FEL. The other members probably won't help you refrain from giving into your impulses but at least you'll know you're not the only one.

Mine is only fastened to the top rail with the overlap in the front at the ladder. It flaps in the wind. I had the leafy style netting on it originally but it broke down in two years.

I have the burlap camo skirting around my permanent stand which is only 10' up. It hides a lot of movement from my son and the deer don't seem to care.

Texas heart shot?

I'm not going to lie, some of these recommendations really surprised me. I always thought the Big Game and Guide Gear stands were cheap and not well made. This of course was not based on firsthand use. I have had Summit, Ameristep, and a few Bakers. My last ladder stand was a Gorrila, and it is by far the most uncomfortable seat I have ever sat in. It is a suspension style seat that crushes your hips for hours. I never even considered the less expensive brands. Looks like I need to reevaluate my stand options. I cashed in some of my hotel rewards points for gift cards, so I have a week or so to make my decision.

If you are going to be in ADK i would recommend a GPS and don't count on your phone (service typically sucks and it will kill your battery). If there is snow on the ground you can always follow your tracks back, but the compass and topo map is a good backup, and you can even practice navigating/orienteering with it.

I have been looking for a new ladder stand, I do not want a 2-person stand but the 1.5's look interesting. The issue is most of the ladder stands on Cabela's website have horrible reviews (quality, missing parts, no customer support). The Milennium 110 has great reviews, but I haven't actually had an opportunity to sit in one and they are the most expensive by a long shot. Any 200lbs+ guys have any insight?

Using landmarks during the day is fine but if you get an afternoon buck time flies by and it will be dark before you know it. If you are going to spend the money on a compass look for one that is self illuminated like a military compass with tritium. https://www.amazon.com/Cammenga-Waterproof-Navigation-Backpacking-Orienteering/dp/B001W2CJX6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?adgrpid=57674110498&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0oyYBhDGARIsAMZEuMu4bFRf8NiS5NijQXWc5e_3FcD40o168Er_PJgXNLqymclMbS2edpsaAqJnEALw_wcB&hvadid=617131000718&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9005642&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=46714119032323091&hvtargid=kwd-298659618467&hydadcr=9876_13604456&keywords=military+compass&qid=1661221990&sr=8-3

Basic use would be knowing the general direction you are going. I would recommend having a topo map of the area which allows you to identify landmarks such as ridges and valleys. This can help you triangulate your position The next step would be Navigating. (Finding a specific point on a map) this requires the compass, map, a protractor and a way to track the distance you have traveled. It's a great skill to learn but even the military has moved to using GPS. All of that being said, I always carry a compass with me. I have gotten turned around in the woods and it is not a good feeling.

Sausage bread is the best! We make it all the time and for just about every party, it's a real crowd pleaser. I made venison sausage bread for my son's Cub Scout party and the other dads wiped it out in 5 minutes.

I grew up on tomato pie, both red and white (garlic). Tomato pie and Utica greens a practically a religion out there.

I've been watching MeatEater and decided to try and make Osso buco. I don't know how it will taste but it smells good.

I don't carry binoculars in the field anymore either. I do have an old monocular that came from my sister's Marlboro miles that I keep in my pack. It's great when the sun is going down and you think you see a monster buck that has snuck in, but usually it's just a brush pile that has been there all day.

Best deep dish rant ever. https://www.google.com/search?q=jon+stewart+deep+dish+pizza&sxsrf=ALiCzsYLId3nhTyYfmgSP-0k_TKUvip6ug%3A1661002255042&source=hp&ei=DuIAY8rmPNTn5NoPyuWHoAo&oq=john+steward+deep&gs_lcp=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&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:0da4a18f,vid:jCgYMFtxUUw,st:0

There are a few places in Utica that make "upside-down" pizza with sauce on top of the cheese. It sounds strange but it's actually great. O'Scugnizzo was rated one of the best pizzerias in NY. There used to be a place called Pasquale's that was my favorite but they sold years ago.