[George Foster]

32° here in Upstate NY this morning, the high temperature for today is to get up to about 36°.

We have about 1" of snow on the ground this morning and they say we might have another 1/2" today. Yesterday was a full day of computers both on the road and here, I had to go and setup a new computer and transfer files from the old one. I had two here one laptop and one desktop I had to reload the operating system on, and I have one here I have to get a new hard drive for. Today I will be on the road for the most part of the day working on them.

Have a Wonderful Day Everyone.

 

[Ken]

Good morning, 37 and clear, high is 60. With little wind it makes it a nice day.
Road trip today, I have 2400 pounds of lead from Gary's estate to deliver to the buyer in Tyler, 150 miles east of here. And a stop at the Microsoft store, my Surface Pro 4 does not have enough memory to load Photoshop after the last update. Looking for a Pro 6.
Hope everyone has a blessed day,
Ken

 

[was skruske]

Great morning folks,

I'm pleased to report a 61° temperature this morning from GrandkidvilleFL.

I left deer camp Sunday morning at 5am, arrived at the Halfway House about 1:20pm. I unloaded stuff, loaded up stuff and in three hours but the road heading farther south. Deb was watching the weather and said there was heavy snow predicted for northern Ohio. We drove to Dayton, spent the night and rolled out again at 5am. We beat the snow by about 10 miles. The ******* Limo pulled into the kid's driveway about 7:45pm last night.

Deer camp was an adventure as it is each year. The was at least a foot of snow opening morning. I hunted in the hills as the walking was very quiet. I was very encouraged by the sign i saw up in the Oaks. I did sneak up on two doe to within 40yds. Second day tracks were leading downhill into low wet country but I chose to stay high & dry. No deer were seen that day.

Third morning as I was climbing I saw 4 wolves moving through the woods at about 100yds. It was first light but they were easily distinguishable in the snow. They stopped, trying to decide if I might be food. I let out a whoop and they moved on & up. No need to follow, those wolves would scatter any deer that were around. I headed back to the 4wheeler to a different place to give a couple miles separating me from them.

I jumped two deer that were bedded in the thick young woods. As I made my way up into some rolling hills, ridges and ravines i was again encountered by the deer sign. I moved across the ridge tops as a bit more snow was falling.

I looked across over two ridges i saw something that just didn't belong. At 90yds I scoped a brown lump at the base of a big Oak. It was a bedded deer all curled up. After watching for a minute I was it's head was tucked into it's belly. I could make out a horn so I watched a bit more. The headed moved a bit & I could easily see he was a legal buck. Now the decision process, shoot - don't shoot. My hunting buddy said he needed a deer & to shoot one for him. I aimed & shot. The 150gr Nosler hit and the buck straightened but could not get his feet under himself. After a few seconds his head swayed around like Stevie Wonder. Then it flopped over.

It turned out to be a decent 8pt that measured about 12" inside.

Turns out I was just a few hundred yards up hill from Little Trap Falls.

The down hill drag only took about a half hour. I loaded the buck onto the 4wheeler & was back at camp by 2pm. Larry will eat well this winter.

Edit to add: the morning heading home from deer camp saw a temp of 7° in the hills above Lake Superior. As I moved along into the lower valley to the east the temp dropped. I saw -12° as I went by Tyoga Creek in Houghton county.

 

[MPC in Ohio]

Good Morning

31 here in NC Ohio with half inch of snow on the ground. Well I'm gonna to attempt to smoke cook a twelve pound turkey on Wednesday. Working on cleaning the fryer pot too brine the critter in for 24 hours before smoking. I will accept any tips and knowledge from any experience anyone has to give!!!! Be safe and Payers to those and country. Mike

 

[charlie sterner]

good morning folks. It's 37º and cloudy here. Might get some sprinkles? Was a beautiful day yesterday and I had plans to get some outside work done but the deer put an end to that. I threw a few rotten apples out in the yard and within 10 minutes had a pretty good show. Five does came out, one by one and the apples were soon gone. They were followed by a rambunctious spike buck who wanted to chase them all around. He was followed by a bigger buck, a nice 8 point I've passed a few times now. That 8 just sauntered out and kept an eye on his girls. He knew the drill.

There was another buck out back, the one with the knot on it's leg, and it was broken off below the knot, dragging the hoof. I had the 17HMR in hand, but just couldn't put him down. I did get a real good look at him. He seems to be getting around okay, just slow. However, his body isn't filled out the way it should be. He looks weak. I hope we see him next week when rifle season is in and mom gets a shot. Not sure if he'd even be any good to eat, but it's a whole lot easier explaining that to a warden if it's tagged and in season.

I spent the better part of the evening shopping for the wife and my Christmas dilemma is over. I was going to get a Roomba vac but didn't think she'd appreciate that as a Christmas gift from me. Instead, my mom is going to get it for her/us. I got Miss Sue concert tickets to see Carrie Underwood instead. Holy CRAP are they expensive. That's ALL she's getting from me. Jeeze.

Well, I better get busy. Trying to get some projects off my desk before the long, holiday weekend. Have a good one.

Charlie

MPC - Greyfox is the fowl smoker guru. I tried a wild turkey once and it was inedible. Yuck. Sorry!

 

[Kentucky Fisherman]

Good morning, GoGo. It's 39 in Louisville and only going to 42 due to heavy cloud cover.

... The down hill drag only took about a half hour.

Scott, it seems you're always doing something I'd like to learn more about. If we lived closer, I swear I'd be your "shadow," always trying to learn something new. Like this quote from your morning post today. What the heck is a "down hill drag"? The best I've EVER managed is a level ground drag, and that's only happened a few times. For me it's ALWAYS an uphill drag. I also need your problem-solving brain to help me figure out something that'll help me lift/hoist a heavy deer into the rear of my Ford Escape. I don't know if it's as simple as carrying a couple of boards to use as ramps or what, but I can't lift 'em solo the way I once could.

For you guys who do much meat processing, what's your favorite online supplier for spices, casings and such? One of the best outfits I've run across is Walton's, but I'm always looking for new sources. What other suppliers should I check out?

MPC, you're already on the right track by planning to brine your bird before smoking. I've only done a few, but I'm convinced that brining poultry does really good things. As for the smoke, on pork I mostly use strong woods like hickory and mesquite, but for a turkey I prefer something lighter, like apple or cherry. You can use the stronger woods, just go light on them.

Y'all have a great day and be safe out there.

Carpman

 

[Dean in Colo.]

morning all. 21 with high 40s later. Might be a slight chance of snow this Saturday.
Moved some of the "open" cows (un-bred) to one of the alfalfa fields that we have to haul water to. Now will be a chore of keeping a tank full for them for a month or so.
Got the old Dodge feed pickup in the shop, boss man wants to pour some money into it, needs a lot of work but it always starts and goes. May not stop when you need but it goes.
BIL and I went calling yesterday afternoon, nothing, didn't even see a rabbit, we did hear one coyote barking at us way back in the brush where we couldn't see it.
Better get, breakfast is over, Gwyn is gone to work and the dog is wanting her breakfast.
Have a good day and be safe.
GOD BLESS. Dean

 

[was skruske]

KYF, I learned many years ago when hunting big game: get above your target first thing in the morning. That way the rest of the day is spent moving down hill.

Another thing I know, when it comes to moving heavy objects don't ever actually pick them up. Slide, tilt or use leverage so the ground is doing most of the load carrying.

For getting venison in your Escape, lay a 2" x8" x8' board on the bumper, drag the deer onto the board length wise and tilt/push both into the back end. The Escape shares half the load until most of the deer is inside, then the Escape takes over most of the work. Alternatively, have Miss Cindy load it up for you.

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Mornin boys...
44 here high on RUGER Mt this morning.
Didn't make it out hunting this morning. My right
knee started acting up last nite. Didn't do nothing but
walk through the house and felt a sharp pain like a hornet
was under my knee cap sting'in the shit out of it. Didn't have to be walking
or putting weight on it for it to do it. Boys went and Tucker just text that the big buck he's been after was chasing does right by his stand and he's 1200 yards up the hill. He was pissed cause he's set in that stand about all day since season come in. He's going back down to his stand. Seen 4 bears yesterday where Tucker had seen them Sat. Momma and 3 cubs. Got to watch'em about 45 minutes. Got some pics with my phone but at about 200 yards, they aint good. 2 of the cubs probably didn't weight 30 lb.
We walked out by'em and the little ones climbed a tree but she just put her paws up on it and watched us. First bear I've got to see in our county.
You all have a gooden today and GOD Bless...


Donnie

 

[Kentucky Fisherman]

For getting venison in your Escape, lay a 2" x8" x8' board on the bumper, drag the deer onto the board length wise and tilt/push both into the back end. The Escape shares half the load until most of the deer is inside, then the Escape takes over most of the work. Alternatively, have Miss Cindy load it up for you.

I'm liking that idea, Scott. One wider board would definitely be simpler than trying to do this with a couple of 2x4s. I was thinking of trying to slide the deer up the board, but if I can get board and all to slide, then I'll gain from the teeter-totter effect. Thanks!
Carpman

 

[koger]

Morning gang! High of 47 here today, rainy gloomy day. I ended up seeing 24 deer yesterday, all does! Will be setting up on a honey hole this evening, taking a friend who has never shot a deer, with a 243 I went thru for him, hope to get at least a doe for him! I still am buck hunting, will probably can one, we have the freezers both full, which is a good thing! Remember all those in need of prayer, buff out!

 

[CarlP]

I Agee with you Mike. We could all learn a few lessons from Skruske. He’s like a modern-day folk hero.
You could compile some of his adventures with his family and friends like JR that would rival some of Pat McManus’s stories with Retch Sweeney , Rancid Crabtree and Crazy Eddie Muldoon.

 

[koger]

KY Fisherman I sent you a pm on processing supplies, etc.

 

[45TAJ]

Pat McM. Now there's a good read. Ol' Retch or whuzzit Wretch? Some really funny stuff for sure, especially about the bobcat.
Got up way early this AM to pick up a vet up the road and took him into the VA for an appointment.
His wife has had 4 surgeries, been elex wheelchair bound for 60 odd months and his probs are stacking up on him. Talking, listening to someone with those circumstances sure can re-establish a guy's perspective. He just needed someone different to talk to for a change.

Overcast, typical So. IN winter gloom, abt 40° but no fog unlike the last two morns.

Filling in for Bridge tonight. Good eats but most of the group would call me "Kid". Sometimes it's a test of patience as who's deal, what was the bid, trump? are the questions.
Still need a BARSHOP machine from a chainsaw repair emporium. Send'em my way plz.
Tom out