Better sight that in fast Matt!
Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)
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MechanicMatt
Cut Split Stack Burn
I was already thinking about which scope I have laying around….
Just for this season
Then get a better one for next year
That's a hen pheasant. They do look sort of like ruffed grouse compared to the cock pheasants... It's cool that you have them around. Is there a release site or breeding farm somewhere near you? It's rare that pheasants breed in this part of the state... predation, the lack of mates, and inadequate habitat are all factors. There are wild birds in some areas on LI and in the southern tier and western part of NY. The habitat issue is bad enough in the Catskills that DEC stopped stocking sites such as Colgate Lake near Jewett, NY. The last time I hunted there I flushed a grouse. There were some near there at the Camp Tri-Mount Boy Scout camp. Some woodcock at the camp too... The habitat there has been in decline for 50+ years as the old farm fields have turned into mature forest.
Here's a ruffed grouse. Note the feathered legs and the crest on the grouse's head. The adult grouse are also much smaller than adult pheasants.
WoodAbuser
aka WoodchuckAbuser
I see ghost rings. Must be one of them there scary spooky guns the gun grabbers r so upset about. Personally I think it's good to have a gun to shoot ghosts with.
a MERRY 
CHRISTMAS to all you cutters, scroungers, stuffers... and fire-starters! ~
...thot i would get a lot of xmas presents under the tree this morn, but guess i was wrong!! ~
CHRISTMAS to all you cutters, scroungers, stuffers... and fire-starters! ~ ...thot i would get a lot of xmas presents under the tree this morn, but guess i was wrong!! ~
Cool! It's just in time for the last week of muzzle loader season in NY... that starts tomorrow! If all goes well I'll get out for that... it will be the first time this year for any type of hunting due to other obligations.
but me and the QB had coffee this morning. 
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we chatted, and she told me about some of her relatives....
all kidding aside, ... bit surprised... 
sorta thot i had been more badder than a bit more so gooder! ~
but then, actually... i did see i have 2 deep skid marks in front yard and deer droppings on walkways...
sorta thot i had been more badder than a bit more so gooder! ~but then, actually... i did see i have 2 deep skid marks in front yard and deer droppings on walkways...
hope you all have a nice day, and family time. dinner - of - the - day!, too. will be plenty of turkey and ham here. and all the trimmings to boot! yup - even roasting chestnuts on the fire as we sit around and enjoy and reflect upon the day.
That’s definitely a hen pheasant. Maybe you’ll get more from her.
Merry Christmas everybody! (Even you BL.)
Had brunch of Dutch babies, pancakes, and eggs. Ribs will be on this afternoon.
Hope Santa brought you guys everything you wanted.
Had brunch of Dutch babies, pancakes, and eggs. Ribs will be on this afternoon.
Hope Santa brought you guys everything you wanted.
Regarding grouse. They are very cyclical bird. Normally on a ten-year cycle although some people say it’s a seven year cycle.
We have a lot of them up here in the good years… I’ve had times where I’ve limited out within 3 miles of travel. In the down years, you will see a couple for the whole fall. Historically, the years ending in eight, nine, and zero are the peak years. This year we had a very successful hatch, because we had a very warm, dry spring. Wet, cold springs kill the chicks very quickly. I’m always surprised at how quick and nimble the little chicks are. They look like baby puffballs and can fly.
We do not have wild pheasants up here, but there is a pheasant farm about 20 miles away, and there is a sustaining population of feral birds from their escapees. So in theory they could survive our winters although the very cold days can kill them-supposedly something about their bills freezing up from moisture.
We have spruce grouse around, which are normally only present in the swamps, but occasionally you’ll find one elsewhere. More or less the same size as a grouse but gray. They also have a darker meat that is quite tasty although some people say grouse is better.
We do have some grasslands around that will hold sharptails. I cannot say for sure that I’ve ever seen one but I’ve seen some large birds at a distance that probably were them.
We have a lot of them up here in the good years… I’ve had times where I’ve limited out within 3 miles of travel. In the down years, you will see a couple for the whole fall. Historically, the years ending in eight, nine, and zero are the peak years. This year we had a very successful hatch, because we had a very warm, dry spring. Wet, cold springs kill the chicks very quickly. I’m always surprised at how quick and nimble the little chicks are. They look like baby puffballs and can fly.
We do not have wild pheasants up here, but there is a pheasant farm about 20 miles away, and there is a sustaining population of feral birds from their escapees. So in theory they could survive our winters although the very cold days can kill them-supposedly something about their bills freezing up from moisture.
We have spruce grouse around, which are normally only present in the swamps, but occasionally you’ll find one elsewhere. More or less the same size as a grouse but gray. They also have a darker meat that is quite tasty although some people say grouse is better.
We do have some grasslands around that will hold sharptails. I cannot say for sure that I’ve ever seen one but I’ve seen some large birds at a distance that probably were them.
MechanicMatt
Cut Split Stack Burn
I used the old smoke pole last year to fill a doe tag, this year if I can’t get the new one dialed in, she’ll be put back to work
After dragging the doe last year with out a sling, I made sure to buy one for it this year
MechanicMatt
Cut Split Stack Burn
Used the time off from work and wife napping while kids are watching Grinch to bring another load up to the house
Gonna wait for the ground to freeze again, my yard will thank me
Gonna wait for the ground to freeze again, my yard will thank me
Cool . There are males too as in the 80s the owner used to release them here and would have hunts in the fall I’m guessing that some survived . Last fall I saw two in my yard
Do grease guns work on ghosts ??
Made a walking stick with a cut off from the countertop
We’re going to the misses family tomorrow so today is perfect time to make some more cutting boards . Too bad Ash isn’t that plentiful now but the live edge is interesting with the larvae tunnels. 
