Gill-T

The new Hornady Levolution ammo for the lever guns make it a 200 yard gun now. I rifle hunt with Marlin 30-30 topped with a Leupold 2x7 scope exclusively. I would not use another rifle to hunt eastern whitetails. The gun mounts to the shoulder faster than anything out there IMO. Almost negligible recoil and relatively cheap ammo. Great gun. I do like the feel of my older Marlin compared to newer models. On the bench with the Hornady ammo it shoots 1" groups.

Hit some state land yesterday to grouse hunt and look for new deer hunting areas. I could not believe the fresh scrapes and rubs all over the place.

Sorry for your loss. My grandmother taught me how to clean the first bird I every shot. Farm gals....god bless-em.

A couple of thoughts on the season. I predicted a great opening southern gun opening weekend due to the timing and the cold temps. WOW was I wrong! Very few shots rang out on the state land I was hunting on. Nobody in our group put a tag on a buck. More disappointing was the lack of big buck sightings throughout the whole season including bow by everybody I have talked to. The biggest buck I saw was the cull buck I shot during bow season. Reasons?.....a few things come to mind. First, with outdoor TV growing, more and more guys are sitting in comfortable treestands and not moving deer with deer drives. Better options for scent-free camo clothing means less pushing deer when walking to the stand. Second, we had a bad winter that probably had a negative effect on deer numbers AND antler growth. Third, is more of a question......has some of the diseases effecting western deer present in NY and we are not aware of it? To date the DEC states that none of the CWD or EHD problems have been detected here but there is always going to be a lag between when a disease hits and when it is discovered (see also WTF happened to the kings this year?).

There is something sublime about spending a summer day catching kings with high blue skies, 80 degrees, cracking a victory beer after the first fish is boated, then ending the day with a jump in the lake. There is little in life that compares.

Those hooks are probably Lakers.

Isn't that why you are down there Ray? Diver down! You all suck! The difference between men and women is men can bust each others balls and not take offence. Start acting like men.....men.

Pheasant hunting has been excellent this year. Not sure if they put more birds out this year? Tinkerbelle has been giving me the sad eyes when she sees my deer hunting stuff by the door all season. This weekend thru Feb. I will be chasing grouse and ringnecks. Best table-fare by far..... esp crockpot Pheasant!

Micromanagement Minute: Rob, stop p***y-footing around those field edges and get back into the thick-and-nasty!!!