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My only real complaints about the Leupold are the cross-hair is a little too fine and the eye-piece diopter is difficult to adjust. The Vortex scope has more amenities. But, that Leupold scope just has fantastic image quality.

I went to the range to zero the new scope for for the 10/22 sporter. My brought in the American Rimfire for a bit of head-to-head. Ruger 10/22 22LR American Rimfire 22LR Barrel 20 in Green Mountain Sporter 18 in threaded factory bronze cerekote Stock Boyd’s Rimfire Hunter Wood...

Thanks for the recommendation. I’d sacrifice my left nut for a pre-Remington Marlin 39A.

I’m not above using a shotgun. Shotgun tactics are can be more aggressive. A shotgun is also safer when your sharing space with hikers and such. Tree-top shooting is also safer. Still, I like the challenge of using a 22. The reason I hunt squirrel is to make a better deer hunter...

I made a promise to myself to go squirrel hunting whenever the temperature goes above freezing. Today it was 41 degrees at sunrise. Returning to the woods with the Ruger 10/22 Green Mountain Sporter. I recently replaced the Nikon Prostaff Rimfire 3-9x40 with a Prostaff P3 6-18x40. The...

That joke is the first thing that I thought of when I saw the acorn still in his mouth. This is only the second time I’ve caught a squirrel mid-nut.

I was able to get a walk near Onteora Lake before the rain swept through. Bagged two squirrel with the Condor. First was a five yards trying to hide on a branch. The second was at 40 yards cracking a nut. Two seems to be my limit these days. The overcast sky gives a better quality of light...

You don’t see it, because your in it. Those dudes dragged that gear at least a half a mile from the parking area on Route 28. That’s a level of commitment admire.

The weather was brilliant today. It was sunny and just above freezing. This is the right time to remind the local squirrel that I still exist. Score 2 for the Stoeger Condor 20g. The best O/U built under license in South America by a subsidiary or an Italian company. I bought the gun about a...

Shooting this at the 25 yard range is a little masturbatory . 10-round groups.

I mounted a scope to my Henry H001. It messed up the lines and I could never get a proper cheek weld. I ended up just going with a skinner barrel sight. The gun is pretty much just a plinker anyway. It was never as productive a squirrel gun as the 10/22. When I finally, get a proper lever...

It was unseasonably warm and wet this morning. I took a chance and went out hunting for squirrel. I walked though the drizzle for about an hour. I snuck about the primitive campsites that litter the west shore of Onteora Lake here in Ulster County. I saw two squirrel, I took the first...

I took a short walk into the woods to “unload” the Hawken. I saw a few squirrels, but I didn’t feel like taking a shot. The last duty was a thorough cleaning and oiling before long-term storage.

Roast back-strap of yearling forkie for Christmas Dinner. Hope you can your are having a merry one.

I planning to hunt as long as the weather cooperates. I’m a little leery about hunting with the Hawken while it is too wet out. Of course, the Optima is stainless steel.

The fit-and-finish of my Ruger Hawkeye is excellent.

I think people get used to 10/22 and Ruger American Prices. A $1300 MSRP is typical of their premium rifles like the M77 Hawkeye, Number 1, and RPR.

I held off buying a Remlin 30-30 a few years back. I’m glad I did.

I did that very thing. The stew was a little loose for my taste. I’m going to modify the recipe. I used the one from Steve Rinella’s book.

He who hunts 2 game seldom gets 1. I used to hunt with a second rifle. It was my Henry H001 loaded with CB shorts. I discovered that the prospect of shooting a squirrel made them more distracting. I ended the practice was the day I was looking at a buck through the sights of the wrong...

My CVA Optima V2 shoots pretty good. But, I have Wolf for back-up. BTW, forkie stew is delicious.

I saw a fawn there during the first week of September. Nothing since.

I’m still hoping to fill my muzzleloader tag with the Hawken. I’m going to send the meat to my sister.

It’s opening day Muzzleloader season in southern NYS. I fulfilled a promise to myself to take my Traditions Hawken Woodman percussion rifle into the field. I bought the Hawken last year on impulse to shoot a traditional side-lock. I was lucky enough to score a box of 2,500 RWS 1075 plus...

I just wanted people to know that It’s not my imagination. I spent most of September thinking I was just shitty at hunting. On the other hand, I’ve heard many hunters but seeing deer this year and blaming it on EHD. I’ve seen more deer this year than the last three years combined.

This a regional thing. It’s connected to the masting cycle. https://highlandscurrent.org/2021/10/22/where-are-all-the-squirrels/

Since I’m essentially tagged-out until next week. I went for some squirreling. This season hasn’t been a great one for squirrel. I’ve only seen them in numbers in a State Forest west of Kingston. I arrived today and there were no less than three hanging around the car lot. I didn’t...

I picked up the second harvest. It’s more meat than I planned. I still want to fill my muzzleloader tag.

I know it’s not very cool to speak of such things. There are huntable places where discharging a firearm is technically legal. Yet, I wouldn’t feel comfortable using a full-size rifle caliber.

Nice. Wherever did you find 5-round mags? I’d love to hunt with mine.

For bow hunting, I’ll typically find the range of reference objects nearby the set. I find that the GPS on my phone isn‘t precise enough for this. I actually have multiple subscriptions to GPS apps that include Avenza, Gia GPS, and ON-X. I use these apps to plan hikes and blaze virtual...

I want a civil war replica. Good ones are kind of spendy.

It’s one of this fancy take-down models.

My Hawken can only use lead balls. :(

That’s a nice arrangement. Dudes will be a little more mellow because they’re going to get meat in the freezer.

Whole loins, Steaks and burger. That’s what the guy does for me. I’ll make a shitload of chili. Venison chili rocks.

WTF do you do with all that meat? I pay a local taxidermist to butcher deer for me. It adds to the expense. But, divorce is more expensive.

That 450 bushmaster is on my short list.

S’ok. I’m a big boy.

He’s probably 18 months. I wasn’t looking for a monster.

Morning found me back in the woods. This time in a favorite squirreling spot in WMU 3M. Last weeks take had a low yield because of poor marksmanship. I was looking to add to my freezer with a modest deer between 70 and 100 pounds. Any larger and I would have trouble dragging it out. I...

It’s back-strap. The tenderloins are even smaller.

For those of you wondering. Baby deer backstrap is mighty tasty.

Three years ago, I had all but given up. The last Thursday morning of the regular season, I put up my set as usual. The squirrel had been unusually active in the spot, so I brought a 17 HMR with my 308. About 7:20 AM, I see movement in some bushes and I engage with the 17 HMR. But, out...

You’re not doing anything wrong. I’m not a master. But, I’ve logged more than 60 hunting hours since October. I’ve observed a grand total of 15 deer and one had one shot opportunity. As for today, it’s pretty hard getting up to snow and a 22 degree windchill . I slept in and didn’t get...

My back hurts just thinking about that.

I was thinking seriously about the 7mm-08 American last year. But, the ammo situation makes it difficult to adopt a new caliber. Also, I feel like my 308 can handle anything too big for my 243 for hunting. My 6.5 CM and PRC have the long range target thing covered. Still, it’s not like...

The windchill was in the 20’s at 7:00 AM this morning. I did see 3 yearling does right where I predicted they would be. If only they bring a buck next time.

Critters will come out during light weather. But, more severe weather will keep them bedded down. I’ve noticed that squirrel will stay denned up in high winds because it’s harder to hear predators. I got the meat back from my baby buck. The yield was a little lower than average because I...

The Savage have a unique profile. It could have been a Savage 110, but the lack of accutrigger and synthetic stock said axis to me. I think the modular trigger guard is unique to the Axis and Axis 2. I also have an Axis 2 in 223 Remington. Some Axis have problems with extraction. But, you...