Kent Goldings
.357 mag
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.
2021-2022 Hunting Season
- Thread starter 1075tech
- Start date
camper4lyfe
.308 Win
Like the woods behind my house. My neighbor has a .308 sized hole in his house because of it. While rifle is legal here, that location is just stupid for it because of all the houses around.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
No doubt. I hunted at my wife’s uncles and it’s not legal to use a riffle there, but I never would. Using my shotgun in a few directions s made me nervous. I think I will only hunt there on a limited basis and hunt elevates so I shoot down into the ground.
Even at my parents place in Allegheny county there are some place or directions s I do not feel comfortable shooting my riffle in. My stand I use my riffle because I can safely take a 200 yard shot if need be. My blind I hunt close to the mobile home so I tend to use my shotgun, but even that 30-40 degrees is off limits and not safe.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
I picked up the second harvest. It’s more meat than I planned. I still want to fill my muzzleloader tag.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
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 feel comfortable shooting there. So, I took some video and went on my way.
I had less luck inside. I may return another day before dawn and set up.
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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 feel comfortable shooting there. So, I took some video and went on my way.
I had less luck inside. I may return another day before dawn and set up.
View attachment FullSizeRender.mov
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Come to my yard, there’s plenty. I hate them.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
This a regional thing. It’s connected to the masting cycle.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
No doubt. I was just being sarcastic saying I want my squirrels gone. You can’t hunt in my area since I’m just north of Buffalo. I have noticed there are very few in the woods by my parents place as well. Only one or two here and there.This a regional thing. It’s connected to the masting cycle.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
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.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Funny last year I saw 3-4 times more deer than this year. I think it’s because our creek flooded and a lot of the golden rod they bed down in was knocked over and died also we had beavers in the creek and they cut down a lot of cover vegetation around the creek. Many of the small willow type trees are gone. I think it’s a lot more the golden rod, but the willows do factor in. Also there were almost no apples this year and what there was fell super early like later September. In addition the beavers were like I got those as well.
About the squirrels I know the population of fisher cats in NYS is increasing and the DEC just released more of them. I’ve seen one in person and on camera at my parents place. After reading and hearing some stories we now know why there are less rabbits, squirrels, grouse, and I haven’t seen a turkey or signs of a turkey in 3 years. There used to be so many turkey out at my parents that you would walk the road and see shit, feathers, tracks, and scratching all the time. You’d see them run across the road or spook one out of the ditch. It’s been a few years now.
My dad loves his critters so he doesn’t want to handle it. I try, but even that I talked about tapping the fisher cat and he says oh leave my poor little kitty cat friend alone he’s beautiful. I said fine, but he eats all the other animals you actually see. You’ll never see this fisher cat so what’s the point. Then my mom said kill it.
I have my trapping license now so I will get some small conibears and try to get it. The property across the creek is perfect habitat for a fisher cat. I hear there pelts are the best in NYS so I will skin it out and keep the pelt.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
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 percussion caps. These are equivalent to number 11 magnum caps. They’re hot enough to ignite Triple-7 powder. So, I didn’t need actual black powder. The triple-7 burns cleaner, has more power than traditional black powder, yet it still cleans up with water based solvents.
I’ve been running 177 grain .490 caliber lead round balls patched with pretubed patches of 0.018 inch pillow ticking all over 70 grains (by volume) of T7.
The result it about 3 MOA
at a muzzle velocity of about 1600 fps. This is okay because the external ballistics of lead round balls is pretty shitty and maximum ethical range is like 75 yards anyway.
I swapped the factory rear blade sight with a skinner barrel sight. The barrel was made in Spain and the rear dovetail was 8.5 mm. But, the skinner barrel sight has a 3/8 inch dovetail. Conveniently enough, skinner makes a triangular file for the job.
The final touch is the Triple-K muzzleloader sling.
Sadly, deer have no sense of occasion and didn’t show.
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 percussion caps. These are equivalent to number 11 magnum caps. They’re hot enough to ignite Triple-7 powder. So, I didn’t need actual black powder. The triple-7 burns cleaner, has more power than traditional black powder, yet it still cleans up with water based solvents.
I’ve been running 177 grain .490 caliber lead round balls patched with pretubed patches of 0.018 inch pillow ticking all over 70 grains (by volume) of T7.
The result it about 3 MOA
at a muzzle velocity of about 1600 fps. This is okay because the external ballistics of lead round balls is pretty shitty and maximum ethical range is like 75 yards anyway.
I swapped the factory rear blade sight with a skinner barrel sight. The barrel was made in Spain and the rear dovetail was 8.5 mm. But, the skinner barrel sight has a 3/8 inch dovetail. Conveniently enough, skinner makes a triangular file for the job.
The final touch is the Triple-K muzzleloader sling.
Sadly, deer have no sense of occasion and didn’t show.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Beautiful day though.
timboy
.44 mag
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Good. I’m hoping for the same thing next week after Christmas. I have rage mechanical broad heads as well. My crossbow does 425 ft/sec so I expect good results.
There has to be a ton of blood vessels and arteries where you connected with so I expect that’s why it was quick.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
I’m still hoping to fill my muzzleloader tag with the Hawken. I’m going to send the meat to my sister.
pjzwtl
.308 Win
One of my sons and I went down to Stewart today. I haven’t hunted the buffer in about 3 years and it was a must hunt during the late season for about 20yrs. We did a lot of slow walking jumped only 2 doe and saw little sign. I have never seen so little sign in there before…weird
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Kent Goldings
.357 mag
I saw a fawn there during the first week of September. Nothing since.
timboy
.44 mag
It got a lung as well,there was frothy blood pouring from the exit wound.
Mine is only rated at 375fps and the shot was between 70 and 80 yards,as windy as it was I was surprised I even got a hit much less a pass through at that distance but I am new to the archery game and really didn't know what to expect.
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Came up dry
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Wow. 70-80 yards is a nice shot. Glad to see it was effective at that range. I’m new to the game as well.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
I’m not sure where you are, but gun is closed in most regions so check the regs.
pjzwtl
.308 Win
A good crossbow in the right weather is good for 70/75 my bottom pin is set for 70 and I target shoot it regularly and it’s spot on. I have not had the opportunity to try it real world yet most shots were I usually hunt are to thick to even think about it.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Me too. I’m more like 20-30 yards where I hunt as well. I only sight one for 20/40 yards and that’s all. Good thing is I’m over 400 fps so the 20/40 yard pin is the same through my scope. I plan to get the vortex scope for a better optics and better field of view for next year.
pjzwtl
.308 Win
Finally a real cold morning on stand. Nothing like watching the sun rise and the woods waking up under a hard frost. I’m looking to fill my doe tag seen the 2 small fellas I haven’t seen for weeks, glad they made it. A nice red that was surprised to see me attached pic.
There is a tree rat that’s been running in circles around me for about 10 min, would a .45cal 250 grain sabot be excessive? Asking for a friend.
There is a tree rat that’s been running in circles around me for about 10 min, would a .45cal 250 grain sabot be excessive? Asking for a friend.
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camper4lyfe
.308 Win
I’ve often debated a 12ga slug in a tree rat, but at almost $5 a round, it’s not worth it. I may get a co2 pellet pistol to help with them.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
I think we all have. Don’t ruin your deer chance to smoke a squirrel is what I always tell myself.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Beautiful red fox. I love them and won’t hurt one.
Blimey
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Didn't get out much this season and, with my newfound hesitation to shoot doe with their fawn early season (getting soft with age--I'm aware that biologically the fawn are fine at that point without mother), I passed a few good shot opportunities early season. I like the extended southern season, though, so out again today and then a few days after Xmas if necessary. Back out with the muzzleloader now. It's a CVA Wolf and its accuracy with 120 grain + 250 grain shockwaves is still shocking to me @ 100 yards. It's an incredible implement for the price.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
My CVA Optima V2 shoots pretty good. But, I have Wolf for back-up.
BTW, forkie stew is delicious.
