2009 Hunting Season in Review

It started with turkeys in May, then a long wait until pheasants in October. Deer started in November, ending with late season muzzleloader deer in December. Some people are even able to squeeze in archery, waterfowl, small game, and other assorted game into the season. This Sunday, all the guns were cleaned and put away, and the equipment was stored to mark the end of a successful 2009 hunting season.

Personally, I had some successes and some short falls in 2009 hunting. However, I feel that I expanded my hunting activities (trying black powder muzzleloader hunting for the first time), and continued to learn in the 2009 season. Even though I’ve been in the woods for many years now, there’s still a lot to learn. That makes being in the outdoors a challenging and fun endeavor.

Below is a 2009 wrap-up and a look forward to 2010.

2009 Spring Turkey:
I started turkey hunting about 5 or 6 years ago. Back then, I started out just struggling to locate birds, understand their habits, and learn calling techniques. Success came in baby steps. Soon I gained enough skill to be able to call a bird in. Eventually, I bagged my first turkey a few years ago. After struggling to find a good location to hunt in 2008, in 2009 I went back to the spot where I had success in previous years and was able to fill both tags.
Turkey hunting has been especially rewarding for me because in a short time I’ve been able to climb a steep learning curve. I started out from ground zero, and although I would hardly call myself an expert, I think I’ve gotten to the point where I can reasonably expect to bag a turkey.
I’ve already got the vacation days marked off the calendar for opening day of turkey season 2010. I have 3 separate spots in mind. I’ve seen turkeys in all 3 spots in the past. Other hunters will be more of a factor in my success in 2010 than the turkey density. If any of the 3 spots I have in mind for 2010 are reasonably fee of other hunters, there’s a pretty good chance I can get a bird. If I have to dodge other hunters, then it’s possible to come away empty handed. For this reason, unless a plot of land not hunted by others (i.e. private land) is available to you, it’s best to plan ahead and have multiple locations in-mind for spring turkey hunting.

Biggest Success: Filled both tags.
Biggest Mistake: Getting a 3.5-inch shell jammed in a shotgun intended only for 3-inch max shells. Luckily I was able to remove the shell without damage.
Biggest Lesson Learned: Avoiding other hunters is just as important as density of turkeys on a property. Have a back up plan in case your first spot is pressured.
Grade: A
Note: Both spring turkeys were stored in my freezer until Thanksgiving time. Both birds came out delicious cooked in the traditional Thanksgiving turkey style.

2009 Pheasant:
Although there’s still room for improvement, the state of Connecticut did a better job running the pheasant stocking program in 2009. Unfortunately, I did not improve my shooting much. I missed a couple birds, but got a couple birds, so it was not a total loss. One positive result of the 2009 season was that we were able to find and learn another quality pheasant hunting location.

Biggest Success: Scouted a new hunting location in 2009.
Biggest Mistake: Missed at least 2 point-blank birds.
Biggest Lesson Learned: Relax when shooting. Practice to improve shooting skills.
Grade: C

2009 Deer:
It was not a trophy, but I got a buck in 2009. Even though I’ve been deer hunting on-and-off since being a young teenager, I learned a lot by spending a large amount of time in the 2009 deer woods. I learned that I need to be looking more carefully when traveling in the woods. I spooked several deer and did not see them until they were running away. I learned that it’s advisable to take the first shot available rather than waiting for the perfect shot since the perfect shot may never come. I had a chance at a nice buck, but lost him when I hesitated. Just by spending a lot of time paying attention in the woods, I’ve also improved my skills at finding locations deer populate. In both states I hunted I was able to find spots with good deer signs.

Biggest Success: Shot a buck, and my first New Hampshire deer.
Biggest Mistake: Hesitated and missed a nice Connecticut buck.
Biggest Lesson Learned: Spending time in the woods and hunting hard usually equals success.
Grade: B – As long as there’s meat in the freezer, the grade can’t go below a B.

2009 Muzzleloader:
2009 was my first year trying black powder muzzleloader hunting. I had several equipment difficulties, and by the time I actually got my gun sighted in I only got one morning in the woods. I managed to see 4 deer, and actually shot and missed at one. This was a disappointment (I’m still running it through my head to figure out how I missed!), but just getting started in muzzleloader season made 2009 a success. 2010 should be much improved.

Biggest Success: Getting started in muzzleloader hunting.
Biggest Mistake: Missing a deer I shot at.
Biggest Lesson Learned: Get all equipment ready to go (especially sighting in) well before the start of the season.
Grade: B – Just getting started makes this season a B. However, the standards will be much higher for next season. A grade of B will require a dead deer in 2010.


Looking Forward to 2010:
I probably spent more time hunting in 2009 than any other year prior. This is a pace I’d love to continue in 2010. Much like the lottery, you can’t win if you don’t play. Even if unable to harvest any game, the time spent in the woods increases knowledge and improves odds of reaching your goal on the next trip.

I’m planning on raising the bar in 2010. Instead of just one deer (as in 2009), I’ll continue to be work hard for two deer in 2010 (although I certainly appreciate getting just one deer). Instead of a small buck, I’ll be setting my sights on a mature buck in 2010. To reach these goals, the most important action is to be in the woods as much as possible. The second thing is to build on my existing skills to get closer to my goals. Before 2009, I felt that the only real way I would have a shot at a mature buck was by running into one by luck. Although luck still plays a part, I feel that I’ve gained a little more woods-wisdom in 2009 to get me closer to that buck in 2010.

It likely will not happen in 2010, but just as I expanded into the muzzleloader season this year, I’d like to keep expanding into different hunting arenas. For example, maybe try duck or goose hunting some day. Maybe try some New Hampshire turkey hunting. Maybe someday taking a hunting trip to try for game not available in Connecticut (elk, boar, moose, bear, dhal sheep, pronghorn, mountain goat, etc.). The hunting season is like life; both are short, so take advantage of them when you can.

Equipment Review: CVA Wolf Muzzleloader

I’ve had quite an adventure so far with the CVA Wolf muzzleloader and Cabela’s. I decided to finally pull the trigger on a muzzleloader purchase this year after wanting one for many years. I wanted to benefit from the extended deer hunting season when using a muzzleloader. After a lot of on-line research I finally settled on the CVA Wolf muzzleloader from Cabela’s. I did not want to shell out the money for a top-of-the-line muzzleloader, so I had to do my homework to get a balance of price and features. I read a lot of on-line reviews and research, and I think I made a good choice with the CVA Wolf. I went with the complete package with camo stock, scope, and starter kit included.
Upon finally making my decision, and going to the on-line checkout, I found out that this model was on backorder. I continued because I was willing to wait. After I received my muzzleloader, I found out that the scope was not mounted to the rifle. I was expecting the rifle to arrive mounted and bore sighted. This was not the case. I took to the task of installing the scope mounts and scope. The scope mounts that Cabela’s sent me were not able to work with the scope. The scope touched the iron sights of the rifle because the scope mounts were too low. Even with the back sight removed, the scope still touched the site mount. I contacted Cabela’s to tell them I needed higher scope mounts. They agreed to send me a correct set. However, they sent me the same exact set of scope mounts. Now, due to these delays, I would not be able to take my muzzleloader along to the hunting cabin to sight it in. I was forced to drive to the nearest Cabela’s store to get this situation resolved. I waited an hour to get a customer service person to explain the situation. This customer service person at the Cabela’s store did not know how to resolve the situation. However, after some back-and-forth, he suggested that I get a “see-through” scope mount. The see-through mount sits higher and has a window that allows the shooter to use the iron sites or the scope. I took this set home and mounted the scope. Finally, I got my hands on a set of mounts that allowed me to properly mount my scope. After all this, I actually got a set of scope mounts I preferred. I like the fact that I can still use the iron sites. One disadvantage is that the comb of the Wolf stock was not designed for this higher scope mount. The comb rests a little low on the cheek when using this scope mount. For me, this was a minor inconvenience, and an acceptable trade-off to keep the ability to use the iron sites along with the scope. In Cabela’s defense, they exchanged the incorrect sights for the more expensive see-through sights with no hesitation.
Now that I finally had my scope mounted, I was able to fire the first shot from the rifle while I sighted it in. I used the Leopold Zero Point Bore Sighter to zero the scope. The bore sighter was able to get me on-paper at 50 yards. I used 100 grains of Pyrodex-style powder with .245 grain PowerBelt bullets. The PowerBelt-type bullets went down the barrel much easier than plastic sabot-type bullets I’ve used on other muzzleloaders.
Even though it was snowing hard, everything was going well while sighting in the rifle, when after pushing in one stubborn bullet the ram rod broke right in half. Once again I contacted Cabela’s. They are supposedly sending me a replacement ramrod that should be here by Thursday. If Cabela’s does not deliver in time, I will miss yet another weekend of the muzzleloader season. This is the last weekend, so Cabela's needs to come through. Luckily, I was able to get the rifle sighted in relatively close before the ramrod broke. The sight in was not perfect, but adequate. I will go with it for the rest of this season, and then try to get it more accurately sighted in next season.
Last night I took the time to clean the rifle from shots fired after sighting it in. The break action design makes cleaning relatively easy. I've heard stories about how difficult a muzzleloader is to clean. I did not have that experience. The black powder solution was able to easily clean the barrel after a few patches. The powder I used was advertised as "easy-clean", so perhaps that helped.

I’ve had my issues with Cabela’s and the CVA Wolf muzzleloader to this point, and I’ve yet to even get it out on a hunt! Despite all of this, perhaps surprisingly, I’m satisfied with the CVA Wolf muzzleloader. The Wolf has all the features of the most expensive muzzleloaders, but at a lower cost. I paid about $300 for mine with the scope and starter kit included. The Wolf is a break open design. The lever just below the trigger works to easily open the action. The breech plug is easily removed with a wrench that’s included with the rifle. The gun is short and easy to handle. The iron sights use fiber optics that makes them easily seen even in low light conditions. The hammer is accessible and easy to operate. Additionally, the gun produces good accuracy at 50 and 100 yards. The Cabela’s Powder Horn scope (that comes with the kit) has crosshairs designed for 100, 150, 200, and 250 yards. The scope is clear with no issues a 3 to 10X.

Now that my set up is adequate, I’m looking forward to trying the CVA Wolf in the field. I hope this gun will provide many, many years of service.

Update on Leupold Zero Point Bore Sighter

Yesterday I mounted a new scope on my muzzleloader. I used the Leupold Zero Point to bore sight the rifle before sighting it in with live fire. The Leupold Zero Point was able to do the job on this set up. It got me on-paper at 50 yards with the first shot. From there, I was able to fine tune.
I mentioned in an earlier post that this set up would be the decider on the Leupold Zero Point. If it worked on this set up, I would keep it. If it did not work, I would return it. The Zero Point worked well enough to get me on-paper, which is really all one can ask from a bore sighting, so I will keep the product.

Equipment Review: Bushnell Backtrack GPS – Better than noting, but not as good as it should be

The Bushnell Backtrack is a hand held electronic compass that uses a GPS signal. It is meant to tell you direction at any time, as well as an “as-the-crow-flies” distance from one of 3 selected waypoints.

I was attracted to the Bushnell Backtrack because of its simplicity, small size, and low cost. I purchased the unit for approximately $70 from Cabela’s. I was hoping to get something that I could slip into a pocket that would give me some confidence while hunting in the big woods. Also, I was hoping it could save me some time returning to my car after a day in the woods. If it worked as advertised, the Bushnell Backtrack would have been perfect for my needs. However, I had several issue with the Bushnell Backtrack.

First, the unit had difficulty picking up a GPS signal when in the woods. It was able to pick up a signal relatively easily in an open field or on a trail or road. However, when you need it most, in the middle of the thick woods, it could not always pick up a signal.
Second, the compass feature was not properly working. I compared the electronic compass reading to a reading on traditional compass. They did not match. A compass that can’t be trusted is not useful.
Lastly, the arrows intended to direct you back to your base point were not always accurate. The unit seemed to correctly tell the distance from a point, but fell down in pointing the direction. I observed that after a while the arrow would point in the correct direction, but when the unit was first turned on, the arrow direction was incorrect. This is not a good thing when in the middle of the deep woods. Even though I knew the direction back to my vehicle, the incorrect arrow direction on the Bushnell Backtrack made me question myself. Luckily I trusted my instincts and ignored the Bushnell Backtrack. Eventually the unit corrected itself, but I could have spent a lot of time walking in the opposite direction if I followed the Bushnell Backtrack.

I suppose if you were truly lost in the woods, since the unit did EVENTUALLY give the correct direction, it would be better than being lost in the woods with nothing. However, the unit did not operate up to my standards, or as advertised.
I will be returning the unit and spending the extra money to buy a regular map-based GPS unit. It’s a shame because I really liked the small size and simplicity of the Bushnell Backtrack. Now I will be forced to carry a larger unit if I want GPS insurance when in the woods.

Successful Buck Hunting in New Hampshire

I was fortunate enough to harvest a 4-point buck during the second week of New Hampshire’s firearms season. It’s no trophy, but it’s in the freezer! This is the first buck I’ve had a chance at in New Hampshire, which only allows bucks to be taken during most of the season (It depends on the region.).
I startled this guy at about 11:15 AM in some thick re-growth after returning from a morning sitting. He paused for a moment to see what I was, and I was able to find a shooting lane to get him in the ribs with my .30-06. He ran only a short distance before lying down. When I went to retrieve him, I startled a second deer that I never got a look at.
I had a very short drag to get him onto the path. Once on the path we were able to use a tractor to pick him up and bring him the rest of the way back to camp.I’ve already enjoyed two family meals from this guy. Both were prepared about the same way. The first meal I used steaks, the second chops. I pan seared them in butter with green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and garlic. Both meals were delicious.

Equipment Review: Leupold Zero Point Boresighter

The Leupold Zero Point boresighter is an ingenious device. Magnets hold the device to the muzzle of any gun, and an image is projected into the scope. The image is a target surrounded by a grid. The gun can be sighted by lining up the crosshairs to the center of the projected target. Once the crosshairs are aligned to the grid center, theoretically the projectile (bullet, slug, sabot) should “hit-the-paper” at 100 yards.
The appeal of the Leupold boresighter is that it is intended for use on any gun, it can be used indoors or out, and it is portable enough to be brought along to check the center of a gun at any time. The product is also reasonably priced compared to other laser boresighters on the market. The Leupold boresighter can be purchased for under $100. All of these are great features that would make the Leupold Zero Point boresighter a great product. The problem is that is does not work all the time.
I used the Leupold Zero Point on my Savage .30-06 with a 3-9X scope, and it worked well. I tried it again on my father’s .300 Winchester Mag and it said the gun was 16 inches low. We zeroed it out, and then went to the range. Even though the Leupold Zero Point said the gun was now dead center, not only was the gun off the paper at 75 yards, but it was not even hitting the plywood holding the paper. We had to bring the target in to about 25 yards, and sight in the gun the old fashioned way by firing and adjusting, then moving the target out. We then used the Leupold Zero Point on a new muzzleloader that was supposed to be previously boresighted by the gunsmith that mounted the scope. Neither the Leupold Zero Point nor the gunsmith boresighing was hitting on the paper with this gun. Once again, we had to go to the range and get the gun sighted in the old fashioned way. Finally, I tried the Leupold Zero Point on my Mossberg 500 slug gun (rifled barrel). This gun was previously sighted in last year to hit the paper at 50 yards, but was not fine-tuned to be consistently in the black. This gun only has a 2.5X scope. The Leupold Zero Point did not work on this gun. The image projected into the scope was so small in size that it was not clearly visible. I suspect the Leupold Zero Point was not intended for scopes of such low magnification. In summary, I’m going to say that the Leupold Zero Point worked on 1.5 of 4 guns (It half worked on the muzzleloader. It worked well on my .30-06. It did not work on the .300 Winchester Mag or the Mossberg 500 slug gun.). When it worked, it seemed like a pretty good device. However, if you plan on using this one boresighter on all your firearms, it’s unlikely to be able to work on all. If you happen to have one of the guns on which this device works (like my .30-06), this is a great device to check your center easily at any time. If you have one of the guns that are not compatible with the Leupold Zero Point you will likely be disappointed. There does not seem to be a way to predict which guns will work well with this device, and which ones will not. I’m going to give this device one more chance. I have a new muzzleloader on which I am installing a scope. If the Leupold Zero Point does not work on this gun, I will be returning it for a refund. If it works, I’ll keep it with the understanding that it’s useful for some guns, but not all.

Book Comparison: Hunting Big Woods Bucks by Hal Blood versus Big Bucks The Benoit Way by Bryce Towsley

If you’re looking for a book on hunting deer in the woods rather than on a ranch filled with food plots, Hunting Big Woods Bucks and Big Bucks The Benoit Way are two useful tools.

Both books are interesting reads to deer hunters and both are worth while. Beginners and experienced hunters will be able to gain tips from these two books. You can’t go wrong with either book, and serious deer hunters will enjoy reading both books.

Big Bucks The Benoit Way discusses only tracking as a hunting technique. This book devotes more pages to hard core tracking and does a slightly better job of describing some of the basic tracking techniques. Some of the pictures of different buck tracks help a hunter to learn how to distinguish a buck track from a doe track.

Hunting Big Woods Bucks devotes pages to other topics besides just tracking. The author (Hal Blood) discusses stand hunting, still hunting, as well as tracking techniques. Hal Blood adds creditability to his book by showing pictures of some of the smaller deer taken under his watch, not just the monster bucks (although there are plenty of those). I appreciated the fact that Mr. Blood understood that the definition of a “trophy” depended on the hunter, not some outside criteria.

I learned from both books. I enjoyed both books. If I had to chose only one, I suppose I would go with Hunting Big Woods Bucks by Hal Blood because he discusses hunting techniques other than tracking. However, if I wanted just a book on tracking alone, I believe Big Bucks The Benoit Way by Bryce Towsley is slightly more comprehensive.

One Note: Neither the Benoits or Hal Blood use trail cams to scout their deer.

Kolpin Sight Vice A Good Deal

I've been wanting to get a gun rest for sighting in my firearms for some time now. Up to this point, I've tried to site in free hand which certainly reduces the accuracy of my shooting. I've hesitated up to this point because some of the nicer gun rests run several hundreds of dollars. That's more expensive than many of my guns! This past week Cabela's ran a sale on the Kolpin Sight Vice offering it for $10. For that price I could not resist. Even if it was a piece of junk, for $10 I figured it was worth a try. At best it could save me from buying a $200+ gun rest. At worst, I'd be out only $10.

I received the Kolpin Sight Vice earlier this week. I was not expecting much, but I was presently surprised with the usefulness of this gun rest. Certainly it's not as sturdy as a $300 Lead Sled, but the Kolpin helped me out right away. I was able to use the Kolpin Sight Vice to securely hold my muzzleloader while I worked on mounting a new scope. I then used it to secure several guns while I checked the zero with a boresighter.

The Kolpin Sight Vice uses simple clamps with padding to tightly hold the gun in place. The device has a freestanding front rest, or you can switch it out to use clamps on both sides. The underside of the rest has a compartment in which lead shot can be added to give the rest extra weight. The compartment is relatively small, so unlike the expensive gun rests, you are going to have to live with some recoil while shooting with this rest.

The rest uses 3 legs. One of the legs has a simple spring loaded threaded rod which can be easily turned to adjusted the elevation of the gun during shooting. The Kolpin Sight Vice is made of plastic, not steel like the expensive rests, so you can expect it to be less robust than the expensive models. It might not be the choice for sighting in a sniper rifle intended to shoot a 2 inch group at 500 yards. However, for most hunting applications, the rest is more than adequate to assist the shooter in sighting in a firearm, especially for such a low price. If you want all the features, don't buy this product. If you're looking for something simple and want to save a buck, the Kolpin Sight Vice is a useful tool.

Connecticut Needs to Make Improvements to Pheasant Season

Connecticut is a state without a natural pheasant population. Therefore, to allow pheasant hunting, the state stocks pheasants at several locations throughout the state.

I appreciate the pheasant program in Connecticut. Without it, we would not be able to hunt birds. However, there is a lot that could be improved with the way the program is run.

First, the DEP needs to get serious with stocking methods. Many times birds are stocked during the week or early on Friday. People that are available, like retired guys and guys that get out of work early on Friday, shoot all the birds Friday evening before the sun even rises on Saturday. By Saturday morning the workingman is often relegated to spending hours walking around a field with one or two birds that survived the previous night’s shooting. To solve this, especially on Friday, the state needs to stock after dark. I’ve been in the field when the stocking truck comes. If there are hunters in the area, the birds barely last the hour. Nighttime stocking is fairer to the hunters, and to the birds.

Second, there are far too many hunters for the amount of locations available. It’s not surprising that a hunter was hit by some stray birdshot while pheasant hunting at Robins Swamp earlier this year. On some Saturday mornings it’s difficult to even find a place to walk at some of the more popular pheasant hunting locations. For safety and for the quality of the pheasant hunting experience, the state needs to open up more locations.

Finally, the state needs to stock more birds. At some locations there are more hunters than birds. I’m not saying I want it to be easy, but I don’t want to waste my time either. I want to hunt bird, not fight with other hunters for one nervous bird.

Like many states, the state of Connecticut is in the midst of a serious budget crisis. Rumors swirled earlier this year that the pheasant stocking program was one of the programs considered for cutting from the bloated state budget. This is unwise and unnecessary. Pheasant hunters pay for special pheasant tags. The program is basically self-sustaining with the money collected from tag fees going to purchase bird for the following year. If the program is not solvent, the state needs to charge the correct amount for tags to make it solvent. Hunters understand the stocking program costs money, and they will be more than willing to pay a fair price. I’d rather pay more to have the program run right, than to pay less for a poorly run pheasant stocking program. In addition to the direct fees pheasant hunters pay to the state coffers, there is the significant indirect revenue brought in by pheasant hunters. Hunters spend money. They buy equipment. They eat at local restaurants. They pay sales tax. Eliminating the stocking program would dry up all the spending done by pheasant hunters. Enhancing the program would have the opposite effect, as well as make for a better experience for the hunters.

Good Bit of News on Grouse in Connecticut

For the first time in long while I saw a hunter harvest a grouse in northwestern Connecticut.

This is hardly a scientific study, but hopefully this is a good sign for the comeback of a significant grouse population in Connecticut. Grouse populations fluctuate based on a mostly mysterious 10-year cycle that is about at the peak right now.

I had previously written in this blog about the decline of grouse populations in Connecticut. The difference between grouse populations I observed hunting in New Hampshire compared to Connecticut was stark. I had even hinted in earlier posts that I had my concerns that grouse were all but extinct in Connecticut. All of this is anecdotal, but I'll be happy if my previous posts were wrong, and grouse are able to again thrive in Connecticut.

Trail Cams Take Hunting Technology Too Far

It’s a fine line between preserving the traditional sport of hunting and the modern technology that is available today. Big game hunters today are not hunting with Hawkens flintlock muzzleloaders or recurve bows with wooden arrows and stone arrow tips. Heck, for their time, those tools were significant technological advances over spears and clubs. Hunters today are using high powered rifles with scopes and modern high performance ammunition, or compound bows with carbon arrows equipped with mechanically released broad heads. Modern accessories like modern camo patterns, calls, scents, and tree stands add to the technological advances available today. I have taken advantage of all of this modern equipment at one point or another. It might seem a bit hypocritical for me to come out against a particular piece of technology when I’m out there hunting with modern equipment. However, I believe there is a line. The line is different for different people, so the debate will rage on, but I content that trail cameras take the first step over the line of too much technology in deer hunting.

Trail cameras are cameras that are attached to a tree. They are motion activated to take digital photographs of any passing animal.

Why do I pick on trail cameras? What’s the difference between trail cameras, and a piece of equipment like the new modern rifle equipped with the latest and greatest optics? The biggest difference is electronics. Electronics is the line I draw in modern hunting. I content that no piece of hunting equipment should need batteries.
I’m not alone in drawing the line with electronics in hunting. Connecticut turkey hunting regulations allow all types of calls except electronic calls. Other states have disqualified the CVA Electra muzzleloader from the black powder season. The Electra uses a battery-operated mechanism to create a spark to ignite the powder. It's evident that hunters and hunting regulators are uncomfortable with electronics in the field.

Trail cams are certainly electronic and battery operated. Some of the more advanced models can actually use a cellular signal (when available) to email pictures to the user. Some also utilize photovoltaic cells to recharge their batters with solar energy. The user does not even need to go into the field collect the pictures! Using trail cameras takes out much of the skill of scouting and evaluation that is a big part of deer hunting. Despite the fact that popular hunting magazines like Field and Stream and Outdoor Life tout the use of trail cams, the wisest woodsman is able to pick their hunting spots based on their superior knowledge of the area, advanced scouting, and animal knowledge. These should be skills that are acquired after years in the field, not from a few hours in front of the computer screen.

The debate over technology in the field will continue. For example, hunters in many areas are currently in debates about the use of crossbows during the archery season. Different people have different criteria, but for me, keep the electronics out of the hunt.

2009 Connecticut Pheasant Hunting Opening Day

Maybe it was the spot we decided to try. Maybe it was the fact that some other popular spots in the area were not stocked this year. Maybe it was the nice weather. Maybe there is increased interest in hunting these days. Whatever the reason, it seems that there were more people than ever in the woods on opening day of the 2009 pheasant hunting season in Connecticut. More hunters than pheasants roamed the Connecticut woods. There was even an accident in one of the Connecticut pheasant hunting areas. A hunter was hit with bird shot from another hunter firing at a pheasant.

Once the crowds thinned out, and we were able to find a decent place to hunt, it ended up being a good day.

Based on the size of the birds I saw, it appears the birds may be larger than in previous years. This is good news since some of the birds were pretty scrawny in past years.

Even if there is only a slight chance you will hunt pheasants this year, consider buying your tags. The money from the sale of pheasant tags goes back into the fund to support the purchase of pheasants for the next year. As Connecticut becomes more and more developed, your tag purchase can help support and preserve hunting in Connecticut.

Stanley Golf Course -- New Britain, CT

Golf Shop 860-827-8570
Tee-Times 860-827-1362
Whinstone Tavern 860-827-0022

Stanley Golf Course
245 Hartford Rd.
New Britain, CT 06053

http://www.stanleygolf.com/

It's approaching the end of the golf season in Connecticut, but pleasant golf can still be had with little luck in the weather department. I was fortunate enough to get a great day for a scramble tournament at Stanley Golf Course in New Britain, Connecticut.

Stanley is one of the better public courses in central Connecticut. On this beautiful September day the conditions were excellent. The course was green all around. Fairways and greens were in good shape.

Stanley is a good course with challenging and score-able holes, but what sets Stanley apart are the carts. The golf carts at Stanley are equipped with GPS units. The units tell you everything about the golf course. All you have to do is drive up to you ball, and the cart tells you how far your drive traveled, how far to the pin, how far to the front of the green, back of the green, sand traps, water, etc. It even gives tips on how to best play the hole. When you first hear about the GPS it sounds like something unnecessary, and perhaps to some extent it is. We've all been playing golf for years without GPS. However, it is definitely a fun feature. Even without the GPS, Stanley would be a fine golf course, but I would recommend checking out Stanley Golf Course to try the GPS.

Campground Review: Winter Island Park – Salem, Massachusetts

Where: Winter Island Park

50 Winter Island Road

Salem, MA 01970

phone 978-745-9430

winterisland@cove.com

www.salemweb.com/winterisland

Many people looking for a beach get-away in the Massachusetts area fight the hoards and travel to Cape Cod. The Cape Cod trip for a middle-New Englander is almost done by default. Although The Cape is nice, for my tastes it’s a bit overrated. Some of the other more popular spots include Rockport/Gloucester, Plymouth, or Newburyport. Others looking for a beach vacation may venture farther north to New Hampshire or the dramatic rocky shores of Maine. All along the North Shore (In local terms, the coast line above Boston is known as the North Shore, south of Boston is the South Shore.) are small spots that can be fun, but with less crowds (Keep in mind that this is a densely populated area. “Less crowds” does not mean zero crowds.). Salem, Massachusetts is one of those interesting North Shore spots. Rich in history (mostly infamous due to the 17th century witch trials), Salem is now a modern port town just north of Boston. Salem has embraced it’s infamous past and offers many activities exploring the sordid history of Puritanical New England. There are even two trolleys that take tourists to the different sites of Salem including the House of Seven Gables, the witch museum, and old graveyard among several others. Although rich in history, Salem is a modern town with shopping, hotels, and restaurants for every taste.
On the outskirts of Salem is a small public-owned camping area and recreation known as Winter Island Park. Winter Island has a rich history of it’s own. Before becoming a park, it was a military-owned island going as far back as the American Revolution. Signs of the military history of the island are still present today. Ammunition bunkers and an old fort can still be found on the island. Today, the primary feature of the island is a large public boat launch. The island also features a lighthouse, a public beach, a picnic pavilion, and a large playscape.
Winter Island Park is not a large park. One could likely walk across the entire park in 30 minutes. It’s not a place to go for a long hike or bike ride. However, take a leisurely stroll along the rocky shore at sunset and you can catch a nice sunset behind the lighthouse.
Camping at Winter Island Park is low maintenance. This is not a park that features tons of organized programs for the kids, or theme weekends. The attraction of Winter Island Park is the beach, rock shore, and open space to enjoy the outdoors. Many of the campers are also boaters, but there are large RV, pop-up, and tent sites available. My family and I spend Labor Day weekend (Thursday through Monday) camping with our pop-up camper at Winter Island Park. We planned on spending at least one day exploring the town of Salem. However, we were having so much fun at the campground that we ended up not venturing outside of the campground for the entire weekend. My 4-year old son spent a lot of time at the large playscape. The whole family enjoyed exploring the rocky shores looking for crabs and shells. We spent one day at the beach. We also used our kayaks to do some exploring. We even flew a kite on one particularly windy morning. We were having so much fun on the island that we never even got a chance to go fishing, although there were several fishermen on the shores near the lighthouse.
My family and I really enjoyed our weekend on Winter Island Park.

Tips:
When camping at Winter Island Park one needs to be aware of the type of camping you plan on doing. The sites right near the shore are not really campsites. They are basically parking spots on the blacktop parking lot near the boat-launch. I suppose these sites would be ok with an RV for boat owners that want to be near to their boats. However, for most campers, you’ll prefer the grass sites away from the boat launch. If you have a large RV, sites 42 to 54 are adequate. However, pop up campers would probably be best served to consider other sites. Sites 54 and 55 give the most room for campers without large RVs. I recommend site 55 for a pop up. This site has water and electricity hook-ups, and is away from the other campers. This site features an entire field in front of your site for recreation. If you have a pop-up and need to consider a site between 42 and 53, go for the corner or end sites. For tent campers, I recommend sites 57 and 36. Be careful of tent site 58 as it is close to the road and has a steep slant.
Don’t plan on relying on the small store at the park. The store mostly just sells candy and t-shirts. However, near the front gate the park sells ices at a reasonable price. It’s nice to be able to buy ice without having to leave the park.
One small negative to the park is the very large power plant that is quite visible across the bay. It visually detracts from the natural setting of the park, but other than that, it’s easily ignorable and did not impact our stay.

Summary of Shot Gun Chokes

With bird season approaching, it's an appropriate time to start to considering upland game equipment.

I found this summary of shot gun chokes on the Kittery Trading Post website. I thought it was a good quick summary and explanation.

The progression goes from least to most choke constriction.

Popular Shotgun Chokes:

Cylinder Bore: This is a straight tube with no constriction at all. It would be the same as if you cut a barrel back four or five inches and removed all the choke in it, leaving just a straight tube.
Skeet 1: This has a .005" constriction and tightens the pattern just a little. It is great for skeet shooting or any type of shooting where the shots are 25 yards or less.
Improved Cylinder: This is tighter than Skeet 1 with about .010" constriction. Great for shots under thirty yards or so or if you want to shoot Foster type slugs in your bird gun.
Skeet 2: This has about .015" constriction and is actually a "light modified". Great for ducks over decoys and some pass shooting under certain conditions. It makes a nice early season pheasant choke for the second shot. Good for almost 35 yards.
Modified: This was the most common choke a few years ago. It usually represents about a .020" constriction. All the guns either came with a full or modified choke. It is midway between the tight and open. (Kind of like ordering a medium instead of a large or small, if you will.) Good out to 35 yards.
Improved Modified: This is a little tighter than modified but not as tight as full. Usually about .025" constriction. Popular with some trap shooters and a good choice for late season pheasants.
Full: This is the standard long-range choke. Usually a .040" constriction. Good for 40 yards or more and was the most popular choke for trap shooting, and years ago, for pass shooting at ducks when we used to shoot lead.

Extra Full or Super Full Turkey Choke: These are the tightest chokes used when you want to put a full pattern on a turkey's head. These will run .045" constriction or tighter depending on the maker. It is too tight for most standard applications but for turkey hunting, it is an excellent choice with the right shot.

Credit given to Kittery Trading Post website for this information.

Wolf’s Den Family Campground, East Haddam CT – Summer 2009

2009 marked a rare return trip to a campground location for my family. Up until now, we have tended to rarely visit the samp spot twice, typically opting instead for the prospect of new adventures at different locations. However, after making the rounds at campgrounds throughout Connecticut and surrounding states, we can finally say we have some idea of what we like. For that reason, we made our second annual trip to Wolf’s Den Family Campground.

You can check my previous post from 2008 to get the full detailed review of Wolf’s Den Family campground.

I’m not going to repeat all the details here, except to say that as far as private campgrounds around Connecticut go, Wolf’s Den is a good choice, especially for the kids. The campsites are reasonably size, and most with shade. There is a wide selection of site choices ranging from the grassy sites close to the activities, to more private sites in the woods. They have enough activities to keep the kids excited without interfering with the relaxed attitude that makes camping appealing to most of the adults.

Keep in mind that Wolf’s Den is a private campground. It’s not a state park, so it’s not situated on some large lake or huge mountain or acres of hiking forest. For the glories of nature you’ll have to find another spot. However, for a quick weekend trip, Wolf’s Den is convenient and fun.

This year we happened to attend during their “Christmas in August” celebration. Santa visited the campground on a fully accessorized Harley Davidson motorcycle. The children enjoyed the “sleigh” rides (a trailer pulled by a pick up), and receiving a wrapped gift from Santa.
The entire family had fun playing in the pool and enjoying the outdoors.

Some tips:

1) There’s a stand of raspberry bushes at the edge of the property behind the pond unknown to most campers. Depending on the time of year, if you venture back there you can indulge in some tasty berries.
2) The people here are serious about their horseshoes. My brother-in-law and I are decent back yard picnic players, but we were out-classed by these players. Many are seasonal campers that play all the time, and also participate in leagues. You had better be on your game if you challenge any of them. You may have heard the expression “never play pool at a bar with a guy that brings his own stick.” I would expand that expression to advise to never challenge people who bring their own horseshoes to a game! Most of the players have their own set. That’s the level of seriousness you’ll be dealing with here. And don’t be fooled into thinking that a woman or old man is a weak player! Most of the women are just as skilled as the men. Needless to say, I did not go very far in the double elimination tournament, losing my first game to an old man, and my second game to an impressive young woman.

2009 GE Petit Foundation 5K Road Race

The weather was excellent this year for the 2009 GE Petit Foundation 5K Road Race.

In the second annual race, the organizers improved upon the inaugural effort. There were plenty of vendors, free food, and activities. The kids especially enjoyed the bounce houses, and the ~1/4 mile kids run.

Race results can be found here:

http://www.plattsys.com/results/res2009/petit09.htm

Camping -- New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire

Nearly every year for the past few years I've spent a weekend camping with friends at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This is not your normal camping experience with woods, birds chirping, and relaxation. This is race weekend camping. It's not about the campground. Generally, it's not even about the race. It's about having a good time. After a couple of sub-par years, Loudon came through this year. Several improvements have been made to the track experience.

First off, let me explain racetrack camping. If you're looking for a pristine campground, this is not your place. If you camp in the track owned lots, you are faced with camping in a dirt parking lot. You are tightly packed in. There are no facilities. The advantage is that you are close to the racetrack, and if you’re looking for a party, you are close to other race fans also looking for a party. It’s more about that party and the race than it is about the camping. In order to camp at the track-owned lots you need to have a self-contained camper, and have tickets to the Sunday race.

There are several private spots to camp at different lots surrounding the track. These are mostly private landowners that allow campers for a fee for race weekend. These are not campgrounds. They are fields. The owner usually will bring in a porta-potty, and maybe provide some water. Again, the conditions are not pristine. However, you have more freedom (i.e. tents etc. are ok), and more space.

My group has a unique approach to race weekend. We camp at a private lot across from the track. We get there Friday night, eat, and have some beers. We make a big breakfast Saturday, then pack our coolers for a day at the track. We catch the modified and the Nationwide race. The modified race is usually the best race of the weekend. After the race, we head back to the campsite for some food, then head back to the track camping lots for the party night. Saturday night at X-lot is usually the big party night. Redneck Mardi Gras. This year they had a concert just outside of X-lot. There were tens of thousands of people having a good time at the concert. The band was not a name act, but they were good. They did a lot of covers. It was a great addition to race weekend. Typically, there’s no entertainment for people, so things can sometimes get out of control. The concert gave everyone something relatively peaceful to do.
On Sunday, while everyone else is heading in for the Sprint Cup race, we’re packed up and heading out. We pass thousands of cars waiting in line for miles for the race. We’re heading in the opposite direction. It’s a great feeling. Most people can’t understand why we leave instead of staying for the main race. There are several reasons. First, in all honesty, the racing at NHMS is not the most exciting. There is not a lot of passing or action. Many times it’s like watching a toy train go around and around. Additionally, unlike the Saturday racing, you’re packed into those stands like sardines. The third reason is that we all have to be at work on Monday. After 2 days of partying at the track, we all could use the day Sunday to recover. The last reason is the money. While tickets for all the Saturday races run ~$40, the Sunday race is significantly more expensive. However, this year prices were lowered to a more reasonable level.Our approach is unorthodox, but it has been honed from several years of track visits. The concert was a big improvement to the race weekend experience, and a good time was had by all in 2009.

Quarry View Golf Course -- East Canaan, CT

Address: 30 Allyndale Road, East Canaan, CT 06024
Phone: (860) 824-4252
Cost - Weekdays: $11 for 9 holes, $17 for 18 holes
Cost - Weekends: $14 for 9 holes, $20 for 18 holes
Par 31 (should probably really be a par 28)
9 hole course, executive
www.quarryviewgolf.com

You don't always want a Cadillac. Sometimes the Chevy will do.

Quarry View Golf Course is a small executive course tucked into the side of a limestone quarry in the far northwest corner of Connecticut. This course will not be confused for Augusta National. The greens are in decent shape, but other than that, it's pretty much a nice lawn which allows golf. I don't say that as an insult because Quarry View has adjusted their prices accordingly. They are charging a fair price for their services, and they are not trying to fool anyone. When you visit their website, you see that they are catering to families and beginner golfers.

Quarry View is a great place to take a youngster to learn the game of golf. It's short and unpretentious. The advanced golfer may be a little disappointed. The course claims to have a par 5 and 2 par 4s, but even those are questionable. The par 5 is less than 400 yards, and the par 4s are both under 250 yards. However, if you keep expectations in check, Quarry View is a good alternative to grab a quick and cheap 9 holes. If you have the time and cash, go to a full course. Otherwise, Quarry View can be fun.

One note: Quarry view does not have grass tees on every hole. Some holes have thin mats for teeing off. These mats require special tees, which they sell for a cheap price in the club house. I strongly recommend grabbing a few of these tees before heading out.

Westwood Golf Course -- Farmington, Connecticut

Address: 7 Westwood Drive, Farmington, CT 06032 (off Route 177)
Phone: 860-675-2548
18 hole course - Executive
Cost: $17.50 for 9 holes, non-resident, weekdays
$20 non-resident, weekends

Westwoods is an executive course. The par on the front nine is 31. However, there is one par 5, and the front nine ends with a 200+ yard par 3. Many of the par 3's are long, so the course does offer some good challenge even though it's an executive course.

The course is in good shape. Above average for a municipal course. Greens are slow, but well kept.

One significant plus for Westwoods is the top notch practice facilities. The course has a huge practice green, and an excellent grass (not mats) driving range. If you're looking for a place to work on your game, the Westwoods practice area is a great choice.

I thought the course was a bit on the expensive side considering it's not a full par 35 or 36. However, my overall experience at Westwoods was positive.

Camping -- Grafton, New Hampshire

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and of the camping season in the Northeast.

What's in Grafton, New Hampshire? Not much, and that's the beauty of it.

Camping is a paradox. It takes some work, yet it's relaxing. It's devoid of modern luxuries, yet it's comfortable.

Camping simplifies life to the essential elements: food, drink, family, and oneness with nature.

A good campfire is perhaps the oldest form of prime time entertainment.

A weekend get away for the whole family for $100, and a good time was had by all.

Tips for Hunting State Land

Like me, you might be one of the unlucky hunters that does not have permission to hunt a decent piece of private land. Therefore, you either have to give up hunting, or resort to hunting public land. If I had my preference, I certainly would hunt private land, but that's not an option for me. Hunting state (or more generally, public) land is definitely more difficult than private land. In addition to the challenges of Mother Nature, you have to battle the other hunters crowding the woods. However, it's not an impossible task.

Below is a list of tips I've learned from successful and unsuccessful state land hunting:

1. Have a plan B: If I have to hunt state land, I like to have two pieces of property in mind before I set out. Connecticut is a small state, so there will be two pieces of hunting-eligible state land within a reasonable driving distance from where you want to hunt. First I scope out my primary location. If there are too many cars, I immediately leave and go to my secondary location. If the secondary location has a lot of cars, the only alternative is to deal with it. However, giving yourself two options will improve your changes to avoid other people.
2. Avoid Saturday: For obvious reasons, Saturday is the busiest day in the state forests. You will greatly improve your odds of having the woods to yourself if you take a day off and go during the week.
3. Go deep: The conventional wisdom is that most hunters set up within 1/4 mile of the parking lot. If you really want to avoid the crowds, you need to be willing to walk farther into the woods.
4. Go high: Many hunters will avoid areas that require hiking up hills. You can avoid the crowds by picking a spot with a steep climb.
5. Do some people scouting: Even though the state publishes all the hunting-eligible areas, there are still small state-owned areas that are unknown to a lot of people. Do some scouting during the season to find a less crowded area.

Finally, no matter what you do, you may not be able to get away from other hunters. In that case, the only option is to make the best of it. Most likely the animals are there. Maybe you'll be the lucky one.

Essential (and Non-Essential) Gear for Turkey Hunting

This post will discuss some of the gear necessary to have a fun and successful turkey hunt. Almost as important as knowing the essential gear is knowing the non-essential gear. There's a lot of equipment and gimmick products available. A beginner can save a lot of money knowing in advance what gear is not necessary.

Essentially, turkey hunting gear can be broken into 4 major categories: clothing, calls, firearms, and accessories.

Clothing:

In many hunting activities, hunters chose to wear camo clothing. For most game, camo clothing is nice but not essential. Most states have hunter orange laws for deer hunting, so fancy camo does not do much when covered by a blaze orange vest. This is not the case for turkey hunting. In turkey hunting, good camo clothing is indeed necessary. Unlike deer that rely more on hearing and scent, turkey use their eyes to spot danger. They have excellent eyesight and are quite leery of anything they don't recognize. Camo is essential.

I recommend the following in the camo clothing department:

• Pants: I prefer jean-type camo pants. I bought mine at Walmart.
• Shirt: I use a long sleeve camo T-shirt. I think I bought it at Dicks Sporting Goods.
• Hat: I prefer a baseball cap style camo hat.

• Gloves: Turkey hunting is done in the spring, so the gloves are for concealment, not for warmth. Go with a light camo glove. There are gloves available made specifically for turkey hunting. The pair I bought is by Primos.
• Boots: These don't necessarily have to be camo, but most boots made specifically for turkey hunting are camo. The pair I bought are waterproof with a very light lining. I also use them for warm days deer hunting, and really wet days pheasant hunting.
• Face mask: This is a light mesh covering to camo your face. It also works well to keep the bugs away.

A factor to consider in your clothing choices are insects. Especially in the northeast, ticks are a problem. You'll want to cover as much exposed skin as possible. I recommend using insect repellent before entering the turkey woods. Remember, turkey do not smell, so it's ok to spray it on thick. I like to bring a small bottle with me, not just for the ticks, but for the mosquitoes and gnats that start to come out in the spring.

When it comes to your camo, pay attention to the details. Be sure your pant legs don't ride up when you sit and ruin your whole set up by exposing a bright white sock. Be sure you don't have a big shiny watch exposed. It does not take much to make you noticeable in the woods. However, when done right, you might walk within 10 feet of a full camo hunter sitting in the bushes, and never see them.

Calls:

Calls are certainly necessary for turkey hunting. Part of the fun is driving your spouse crazy practicing your calls in the house in the days leading up to the opening of turkey season. Calls fall into two categories. There are locator calls, and actual turkey calls (i.e. calls that sound like a turkey). Some of the more popular locator calls include crow, owl, and predator. Types of turkey calls include box, slate, mouth, push button, glass, and many others. Calls are highly dependent on personal preference. Some people simply prefer certain calls over others. You'll need to experiment to find out what calls work best for you. I do have a few factors to consider when picking out turkey calls.

Call guidelines:

• Consider having at least one waterproof turkey call. Even when it's not raining, a call can become ineffective if water from a leaf or the wet grass gets on it. Several box calls and glass calls are waterproof.
• Consider having one good box call. Box calls generally are the loudest turkey call. They are easy to use and versatile. They are especially good for long range calling.
• Consider a locator call. Locator calls are calls of other animals (owl, crow) that can be used to locate turkeys. Turkey will gobble when they hear a crow call or an owl hoot. I don't know why, they just do. Some people will locate turkey using a regular turkey call, like a box call. I do not prefer this method. A turkey that responds to a crow or owl call, will not start approaching the source of that call. If you locate with a turkey call, you run the risk of having the birds approach you before you've had a chance to set up. I prefer to locate the turkey with a crow or owl call, set up my spot, then start turkey calling. I carry both an owl and crow call. I've gotten gobbles from both, but I've had more success in Connecticut with the crow call. Usually I use the owl call to locate early in the morning, then after I hear my first wild crow, I'll switch to the crow call. That's my technique, but I'm not sure it's totally necessary. You likely could get away with just one or the other. If I had to go with only one, I would go with the crow call.
• Consider one close range call. A box call is good for long range turkey calling. However, once the birds get close, you'll want something that requires minimal movement to operate. Slate calls require little movement and can produce a wide array of sounds. The draw back to them is that they typically require two hands to operate. A push button call is super easy to use. It only requires one finger to operate. The drawback is that the variety of sounds it can produce is limited. Mouth calls require no hands (so they can be operated even when you have both hands on your raised gun), and are able to produce a wide array of sounds. However, they take some practice to use effectively. My advice would be to experiment with the different calls, and see what you're most comfortable using. I use a box call for long range, a slate call for mid-range, then switch up to the mouth call when the birds are in sight.
• You'll never know which type of call will get a response. Sometimes one call will be followed with dead silence, when another will produce multiple gobbles. Go with what works for you.

One call that is not necessary is a gobble call. In turkey hunting the goal is to sound like a female bird, not a tom. Gobbling is not necessary. Not only is it unnecessary, but it could be down right dangerous. Gobbling is more likely to call in another hunter than it is a big tom.

Firearms:

A 12 gauge shotgun is the gun of choice for turkey hunting, preferably one that can handle 3 and 3.5 inch magnum turkey loads. I use a Mossberg 500 pump. It's the field/deer combo version with two interchangeable barrels. The field barrel comes with 3 different chokes. I used the full choke for turkey hunting. This gun is a good value at ~$300. This gun can take 3 inch magnum shells, but it will not take 3.5 inch shells.

3 or 3.5 inch magnum turkey loads are useful to maximize the effective range with a shotgun. I've used both 3 and 3.5 inch shells successfully.

What's not necessary for turkey hunting is a fancy shotgun made specifically for turkey hunting. These guns usually come in full camo, with special sites, special gimmick turkey chokes, and accommodations for shells up to 3.5 inches. This gun might be a nice-to-have, but it's definitely not essential. I've successfully hunted turkey with an over-under gun I use for pheasant, as well as the Mossberg I described above. If money is not an issue, go for the specialized gun. However, if you want more versatility from your shotgun, go with a more generalized gun. Full camo is also not necessary for your shot gun. Brown and black blend in fine with the surrounding trees. If you absolutely must camo your gun, you can buy camo wraps. I recently bought a role of camo wrap from Cabela's for about $12. I tried it out, and it seemed to stick fine, but half way through I realized it was not necessary and I removed it.

Accessories:

• Turkey Vest: A turkey vest is an essential piece of gear for turkey hunting. You can buy a camo turkey vest at most sporting goods stores. I bought mine a Dick's Sporting Goods for under $50. A turkey vest contains many pockets to hold all your calls, gloves, tags, shells, and any thing else. It also contains a large compartment for decoys (discussed below). Most vests come with a built in seat pad. This is a feature to strongly consider in your turkey vest. The pad prevents you from having to sit on the wet ground, and adds a little comfort.
• Knife: All hunters should carry a knife.
• Decoys: It's possible to get a turkey without using decoys, but decoys are a great tool that significantly improves your success rate. They are worth having. With that said, I don't believe you have to go out and spend a lot of money on super-realistic decoys. The most realistic looking decoy may not be the best choice. Factors to consider in decoys are durability, ease of set up, and easy of transport. Many of the ultra-realistic decoys are hard the carry and set up. I prefer decoys that I can easily fold into my vest. My first set of decoys were foam decoys. They were very light, and easy to fold, but they were not very durable and lacked realism. I've since upgraded to some flexible plastic decoys. They are foldable, easy to set up, but are significantly more durable and realistic than the old foam decoys. I think they strike a good balance between realism and practicality.


• Insect Repellent: I carry a small bottle in my turkey vest.

Turkey hunting is a challenging sport, and it does require some specialized equipment. I've tried to give you an idea of some of the gear I use, and what might be necessary to get started and be successful. Below I've compiled a list of tips to keep the initial cost down.

Tips for Getting Started with Turkey Hunting on a Budget:

• Use the same shot gun you already use for pheasant or ducks or whatever. It's not necessary to spend hundreds on a specialized turkey gun.
• Buy your camo at a discount store. Remember, turkey hunting is done during the spring when the temperature is relatively mild. Warmth is not a big factor, so you can go with the cheap stuff.
• Don't go call crazy! You don't need dozens of different calls right away. Start with a couple of calls, and build your collection over time.
• Go with the less expensive decoys. They are generally easier to transport and set up anyway.

Crestbrook Park Golf Course -- Watertown, CT

Address: 834 Northfield Road, Watertown CT 06795
Phone: 860-945-5249
What: 18 hole municipal course
Cost: $37 weekday mid-day 18 holes walking

Crestbrook is known as one of the top municipal golf courses in Connecticut. I took advantage of the nice weather and a day off from work to walk 18 at Crestbrook. This was my first time playing Crestbrook.

I liked the course. I will certainly go back. We teed off on a Friday at about 11:30 AM, and the course was not crowded. I'm not sure how the crowds are on the weekends. If it's like any other course in Connecticut it's likely quite crowded. We did not need a tee time during the week.

The course is generally wide open with large greens. Many of the holes are long, but there is a variety of hole types, both long and short. As far as difficulty, I would rank Crestbrook as easier than average. Course condition was above average. It's still quite wet, but that's certainly to be expected for this time of year and for the recent weather conditions. Layout and course design was above average. Facilities were average. Although the greens are large, they add challenge by having a lot of break.

Crestbrook is a little on the expensive side for a muni course, but in this case you get what you pay for. Considering the overall course, it's a fair value.

Opening Day of Turkey Season -- Two Birds with One Stone

2009 spring turkey hunting ended in about 2 hours for me this year. I was planning on several blog posts as the turkey season progressed, but I filled my 2 state land tags with one shot this year. Connecticut only allows either state or private land spring turkey tags, not both.

Although the season ended unexpectedly quickly for me, I still plan on several posts regarding turkey hunting. Some possible topics include:

• Essential gear
• Non-essential gear (which is just as important as essential gear)
• Preferred ammo
• Strategies and techniques
• Preparing the bird for the table
• Challenges of state land hunting

I'm far from an expert turkey hunter, but I've had some recent success, so I may be able to pass some practical tips on to the beginner.

The biggest lesson from my hunt today is to have patience, and don't over call.

Connecticut's season runs through the month of May.

Kent Falls State Park -- Kent, CT

What: Kent Falls State Park
Where: Route 7, Kent, CT. Just south of the boarder with Cornwall.
What's Available: Picnicking, fishing, hiking, some swimming
Facilities: Not much. It's basically a parking lot, a big field, and a hiking trail along the falls. Bathrooms are available, but are not open all the time.

I happened to be in the area on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, so my family and I took a short excursion to Kent Falls State Park, or just Kent Falls as it is locally referred. We spent about 90 minutes hiking the short trail (about 1 mile one-way) to the top of the falls, hanging out by the stream at the bottom of the falls, and enjoying an ice cream from a cart that set up shop in the parking lot.
A lot of people were taking advantage of the first warm weekend of spring at Kent Falls. There were several picnics in process. Charcoal grills and tables are available at the park. There were several people fishing for trout in the stream at the base of the falls. The trout were visible from the shore. There is a 2 fish limit, and I believe the stream is frequently stocked. There were some kites, some Frisbee, some football, some wading in the water, but mostly Kent Falls is just a place to hang out and relax while enjoying the picturesque falls. It's a popular stop for bikers (both motorcycle and pedal cyclists), and tourists enjoying the rural area.
I believe there is usually a $5 fee for parking at the falls. The state had not yet opened their collection booth, so on this weekend the park was free. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Interesting Fact: The park was created as part of the New Deal public works programs during FDR's administration. There is a plaque near the covered bridge that crosses the river that commemorates the establishment of the park.

Hubbard Park -- Meriden, Connecticut

If you are looking for a big playscape for the kids, Hubbard Park on West Main Street in Meriden has one of the biggest and best playscapes I have found in central Connecticut.

There are climbing features, tunnels, swings, ropes, and more. Not to mention that Hubbard Park is over 1800 acres with trails, ponds, and frequent organized activities.

The park is open to the public (i.e. it's free).

Connecticut Contact Numbers

To Help Fight For the Rights of Connecticut Outdoor Enthusiasts Call:
1-800-842-8267 CT House of Representatives - D
1-800-842-1423 CT House of Representatives - R
1-800-842-1420 CT State Senate Democrats
1-800-842-1421 CT State Senate Republicans
1-800-406-1527 Gov. Jodi Rell
1-202-224-2823 U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd
1-202-224-4041 U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman

Norton Park Plainville a Great Place to Fly a Kite

Most locals know about Norton Park in Plainville, CT. Norton Park is your standard municipal park. It's a great place to go for a lei surly bike ride, rollerblade, walk, or run. It boasts a playground, baseball fields, tennis, basketball, soccer fields, picnic area, and a paved marked pedestrian path.
It's not the kind of place that someone would travel a great distance to visit. However, if you're in the neighborhood or new to the area, you might consider checking it out.
Norton Park is flat and open, which makes it very versatile. Over the winter I participated in several pick-up flag football games at Norton Park. This weekend there was a decent breeze, so I took my son and we had a fun time flying a kite. There were two other kite fliers at the park on this day. The address for Norton Park is below:

72 Norton Trail
Plainville, CT 06062

Finding the Ideal Dog

I found a good on-line tool to help find the ideal breed of dog for you and your family. I've seen these tools before, but this one is from a company and website I trust. It asks 16 questions in order to match you to a breed. It's an interesting tool.

http://www.eukanuba.com/EukGlobal/GLOBAL/en/jsp/breed/breedSelector/DogBreedSelector.jsp

By the way, it said my ideal breed was an English Setter, with a Golden Retriever a close second match.

Blog on Temporary Hold

Please bare with me as the blog is on temporary hiatus. I am traveling to attend to a business emergency. Regular posts will resume upon my return.

J

Winter 2009 -- I'm not dead yet!

As usual, March is coming in like a lion.

The number of posts had dwindled lately, as winter -- aided by a busy schedule -- has put a damper on the number of outdoor activities I've been able to do during this late winter season.

However, as March goes from lion to lamb, expect that to change. By the end of the month the first significant outdoor hike of 2009 will certainly occur. I already have a new hike on the Metacomet trail in mind. That will lead into opening day of fishing, and eventually preparations for spring turkey hunting.

Even through 8 inches of snow, signs of spring are there.

Tough Day of Ice Fishing on Bantam Lake Derby

Conditions were rough -- windy and cold. The weatherman called for sunny and in the 40's, but we never saw anything near that, and the wind was cold and steady. The fish were not active. One guy in our group caught a 1.5 pound pickerel that was in 4th place when I left. He caught that within the first hour on a medium to large shiner. Besides that, our group of about 6 guys had one other bite all morning. According to the game warden, it was slow across the whole lake. When I left I took a look at the top fish. The first place fish was a bass probably between 2 to 3 pounds. The number of participants was down from last year. Rumor had it that the Morris Fire Department did not collect enough money to pay out the $500 dollars, and the first place prize would be reduced.
Our lack of fish was off set by some good Italian sausage and venison steaks on the grill, as well as plenty of beer for all. Depending on my schedule, I might give it a go again next week.

Bantam Lake Ice Fishing Derby

On February 15th the Morris Volunteer Fire Department will be holding an ice fishing derby on Bantam Lake south bay from 7:30 AM to 1 PM. Registration starts at 6:30 at the Morris town beach. Address below. Entry fee is $20.

I went to this derby last year, and I plan on going again this year.

Morris Town Beach at State Boat Launch
Route 109 to East Shore Road
Morris, CT

Ice Fishing Tip

Quick tip: Keep your live bait in an insulated container. An uninsulated bucket will surely freeze on a cold day and kill your bait.

Sanzeri's Bait Shop, Store

I have recently been asked where I get my bait for ice fishing. I get my bait on the way to the pond or lake at a small bait shop in Thomaston called Sanzeri's. I used to have to drive out of my way before I found Sanzeri's.

Sanzeri's carries fishing and outdoor equipment. They have all kinds of live bait. You can also buy your fishing/hunting license there.

Their contact information is below:
Sanzeri's 288 S Main Street Thomaston, CT (860) 283-8654

Ice Fishing -- West Side Pond, Goshen, CT

This past weekend we had a family ice fishing adventure. We went to West Side Pond in Goshen, CT. There was well over 15 inches of ice.

We fished from about 10 AM until 1 PM using medium-sized shiners. The weather was brisk (about 25 degrees) with a tough breeze. Unfortunately, we did not catch any fish. Nobody around us seemed to be having too much luck either. However, we all had fun getting out onto the pond. Several of our group were ice fishing novices, so it was fun introducing them to the activity.