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