Blog Archives

Rules to Live by for a Turkey Hunter

Standard / by mookyj / January 27, 2022 / No Comments

Never return to a place without the host that you were invited to as a guest.
Always be a graceful and grateful guest

Never leave a sit or a blind without a gun “just to take look, answer a call of nature.”
Always be observant and alert, as the action can change instantly.

Never stalk a turkey sound, shoot at sounds, or movement in the brush.
Always be 110% sure of your quarry. Always be safe in the turkey woods.

Never be late on an invite. Bring extra coffee and appropriate rations of Little Debbie’s.
Always arrive early at your hunting grounds. Have a plan B and C. Come back later after they leave.

Never knowingly intrude on another hunter’s setup.
Always first assume that turkey calls may be another hunter.

Never argue with an uncivil jackass in the turkey woods. You’re not the “Ass whisperer”
Always be the better person as the turkey woods are too magnificent not to enjoy.

Never think you are invisible. The best camo in the world is rendered useless by “can’t sit still.”
Always be still, Always be patient.

Never ask someone how many gobblers they kill.
Always, if asked, lie like a fisherman.

Never run turkey calls like you would hawking products at a sports show
Always use turkey calls as a tool in your hunting strategy

Never compromise your ethics or safety in your methods and actions.
Always respect your fellow hunters. You never know when you may need them.

Never be in a hurry in the turkey woods, There is far too much to enjoy,
Always slow it down a bit, it is not a race. Run and gun doesn’t always work.

Never rush a shot. Identify, acquire, clear foreground/background, and then squeeze.
Always get your head down on the stock. Make it count.

-MJ

A Cure For What Ails Us

Standard / by mookyj / November 26, 2021 / No Comments

With all the modern efficiencies of time management, conveniences, bigger, better, faster… We might agree that we are worn out with the collective demands of our time, and the new-fangled ways to get there much faster. As we are engaged in the holiday weekend of family gatherings, indulgent meals, and most importantly- what we are thankful for, might we take a few moments to reflect on what we might have missed in our highly efficient lives?

It is good advice from well-learned experience that a time out to stroll through, take a seat from great vantage points in the great turkey woods is food for our souls. It is well within keeping of the Thanksgiving Holiday and a best practice for all the seasons. Personally, it is grounding for me to visit these places where deer and turkey roam, a place of refuge to gather thoughts and renew my perspective. I believe you’ll find it to be of similar benefit. To improve on such advice, bring along your loved ones, your children, a friend. Let them learn to cherish these special places, to find refuge there, and come to love the wild places we as hunters so revere.

-MJ

Alec Baldwin, “Rust” Movie Set Shooting, What It Teaches Us

Standard / by mookyj / October 24, 2021 / No Comments

This is somewhat awkward in that the points I set to illuminate apply to the anti-gun, pro-gun control groups as well as target shooters, military, hunters, and other pro-gun groups. No, I have not dropped my conservative principles and drank from the poisoned liberal Kool-Aid… If I manage to influence one person to stop and think before picking up a firearm and conduct themselves responsibly then my purpose has been served. Please read thru to the end as there are several important aspects of common principles to get across.

As a disclosure, I am not a fan of the actor due to the observation of anti-gun hypocritical statements in interviews, tweets, etc. Very liberal, very anti-gun. This is not about personalities or ideologies. Unless there is some bizarre twist to the circumstances currently, we can assume that all involved on the movie set would be very upset over what happened, and did not start out the day expecting it to happen. It is a tragedy in the death of Halyna Hutchins, and the wounding of Joel Souza. I do not infer in any way that the actor would have intended this outcome.

The main point I wish to convey is that of personal responsibility when it comes to picking up, using, operating any item that is capable of lethal results and or unintended bodily harm. The news is emphasizing the chain of possession of the weapon and who might have tampered with it, or were proper procedures followed. Nothing against competent armorers or prop technicians, but something we in the pro firearm community are intimately aware of is that the most important and final responsibility rests upon the person who receives or picks up the firearm. In principle, this applies to knives, dangerous machinery, other weapons, etc…

Alec Baldwin, arguably in ignorance accepted the weapon as a “cold gun” as reported, as well as confirmation by those in control of it prior. The act of negligence still rests with the actor for not examining the chamber or cylinder (reported as a period piece, so likely a wheel gun) and confirming that all cartridges were in fact blanks. A consummate professional actor or any responsible person would insist that the weapon be shown/presented to them in a safe condition and then, only then take possession of it. Some of us might have further insisted on fully unloading and then reloading the prop gun to confirm fully for our own satisfaction. It will be the task of the DA, lawyers, and judges to sort out the charges and we’ll see if the equal application under the law applies.

The basic firearm safety rules are bible speak amongst sportsmen groups, military, target shooting community, and heavily promoted by the NSSF and NRA. There are too many others to list but rest assured. firearm safety is part of the culture. It is one of the very few activities where the participants expect zero tolerance for any mishap, where one is too many. Given that the number of firearms and the number of people who use them, the actual occurrence in legal uses is extremely low. That is of little solace to those injured or killed when it occurs.

For everyone who may come across a firearm and are not familiar, please take it upon yourself to learn these safety and handling tenets. For the rest of us, it is a normal and expected PSA.

GOLDEN RULES FOR SAFE GUN HANDLING

Always treat the gun as loaded.
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
Always keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Always keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it.
Never point the gun at anything you don’t intend to destroy.
Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the gun you are using.
Always use proper ammunition.
Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before loading and shooting.
If your gun fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, hold your shooting position for several seconds; then with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, carefully unload the gun.
Don’t rely on the gun’s safety to keep it from firing.
Be aware of your surroundings when handling guns so you don’t trip or lose your balance and accidentally point and/or fire the gun at anyone or anything.

-MJ

Maine Woman Shot By Fall Turkey Hunter

Standard / by mookyj / October 1, 2021 / No Comments

A woman was shot on 9/27 by a male fall turkey hunter near Walton’s Way in Leeds, Maine. It is not disclosed if she was also hunting, or particpating in other recreational activities. It is reported that the hunter called 911 and stayed with her until emergency personnel arrived. She was later reported in stable condition at Central Maine Medical Center. Warden service evidence response team, Warden Service K9 Team, Maine State Police and the Androscoggin Sheriff’s office. were onsite, and the investigation is ongoing.

https://www.argus-press.com/news/state_news/article_94f24485-684f-5ff8-971e-157684e02917.html

This brings the 2021 Spring/Fall turkey seasons up to eleven hunters, one woman, and one hiker shot. More details on prior reported incidents:

https://www.turkey-talk.com/tblog/?p=2139

http ://www.turkey-talk.com/tblog/?p=2008

http://www.turkey-talk.com/tblog/?p=2051

Repeated from prior posts: We can do better as zero incidents is the only acceptable number by following the most basic safety protocols. Each time I go afield I know that I owe myself, each of you to clearly identify my target, what is in front and beyond the target, to be safe, to employ strict and safe firearm handling. I also owe each of you to pause if anything is not quite right, or by chance what is in front of me is not 100% as it appears. Take the time to be 100% sure…

I will update as more details are published. We continue to pray for those injured, that have succumbed to their injuries and for their families. May they heal well Godspeed.

-MJ

Our America

Standard / by mookyj / September 11, 2021 / 2 Comments

As I write this, I do so from a hospital bed, surviving a full COVID beat down. Humbled beyond words, and fortunate to be alive. There was a 9/12 that I’ll put it out there that we all felt fortunate, humbled, mad as hell and we were all going to kick ass side by side, as Americans.

Since that period of time, we have been played as fools into being mad at each other about, for or against any matter one can think of. We can easily rally against each other, at will, and without much notice. Would it not be far simpler to just rally behind each other, our neighbors, the very people we collectively call ourselves “Americans?”

What was made clear to me in my near death experience is that we know enough to seek forgiveness for our major offensives. What we, you and I fail to do is to seize the lesser opportunities of moments of kindness, to forgive more easily. Speaking for myself, I have a bit of work to do there…

For those of you that are polar opposite to my conservative thoughts, I can toast to our betterment in life and the hope we return to the land of united bloody Americans (as the Brits would call us.)

I have not forgotten:

The memories, the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect blue bird day in September.

The near perfect September day morphed, shattered for thousands of victims in mere seconds for many, some in agonizing, terror filled minutes, hours yet for others.

In the ripples of life, our greatest loss is to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments from all those lost.

That we came together as Americans.We were united as Americans. We still are Americans. Many have forgotten this very fact in recent times.

Those that perished on this fateful day of September 11th, 2001.

Those that gave all in order to save lives. Heroes that walk among us to this day.

Those who survived only to succumb to it days, months, and years later.

That we are all equal by way of our maker

This is republish each year as I find it so important to include:

Each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm

As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.

Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on acts of kindness.

Standard / by mookyj / August 1, 2021 / No Comments

Nobody Hates a Turkey Hunter More Than…

If you asked me this back when I began chasing gobblers three decades ago I might have answered: Anti Hunters, Vegetarians, maybe Bow Hunters during overlapping weeks in the fall season. In recent months we now have our own version of wildly indignant “Camo Karen’s” among our ranks. Very much like the popularized stereotype of the loud, overbearing, self-serving, and self-entitled suburbanite soccer moms except in camo, and inclusive of men, not to discriminate of course.

To answer the titled question in real time: “Nobody hates a turkey hunter more than another turkey hunter in my spot, tagging my birds”

What is observed to be fueling this enhanced discourse is the bickering, blaming and finger pointing over the significant decline in wild turkey populations in many states in the USA. One can argue the exact years, but I’ll put a stake in the ground that the mid to late 1990’s were peak years in Central New York, and early 2000’s in Northern New York. As found in natural science, you can expect some period of peaks and valleys to oscillate after a major peak in wildlife populations. Rather than stabilize after a decade from a major uptick in population, a down trend in many areas is something that we can agree on. This did not go unnoticed by our NYSDEC wildlife biologists in New York, or the NY NWTF Chapter.

Research has been conducted and continues to be on going with NYSDEC, SUNY ESF and in part funded by the NWTF, funds raised thru licenses and other sources. New York is not alone in this as other states have similar efforts and collectively looking to solve the overall decline and provide more accurate tools to manage the wildlife resource, more tightly manage regulations, bag limits, and harvest goals.

Camo Karen’s have been blasting all over social media what is justified to disparage and blame in their view for declining wild turkey populations. Here are a few examples that are rich in selfism, and envy of others:

Fall seasons should have been closed long ago (no discussion on how spring seasons were not a valid season a century ago, turkey hunting use to be done only in the fall. Before their time therefore did not exist.)
Shooting hens or bearded hens should never have been allowed in fall seasons. (never mind what wildlife biologists say can be sustainable or not.)
TSS, Hevi Shot and other heavier than lead loads used to promote long range shots are unfair advantage and decimating turkey flocks.
Nonresident hunting should have been draw only or not allowed all together. Resident hunters are entitled to “their turkeys” We should double, even triple the cost of NR licenses and reduce their bag limit to one bird only, no matter how many tags residents are allowed.
Grand Slams, Royal Slams, World Slams, 49 State Slams, Washington State Slams, Canadian Slams, Mexican Slams and so on are solely responsible for over harvesting declining populations (as expressed there must be 100K+ turkey hunters traveling and committing gobbler genocide each spring.)
Despite declining numbers of hunters overall, States should not be promoting hunting tourism, or paying outdoor TV shows or outdoor writers to promote hunting to bolster future generations of hunters. Greedy capitalism is to blame.
TV outdoor shows filming hunts as nonresident hunters is a level up offense and single handedly responsible for population declines and causes resident hunters to put up with others shooting “their turkeys.” You Tubers are the scourge of the turkey hunting fraternity and cause of declining turkey populations
Advertising of great public land locales through tourism practices, social media has single handedly ruined the sport and decimated these hunting grounds. Odd that I can recall hunting guide articles that came out every year that gave advice on where to hunt on WMA’s with the best odds of success since I started hunting in 1985. I recall reading similar articles in very old hunting magazines in hunting camp.
Any and all modern use of decoys, GPS, google earth, TSS, reaping, fanning, rifles, etc. have made turkey hunting easy, unfair, and decimated the populations wherever used.

As a disclaimer, the claims, opinions are posted repeatedly in social media, not my own opinion. I do take issue with fanning, reaping, stalking as safety concerns, and long range shots for an ethical viewpoint. None of which I would consider responsible for mass decimation of turkey populations.

In perusing through so many of these utterances, one can reasonably conclude that the self-serving “Nobody Hates a Turkey Hunter More Than Another Turkey Hunter Within Eyesight Of Their Hunting Spot” is the probable motivation.

The current situation with declining numbers did not happen overnight, and as far back as I got into it and long before I started, wildlife research evolves, and especially so with the advancement of data collection technologies and methods. The predictive weather modeling tool for influences on brooding success came out in the late 1990’s as biologists were concerned how it might impact flocks after successful trap and transfer programs were winding down. Similar research on using satellite imaging data for modeling land use types was identified as a significant influence on turkey populations. Research continues on gobbling activity, predator impacts, how far turkeys move due to hunting pressure, causals of avian diseases, and more recently what percentage of all these factors are impacting the declines as a sort of super storm.

Hunting licenses, bag limits, length of seasons, legal hours, legal implements, and methods are all under the direct control of wildlife agencies. They require vetted data, and practical modeling tools to set hunting season particulars, not the anecdotal arm chair bravado that we hear or read so much of. There are some cases of politics dictating policy. We are much better off when that does not happen. The loss of quality sustainable habitat, disease, poor brooding conditions are significant detractors of wildlife populations that we have limited or no control over.

It is my opinion that it is human arrogance to think we have the ability to compete with Mother Nature in a managed and regulated hunting construct when it comes to the massive effects of cold wet spring weather, disease, and predation. Market hunting was abolished over a century ago. The past decade, my stomping grounds saw only a few decent brooding seasons, and we now have more avian predators, a never ending supply of coyotes, and fishers which recently have taken hold. Folks that I have given permission to trap our place no longer engage in the activity. In the end if we continue to witness years of cold wet springs causing second and third nestings and having no significant impact on predators, no hunting seasons changes we can come up with are going to revitalize turkey flocks.

We can directly improve micro habitats. A lot of that is going on, can agree that much more could go on? As hunters we can also take up trapping or invite, give permission for trappers to come in and reduce predator numbers, mitigate nest predation, and improve survivability of prey species in general as well as our beloved wild turkey.

How many of us tolerate known poaching, rationalize taking more than our limit for a variety of entitled reasons? Sure, we cannot control what others do, but it starts with each of us. Public lands in my county are under hunted, yet flocks are shrinking there. I travel much farther than I like to in the spring, and have not taken a fall bird in NY in years. I still check on the fall flocks, but refrain from filling a tag. Spots that would hold 50-80 birds in the past now have 5-15 maybe, some spots none at all. That is my personal choice. You may decide differently.

In closing, adjustments, corrections to hunting seasons, methods, bag limits etc, will be acted upon based on the work of wildlife biologists and the evolving science that comes from ongoing research. The Camo Karen’s will not be a positive voice among the influencers that they envy so much. It is a bad look for us as hunters and only serves to be consistent with the hostile division we see across our country in far too many aspects of our daily lives. I submit that we ought to avoid all that in our refuge in the turkey woods…

-MJ

NY 2021 Fall Turkey Season

Standard / by mookyj / July 30, 2021 / No Comments

Coming up fast to August, It’s a good time to get out to get a sense of how well the brooding season went, how large the flocks may be to set up game plans for the staggered opening days starting in October. As September rolls in you’ll find many of the fields have seen their final cuts for haying and the start of some corn fields being harvested towards the end of the month. Cornfields will be gotten to, well into October and November depending on how wet things get. Shown below are the published season’s dates and a fall harvest report to see how successful hunters were in your respective counties. Turkey hunting regulations and reporting requirements (much the same in recent years) can be found at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/32162.html

Source- https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/29461.html

Source- https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30412.html

-MJ

Turkey Hunters Shot in Two Separate Events

Standard / by mookyj / July 3, 2021 / 1 Comment

Two unfortunate events that were being tracked have been reported by reliable sources. This brings the 2021 Spring turkey season up to nine hunters and one hiker shot. More details on prior reported incidents: http://www.turkey-talk.com/tblog/?p=2008 http://www.turkey-talk.com/tblog/?p=2051

It should be noted that the first incident reported below is single sourced from a local town police department facebook page. No search conducted thus far show the event picked up by local/regional/state/national news outlets. The second incident appeared in two legitimate news sources. Should you come across additional relevant sources and would like to share, send an email to mjoyner@joyneroutdoormedia.com It is also important to note that several anti-hunting blogs that I come across also scan and search the internet for any fodder that supports their agenda to abolish hunting. It is an observation that they search daily as coverage of hunting mishaps often appear there before showing up in resources I routinely use. I will have commentary on that in a future post.

It is initially reported that a male hunter was shot in the face in Sterling State Forest Park. Tuxedo Police Detective Stefan Christian’s initial investigation also reports that a second hunter was also shot in the leg, by a hunting partner. The incident is being further investigated by NYSDEC Police. https://www.facebook.com/TuxedoPolice/posts/1652794211776262

Chad Steven Henneman, 45, from Las Cruces, New Mexico died on April 25, 2021, while turkey hunting with friends in the Lincoln National Forest. Henneman, along with his fiancée, Marcena Flynn, and a friend were hunting in the national forest near New Mexico Highway 37 when the incident occurred. The hunting trip was his time away of service as active-duty with Department of Homeland Security Customs and as a Border Protection agent. From Leah Romero @ Las Cruces Sun News- “According to documents released by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office June 21, Flynn said the couple returned to their truck while the other friend remained on a mountain to hunt, but Henneman reportedly started back toward his friend. Flynn heard a turkey gobble, followed soon after by a gunshot. She told authorities that when she walked back to the pair, Henneman was on the ground receiving chest compressions from the friend.” As of this post, there are no further details nor any charges have been filed…

Source: https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2021/06/26/las-cruces-man-killed-april-accidental-shooting-lincoln-county-forest-sheriffs-office-washington/7776372002/

Obituary: https://www.gazette-tribune.com/obituaries/chad-steven-henneman/81238/

We can do better as zero incidents is the only acceptable number by following the most basic safety protocols. Each time I go afield I know that I owe myself, each of you to clearly identify my target, what is in front and beyond the target, to be be safe, to employ strict and safe firearm handling. I also owe each of you to pause if anything is not quite right, or by chance what is in front of me is not 100% as it appears. Take the time to be 100% sure…

I will update as more details are published. We continue to pray for those injured, that have succumbed to their injuries and for their families. May they heal well Godspeed.

-MJ

Turkey Hunting Viral Neurosis

Standard / by mookyj / June 14, 2021 / No Comments

With several weeks of reprieve, most of us should now be on the mend! I dare say most of us that spend more than a weekend or two chasing pea brain sized fowl suffer some level of this viral affliction. Like many of you, I can pin point with military GPS precision when, where, and how the infection took hold. On a very cold late deer season hunt in December 1992, I became witness to a flock of gobblers being busted off the roost by incoming deer hunters below the property I was hunting. Hunting at the edge of a very large bowl on a pristine and very quiet morning, at day break, I was blown away by the voracious gobbling that ensued from the break. As it echoed out through the bowl below my position, it was larger than life and in an instant I was infected, mesmerized beyond recovery…

Each season we willing violate most tenets of healthy living with the exception of daily moderate exercise. Caffeine consumption increases dramatically. Nominal six to eight hour sleep reduces to three or four hours on a good night. The consumption of Debbie’s Oatmeal Cream Pies is enough to propel the company to have their best months of sales from March thru May. Damn fool for not buying their stock years ago. I will put it out there that we give fishermen a run for their money in boosting the local economy at the small town diners, bars, and last but not least for the consumption of gas station food.

As a member of the infamous Tenth Legion, I pamper my affliction with no intention of ever being cured of it. As I age, I may slow in my movements, fight the girth that aims to overtake my idea of how long it takes to go from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’. Yet, I’ll get there come hell or high water. We are all familiar with the quote by author Tom Kelly that captures the adrenaline, the beating of our hearts so loudly the gobbler should hear it. My experience of that peaks just before the gobbler appears. Once in sight my response is more absolute with checklists of shot mechanics. I fully agree that the day that ceases to happen, I will have concluded my time in the turkey woods. May that be well past my final days.

As our neurosis peaks each spring, and fall I wish each of my brethren in solidarity, and in common ailment a recuperative summer, and that your best scheming and planning come to fruition in your obligations to return to the turkey woods next season.

2021 NYSOWA Spring Safari @ Sacandaga Lake

Standard / by mookyj / June 6, 2021 / No Comments

Photo: Ann Boles

NYSOWA Spring Safari at Sacandaga Lake

A long overdue and highly anticipated Spring Safari took place the second week in May in the town of Broadalbin. The Broadalbin Hotel would be our base of operations for outings on Lake Sacandaga, and gobbler chasing in secret locations in and around Fulton County. Originally scheduled to have taken place in 2020, it was canceled due to the pandemic lock-downs that we are all too familiar with.

From a most personal perspective, the safari was a heartfelt reunion for those of us that could attend. We do enjoy each other’s company and especially enjoyed a well ran safari by so many that I will thank here shorty. It was an outstanding spring safari. It was clear to this author that a year and a half is far too long for us as a group to not spend time together enjoying the outdoors. With the passing of beloved members over the the course of this down time, the loss of spending time together is ever so poignant. I will provide links at the end to those who helped make this a most memorable event.

A big thank you for setting up the event and doing the heavy lifting to make it happen goes out to Safari Chairman Stephen George from our group, Ann Boles, director for tourism for both Fulton and Montgomery counties and last but not least, Dan Ladd who is indispensable for making things come together and pitching in wherever needed. Flawless execution of many moving parts and for herding cats which we are world renown in a casual observation.

The Broadalbin Hotel was an ideal base camp for us, as it is steeped in rich history, and provided all we could ever ask for in warm hospitality, comfortable rooms, and wonderful table fare! We took advantage of a great 2nd-floor balcony for our impromptu get-togethers and a back area fire pit which we thoroughly enjoyed. The hotel provided easy access to all our activities and I might add a perfect place to stay for any outing you might want to pursue in the area. Highly recommended and there are many from our group that will be looking to return for overnight stays in our gateway to the Adirondack outings.

The outings for our safari included fishing, turkey hunting, hiking, canoeing, shopping, museum/historic site tours, and visiting craft beer breweries. Ann was our liaison with the bureau of tourism, and provided support throughout our safari and did an outstanding job in representing the county in all that it has to offer. There were so many places to see and activities to enjoy it would take far more than a few extended weekends to partake in them all.

Turkey hunting was my natural choice for both mornings, and it did not disappoint. I stepped foot in some of the best turkey woods I ever had the privileged to hunt in. Hunting beautiful dairy farms with well-managed forests was a treat I particularly enjoyed. The birds did not gobble much in the piece I hunted, but I did manage to call up jakes on both days in addition to a hen on the second. Other fellow writers drawn to the turkey woods had close encounters and there was a swing and a clean miss. A trail cam revealed a few weeks later that a few tail feathers were trimmed, nothing more than hurt pride to report. A big thank you to Jerrod Vila and his crew for putting this together.

After seeing up close the Great Sacandaga Lake for the first time during this trip, I might opt for fishing when I return. Brian Hurst who owns Fish Attractor Guide Service hosted writers from our group on the lake both days and they had action both days. A good time had by all as reported.

Our afternoon events would include a tour of Slipstream Canoes along with a live demo at the lake and a stop for a pizza party, a tour at the Adirondack Sports & Educational Museum / New York Outdoorsman Hall of Fame, and a preview of a large expansion currently under construction. A big thank you to Mike Hauser for sponsoring the visit to Great Sacandaga Brewing! We would enjoy excellent tastings at Great Sacandaga Brewing and Stump City Brewing in the afternoons, Meeting the owners and getting the rundown on their respective histories along with first-hand descriptions of each offering topped off great afternoons on both days while taking in what the area has to offer for visiting sportsmen and tourists.

Our first lunchtime presentation featured special guest Robert Smullen, NYS Assemblyman for the 118th District who took many questions and responded very candidly as a supporter of sportsman’s issues and second amendment rights. We had a zoom meeting with the NYSDEC and many questions and answers took place. We welcome the opportunity to have a direct audience and hope for more direct dialog in the future. A big thank you to Adirondack Outdoorsman Show (Mike Hauser) & Allwater Guide Services (Capt. Stephen George) for sponsoring a great lunch at the Broadalbin Hotel. The craft hamburger was outstanding in case you may inquire…

Saturday lunch was a special treat at the Pine Tree Rifle club which is steeped in history and has an impressive outlay of ranges and activities. We got a rundown of the lengthy and impressive history of the club, followed by a presentation and product demos from Black Street Archery.

Our main dinner event was held at the Broadalbin Hotel, followed by a member zoom meeting lead by president Chris Paparo. A big thank you goes out to Capital Region Pheasants Forever chapter, Franks Gun Shop, and Pine Tree Rifle Club for sponsoring the event. Our sponsors were in attendance and I personally enjoyed their comments and meeting them at our safari. On a side note, Dan Ladd and I made a quick stop at Franks Gun Shop and it is very impressive how much they carry in stock and the team of knowledgeable and friendly employees they have on hand.

Randy Gardinier, chairman of the Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation (GSLFF) gave us a rundown of the history of Great Sacandaga Lake, and a new hiking challenge: Fulton County Five, that includes a patch and certificate for completing all five trails. The trails are ideal for those new to hiking the Adirondacks. The trails that comprise the series are Indian/Stewart Lake, Kane Mountain Fire Tower, Mud Lake, Nine Corner Lake, and Willie Wildlife Marsh.

The event concluded Sunday with a few of us staying for breakfast at the hotel which I highly recommend. With a beautiful sunny day to greet us, the ride home was worth taking the more scenic route and worth the price of admission. The year’s spring safari was one I’ll long remember, and I encourage our members to come spend a long weekend with us in the future. I was duly impressed with my time here and will return in the future to enjoy it further!

Please check out the links below:

Adirondack Outdoorsman Show (Mike Hauser) http://adkshow.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Adirondack-Outdoorsman-Show-79046747861/

Adirondack Sports & Educational Museum / New York Outdoorsman Hall of Fame https://wildlifesportsmuseum.com/ https://nysohof.org/

Allwater Guide Services (Capt. Stephen George) www.allwaterguideny.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AllwaterGuideNY

Ann Boles, director of tourism:Fulton and Montgomery Counties https://www.fultonmontgomeryny.org/staff/

Black Street Archery https://www.blackstreetarchery.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BlackStreetArchery/ https://www.yelp.com/biz/black-street-archery-johnstown

Capital Region Pheasants Forever chapter https://pheasantsforever.org/

The Broadalbin Hotel https://www.historicbroadalbinhotel.com/ https://www.facebook.com/hotelbroadalbin/

https://www.yelp.com/biz/historic-hotel-broadalbin-broadalbin

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g47366-d7708473-Reviews-Restaurant_and_Bar_at_Historic_Hotel_Broadalbin-Broadalbin_New_York.html

Franks Gun Shop http://www.franksgunshops.com/

Fish Attractor Guide Service https://www.facebook.com/Fish-Attractor-Guide-Service-1984435795130312/