tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2012://1 2012-11-27T11:49:59Z Movable Type 3.2ysb5-20051201 tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2012://1.333 2012-11-27T11:49:59Z 2012-11-27T11:49:59Z

It may look like Granpa's Auto-5 but the new Browing Auto-5 is not a recoil operated shotgun like pappy's. The new Auto-5 is an interia operated (think Benelli) system. It does not have the feather-light recoil of a gas operated...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com It may look like Granpa's Auto-5 but the new Browing Auto-5 is not a recoil operated shotgun like pappy's. The new Auto-5 is an interia operated (think Benelli) system. It does not have the feather-light recoil of a gas operated shotgun but it also doesnot have a cleaning requirements of a gas operated gun. tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2012://1.332 2012-02-17T22:38:05Z 2012-02-17T22:38:17Z

After convincing the Legislature in 2010 that a 100% license fee increase would severely impact license/tag/permit sales/recruitment reducing revenue to both the state and DEP, we are now faced with presenting similar arguments. Someone, OPM (Office of Policy and Management),...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com After convincing the Legislature in 2010 that a 100% license fee increase would severely impact license/tag/permit sales/recruitment reducing revenue to both the state and DEP, we are now faced with presenting similar arguments. Someone, OPM (Office of Policy and Management), the Governor's Office, or budgetary officials clearly don't understand the funding, economic impact, and detrimental effect on licensing/recruitment of this proposal. In the opinion of many, the Elimination of the Pheasant Program action is a uninformed budgetary rip-off that benefits neither the state or its citizens. The Pheasant Stocking Program is Sportsmen funded and is self sustaining - NOTHING comes from the General Fund. Elimination of the program saves the state nothing and in the future reduces revenue to DEEP through reduced license sales, and to the state in terms of economic impact. The methodology is to count revenue generated from Pheasant Stamps ($28) and Small Game licenses ($19/$11 Junior) from those who purchased the stamps to get a total revenue. This number then determines the number of Pheasants that will be stocked in the following year. The $160,000 to be cut is the revenue generated last year and constitutes the stocking program for 2012. Pheasant Hunting is a Gateway Activity for new hunters. Youngsters and some adults (particularly women) who have completed the mandatory Hunter Safety Course and purchased their Small Game License (mandatory for All hunting) look for a hunting activity. Hunting on state Pheasant Program stocked lands is the least expensive and a traditional family activity for new hunters. Other species available in the past have been Rabbits, Grouse, and Woodcock, but are no longer due to state lack of funding for habitat management. The Pheasant Program is THE new hunter entry vehicle and is used as such in DEEP Junior Hunting Training Day to increase hunting participation. The economic impact of eliminating Pheasant Hunting is substantial. All Resident hunters averaged 12.2 trips and nonresidents 3.0 trips in Connecticut. Pheasant hunters number 4000-5000. Based on 2010 hunting licensees, resident hunters undertook 770.0 thousand trips and nonresident hunters 9.8 thousand. Total Hunting expenditures in Connecticut are impressive at $109.3 million in 2010 dollars. http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/outdoor_recreation/2011economicimpactstudy.pdf Table 3.2.3. Using a few of the most common costs (in 1,000s $): Food and Lodging 2,801.5; Hunting Equipment 29,266.3; Transportation 5,365.5, with approximately 60,000 hunters in the state and dividing the totals by 4-5000, economic loss to retail sales is substantial. It is imperative you write, call, e-mail your state Senator and Representative and all the members of the Appropriations Committee expressing your position. E-mail addresses for the complete Appropriations Committee can be found at http://www.ctsportsmen.com Under "Legislation". To find your legislators with their addresses, tel numbers, etc. go to "How to Find Your Legislators" on the Legislative page. Contact Gov. Malloy "Share Your Opinion" http://www.governor.ct.gov/malloy/cwp/view.asp?a=3998&q=479088 . Contact the Commissioner DEEP Dan Esty (860) 424-3001 and Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette (860) 424-3005. tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.331 2010-10-22T16:41:10Z 2010-10-22T22:14:42Z

It never happens on an exact day each year but there is a moment between seasons when summer turns the corner into fall. When I was younger I divided my days by terms and semesters. Later fiscal quarters tried to...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com It never happens on an exact day each year but there is a moment between seasons when summer turns the corner into fall. When I was younger I divided my days by terms and semesters. Later fiscal quarters tried to rule my time, but it is by the seasons that I have always lived my life. Blue and I were on that same schedule, especially in the fall. He was a German Wire-haired Pointer I had years ago. Sporting a natural goatee, more like a van dyke, that gave him a scholarly appearance he tried to theorize why I stacked firewood or mowed the lawn or spent so much time knee deep in a stream flipping flies. Maybe I gave him too much credit but he always knew when fall was in the air. During that time when the green of summer turns to a thousand shades of red, orange and yellow, Blue would raise his nose to the air and curl his tongue to take in the scent. I’d stop what I was doing and sit down on the porch next to him and I too would take in the smell of change. He would look into my eyes as if to say, “It’s almost time to hunt.” A few more weeks, I would answer. Confident I knew bird season was coming, he was off to catch the last bull frog of the summer or he would wait in playful ambush for the cotton tail and her kids as they feasted on clover at dusk. Down the creaking wood stairs into the basement, Blue would follow and watch me trade my fly fishing vest for my bird vest. He knew the change made it official. Fall was coming. Sticking his nose in the game pocket, he’d breathe in the scent of past hunts, soft feathers sticking to his muzzle. I often wondered if he remembered the points, the flushes, and retrieved birds. I like to think he did. When I’d pull the gun case off the nail in the wall, Blue knew the moment had come. He would shake with anticipation as I slid a pump or over and under into the case. Driving in the pickup to our favorite covert, he’d drink in the smells. The leaves are busting with color, shells are in my vest pocket and Blue is twitching with excitement. We’ve all been waiting for opening day with child-like glee. Other hunters and dogs are always friendly in the first few days of the season until the birds have been pushed around and coverts become secret spots whose locations are only shared between a hunter and his dog. The air is crisp. Blue hears the gun being loaded and looks up at me. Removing the leash, I pet him on the head. It’s time, boy. Hunt ‘em up. tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.329 2010-05-15T18:37:50Z 2010-05-16T18:40:15Z

Earlier in the week, I asked the landowner permission to camp and fish on his property. He was glad I asked. Years ago he and his boys cleared a campsite. You can’t miss it, he said. I drove the truck...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com Earlier in the week, I asked the landowner permission to camp and fish on his property. He was glad I asked. Years ago he and his boys cleared a campsite. You can’t miss it, he said. I drove the truck down through the hardwood, skirted the edges of the open hay fields and stopped in the vicinity the landowner described. Walking toward the river searching for the campsite and not 10 yards into the woods Josh stumbled—literally—across an old headstone. It’s common to come across old family cemetery plots in New England woods for what is now second- or third-generation forest growth was cleared farmland centuries ago. The plot no doubt belonged to the original owner of the property and I hoped Josh did not disturb old Jonathon’s rest, I joked. The campsite was nearby. The river was low. Rocks hidden in the spring now afforded steps to pools that held fish. At dust I cleaned the smallmouths and perch; my son, Josh, started the fire. Dusted in flour and fried in a bit of butter in a cast iron skillet over the coals, the fish hardly satisfied my teenager’s hunger. He opened a can of beef stew and placed it next to the fire. The slow moving Quinebaug gurgled as the night sky grew inkier the campfire glowed. Night creatures began their serenade. Josh stirred the stew with a spoon. Did I ever tell you about—Josh finished my sentence—the story of Three-Finger Jack who preys on unsuspecting campers? I’ve heard it few times, dad. And as if on cue, the propane lantern died. How about the Jewett City vampires? In the firelight I could see Josh roll his eyes. I took that as a sign to continue. Years and years ago—before cars and iPods—across this river in a town called Jewett City there was a family burial plot. A lot like the one we found today. People reported strange things. It was said a family of vampires slept in the plot during the day and at night roamed the country side looking for victims to feed on. There were very few who lived to tell the story of their glowing white faces or their screech like an owl just before they pounced. I jumped toward Josh for dramatic effect. Josh acted nonchalant. Yeah, right, dad. Then the screeching sound started in the distance. We saw spots of light moving through the woods. They were coming closer. Josh, wide eyed and mouth gaping dropped his can of stew. The lights grew brighter. The sound deafening. I’ll admit my heart skipped a beat. The landowner and his boys parked their ATVs next to the fire and switched off their headlights. I thought we’d stop by and ask about the fishing said the landowner. Josh, visibly relieved the Jewett City vampires had not appeared, salvaged what he could of his stew. tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.323 2010-04-19T18:07:25Z 2010-04-20T08:45:14Z

While on the subject of trophies, the VT state deer hunting record has officially declared the Verge buck the state record at 300 pounds dressed. The deer was harvested in 1958 and had become legendary in VT. I’m not quite...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com While on the subject of trophies, the VT state deer hunting record has officially declared the Verge buck the state record at 300 pounds dressed. The deer was harvested in 1958 and had become legendary in VT. I’m not quite sure why it took so long to be entered into the record books, but there is plenty of supporting documentation. Biologist at the time suspect the deer was only two years old. Care to take a guess at the caliber rifle used to harvest the deer? No, it wasn’t a .300 Winchester Magnum, like B&C members prefer. The rifle caliber that took down the VT record was a .243. Hunter should remember that shot placement plays more of factor than big noise and recoil. tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.327 2010-04-17T18:11:39Z 2010-04-17T19:27:13Z

Make sure you have some hevi-shot and an improved choke tube for April 26, since that’s opening day for spring turkey hunting in MA. The season ends on May 22. Last year 3,027 birds were killed in the spring. The...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com Make sure you have some hevi-shot and an improved choke tube for April 26, since that’s opening day for spring turkey hunting in MA. The season ends on May 22. Last year 3,027 birds were killed in the spring. The harvest rates spiked in the following three counties: Worchester (779), Berkshire (489) and Franklin (434). Bag limit is two bearded birds; one per day. If you are a good caller #6’s should suffice. Use #4’s or #5’s for longer shots. ]]> tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.325 2010-04-16T18:09:49Z 2010-04-17T19:26:32Z

Last year a record 6,107 turkeys were harvested in VT. But that’s nothing special. Spring turkey harvest records in nine of last 12 years have been topped. VT was the first New England state to reintroduce turkey, releasing 31 birds...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com Last year a record 6,107 turkeys were harvested in VT. But that’s nothing special. Spring turkey harvest records in nine of last 12 years have been topped. VT was the first New England state to reintroduce turkey, releasing 31 birds from the state of New York back in 1969 and 1970. Estimates put the turkey population at 55,000. The regular season runs from May 1 to 31 and hunters may take two bearded turkeys. tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.324 2010-04-10T18:07:55Z 2010-04-11T01:24:30Z

As went Winchester so goes Marlin. As you may know Marlin was swallowed whole along with H&R late in 2007. With any acquisition, the purchasing company needs to consolidate to save costs. In this case the cost savings comes at...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com As went Winchester so goes Marlin. As you may know Marlin was swallowed whole along with H&R late in 2007. With any acquisition, the purchasing company needs to consolidate to save costs. In this case the cost savings comes at the cost of some 625 jobs in both factories. The 140-year-old gun maker will no longer manufacturer rifles in their North Haven plant. The Freedom Group, which owns the Marlin brand along with Remington, Bushmaster, and others, is moving Marlin’s manufacturing to their factory in Ilion, NY. No need to make a mad rush to get a Marlin with “North Haven, Connecticut” stamped in the barrel. The transition will happen over a year. Marlin began manufacturing in CT in 1870. In June 2011the plant will close. ]]> tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.326 2010-04-03T18:10:49Z 2010-04-11T01:19:21Z

On April 19 spring turkey season opens in OH and runs through May 16. Last year OH had one of worst turkey hatches in recent years but that should not impact this year’s hunt. ODNR biologists say there are good...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com On April 19 spring turkey season opens in OH and runs through May 16. Last year OH had one of worst turkey hatches in recent years but that should not impact this year’s hunt. ODNR biologists say there are good numbers of two-year-old gobblers. Last year, hunters harvested 20, 710 turkeys in the spring. It is estimated that OH’s turkey population is around 200,000. ]]> tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.330 2010-03-21T18:39:35Z 2010-04-11T01:42:25Z

It is not a large river, nor is it well known. But it is the river that flows through my dreams. I feel the cold spring runoff tugging around my legs. Those old hip waders that I refused to replace...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com It is not a large river, nor is it well known. But it is the river that flows through my dreams. I feel the cold spring runoff tugging around my legs. Those old hip waders that I refused to replace reminded me year after year of a hole I missed patching. It is where I learned to trout fish. Where my childhood best friend caught a brown as big as a football and won the local tackle store’s fishing contest. I taught my son to fish for trout on it. It is also where I saw the wild trout return. Little River is an apt name, more a stream than a river that flows through a part of Connecticut that is postcard New England with white steeple churches, ancient grave yards and farms established in 1700s and still operating. If you were to create a list of well known trout rivers in southern New England—the Housatonic, the Connecticut, the Farmington—Little River would mostly likely not be included, and that’s just fine with me. Cutting through farmer’s fields where the banks are high or through woodlots where its sounds soothe and inspire I negotiate the rocks and the overhanging trees. I left ornaments on those trees, tackle boxes full of Red Devils, Golden Fish, and other spinners and spoons. Nymphs, too, when I started fly fishing. I still hear instructions from the old timers on how to read the water and remember the chill of early spring mornings on opening day fishing season. “See how the water slows by the overhang?” I nodded. “Cast before that and let the current take your bait. And see how the water curls around the rocks? Cast just before the rock.” I did and I caught fish, plenty of state-stocked, put-and-take browns, rainbows and brookies. When the lessons evolved to flies, it was a matter of delicately placing a dry blue olive as the hatch peaked and the trout were in a frenzy. We have nicknames for spots like the Big Pool, Second Rapids, and Slow Bend. It was at The Sandbar where my son Joshua, nearly 10 and just aching to try a fly rod on trout, caught his first brookie on a fly. They were rising to a hatch and I gave him instructions. He had that awkward cast of beginner and I am grateful that brookie was patient. Josh’s face still lights up when we talk about that fish and it has been over 11 years since he was that boy in wet sneakers and a cat’s cradle of fly line. On a return trip he brought me a small trout, darker than stocked fish. “What is?” I had asked the same to the old timers when I was 10. “That’s a native. Throw it back gently. Let’s make sure they’ll be there next time.” The wild trout in Little River are slight compared to fish out west, but they are giants here showing the determination to return to their streams and rivers to challenge young boys and men and sons. tag:www.uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.322 2010-03-10T18:05:11Z 2010-04-11T01:33:36Z

A few months ago the Boone & Crockett Club released the most popular caliber used to take wall hangers in North America. It seems that most trophies are taken with the .300 Winchester Magnum. The .300 win mag beat out...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com A few months ago the Boone & Crockett Club released the most popular caliber used to take wall hangers in North America. It seems that most trophies are taken with the .300 Winchester Magnum. The .300 win mag beat out the .30-06, 7mm Remington Magnum, .270 among others. Care to take a guess what the second most popular caliber is? Trick questions. It’s not a caliber at all but a bow. The second most popular weapon used by B&C members is a bow. The .300 win mag is probably the outer limit of most hunter’s and shooter’s recoil tolerance. The .300 spits out a 150 grain bullet at about 3,290 fps and that can result in about 2,314 pounds of recoil. In layman’s terms that similar to a sharp blow to the shoulder from 2x4 depending on how well you have the stock placed in your shoulder pocket and what position you are shooting from. My first experience with the .300 win mag was about 35 years ago. A friend of mine who believed bigger and faster in a caliber was better bought a used bolt-action that looked a suspiciously like a Weatherby—glossy stock, bright blue finish—but was actually a Japanese-made brand that is now long defunct. He bought the gun for whitetails and shot one about two acres away on the edge of the hay field. The bullet entered via a small hole and existed by a tennis-ball sized hole and kept going. Not one to be duly impressed I commented that it’s a good thing the farmer’s Holsteins weren’t around since you might have had to drag two animals. I understand a grizzly, elk or mountain goat hunter needing the power at a distance the .300 win mag offers, but it’s a little too much gun for whitetails. And I know you are dying to know what other calibers B&C members use; in order of popularity the .270, .30-06 followed by the 7mm rem mag. ]]> tag:uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.320 2010-02-19T16:26:55Z 2010-02-20T00:30:13Z

The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted a new plan for wild and state-propagated ring-necked pheasants for the next decade. The plan incorporates information gathered by DEC biologists and input from sportsmen with the goal of fostering and...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted a new plan for wild and state-propagated ring-necked pheasants for the next decade. The plan incorporates information gathered by DEC biologists and input from sportsmen with the goal of fostering and continuing the tradition of pheasant hunting in NY for years to come. NY's wild pheasant population has declined by more than 90% since peaks in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Numerous factors contributed to the decline, but the main causes are loss of fallow grasslands for nesting and brood-rearing, a decline in grain farming, and expanding commercial and residential development. Most of the pheasants hunted in NY come from the state’s pheasant programs. More than 100,000 pheasants are hatched for fall stocking. The new plan includes:

• Establishing an area in western NY to concentrate efforts for wild pheasant management. By using available resources, the state hope to determine if increasing wild pheasant populations is possible under current biological, social, and fiscal conditions.
• Extending pheasant hunting seasons in most areas of the state to provide greater hunting opportunities.
• Reducing the size of the cock-only hunting area in western NY to reflect changing habitat and land use.
• Discontinuing the Young Pheasant Release Program (YPRP) after 2010, while continuing the Cooperative Day-old Pheasant Chick Program.
• Increasing adult pheasant production from 25,000 to 30,000 birds annually beginning in 2011.
• Discontinuing the supply of adult birds for field trials.
• Establishing one or more pheasant hunting areas for people with disabilities.

]]> tag:uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.318 2010-02-17T18:48:39Z 2010-02-17T18:11:44Z

About 20 years ago when I was member of the Pachaug Outdoor Club we would meet every Wednesday evening to shoot trap. There was a shooter, at that time, who had an odd shotgun called the Beretta 303. It was...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com Pachaug Outdoor Club we would meet every Wednesday evening to shoot trap. There was a shooter, at that time, who had an odd shotgun called the Beretta 303. It was sweet and reliable and made the 1100s downright choke and the then new 11-87s really turn big green—green with envy. Then Beretta decide to fine tune the 303 and went through numerous model changes faster than a runway model changes clothes at fashion week. There was the 390 which made the 303 look like it was manufactured in China by blind, political activists under house arrest. Then came the 391s and the Extrema’s, Urika’s and Teknys’s. My gun safe just cannot handle the influx in the Beretta population, especially now with the A400 Xplor Unico. After 3 years of development, 8,000 hours of engineering, 2,000 hours of testing and more than 100,000 rounds fired, the Xplor chews up shells from 2-3/4” to 3-1/2” and it weighs 1 pound less than competitor’s 12 gauge shotguns. Plus Beretta flaunts the Xplor as the cleanest, lightest, fastest and most versatile 12 gauge semiautomatic shotgun on the market today. This is why I hate Beretta. Now I have to make room in my gun safe. Would any care to buy a well used 303? How about a nice 391? ]]> tag:uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.317 2010-02-15T18:21:15Z 2010-02-15T21:48:43Z

So you all know why you join social networking sites like FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. You are looking to hook up with someone. Well, now you can literally hook up with people at Social Fins. If you are into bass...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com Social Fins. If you are into bass fishing, Social Fins (www.socialfins.com) is completely dedicated to bass anglers of all skill levels from beginners to touring professionals. It’s touted as a new place on the web for bass fishing anglers and fans to congregate and talk strictly bass fishing. ]]> tag:uplandfeathers.com,2010://1.316 2010-02-14T18:00:49Z 2010-02-15T02:08:25Z

We have the Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Obies et al. Now Beretta is handing out tridents—no not three-point spears—but an award to hunting venues. The Beretta Trident Program is a quality rating-system for wingshooting and or shotgun sports. Beretta calls it...

SwampYankee www.uplandfeathers.com Cheyenne Ridge Signature Lodge in Pierre, SD. Deep in the heart of pheasant country, Cheyenne Ridge offers the type of wild upland bird hunting one would expect at a 5-star establishment. They say the food is good, too. I’d provide a link to Beretta’s website for more information, but the site is rather abysmal. It looks like it was designed by an information architect going through ecommerce site withdrawals. Go to the Orvis site if you are looking for lodges. Though I always have tail feathers on mund at this time of the year I'm thinking about some place warm. Bone fishing in the Bahamas anyone? ]]>