Let's have a general winter thread.

[Chris in TN]

Post-hunting-season wintertime can be the slowest time of year.

This isn't a scouting, gear modding, trapping, small game, training/plinking/practice thread.

Call it all of the above and none of the above if you did something different today or plan to next week, or whatever.

Last night the kids and I cleaned some old traps, boiled some new ones, and waxed the ones that needed it.
This morning I rezeroed a .22lr I swapped rings on. Tomorrow I hope to start setting traps, as we've lost several egg-laying hens this winter thus far, and have coyotes and foxes on trail cameras nightly. Can't do it today. I have to work. Sigh.

Not-so-random winter thought for you:

I joined this forum in anticipation of taking my oldest on an elk hunt last fall. So we went. Didn't kill. Came close a few times, had an experience I'll remember as long as I have a memory. Said I wouldn't do the same hunt again (due to pressure) but.....man, I have gawked at Google Earth so many times in the last month. That one spot I didn't hike into to check out? Yeah I shoulda done that. That outfitter that offered drop camps in the area? Yeah, should have talked to him as an option. The nights we could have camped but didn't because we'd booked a cabin in light of all the first season rainstorms? Yeah, shoulda tried camping anyway.

That's how it goes, I guess. Only solution is to go back. I hope.

You?

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Boring. Skiing sucks and lakes are barely freezing over for ice fishing. Ive checked out some new stuff this time of year I never have so that's a plus.

 

[MuleyFever]

My weekend. Lazy days with the pup (mental health days) are some of the best days.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Just get out.

 

[Steve300xcw]

This is my favorite time of year. Just need a bit more weather to really kick things off.

Just get out.View attachment 1006515

Nope! Zero desire to go out and pretend to be homeless when its cold outside

 

[Macintosh]

Really nice out now, its up to the 20’s and the sun is trying to peek out. This morning I went thru my state legislatures introduced bills to see who I need to talk to in order so they dont screw something else up, or in maybe one or two cases actually get something right. After that excercise, now that my faith in humanity is at its seasonal lowest, Im going to go for a hike in the woods and see if I cant scare up a hare. Guarding the forest from the pesky wabbits is tough work but someone has to do it.

 

[Marbles]

We just had two warm days, so hard crust and no longer great skiing (hardly even need snow shoes to stay on top.

Lakes are good for ice fishing, but oldest was sick last weekend.

Lot of running, great time to work on gear before my winter race. Running has really cut into things like hare hunting the past two winters as weekends are my time to log miles.

 

[RS_Non-Res]

Fighting with the wife over the thermostat settings and watching the dog roll in the snow, he loves that stuff.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Really nice out now, its up to the 20’s and the sun is trying to peek out. This morning I went thru my state legislatures introduced bills to see who I need to talk to in order so they dont screw something else up, or in maybe one or two cases actually get something right. After that excercise, now that my faith in humanity is at its seasonal lowest, Im going to go for a hike in the woods and see if I cant scare up a hare. Guarding the forest from the pesky wabbits is tough work but someone has to do it.

Hmm I think tracking legislative things really puts the cherry on top of a winter time mood.

Typically there are multiple feet of snow and temps below zero most days now. It's basically been t shirt or hoody weather this winter.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Not only was the last elk season hot (56) but winter has followed. Although this morning was 6 but there is only 6-8" of frozen snow overlaying 2-3" of glaze ice.

The storms are coming out of canada and are hitting northeast Montana and hitting north dakota and minnesota. The crusty snow and glaze ice take the fun out of horse travel and the risk of falling off the backroads remove the urge for exploring with a pickup. The crusty snow is very abraisive on lower horse legs.

Cutting wood is an option but handling the frozen blocks covered with snow is closer to torture.

I walked up to where I shot my mare and the coyotes had stripped her down to a skeleton. I made a sledding hill for my grandkids. I guess I am down to preparing reports, permits and building tack.

I spent some time yesterday sighting in my marlin 45lc rifle. The buckhorn sights are like dialing in by a wish and a prayer. About 15 rounds and my butt was frozen. When it gets a little warmer I will return with a hammer and punch for the fine details. The groups were about about 5 inches to the right.

I have a friend with contacts for a cow elk shoulder season hunt on a ranch that might be an option. Winter is just a effort on mental survival.

 

[Ten Bears]

Has anyone started the annual Snowpack thread ?

 

[Jpsmith1]

Season's over. Back to just enjoying the woods. Just me and the dog.

Dark evenings are great for dreadmill runs, brass prep & loading work, gear maintenance and trying to get back into the habit of stretching regularly.

 

[rclouse79]

Cabin fever got the best of me last night. I booked a cheap hotel close to a lake that has ice to do some fishing with the kids next weekend. This winter has sucked for skiing and ice fishing. The other weekend I went for a dirt bike ride and passed guys playing golf in short sleeved shirts. Just plain wrong. Time to get off my butt and the internet and haul the ice fishing gear out of the attic.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Tis the season for citiots to leave their car in the road and go for a walk just because a tree is down...

 

[Irish Miner]

I've cleaned all my guns lately, just because..

Now, working on selling my house and starting a new chapter in Idaho. Have secured some storage up there and will start moving some non essentials a little at a time so I'm not rushing to do it all at once. Reviewing new house plans (working with the engineer), so we can just pull the trigger when that time comes.

Strange weather this year, not alot of opportunities to go ice fishing.

Other than that, always making time to run the dog and keep him healthy and content.

 

[grfox92]

The lack of snow here in Wyoming is kind of depressing. Its good for the deer, but man it doesn't feel like winter. It's just cold and everything's dead and brown. My wife desperately wants it to snow or wants to go somewhere warm for a few weeks.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[robby denning]

working.

hanging with the fam more.

Making jerky

Would normally be glassing some winter range but little snow this year and work's been hopping.

All good and glad for the down season.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Seems mid feb is about when we start getting snow anymore

 

[robby denning]

Has anyone started the annual Snowpack thread ?

haven't seen it ( @mtwarden ?)

We have @Josh Boyd hydrologist lined up for a Rokcast episode but not till March when we actually know the numbers.

@Jaden Bales

 

[cnelk]

I’ve been doing some painting in the evenings