The Rokslide Social Distancing for Hope Thread

[jmez]

Finally done decent weather yesterday. My oldest, on my left shot this Tom yesterday. He's in the smoker now!!

Snowing again today.

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[260madman]

Actually got out and wandered around a bit. Felt good to be in the woods even if I can’t get around like I could a year ago.

who knew fungus was so pretty


A trip to the farm isn’t complete without a Gator ride.

 

[camping1601]

Us eastern guys aren't supposed to be dealing with snow this time of year.

 

[Bluetreetrunk]

Hey all,

The ol’ man’s tired of the hopelessness and fear that’s infiltrated this forum.

My state’s on “lockdown” too but I wanna make sure people know I’m also not hiding behind the powdered milk in the basement with a loaded shotgun guarding the toilet paper with the kids.

Ya, my own father’s 70 with heart disease, and we’ve isolated him to his house. We’re gonna follow the guidelines as much as possible and I’m not saying you should violate yours, but let’s also not lay down and die here.

Rokslide is the original “social distancing” crowd, so I want this thread to be a place to show and talk about what you’re doing to get ready for what we do: hunting and all things related.

First, my job is pretty much at half time right now, and I hate to admit it, it feels good.

I’ve prepared for something like this for years by staying out of debt and can float a while without paychecks. I hope you can too. If you can’t, I’m sorry, and it’s no time to go in debt, so look for cheaper ops, phone a friend, have a garage sale, whatever it takes. Even then, I still think there is something for you on this thread.

And remember, tough times are what friends are for, so look for hunt ops with friends that can float you for while. And if you can help someone, do it. I’ve already got my hand out to a few people so they know they’ll get though this. You should too.

So after some thoughts and prayers, I’m still preparing for the future that I’m pretty sure will come.

First, I’m still applying for hunts pretty much like normal. I’m not risking money I can’t afford to lose, and you shouldn’t either. Like I said in my book, you should try to hunt as close to home as possible as logistically you’re more efficient. And if funds are (or are gonna be) tight, it’s just plain cheaper.

So I’m maximizing those ops, but since I don’t have any control over the western states’ draw sequence, I still have to put in apps now. So I’ve aimed for a fewer longer shots this year but kinda hoping I’ll just be home hunting, BUT if I draw something great, I’m going.

If the “government” shuts it all down and I encounter the national guard on my way to Colorado, oh well, what’s a few preference points? And as some wise men on Rokslide have said “I can make more money but I can’t make more time.”

Also, now that I’m working a few less hours, I getta spend some more time with the family. I got home early enough to grab the kids and scout out a local lake. Surprisingly the ice is coming off and the fish are packed against the shore. Sophie said “Dad! I wanna go fishing!”

In our state, we can be outdoors with people we live with and/or 6 feet from those we don’t, as long as it’s not a “public gathering” so by this time tomorrow night, I hope to show you guys a bucket of fish that we’ll be frying up in the dutch ovens this weekend.

So please support this thread with what you’re able to do to get in the outdoors during this time, (even if it’s building a shed in the backyard like @Justin Crossley) or what you’re planning for 2020 hunts.

NO NEGATIVE SOCIAL SHAMING either (there’s already threads for that stuff).

And if all my optimism is wrong, and the the zombies do show up while I’m in the backyard shooting my bow, I guess I’ll die a happy man to the sounds of the kid’s shotgun blasts ringing in my ears.


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Very cool

 

[ShakeDown]

Spent some time out of the house Saturday.

 

[robby denning]

Spent some time out of the house Saturday.

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Those will be memorable days right there with those beautiful kids.


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[NY16ga]

So great to see all these photos, definitely getting me excited for turkey season and giving me some ideas for household projects! I live in NYC so this pandemic is not an abstract concept for us, we hear ambulance sirens constantly and know a fair number of people who have COVID-19. So far everyone we know who has it is relatively young and healthy so not in serious danger but this virus is no joke, our friends have taken a month or more to recover and have been pretty damned sick. I'm not the type to panic but I won't lie, seeing the streets of NYC so empty is a little unnerving.

We're lucky though, my wife can/is working from home now, I've worked from home for years anyway, and neither of us is an essential worker so we're able to minimize risk pretty well. I'm self-employed as an education/nonprofit consultant and my income took a hit but nothing we can't handle. A fair amount of my work has been postponed (rather than canceled luckily) so I'm using the extra time to do some pro bono consulting for educators and organizations I know who are dealing with serious challenges right now.

As far as the outdoors goes, I'm definitely spending some time e-scouting, catching up on podcasts, and reading. My German Wirehair is very close to retirement and I'll probably get a new pup within the next year so I figured this would be a good time for a refresher on my favorite training books. Also doing some obedience training with my wife's little 6-month old French bulldog puppy, which is a blast!



I was halfway considering a Black Hills turkey hunt this year but that seems unwise at this point so I'll just hunt harder here in NY to make sure I fill both of my tags. We had a good time scouting yesterday and got serious about ramps along the way. If we have to stay close to home through the summer, I should have plenty to keep me busy...sighting in a new rifle/scope combo, fishing for smallies, scouting this wily Catskills buck I've been after, maybe even considering an early Fall bear hunt here, which would be totally new for me.

 

[Travis Bertrand]

So great to see all these photos, definitely getting me excited for turkey season and giving me some ideas for household projects! I live in NYC so this pandemic is not an abstract concept for us, we hear ambulance sirens constantly and know a fair number of people who have COVID-19. So far everyone we know who has it is relatively young and healthy so not in serious danger but this virus is no joke, our friends have taken a month or more to recover and have been pretty damned sick. I'm not the type to panic but I won't lie, seeing the streets of NYC so empty is a little unnerving.

We're lucky though, my wife can/is working from home now, I've worked from home for years anyway, and neither of us is an essential worker so we're able to minimize risk pretty well. I'm self-employed as an education/nonprofit consultant and my income took a hit but nothing we can't handle. A fair amount of my work has been postponed (rather than canceled luckily) so I'm using the extra time to do some pro bono consulting for educators and organizations I know who are dealing with serious challenges right now.

As far as the outdoors goes, I'm definitely spending some time e-scouting, catching up on podcasts, and reading. My German Wirehair is very close to retirement and I'll probably get a new pup within the next year so I figured this would be a good time for a refresher on my favorite training books. Also doing some obedience training with my wife's little 6-month old French bulldog puppy, which is a blast!

View attachment 173785View attachment 173789

I was halfway considering a Black Hills turkey hunt this year but that seems unwise at this point so I'll just hunt harder here in NY to make sure I fill both of my tags. We had a good time scouting yesterday and got serious about ramps along the way. If we have to stay close to home through the summer, I should have plenty to keep me busy...sighting in a new rifle/scope combo, fishing for smallies, scouting this wily Catskills buck I've been after, maybe even considering an early Fall bear hunt hear, which would be totally new for me.

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That pasta looks amazing.


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[NY16ga]

That pasta looks amazing.


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Yeah, it was excellent after a long day of hiking. My wife is a great cook anyway but she has really stepped up her game during all this sheltering in place (which means I need to step up my workout "routine" ASAP)

 

[Drenalin]

Got my four year old daughter out for a backyard "camping trip" Friday night. Built a small fire and made s'mores, played some, and slept out in a floorless. She made up her mind she wanted to do it and the bugs, rain, cold, and fear of being outside in the dark couldn't deter her. I can't wait to do it again, even if it just in the backyard. I also got out for a few hours Sunday and added some rainbows to my stockpile. Going to have to smoke a batch this week for sure.

 

[Squamch]

This guy was NOT obeying social distancing. First one of his buddies had to tell him, then he came over to invade my space and I had to tell him.

Then I had to tell him

 

[positivepete!]

Gotta stay positive!!!

 

[elkguide]

Worrying doesn't stop
the bad stuff from happening,

it just stops you
from enjoying the good stuff.

 

[Hawkeye5964]

Social distancing can be easy if you hike in the right area. The dogs just enjoy being out.

 

[roosiebull]

This guy was NOT obeying social distancing. First one of his buddies had to tell him, then he came over to invade my space and I had to tell him.

Then I had to tell him

crazy footage! I take it you filled a tag when the screen went black? I have never seen bear do that, what was the scenario? I was close to 2 one night that sounded like they were doing that, super loud violent growls... it was really thick, I got as close as I could, but still couldn't see them.... I didn't want to get found out, because they were in a mood that made them seem a little more sketchy than normal, and all I had was my bow. I stopped on the edge of one of the few 10yd openings, and I had a buddy with me who was not liking the aspect of me trying to get close..... when you are bear hunting, and you hear bear, going the other way because they sound scary is a poor strategy for success, haha.... we were walking out and had covered and glassed a lot of country, it finally started to get dark, and we lost track of the bears, so we finally got out of there.

I imagine it looked something like what you guys filmed, but that's speculation. were those bear making any vocalizations?

really cool footage!

 

[roosiebull]

Worrying doesn't stop
the bad stuff from happening,

it just stops you
from enjoying the good stuff.

Amen!

 

[roosiebull]

I have still been on the prowl for Mr bear, yesterday was the third day of a dry spell, but that's fine, still been having a lot of fun, and getting some good quality time with my wife on some evenings.... can't beat that!

we're going out in a bit to make sure it doesn't turn into a 4 day dry spell... we will see bear! seen some new country and beautiful country. climbed some pretty good elevation the other day, not sure how much exactly, but it's a little over 3 miles, all uphill besides a few short flat benches... did it twice one day

not a super fun walk in, but can see a crazy amount of country from there. cool thing about bear season is just the exploration.... I don't do that a lot deer or elk hunting, but bear I do, looking for that little isolated pocket that a huge boar calls home.... looking for clues along the way. fun time of year and a perfect thing to do right now.

ordered some new limbs for my recurve, and impatiently being patient on those... can't wait though! making a toys list for things I need to buy soon, and selling my wife on them, haha.... there is light at the end of this tunnel!

 

[Squamch]

crazy footage! I take it you filled a tag when the screen went black? I have never seen bear do that, what was the scenario? I was close to 2 one night that sounded like they were doing that, super loud violent growls... it was really thick, I got as close as I could, but still couldn't see them.... I didn't want to get found out, because they were in a mood that made them seem a little more sketchy than normal, and all I had was my bow. I stopped on the edge of one of the few 10yd openings, and I had a buddy with me who was not liking the aspect of me trying to get close..... when you are bear hunting, and you hear bear, going the other way because they sound scary is a poor strategy for success, haha.... we were walking out and had covered and glassed a lot of country, it finally started to get dark, and we lost track of the bears, so we finally got out of there.

I imagine it looked something like what you guys filmed, but that's speculation. were those bear making any vocalizations?

really cool footage!

Surprisingly, I didn't hear a sound from them! They definitely were breathing heavily, the puffs of steam from them wrestling around on the ground was what initially drew my attention. I've got a full write up on the day in the bear section, with some pictures of the one I shot.

 

[timekiller13]

Got my kids back into archery. My wife has a Diamond Edge that she doesn't shoot, so I turned the poundage down and shortened the draw to fit my 9 yo daughter. Took her diamond atomic that she had outgrown and set it up for my 5 yo daughter. Also bought a Chipmunk 22 LR and the kids have loved shooting it in the back yard. My 9 yo old also knows how to properly break down an AR-15, clean it and can identify all parts and reassemble without my help.

 

[elkguide]

STAY AWAY FROM
NEGATIVE PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE A
PROBLEM FOR EVERY
SOLUTION.

Albert Einstein