Not sure how old any of you guys are, but this isn’t the first time the snowmobile manufacturers struggled, remember back in the early 70’s there were around 100 manufacturers that all overbuilt and then the fuel crisis finished them off in 1973. Then the early 80’s with 20% plus interest hit, and Arctic went out of business for the first time only to rise from the ashes. Now that same dollar is spread amongst atvs, fish houses and many other outdoor pursuits, all of them insanely expensive (who needs a $50k fish house or $40k sidexside?). I work in the marine industry and yes we are seeing the same thing, rising costs (including labor and overhead), supply chain issues, high interest rates (gee, after reading all these forums I was under the impression everyone bought all this stuff with cash, guess I misunderstood). Its just business.

Not sure how old any of you guys are, but this isn’t the first time the snowmobile manufacturers struggled, remember back in the early 70’s there were around 100 manufacturers that all overbuilt and then the fuel crisis finished them off in 1973. Then the early 80’s with 20% plus interest hit, and Arctic went out of business for the first time only to rise from the ashes. Now that same dollar is spread amongst atvs, fish houses and many other outdoor pursuits, all of them insanely expensive (who needs a $50k fish house or $40k sidexside?). I work in the marine industry and yes we are seeing the same thing, rising costs (including labor and overhead), supply chain issues, high interest rates (gee, after reading all these forums I was under the impression everyone bought all this stuff with cash, guess I misunderstood). Its just business.

The Gift of the Deer, Helen Hoover.
Three Against the Wilderness, Eric Collier
Grouse of the North Shore, Gordon Guillon
Of Wolves and Men, Barry Lopez

What about the guys that depend on plowing snow in the winter to make it? Can we make it snow as well? Business of any type is complex and not guaranteed. Interest rates and inflation are hitting boat manufacturers, should we eliminate sales tax on boats to help them out? We can’t just knee jerk react to fix one situation. What if it rains on deer opener? Do we extend the season for the few of us that haven’t spent $5000 on a covered stand?

In my opinion weather plays a role in when deer move, but I’m not sure what conditions influence the deer and how. I’ve shot them at any time of the day, bucks and does. Biggest was 150 incher shot at about 9am during a good blizzard. Next biggest was taken at about an hour before sunset on a very warm for November day. The majority were taken with in 2 hours of daylight, primarily because thats when I hunt!

I remember going to the Burger Brothers that was on the second story was that in Bloomington and the one that was in Brooklyn Center if I remeber right – I bought lots of stuff at the Holiday in Fridley, had a good friend that worked at the Holiday off of Bass Lake road. My dad and uncles bought lots of shells at Holiday gas stations, as did I in later years. When I started working at Target in 1985 they still sold guns, I sure did lust after that Remington Wingmaster, but at $5 an hour, it was a stretch, even with my 10% discount! That Target still had the automotive center at that time (Roseville), but soon after I started they closed that.

Personally I don’t see the .400 Legend doing much – there is the .444 Marlin (I’m a huge fan, but it never set the world on fire), .45-70, the ancient .405 Winchester, .375 Winchester already in the same class. I suppose its short enough for the straight wall states, but how much of a market is there in those 3-4 states?

I bought the Harbor Freight tire changer, the bead breaker arms were too soft and bent easily, so I bought some angles and bolted them on to stiffen the arms which worked well and was inexpensive. Once the bead is popped its very easy to take the tire off with the tire changer.

I try to understand the situation and do some research on who what where why, but its so complicated I can’t even begin to understand the hatred. I agree, I can’t imagine why the factions have such hatred for each other and agree that the only way they’ll stop is if everybody on all sides is eliminated (probably not going to happen). Just another quagmire for our government to spend hundreds of billions on with no possible solution.

I happen to be watching the boat traffic through my town one opener when a guy had his trolling motor deploy while the boat was on the trailer – he was towing it probably 30 mph or so and went over a set of railroad tracks – made one hell of terrible noise and probably didn’t do the skeg on the TM anygood, but the shaft didn’t break. I was impressed. On the other hand I had a former boss that had his tm inadvertantly deploy while travelling 50mph 15 miles out on Lake of the Woods and the shaft instantly broke slamming the motor against the hull, fortunately it didn’t penetrate the hull and he was able to make it safely back to shore.

Wife hit a deer with the Blazer first week of September, body shop got it in 5 weeks later (only needed to replace the grill) – they do great work and we, unfortunately, are good customers otherwise it would have been into mid/late November (her second deer hit in a year and she got backed int – by the son of the guy that backed into our Equinox 5 years ago, hows that for shitty luck?). I was suprised they could get the parts that fast. Son hit a deer Thursday morning on his way to work, air bags went off, insurance agent said most likely totalled because of that and hope it is because air bags can take 6 months or longer to get. Times definetly are interesting.

Haven’t been since the last year befor Covid, it was insanely busy, if I recall the news reported over 200k in attendance, I think they were all there at the same time, the line for ANYTHING was at least 30 people long. We gave up trying to get anything to eat or drink and went and looked at the art and other exhibits. My cousin went the first year they had it after covid, said there was hardly anybody there, that would be ideal for me! My wife is thinking about going this year, I said I’d go if she wanted to spend the money – she asked what do you think we’d spend? Top of my head I said minumum of $200, after gas, tickets, parking (yeah I know there’s tons of free parking opportunities) and a couple $8 pronto pups and a few $8 beers. Guess she can find other ways to throw money away as I don’t think we’ll be going.

If my life or the life of my wife or kids is in danger, I’m not thinking of the neighbors – I mean I like them just fine – but overpenetration is not my focus, neutralizing the threat is. Fix that then deal with the consequences. I kind of joke about making the decision should a situation arise – AR? 12 Guage? .45? 9mm? .45-70? By the time I make up my mind I’d probably be dead.

Not to hijack the thread, but years ago I caught a 13″ crappie that a northern hit while I was reeling it in – I was able to land the crappie (the northern let it go) and the teeth marks were about 10″ apart. I often wonder how big that fish was.

Possibly, but probably not as the Lund pontoons were built in Princeville, Quebec.

I remember Riley in the Pioneer Press, and Dennis Anderson worked there as well. I remember when they printed a morning and evening edition during the week. I remember when the Minneapolis Star and Minneapolis Tribune were separate papers. And of course Sid.

I would like to see ‘before and after study’ done in 5 years. I bet its going to be very hard to discern any impact that these two laws have on gun violence, but it makes the politicians feel like they ‘did something’ – something they can use in the next campaign to get re-elected.

I’ve heard reports of people driving trucks on lakes by DL Easter weekend. I’d stick to utb’s myself, unless it was somebody else’s truck! Snow melted fast this week, Sunday we had 3-4 feet in the yard, now there are bare spots. I live in Ottertail.

Mindhunter on Netflix, chasing serial killers, the episode with Charles Manson is surreal. Outlander also on Netflix, 1899, theres abunch for sure.

Trilene XL for spinning rods and Berkeley Big Game for casting reels. I’ve tried various braids and they work, but the cost and hassle of cutting some of them wasn’t worth it.

Back in the late 80’s we had a Minnesota opener when my mom came out with my dad and and I. She out fished us both using a technique she had learned watching Virgil Ward on tv. We really caught the walleyes that day but her teliing us that she was using Virgil’s jigging technique really made the day and the memory.

I wondered about running the cable in so far as to bend the plow frame. Easy to do (I’ve pulled the end of my cable off doing the same thing) but that’s got to draw a huge surge of current which could feasibly cause heat damage. Come to think of it I don’t remember if there is a fuse between the winch contactor and the winch, or anywhere between the battery and winch. I guess I’ll have to check.

I’ve been a reader/subscriber on and off for many years, used to be really exciting when the lake of the week was one I fished! Cuffs and Collars was fun until it dawned on me on how many people apparently did nothing in a fish house but smoke dope. As with any magazine on any hobby/subject there is always going to be some repetition – how many articles has Hot Rod (RIP) done on hopping up a small block Chevy over the years? Thousands?

The FamousGrouse speaks the truth. Even those sponsoring the bill in Minnesota say its not going to make money due to the cost of administration.

I have a cheap jump pack, didn’t expect much for the price but it will start my old Suburban that has a dead battery (for like the last 3 years!). I’m astonished. I bring the power pak on trips and use it to charge cell phones and other devices, works great for that. If I’d do it again I would go with a NOCO though, Ivan from Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics has abused his many times!

You need to contact a guy by the name of Jesse Hanish on Facebook, he sells Drotto’s and I’m sure he could help you out

That’s interesting, I’ve had a bunch of Chevy trucks and of all the issues I’ve had with them I’ve haven’t had to replace a starter since my ’82 C-10. Not implying anything, I just find it interesting. I’ve replaced alot of other parts but no starters in 30 years.

I’ve eaten lots of them, they are just as good as a sunfish, but have a big rib cage so they don’t fillet as nicely. A few years ago on vacation with another family on Winnibigoshish they kept us all busy (ostensibly we said it was for the kids, but even us big people had a blast) – I bet we caught a 100 in an hour. Good fun.

Fishing is good, but family is better!

We cut the DirecTV a year ago. The only thing missing is live sports, fortunately (or maybe not) we live where we can get a Fox station over the air so we can watch the Vikings (ughhh) and the first half of the Nascar season (yay!) Other wise its Netlix and Amazon Prime. Plus I have SiriusXM in the truck so I can still listen to pretty much any live sport. Although the satellite radio subscription isn’t a bargain either.