Not a kid in it, but I have a cousin Jerry that coaches the Weston Trap Team. He’s had a lot of great shooters over the years

Does anyone look at CRP programs as the landowner getting their tax money back Vs seeing it as “your” tax dollar funding it? I ask because I see this come up frequently on various forums. Throughout discussions, its often presented as the landowner is receiving the funds but never pays in.

I run almost all YoZuri blue braid from 10# to 65#. I have reels that are 5 or 6 year on the original fill. casts smooth and resists abrasion well.

Stainless handles heat better.

Joe Jarl wrote:

CRP and CREP are probably the most common ones I can think of. I’m conflicted on the whole public use discussion. I think by simply having more of these acres in place benefits all who want to see more wildlife around.

I receive funds as part of a CRP program and I utilize the Forestry programs. I selected to keep it private as I already have enough people here. However, to think that others don’t benefit is foolish. My CRP land is only one portion of what enhances the habitat and increases the populations of deer, birds, small game,…. I have no high fences and the deer, turkey, and so on are all free roaming. Do they frequent my land – yes. Do they live exclusively on my land – heck no. Over the last 10 years, people hunting the near by public land have shot more large mature bucks than what we have taken. More turkey have been shot on neighboring land than mine.

I trap intensely coyote, skunks, coon, and grinners. My work PLUS the little I receive in funds produce well suited nesting habitat for birds, birthing areas for deer, water tanks, additional land (not in programs) utilized for standing winter feed. Not all recipients invest back, but many do. The couple thousand I receive is easily burnt up in seed, fertilizer, fuel, equipment, maintenance, property taxes, income tax, wear/tear, and everything else I spend money on to give back.

Yes, I have the pleasure or watching more critters. I could kill a lot more if I needed to. In the last 10 years I find that I take much less and invest much more. So at the end of the day, the 20 or 30 people that might have been ON my property are hunting land near by that benefits from what I do. They just don’t get to walk into the heart of the operation and most likely will never know the extent of what we do.

FYI – there were a stupid amount of turkeys out in the golf coarse at Michigan City, IN yesterday. Just in case someone didn’t have time to scout

Its sad to think about when this forum is no longer. Just looked back through all these pages and enjoyed seeing it all. Many great companions over the years

plenty of late season tags available. Can be a very interesting time to hunt. Had years that a lot of hens were nested up. Made it easier with Toms on the prowl for cooperative hens/decoys. However, some years, a lot of hens still roaming around and the toms were lock up on them and had a heck of time pulling them away.

I’ve had a lot of re-paints that I didn’t completely strip get darker than I intended as well. Found they work pretty darn good on certain bodies of water.

I’m at the other end of the spectrum. I have about 300-400 trees I want cut down

Curt wrote:

There is an adjustment under the hitch coupler. Lots don’t know it’s there. Lay on the ground and make sure it hasn’t loosened up.

100% agree!

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Steve Root wrote:

Twice in my life I have been standing on a lakeshore when the ice was breaking up. A gentle breeze making a million small shards of ice tap against each other. Each tap makes a sound like a little bell. A million little bells. You stand there taking this all in knowing it will be gone in a matter of hours.

SR

Scott Hunter and I have been ON the ice when that started. Sounds awesome until the moment you go through

Nay. Absolutely nothing that is vinegar based. Rub with garlic, salt, and preferred peppers. Indirect heat until about 95-100 internal.cover with peach or pear slices and continue to 130-135. Wrap In foil with a splash of squirt soda and let rest for 5-10 minutes. I prefer to place on heat rack holding 150 degrees. Serve with a glass of good bourbon and enjoy

I’m a little jealous. Went into the Bristol TN Bass Pro with 6 things I wanted, All basic – snaps, few rip n raps, and 2x trebs, I got 0 for 6. I think Walmart has a better selection

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Haven’t watched late night since Johnny went off the air.

X2

Why?? because he can.

Jeff a troller??? Thats hilarious. If there is anything you need to know about sending one two miles, Jeff is the MAN

Clean rig. I was checking it out a couple weeks ago.

A small tribute to my dad’s dogs. In the last days struggling to be comfortable and at peace before his passing, the touch of the remains brought his final comfort.

Chester, Lady, Payton, and Patty – deceased and Lily who never left his bedside

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Thank you everyone! Time to sleep for a couple days

munchy wrote:

So sorry for your loss Randy.

I imagine you feel about 12 inches taller right now. Partially from the loss of the tremendous weight on your shoulders the last few years, but more so you should feel incredibly proud of what you did. Stand tall today Randy, you deserve it.

Thanks everyone! So many people here that have grown close, became awesome friends, and share so much. But I need to repeat this. Its not what I did, its what WE did. A bridge doesn’t carry a load without the solid foundation and all the supporting members.

@Eelpoutguy

Matt, I’m sorry I failed to include this. Thanks again for hooking me up on that stair lift and the hours you spent driving to meet me. Dad got miles of use on that and it really helped with giving him extended independence within our house. Additionally, it would have been impossible without it to transport him to a vehicle. Thank You!!!

Iowaboy1 wrote:

Fantastic tribute Randy, you are a good man with a big heart, I know your folks are proud of you.
I never got the chance to meet your dad or mom in person, but I did meet them through you and the experiences you have shared with me and I appreciate everything the three of you have taught me.

Thank you Randy for allowing me to see into your life these last few years, I am honored.
I wish I could of been there to see the gathering of those he fed all those years the day he passed.
God bless you Randy.

Sheldon, no one would ever believe the “Dr. Doolittle Twilight Zone”. it was so surreal. We’ll just keep that amongst the few.

Thanks again for checking in regularly in the last days. I can only say that it was the people in the dot that gave me the stregnth to live on 10-15 minute naps and carry on another 5-10 hours at a time. The human body is amazing when we need to dig deep and run that marathon. I appreciate the time you gave me away from Lucy, the shop, and Sheryl. Those talks put some fuel in the tank. Thank you

weedis wrote:

He’s in a better place, RIP. You did a great thing Randy Taking care of him. Now after things settle down, get out and enjoy the woods and water, much deserved.

I think dad planned this some how. For 50+ years he believed walleyes and moon phase was BS and they just stage in the river and feed when they feed. Not quite 2 months ago, he asked me when the moon was right for walleyes to pile up in the river.

Tentative date for funeral March 22 / New moon for here is March 29

He told me many times in the last month that is wasn’t suppose to be like this and death shouldn’t take so long. He assured me I would be fishing this spring. I laughed because I thought he would never die. His last mission in life was to drive me nuts

I’m referring to a specific instance. Nothing to do with sponsors

46” graphite rod made from a 2wt fly rod blank

Most of mine are 42-46″ I have an assortment of different blanks, but most are graphite flyrod tip sections from 2 and 3wt rods

Just as long as I never hear “get me another Pabst”

B – you slept away prime time being in bed by 11. Last year we were on fire from 11-3. Most nights we headed out about 9.

Boat goes back to the dock late April. By late May we strip all the trout/coho stuff out of the boat and just chase kings for the rest of summer.

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Just my opinion and you know your kids ability better than me. No way in heck I would waste my money on a 110cc atv. Especially knowing they will out grow it in 1 year. We took the mower deck off of a garden tractor and put a 24 or 27 hp engine on it, made wood block extensions for the pedals, and my daughter out grew that in 1 month. I ended up making a throttle restriction for my artic cat 500 and let them rip on that. by age 9 or 10 the restrictor was gone and they had free reign of the trails here on my farm. At 11, she was doing mountain forestry roads out west. Again, you know your kids better then I. Just hate to see money p’d away on something out dated in a very short period of time

Looks like it was rebuilt. My dad had a similar one that’s a Garcia rod