From what I understand the primary issue with the new turbo V6’s was that a lot of them had machining debris left in the block that didn’t get cleaned during assembly, and has led to a significant number of those engines grenading themselves in as little as 10k miles. Lots of information online about it, but it sounds like this is mostly isolated from mid ’22 when they started the new body/engines to December builds of ’23. They’re on my short list for my next upgrade, as I don’t see myself needing anything larger than a half-ton any time soon. I’d also not be sad about snagging a mint ’20-’22 second gen that still had the 5.7. Love the looks of those trucks and that motor is dead reliable.

Like anything, there are going to be some growing pains with all the companies implementing turbo V6’s due to emissions regulations, but they will figure it out. If you travel outside the US much you’ll notice that most SUVs in foreign markets are powered by some form of small turbo-diesel or turbo 4/6 cylinder gas motor.

Shot my buck this year with a 130 TMK (tipped match king) handload out of the 6.5 creed and it absolutely hammered him. Top of heart gone, lungs shredded, and a nice 50 cent sized exit. Perfect performance.

There is a 65 or so page thread on the Rokslide forum of guys tipping game over at ranges longer than pretty much all of us shoot (elk and the like up to and including 600+ yards) with match bullets out of 6.5s, 6s, and even hotrod 22 cartridges like the 22 creedmoor.

The primary thing to consider with match bullets is that YMMV heavily depending on the specific projectile. There are tons of success stories with projectiles like the 130 TMK, 130/140/147 eldm, or most of the Berger offerings. HOWEVER, I would absolutely NOT shoot game with something like a 142 SMK.

End of the day, do your research and put it in the boiler room. We’re blessed to be living in an age with tons of great bullets for pretty much all of the popular cartridges.

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I’ve been vehemently against Hoyts for quite a while but depending on how it shoots a grey RX9 might follow me home this coming year. I LOVE my Lift 29, but at least on paper that RX9 checks a lot of my boxes (other than MSRP ).

Brittman wrote:

In a deer stand in the heart of wolf country which is no longer that far north. Unit 156. See wolves as often as deer on the trail cam. 3 shots this morning heard – total. Not so long ago I would not have need tried to count shots or have my cell phone in my hand at this time of the morning.

There are three different bucks on recent cam pics so there is a ray of hope.

Perfect morning…. Calm, clear, 28F. Grouse and squirrels are my companions.

Britt what area of 156 are you in? We’re uo by Mahtowa and I had a pack howling a couple parcels north of me on the north side of our farm. Fortunately was able to bag a 7 pointer this morning, but the wolf sign is heavy on our farm. Has been for 6-7 years now unfortunately.

Are you sure it broke due to the rib on the ENTRY side and wasn’t because of being stuck in the far side on a running deer?

Arrows/bolts shot into game SHOULD be considered a consumable, with one being able to be reused just being a bonus.

156 here.

Meh, to me these arguments against things like a youth waterfowl or deer season always come across as “that’s not how I did it so you can do it either.” I know for a fact that there were old timers back in the day arguing that scopes shouldn’t be allowed “because that’s not sportsman like and makes for a worse hunter.” But many of us would obviously still choose to use scopes on rifles.

I know when my girls are old enough you can bet your britches I’ll be taking them out during the early season, with the odds of success and better weather being in our favor.

That’s really good to know. We already have 2x each of the Cabelas branded Scottys and the RAM brand rod holders. I have zero worries about them for boards but was a little skeptical about dipseys. Figure I’ll just let er rip if you’ve had good experiences with them and kings.

Awesome that is what I was hoping to hear! I’ll still end up running some track on the Cisco for rod holders and such but will be able to get away with a shorter section without having to mount the riggers on them as well.

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tlazer wrote:</div>
MO the transfer portal and NIL has ruined college football.

I agree, and it’s not just in football either. It’s across every sport. It’s become far too loose. They need to make players sit out a season again if they want to transfer.

It’s 21-3 at the half. Boat is sinking fast here.

I 100% agree Gim. With the new NIL rules in place they absolutely have to reinstate the lost season rule if they’re going to transfer. With things being so loose it’s just the wild west, and there’s no way for the middle tier schools to compete.

Glenn mine has started very reliably so far. One or two pulls on full choke until it pops. Move to half choke and another one or two pulls until it fires up.

I have a TP9 SA Mod 2 that probably has 2000 rounds through it and absolutely 0 hiccups. I hardly ever clean the darn thing and it just runs and runs and runs.

Well I ended up getting an MS250 on sale for $350. Couldn’t pass up the deal. Was able to fondle one of the Dewalt 18″ saws and the main thing I noticed was it is LONG when you compare it to a gas saw with the same bar length.

So far so good with the 250. Felled and bucked two decent sized pines on the edge of the yard that needed to come down.

QAD is good stuff. I’ve been back and forth between them and Hamskea on my last 4-5 bows and I think I’ll be sticking with QAD. Absolutely no issues with any of my Hamskeas and I know that when the rubber meets the road they’re probably more bullet proof, but I like how the QAD functions better, and until I have a reason to stop using them I’ll keep giving them a go.

I’ve had a set of Generat Grabber ATXs on my Silverado for the past 50k miles and nothing but positives. I’m going to try get through this winter on them, but even if I don’t I’ll be putting on another set (either XLs again or maybe Es). I drive about 15k per year (mostly highway) but do enough off road stuff where I don’t want to be stuck.

I wouldn’t exactly say that you need to necessarily bait every day/every other day, but it’s way more work than what most realize. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches of life (little kids and new house in my case) and bait when possible.

This year I was successful by baiting three days per week, and had I not killed the bear I did I would have had opportunities on two different bears at a different site the next day.

Thanks guys! Short season is sort of nice for a change.

Bearcat89 wrote:

Nicely done Waldo. Fire arm or bow ?

Shot this one with a rifle. Was going to bowhunt but for this spot the rifle made more sense.

BigWerm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>waldo9190 wrote:</div>
Got it done last night. First MN bear for me (last one was out west).

Let’s see if the picture loads.

Nice one Waldo! What part of 51 do you hunt?

Our family farm is right between Mahtowa and Barnum, west of 35.

Got it done last night. First MN bear for me (last one was out west).

Let’s see if the picture loads.

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I’ve been very happy with my Sig.

isu22andy wrote:

I think we need to know is the OPs cutting firewood cutting beer can logs in the backyard for a fire pit or truck loads of wood for a stove or wood burning fireplace . That’ll be the deal breaker or maker on electric vs gas .

General use would be yes for the beer can sized logs/branches around the house, but the trail cleanup is a little more of a kicker. We have tons of old popple (12″+) on our farm and “trail cleanup” usually means dealing with a few of those every time we head to the trails. We don’t heat with wood though.

I should add too that I’ve also been looking at the Echo 4920. They seem to get lots of love on some of the arborist forums.

lindyrig79 wrote:

The Vikings aren’t even playing Darnold today… they must be really confident!

If our luck continues and Darnold’s knee explodes then we’d be going into the season with Mullens as the #1.

Can’t seem to get images uploaded so if you’re interested shoot me a message and I’ll send them over.

lindyrig79 wrote:

The Mc Carthy injury has nothing to do win Wins and Losses THIS year. Zero.

But it is a major gut punch and complication for the future of this team.

There is no positive spin or silver lining. If you really think there is then I’d love to know what you are smoking.

Completely agree on the assessment for this season, but I think it’s less about positive spin/silver lining than it is that it’s not all doom and gloom, gut the team, fire the staff, etc.

If McCarthy is the real deal, we will know next year. If he is NOT the real deal, then 2 pre-season games and scout team snaps during the regular season wouldn’t have changed that. It just really sucks that we now have to wait until next year to find out that answer.

Report is that JJ had the full repair this morning and is likely out for the season. Definitely not ideal but it is what it is.

The silver lining is that he should be ready to go 100% by February, the team will likely have a top 10 pick in the draft, and we will have $75-ish million in cap space for next year.

The kid is no doubt going to have a chip on his shoulder next year and will be ready to prove himself.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Learning the playbook yeah that’s what makes a great QB.

But it’s not like pre season reps are the make or break item either.

Good point I heard on (I think) the Vikings Daily podcast was that once the season starts, JJ ain’t getting any more first team reps anyway until they deem he’s ready to start, which best case likely wouldn’t have been until after the Bye week. Even if they do the long term repair (4-6 month recovery) that puts him ready to go in February, and can go into next off-season as the #1.

Yes, missing out on the reps for the next couple weeks is definitely a bummer, but the guy is only 21! He’s THREE years younger than Bo Nix, or Joe Burrow was when he was drafted. The kid really seems committed to the craft and has the right midset…he will be fine.

As our favorite QB to hate once said…RELAX.

I’m all for letting JJ sit until the staff feels like they’re ready to hand him the reigns. My biggest wish is that when they do eventually make the hand over from Darnold to JJ, they can’t let it be some “trial period” where Darnold gets the job back if JJ struggles early. That is one of the worst ways to mess with a QBs head and make them second guess literally everything they do.

If the team waiting to put him in means that they will do it when they’re behind him 100% then I’m ok with that path forward.

Also, just a note I forgot about in the regs, if you apply for any of the limited entry hunts I don’t believe you’re also allowed to apply for doe lottery permits.

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JEREMY wrote:</div>
So small game license.

Yes

I assume this is going to carry into the 2025 Fishing Regs too being that the only requirement for a site tag in that realm is with a sturgeon.

When I got stopped on Winnie the weekend after opener I had left my license in the truck but had the digital copy on my phone. Officer said it was good enough for him because it sounds like that’s the way it’s going next year anyway.

Honestly I’m ok with the minimal changes to doe tags. We need more than one good winter to help increase the deer numbers in any meaningful way. If they upped the doe tags substantially after only one good winter we would be right back to where we were this time last year.