Adirondack Solo Hunt.......on the back burner this year

[Roger Norris]

Just 3 nights won't be enough time..

[ron w]

 3 Nights on the ground is about all this old guy can take. In the Adirondacks 20 nights may not be enough!

[1Longbow]

Years ago ,my grandfather worked for JP Lewis paper company. We use to hunt the paper company land up around North Lake. This conversation brought back some wonderful memories.

[Cory Mattson]

Do a couple of dry runs w a fishing rod - scout - camp - if it is suitable for a return campsite cut firewood and stash. and for me out  of a canoe I would run a hammock w tarp fly cover camp.
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[German Dog]

Originally posted by ron w:
    3 Nights on the ground is about all this old guy can take. In the Adirondacks 20 nights may not be enough!

Spend the money and buy a good sleeping pad like a Big Agnus insulated air core pad.

[ron w]

I have had all kinds of Air/foam/and every other type sleeping pad and The ground is still the ground. I have a packable cot but not sure if I want that much weight to take along. I guess if it makes sleep better it may be worth it. That hammock idea maybe the way to go!

[LittleBen]

Let me say a couple things ... first teh adriondacks are possibly the greatest place on the east coast IMO.

I say go for it man!
If it were me I'd have a good map laminated so it's waterproof, a good compass or two, and a GPS ... getting lost will not be awesome.

Plan on maybe being more than 3 days ... because if you shoot a deer on day 3, you may very easily be walking a mile or more farther out to track it, you just never know ... or it could end up at the bottom of a steep ravine and it might take a full day to pack it out ... you may not be able to track, pack and canoe back to your vehicle in one afternoon ...

I've heard the camping hammocks are good for trips like this where you may be expecting rough, rocky, or unlevel ground.


Lastly, Spring bear in that area opens like Sep. 19th and deer opens Sep. 27th or something like that.

If it were me I'd consider late September as it will be slightly warmer probably.

I did a similar trip (on foot) in the western high peaks a few years back with a buddy in late september and it was already getting at-near freezing at night and highes of maybe 40 during the day ... that may not be typical ... but you just never know up there in the north country .... but I guess I don't need to tell you that ...

[vintage-bears]

Go for it Ron!
I hunted Indian lake area for years and had such a wonderful time.
I set up camp in lewey lake campgrounds (showers there too)
Very convenient.
You will kill a deer or at least have opportunity and bear are abundant there.
I mostly hunted an old apple orchard along Rt 30 between Indian and Lewey lake. Don't forget your fishing pole!!!
The fishing is terrific. Pike, smallmouth and perch.
Enjoy and good luck!

Philip

[Tdog]

Ron looking at the map. I would say the east side of Indian lake. John Mack Bay looks real good. That or the lower finger just north of Driftwood Mt. Woodland creek or that brother if you want we have a camp just across from Lewey. You wouldn't have to float and could hunt Pine hill back over to the finger on Indian lake.. Pm me and we can set it up..

[ron w]

Johnny Mack Bay was one of the spots I had picked, Over the mountain on the other side is the Cedar River Flo area, looking at Buck Mt./Buell creek area. Lots of big woods.......

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Ron,  You must let us know where you are going so we can play a prank on you.  

[ron w]

 Thanks Charlie.......

[PaulRoberts]

Well, since you're not new to the backcountry, not much to offer that you probably don't already know. A few thoughts:

-Learn to process at the kill site. I didn't even consider this until I moved out west. I made some hellish drags in my younger days.            

-Be especially head's up when you are using your knife. Especially if you are tired or excited, or distracted.

-Dress right. Cotton kills. Keep your wits about you. I canoed 7 miles into the Adirondacks with a buddy some years ago and we had a cold rain one afternoon. I parked myself under a big deadfall and waited it out. On the hike back to camp, steam was rollin' off my layers of wool and poly. I was bone dry when I got to camp. When I arrived I saw my buddy's sopping wet cotton shirt and sweatshirt hanging outside the tent, a failed fire in the ring, and him in the tent nearly hypothermic. I got the fire going, fed us, and then shared my wool and poly with him for the evening and following day, til the weather cleared. I would go to thrift stores and find "Shetland wool" (reprocessed wool) turtlenecks for cheap. They've been the best, lightest, warmest, undergarment I've owned. Actually too warm for most uses.

-Be aware of when you are at all fatigued. When I notice the first mis-step, I say to myself "You're tiring. Be careful." I say it so that I acknowledge it. You don't need a twisted ankle, or worse.

-And of course, don't go alone unless you know the ropes really well. And let loved ones know where and when.

Lesseee...

-Look for hanger's -dead trees over your tent site.

-Plan for trouble. I once popped a hole in my tent roof during a nasty snow squall wiping water off a broadhead. A piece of duct tape made a quick patch. I carry some wrapped on a short piece of dowel in my "tool kit".

-Pretest ALL gear you haven't used before.

[ron w]

All good stuff........thanks!

[NY Yankee]

Bug spray and a head net, good water filter, good rubber boots and a good tent.

Ron, I wouldn't skimp on the sleeping gear-- old bones stiffen up on the ground! I have been having the same thought about a solo trip before it gets too late. Unfortunately, I am having a shoulder replaced on May 2nd (shortest turkey season on record but I have to be recovered by October) so I will have to delay my trip. Good luck and go for it!
Susan

[MikeS]

I live in Tupper Lake.  If I can help out somehow, let me know.
Mike

[RIng]

Hi all good luck with your hunt. We have some great country in NY to get away from it all . It was my understanding that it is illegal to bone out a deer in NY , and it has to be brought out in one piece . Good luck , have fun and be safe .

May life's simplest things bring you the greatest pleasures !!!!

[ron w]

I think you can bone out the animal but need proof of the sex of the critter. I could be wrong...I know many guys that pack out meat that way. Of course that don't mean they are right....LOL!

[Jorge]

You don't need to go radical with weight savings but some ideas of the backpacking people could be interesting. Try to reduce the weight of the big three, tent, sleeping system and backpack. For you, backpack can be secundary as you are using a canoe.

Spend money in the sleeping system, a thick sleeping pad and a good bag, i would choose a quilt over a mummy design and add some type of waterproof bag for it, you don't want a wet sleeping bag.  You have great tents models to choose, don't go very small.

Think about your cooking system, a good stove and a small pot is all that you need using food as mountain house and cooking in the bags, adding hot water and waiting some minutes. Add other stove, a light one as Esbit or alcohol catstove, as backup.

Sorry for my english