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butler1850 · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 12

Ok, so I'm one of the 485 luckiest folks in and around NH. I won this year!!! First time entering, first time winner!!! Very happy if you can't tell...

Now the "hard" part. I live in WMU M, but got WMU J1 (better than M, but further, and unfamiliar). This area is NE of "The lake" and S of Conway.

I need help in beginning my scouting. Areas, tips, hints, would all be appreciated. I'm planning a drive up there in the next week or two, and I figured I'd start with the police stations and the F&G officer in the area. I'm mostly concerned with the following:

1) Safety, (don't want to hunt in any areas that a .30-06 would be an issue)
2) Access... I'm inherently lazy , and don't want to walk too far in, or have to haul too far out.

Thanks in advance!

CJfromNY · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 18

Congratulations on your tag! I pulled E3 in the WMNF (my father-in-law is fuming. . he's been applying since the lottery began) I've been up once already, just to get to know the roads in the area. I'll probably get up at least twice more to get to know the woods, trails, etc so I'm not stumbling around in the dark opening day.

My mother-in-law lives in J1. Some areas to check out are:

On Rt 16, accross from Green Mountain Furniture, there's a logging road that heads in, then north west, then north and eventually connects back up near the center of town (but separated by a bridge I wouldn't drive my truck across). That area is full of swamps and clear cuts. It's a pretty big area and there's always a lot of sign there. If you continue to head northwest instead of curving back north with the road, you'll end up on the back side of the Castle and in the Ossipee Forest area.

In Silver Lake, follow the train tracks past the old train station. . . they run by a swampy pond, but also a through pines on one side and hilly hardwoods on the other (I think. . .haven't been in that area in a while).

Green Mountain. . .take 25 east toward portland, then turn right on to Ryefield road and head up toward the fire tower.

Head into the woods on the south side of Rt. 28 into the Ossipee Aggrigate (dont' know if you need permission to do this). Their property connects to 16, but be careful where you cross the tracks, as a lot of it is well-protected private property.

As for the lazy part. . .sounds like the first area I mentioned may be the best bet, as there are quite a few trails that are passable by your average pick-up. I'm going to have it a little tougher, as there are no 4x4s allowed in the WMNF. I'm thinking about looking for someone with horses to help haul it out. My understanding is that once the animal goes down, the fun has only just begun.

Good luck to you!

CJ

butler1850 · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 12

CJ,

Congrats right back! E3 is a nice area, being bounded by the Kanc, I didn't know of the 4x4 restriction, but it sounds like you've got that under way. 112 is a great road to "browse."

We're terribly grateful for the prescouting intelligence, this will certainly make things a bit easier!!! A big thanks to the MIL and the family for any of these that they passed along, a bigger thanks if it's areas you've been in yourself!

I'm off to the topo software as soon as I get home, armed with this great stuff.

Which orientation are you going to? Since you're in NY, I'd assume that it'll be one of the weekend ones.

-Butler

CJfromNY · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 18

Hehe. That info came from the in-laws, but not how you'd think. We go up there to visit and I get up early and take off for 8-10 hours at a stretch (vs. the alternative. . sitting around the table, drinking weak coffee and gossipping about the rest of the family). So just about every time I figure it's time I should head back, I'd come across another logging road just begging to be explored. Glad I could help.

Know anyone who's been through he hunt before? I'm not to worried about finding them. I figure in a week on the Kanc, even a dope like me has to stuble upon a moose or two whether you want to or not (knock on wood). It's the dressing, quartering, hauling and taking care of the cape & antlers (if necessary) and getting it all out unspoiled hat has me concerned.

I'm shooting for one of the weekend orientations. Got a friend planning to fly in from London to be my subpermittee. My father-in-law has been applying as a resident since the inception (15 years?) I told him cheer up . . he's only got 10 years more before the odds are with him ;-p

CJ

butler1850 · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 12

I hear that CJ. The friend from London is also a damn lucky guy.

On the plus side for the F-I-L, they are changing how the lottery runs, now if you aren't picked, you get 2 chances next year. If not picked next year, 3 chances for 2005, 4 in 2006, etc...

Hopefully he'll get lucky too. I applied as an instate, my buddy as out of state, I was lucky enough to be drawn, so in the end, we both win! As it gets closer, let us know which class you're heading to, would be nice to talk about that area with someone who's spent some time there!

-Butler

bitmasher · Joined: 27 Feb 2002 Posts: 2648 Location: Colorado

I can offer absolutely zero advice, but just wanted to say congrats on drawing the tag.

Sounds like a rare opportunity. Good luck.

CJfromNY · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 18

Thanks, Bitmasher.

Butler. . .I've put in for the two Saturday orientations first. . .the one in Sept as 1 and the one in August as 2. Kinda miffed that for a 6 hour trip, my time is going to be spent in a classroom instead of scouting my area, but I imagine there will be some good info, anyway.

butler1850 · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 12

I hear your frustration on the classroom bit, but thankfully it's only 3 hours, in the morning. We've put in for the one in Concord in Sept (Sat), I assume since it holds 400 people, I'll have no problems getting that reservation. If not, I've the last session as a fallback.

You could do some scouting in the afternoon/evening though, either site is close enough to your area to get up there by about 2PM. The rub of course for me with the September one is that it's during archery season, so it's a morning out of the stand. My buddy doesn't want to go to Whitefield (way north) for that one in August, and would have to leave too early from work for the ones at night in Concord.

I agree on the information though, it has to be more procedural and how to get it out, and what to bring out type information though.

Thanks for the congrats bitmasher!

CJfromNY · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 18

Hey Butler,

How's your scouting going? I was just up this weekend and was able to get to know the area a little better. The chilly weather sunday morning really got me excited for the upcoming season.

Going to the class on 9/20. Not sure I'll be able to get out and scout that weekend, but I've got some friends in the area keeping an eye on my "territory."

butler1850 · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 12

We've been up doing some scouting, mostly in the areas you described above... but we couldn't find that tower. I've a few other areas to check out come this weekend. We're in that same class, hopefully we'll see you there!

CJfromNY · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 18

CJfromNY · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 18

Hey Butler. . .

Sorry about the directions to the tower. I had the wrong Right turn. I think it's green mountain road, across from 153. No worries, though. . I think you're better off in those other areas I described. How's your scouting going?

We'll see you this weekend. I'll be the guy in the pickup truck with the gun rack and the camo baseball hat. LOL.

butler1850 · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 12

CJ,

Sounds like a good solid description, should have no problem finding someone at the moose seminar just like that! I'll likely be one of the slightly hung over ones, in a camo boonie hat, and a beard, possibly in flannel. :smile:

We've decided to hunt the other side of the zone. Near Little Squam lake. We've looked a bit over there, but haven't found quite the right place for us, but we think we've found it on the other side... that's a bit easier to get to as well. We've found lots of prints, and "piles", and it's got some great shooting lanes in a 6-8 year old cutting. Hopefully we've chosen well.

Your buddy coming? If so, I'll just look for the Brit!

GL, if I don't talk to you... (Real name's Ed Murphy btw, incase they give us some sexy nametags)

-Butler

[ This Message was edited by: butler1850 on 2003-09-18 10:18 ]

CJfromNY · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 18

For anyone who's inclined to give you crap about shooting "poor, defenseless animals"

http://story.news.yahoo.com/ne.....ights_back

bitmasher · Joined: 27 Feb 2002 Posts: 2648 Location: Colorado

Ouch! Sounds like that guy got pounded!