Parker

A very modern action vs. a more traditional one. Interesting contrast. I have a soft spot for BLR's, they are well-made guns. I'd pick the BLR. (And you could hunt with it in NJ should ever want to for varmints/furbearers.)

Yep. It's all about the Benjamin's. The state is now selling their surplus of extra pheasants that they stock on WMA's, with some 5,000 birds that will be offered for sale. I spoke with one of the upland biologists last week and they feel it is more prudent to offer their "overstock" for sale rather than dole out the cost of feed for them. Since the habitat cannot support them should they stock them after January, this is the best solution per the state for them. http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2014/pheasantsale14.htm

Replaced my leaking tank (from 1999) two weeks ago. New standard required the existing 3" vent to be replaced by a 4".

Good read. I like the closing statement - "In the end, something called Colt will survive making firearms somewhere — maybe in the soulless West Hartford plant, using some of the former workers; maybe in Florida, employing the freshly-pardoned criminaliens, at minimum wage."

Then be prepared for that moment of truth.

Lead shot is all you need, and 225 of #6 pellets should be fine when launched at that published velocity. A 1 oz. load is enough for many of the shots you'll encounter on a preserve over dogs. 1 oz. works equally well in the 20 ga. & 16 ga. too, but others like to boost their 12's to as much as 1 1/4 oz. or even 1 3/8 oz. for pheasant.

A double would be ideal, offering two different payloads. Some like 7 1/2's for pattern density, others like 6's or 5's for better penetration. When cover is sparse, when birds are skittish and shots are long, when the weather is cold; 6's & 5's will give you an edge. When you use a double, put the smaller-sized shot in the more open-choked barrel, larger shot in the tighter choked barrel. Factor the size of the payload for gauge as well to pick the right choke. If you're hunting over pointing dogs, shots will be fairly close, so something like IC/M would be fine.

Hunting over a good, seasoned bird dog is the only way to appreciate what upland hunting is all about.

Don't worry. You have a lengthy season still to get out.

Too bad. Get better. They're calling for snow flurries Sat & Sun this weekend in some areas.

As stupid as forgetting to secure your shotgun on opening day of pheasant season in NJ? http://www.newjerseyhunter.com/forums/73-general-comments-information/176485-found-shotgun-flatbrook-roy.html

What area (WMU) are you hunting?

An old story, but mistakes/stupidity do happen: http://www.northjersey.com/news/cop-arrested-in-mexico-after-pistol-is-found-in-his-bags-1.296851

Yes. Online is a bit different. The good thing about New York is the license you buy this year (after Feb. 1st) is that its cost is reduced from last year, and like in the past, is good for the 2014-2015 hunting season, valid from September 1st 2014 through August 31st, 2015. (In previous years the license validation dates were from October 1st through September 30th.)

Good luck!

Only at a NY licensing agent in-state or at the local township: http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/95448.html or online: https://aca.dec.accela.com/dec/

You can pick one off the shelf in NY as well and simply pay for it at the register. (Cuomo hasn't gotten to these yet.)

I would recommend a 20 ga., despite it being the less popular and less versatile when compared to the 12 ga. The combination of velocity, powder charge weight, payload weight and shotcup weight all have a bearing on the amount of recoil energy the shooter feels, the combination of which are dissipated by the weight of the gun and any gas system that may mitigate felt recoil. (Just plug in any known values to a recoil calculator and you can determine what kicks less and what kicks more.) The phenomenon of perceived recoil is what a shooter experiences usually by holding the gun improperly, or when dealing with an ill-fitting or poorly designed buttstock. Anyone who believes that a "one-size fits all" buttstock exists is mistaken.

Somewhat different, but I remember Remington's EtronX trigger system on their 700 (with primers activated by an electric charge to eliminate lock time) was a major flop some years ago.

Newtonian, The map showing vote by county, is equally disturbing. http://www.politico.com/2014-election/results/map/governor/new-york/#.VFzMkGfq9OQ

Good luck. I'm sure you'll have fun.

It's a sin to see an M41 buried amongst that pile. It doesn't belong there. The Remington Model 8/81 is also classic piece that shouldn't be there. Both would fetch a good price on the used market. I see a Savage 99 in there, some M1 carbines. What dummy would turn those in? Oh, the horror!

Tex and his "How to Survive a Bear Attack" video is equally amazing, sans the redneck pirouettes. Best viewed in the privacy of your man cave with a Thorazine drip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLTxA8He15k#t=117

His academy award performance:

Page 24 of the current Digest: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2014/dighnt14.pdf Register by mail was to have been postmarked Oct. 8th. Responses were to be mailed back by today. However, you may have missed the guided morning portion, but afternoon's (after 1PM) are open to anyone and Flatbrook and Assunpink are open all day to anyone.