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I actually enjoy threads where there is a bit of passionate disagreement, as long as it stays respectful. There is nothing better than a group of people who can disagree, even seriously, on a subject but be as good friends as ever when the topic moves on. Regarding my comments on inline...

I’ve heard similar comments in the past regarding how little sport is involved using a gun to hunt deer. It’s a totally understandable attitude which I shared myself until I eventually took up hunting some time later. My only response is that you really can’t understand how hard it is to get...

That spur had a little bit longer lease on life after Toms River Chemical closed. Builders General got rail deliveries until a few years ago. The trains even had to use the Rt. 37 grade crossing, since the turnout leading into the lumberyard was so close to the highway that the trains had to...

I was reading the account of the clearing of Hells Gate in Bob’s link and it stirred a memory of a local tie-in I read about in the recent past. After searching through a few of my books I found this passage in a booklet by local historian, Pauline S. Miller, written in 1992, titled “The...

Lionel made a colorful sheet metal interpretation of the Hells Gate Bridge back in the 1930’s or thereabouts. It was one of their largest and more popular accessories. Its scale dimensions are greatly horizontally compressed from the real bridge to keep the size reasonable. Both Lionel and...

Chiggers have always been something of a mystery to me. I've spent my fair share of time in the woods off-trail, including two years doing wetland delineations and endangered species searches, but I can't remember a single incidence of chigger bites. Either they don't like me (I'm not sure if I...

Sounds like a interesting idea. I'd be interested in participating.

The official season runs from November 15 to March 15 but they often make an effort to avoid the areas most used by hunters until after deer season. If the weather doesn't offer enough days to burn the acreage they desire during the season they can extend it a week or so.

I think it is sometimes too easy to assume everyone has the same “woods sense” that most members of this forum have. In a state like New Jersey, we have urban areas within minutes of virtual wilderness and you get all types out there. My job has required me to spend more than my fair share of...

Sounds like a neat project. I do think you are speaking of two different canoe types though. Bark canoes, be they cedar, tulip or birch, were made by lashing pieces of bark to a frame, then waterproofing the seams with a locally available material. The canoe construction you describe, involving...

Wow. I'll have to look for it tomorrow. I live so close to Seven Bridges Road, I tend to take it for granted and do most of my birding elsewhere. If I spot it I'll post its location.

I’ve also tried to impress on people what little chance they have of encountering a rattler. The problem is that it is hard to reason with an irrational fear. My brain tells me I am much safer flying than driving but I still have a terrible fear of flying. When I worked at Cattus Island Park, it...

My job also often involves talking to the public about these animals and it is amazing how many people mistakenly equate venomous with being aggressive. Many of them still think these, as well as all snakes, are best killed on sight. Besides all the other reasons to defend them, my fallback...

I shoot at the state range just south of your area and am always upset at the amount of centerfire rifle and pistol brass I find all over the ground, which are from weapons clearly not allowed at the range. I’ve witnessed shooters firing unauthorized guns there a few times, but even if I left...

Did you paddle all the way to the end of the canal? If it’s the one I paddled up years ago, there is a pumping station, similar to the one on the Oswego, at the end. I assumed it served a similar purpose, supplying water to cranberry bogs, although I didn’t explore very far inland.

Ingot = pig?

There are no creeks in the 609 area code. They are all criks! :)

This isn’t anything new. Anyone remember government cheese? I seem to recall my economics professor explaining the rationale behind farm subsidies and price supports over 25 years ago. The reason given by him for this admitted deviation from the normal mechanics of capitalism was America’s...

I agree that Mute Swans are pretty, but they are an introduced species and unlike the native Tundra Swan, which only winters here, the Mutes tend to take up permanent residence in a water body. An adult can eat up to 8lbs of aquatic vegetation a day, depleting the water of food for native...

I’ve pondered the pros and cons of this program myself. I think the bottom line is that the positive and negative impacts are so varied from tract to tract that it’s impossible to generalize about the program as a whole. It’s recognized by most people familiar with nature that plant and animal...