Stone Searching Fall & Winter 2024/2025

[Teegate]

I was on my own today, and sometimes there are places Jessica would prefer me to do alone. As I have mentioned before she prefers deep woods and sometimes the stones and monuments are on property corners close to homes or businesses. That is just how it is. As long as I stay on state property I am good to go so I headed today to make the long one mile walk to the back of the junkyard on Chew road. There is an easier way but I wanted to check out the road and anything along it that may interest me.

After walking 2.5 miles this morning with my wife, I headed to my stating point and started hoofing it. A mile later I was where I wanted to be. Just for the record, this shows that I never left state property even though the far right corner looks like I did, I didn't. BTW, I was not able to find the corners and the blue line is the exact line of the property.

Some if not many of the vehicles are actually on state land but I stayed away just to be certain.

There is a human made pond behind and on the edge of the property that is fully on state land.

There is a long canal that starts at the Price Branch and extends to the Clark Branch. On the walk in down the road I took this photo of the canal. It is very old and had filled in somewhat but at one time it much have been substantial.

This shows the canal. The red rectangle just above the blue line is where the dirt was dumped after digging the pond. It is pretty high. Just to the right of the red rectangle and along the blue line the canal has been filled in. But it resumes right at the NJ341WA and heads south.

I was getting tired at one point behind the junk yard and found a seat to rest a little.

And in the end I walked quite a bit. I should sleep well tonight.

 

[manumuskin]

I woulda used the seat as well.I don't mind sitting on the ground but before I do I need to eyeball it to see if there is a sapling or something to help me get up again.The joys of old age:-(

 

[RednekF350]

The family got jammed up a few times for encroachments. When the father was alive, they slowly started storing all types of vehicles just west of their home. It was State property but was always quietly maintained as a side yard area to the home. The storage of junk finally caught the eye of the State.

To the east, on what was formerly a farmed area behind and to the east of the old homestead house, which is now gone, they started storing vehicles in the late 90's. The farmed field was almost completely covered in cars until they got reeled in and had to pull the vehicles out of there. The cleanup of both areas took place around 2017.

The family is very nice. My sons went to school with the youngest Myers who was the grandson of the original owner. I met the original owner by chance back in the early 90's when I shot a deer from my climber with a muzzleloader a few yards behind the rear property line. He came driving out across the field in an old car after he heard the boom and started walking the rear line until he spotted me in a tree. At first he seemed mad and said I was trespassing but I told him nicely that I was a surveyor and I knew the boundaries and that I came up from Chew through the woods along the easterly line and cut across the back. I made sure I shot the deer before he made it into the field too. He asked where I was from and I said right around the corner! His face lit right up and he smiled and said, you're welcome anytime. He said he just didn't like the out-of-towners hunting around his property and shooting "his deer". We had lot of mutual friends and everything ended well. He told me to drag my deer across the field and not to bother going back through the woods again.

The photos below show the progression and regression of the vehicle storage.

 

[Teegate]

There are a few old stands out there right now. However, they are not in use.

 

[Teegate]

Went out early yesterday and on the way we saw vehicles in and along roads all over the route. Even saw one entering the woods with his gun strapped to his back in full camo. So when we got to our place to enter we did not see anyone or even footprints in the snow so we entered. About a half mile in Jessica stopped dead and we saw an orange shirt ahead. She was prepairing to turn around but I continued on a little and realized it was this. I kept asking if anyone was there and got no response.

 

[bobpbx]

Great post on the junkyard Guy. I used to frequent the one near Friendship (?) just because i loved seeing the old vehicles. They spark memories. When I returned with my stepfather from Germany in 1964, we had to spend a summer in a little hovel next to a junkyard and garage which backed right up to route 1 in Edison. I used to crawl in the cars looking for pennies. I've alway since thought that these old junkyard owners should open them up to tourists at $5 to $10 a pop. I'd visit them, especially the one you were next to. The photos are great!

 

[Teegate]

They have all kinds of things there, even old food tray carts made of metal.

More.

 

[Teegate]

I could have went close but I was not really there to see the cars but took the photos anyway. You actually can get to many of them legally since many are on state land. But stay away and don't go near there if anyone goes. You have to know where to go.

Above the blue line is state land. That line is exact.

 

[bobpbx]

In my opion, there are two main dangers to wandering around junkyards. One is rusty, sharp metal. The other is hornet nests.

 

[manumuskin]

In my opion, there are two main dangers to wanding around junkyards. One is rusty, sharp metal. The other is hornet nests.

Yes I"ve learned never to get into a junker in summer.This is the time of year to check out junkers

 

[Boyd]

In another thread, Scott mentioned an issue that I never would have thought of. Sometimes, they tow away a vehicle after an accident that involved serious injury or death. Those might contain "biological materials"...

 

[RednekF350]

In another thread, Scott mentioned an issue that I never would have thought of. Sometimes, they tow away a vehicle after an accident that involved serious injury or death. Those might contain "biological materials"...

That was related to the Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA) application to the Waterford Township Planning Board., and their failed attempt to establish a yard at the Site of the former Atco Dragway. I sat through 8 solid months of hearings on that one. Biohazards were indeed a labeling they put on vehicles that might have still had parts of their deceased drivers in them.
Here is an explanation from another salvage company:

Should You Be Concerned About a Biohazard Vehicle at an Auction?

When it comes to purchasing used cars, one rarely thinks about a possible biohazard. However, it is important to know what a biohazard car means at auctions. Read on to find out more.

auction.ridesafely.com

 

[RednekF350]

Went out early yesterday and on the way we saw vehicles in and along roads all over the route. Even saw one entering the woods with his gun strapped to his back in full camo. So when we got to our place to enter we did not see anyone or even footprints in the snow so we entered. About a half mile in Jessica stopped dead and we saw an orange shirt ahead. She was prepairing to turn around but I continued on a little and realized it was this. I kept asking if anyone was there and got no response.

View attachment 24099

Depending on what deer zone you were in you will have hunters and clubs driving deer into February. Rosedale has been hitting 19 and 25 in January. Most deer seasons wrap up on January 31.
The blaze orange on the ground blind is actually a requirement. You are supposed to display 200 sq. in. of orange on top of the blind or within 5 feet of the blind. Looks like he or she used their shirt. Some blinds come with a small patch attached that can be displayed or not displayed. I have a turkey decoy gag that came with a patch.
Hunter orange regs attached.

 

[Teegate]

Depending on what deer zone you were in you will have hunters and clubs driving deer into February. Rosedale has been hitting 19 and 25 in January. Most deer seasons wrap up on January 31.
The blaze orange on the ground blind is actually a requirement. You are supposed to display 200 sq. in. of orange on top of the blind or within 5 feet of the blind. Looks like he or she used their shirt. Some blinds come with a small patch attached that can be displayed or not displayed. I have a turkey decoy gag that came with a patch.
Hunter orange regs attached.

Thank you Scott. I did not know that. If not for the orange we would have come up on it and would have been in the line of sight.
I have never come upon a tent that had orange on it and we have found plenty of tents.

 

[manumuskin]

Depending on what deer zone you were in you will have hunters and clubs driving deer into February. Rosedale has been hitting 19 and 25 in January. Most deer seasons wrap up on January 31.
The blaze orange on the ground blind is actually a requirement. You are supposed to display 200 sq. in. of orange on top of the blind or within 5 feet of the blind. Looks like he or she used their shirt. Some blinds come with a small patch attached that can be displayed or not displayed. I have a turkey decoy gag that came with a patch.
Hunter orange regs attached.

Kinda defeats the purpose of the camo doesn't it? Same with folks walking around in blaze orange and camo.I am a big believer in folks just knowing what they are shooting at before the even point the gun let alone pull the trigger.

 

[66C10]

Kinda defeats the purpose of the camo doesn't it? Same with folks walking around in blaze orange and camo.I am a big believer in folks just knowing what they are shooting at before the even point the gun let alone pull the trigger.

Orange is not as bright to deer as it is to humans but turkey's have excellent eye sight hence why orange is required for deer hunting for safety but not required for turkey hunting.

 

[RednekF350]

Thank you Scott. I did not know that. If not for the orange we would have come up on it and would have been in the line of sight.
I have never come upon a tent that had orange on it and we have found plenty of tents.

Not many follow the rule. PA requires it too.

 

[manumuskin]

Orange is not as bright to deer as it is to humans but turkey's have excellent eye sight hence why orange is required for deer hunting for safety but not required for turkey hunting.

Yes I know orange doesn't scare the deer I just think it's asinine to dress in camo and hide in a camo tent and then put orange on it. I don't have camo clothes so I can wander around the woods looking like a neon sign hence why I don't wear orange and have gotten into multiple arguments with hunters for not doing so but then again I"m not hunting.If folks paid attention to what they are drawing a bead on there would be no need for orange.What happened to the good old days of dropping a deer hide over your shoulders and crawling up on your game? Big reason I don't hunt anymore.Got tired of being told how to do it,where I could do it and when i could do it. Over regulated state.Can't even use stone arrowheads or an Atlatl.They won't even let me use dynamite as fishing tackle! You believe that crap?!
Ok the dynamite was a joke but I"m serious about the rest of it.

 

[GermanG]

Yes I know orange doesn't scare the deer I just think it's asinine to dress in camo and hide in a camo tent and then put orange on it. I don't have camo clothes so I can wander around the woods looking like a neon sign hence why I don't wear orange and have gotten into multiple arguments with hunters for not doing so but then again I"m not hunting.If folks paid attention to what they are drawing a bead on there would be no need for orange.What happened to the good old days of dropping a deer hide over your shoulders and crawling up on your game? Big reason I don't hunt anymore.Got tired of being told how to do it,where I could do it and when i could do it. Over regulated state.Can't even use stone arrowheads or an Atlatl.They won't even let me use dynamite as fishing tackle! You believe that crap?!
Ok the dynamite was a joke but I"m serious about the rest of it.

It's not just about knowing what the hunter is drawing a bead on Al. It's about what is beyond his target, sometimes way beyond. Getting ready to pull a trigger or release an arrow on a game animal triggers a level of predatory excitement that is buried deep inside us. At that moment you are focused on your prey, and even though you are 100% sure what it is, it is easy to not notice the stray hiker far beyond, out of focus, but in line of fire, who is wearing drab colored clothing. That hint of orange in the background jumps out at you however, and can very easily save a life. Hunters arguing with you about it do not have the law on their side. Just common sense.

 

[manumuskin]

It's not just about knowing what the hunter is drawing a bead on Al. It's about what is beyond his target, sometimes way beyond. Getting ready to pull a trigger or release an arrow on a game animal triggers a level of predatory excitement that is buried deep inside us. Sadly, in some it's deeper, from generations of eating meat from styrofoam trays covered on plastic, and they will never know that excitement that's part of our instinct. At that moment you are focused on your prey, and even though you are 100% sure what it is, it is easy to not notice the stray hiker far beyond, out of focus, but in line of fire, who is wearing drab colored clothing. That hint of orange jumps out at you however, and can very easily save a life. Hunters arguing with you about it do not have the law on their side. Just common sense.

Point taken German but I"m still not wearing orange. I guess thats why your not allowed to hunt with rifles here either unless it's a muzzleloader.
had a squirrel hunter give me hell once because i stood in a trail and let him walk up to within fifty ft of me before he looked down and seen me.he was looking in the trees.Said he coulda shot me because I wasn't wearing orange. I told him when is the last time you seen a squirrel almost six ft tall at 180 lbs wearing camo clothes standing in the middle of a trail wearing glasses. He gave me the dirties look and walked right past me.