Red Stick Day is March 4

Well, I have a chance to go to the fly- fishing conclave this year. Since I work alternate Saturdays there is a 50: 50 chance that I would work that day, and that is what usually happens. This year I'm off and will try to attend. There are always good speakers and fly- tyers, lunch is served, the raffles are generous. There's new equipment to see and test: boats and flies and rods and reels. We can fish in the ponds. Everyone there is interested in fly fishing, and a good time is had by all. You can find details at Red Stick Day. It's free and open to the public; consider coming along with us.

Hunter's Pack

• Long ago, I gave up cargo pants, in favor of a day pack that can carry all I need (and then some) without rattling and banging my legs with each step. It's a place to stuff the clothes I peel off as the day warms, there are "comfort" items, and I always have stuff on hand to deal with emergencies (like falling out of trees). I tend to accumulate stuff in my pack, like I do in my desk, truck, or workbench, but I keep looking for lightweight alternatives and items to weed out. Here are my pack's contents at the end of deer season.
• The pack is a German military- issue rucksack, quite worn and with several former owners' names marked on it. I have a spare, un- issued pack just like it, but haven't felt compelled to switch to the new one yet. I always preferred a rucksack over the zip- panel pack styles. A drawstring is used to contain and compress pack contents in the rucksack. Zip panels make a neater package, but you and your gear get pinched and rasped by zippers when it's cold outside. Zippers catch on grit, gear, or frayed threads. Drawstrings, snaps and buckles are much easier to maintain and repair.
• The full- length sleep pad, also German issue, is matched to the pack. The folded pad fits a pocket to protect your back from pack contents. It stretches out for a pic- nic or nap and folds for a cushioned seat. Closed- cell, with a slick surface, it sheds water and dirt well.
  Gear can be attached outside the pack at a number of points. A pocket is mounted on the shoulder- strap for easy access. The black pouch contains small binoculars. There is a bungee- cord arrangement for carrying my tree seat.
• Camouflage headnet-- you see many more critters, much closer if your face isn't shining at them.
• Boonie hat-- has a brim to keep the sun off of neck and ears, and rain out of your collar better than a billed cap.
• Reversible vest-- it's insulated with synthetic fiber which I prefer for our damp climate; wet down doesn't insulate well and dries slowly. I like vests for their arm mobility, especially for bow- hunting. I prefer to wear the camouflage side out because small critters seem to see the orange and raise a fuss. It is convenient having the orange available in the same garment, for quick changes between orange and camo. Orange is required during gun seasons and is helpful for any situation where high visibility is needed.
• Map-- I print these off the computer on plain paper, fold them, and store 'em in a zip bag with compass and pencil stub. Digital technology makes it easy to change size and location for printouts. Save it on your computer (or blog) and print another when you need it. I scribble a date of use, write my field notes, and mark locations diretly on the map. I'll start with a fresh map next time.
• Rope-- that one is quarter- inch braided nylon, about 25 feet long. Its intended uses are hanging up a deer, dragging him out, or lashing him to a vehicle. Its real applications are in building temporary blinds, supporting rain flies or sun awnings, stabilizing ladders, lifting gear into treestands.
• Pringles can-- drop in a stack- pack of crackers and they will last until lunchtime, rather than becoming a bag of cracker crumbs.
• Flashlight-- this runs on two AA batteries and provides enough light for traveling familiar trails at night. I re- charge the batteries near as I can to departure and reverse one of the cells to avoid accidental switch- on. I like the same AA batteries for everything, lights and electronics, so I will need a minimum of spares.
• GPS unit-- this one is not very fancy but it keeps tracks and waypoints, and will tell your coordinates and the direction home.
• Flashlight-- carrying a spare instead of extra batteries adds very little weight and it is quickly put into service.
• Toilet paper=-- aside from the more obvious applications, this is fire- starting tinder and individual sheets serve as biodegradable trail markers.
• Tree seat (no climbing)-- I've been pleased this year,with this new addition. It has kept me off the wet ground, at a comfortable height, and setup against a tree to break the human outline, It has had me very close to three deer.
• Water bottle-- these 24 ounce sizes are recycled. They are lightweight and fit the pack pockets, but I really would prefer a full liter size to match the water treatment tablets.Camoflauge mosquito net-- this is lightweight and hangs easily with clothespins to improvise a blind.
• Poncho-- turns the rain, but has lots of ventilation. Also can be erected as a sun- or rain- shelter.Water bag-- weight and space are negligible, and it's handy to carry a couple of gallons of water back to camp.
• Lunch-- zip bag with a paper towel, plastic spoon, coffee bag, matches, and a MRE entree. Trash packs out in the bag.
• Stove-- my own design uses a No. 2 can as a windscreen with a cross of coathanger wire to support a cup and vent holes drilled near the bottom.
• Cup-- wire- rimmed like a Sierra cup, mine is straight- sided, taller, and holds 12 ounces. Improvised lid from a can end has a wooden knob added. A 3- ounce tuna can serves as burner. Denatured alcohol fuel is in a 16- ounce drink bottle labeled with duct tape.
• Trowel-- I rarely have this in my pack; uses for digging plant specimens or cat holes.
• Chain saw-- I'm impressed with this new addition; a pair of handles, and the chain rolls into a a small can. This thing actually cuts, but I'm mostly using it to ring poor- quality trees, thinning and improving our timber stand.
• Sheath knife-- this one is lighter weight than my usual hunting knife, has a rubber grip and plastic sheath. Think its called a Mora, from Sweden.
• Cell phone-- I got one of these after busting my butt (and ribs). It still doesn't work in the hills, but I keep checking for improved signal.
• Clippers-- I use these to trim branches and vines around my stand and on the trails.
• Deer calls and scent-- these things interest me, but I don't use them much. Might embarass myself. Brings to mind the Austrian saleslady; instead of telling her I wanted to look around, I said I wanted to stand around and watch.
• Yellow pouch-- This keeps all the small necessities from falling to the bottom of the pack, and I can pull it out to pick out what I need. It carries first- aid, food, glasses, batteries, other miscellany.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Well, I haven't heard what it's like in Pennsylvania for Phil, but Louisiana is in short sleeves and there's lots of sunshine. I fear that the nutria saw his shadow and crawled back under the cypress stump, for six more weeks of winter.