A quick afternoon hike

outdoorsfan

outdoorsfan

Joined
Sep 30, 2009
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Took a quick hike this afternoon in an area about 5 minutes from home. I love how you can be only a mile or two from all the hustle and bustle but be completely alone and enjoy nature.

The trail

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The trail leads to an area where the Forest Preserve District is working to provide additional habitat

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I just love fall

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Took along this CS Canadian Belt Knife to try out. There was a post on the WS subforum asking for impressions on this knife and I have one so I gave it a whirl. I had used it as a utility blade while fishing and for food prep and liked it. After making these shavings and batoning a little bit, I would say that as a bushcraft blade it is horrible. I have never had a knife hurt my hand as much as this while working with wood. It was painful at best.

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I found this shelter in a small grove

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As I was getting ready to head back, I explored a bit more and ran into this young lady

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This area is literally about a 1 minute drive from I55 and is bordered by two other busy roads but may as well have been the middle of nowhere.
 
Hi outdoorsfan -

Sweet!

The deer are all over down here in the cornfields.

I need to get out in the woods more!

I wonder what the deal is with the shelter? Neat to find though.

On the Canadian, I noticed on those that the blade is canted upward, where I find that if the blade is canted downward from the handle, ala' the Izula, or even jds1's RWC, the knife is much more comfortable to use. I also think the downward cant gives you more control and leverage at the cutting edge.

I have never used one of the Canadian Belt Knives, but your experience aligns with what I was thinking about the design without ever having held one.

Thanks for the pics and review!

best regards -

mqqn
 
I like the pic of the deer. Makes me even more ready for gun season to come in.
 
mqqn said:
Hi outdoorsfan -

Sweet!

The deer are all over down here in the cornfields.

I need to get out in the woods more!

I wonder what the deal is with the shelter? Neat to find though.

On the Canadian, I noticed on those that the blade is canted upward, where I find that if the blade is canted downward from the handle, ala' the Izula, or even jds1's RWC, the knife is much more comfortable to use. I also think the downward cant gives you more control and leverage at the cutting edge.

I have never used one of the Canadian Belt Knives, but your experience aligns with what I was thinking about the design without ever having held one.

Thanks for the pics and review!

best regards -

mqqn
Click to expand...

The handle is so small near the blade that it creates a pivot and drives the opposite end of the handle into your hand. The pointy pommel end rests right under the knuckle of my pinky finger and after about 30 seconds I was ready to put gloves on. It works pretty well for slicing but not for any cutting that requires pressure.
 
TheGame said:
I like the pic of the deer. Makes me even more ready for gun season to come in.
Click to expand...

It would have been a perfect setup for a handgun shot. Full broadside at about 35 yards. Ruger 1, deer 0. I wish I had a spot to go this year but my hunting buddy has been really sick and it doesn't look like I will get to go out.
 
outdoorsfan said:
It would have been a perfect setup for a handgun shot. Full broadside at about 35 yards. Ruger 1, deer 0. I wish I had a spot to go this year but my hunting buddy has been really sick and it doesn't look like I will get to go out.
Click to expand...

That sucks. The week after Thanksgiving is our first shotgun season. Then the weekend before Xmas.

I never went with a handgun before though. Maybe someday..
 
We have an area similar to this, but it is a "short" 45 minute drive. The state classifies it as a wildlife area, probably about 300-400 acres, lots of trails, designated hunting & shooting areas, horseback trails, meadows and thick timber areas, and a gazillon ponds from something 50'x50' to over 5 to 6 acres. There is one around 6 to 7 acres that looks like something from the Georgia swamps. The wildlife is so varied, you never know what you will see. I grab my rods & my wife grabs her camera, sometimes we take the boat, most of the time we just walk the different trails.
Excellent shots for a great time of the year, thanks.
Be safe.
 
outdoorsfan, great camera work there Buddy! That looks like a nice area! I have one of those knives but, have never had an occasion to use it! I'm always carrying my big knives, or a folder! Thanks for the review on it, maybe it would work out better in the kitchen! Mine has basically stayed with my collection knives.

Later!
 
Had a little free time yesterday afternoon and I decided to go back out here. I took a folding stool and set up on the edge of the field where the shot of the doe was taken. I got settled in and was enjoying a Sam Adams Winter Lager when I heard something just behind me. I knew it wasn't a squirrel as this was that slow, measured footfall of a deer. I slowly turned my head and there he was, an 8 point buck directly behind me. He didn't bust, just stood and looked at me for about 30 seconds and then continued to browse along. He circled through the woods and came out opposite me about 20 minutes later, feeding in the field about 50 yards to my left. When I got up to leave, I walked towards the spot where he stood behind me, it was 7 paces. Totally cool time and I even made two primitive hooks for my fishing demo while I sat there. I had my camera but as soon as I hit the power, the battery died. I may take my portable blind and the wife's Nikon and get some good pics. This is the second time I've seen him in this area.
 
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