Deer Hunting
Getting Ready for Yute Season, 2022
I was able to get down to camp fairly early on Friday. By the time Moose and #1 granddaughter, Mooselette arrived, I had already managed to get two more deer rifles sighted in. Both the 8X57 Mauser and the 7mm-08 are ready for Rifle Season. Blacksmith and I went to Berlin for pizza and were sitting at the Thoughtful Spot when Team Moose arrived. Saturday was a big day for us at deer camp. Mooselette’s first deer is next weekend and we had lots to do. We woke up to the remnants of Hurricane Ian on the horizon. The dark … More . . .
When Do You Get In Your Stand?
From Quora: Question for YouAugust 5 What is the best time to get in your deer stand? Greg Thomas requested your answer. What is the best time to get in your deer stand? Here is my response: It is going to depend on several factors. For starters, don’t think of it in terms of when you get in the stand, but rather when are you going to be settled in and ready to hunt. One of the big factors you have to figure in how much sweating you’re going to do getting there. I set off about an hour before … More . . .
Deer Blind Reading Suggestions
But Shaman, if the deer are blind, how can they read? I have a Kindle Reader App installed on my Android phone. You would be surprised at the number of free and 99-cent books that Amazon sells. For the past 40 seasons, I’ve kept a book handy during long sits in the blind. The only trick I can tell you is learning not to get too engrossed in the content. I read a page or so and then take a scan of everything around. What I have learned is that reading keeps me still, and I can remain attentive to … More . . .
Deer Season Predictions, 2022
It just turned over 13 weeks to the Rifle Opener. I do not usually make predictions on how the upcoming Rifle Season is going to go. I do have my suspicions, and when compared with reality, they’re usually wrong. I cannot help it. Every year, I start looking for the Rut Prediction and consult the lunar tables. It never amounts to anything. I am always up in the stand on The Opener, and I try to hunt as many days as I can. This year is a bit of a head-scratcher from a bunch of perspectives. Let me explain. PERSPECTIVE … More . . .
Campground: A Treestand Profile
When the surgeon told me last summer that I had cancer, the first thing I asked him was whether or not I could be in my stand for the November Rifle Opener. He said I undoubtedly could. He was true to his word. Last season, I shot a respectable buck from my treestand at a site we call Campground. It is the 8th deer we have taken from that stand in 21 seasons. It is by no means the best venue we have, but it is the place I want to be on the Rifle Opener. It has accounted for … More . . .
A New Stormy Kromer
I turned 64 over the weekend. The whole tribe dropped over to wish me well. My favorite present had to be the new Stormy Kromer that Angus gave me. It’s Hunter Orange. This is my second Stormy Kromer. It all started a couple of years ago when I was getting Remnar set up for his first hunt. I told him he needed to pay attention to his headwear. He showed up at camp with a Stormy Kromer, and I thought it was an awesome hat. Angus bought me one for Christmas. I’ve been loving it. If you are up above … More . . .
What Do You Think of 308 WIN?
From an email: Oh great shaman! I’ve been offered a rifle for deer hunting that is in 308 Winchester. Is that a good choice? Should I hold out for a 6.5 Creedmore? I guess my 308 WIN experience is perverse compared to most folks. Don’t take me wrong. I don’t want it to seem like I’m throwing shade on the chambering. As with so much of my life, 308 WIN has come out with results “other than expected.” The short answer to this is that 308 Winchester is a nearly ideal choice for whitetail deer. Do not let my experience … More . . .
Mooselette Wants a Deer
I’d just made it home from the hospital a few weeks ago, and I was weak enough to feel super-glued to my recliner. Moose and Mooselette stopped over to see how I was doing. I was so happy to see my most honorable #1 Granddaughter. With Chemo Camp I’d been missing her since May. We got to talking about plans for the upcoming fall, and I repeated my vow that I wanted to be in my stand for the Rifle Opener. I asked her what her plans were; did she want to take a deer this year? She answered in … More . . .
What’s a Good Scope?
Every year I get asked what’s a good deer rifle. I’ve been writing deer rifle recommendations for close on to two decades. Rather than beat that horse again, I want to discuss the scope. Honestly, I am by no means an expert on rifle scopes. However, I’ve been dealing with them for 4 decades. Back in 2014, I decided that my eyes had aged enough that it was time to give up my fascination with cheap scopes. I had a bunch of scopes from the 70s onwards that I’d acquired under various circumstances. I doubt I’d paid more than $30 … More . . .
44 Magnum — It won’t leave me alone
Have you ever had a hard time getting a chambering out of your head? Let me tell you my story. See if this sounds familiar. Let’s start back to 30 or so years ago. Back then, I was only deer hunting with 30-06 in Kentucky and 12 Gauge slug in Ohio. I wanted to expand my horizons. Honestly, if I’d stayed pat with those two, my life would have been far different. The problem for me was where to go next. Somewhere in all this, I got to thinking about a lever action in either 30-30 or 44 Magnum or … More . . .
Brown Bess– First Chance to Play with My Balls
Today is looking like the first really good day in a while. The snow is almost completely gone. It’s heading towards the low 60s today. I had reasons not to go to the farm, but I did have time to get my two new molds out and cast balls for the Brown Bess Musket. The first mold is a .735 brass mold I got from Dixie Gun Works. This produces a tight fit with the thinnest patching, and I’m figuring that this will produce the most accurate loads. The other just arrived in the mail this morning: a Lee Precision … More . . .
Brown Bess Cometh
The tale starts way back. I had shot a Brown Bess once; it was decades ago. At some point in the deep past I read an account of a fellow in the modern-day using one as a general-purpose hunting weapon. It was one of those back-burner deals. I figured that it might be a decent project for after my retirement. I managed to read up on the idea at times and keep track of who was making them. Several things happened. Cancer right after your 63rd birthday will make a guy think. I was overdue for a firearm. Normally I … More . . .
European Mount in the Works
For the last few seasons, we all have been processing our mounts in the absolute easiest way possible. We have been chucking them in the pond with a piece of paracord tied to the antlers. We pull them out in about June and let the skulls bake in the Sun until August. The result is a perfect skull. The only problem is that the skull and antlers both get a dark brown stain. I am not saying that is necessarily bad, but it does not have that classic look. Moose invented this method a couple of years ago after he … More . . .
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