Deer Hunting
Kentucky Fall Rules are Out
The Fall 2021 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide just got posted to the KYDFWR website. Click on the image to get the whole thing I have not found any big changes this year pertinent to Zone1 or the Northeast Region. Be sure to read the rules cover-to-cover every year. You never know what you might miss. This post has already been read 1020 times!Views: 2 Related posts: Kentucky Fall Rules Are Out What Happened to the Turkeys? Deer Season Post-Mortem, 2024 Deer Season Post-Mortem, 2022 2025 Fall Rules are Out Turkey 2020 Post Mortem From the KDFWR: Outstanding outlook for … More . . .
Hunting the Full Moon
We just witnessed the full moon in October. Folks call it the Hunter’s Moon. Folks also kind of get mixed up as to why. I want to discuss the moon’s influences on deer hunting and maybe shed some light on why we associate the moon so closely with hunting. Let me begin by stating that I never have nor will advocate staying on the couch due to the phase of the moon. Every time this topic gets brought up, somebody pipes up with “There’s no way you’re going to keep me out of the woods no matter what the Moon’s … More . . .
Should I Buy a 6.5 Creedmore Deer Rifle?
I’ve gotten several questions over the past year or so about the 6.5 Creedmore. I guess it is time to lay down a definitive answer. Should I buy a Creed for deer hunting? The answer to this is maybe. I’ll try and explain. What is the 6.5 Creedmore? It is a reworking of the 6.5X55 Swede. It is ballistically identical. You can read nearly everything about a 6.5X55 Swede and apply it to the 6.5 Creedmore. It has been around since the late 19th Century, most notably in the model 96 Mauser. The Swedes have been dropping Moose with it … More . . .
More on Lever Guns ( and Deer Rifles in General)
This all goes back to my post from about a week ago, and a comment I received: Why not a Lever Gun? — 1 Comment Anonymous on October 8, 2021 at 00:42 said:E Why not?Because a shot past 150 yards in my 35plus years has only happened less than the digits on but one hand. I’ve hunted the open spaces with other rifles but the deer have been killed in the woods and thickets. I was hunting in a thicket where I could see only about 35-40yds In so many ways, I could not agree more. You’re right, and I … More . . .
New Stock for the TC Compass
As much as I liked the TC Compass I bought last fall, there were a few niggling problems. First of those was the aesthetics. I’m a sucker for wood. The factory stock was about as nice as I’ve seen in a plastic stock, but Tupperware is just not my thing. Secondly, I was not getting a good cheek weld on the stock. The comb was just a hair low. The simple fix was to put a cheap nylon cheek pad on the butt, but that only exacerbated my aesthetic qualms. I have had good luck with Boyd’s stocks in the … More . . .
Why not a Lever Gun?
From a recent email (address witheld) Shaman, I hunt in almost identical circumstances as yours– pastures, cedar thickets and oak groves. Am I to understand that you don’t recommend lever actions for deer hunting at all anymore? I would think that a nice 30-30 would be ideal. Dave in Warsaw Dave, I don’t think I’ve ever said: “Don’t buy a lever gun” or “30-30 sucks” or anything close. Let me say at the outset that I own several lever actions. My favorite Opening Day GOTO rifle is a Savage 99 in 308 WIN. I also own a Marlin 336 in … More . . .
Refreshing the Lick
I really don’t have an explanation for this. On 8 May, as Turkey Season was coming to a close, I took a 50 lb sack of mixing salt and went out to the Campground Lick and refreshed it. This is a lick that I have had in the same spot since 2003. Every year I dig a trench and pour in a bag of salt and then cover it up. Every year, the deer start pounding it within hours of my departure. There is always enough residual salt in the lick that the timing of my refresh is really unimportant. … More . . .
Indiana DNR Rule Changes
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has changed the rules a wee bit. Turkey hunters can now use .410 shotguns, and can use smaller shot. Deer hunters can now use breechloading muzzleloaders (there’s an oxymoron) like the Traditions Nitro system. See: Administrative Rule (Regulation) Changes Full text here: The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) gave preliminary adoption to the changes listed below governing muzzleloaders for deer hunting, beaver trapping, and wild turkey hunting equipment at their meeting on Nov. 17, 2020. The public comment period has ended, and the NRC will vote on the proposed changes at their meeting … More . . .
On Hunting Pressure and Going Nocturnal
I used to buy the whole “They go nocturnal” thing. However, the more I have learned about deer, the less I buy it. Deer are not even close to us in how their bodies are set up. The have this fermentation process going on. They have to get up and eat, move around, and then lay back down and chew cud in a never ending cycle. If they deviate too far from that schedule they die. Even small perturbations cause them distress the same way we get gas pains from eating bad Taco Bell. I’ve seen two theories on deer … More . . .
On the Topic of 7mm-08
I have exactly one day in the field with my new 7mm-08 Thompson Center Compass. I have one doe down. That does not qualify as a lot of experience. However, I’m sold on it.  7mm-08 has its problems, but none of it has to do with the cartridge or its performance. I was grousing the other day to my compatriots at 24hourcampfire about 7mm-08. Folks get all dewy-eyed talking about its twin, the 7X57. Very little love gets sent towards its successor. Let me tell you how I see it, and also give you some thoughts on the Thompson … More . . .
Deer Season Post-Mortem, 2020
We ran a broom up the mast and headed to port, closing off the 2020 deer season. New camp records: 8 deer went to the pole 4 bucks– 3 went 8 points Most deer from one blind: 5 from Midway — so much for the idea of hunting pressure! Largest button buck: 92 lbs live weight We also had some camp-record-tickling events like: Most 200 yard+ shots Fastest deer to the meatpole: under an hour. The Season Capsulized: The Opener was a mediocre affair at best. Shooting was down. The processors were all talking about it being a bum … More . . .
Angus Nails Another Doe , 2020
Angus managed another doe from Midway this afternoon. At 1615 ET, a herd of doe came out to feed in the Garden of Stone. Angus was poised at Midway with his Winchester 670 and closed the deal. This is the seventh deer taken at camp this year, and the fifth taken at Midway– both camp records. The doe was a big one, measuring a hair over 172 lbs live weight. In a move worthy of The Fisheye Guy, Angus managed to video the shot: This post has already been read 2493 times!Views: 6 Related posts: Report from Deer Camp … More . . .
Last Weekend: SuperCore bags a doe
I was sitting at my desk with my last of my morning coffee when I heard 2 shots coming from the direction of Jagendehutte. I radioed out to SuperCore. asking if he needed assistance. No. He had this one in hand. A little later, he was up at the meatpole, dragging a nice doe behind the ATV. O812 ET. Temp 35F. Pretty much the same-old/same-old for this grizzled veteran. This post has already been read 1202 times!Views: 6 Related posts: Should I Reload? PT I So you want a new deer rifle for Indiana How many shots do I need … More . . .
Angus Bags a Doe
The Second Sunday of KY Rifle Season dawned foggy and warm. Rain was expected before Noon. Both SuperCore and Angus went out; I stayed behind to pack. At 0752 ET, a herd of five doe wandered out into the Garden of Stone to feed. Angus sat inside Midway and watched as they worked their way down into the swale in the middle of the field. He had already picked out the #2 doe. Eventually, enough of her back showed above the grass that he had a shot. At 150 yards, Angus touched off a round of 30-06 and the doe … More . . .
Moose’s Buck
It would seem Midway has become the lucky blind this year. #2 son, Moose came back out after several days away from camp. I gave him the key to Midway. We had all thought the action would be out in the Garden of Stone. However, at 0703 Moose saw a rather large buck slipping between Honey Hole and Lazy Boy at the northernmost extremity of the north pasture. The buck was moving smartly, but Moose bleated at him and the buck stopped dead. Moose’s shot with his WIN 770 in 30-06 aired him out good. The buck left the field … More . . .
Remnar Gets his Buck
The Buckless Youper, Remnar, got his first deer this morning. I was back at the cabin putting the finishing touches on yesterday’s story when I heard a shot coming from the back of the property. At 0715 ET Remnar radioed in he had a doe down and needed assistance at Midway. I rolled out with the truck and found he’d managed to shoot the largest button buck I’d ever seen come off the property– 92 lbs live weight. The button was 200 yards out when he lit it up with my borrowed Kar 98, the Mauser from Hell. That is … More . . .
The Shaman Nails a Doe
The deer have been rather tentative in their movements the past couple of days, probably due to a great deal of wind. We have been seeing a few, but nothing that would afford us a shot. Yesterday, the wind moderated a bit and I gave Remnar the use of the blind at Midway and I went out to the tower at Hollywood for an afternoon sit. SuperCore, as usual, was at Jagendehutte. We all went out in the 3 O’Clock hour. SuperCore later reported to me that he had a do come streaking out from behind Broken Corners and run … More . . .
The Shaman Gets His Buck
This morning SuperCore went to Jagendehutte, Remnar went to Lazy Boy and I went back out for a sit at Midway. I did not have long to wait. At 0710, 20 minutes into legal hunting, a nice doe came out of Left Leg Creek and wandered out into the pasture about 100 yards from the blind. I watched her cross the field into the treeline at the Campground. Shortly thereafter, a 8-point buck came out to the edge of the Garden of Stone. I grabbed the Mauser from Hell and got a bead on him. He was just stepping out … More . . .
SuperCore Scores on Opener
SuperCore continued his record of Opening Day successes with a fat 8-pointer taken as he came out from behind Broken Corners and heading into Dead Skunk Hollow. SuperCore made a brilliant neck shot and brought the bruiser down about 120 yards from his vantage at Jagendehutte. I was out at Campground and noted his shot as the 14th of the morning, occurring at 0710 ET, about 20 minutes into season. My action was far less substantial but rather humbling. about 0900 I saw one of the local hatracks come through, chasing a doe in earnest. I had heard several from … More . . .
Remnar’s Treestand Erection
As if the previous night and morning weren’t enough, the real business of getting ready for deer season had yet to begun. #3 son, Angus, showed up at lunchtime on Saturday and we went down the do-list in fairly rapid succession. Patch the roof on Jagendehutte Prep a stand site for Remnar Fix some gutter issues on the house Scout out a new stand site on Right Leg Creek Rescue Fort Apache from the weeds Angus got a chance after all that to go squirrel hunting in Hundred Acre Wood and managed to bag a big grey. We watched for … More . . .
You Just Had to Be There
I’m writing this down so that I don’t lose the details. I wish I’d had the camera out this morning, but most of this stuff could have only been caught with a lot of planning and a solid tripod. It’s one of those things that . . .well, you just had to be there. Sadly the rest of deer camp were not in attendance. It all started last night, Friday night. I got down to the farm fairly early and set up shop expecting an uneventful happy hour at the Thoughtful spot. This was not to be. It all started … More . . .
Early Muzzleloader 2020
Early Muzzleloader Season has been a dry run for us– a dress rehearsal for the big show in November. This year was no exception. SuperCore, Angus, Moose, Mooselette and I went out Saturday morning with the express hope of not shooting anything, except perhaps a new camp record. Sunday, we had to keep an eye on the weather. Rain was due in by the late morning. As it was, everyone was out and starting to pack to leave camp when the drizzle started. It would seem hunters in most of the surrounding counties were under the same rules of engagement. … More . . .
Remnar Joins Shamanic Dream Team
Albert Soady: “And Remnar? Well, he turned out pretty much the way you’d expect for somebody goes by the name of Remnar.” Well, the new guy arrived at camp Saturday night, and we all retired to the Thoughtful Spot for a conclave. Amid the gathering gloom, an approaching hurricane remnant, and bottles of Loch Lomand and Suntory, we got down to the Special High-Intensity Training necessary to turn our friend into a full-fledged member of the Shamanic Dream Team. As I suspected, weekends will be somewhat problematic from his end. The first major thing decided was his callsign. I think … More . . .
Of Thutty Thutties and Shower Curtains
So with the deal in the bag with the 7mm-08, I headed down to the farm to get PLAN B going, namely the 30-30’s. I’ve got two. One is the Marlin 336 that I’ve had since 2002. Even though I stopped hunting with it, I’ve kept shooting it and developing loads for it. What can I say? It is still a fun gun. The other is a Savage 340 that I picked up a few years ago with the idea of giving it to the Mooselette when she is old enough to hunt deer. I set off Saturday AM for … More . . .
Good News, Bad News
The Bad News 2 weeks ago I took the Ruger Model 44 out to do a final sight-in with the ammo I was going use for hunting. The first round went off and was perfectly placed on the target, but I just could not find the brass. I finally checked the rifle itself– the bolt was locked up tight. Ooops. Time for a trip to the gunsmith. I got the bad news a few nights ago. Mister Fleming at Heritage called me to tell me that the prognosis was not good. That’s just pot metal, and it shattered. Bill Ruger … More . . .
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