Back in 2019, I wrote a missive on 24hourcampfire.com on hunting deer where the bar for accuracy was rather low. The Planet Where They Shoot 4 MOA Rifles I would suggest you go over there and read it– read the whole thread if you like. It will really set the … Continue reading →
Any discussion of this past Rifle Season has to include the after-effects of my Chemo and how it played into the dynamics. It played into stand selection. It played into who hunted and when. My sons were on guard the whole time waiting for their Dad to fall over in … Continue reading →
Angus and Moose braved the 18F and went out to Midway this morning. They had just settled in when Angus noticed a doe running across the south field, behind the Garden of Stone. An 8-point buck was following close behind. Angus shot. The buck gave no indication of being hit. … Continue reading →
I really did not have great expectations when I went out to Midway this morning. I managed to fall back to sleep after SuperCore left for the blind and managed to doze for 45 minutes before jerking awake. I flew out the door– I still can’t feel my feet from … Continue reading →
Some days, just being out and making it back in is the highest achievement you can expect. After Chemo, just being out is all you can ask. We started getting rain about 10 minutes before legal hunting, and it grew to a downpour. I stayed under an umbrella and managed … Continue reading →
I’ve got a couple projects in the oven this year even though Chemo made me curtail most of my load development for 6 months. There just is not enough room in the freezer to do all the experimentation I want to do. I always keep a rifle or two handy … Continue reading →
I am not going to try and paint this rosier than it is. It is Sunday morning of KY Early Muzzleloader season. I’m wimping out and sipping coffee inside the cabin. The only one of the Shamanic Dream Team who is out is SuperCore. With the recent Chemo, at least … Continue reading →
Every year we all get out for the mid-October Kentucky Early Primitive Weapons Season and use it as a dry run for the coming Rifle season. Some might think this is a waste of a weekend. It actually has a point– in fact, several. First off, this gives everyone at … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
Most honorable #2 son, Moose, got one to the meatpole yesterday afternoon. He took her out the front window at Midway. I was shooting out of Hollywood and when I heard the shot, I came down and went over. As it happened, Remnar was just arriving at camp. We had … Continue reading →
It has been since 2014, but my Savage 99 kept its promise this morning. I’ve been carrying it up into the stand for The Rifle Opener since 2003. The Savage 99 in 308 WIN has only been shot at the biggest bucks. I always put it away after filling my … Continue reading →
I emerged this AM from the secret underground Shamanic Reloading Cave with the first of four rifles destined for our upcoming deer camp. The Rifle Opener is a week from tomorrow. I try to be ready well ahead of time. There were several projects that I wanted to work on … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
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. … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
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: … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
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, … Continue reading →
