Bob’s Model 44 — Some Final Thoughts
I cannot help but mention Big Bob’s passing one more time as well as talk about his Ruger Model 44 and the 44 Mag as a deer round. Big Bob only made it to our camp a few times. I rode him around in the truck. His legs had given out even before we got the place back in 2001. However, I always called Bob first whenever I got a deer or a turkey. He had been the major reason for my interest in hunting and shooting back in the early ’80s. Back then, I was a kid fresh … More . . .
Deer Feeding Before the Snow
On 12/15/2019 we had a clipper-type storm come through and dump a couple of inches of snow in a blink of an eye. KYHillChick and I were watching a football game at the time; we knew the snow was coming. It still surprised us when we looked up from the screen and there was suddenly a blanket of snow on everything. Down at Deer Camp, the camera over the Thoughtful Spot caught the deer coming out for a quick feed just before the storm hit. You can see them scurrying off to their beds just before the action starts. I … More . . .
KY: Record Harvest for Modern Gun Deer Season
Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lee McClellan lee.mcclellan@ky.gov 1-800-858-1549 Record Harvest for Modern Gun Deer Season Timing and weather boost tally for statewide 16-day season FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 5, 2019) – Kentucky deer hunters harvested a record 107,039 deer during the 16-day modern gun season that concluded Nov. 24. “Season timing and weather conditions before opening day made us think we should have a good season,” said Kyle Sams, acting Deer and Elk Program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “We had a poor mast … More . . .
Deer Season 2019 — The Post-Mortem
I’ve tried a couple of times to write this Deer Season Post-Mortem, and every time I get bogged down in darkness and regret. The fact is this season turned out to be something other than planned. It’s over– ’nuff said. I suppose I should be standing proud that I made it through. That was the absolute worst sore throat I’ve had since I as a kid. I went through over a week where it was darn near too painful to swallow. However, I made it to camp. I kept up my responsibilities as Patriarch. I got the job done. From … More . . .
A Cautionary Tale
(I missed posting about this earlier, because I was sick and tired and my head was a fogged up from cough syrup.) Friday morning of Opening Week, it was colder than usual. I admit my hands were cold and fumbly when I got up into the blind. However, they were thawed out after I got settled in about 10 minutes before legal hunting began before 0700. About 0800, I looked at the barrel of my rifle, a stainless Ruger Hawkeye in 30-06. Something seemed amiss. Sure enough, there was a plug of frozen mud in the end of the barrel. … More . . .
Closing Weekend — Shaman Nails a Doe
Angus and I were just pulling onto our street back home as Rifle Season officially ended on Sunday. We had a cooler full of frozen venison. The truck was packed with all the rifles and gear. It had been a crazy season for all of us, but that was that. It was time to move on. Our last weekend at camp started off with major let downs. I talked to SuperCore on Thursday and found out he was nursing a very bad cold and was going to stay home. He also said he’d taken his Wetherby Vanguard out to the … More . . .
Bob’s Model 44 and the Buck
As you all know, my buddy Bob died this past winter. He was an outdoor writer and magazine editor. Out of the estate I managed to snag a minty Ruger Model 44, and swore I’d put it to good use. Bob would have been proud. I nailed a buck with it Friday night– 80 yards, perfect shot, The only down side is that this is the first season in 40 years that I haven’t been able to call Bob to tell him. I miss the old coot. He and a bunch of his now long-dead friends got me into hunting … More . . .
Rifle Opener 2019– The Story So Far
I woke up this morning in my suburban bedroom. Two inches of snow fell overnight. In other situations, I would be kicking myself that I am not going out this morning to hunt. Here it is Tuesday Opening Week, and I’m passing up a chance to hunt Kentucky with snow on the ground! Yeah well. It was exactly a week ago, the Tuesday before the Opener that I noticed I was developing a sore throat. By the time I was able to get in and see the doctor on Friday, it had gotten to be the absolute worst sore throat … More . . .
In Case You Had Questions . . .
KDFWR has a video out on Youtube that gives answers to frequently asked questions regarding deer hunting. No big news here, but the answers are concise. Views: 2 Related posts: The Case for Cheap Bullets More On The L-E-Vator Updated KY Deer Regs are Posted Whitetail Feeding Frenzy KY Afield Show Q&A on Turkeys Momma, I want to Swing! Angus Nails Another Doe , 2020 The Countdown Begins
More . . .From the KDFWR: Outstanding outlook for the hunt
Outstanding outlook for the hunt Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lee McClellan lee.mcclellan@ky.gov 1-800-858-1549 Modern Gun Season for Deer Opens Statewide Nov. 9 Hunters can take advantage of full rut cycle over 16-day season FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2019) – One of the favorite times of the year for tens of thousands of Kentuckians begins Nov. 9 as modern gun deer season opens statewide. The 16-day season closes Nov. 24. The season sits squarely in the rut, when male deer are most actively pursuing does to breed. “Our modern gun … More . . .
Screwed by the NWS
Really, you can’t blame them. The National Weather Service is doing the best it can with its long-range forecasting. However, if you look at what they were thinking the KY Rifle Opener was going to be as late as early October and what the forecast is now, you got to scratch your head. Here’s what they had back in July: Here’s what it’s looking like now: Yikes! That’s a big change! In truth, this is one of those years where the Farmer’s Almanac seems to have scooped the NWS. The Alamanac predicted a major shift in late October to mid-November … More . . .
A Happy Saint Hubert’s Day
Friday night I was able to get down to camp well before sundown. I was treated to about a dozen deer and 10 turkey hens and 3 gobblerout in the pasture. A good number of the deer came up close to the house. Just after sundown, 2 rather large coy-dogs ran out of Hootin Holler and crossed over by Broken Corners. The deer are moving a lot now. I did not see any rutting activity per se, but I grunted at one of the younger bucks and he mosied into the brush and came in to check me out, making … More . . .
Muzzleloader 2019
Looking from the outside, one might ask why we even show up. I’d have to go back and look to see when we last shot a deer during Kentucky’s early Muzzleloader Season. This year was much the same. However, I would say everyone had a great time. At our camp, it has become a dress rehearsal for the big show in November. If a major hatrack showed at our stands, we would not hesitate. Mooselette and Daddy Moose went out to the tower at Hollywood. There is plenty of room up there for a father/daughter team to hang out and … More . . .
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