Outrunning the Deer
You are not going to believe this. I’m 6’4″ and at the time I was over 250 lbs. I was always the biggest kid in school, and the one they always laughed at in gym. I always came in last in the 50 yard dash. However, once I actually out ran a deer. In 1996, I took off the opening day of Ohio Modern Weapons season to go hunting. I had a new Mossberg 500 with a rifled slug barrel, and Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5 scope. I was putting Brenneke 2 3/4″ slugs into the same hole at 50 yards. I … More . . .
How Do You Protect Your Stand From Theft?
I used to use log chain and a 1/2″ lock to lock up my climbing stand. It was noisy as all get-out, but it would have been easier to saw the stand as cut the chain. Nobody ever stole my stand– they went to the next guy. The fact of the matter is, if you are in a safe area, nothing is going to happen to it. If it isn’t, the perps have all the time in the world to figure out a way to steal it. I go for relatively cheap ladder stands now. Nobody steals them, because they’re … More . . .
Head Shots — Shaman’s Statement of Self-Definition
I found this tucked away today in a discussion of head shots pro and con from the 24HourCampfire.com . To be exact: #205865 – 11/10/03 10:03 AM I had an opportunity this weekend to seriously consider the issue of head shots: bagged two deer in two days. Both presented broadside shots at 100 yards or under. Both got it in the chest. Both got the top of their hearts shot out, and at least one lung. Both died within 5 seconds. Did I have a choice? Yes. Did I stop to consider shooting anywhere else? No. Why? Why would I … More . . .
Losing Stuff — Requiem for a Hat Pt II
From the Heirloom Turkey Call Forum Re: Losing Stuff — Requiem for a Hat Postby Brian on Sat May 10, 2008 1:29 pm Just a quik update in Bill’s losses. His call has been replaced or will be shortly. As soon as he gets his mail in the next day or so. AND they have told me that the forgetfullness will come and go, I just can’t rememebr where it goes to or I’d send it back myself….LOL Brian Warner Heirloom Turkey Calls http://www.heirloomturkeycalls.com Haughton, Louisiana 318-949-9008 Brian __________________________________________________ Re: Losing Stuff — Requiem for a Hat Postby Toby Benoit … More . . .
Losing Stuff — Requiem for a Hat
I was asked to join the pro staff of Heirloom Turkey Calls this year. Brian sent me a bunch of calls to try, and after bagging a good gobbler, I managed to lose one of the calls. It was one of his Single Barrel calls– easily the most beautiful call I’ve ever used — a turned wooden scratch pot with matching stained glass and a picture of a gobbler under the glass. I went back time and again to the spots where it could be, but it was not there. The good news is that the call was fantastic, and … More . . .
So where DO they go after flydown?
The Ben Lee Catechism states that turkeys go to water after flydown. It also echoes the first book I read on turkey hunting. It simply said that you get between the roost and the closest source of water and ambush them– in fact, that was all it said about turkey hunting. I have tested that theory and it just does not seem to pan out– at least as a surefire thing. Once long ago, I was bowhunting on the last day of season in January and heard a flock come down off the roost and go to the creek. The … More . . .
Where Turkeys Go After Flydown?
Yesterday was my first good day out scouting this year. I was able to monitor the flydown of four flocks on either side of a ridge. It was pretty much a typical morning for the turkeys. The gobblers gobbled a bit, the hens yelped a bit, everybody took their turn plopping down into the leaves and they all milled about squaking at each other. . . . and then they were gone. There is nothing quite so unexpected and sudden as the feeling you get when you realize that you are now alone in the woods. It is as though … More . . .
Turkey Hunting is Just Like Work
Related posts: Turkey Hunting is a Lot Like Work I am a Turkey Hunting Troglodyte Shamanic Turkey Hunting Tips Turkey Hunting circa 1942 Traditional Turkey Hunting Season Turkey Hunting and Daylight Savings Time Is turkey hunting really all that? Personal Ethics in Turkey Hunting
More . . .Stupid things in Camo
I got one of those condoms as a Christmas Present. I think I still have the wrapper. Stupid things I have seen camo’ed up that should not have been: 1) Wallets 2) Flashlights 3) Ammo carriers 4) First Aid Kits 5) Walkie Talkies 6) GPS units These are all things that needed to be in bright visible colors. If you drop one of these in the leaves, you are screwed. I once had the misfortune of having to run back to camp– long story. I was in a hurry and I got back only to find that I had left … More . . .
Letter to Santa from a Turkey Hunter
Dear Santa: I’m writing late to you, but I have some ideas for turkey hunters for Christmas. See if you can cook them up: 1) A cheap pair of boots that are lightweight, warm and waterproof. Is it asking too much for a turkey hunter to have dry warm feet? Every pair of boots I get are either too hot, too cold, too heavy or they leak. If they don’t leak the day I get them, they’re leaking by the end of the first week. 2) A mouth call safe that hold onto calls that allows them to dry out … More . . .
The shaman goes over the edge on deer rifles
Originally Posted By: Jeff_Olsen Shaman is my new favorite “writer” on the ‘Fire! 🙂 -jeff “Aw, shucks!” said the shaman. He kicked the dirt, feigning humility. “Thanks for the kind words.” [WARNING: The shaman is going for a dive in the deep water. You may want to put on your hip boots. For the brave, may I suggest a mask and snorkel and follow along.] Now see, you’ve gone and just egged me on. If this keeps up, I might get a swell-head and get drunk and start writing about how black rifles are the devil’s work. Just for … More . . .
More on Deer Rifles
257Bob: (from 24hourcampfire.com) not really, as long as the bullet is decent. a 30-06 will do it all, the rest just makes it interesting. that’s why I dont own a 30-06, like to keep trying different things just to keep it fun. Now there’s a concept I can relate to. In fact, that’s close to what my buddies told me when they guided me to my first 30-06 back in the early 80’s: After a 30-06, you probably won’t need to buy anything else. That’s also why I started moving away from the ’06. Honestly, after 7 years of sampling … More . . .
Deer Rifles — What Really Goes On
Most anything will kill a deer. They are not that hard to kill. There are a few issues at work here. Most of them are stuff that gun writers cannot deal with. They exist in the realm of the shaman. I will therefore don my headdress, grab my turtle rattle and attempt an explanation: Deer hunters have a lot of their self-definition wrapped up in their choice of firearms. It goes a long way to saying who they are. It’s like “are you a Chevy or Ford kind of guy?” but it goes much deeper. Part of that definition is … More . . .