Just a while back there was fellow asking me about ammunition for his deer rifle. “What’s the best factory load?” he asked. “For me,” I replied, “I’d say it was the 30-06 180 grain Musgrave round noses.” “I’ve never heard of Musgrave!” he said. “You probably wouldn’t.” I replied. “A … Continue reading →
First off, I want to let you know I have a growing admiration for the Hornady LNL Auto Progressive press. The naysayers complaints just have not panned out. Based on others’ comparisons to the Dillon 650, about the worst thing I can say about it, in my experience, is that … Continue reading →
Junior, my honorable #1 son, gifted me a book. I’ve already been through it several times, and it is super cool. I have been enamoured with old pictures of deer hunting for quite some time, ever since we got the farm.  Back then, I had all these bare walls to … Continue reading →
When I look back at Turkey Camp 2017, there are two things that immediately come to mind and they’re both the weather. The weather was uncommonly warm this season.The harvest in our county was down, and I can only think the weather had something to do with it. It was … Continue reading →
Back in 2013, Angus was enjoying his last deer season as a Yute. I had him positioned with his older brother, Moose in a ground blind at Lazy Boy. He was too big for the buddy stand anymore. I was at Campground, about a quarter-mile away. Angus and I both … Continue reading →
It’s raining graupel this morning. It’s above freezing; the little ice balls are hitting the roof and making such a racket that it woke me up. This is not the sort of day for thinking about turkey hunting, but there it is. The switch inside my head has but two … Continue reading →
There is a brief window in our yearly hunting schedule where the lessons of the season just past are still fresh. I need to make record of them before my head fills with holiday glurge. My apologies for not doing this sooner. I just started a new day job, and … Continue reading →
Fleming and Mason Counties are just a stone’s throw away from our deer camp. Two brothers were arrested with over a hundred counts of taking deer illegally. Here’s the report from Channel 18 in Lexington . Fleming Co. Brothers Face Over 100 Counts Of Poaching FLEMING COUNTY, Ky (LEX 18) … Continue reading →
The last weekend of season is usually when Deer Camp gets serious. For each hunter, one of two things have happened. Either he has his buck and is just a last tag, or he has not had any luck and is trying to make something happen. For the Shamanic Dream … Continue reading →
I had the GoPro out on Saturday afternoon but did not have a chance to get it out before the doe showed up. I still managed to get some footage of SuperCore’s new L-E-Vator. This is not the perfect deer lifter. You can see that from the video. However, it … Continue reading →
Saturday afternoon was one of those days during season when it is nice just to settle in with a good book and wait for sundown. There was not going to be much moving so long as the wind gusting into the low twenties, but being in the cabin was no … Continue reading →
As you know this old shaman does not make very many product recommendations. When I do, you can bet I’m not being compensated for it. Mind you, I’d love to be a complete advertising whore and throw my legs up for compensation, but no one ever offers. This is one … Continue reading →
In a lot of ways, this Opener started out as a replay of last year. By the time Angus pulled out on his way back to town Sunday afternoon, there were two big bucks on the pole, and neither of them were mine. For the second year in a row, … Continue reading →
As the patriarch of the Hole in The End of the Stump Deer Camp, I officially declare this camp open. Let all Cervids be warned. He that outlives this day and comes safe home will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d, and point a finger at his mounted … Continue reading →
A bunch of things came together last week and with a lot of rushing about at the last minute, I was able to get my first novel published on Amazon.com. It’s just $2.99. So far, sales have been going well, and it has a good review already posted. It is … Continue reading →
I know a lot of writers encourage folks to stay out all day. I don’t. A good reason is that I can come in. Deer Camp is less than a mile from my furthest stand, and I can usually call for a pickup and have a truck out in 15 … Continue reading →
I only write this to mark the passing of KY’s Early Muzzleloader Season. It’s over; that is about all you need to know. All in all, it was not as lousy as it could have been. It was not the hottest, although we had temperatures in the mid-80’s. It was … Continue reading →
It was a big weekend for Mooselette, #1 Granddaughter. First off, she got Grandpa’s “This is a gun” speech. All my kids got this speech somewhere between 3 and 5. 1) Let the kid handle an unloaded firearm. Let them see that it is about as interesting as a hammer. … Continue reading →
We’ve been at our place since September 2001. The World Trade Center was still smouldering. I had not bagged a Groundhog in well over 5 years. Y’all have to remember that I was close to giving up in those days. I’d lost every one of my good hunting spots. There … Continue reading →
This past weekend, I got my Hawken checked out for deer season. Not much had changed from the previous year. However, I had a wee bit of Hodgdon Triple-7 left over from 2013. The previous week, I had used it in my .54 Hawken and found that it had gotten … Continue reading →
I just wanted to thank Bracken County for paving the road out in front of deer camp. This was about 14 years in the making. It was about then a couple of college kids came down the road with a GPS unit on their car and turned around in my … Continue reading →
From the 24HourCampfire: jr1968 Offline Member  Loc: Bolivar,NY I know each White tail is different. Under 200 yard shot trough the lungs, what cal. and bullet grain has been the shortest recovery? Just wondering. Thanks, jr1968. Dear jr1968: One of the nice things about whitetails is that they … Continue reading →
I just watched the countdown timer cross the 8-week mark. It’s now exactly 2 months to the start of Kentucky’s Modern Weapons Season. I stayed home from the farm overnight. It was going to be hot and muggy and thunderstorms have been moving through since sundown Friday. I’ve been busy … Continue reading →
It’s getting on towards deer season. It is less than a month until the Muzzleloader Opener, and I am feeling less than exuberant. This is going to be a watershed year. Angus announced that he is not going out for smokepole season for the first time. Moose has been missing … Continue reading →
Angus and Moose gave me a GoPro Hero for my birthday. I’ve been testing it out. They say I can use it hunting, but I’ll be deuced if I can figure out a way to tie it to a turkey or a deer. I might be able to use the … Continue reading →
