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 →
Back when I was wringing out the new Ruger American Predator in .223 REM, I noticed an interesting phenomenon. There was a lot of wind, and my groups were getting spread out horizontally a good 4 inches while the vertical difference was less than an inch. I looked into it, … Continue reading →
SuperCore came down to try out his new ride, an Arctic Cat ATV that he will be using to get to the blind this coming season. It’s 4WD with an automatic transmission. This breaks a 15-year moratorium on the farm regarding ATV riding. When Dad and I got the place … Continue reading →
I was out shooting with my new Ruger American Predator in 223 REM. Overall, I impressed with a lot of things. There are a few flaws, but they are minor. I am also very happy with the Bushnell Banner 6-24X40mm scope I mounted on it. My only beef is that … Continue reading →
I have been compiling a deer log for a number of years. It contains pertinent data on every deer the family has taken since I got my start in the early 80’s. I didn’t start compiling it until about a decade ago, but I knew the dates and times of … Continue reading →
Now that Indiana has decided to take the great leap ahead and embraced modern centerfire rifles for deer, the question is going to be what rifle to buy. I have had a lot of thoughts on that very idea over the years. Dig around on this weblog, starting with the … Continue reading →
When I started turkey hunting, Ronald Reagan was still in his first term. Ohio had a spring season, but you had to apply for a tag months before to get into a lottery. The closest place I could hunt a spring gobbler was 5 counties over. It took a 3 … Continue reading →
In a way, I am somewhat relieved that the digital audio recorder was not working this morning. It saves me having to listen to it all again, to make it into a podcast. Now that it is over, I do not feel like I have achieved a great victory. In … Continue reading →
What the Indiana DNR failed to do in 2015, the Indiana Legislature has done in 2016. It’s official. Hoosiers will be able to hunt deer with rifles in 2016!
Continue reading →I realize y’all have not been hearing much from me lately. Frankly, until this weekend, there was not a whole lot to tell. We stayed home from Turkey Camp again this weekend. It rained yesterday and it was cold. Angus and I got down to open up Turkey Camp in … Continue reading →
I opened up my web browser this morning, and discovered a hole. I have FireFox programmed to show me the front page of a couple dozen websites using a plug-in called SpeedDial. The little thumbnail for the Deer & Deer Hunting Forum had gone blank. When I clicked on it, … Continue reading →
My #1 Granddaughter, Mooselette, is turning 4 this week. She came over to the house for an indoor campout over the weekend. I put her tent up in the family room, built a fire in the fireplace, and found some good night noises on Youtube. For activities, we took a … Continue reading →
I’m not saying it’s a work of art, but I pulled it off. Allow me to introduce you to the Shamanic MK I It is a poplar over cherry with walnut ends and a cherry bottom. The goal was just to make something that vaguely sounds turkey-like. What I got … Continue reading →
I mentioned to Angus last week as we were on our way out to Campground that it seemed like everything at Deer Camp had become a ritual. Even the most mundane things, when repeated for a decade and a half take on a ceremonial quality. Last weekend was the yearly … Continue reading →
0630 ET Although it is still dark, it in a little while it will be light enough to hunt. I still have a tag. The end of the season is over ten hours away. Why am I back in town? Why are the rifles already back on the rack? … Continue reading →
We are heading home today from deer camp, marking the end of week #1. It is time to go home, do some wash, eat a big turkey dinner, and watch some football before heading down after dinner on Thursday. No, I have not gotten the big buck. Nor have I … Continue reading →
SuperCore left today before lunch. Angus had to go home for school Sunday afternoon. That left me here at camp to watch the wall of rain roll over the ridge followed by a 35 MPH gust front. When it hit, it was like a bucket of water had been thrown … Continue reading →
So what rifles are you using this year, Shaman? There have been a lot of changes to the deer battery this year. I just thought I would give y’all a quick rundown. Mine: Savage 99, 308 WIN This is the same rifle I’ve been using for most every Opener since … Continue reading →
