As I mentioned at the beginning of the summer, I inherited a Ruger Model 44 Carbine from Bob’s estate. Since then, I’ve been slowly working towards turning it from a safe queen to a working deer rifle. I met Bob in 1982. I probably saw the rifle for the first … Continue reading →
With all the really good bottom end deer rifles out there, folks are beginning to lose sense of what it was like to own a deer rifle that couldn’t hold to a pie plate at 50 yards. As I opined here on the 24hourcampfire: Current Rifle Accuracy You have to … Continue reading →
Look what I found on Archive.org The Hunter’s Handbook There are all sorts of hints and tricks and recipes for guys going to deer camp in the 1880’s. Views: 295 Related posts: PA Deer Hunters — Bless their Hearts Deer Hunters: Time to Start Thinking Salt Marketing to Hunters To … Continue reading →
I used to publish a set of goals for the upcoming deer season. That was back when folks were paying attention to me more, and I was stuck for writing copy, and there really were big mountains left to climb in my deer hunting career. Now that I am not … Continue reading →
As you all know, I recently lost my dear friend Bob. We’d been hanging out together for nearly 40 years. Bob was instrumental in getting me interested in hunting and shooting. Bob’s widow has been calling me up lately. As things get cleaned out, she has been letting me have … Continue reading →
I am proud to announce that both #2 son, Moose and #3 son, Angus have successfully passed their Ohio Conceal Carry class over the weekend. Both made a good showing at the class. It is the same class that KYHillChick and I attended a few years ago. I can’t say … Continue reading →
Life changes you. I can remember one of the highlights of my life was being taken to the 1970 All-Star game. I heard as well as saw Pete Rose bowl over Fosse at home plate. To this day, I can close my eyes and see Pete and Fosse like it … Continue reading →
Angus and I passed an important milestone today. This is the first time one of my grown sons has taken it upon himself to reload ammunition with his own components. They all came down to the bend to help Dad when they were small, but their interest has waned. Angus … Continue reading →
Now is about the time of year that a landowner should start thinking about who is coming hunting in the Fall. Hunting is an important management tool. Every year, a guy like me should be thinking about how many hunters, how many deer, what sizes. The answer for the past … Continue reading →
What makes a good deer rifle? I’ve been contemplating this now since the first Reagan administration. Every time I pick up a rifle, I’m pretty well judging it based on how well it would take a Whitetail. However, for all that mental energy, I do not think I have ever … Continue reading →
Back in 2006, I was in the process of pulling in my horns. There were signs they might close the plant. I wanted to get down to the bare minimum, expecting a layoff. One thing I bought was an 8lb keg of Hodgdon H4895. I was pretty well already set … Continue reading →
Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Tolliver lisa.tolliver@ky.gov 1-800-858-1549 Kentucky’s Crossbow Deer Season Extended Changes take effect with the 2019-20 season FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 4, 2019) – Kentucky deer hunters will have a longer period in the field with their … Continue reading →
As you may remember, my dear friend Bob passed away over the winter. His widow let the Shamanic Dream Team have dibs on his collection. Bob was a collector, mostly of Rugers and mostly pistols, and most of these were well outside my budget. I chose two deer guns. The … Continue reading →
I hunt in SW Bracken County, within sight of the Pendleton County line. As a result, I always try to compare harvest numbers between that county and as part of the NorthEast Region as a whole. I started hunting there in 2002, so my knowledge is limited to that time … Continue reading →
Yesterday, the On-this-date widget that compiles all the posts for the current date stated Nothing has ever happened on this day. <em>Ever.</em> Turkey Hunting went out with a whimper on our Ridge. Things kept piling up and it finally left me coming home in the rain yesterday afternoon. For a … Continue reading →
#1 Granddaughter, AKA Mooselette, came down to Turkey Camp last night and went out hunting with her grandfather. It was drizzling, so we started off undercover at Midway. There was not much action on our side of the farm, so we headed in at 9, stopping for a while to … Continue reading →
I was missing some pieces, so it took extra long to assemble the podcast from the hunt yesterday. The reason for the name is that the gobbler chased a unwilling hen about 400 yards, trying to mount her unsuccessfully. I couldn’t figure out why this gobbler was zig-zagging in and … Continue reading →
I’ve been at turkey hunting since Reagan’s first term. I’ve seen a lot– not all, but a lot. This was a new one on me. Things started out pretty normal for this season. Since the Opener on Saturday, the gobblers have been sounding off whole-hardheartedly right before flydown. However, they … Continue reading →
They say one door closes and another opens. I talked to my best hunting buddy, SuperCore, this week. He was late checking in after his return from Florida, and turkey season was nearly upon us. The news was not good. He’s hanging it up– no more hunting. He’s battled back … Continue reading →
This should be a great story about how the Mooselette and I went out Saturday morning and called up a turkey. She’s still too young to shoot a shotgun, but she’s at the right age for everything else. Everything was set. Moose and Angus were going to come down Friday … Continue reading →
There will be no podcasts of my scouting trips this year. I tried. I failed. Nothing went right. It all went wrong. The turkeys did not cooperate until this past weekend. Normally, I’ve been out three or four times before this time of year. However, I did not hear a … Continue reading →
This past weekend was shaping up to be a major disappointment. I was out Saturday to scout, and for the second weekend in a row I only heard gobblers that were well off the property. Normally, I would have a podcast or two under my belt. Nothing. Late afternoon on … Continue reading →
I made it to camp well before dark on Friday. Normally, I make the first trip back on a Saturday. In the past, I never knew what I would find. With the new security cameras, it takes a good deal of the suspense out of the process. The big question … Continue reading →
Whenever I start talking online about the weather, there are a load of guys who want to tell you: You cannot rely on weather forecasts You shouldn’t worry about the weather forecasts– just go hunt The weather is too whacked-out anymore for reliable forecasting etc. It is this monstrous barrage … Continue reading →
Angus, honorable #2 son, has been busy this winter with his pipes. Angus was recording yesterday afternoon. He’s finally gotten his Uilleann pipes wrangled to the point that he can not only make music out of them, but his technique on them is beginning to shape up to all his … Continue reading →
