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 →
It has been quite a while since I wrote anything about the spiritual aspects of deer hunting. Frankly, I have been bogged down so much in the nuts and bolts of things like lead casting and such I have not had a chance to spend the time to really formulate … Continue reading →
This is the time of year where I get to making a serious batches of venison jerky. When I do it, I do it in a big way– about 10 lbs at a time. I figure it is about time I let someone in on my method. This is absolutely … Continue reading →
I have been getting a lot of flak over my recent article on Indiana moving to centerfire rifle for deer in 2015. Fewer, but still a few, folks have been complaining to me about Ohio’s move to Pistol Caliber Rifles (PCR). I would like to set the record straight. 1) … Continue reading →
Okay! Deer Season is over. It is time to write a note to myself for next summer. What did I learn? What do I need to do? Stopping the Stink I think the top thing I learned this year was about the Shamanic Baking Soda Method, and its limitations. The … Continue reading →
In the past, tagging out seemed to be such a chore. By the time that last tag is on the line, I am usually thinking more about how much space there will be in the freezer than anything else. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure I’m pissing off the poor … Continue reading →
Deer Camp changes you. Every day I climb into the stand and think up a way to start this article, and every day I have tried to start it differently. Saturday, I would have been talking all about SuperCore’s big 8-pointer that he got at 0700. Sunday, I would have … Continue reading →
From 24HourCampfire.com leomort Campfire Ranger  Loc: Indiana    Hello shaman, I seen your post regarding H4895 on the Gunwriters section and on your website. I’m brand new to reloading. Only have two cartridges: 223rem and 308win. I’m looking to simplify my reloading by only stock one powder if … Continue reading →
This had started out as a fun 3-day weekend at the farm. It turned into a hard slog. However, I did get deer camp mowed and I did get to shoot some of the rifles I treated with Dyna Bore Coat. I am impressed. The point of the exercise was … Continue reading →
A while back, I got a hit on this weblog. Somebody had done a search on “Which is more a Rem 742 or a SPR 30-06?” That one stuck with me. It was fairly ignorant, definitely naive, but it just would not leave my mind. It dawned on me this … Continue reading →
You only need to look at Angus’ face in those pictures from a couple of weeks ago to see this season was not a failure. Still, after hunting 11 of the first 14 days of KY Spring Gobbler Season and 16 of the total 22-days, I have to say I … Continue reading →
If you had told me twenty years ago that I would be sitting here, the week before Thanksgiving with 5 deer taken off my property, and a 188 lb buck of my own in the freezer I would have been ecstatic. Here it is, the Monday after season, and I … Continue reading →
This was Weekend #2 of the KY Rifle Season. Angus, SuperCore, and I still had tags to fill. SuperCore was looking for a buck. It was warmer than usual, about 48 degrees. The big blow was expected overnight going into Sunday. At 0830, I heard a shot from over at … Continue reading →
We’re just in from the field with fuzzy windchimes hanging on the meatpole. Both Angus and I bagged bucks this morning. This was an average sort of Opener — average temperatures, an average number of shots. The weather was cool, but sunny. Angus and Moose hunted together. This is Angus’ … Continue reading →
This was the last weekend before KY’s Rifle Opener. If it was going to be done before the shooting started, it was going to have to be done before Sunday afternoon. Angus and I went down to camp. Do to my schedule, I still did not have a rifle sighted … Continue reading →
I was discussing venison with a co-worker, and I mentioned KYHillChick’s recipe for venison roast. I realized when I went to send her a link that I had never posted it here. Click on it to make it larger This is a favorite at our deer camp table and it … Continue reading →
. . . and mine as well. At least it will be for a long while. We spent the weekend at Lazy Boy and Midway, celebrating Angus’ last deer hunt as a Youth. By next year, he will be 16 and be on and adult tag. It was Kentucky’s early … Continue reading →
I would like to bring your attention to a Dave Petzal column over at Field and Stream In the Presence of Death One of the things I talked about on this season’s Gun Nuts is an (apparently) common ritual on many of the TV hunting shows. When hunter and guide … Continue reading →
I am putting the deer rifles away for the year. Yes, my tail is still dragging, but I figure coming away with a zip is better than it could be. A day spent at Deer Camp is usually going to be better spent anywhere else. My mind still wanders back … Continue reading →
First it was the Reds, then the Bengals, then the Republicans. There is a lot that sort of thing running around this year. Deer hunting can have years like that too. A good part of it is the expectations. The Reds really looked like the could go all the way … Continue reading →
“. . . The stockings were hung by the chimney with care” Actually, the clothesline IS filled with hunting socks at the moment. Last night Angus did his last load of hunting clothes. Preparations have been going on for some time. Last weekend, I was out at camp, puttering around … Continue reading →
Angus was out for KY Yute Season yesterday. We did not bag anything, but we had a good time. The trip brought up a whole lot of issues, that I feel need airing. First off, as you know, Angus is a bagpiper. He’s not just a good bagpiper. He’s a … Continue reading →
Now that I’m well past 30 seasons of deer hunting, I find myself looking back and increasingly thumping myself on the forehead and proclaiming, “What was I ever thinking?” Camouflage clothing: What was I thinking? I do not mean that I was wrong in trying to hide myself a bit … Continue reading →
I have been back to work now for going on 2 years. I am starting to dig myself out of the hole. The bills are getting paid. I decided to go back and look at an piece I wrote a little more than 2 years ago, about being a Ninety-Niner … Continue reading →
I finally finished off my deer log. I say that, and I can envision a strange shelf-stable variation of venison meat loaf. No, I mean that I completed a spreadsheet listing all the deer ever taken at our camp, along with accompanying a data. I tried to answer the following … Continue reading →
