Nineteen years ago, I made my first steps toward accurate shooting. I decided to build a dedicated shooting table that would stay up on the front porch. This was big step along the path. Prior to this, I had been going to a range to sight in rifles, but I … Continue reading →
I walked into a conversation down at Mister Browning’s Store the other day. O.D. was in the process of egging on a guy he calls “Bigtime.” The truth is, I don’t remember Bigtime’s real name. I’ve taken to calling him Bigtime as well. He seems to like it. The reason … Continue reading →
We just witnessed the full moon in October. Folks call it the Hunter’s Moon. Folks also kind of get mixed up as to why. I want to discuss the moon’s influences on deer hunting and maybe shed some light on why we associate the moon so closely with hunting. Let … Continue reading →
I’ve gotten several questions over the past year or so about the 6.5 Creedmore. I guess it is time to lay down a definitive answer. Should I buy a Creed for deer hunting? The answer to this is maybe. I’ll try and explain. What is the 6.5 Creedmore? It is … Continue reading →
Mac, a 24hourCampfire regular asked “How Has Your Point of View on Hunting Changed as you aged?” The problem is that you take 40 years and try to distill it all down, it ends up with something like: “WWII happened because Hitler invaded Poland. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and … Continue reading →
This all goes back to my post from about a week ago, and a comment I received: Why not a Lever Gun? — 1 Comment Anonymous on October 8, 2021 at 00:42 said:E Why not?Because a shot past 150 yards in my 35plus years has only happened less than the … Continue reading →
From a recent email (address witheld) Shaman, I hunt in almost identical circumstances as yours– pastures, cedar thickets and oak groves. Am I to understand that you don’t recommend lever actions for deer hunting at all anymore? I would think that a nice 30-30 would be ideal. Dave in Warsaw … Continue reading →
I really don’t have an explanation for this. On 8 May, as Turkey Season was coming to a close, I took a 50 lb sack of mixing salt and went out to the Campground Lick and refreshed it. This is a lick that I have had in the same spot … Continue reading →
I do not usually miss a turkey. Missing two the first week is unheard of in my long career. However, this morning saw my second since the Opener. The first was due to taking a shot without being properly situated. The one this morning has me scratching my head. The … Continue reading →
This all gets complicated, so I will lay it all out in chronological sequence. The Shaman Muffs It To begin, I had a few gobblers out in front of me at the start of legal hunting, arrayed out in front of me at the Honey Hole. As soon as I … Continue reading →
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has changed the rules a wee bit. Turkey hunters can now use .410 shotguns, and can use smaller shot. Deer hunters can now use breechloading muzzleloaders (there’s an oxymoron) like the Traditions Nitro system. See: Administrative Rule (Regulation) Changes Full text here: … Continue reading →
It’s funny. I looked over on the left at the “On This Day” box and it said that I had reported the Kentucky Spring Hunting Guide had been posted in 2013. Sure enough, I went to look on the KYDFWR site, and look what I found: I could not … Continue reading →
Covid hit the family, and knocked the snot out of me. I was down for the better part of a week, and I’m just starting to feel like myself. Yesterday was the first day I had to actually use the Hornady Auto Charge to load rifle rounds. The results were … Continue reading →
You know how you can keep pitching a topwater lure back in the lily pads and after enough casts that ol’ bass will suddenly explode?A couple minutes later you and that fish are looking eye-to-eye, Sometimes I have real empathy for the bass. This is one of those instances. Folks … Continue reading →
This is a continuation of the thread I started in the last post. Now that I’ve done a dump on the firearm-related stuff, here is what I think about calls, clothes and the rest of the gear  The CallsIf you’re a new guy to the sport, you’re going to … Continue reading →
I wrote a piece back in the early fall giving advice to the New Guy at Deer Camp. At least one fellow, Remnar found it to be good stuff, so I figured I’d try and compose one for Turkey Camp.  In this first installment, I’ll deal with the shooting system … Continue reading →
I used to buy the whole “They go nocturnal” thing. However, the more I have learned about deer, the less I buy it. Deer are not even close to us in how their bodies are set up. The have this fermentation process going on. They have to get up and … Continue reading →
I have exactly one day in the field with my new 7mm-08 Thompson Center Compass. I have one doe down. That does not qualify as a lot of experience. However, I’m sold on it.  7mm-08 has its problems, but none of it has to do with the cartridge or … Continue reading →
We ran a broom up the mast and headed to port, closing off the 2020 deer season. New camp records: 8 deer went to the pole 4 bucks– 3 went 8 points Most deer from one blind: 5 from Midway — so much for the idea of hunting pressure! Largest … Continue reading →
Angus managed another doe from Midway this afternoon. At 1615 ET, a herd of doe came out to feed in the Garden of Stone. Angus was poised at Midway with his Winchester 670 and closed the deal. This is the seventh deer taken at camp this year, and the fifth … Continue reading →
The Second Sunday of KY Rifle Season dawned foggy and warm. Rain was expected before Noon. Both SuperCore and Angus went out; I stayed behind to pack. At 0752 ET, a herd of five doe wandered out into the Garden of Stone to feed. Angus sat inside Midway and watched … Continue reading →
It would seem Midway has become the lucky blind this year. #2 son, Moose came back out after several days away from camp. I gave him the key to Midway. We had all thought the action would be out in the Garden of Stone. However, at 0703 Moose saw a … Continue reading →
The deer have been rather tentative in their movements the past couple of days, probably due to a great deal of wind. We have been seeing a few, but nothing that would afford us a shot. Yesterday, the wind moderated a bit and I gave Remnar the use of the … Continue reading →
Early Muzzleloader Season has been a dry run for us– a dress rehearsal for the big show in November. This year was no exception. SuperCore, Angus, Moose, Mooselette and I went out Saturday morning with the express hope of not shooting anything, except perhaps a new camp record. Sunday, we … Continue reading →
Albert Soady: “And Remnar? Well, he turned out pretty much the way you’d expect for somebody goes by the name of Remnar.” Well, the new guy arrived at camp Saturday night, and we all retired to the Thoughtful Spot for a conclave. Amid the gathering gloom, an approaching hurricane remnant, … Continue reading →
