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 →
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 don’t know about you guys, but by Mid-May every year, I’ve lost the feeling. In the good years, it’s because I’ve filled all my tags, and I’ve got to start thinking about practical things like mowing the lawn. In the bad years, I reach a point where the season … 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 Buckless Youper, Remnar, got his first deer this morning. I was back at the cabin putting the finishing touches on yesterday’s story when I heard a shot coming from the back of the property. At 0715 ET Remnar radioed in he had a doe down and needed assistance at … 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 →
As if the previous night and morning weren’t enough, the real business of getting ready for deer season had yet to begun. #3 son, Angus, showed up at lunchtime on Saturday and we went down the do-list in fairly rapid succession. Patch the roof on Jagendehutte Prep a stand site … Continue reading →
I’m writing this down so that I don’t lose the details. I wish I’d had the camera out this morning, but most of this stuff could have only been caught with a lot of planning and a solid tripod. It’s one of those things that . . .well, you just … 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 →
So with the deal in the bag with the 7mm-08, I headed down to the farm to get PLAN B going, namely the 30-30’s. I’ve got two. One is the Marlin 336 that I’ve had since 2002. Even though I stopped hunting with it, I’ve kept shooting it and developing … Continue reading →
The Bad News 2 weeks ago I took the Ruger Model 44 out to do a final sight-in with the ammo I was going use for hunting. The first round went off and was perfectly placed on the target, but I just could not find the brass. I finally checked … Continue reading →
If I were the NewGuy at Camp, what would I want? That’s an interesting question. None of what I’m going say here is an outright endorsement/best of class recommendation of anything in particular. What I’m giving is based on a scenario of my nearly 2-decade experience at our camp and … Continue reading →
I was trying to explain The Garden of Stone the other day. After I got done, I realized that I have never written down the whole story. I should. It has accounted for dozens of deer over less than 2 decade’s worth of hunting. Its story goes all the way … Continue reading →
Yesterday marked the 12-week mark in the countdown to the Rifle Opener in November. It found me staying home from camp to escape the all-day rains that never quite materialized. So what needs to be done? Odds and Ends By this time of the year, I have all my clothes … Continue reading →
Last night #3 son, Angus, was asking me about camo. He’d seen some Youtubes with this guy touting the ultimate new super-duper stuff. He wanted to buy a set. I explained to him that I’d been where he is starting off about 30 years ago. I had not only 1st … Continue reading →
The last bit of rain hit about 0300. By 0700, I was loading up the washing machine with hunting clothes. By evening, they’ll be dry and packed in sodium bicarb, waiting for the November Opener I’m following the same Baking Soda regimen that I’ve been doing for years: See: Shamanic … Continue reading →
The last piece of the Perfect Deer Rifle Puzzle is Ammunition. There are guys out there that will tell you Barnes TSX is all you need to know. I have a friend that hunts with it exclusively. Let me just say up front, if you’re hooked on premium ammo, there … Continue reading →
In the previous missive, I examined what makes an ideal deer rifle from the perspective of chambering. The answer was “Yes, one of those will do nicely.” Now, I’m going to start getting into the real meat of it. What action? What length? The answer is still the same: “Whatever … Continue reading →
