This installment in the series will concentrate on what I did at the bench, both the shooting bench and my gunsmithing bench, to improve my accuracy with my deer rifles. I would like to remember that it was a gradual process that started about 2001 and ended with me bagging … Continue reading →
The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears. James Mattis In this case, General Mattis was right. I had over 20 years of goo to remove and replace. Lies I cannot say I ever came right out and lied to anyone about how well I shot. … Continue reading →
Back in 2019, I wrote a missive on 24hourcampfire.com on hunting deer where the bar for accuracy was rather low. The Planet Where They Shoot 4 MOA Rifles I would suggest you go over there and read it– read the whole thread if you like. It will really set the … Continue reading →
Any discussion of this past Rifle Season has to include the after-effects of my Chemo and how it played into the dynamics. It played into stand selection. It played into who hunted and when. My sons were on guard the whole time waiting for their Dad to fall over in … Continue reading →
Most honorable #2 son, Moose shot a doe Friday evening at the Blackberry stand . At 1740, just 10 minutes left in legal hunting. A single doe popped out of the woods next to the rockpile. Moose dropped her with his Winchester 570. Two more deer ran off towards Westwood. … Continue reading →
Angus and Moose braved the 18F and went out to Midway this morning. They had just settled in when Angus noticed a doe running across the south field, behind the Garden of Stone. An 8-point buck was following close behind. Angus shot. The buck gave no indication of being hit. … Continue reading →
I really did not have great expectations when I went out to Midway this morning. I managed to fall back to sleep after SuperCore left for the blind and managed to doze for 45 minutes before jerking awake. I flew out the door– I still can’t feel my feet from … Continue reading →
Some days, just being out and making it back in is the highest achievement you can expect. After Chemo, just being out is all you can ask. We started getting rain about 10 minutes before legal hunting, and it grew to a downpour. I stayed under an umbrella and managed … Continue reading →
For years now, I have been sawing off the skull cap of bucks and mounting these to display boards, and calling it quits. Of course, I have to boil them first, but the whole process is rather fast and easy. I can have the antlers ready to mount almost immediately. … Continue reading →
I found this draft from back in 2009. Somebody had asked the question, and I’d hesitated to answer. The post lay in draft status until I found it again over the summer as I was housecleaning. I have been asked this many times, by readers and by my own sons … Continue reading →
I’ve got a couple projects in the oven this year even though Chemo made me curtail most of my load development for 6 months. There just is not enough room in the freezer to do all the experimentation I want to do. I always keep a rifle or two handy … Continue reading →
Back in the spring, I had just come from the appointment with the oncologist where I had scheduled my Chemo treatments. I drove out to the farm and went turkey hunting the next day. I bagged a nice gob and then. . . well, I spent a good long time … Continue reading →
I am not going to try and paint this rosier than it is. It is Sunday morning of KY Early Muzzleloader season. I’m wimping out and sipping coffee inside the cabin. The only one of the Shamanic Dream Team who is out is SuperCore. With the recent Chemo, at least … Continue reading →
Every year we all get out for the mid-October Kentucky Early Primitive Weapons Season and use it as a dry run for the coming Rifle season. Some might think this is a waste of a weekend. It actually has a point– in fact, several. First off, this gives everyone at … Continue reading →
Most honorable #1 granddaughter, Mooselette, went afield for KY’s Yute Hunt on Saturday. She went in the company of her grandfather. This was my first time out as well since the Chemo. Mooselette was armed with the same Marlin 336 carried by her father on his first hunt 20 years … Continue reading →
I was able to get down to camp fairly early on Friday. By the time Moose and #1 granddaughter, Mooselette arrived, I had already managed to get two more deer rifles sighted in. Both the 8X57 Mauser and the 7mm-08 are ready for Rifle Season. Blacksmith and I went to … Continue reading →
I finally got a chance to have some quality time with ‘Bess, just her and me. Up until now, there have always been Moose and Angus sharing the firing line, and all sorts of other constraints. Saturday, I had a chance to sit down with the Pedersoli Brown Bess Musket … Continue reading →
From Quora: Question for YouAugust 5 What is the best time to get in your deer stand? Greg Thomas requested your answer. What is the best time to get in your deer stand? Here is my response: It is going to depend on several factors. For starters, don’t think of … Continue reading →
This weekend marked the 21st anniversary of taking possession of our farm. It also marked the first time I’ve felt halfway normal since the Chemo ended. I was actually able to get around and putter a bit. KYHillChick stayed home with the dogs, but the rest of the tribe showed … Continue reading →
It may not seem like much to anyone, but I had a personal triumph yesterday. It is something I planned well before starting Chemo. It was a close run operation, but I did it. I managed to procure 3 pounds of black powder. How I got it was the challenge. … Continue reading →
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) is investigating the reason turkey harvest numbers have been slipping. This past year’s harvest was well below average. I’m catching up here; this came out while I was having Chemo. Here is the link: https://fw.ky.gov/News/Pages/Wild%20turkey%20studies%20underway%20in%20Kentucky.aspx I’ve saved an image of the article … Continue reading →
I have been making it to the farm every weekend since I got well enough to travel. This past Friday, I called my neighbor, Blacksmith to see what he was up to. He was over in the county seat, having tea with the nice ladies at the Hysterical Society. He … Continue reading →
But Shaman, if the deer are blind, how can they read? I have a Kindle Reader App installed on my Android phone. You would be surprised at the number of free and 99-cent books that Amazon sells. For the past 40 seasons, I’ve kept a book handy during long sits … Continue reading →
Moose and Angus celebrated KY’s 2022 Fall Squirrel Opener this morning, bagging a brace of gray squirrels each. Views: 1 Related posts: Report from Deer Camp, 2011 How Have I Changed over 40 Years Spring Squirrel Mooseboy Scores Shamanic Dream Team Scores Double-Header in KY Opener Angus Scores in Turkey … Continue reading →
It just turned over 13 weeks to the Rifle Opener. I do not usually make predictions on how the upcoming Rifle Season is going to go. I do have my suspicions, and when compared with reality, they’re usually wrong. I cannot help it. Every year, I start looking for the … Continue reading →
