Hunting

Warm, but not this warm thank god!

I went hunting this weekend. All I saw was squirrels. They frolicked in a dance that mocked me. They were saying you have an excellent blind but no targets...

It was really warm. A beautiful sunrise.

It was 46 degrees at 5:30am and 66 at 11:00am.

--I guess the deer decided to sleep in.

Going hunting today

gotta go. more later.

Hunting

I went hunting again on Sunday. Did I mention that hunting is now allowed in Virginia on Sundays?

It was a beautiful day to watch the sunrise. The temps were warm and in the 40s at dawn. With my new clothes I was nice and warm. I hunt in a county that allows the season to go through March 27 this year. They forgot to update my favorite map.

Net time out will be Black Friday!

--Any deer I get now will be for friends.

Hunting Season Opens

Today is opening day of  deer hunting season (shotgun) in Virginia.

Twelve minutes after dawn I harvested this nice little eight pointer.

By 7:30am I was washed up and drinking coffee in my sisters kitchen.

I had a knew knife and I was amazed the ease it cut through the rib-cage, sternum to collar in one slice. It was a K-Bar my wife gave me for Christmas last year. The only problem I had with the field cleaning was my rubber gloves had dried out, so I just worked with bare hands. Not too messy.

This one was big enough to have professional butchering done. That makes my wife happy. It keeps my kitchen from looking like a crime scene. I am a better hunter than a butcher. Just sayin.

--It was a good day, tater.

Bears in VA

Someone saw a black bear in my suburban neighborhood yesterday and now they are freaking out a bit. This is in addition to coyotes that have spread through the state, eating outdoor domesticated cats.

This has renewed the discussion and debate about hunting, or lack there of, in Virginia. My suppressed 300 Blackout is perfect for black bears!

--If you see a bear, don't hug it.

Hunting Vacation Option

I know a lot of shooters and a lot of hunters. Even beg game hunters.

If you have the coin for a serious big game, multi-species, North American, hunt you need to check out Best Value Hunts.

Here is the kind of hunts BVH specializes in: Whitetail Deer, Mule & Blacktail Deer, Elk, Pronghorn, Bear, Caribou, Moose, Sheep, Mountain Goat, Cougar, Lynx, Bobcat, Bison and Muskox.

You deserve that big hunt vacation.

I know Michael Haiss, the Hunting Consultant that runs the show over there. He's a great guy. Tell him JB Miller sent you over!

--Just thinking about it is making me hungry...

Guns in the Hands of Good People

Deer Hunting

This fall I want to get back into the field and see if I can fill my freezer with some delicious venison.

Was chatting with JayG last night and he wants to see if we can get some rifle hunting action going.

The most important part of hunting is the scouting.

The time to scout is over the next few months.

--Going to see how much the chiggers and ticks like Jay for food...

Virginia to Vote on Bill to Allow Sunday Hunting

The Virginia House of Delegates is expected to vote on a bill that would reverse the state’s current ban on hunting on Sundays, allowing the sport on private property and public waters throughout the state – with a few exceptions – as early as this week.

With my back on the mend it would be all kinds of awesome to increase the number of days I could sit and nap in the woods!

--Sundays closer to nature!

Deer Season 2013-2014

If you count muzzle loader season, the deer hunting season in VA goes from September 7 until April 26th.

The pressure is on to take antlerless even more. 

The deer populations are so out of control here it's amazing. I see so many deer on the way to work every day, on the side of the road. They have no fear of cars and not much fear of people, at least until the shooting starts.

I was going to try and get out there for primitive weapons this year but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. They allow you to hunt with crossbows in VA as well!

This post is making me hungry.

--Might have to put some venison in the smoker this weekend!

Doing Right?

In TBolts post yesterday he was talking about our weekends hunt. He was asking himself  "what is he doing right that I am doing wrong...?" because I was the lucky one this weekend and got two.

Here are the things I think I am doing right:

Deer Hunting Season Wrap-Up

• Scout in advance. make sure there is traffic where your are going to sit.
• Get in and settled an hour before sunrise.
• Camo. You must blend in VERY well.
• Be still. Very still. Even your head. Move your eyes. Don't creak your chair or even move your feet. They hear you.
• Don't make even the tiniest sound. You can hear a chip monk move 50 yards away and your hearing sucks.
• You must be comfortable enough to not move at all for 5 hours. No stretching.
• Don't smell like anything. No farting, bad breath, soap, food. Gasoline on the bottom of your shoes even.
• Don't fall asleep.
• If it's cold enough to see your breath, breath in through your nose and out into a scarf. That cloud can bee seen far away.
• Remember that you are hiding from squirrels. Deer won't go where the squirrels are quiet. It takes an hour of sitting and not moving for the damn squirrels to forget you are there.
• Eat something. Your stomach growls louder  than you think. Have a breakfast bar.

 --There is probably more. Got anything to add?

Another Hunting Note

I always takes a small camo backpack hunting with me. It holds lots of handy items.

The standard contents include things likes knives, a rain poncho, orange flagging for tracking, bottled water, extra ammo, power bars, and other items.

I discovered two things I did not have this time.

Para cord and rubber gloves.

The gloves I could easily do without. They just make cleanup of your hands easier later.

I really missed my para cord though. I was hunting from a trees stand. A pretty tall one too. I unloaded my shotgun and looked for the cord to tie to my sling and pack so I could haul them up after I get situated. No cord. So I put my unloaded shotgun diagonally across my backpack via the sling and up I went.

I got to the top of the ladder and only had about a square foot to turn around. It was so awkward with the extra bulk. When I turned The barrel clanged hard on the stand. Nice. TBolt heard it 300 yards away.

Finally got seated and secure but it was a huge pain in the ass to struggle out of the pack and sling way up there.

Getting down was quicker. I just dropped the pack to the ground.

--I did get two deer though.

Went Hunting Today

I went deer hunting with TBolt this morning.

Got into my tree stand about an hour before sunrise. I didn't have to wait too long.

At about 7:45am I was taking a break and had just quietly opened an energy bar. The crunching in my ears was so loud I almost didn't hear the footsteps.

I stopped chewing and turned toward the sound. I saw it moving through the trees. 

I got a bead on it while I was holding my energy bar on my teeth. It paused about 30 yards away. I shot and it dropped where it stood.

A second later a second one ran out and paused in the clearing as well. Dropped that one too.

The pic on the right is of the inside of the chest and clearly shows four entry and one exit wound. If you have a strong constitution, click on the photo for a closer look.

TBolt cleaned one and I cleaned the other.

--It was a good day.

How to...

The SWAT Bot

The SWAT Bot

It's almost hunting season again in Virginia.

I am feeling really old, so I was thinking that this year it would be totally awesome if I could go hunting and never leave the comfort of my E Z Boy recliner!

TBolt and I did a lot of scouting this weekend in prep for the season. We found a few good spots for stands and blinds. We also got completely eaten up by chiggers.

I would refit this baby with my Saiga 12 gauge shotgun!

Camouflaged nicely this baby is perfect for hunting!

--I would if these can be found on Amazon.com!

Archery

60 Feet

60 Feet

90 Feet

I have been taking up archery as a hobby.

I go to shoot with friends once a week or so. One of the nice things is that my wife enjoys it as well.

I am now a better shot with a bow than I am with my daily carry 1911.

The top target was at 60 feet. It's about a 10 inch group. I would consider that a good pattern with my .45 at 30 feet.

The deer target is a bit small for deer in VA. Unless you are T-Bolt. I would have not gone home hungry though.

The last target was set at 90 Feet. I am still dialing in at that distance. Still not too bad.

--I am really enjoying it!

A Visitor

--Bear hunting season start in October...

Knight Muzzle Loader

This fall I am heading back to the field to hunt with my Knight Muzzle Loader. This allows me to hunt during the "Primitive Weapons" season a few weeks early.

Knight LK93 Stainless Inline 50 cal Muzzleloader

This guy is all stainless steel, has a nice in line hammer with double safeties. I added an Aimpoint Dot scope and now it is great out to 100 yards. Wish me luck! I need some meat!

--Fun stuff, even though it's not so primitive.

Remington Vantage 1200

My brother has squirrels in his attic. He's not nuts, but will be soon if he doesn't get them out soon.That or his wife will murder him in his sleep because they have driven her crazy.

Ever since their dog has gotten too old to chase the deer and squirrels away the damn things have taken over. Then one day he heard the words all husbands long to hear, "Don't you dare come home without a gun."


His plan started with a gallon of ammonia and a piece of one inch cotton rope to use as a wick. He put it in the attic to drive the squirrels out with the vapors. The he got a gun...

Here is what he got:

 Remington Vantage 1200 in .177

 

 

I have not tried it yet, but I already want one. I have a target pellet pistol. Fun stuff.  You can buy 1000 rounds of .177 for $12!

Buy Vantage 1200 on Amazon even!!

--Funny thing is he says it has more recoil than my silenced .22LR.

The Collection: Savage 110FP

As you know, I name all my guns. I'd like to introduce, Fred. If I have to tell you why, go rent The Princess Bride again.

Fred is a .308 Savage 110FP which is the tactical version of the classic model 110. These are modestly priced but can still give me a 2 inch group at 300 yards and I never considered myself a serious marksman.

I bought a very nice Bausch and Lomb 6x-12x scope and quality rings for the rifle. The bipod is a must have. The action on Fred is simple and reliable. I have felt better triggers but I am not that picky.

I have harvested so many deer with this rifle I have lost count. In fact, the very first deer I got, EVER, was with Freds help. That's another story.

My best shot with this rifle was a buck at 457 yards. Far enough away that I could not see the deer with my naked eye.

-- I might upgrade the stock one day. But not today...