Right about now, the end of July or early August, I really start getting the itch to get out in the field. Muzzleloading deer season is barely 2 months away and I can’t hardly wait for this year. I’m looking forward to making up for the mistakes of last year. I’ve been talking to my long time hunting buddy Keith (and fellow Plains Hunter blogger) and I know he’s feeling it as well. We’re already planning opening weekend for Dove season as well as Muzzleloader opener.
It also seems that we’re not alone. Pink Camo is talking about it also. I figure most hunters start feeling the itch about now. The weather’s been really hot and we’re all looking forward to that cool crispness of fall because that mean more time outdoors for me.
How about you? Are you ready to get out and do some hunting?
Wow, I can’t believe that summer is half over already. All it seems I’ve done is work. I still have yet to take a vacation. I haven’t even had time to post to the blog. It’s kind of hard to post about hunting when there isn’t any hunting to be done. But that will be remedied in about 2 months when dove season starts and of course, muzzleloading deer season. So here’s what I’ve been up to this summer so far, besides working like a dog at my day job.
I went through conceal carry class and turned in my application. Forty five days and I’ll join the ranks of the CCW crowd. Don’t ask me why I wanted to take it. I don’t necessarily feel scared and need to carry a gun. I did it more for the fact that I could, since Kansas is a CCW state. And to poke my finger at the anti-gun crowd. It will keep the stats way on the positive side and make their lies all the more noticeable. I’m still trying to ultimately decide what I’m going to carry, when I do. I have a Glock model 27, or rather, the good wife does. It was her father’s duty gun, he was in law enforcement for various departments. But I’m not a huge fan of Glocks. I’m more of a revolver guy and have been drawn towards a S&W model 60 in .357. We’ll see, I have time.
Phase 1 of the Bolte Skinner
I’ve also done a bit of shooting here and there. The last time out, I went with Keith’s dad out to his gun club and watched a black powder match. I’m really considering joining the club. It’s reasonably priced, but a bit of a drive considering I live roughly 15 minutes from another range. I’d save money in the long run and could go whenever I wanted if I joined, as opposed to 2 weekends a month at the close range. Plus they have a 200 yard range and lots of different types of shooting out there including cowboy action. OK, I’ve talked myself into it.
The other project I started is making my own skinning knife. I did some reading and saw what some were doing with old hand saw blades. So I got an old saw from my dad, and here is the knife I cut out. I’ve done a little work on the edge, but still have a lot to do. I have some cabinet maple scraps that I’m going to use for a handle. I’m a little skeptical that this blade will hold any kind of edge, it seemed a little soft when I was grinding on it. But we’ll see, it might be more a proof of concept than anything. It’s been fun so far though.
So that’s what I’ve been up to this summer. I’m really looking forward to deer season this year. I have so much to make up for from last season. I also really want to get those Marlins out as well. So what have the rest of you been up to this summer? Anyone ready for hunting season to kick off?
I went out on my second turkey hunt this morning. It was short, we only had a couple of hours, but my buddy wanted to give it a shot.
As I frequently do, I under-dressed for the weather, it was 45 degrees when I stepped out of my vehicle at 5:45 AM. It’s May for crying out loud! I was thinking 60. Luckily, my buddy had an extra shirt that, coupled with the adrenaline, kept me warm enough.
We had a couple of gobblers right off the bat. Our stand is about a mile north of the Ninescah river with a country road between us and the river. The turkeys were down along the river, we could hear them in the tree line there when we pulled in. We hurriedly got set up and waited for the sun to come up.
I haven’t got the knack for calling yet, so my partner was chattering on his slate call. He saw the jakes get up to the road, but they wouldn’t cross into our field. He called at them for over an hour and they just weren’t that interested.
So, I’m zero for two now. But that’s alright. It’s always good to get out in the field. And in this instance, I can be patient.
Keep your powder dry.
Update (5-4-2010): it looks like I’ve managed to get poison ivy. I saw it, had hoped that covering every inch of my skin with clothing would keep from getting it. But not so. Must. Not. Scratch.
My first turkey hunt ended without a turkey. But hey, I’ve always said, a bd day of hunting is still better than a good day at work.
Started the evening hunt by spotting 2 jakes as we were pulling up to the field. They high-tailed it out of there and never came back. We did have a hen show up n hour before sundown and hang out until she left to go roost.
My partner, whose family owned the land we were on, said that it might still be a little early yet. We didn’t here any gobbles all evening, which he claimed was unusual.
So, I might get another chance this upcoming weekend. Looking forward to it!
Jack Landers, from one of my favorite hunting sites “The Locavore Hunter“, has an interview on the blog “Let Them Eat Meat“. Both Jack and the LTEM site are from ex-vegans. Jack however has taken up hunting and has some of the best pro-hunting articles I’ve ever read.
But I truly like Jack’s philosophy of hunting, so much more than the testosterone filled pages of most hunting magazines. Anyway, take a gander over to the interview and support a fellow hunter who’s ventured into the land of people who say we’re the enemy. And drop by Jack’s site, you’ll become a fan as well.
I might get to go turkey hunting this weekend. Suhweet!
A friend’s family has some land not far from here and he invited me out on Sunday. Let’s hope it works out. It would be my first turkey hunt. I should find out for sure tomorrow.
I’ve been looking for a new hunting bag to use mostly when I’m muzzleloading. So I’m needing a possibles bag. Problem is, I just can’t figure out which style I want.
Currently, I have an old milsurp musette bag. It looks good with the Enfield, not so much with the black powder rifles. I’m not really interested in playing dress up, but I would like the bag to match the rifle a bit better.
So I’m thinking about making my own bag. I kind of know what I want, but I can’t really find it out there. Most of the inexpensive bags just look to poorly made. The others are just way out of my range, like this English Hunting bag.
Here’s some of the things I like. Jedediah Starr has a couple of canvas bags I like, this Haversack and this Long Hunter’s bag. They are both very reasonable, not sure how well they might hold up though.
I like this Shooter’s bag at Crazy Crow, but it’s a bit out there in price also.
So I’m thinking of making my own. Probably something similar to the Shooter’s bag style but I want a canvas or woven strap. I’ve seen these straps that aren’t necessarily canvas as the weave is much looser, more belt like. Not sure what it is exactly. I also like a knife sheath on the back of the bag, I’ve seen that a couple of times and can look pretty cool. A couple of pockets on the inside to keep everything in its place and I’d be good.
So it looks like I might be learning how to do leather work. Just need to decide on the leather and get busy.
So you muzzleloaders out there (and I know you’re there because I see what you’re searching for), what do you guys use out in the field? Did you make it yourself or buy it?
