The blog title is especially appropriate this week. We have another gun and three more dogs in the house thanks to my son-in-law, Larry, arriving last night from Virginia. My daughter flew in last Thursday, but Larry's ship didn't get back to Norfolk until the next day, so he drove through the Blizzard of 2009 (as they dubbed it on the news) to get here. Why didn't she just wait and go with him the next day you ask? Katie came for my son's wedding which took place on Saturday. Now they are staying for Christmas, and we'll have six dogs and twelve people here for Christmas dinner.
I went out and dug nearly four gallons of dog poo out of the snow this morning, but I'm sure that was just the tip of the ice-turd, as I haven't been out to pick it up since we got a fairly large snow a couple of weeks ago. By the time the extra dogs go back home, I'm sure I'll have quite a load in the garbage barrel.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Better Luck Next Year
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...I got a decent shot at a deer, but I didn't get it. Deer season is minutes from being over for 2009. I had a half-way decent opportunity on opening day, but didn't execute satisfactorily. Four more trips seeking redemption produced nothing. The excitement provided by a chance to shoot at something other than paper with my Smith & Wesson 500 was worth the $28 for a deer permit, though. I'm sad that I missed my opportunity, but it saved me the hassle of field dressing and disposing of the meat. The wife wouldn't eat it, or cook it, so I probably would have donated it anyway.
I saw 6 other deer while armed and ready during the season, but none of them offered me a legal, or reasonable shot. Two does crossed from public hunting grounds to a private corn field only a few dozen yards away as I was driving yesterday. Three does attempted to cross in front of me from private land to public land this morning, but turned around and went back when they saw me coming down the highway. A nice buck showed me his bright white tail for a fleeting moment in the woods along a creek this morning, and that's the last I saw of him.
I'm not complaining, mind you, just relating the facts. I fully expect to get one (or two) next year, given the experience I gained this year.
I saw 6 other deer while armed and ready during the season, but none of them offered me a legal, or reasonable shot. Two does crossed from public hunting grounds to a private corn field only a few dozen yards away as I was driving yesterday. Three does attempted to cross in front of me from private land to public land this morning, but turned around and went back when they saw me coming down the highway. A nice buck showed me his bright white tail for a fleeting moment in the woods along a creek this morning, and that's the last I saw of him.
I'm not complaining, mind you, just relating the facts. I fully expect to get one (or two) next year, given the experience I gained this year.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Slow Saturday
The NRA membership links are in place now on this blog as well as the EVC blog and the EVC home page, so all you faithful readers out there (Trevor) who aren't already members need to take advantage of the $10 savings now. Seriously, anyone who holds dear our second amendment rights should join, if for no other reason than to get a cool hat and window decal.
The Chief's blog was pretty interesting yesterday and got a lot of comments. Though most were positive, I figured there would be some people not too impressed by Tom's elation over catching someone who shoplifted a magazine.
Well, it's sort of crappy looking outside today. I suppose I'll get started on the SOP for the Ikes shooting range, at least for a while this morning.
The Chief's blog was pretty interesting yesterday and got a lot of comments. Though most were positive, I figured there would be some people not too impressed by Tom's elation over catching someone who shoplifted a magazine.
Well, it's sort of crappy looking outside today. I suppose I'll get started on the SOP for the Ikes shooting range, at least for a while this morning.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Trying to Help
It seems I'm becoming more active with every passing day in the gun enthusiasts arena. On Saturday, I took the NRA course and test to be a certified Range Safety Officer. With that certification, and approval of the Ike's board, I will be able to use the 300 yard range on my own, or act as the Range Officer so that others may use the range under my supervision. I have also volunteered to write a set of standard operating procedures for the Izaak Walton League rifle/pistol/shotgun/archery/air gun ranges and their various events and competitions. That will be a rather time-consuming effort, I'm sure, and will require the help and approval of various members, officers, and board members at the club. Still, I am anxious to get started on it.
I also just became an official recruiter for the NRA. I can offer people $10 of the regular membership price, which is no big deal because you can usually find a coupon or some other special offer if you look. However, I get a commission on each new member I sign up, so I could offer another $5 rebate (so to speak) in addition. I also found out there is a $10 membership (called an associate membership) which still gets you the free hat and insurance on your guns and life, but you don't get the magazine or voting privileges. Not only that, but I can get people a lifetime membership for $750 rather than the regular $1K. If I were not quite so old already, I'd defiinitely consider that myself.
I'm not doing much so far as the EVC for the first district, but there just isn't much going on politically right now as far as 2A issues or elections. I'm sure things will heat up as we near election time and the legislature begins a new session.
I also just became an official recruiter for the NRA. I can offer people $10 of the regular membership price, which is no big deal because you can usually find a coupon or some other special offer if you look. However, I get a commission on each new member I sign up, so I could offer another $5 rebate (so to speak) in addition. I also found out there is a $10 membership (called an associate membership) which still gets you the free hat and insurance on your guns and life, but you don't get the magazine or voting privileges. Not only that, but I can get people a lifetime membership for $750 rather than the regular $1K. If I were not quite so old already, I'd defiinitely consider that myself.
I'm not doing much so far as the EVC for the first district, but there just isn't much going on politically right now as far as 2A issues or elections. I'm sure things will heat up as we near election time and the legislature begins a new session.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Meet the Sniper
The good news is that my kills-per-shot ratio in dove hunting this year is 1 to 1. The bad news is that I only saw one bird in range for a shot on opening day. The dogs and i went out to Wagon Train Lake on Tuesday between 10 and 11 in the morning; not the ideal time, I know. We walked across the dam and then through the wooded area on the southwest corner of the property. Coming back across the dam, I noticed a pair of doves fly down to the water's edge way up ahead of us. I watched, hoping they'd hang around until we got close enough for a shot, but they took off and landed again somewhere near the other end of the dam. They never appeared again, so we loaded up and drove to the far end of the property where there was some heavily wooded ground next to an open field of tall weeds (mostly fox tail, I think). We wound our way through the woods, but it was thick with spider webs. I'm not worried about spiders or anything, but I hate the way the damn webs stick to your face and clothing and such. So, we worked our way out into the field and headed back toward the truck. Presently, I spotted a dove drop down out of one of the trees and head across the field about 40 yds. out. I had no trouble putting the front sight on it since I got the new bright green fiber-optic job from Cabela's a week or so ago. Its mate left the tree just a little behind but dropped too low for me to get a shot at it until it was out of range.
I kept my eye on the area the first dove dropped but didn't really expect to find it in the thick growth. I could hardly see the ground and had no idea where the dogs were except when they came close enough for me to hear them. I stopped about where I thought the dove came down and saw the weeds moving around just a few feet away. I found Sienna there wagging her tail and eyeballing the dead bird just inches from her nose. God, I love dogs! I let the other two sniff it when they finally figured out where we were. Mocha didn't care much, but Murphy wanted to bite its head off. It's probably not a wise thing to do, but I fried the little critter up and fed it to the dogs once we got home (one small bite each with Sienna getting the lion's share since she found it). Then, I spent about an hour cleaning the weed seeds from the dogs coats and my sneakers.
Wednesday, my son and i went out to Pawnee Lake to practice on some clay pigeons. I should stick to doves. We didn't actually count, but I'd guess we hit somewhere between half and two thirds of our attempts. My cheek is still a bit sore, but my shoulder held up surprisingly well.
The Saltdogs won the second home playoff game after getting their butts kicked in the first one by the Wichita Wingnuts. I have to wonder if they have a factory there that makes wingnuts, or if they just chose that name for the consonance effect. I guess it's no worse than making up something like Saltdogs. The third game is tonight at 7 pm in Wichita. Go Dogs!
I kept my eye on the area the first dove dropped but didn't really expect to find it in the thick growth. I could hardly see the ground and had no idea where the dogs were except when they came close enough for me to hear them. I stopped about where I thought the dove came down and saw the weeds moving around just a few feet away. I found Sienna there wagging her tail and eyeballing the dead bird just inches from her nose. God, I love dogs! I let the other two sniff it when they finally figured out where we were. Mocha didn't care much, but Murphy wanted to bite its head off. It's probably not a wise thing to do, but I fried the little critter up and fed it to the dogs once we got home (one small bite each with Sienna getting the lion's share since she found it). Then, I spent about an hour cleaning the weed seeds from the dogs coats and my sneakers.
Wednesday, my son and i went out to Pawnee Lake to practice on some clay pigeons. I should stick to doves. We didn't actually count, but I'd guess we hit somewhere between half and two thirds of our attempts. My cheek is still a bit sore, but my shoulder held up surprisingly well.
The Saltdogs won the second home playoff game after getting their butts kicked in the first one by the Wichita Wingnuts. I have to wonder if they have a factory there that makes wingnuts, or if they just chose that name for the consonance effect. I guess it's no worse than making up something like Saltdogs. The third game is tonight at 7 pm in Wichita. Go Dogs!
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