The Hunting Times

So last night I thawed out some deer loins.  I seasoned them and pounded them.  Then I put some Teriyaki sauce on them and wrapped them in bacon before throwing them on the grill.  There were eight total in the package.  I ate six, and it took everything I had to save two for Dad.  No need for utensils, I ate them with my fingers.  Not only were they that tender, they were also pretty darn delicious.  Here they are coming off the grill. Grilled deer loins fresh off the grill! So then it was off to watch football and do some house chores since Mama was working.  And wouldn't you know, the phone rings - it's Davey.  He said that it's the last hour of the last day of muzzle loading season, so we should go sit in the truck and drink some beer while the sun goes down.  And if a deer happens to come out, we'll stalk it and take a shot.  Sounds like a good plan.  I load up a cooler and pick up Dave.  It's cold outsi...

We decided to try something different this morning since our normal hunting routines are not being all too successful.  I picked up Davey at 7:30 am and we headed for the golf course.  It was brutally cold.  It was 17 F outside with a 5 mph wind, making it feel like it was 11.  And once the wind picked up, it felt even colder than that. Davey walked down Hole #1 and across to #4 to try and get out of the wind.  I walked down Hole #18, down #14, and then into #15's bowl.  Our objective was to get some meat for the freezer without freezing ourselves.  We stayed out for 1 hour and 45 minutes, and that was about 1 hour and 45 minutes too long.  We saw nothing but a fox.  And we are not allowed to take a shot at Ken's foxes. Fox tracks, squirrel tracks, and human tracks crossing the bridge on Hole #15 at Deer Track on 16 DEC 2016 My view looking back W down in the bowl on Hole #15 We left the course and drove into Frankfort to h...

So Simpson's called me Wednesday morning and said the doe I shot on Thanksgiving was done and ready to be picked up.  I made plans with Dad to leave about 2 pm and deliver half to Uncle DC at 3.  We rolled into Frank's place and picked up the deer.  We were the only people present.  Frank said that he is down to processing one day per week, as he only had 15 deer turned in during muzzle loading season so far.  Ouch. We paid  Frank and then headed to DC's in Flora.  He was out getting groceries, but made it back in less than ten minutes.  We split up the haul, and then, of course, we cut open a fresh tube of salami. Then what happened?  We go thirsty, so we opened a brand new bottle of Buffalo Trace whiskey - that was going to be a Christmas present for Shane! So then I had to text my Cuz this picture and told him thanks for the drink: Buffalo Trace whiskey and fresh deer salami! Shane's reply?  "Now you are pissing me off!" ...

So Alex and I go out about 4 pm Sunday evening.  It's 32 F and raining.  We had some snow earlier, but it's melting pretty fast. Alex walked out to the E stand on Neal - which happened to be flooded, like it always seems to do about this time each year.  Fortunately, it was FROZEN right up to the last step.  See photo below. Looking down at the ground from the top of the E stand on Neal. That water nearly came over the top of Alex's boot! I walked the road down to Marshall's bottoms.  I slowly walked N and then up to the top when I was N of Bailey's.  Here was my view: Marshall's bottom ground, looking back SE. Some snow, but it's melting quickly in the rain. Alex's view from the E stand on Neal, looking W.   I saw nothing but tracks:  deer, rabbit, and turkey.  And that's about all Alex saw too.  We ended up being wet and chilly with nothing to show for it.  But, we are sure to have a better oppor...

Multiple years ago, for my birthday, I bought a Hornady Lock-n-Load AP progressive reloading press.  It feels like it's been about four years, so it has probably been 7.  Don't really recall.  What I do know is that I broke the drive hub - the bit that moves the shell plate from stage to stage. Hornady's Lock-n-Load AP progressive reloading press So, I did some research on YouTube to figure out how to get the dang thing apart.  There are some really good videos out there on how to disassemble these units.  Thank you to whomever authored those - they are awesome.  While watching, one guy noted that you are supposed to lubricate the drive hub about every 800 to 1,000 rounds.  What???  I have over 8,000 rounds through and I have NEVER lubed the hub.  Wonder why it broke? Now, that being said, the two screws that hold the sub plate to the ram assembly - those little bastards are installed with about ten trillion foot pounds of force. ...

So I was out on vacation for 9 days which means I missed opening week-end for muzzle loading season.  And then I played 'catch-up' with activities every evening this past week.  I finally had a chance to go out with the Smoke Pole on Saturday. Me and Davey and Alex went out to the golf course.  Davey sat overwatch on 5.  I hunkered down on 17.  Alex went to the bowl on 15.  And there was nothing to be seen except a few squirrels. We arrived at dark about 7:00 am.  We waited until first light, 7:20, to walk in.  We sat until about 9 with zero activity as far as shots go.  We didn't hear anything.  The wind was a bit brutal, but the temps hung around the 20 degree mark.  No too unbearable. But, alas, we knew what awaited us in the truck - Dunkel and deer salami.  We bailed about 9 and called it a morning. My view from Hole 17 on Saturday, 11 DEC 2016 No Deer?  No Problem! Celebration feast of Warsteiner Du...

It was a gloomy - fully overcast Friday afternoon, DEC 10, 2016.  The temperatures were hovering around 20 degrees F ( -7 C).  And what is that sound coming from the sky?  Hundreds of Sandhill Cranes making their way South to warmer climes.  I do not blame you, brother birds.  In fact, I totally understand! Here is just ONE of the multitude of flocks that flew over.  In the 'full size' version, I count close to 200 birds int this frame. Sandhill Cranes making their way South on Friday, 10 DEC 2016

Happy Turkey Day Everybody! As has been the custom for at least the past 36 years that I have been involved, the Seager Clan met up with the Davis Clan for deer hunting on Thanksgiving. This year, however, was a bit different - in as much as we actually did not even hunt.  Cuz Shane had back surgery, Dad and DC are just plain getting old, and it was wet and cold outside. We sat around the barn telling stories for 90 minutes, and then decided that it was time to break out the beer.  The whiskey soon followed.  And we called it quits at 10:30 so folks could go get ready for lunch.  Not a shot was fired, but we had an absolute blast. Dad, Nick and I then headed for the golf course at 3:40 pm.  Nick sat on 15, Dad blocked W on 17, and I was overwatch on Hole 5 to the S. About 5:20, two doe came out from the S and were about 400 yards E of me.  They worked their way between the ponds on 5 & 6, getting within 200 yards.  When they crested the h...

Kevin Reeve Kevin Reeve is the founder and director of onPoint Tactical ( http://www.onpointtactical.com/ ).  I have taken numerous classes from Kevin and consider him both very knowledgeable and a friend.  It is with that bias that I read his latest article, The Knife and I .  Not only did a learn quite a bit, making the post educational, but it was entertaining to boot.  I actually laughed out loud at this line: "If you know how many knives you have you don't have enough" I have applied that same philosophy to gun ownership, much to my wife's dismay.  My dad on the other hand - there ain't no way you know how many knives you have!  Winning... Go read the article here: http://files.constantcontact.com/b0fb3917001/9e416ee4-c973-4e4f-a336-d3e8aa75c129.pdf It's only six pages with pictures.  It won't take you ten minutes.  It will however inform you greatly. No promotional consideration has been paid by Kevin or onPoint Tactic...

There was a pretty good cloud cover this morning, so as the sun was coming up, it turned the Eastern horizon red from due North all the way to due South.  That's 180 degrees of sunrise.  It was spectacular.  And of course, pictures do not do it justice.  If I were any more handy with the iPhone, I might have been able to take a panoramic shot.  I'll put that on my To Do List. In the meantime, enjoy the sunrise... Sunrise, Tuesday, 02 NOV 2016, Co. Rd. 800W, Clinton County, Indiana

Got a call from Michael.  He wanted to know if I had time to help him drag, gut, and hang a deer.  I did.  So I drove over and gave him a hand with this nice buck...

So as I go to post today, I get this notice from Google, and I quote: European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent.  As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies.  You are responsible for confirming this notice actually works for your blog, and that it displays. If you employ other cookies, for example by adding third party features, this notice may not work for you.  Learn more  about this notice and your responsibilities. So for all you EU visitors (the ONE I know of, Dave), I do not use any cookies on my website. And you see that second paragraph?  I looked at my blog and I did not see said notice. Oh well, as far as I know, I am not violating any EU laws with this blog. There may be moral issues or social ...

Well we hit the golf course this morning.  It was 25 degrees, but the wind was not near as bad as the previous day.  And today we took Davey with us. Our plan was to push deer starting at 8:45 so that Kathy and Alex could get to church.  That never materialized, as a buck walked by at 40 yards.  Game over. It was a small one, rack wise - a 4-pt.  But it had a nice sized body.  And hey, they all eat about the same. We commandeered a golf cart for "hauling" it out.  We know, we're not right, but we work Smarter not Harder. A beautiful morning on the golf course! Didn't have to drag this bad boy more than 30 yards -  and then DROVE him back to the truck. A little cooler water and the carts looks as good as new.

Yes, the wind was blowing at 20+ mph.  Yes, it was 35 degrees outside.  Yes, it snowed, and sleeted, and rained.  And yes, I was out there in the woods, hunting deer. I went out alone as Nick was not feeling well.  I drove out to Marshall's and sat on the bottom ground, in hopes of getting out of the wind.  Vain hope.  I stood at the S end, near the road, until I thought it was CLOSE to legal light.  I check the time.  It was past legal light, but due to the fully overcast sky, it was still not light enough to shoot. I ended up staying for about an hour, before starting a very slow and methodical stalk to the N.  I took a deer trail and walked past 3 scrapes and countless rubs.  I took the following picture of the freshest scrape.  It was visited sometime between last night and me passing.  How do I know this?  It rained last night.  If the rain had hit those prints, they would be washed out, not crisp.  Trus...

The question asked around the house is, Do you really need another gun?  The answer is moot.  I got one, a Ruger Precision Rifle in .243 caliber.  Take a look: Today wasn't actually ideal for sighting in a rifle, but I made it happen.  The temperature was 50 degrees F when I ended the session.  The wind was blowing W to E at 6 mph.  I used 58 grain Hornady A-Max Superformance varmint loads to get on paper.  Then I shot for groupings all at 100 yards. 5-Shot groups at 100 yards The 58 gr gave me a 0.99" spread. Factory 80 gr bullets yielded 1.67" Fusion  95 gr bullets posted a 1.00" spread with two bullets in one hole. Krueger's handloads of 95 gr Sierra Match King bullets posted a 1.05" spread. **All measurements taken with a digital micrometer and measured center to center. Of note, I did not change my point of aim for any of the ammo tested.  As you can see below, Krueger's rounds shot left (purple circle). ...

We tried to do what we did yesterday, leave early and walk in to be set up before first light.  Well, the truck tires were low, so I pumped them all up.  Kathy had to drive so she could leave for church - so we're taking two vehicles.  Nick was not present, so I had Kathy text him.  I checked my phone and he texted at 5:48 am to say he was not feeling well and would not be going.  And so we bolted about 6:30 am. It was warmer this morning, 31 degrees, but there was more wind, so it felt colder.  Too cold in fact to not have a coat - like the ones Alex carried into the house, and then left Kathy's there.  We got out at the golf course and Kathy asked, Alex - where's my coat?  On the couch.  She ran back to get it. Alex set up at the East end in the bowl.  Kathy sat on the South.  I took Nick's spot from yesterday.  And we sat.  There was NOTHING moving.  Alex and I didn't even get to see any squirrels.  Kathy ...

First of all, a huge Thank You to all the Veterans, both past and present, for your service to this Great Nation!  And a Happy Veterans Day to you all. Today, Saturday, November 12, 2016 opened firearms season for deer in Indiana.  And this year, the rules have changed to allow for high powered rifles to be used for the first time for hunting deer in Indiana.  For the record, none of us used rifles, we stuck with our shotguns and I took my .458 SOCOM.  Not that we are opposed to the law, we just chose to stay with what's worked since we started. Kathy, Alex, Nick, and I headed for the golf course this morning at 6:15 and it was a crisp 25 degrees F.  There was frost everywhere.  The wind, however, was almost non-existent.  Nice! We sat for three hours.  I jumped two doe walking in and it was too dark to shoot.  They snorted as they ran off and spooked a fox.  Mr. Fox was in range, but the landowner does not want us shooting the...

If you were not up this morning for the Halloween sunrise then you missed a good one!  Pictures cannot do it justice, but I will try... And then we ended the day with a visit from some little ten-month old dressed up a Sully from the Pixar / Disney movie Monsters, Inc.  He had a tail and horns to boot.  Then his aunt Shelby got him monster booties to wear as a Halloween gift.  What a riot... Little Will as Sully Now wearing his "monster" feet

As per our usual custom, RePhil, Davey, and I headed to North Dakota to try and knock down some roosters.  We took RePhil's boy Aaron (A-A-Ron) again this year and added two freshmen:  son-in-law Alex Martin, and Zach Livengood.  Also tagging along this year was Riley, Krueger's bird dog. We arrived in Ellendale, ND on Wednesday, 26 OCT after a 14 hour drive in a pouring rain that put 2.5" on the land we were about to hunt.  I'm not sure I got more than 1 mile of "dry boot" walking the entire time we were there.  On top of that, we rented a party van so that the six of us plus the dog could travel together and save on gas.  What we did not count on was that the van would not allow us to travel the sloppy roads.  We had to park and walk a lot farther than we normally would have. We waked Riley through the CRP on day one with a 100' lead to ensure she was "ready" to hunt and not run off.  None of us wanted to explain to Krueger why his dog did...

Alex called and said we should try to hunt Friday night, so we did.  We loaded up and hit the woods at 4:30 pm.  It was 63 F with a 7 mph wind from the SE, which was odd - or at least not standard.  Alex walked the fence row and sat on Neal, where the corn was still standing.  I walked down the road and sat on Marshall's bottom, near the creek.  And once again, the mosquitoes were awful. At first, Alex didn't think they were bad, but when the sun went down the wind died and the mosquitoes drove him out a little early.  I ended up seeing 2 squirrels, a flock of geese, and zero deer. Still it was an awesome day to be out! My view for the evening.  I sent this to Cuz Shane -  wishing he were here to share it with me instead of the damn mosquitoes! I called it quits by 7:15 pm.  Last legal light was 7:37. I was dark enough in the woods anyways and I was treated to this sunset as I walked out. I turned around, now facing ...