The Hunting Times

I watched former Army Ranger and Green Beret Joshua Enyart explain how to build a proper ghillie suit.  One in which you do not become a Ghillie Wookie.  Joshua's 34-minute video is on YouTube and can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWWGsvmY0Nw   What Joshua calls the Ghillie Wookie Too much jute / burlap & no local vegetation has been incorporated - FAIL I think if you have the time, you should watch this video.  This guy is hilarious, easy to relate to, and obviously very experienced in making ghillie suits that just plain work!  Joshua explains what has worked for him and why, but leaves it open that you (dear viewer) may have other needs and should adapt as necessary.  This is not THE method, just one method that works.  Joshua reminds me a lot of instructor Kevin Reeve.  Just an all-around likeable guy.   The key take-away from this video as compared to other military "the making of" ghillie suits...

This past Saturday, the bride and I drove down to London, KY to visit with Sister Meg and her family.  As a "fun" activity we tried out the new TreeTop Adventures in the Levi Jackson State Park. You don't know TreeTop Adventures?  Well it's not zip-lining, although there is some of that.  Think of it as American Ninja Warrior in the trees!  It was awesome. It's not cheap.  $25 per person.  But you get to try as many different courses as possible in 90 minutes - do as many as you can.  Or, do like we did, and do one because after that you are really tired.  And, it's totally worth the cash! There are four levels of courses:  white, green, blue, and black.  And like ski slopes, they go from 'a baby can do this' to 'only crazy people go here.'  What to Expect First you get your safety harness all strapped up.  Locked and Loaded. Then you get an orientation on how to use the equipment along with what to expect "out th...

Dawn dishwashing soap is known for being gentle on you while tough on grease.  I mean, who has not seen the commercial of Dawn soap being used to clean baby ducks that had been caught in some environmental disaster?  Great marketing plan.  Tug your heart-strings. And for the most part, Dawn does do a pretty good job at removing grease from human arms and legs that have gotten dirty.  Although I will say, you have to work at it - sometimes even using a scrubbing pad to remove stubborn grease from one's body parts.  Been there.  Done that. A lot of advertising for Dawn But recently, I have made two discoveries.  First some background.  I learned of Dr. Bronner's pure castile soap at my first Tom Brown, Jr. class back in the early 90's.  Dr. Bronner's soap is not only good for your body, but also the environment, as it's 100% biodegradable.  Plus, as a bonus, the wildlife are not bothered by the peppermint smell - basically, it mas...

I am pretty confident that Tanner does not read this blog, so it will not spoil the surprise for him by sharing with y'all… In 2015, on our prairie dog trip to New Mexico, we stopped by Tanner's grandpa's house and chatted with Papa Howard.  Yes, sure, we hunted prairie dogs there too.  But during the visit, Papa Howard gave me a gift - a flint-knapped knife made by an American Indiana Papa Howard knew growing up. I told Tanner that I could not accept such a gift.  That knife should remain in the family.  However, I was told under no certain terms that if I refused the gift, I would insult Papa Howard and he would not forgive me - ever.  So as graciously as possible, I accepted the gift. Said knife has been hanging on the wall in my home office ever since returning from that trip.  It sure has been a great conversation starter. Each year since, we have 'run into' Papa Howard while out and about or one time even at the cabin.  He was full of sto...

We Seager kids grew up calling it Emmet's Pond.  Today it is known as Will's Pond.  Just ask him.  He'll tell ya so. Alex and I took Will on a fishing trip to his pond.  We caught one before he was off on his next adventure.  No touching of the worms or the fish.  The pole was a hit, but that's about it. And so the next generation gets to use ole Emmet's Pond... Daddy putting the worm on the hook Papaw helping cast and reel. Note all the moss we had to contend with. And Will caught a Monster Blue Gill. He's Happy.  That's his "cheese" face.

For Christmas each year, my parents give all us kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids a Family Reunion - that my niece calls the Family Run-Away.  Ma & Pa pay for hotels, cabins, or what-nots and meals for the week-end.  All they ask is that we show up.  Good to go. This year we all went down to Jasper, Indiana for a 3-day week-end.  Fun was had by all. We took the opportunity to take a family picture outside our hotel.  Here's the family tree starting with Craig & Sandy going down the line... Craig, Nick, Alex, Hadley, Will, Mallory, Sandy, Shelby, and Kathy

We bought the grands a battery-powered Jeep for use at Grandma & Papaw's.  Then Sandy's Aunt & Uncle brought over a Police Car that their grands had outgrown.  At 2 & 3 1/2 they kinda get what's going on.  Forward and Reverse?  Good to go.  Steering?  Not so much. It matters not, they are having a blast and that's all that counts! Hadley in the Get-Away Jeep. Will and Mallory on the chase. Will takes a break from driving to call for backup.

So we took both benches on a trailer with us to New Mexico over Memorial Day (late May, first week of June) and used them as our "rest" for shooting prairie dogs. First off I must say, riding around the New Mexico desert on a trailer was much smoother than I ever imagined.  We had zero difficulties riding on the trailer while the truck moved from shooting location to shooting location.  And the benches?  They are the Bomb!  They will be going back with us next year - with a few modifications. Loading up the truck to head for the field. Cooler of beer?  Check. Enough Ammo?  Check. Guns?  Check. No Man's Land beef jerky?  Check. We're good to go!  The benches on the trailer behind the truck in the New Mexico desert A close-up of the benches in use. They are strapped to the trailer for stability. Nick is using bipods, I am on a sand bag. Modifications are going to include screwing the tops down.  The 3,00...