The Hunting Times

 Nick and I decided we were not going to get up 3 hours before sunrise and go sit in the dark today for the season opener.  Instead, we agreed to "sleep in" until first light and then walk in.  Good thing too as I go back to pick him up, he's still in bed as his alarm was not set properly. On the drive into Marshall's N woods, we see 9 deer in the fields - most are eating and not spooked, but they still probably got there by being pushed out of the woods as hunters walked into the woods... We park and start walking.  Eric and Denis are already there and in their stands on Neal.  It's close to 7:20 am and it's 29F (-1.5C).  Just as Nick gets 100 yds N of the truck he starts clapping his mittened hands at me.  I look around.  Nothing.  I pick up the phone and call.  He tells me there are deer in the field eating.  I could not see them due to the shift in terrain.  Ok.  Good information.  I ask if he can hit them.  ...

Nice article on the joys of dove hunting and what it means...click on the link below: Brandon Butler: Dove season provides an enjoyable challenge - Daily Journal

The day started at 6:15 am with venison biscuits & gravy.  Dad, Michael, Zach, Harrison, Hailie, Alex, Will and I partied down.  Kathy & Hadley passed.  Nick showed up later.   We split into three groups and set up along the driveway at about 7.  Nick and Zach took the pond.  Michael, Hadley, and Alex took the corner.  Kathy, Harrison, Hailie (observer, not hunter), Will and I took our driveway out front.  We all had Mojo decoys and stationary decoys to put out. And... the hunting was slow.  The kids got bored and walked just to switch places.  Not many shots were fired.  In fact, we logged 3 birds and probably 12 shots total.  Although Harrison was having fun, he didn't get many (i.e. none). About 10-ish, we grabbed the clay pigeon / trap thrower and met at the curve to shoot some clays.  This was enjoyable because we could haze each other.  And once folks figured out the pattern, we switched the flight ...

Michael had mandatory training and could not attend the annual trip down to the strip pits in Terre Haute to shoot doves.  Tony took his place this year.   Me, Davey, and RePhil left Mulberry at 4:30 am.  We drove down and met Tony before arriving at the ponds.  We set up and started hunting as the sun rose up over the water.  It was chilly, but not cold and it all too soon got hot. We hunted the early birds and then had a flurry came by about 8.  By 8:30 we were down to singles.  So we set up a tailgate breakfast and maybe consumed an adult beverage or two. We cleaned up and headed for lunch at the New Goshen Pub.  Left by 1:30 to drive home with a whopping 13 doves. Mind you, Davey & RePhil went through three boxes of shells each and tagged 5 birds.  Me and Tony?  I think we fired a total of ten rounds and bagged the remainder of the birds.  Oh well.  The more those other two missed, the more birds there were for us....

I went ahead and bought Silencer Central's Banish Backcountry .30 cal suppressor and put it in a trust.  The least expensive suppressor out there?  No.  The lightest?  Pretty darn close.  Easy to get shipped to my home?  Absolutely.  Nothing but mad respect for Silencer Central.  They made it super easy and convenient. You order online, complete your paperwork online, ship in your photo and fingerprints, pay your fee, electronically sign the documentation, and then wait, and wait, and wait.  I ordered right before the new year (late December 2022).  It arrived at the end of August 2023, or a full 8 months plus to get it.  But when it is approved by the gubment, the unit ships to your doorstep.  I'm telling you, this was the easiest and most convenient way to own a suppressor.  If you're thinking about getting one, use Silencer Central. And to be fair, this is NOT a sponsored post.  Nobody paid me nothing to share my o...