Early

I bought one....GREAT little gun. I let my grandson use it with the agreement that if he bagged a deer with it, he could have it. He did...and now I'm looking for another for myself!! If you are looking for an accurate, lightweight deer rifle for shots out to 100, maybe 125 yds, you can't go wrong with this little Ruger. (Note: Grandson whacked a big doe at 70 yds. with a single sledgehammer shot.)

I agree...Great feel. If I didn't already own a Ruger 22/45, I'd buy one. I really like that double action/single action comb. If they ever bring out one in .380, I'll buy it for sure.

What I meant, OMG, is that this old fart CHOOSES to not carry a heavy pack any more. Anything I really need, I can carry in my pockets.

Orange County...a bit too far. If not, I would give you your pick of the number of packs I have that I no longer use. (Hint: 70 year old farts do not carry packs any more!)

Where are you located?

Yep ask the first talking deer you find...and you can be sure the bastard will lie!

"Jumping the string"...Interesting term. The "jump" is actually a gathering motion in preparation for flight that lowers the deer's body. (Think the "squat before the jump.) This flinching type move by the deer can be caused by the sound of the string/arrow, or the movement of bow/arrow/hunter, or both. Whatever, it can often (I speak from experience) cause a high miss..."Shot right over his damn back!" Additional comment: Deer are almost always on "high alert"...their lives depend on it!

But....Do not string loops and release devices detract from the traditional archery approach?? (Kind of like hunting in a "primitive weapons" season, using an inline muzzle loader with a telescopic sight.)

The term "Enemies Within" has taken on new meaning. We do, in fact have militant muslim centers in the US.....The one outside Deposit, NY comes to mind.

Good stuff, Steve. I and many of my hunting buddies progressed from instinctive to gap to shooting with a peep & pin. Our shooting got better with each new change. Fred Bear and Francis Davis were great instinctive shooters...most of us are not!

Consistent draw...anchor...and release are very important; as is follow through. Get a fellow archer to observe you when you shoot to see if you follow through the same on each shot. Also, because shooting a recurve is tougher than shooting a compound, many overgrip the recurve...and apply this overgrip differently from shot to shot. Be a little more conscious of your grip as you shoot...maybe a sling would help. Something else to think about: Shooting a 50# recurve is more difficult than many think. Might be a good idea to get a lighter weight bow (35#) to practice with until you perfect your form. Good luck.......Stick with it!

Wow...Nice fish! I only fish streams. To date, my biggest smallie is 19.5"...a real horse for the stream he came from!

Is that a "food plot"??

Larry, you read my mind: I have a .260, and I have a .308....I want a 7mm-08!!!

Although I prefer live bait fishing (learned from my grandfather some 60 years ago), I, too, enjoy a little top water action now and then...A Heddon Prowler or a Baby Zara Spook can provide some exciting action. I also like to fish for bass with a fly rod, using streamers that I tie up using some of that dreadful dyed bucktail in colors to imitate crawdads or baitfish.

I know a lot of people turn their noses up at the thought of fishing live bait, but that's the way I learned to fish for smallies, over 50 years ago. So, I will keep it up...with no apologies!

Um....What is the bag limit on walleyes??

Agree....deer love those high and dry spots in swamps. One swamp technique we have used is for a couple of guys to watch such high spots while another, or a couple more slide through the swamp hoping to move deer off their beds with the hope that they will move to the spots being watched. Our experience suggests that deer choose not to leave the swamp during most of the day. Rather, if jumped, they will simply move to another high spot within the swamp. Note: for this type of hunting the guys doing the moving will need 16" rubber boots...or maybe even hip waders to get to some of the secluded spots.

Live bait: stonecats...hellgramites...crabs

Temp. was in mid 90's...Sun was burning...and, Smallies were biting. Caught a dozen and a half nice smallies today; brought home four: 14"...15.5"...18"...and 19". All caught in moving water, these smallies really put up a fight!

For those pesky deer flies, try Rad Soap's all natural bug spray. I find it works much better than my usual Deep Woods Off http://www.radsoap.com/category-s/100.htm

You have come no where close to convincing me that Nugent is anything other than a loudmouth windbag.

I don't like him or his style. His wild man, whacko image is bad for the rest of us. Those who support him help to cultivate a negative image of hunters/gun owners/2nd Amendment proponents!

I am not anti 2nd Amendment. I am anti-Nugent. Nugent is a loud-mouth, foul-mouth jerk. We would all be better off if he would just shut up and disappear. He cultivates more enemies for us than friends. He is the anti's best spokesperson!

OMG...A Nugent hero worshipper bowing at the alter of the Nuge! I bet you worship Ann Coulter, too, don't you?