Two Track

i had couple of the kentucky pistols that used a single one of those caps to shoot a cork ball 4-5 feet out of the barrel. Those cork balls never had much power to hurt (and they tended to get lost quickly, especially if you took them outside). Still have 1911 style cap gun with a bad spring somewhere. Haven't seen those caps for it in years. Now it is airsoft or paintball and you need to wear padded clothing and googles. Progress...(and need more funds to have fun).

The strongest in my mind is a repeat of the same thing that happen in my early days of deer hunting. For the first time in several years, I pulled out my old heavy steel ladder stand and used it on the last Saturday of gun season. I didn't get to my planned spot, as someone was already there, so I was in a new spot I hadn't been at before on public land. I carried in my stand, set out a couple scent-wicking dispensers and set up the stand just off a trail and it looked over a bottom area with another trail in it. Climbed up and realized my safety line was back at the car - oh well. This where the repeat event happens, sat for a couple hours and heard something moving behind me. Had a nice doe come in on another trail I didn't spot behind me. Had no way to take a shot to right and behind me (I am a righty). All I could do was watch her. I had that happen once before in the late 80's on private family property. This day I had borrowed my son's slug gun figuring that I would have to a take long range shot, or see one from a ways out. If I had taken my gun afield(I had it in the car) I could have gotten her when she moved to a point that could shoot to the right, but i couldn't get her in the scope - too close. I swapped back to my gun and got the safety line when I grabbed lunch from the car. She never came back by. but I had a hawk hanging out nearby and that was pretty cool. It was nice having a better view from the ladder stand again. I will give it a fresh paint job in the spring or summer to use it again next year. I had the best opportunity in the ladder stand than I have had on the ground over the past few seasons.

I haven't been there so far this year for deer. In the past, it they were close enough, I tell them right off that they are not allow to be there during deer season and they could get shot accidentally. I don't mind as much if they are just on the road, but on the trails, or worse yet, off trail, that is real potential for a problem. I think they should post at all the entrances (not just in the lot, but at the road/trail entrances) a fresh sign closed except for hunters and trappers from (opening date) to (closing date), all others may be arrested for trespassing.

I do all I can to not have a hunting accident or an accident while hunting (defined as personal injury, non-firearm related - falls, branches to the face, twist a ankle/knee, shredding your pants in the thorns, etc). If am out with anyone, we review where we are going to be, directions that can/can't shoot, etc to try to keep everyone safe. If cross another hunter on public land, I let them know where I am headed to avoid any shooting issues, or be told that someone is already that way so I can pick another area.

My daughter's class had the optional shooting after class. Of course she yes when they said you can go out and shoot a few targets while they were grading. She is petite and small for her age. She watched a guy shoot the 12 gauge magnum and the kick back from it. Then she was not sure about shooting. Told her start with the 22 and then try the 410. They will not kick like that. She took her time and never missed - a great confidence boost for her with 20-25 people watching (instructors and students combined). Another nice thing about a class with a shooting option, you get the feel of using different firearms (brands, type [single/semi-auto/pump], stocks, sights) to see if one of them is something you want to buy without paying for any range and cleaning fees, and having someone who is experienced with that particular one for any pointers on it. 45 minute drive one-way for a few week-nights plus a Saturday. Those were longs days for me - work all day, drive home just to pick her up, and come back home at 9:30/9:45 PM. The smile on her face hitting those targets was great. Now, if she would get up early on the weekend to get out there.

When I hear 5 quick shots, I am thinking who is out here bird hunting or target shooting. If they are deer hunting, they seriously need to practice more, especially if they are taking all those shots on one deer. Then I picture a deer looking like Swiss cheese. If they were shooting a large bear that is way too close and charging, I would probably empty my gun into it. Sometimes deer will drop within couple feet, sometimes they will go 30-40 yards and then drop dead. It is not like the movies or TV showing a hunt where it is almost an instantaneous drop of the animal. So I can see not being sure on the first and taking a follow-up shot. Five, well better practice to shoot better and be more sniper-ish/precise in shooting. Deer hunting is not suppose to be spray and pray. Personally I would treat a slug-gun like a low/mid-range rifle, after-all it is still rifled and goes further than a smooth-bore shotgun. They are known for 100-150 yards shots with a good scope and potential to go farther. I can see tracing a sabot from a slug-gun using ballistics, a rifled slug from smooth-bore, not sure if they can do that. Maybe everyone's first gun should a a single-shot. You learn to make the shot count very quickly.

Certain public lands even if rifle is allowed, I would still use a shotgun, especially for potentially crowded opening weekend. Some places where rifle is allowed by me, is just too close for comfort to some houses bordering public land. You miss that back stop... well that is something I don't want to dwell on.

My hunter Safety course took place in a classroom on a technical college campus - so no firearms there... period. That was also 20 + years ago. My son's was at a VFW post in town, handle firearms, yes, shooting definitely not possible. Daughter at a American Legion post in country-side with several acres of of hill-side property. They had groups of students carry empty firearms and practice carrying in single line, turning, and traversing through terrain, brush, and crossing a ditch. They had limited target shooting after taking the written test. So depends on where they can teach the classes as to what they can to, but unless you take the split home-study and range course, firearm handling and shooting are not required. I took an archery class that including tracking and we had to follow a blood trail to find the body. The stuffed animal deer was only about a foot in size, it made you practice what was discussed in class - drip direction, pooling where bedded down, checking ground and grasses for blood or signs of being traveled through. Even had a live demo on ladder stands and climbers. Ideally all courses should have a field day - handing/shooting firearms, tracking/blood trailing, and climber/ladder stands sessions. Things that if no one in your family hunts or use, they can safely show/demonstrate and have you perform it under supervision to make corrections or answer questions before you go on a hunt and think what did the book say... You actually got to practice with instructors that re-enforces any book or video you used. There is just only so much time available to the instructors, locations to use, and time the students have to attend class. Hopefully all new hunters will have a good mentor out with them a few times to keep them on the right path and re-enforce what was in the class.

Stuck in the office all week. Was suppose to be off last Friday, but things came up so spent most of the day in the office instead. Still not pulled the trigger once, caught glimpse of does earlier. My best view and closet I have been was the deer standing by corner by someones fence in town (on opening day no less). Just not willing to kill the car. I will be out there this weekend. I think that if a borrowed dad's muzzle-loader and disappeared for yet another weekend, my wife will make me move to the woods.

My dad was almost on the the receiving end twice by unsafe hunters - he had to the hit the dirt once. He has never hunted with those cousins or uncle again. Walking single file along a trail, rabbit jumps and runs past 1 guy who just turns 180 degrees and shoots with my dad a few feet behind him. The uncle just pulls up the gun and shoots at the squirrel over my dad's head. The uncle was too far away to make the shot, and the shot pellets luckily bounced off the back of my dad's hunting coat. Needless to say, safety was drilled into me. Orange hat and completely orange vest - cold weather, orange hunting jacket. When i was younger before out growing it, orange coveralls for deer season. There is nothing like sitting out on public land hearing something slowly moving towards you and then suddenly seeing two hunters in full camo during rifle/shotgun season between two large pines. If small game hunters are required to wear orange, why not during rifle deer season? When my grandparents were still around and had the farm, we picked up FRS radio's to communicate - climbing down, heading towards you, got one down and need help dragging... Very helpful when you are out of sight range of each other. Previously had to wave off if something was spotted. Like the time my dad headed over to check on me and I was watching two deer under the hollys without enough target to take a shot. Saw him because of the orange hat and vest. Had to hand signal STOP... 2 ...pointed direction.. 1 and made a signal of antlers. of course dad kicked them out the wrong direction, but we could see each other and stay safe. Staying safe and seeing deer is a win every time, Bringing one home too, well that is the icing on the cake. My sister was never allow to hunt with a gun, play dog for rabbit season yes. She closes her eyes target shooting just before pulling the trigger using a .410. So she would not be safe afield with a gun. Probably should have a mandatory section of hunter safety of actually handling and shooting firearms or require a firearms training course at a range before hunter safety.

Where I grew up, dogs found chasing deer could be put down. If obviously with a collar and license, dog is caught, returned to owner and fined. If found roaming at large again chasing deer - put down and owner charged. Ferals just tended to disappear... What about feral cats hunting rabbits? I have seen that before while rabbit hunting several years ago. Seeing non-hunting people with dogs off leash on public lands open to hunting during deer season is a pet peeve of mine. Almost every year at least one is a yellow lab. I fear for the dog and hunter that mistakenly pulls the trigger. My dog, not a hunting dog, actually looks like miniature deer if you bob her tail and she has her ears up (she normally has one flopped down until something sounds interesting and she sleeps with both up - figure that one out). Ginger-tan short coat, white chest and underside. She wants to play with the does that come into the yard. Squirrels and cats are entirely different story with her.

Carbon fiber is very nasty when it breaks and there is no repairing it. I have VERY heavy steel ladder stand - custom made by an engineer who is also a welder. it is probably 70 lbs. When it does get used, it is carried in on an a.l.i.c.e. pack frame over a short distance (less than 1/2 mile). These were made in the late 80's and still work fine. Freshen up the paint and replace the securing lines. Not one weld problem among the 3 that we have in the family. 3 ladder sections, plus seat/foot rest section. Want less weight/height, leave out a 4 foot ladder section (try that in a commercial version). Yes, it is noisy to carry and set up, but very quiet to climb up into. Probably 10 minutes to set up and be in the stand. Less than five to climb down and disassemble. Actually I haven't had a good shot to take since the last time I used it. May be dragging it out this weekend for the first time in a few seasons.

Hope he recovers. These guys work with search and rescue. We need them in case we need help in the field (falling out of tree, falling on the rocks, breaking an arm/leg, being lost) or dealing with bears gone bad in town. Before I ever went hunting or took the safety course, my father drilled into me make 100% certain of what you are going to shoot and what is behind it. Better to not take a shot and not bring home anything than it is to shoot something/someone that you shouldn't. You can't take back the shot. One time many years ago I heard noise in leaves behind me while up in a ladder stand. In the bright light from the sun behind me as peeked around the tree, I could see two legs the rest was all sun glare. looked like someone who was thin wearing khaki's from the waist down, the rest was all sun glare. When it moved a bit out of the sun glare, it was a deer. Too much sun glare and no angle to shoot to the right, 45 degrees behind me. Safer than falling out of the stand and not being able to see if any trespassers were around, so the deer got to walk away. That first minute, it looked like person from the waist down. What if I thought it was a deer in bright light and took the shot and it was a person in khaki's. Last year had a bear come by me on opening day. it sat up against tree and scratched its back and then moved off. I watched it for a few minutes and took a couple pictures of it. A couple hours later, I head out to get lunch. On the trail I am heading towards I see something upright by a tree that was black. Of course I think another bear and pull up the butt to my shoulder just in case, but did not raise the barrel. Then I saw it move and the movement didn't look right, turned out to be hiker in black knit hat and dark navy/midnight blue jacket just past the brush lining the trail. Never assume, and yes the eyes can play tricks on you - light, shadows, reflections, your mind filling-in missing details of the view, pre-conceptions. If we all play it safe, it is safer for everyone who is out there (hunters and hikers alike).

Congratulations on it. Most of my early years deer hunting saw nothing too. Finally, one year had six does some crossing the trail in front of me 30 yards ahead, others turned and were running past me on the right, 3 yards away. I couldn't focus on any one of them and put all my shots into a tree. My first buck can't ever forget, also doesn't help that the gun's auto-loader mech. broke while I was 12 feet up a tree with a live round in the chamber - but I got the deer. (And forgot the camera [pre-cell phone days]) Patience, persistence, practice, and a little luck are all required to for hunting. Glad it finally paid off for you.

For deer, usually 10. if borrow the single-shot slug gun, then 5. Pheasant /small game about 15. When I was a teen, got buck fever when 6 does popped up. Shot all 10 rounds. came back with only empties and a tree had a few new holes in it.

I am watching the Sunday forecast. Winds at 20-30 mph, gusts may go to 40 mph by me. Not sure I want to be in the woods with gusts like that. Perhaps some no-shows for reservations on the other public parcel on Sunday. There are some open fields there. Otherwise may be working on the honey-do list on Sunday.

Public land and have a couple areas in mind, if someone is not already sitting there as it sometimes gets crowded. I have an evening area picked out, Heard a couple grunts there just after dark last weekend (time went by fast and forgot about the time change, so I had to hike out in the dark from scouting).

Use to use a portable (but very heavy) ladder stand all the time. The ladder portion doubled as a ramp to load deer into my dad's truck bed. Have new SUV (well the wife does and is letting me use it for deer hunting), her rule is no bloody carcasses in it, so we got a cargo tray, we put rails on it as it is also being used for hauling camping gear, so still have to lift, just not as high. You can put cargo tray's on mini-vans too. May need to get an adapter to raise the height if it is too low to the ground.

My pair of LL Bean's Gorex/Thinsulate Maine Hunting boots wore out 2 years ago, leather is a bit beat up but the issue was no tread left and and a small hole on the bottom of the sole. Sent them back last month and they put on new rubber bottoms. I have had them since the 1990's, and they took care of them. Even included fresh laces. My hand is temporarily water-proofed from re-applying a fresh coat of mink oil.to those and an unlined pair of them. If it is really nasty and wet (and muddy), I have a pair of rubber boots that bought last year primarily for shoveling the snow. Quicker to take off than undoing all laces. But if doing a fair distance or more, it my LL Bean Maine Hunting boots (or a pair of hikers if just on dry clear trails).

Old school works. Over 2/3 of the state where my dad lives is too flat for rifle, so deer hunting is only archery/muzzle-loader/shotgun. So it is only old-school or a slug barrelled shotgun. My dad and his friend the land-owner have dropped 5 this year so far. Four were in 1 day. Some of it has already gone to the local soup kitchen. The head cook from the soup kitchen even helped with the butchering (it is a small town, the high school by me has almost more students in it than the whole town population where I grew up). I just did the math and holy-crap, I have been using rifled slugs for a little over 30 years - where did the time go.

If not getting closer when they are 50-60 yards out and your gun is dead on at 40 yards, aim a couple inches up from the heart (mid to upper shoulder). That is how i got my six pointer a few years back with a double lung shot.

Unless it really shifts more south east, it is rain, wind, and cold for me on Sunday. Got to pack some warm food and hot apple cider.

I use Remmington Slugggers, of course that is all I usually find in stock for an old 16 ga. with bead sights. When the deer is in range, they get the job done. They are cheaper than the sabots my son and my dad use in their slug guns. And a lot cheaper than the Savage .300 rounds. Other upsides to the smooth-bore shotguns: change out rounds for the pesky squirrels or if pheasants are in the cornfield you are still-hunting in less distance to worry about if miss your backstop fewer other hunters in range (especially for opener in my area) more heavy lead to drop a bear(although it will be closer to you when/if you pull the trigger) more areas to hunt (some public land does not allow rifles)

Public, shotgun for opener, never know how crowded it will be. Probably spend some time out with the .300 Savage 99 when the orange army disperses a bit.

If trees are moving a bit, no ladder stand (in a stand and have fear of falling, the wind just makes it worse) If trees are swaying and branches are coming down, I stay home. If the wind is going right through my clothes so that I am cold, I take a break for warm food/hot drink and then re-access for the reminder of the day.