wolc123

I bought a break-action Marksman .177 caliber a few years ago at Dick's when they had them on sale for $ 39. I think it fires a pellet at more than 1000 fps, so it should work for squirrels, but I have yet to try it on one. The trigger is also very hard. It came with a 1" tube 4x scope that is attached to the receiver. I dont trust that with the break action and the hard trigger pull. It also has real nice fiber optic sights front and back attached to the barrel. I had it sighted in ok with the scope, but was not too happy with the groups, so I took that off. When I get time, I am going to see what my effective range is with the open sights and use it on squirrels under that range. My plan is to carry that with me, along with my crossbow or deer gun, on a few hunts, starting the last two weeks of archery season. It looks like that would be legal, and the squirrel action would eliminate some boredom, if the deer action is slow. The .22 rimfire would probably not be legal in that situation. I am unlikely to do any squirrel hunting, prior to deer season, because I don't want to burn out my deer spots. It sure will be nice to be able to deal with those pesky squirrels during deer season, even if it is only the ones that are within 15 yards (that's my guess at what my hard trigger open sight effective range will be).

Remember when all this nonsense use to be kept in the political section. What in hell has happened to the moderation on this site ?

Sounds like a lot of work, and expense. Why not just suspend a beer can by the tab from a tree limb with a length of wire and cut it in half with an adult-stocked Daisy red Ryder ? Wind and previous bb impacts provide plenty of motion for the can. The target gets smaller and more challenging as the bottom half of the can hangs from a small remaining shard of aluminum. Cutting off the tab with bb's, and dropping the upper half, is an even greater challenge. Aside from the trouble, time and money savings, other advantages of this method is that it is silent, so you can do it off your back porch and not disturb neighbors, family in the house, or bow hunters out in the woods. Folks who practice during archery season with real live ammo are not only needlessly wasting lots of money, but they are also demonstrating a lack of respect for those folks. How would you like it you were up in a stand waiting on that elusive trophy and your neighbors were out popping balloons with thier rifles and slug guns ? "Legal live targets" is another option:

My very first deer was taken at a full tilt downhill run, at Allhegheny state park, when I was 17. My uncle (who just recently passed away) was with me. He, myself, and my dad had a "party permit" for an antlerless deer. I remember hearing a distant shot, near the top of a mountain, then seeing two deer come barreling down towards us, running as fast as they could. My uncle pointed, I raised my granddad's old Ithaca 16 gauge, and fired one shot. After almost 40 years, the rest of the extended family (who still hunt the park every opening weekend) continue to mention that shot now and then. One of a pair of "button bucks" folded up like a pheasant, sliding to a stop against a tree. It was struck neatly thru both front shoulders. In truth, I was likely aiming at the lead fawn, while my slug struck the following of the pair. It was a few more years before I shot at another running deer, using that same gun. That time, I was out back on our farm, hunting alone on opening day. Most of the rest of the family was down at the park. I heard a shot next door, then the unmistakable sound of a fast approaching deer. There was good tracking snow on the ground. The plump 6-point buck ran a tightening semi-circle around the chair I was sitting in. I unloaded that old model 37, as fast as I could pull the trigger and work the slide. He was less than 20 yards away when I fired my last shot. I was wishing for a few more. I remember some surprise, that he did not just fold up like the last couple, at each trigger pull. I had killed one other buck between those two, a 7 pointer that was standing directly beneath my tree stand. Once again, he had dropped at the shot, down thru his back at the base of the neck. Now I had fired 5 more slugs, at almost point blank range, with nothing to show ? This one (old ironsides maybe) continued on without breaking stride, into the jungle-like brush next door. I followed red painted spray, on both sides of his tracks about 50 yards in, to where he piled up. He was hit by only one of my 5 shots, thru the hams and the femoral artery. It was quite a few years after that before I tried another running shot. Some will say "I would rather be lucky that good", but the truth is, luck has nothing to do with it. There is not a living thing that does not end up just exactly where the Man upstairs wants it to go. That includes us and and the sparrows. Look that up in the good Book, if you can't take my word for it. Those who choose to ignore that, do so at their peril, and often empty freezer I suppose. That said, lots of practice is still a good way to get better at running shots. Many years of experience, and some bunnies and grouse, have taught me that lesson.

Oh well, one more year with a tape measure and the PA chest girth chart.

I finally finished up the new platform stand in the small cherry tree over at my parents place today. I also got to help them out with a little yard work and eat lunch with them. Ma made my favorite (stuffed cabbage). When I got home, I put up the platform for the second one, in abog polar tree. That one is replacing an old ladder stand that was not very comfortable and lacked a good rest. The 3 ft high wall/rest/safety rail is sided with barnwood. I picked up a comfy swivel office chair for the one over at my parents, and I need to find another for the one at home.

Did you find one yet Larry ? If not, I have a spare that I would be willing to trade for a scale:

Why did you boil AND power wash the scull mounts ? I just skin the raw heads, and then power wash, with no boil. The best thing about that is, it keeps all the mess and smell out of the house (makes for a happier wife). I put on a rain suit and do it outside, on a concrete pad. It hasn't been a problem during deer season, since "global warming" set in hard about 15 years ago. Within 24 hours, every last bit of scattered eyeball, brains, and lips is cleaned up by birds and vermin. The only cleanup I do is rinsing off the rain suit. The job takes about 45 minutes, start to finish, with a 3100 psi power washer. Also, by not using any heat, the sculls retain a more natural white look, without applying any bleach. Boiling tends to turn them an ugly yellow, requiring bleach or a camo dip, etc. I prefer the "natural" look over any of that nonsense.

Running shots are something I would prefer not to employ, however I have not always had the luxury of avoiding them completely. As others have mentioned, the real key to making them is lots of practice. Safety of others is also a big concern (know your target and what is beyond). The last one I took was on a big, late-season doe, about 5 years ago. That shot struck about 4 inches forward of the hair that I intended to hit, breaking the doe's neck and dropping her dead on the spot. What made that shot somewhat difficult, is that I had to time it, for when the doe reached a clear shooting lane. I was up about 10 feet in a stand, and about 40 yards away on flat ground. That made the shot extremely safe. The main reason I took that shot was that I really needed the meat. I had taken just one deer prior that season (a buck with my crossbow), and I had a wife and two kids at home with big appetites. I made the shot, but almost lost a foot to frostbite. I got a good soaker in the cold December ditch water, while crossing it to recover the carcass. That year, I had practiced thousands of moving target shots pre-season. That was before the current ammunition crisis, but even then, I was not one who "wasted" real ammo on practice. All of that "moving target" practice was with my adult-stocked Daisy red Ryder bb gun. This season, I will be far less likely to take a running shot at a deer. I haven't had much time to practice and one kid will be off to college. The other will be working at our town's pizza joint (sadly now under new ownership). I wont need nearly as much venison and should have much more luxury of "picking and choosing" my shots. Some of you sit up on your high horses and criticize others for taking "un-ethical" shots. Good for you. One day you will get what's coming to you. Until then, I will keep eating good, and I prefer wild red meat taken the way I choose.

I spent: $ 1.25 = 1/2 gallon of gasoline, plus about 45 minutes of my time.

I picked up 5 deer tags (regular buck, bow/ML either/or, bow/ML antlerless, and 2 wmu 9F dmp's) at Lockport Walmart this afternoon. It was the first time that the girl had printed up any licences or tags but she did real good. She even figured out how to take a donation for the venison coalition program. That was the first time in 3 years of trying that someone has been able to figure that out. Either they made it easier this year or it takes a computer savy rookie to do it. I will go back there for 2 more 9F dmp's in the second draw, and see if they finally have the bugs worked out of the venison coalition donation thing. The first 2 dmps cost $ 10, but the second 2 are free. I will gladly donate another $ 10 for those, if they can figure out how to take it. It has been a few years since I have been able to fill more than one dmp tag, but the Holiday ML season might simplify that a bit this year.

I put in two small (1/4 acre) plots of radish turnip mix on Saturday. I only used about half the seed that I had, because I didnt have enough leftover fertilizer (triple 15 from spring corn planting) to go heavier with the seeding. I always get the best production from turnips when I seed lightly and fertilize heavy. Radishes are new to me. I have also only seen good deer usage of turnip greens after a hard frost. It will be interesting to see if those radishes get the deer using those plots before that happens. I plan on putting in a couple larger (1-1/2 acre) wheat/white clover plots after September 1. If I can score some free leftover soybeans, I will add some of that to the mix.

Things might be looking up on my corner of 9F. My wife ran into a bachelor group of 6 or 7, right near the road on the back side of my block, on her way home from the grocery store yesterday. She took some pictures and these two looked like pics of the litter. The others looked like smaller 8's and 6's. The one on the left looks like a shooter, but I would also settle for the one on the right.

3.3

Flying was ok before 9/11/01 but has sucked since. 3 of the 4 I had to do this March were not too bad, with lots of open seats on the planes and quick service in the airports, thanks to low volume because of the pandemic. I am sure things are probably back to crazy full again on all flights and long security lines, etc.. Certainly not much fun, but better than driving long distances. If you stretch your water and snack, you can go without a mask for almost the whole flight.

I have not heard of any deaths from the vaccine but I have heard of hundreds of thousands from Covid-19. To me that makes getting the vaccine a combination of simple math and common sense.

Thanks to an abundance of coyotes and corresponding absence of coons, we should have all the sweetcorn we can eat from now thru October 1 or so. The coyotes do a very good job eradicating the female and juvenile coons, but have some trouble with the big males. One of those is all I have caught so far in my traps, and he only got an ear or two before stumbling into a dog-proof trap baited with cat food.

Looks like you got some good ones to go for this year. I have multiple good prospects at my folks place, on the opposite corner of 9F, and at in-laws up in 6C/6F. Here on my corner of 9F, not so hot. I did see a big red coyote out back while I was planting turnips Thursday afternoon. At least they are keeping the coons out of my sweetcorn. Just one big male coon in a trap so far. It dont seem to matter how deep I burry them. The yotes always exhume them within a week.

I have tried that the last 3 years but the folks printing the tags at Walmart never have a clue how to do it. Sooner or later one of them might figure it out, and I will keep trying, otherwise it goes into the collection plate at church. They never struggle with accepting donations.

Looks good.

Prayers sent for your mom.

That adds about an inch to the chest girth.

I am hoping for (3) average-sized deer this year. We are down to our last one in the freezer now, so it should be completely tapped out by early ML season up north. A big buck, button buck, or bear would be a nice bonus, but I would be very thankfully for just the three average-sized deer. That would give our family enough meat to survive for another year.

I saw a blue Ford 1/2 ton with a for sale sign on it, parked on Tonawanda creek road in Amherst just east of Orbit, on the drive to work this morning.