Pic of the Day!

I saw this and immediately liked the picture. I was visiting one of many blogs I try to keep track of. and it's called "My Country Blog of this and that".

This has got to be one of those pictures that just screams at you to leave a saying like "maybe if I don't move they won't see me"

Logging could change Hunting location

I had to go to a neighboring town this morning to see about a new battery for my wife's car and the ride was going right by a new spot where I will be shotgun hunting this fall for whitetails. As I was going by I was shocked to see that they had started logging in there.

I know it's state land but what has me frazzled is that I originally made  a mistake on my application this year and had gotten this area instead of the usual spot which wasn't a big deal. I took some after season scouting and had picked what I thought would be a productive area then this happened.

I've hunted clear cuts and logging areas before with some success depending on when they finished and when I got in there but, to be safe I think I am going to need a secondary location just in case. I am glad I noticed now instead of later though.

Old book is a nice addition to my Den

I have been tinkering on Ebay a little bit lately looking for whatever catches my old fashioned eye. I came across this book and knowing my history with Connecticut Valley Arms this past year I just had to get it.

Granted it is no news to me what is inside it but that is not what appealed to me it was the fact that the copyright was dated 1980 which makes it 30 years old for one thing and the contents were from that long ago. Considering a lot has changed in the last 30 years. I thought it would make a nice addition to my den.

Venison Style Shepard's Pie

I know I usually post recipes on Sundays but after ai saw this one I didn't want to wait. I love venison and I love shepard's pie so how can you go wrong.

Sent in by Dave Logsdon.

~ 1 lb ground venison ~ 6 – 7 slices of bacon, cut into 1/2" pieces ~ 1 tsp cumin ~ 2 tsp paprika ~ 1/4 tsp ground thyme ~ salt and pepper ~ 1 medium onion, chopped ~ 1 package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed ~ 1 red bell pepper, chopped, optional ~ 3 tbsp flour ~ 2 1/2 cups chicken broth ~ 1 cup sour cream, divided ~ 3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed ~ 1 egg, beaten ~ 3 tbsp butter

In large skillet, cook the bacon until just brown. Do not drain. Add the venison and break apart. Add the cumin, paprika, thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Stir together and cook over medium heat until the venison is cooked through. Stir in the onion, mixed veggies and bell pepper. Cook until veggies are almost tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the broth and ½ cup sour cream. Simmer over low heat until gravy thickens. Preheat broiler. While the above is cooking, boil the potatoes in lightly salted water until tender. Drain and reserve 1 cup of the water. In a bowl, beat the egg. Slowly mix the egg and the warm potato water together. Place the potatoes in a mixing bowl and add the egg/water mixture, butter and remaining sour cream. Mash/mix thoroughly. Add a small amount of milk if they are too thick. Pour the meat/veggie mixture into a glass baking dish. Evenly spread the potatoes on top. Place in broiler and cook until the potatoes are golden brown at the edges and peaks. Remove and let set for a couple of minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Why is one brand Dirtier than the Other?

This past trip to the range I was noting a change in the way the primers looked after the shot. For whatever difference there is if any here is what I am looking at.

As you can tell the 2 on the left are far more dirtier than the 2 on the right but, does that really make a difference.

Muzzleloading Platinum Tip

Supreme® Platinum Tip™ Bullets & Sabots Introducing a new Supreme product from Winchester ideal for Deer hunting - Platinum Tip Hollow Point. Newly available in 45 caliber and 54 caliber, with existing 50 caliber Muzzleloading sabot bullet - the Platinum Tip Hollow Point is a new benchmark in bullet design and performance. Available in a 30 pack. (30 bullets and 30 sabots)

WELCOME TO THE FIOCCHI USA
Fiocchi USA supports the traditional trade and we believe that we provide a real alternative for our distributors and dealers who must compete against a mounting tide of discount stores and mass merchandisers. We intend to continue to grow these relationships with a firm foundation of trust , knowledge and an “ old fashioned “ ( but not out of style ) personal touch.

Fiocchi designs and develops its own equipment and has gained therefore a remarkable know how in cutting edge production technology meeting the most demanding standards of quality and quantity. Fiocchi of America Inc., established in Missouri in 1983 is benefiting from the know how of the Italian mother company.

I don't know if I can't find anything or I'm just plain looking in the wrong place. I wanted to find out why one would be more dirtier than the other after snapping.

Sunday's Range Review

I know this isn't quite Sunday but, It is the first chance I had to write this up so what's a couple days after the fact anyway.

I went to the range with the CVA Accura V2 again with one goal in mind and that was to see how it did at 100 yards. See two weeks before I had gone to the range with it but concentrated at a 50 yard distance using Powerbelt 245 AT's with IMR White Hots & Triple Seven primers plus I was also shooting Barnes T EZ Expander AT's with BH209 & Fiocchi 616 primers.

see previous review:

As you can see from that post I was very pleased with the results and going back this past Sunday to shoot 100 yards was fun as well.

I started right off the bat at 100 yards with 100 grains of loose BH209, Fiocchi 616 primers and a 250 grain Barnes T EZ Expander AT. The results were pretty close to what I expected. My first 6 rounds were just a tad high and center so with a minor adjustment in elevation I was hitting right where I want to be.

8" target @ 100 yards using Barnes 250 grain T EZ Expander with 100 grains of BH209 & Fiocchi 616 primers

Then I tried the Powerbelt 245 grain AT with IMR White Hot  pellets and Triple Seven primers and did not get what I expected. My first three shots were at the bottom of the target.  I expected to be a little low but not off the paper. I did not want to change the scope because I was shooting so well with the Barnes & BH209 and it was time for a break so what I did was moved the target back to 50 yards to see if anything had changed.
As you can see from the target nothing had changed, I should have at least been on paper but I finished at 50 yards with this setup to get a very nice pattern and a decision to check this again at another time.

8" target @ 50 yards using Powerbelt 245 grain AT with 100 grains of IMR White Hot & Triple Seven primers

I am very much liking the accuracy of the CVA Accura V2 and unless something changes my mind I will be hunting with it this fall. When it comes to powder and bullet setups I am preferring the Barnes T EZ & BH209 combo. There still is plenty of time before deer season opens so you never know.

Guest Post from Afghanistan

I would like to share a guest post from a good friend Albert Rasch  from the Rasch Outdoor Chronicles who is in a place right now where most people would not want to be. I feel what he is trying to do with this is a very good idea and urge all to take part, I know I am going to. Sometimes it is the smallest things that happen to you to make a day worth remembering. Well Done Albert!

Ok, I know what your thinking...


"What the devil are you up to Albert? Yo-Yos???"


As it turns out, that's exactly what I am thinking. Yo-Yo's.

I happened upon a broken Duncan Butterfly yo-yo. The side was off, and the axle was loose. As it so happens, I travel prepared. I brought some gel crazy glue with me, along with assorted a sundry other items that make your life tolerable in Afghanistan. (See my post: What You Need to Bring Overseas as a Contractor.)  A few minutes later I had a perfectly serviceable yo-yo again.


I remember that sometime around 1970-71 there was a Yo-Yo craze; at least there was in my neighborhood!  We all had to have Yo-Yos and many of us learned tricks like "walk the dog," "around the world," and "rock the cradle."


So, I was outside the tent in our compound, Yo-Yoing away the afternoon. Boy what fun it is to have something to do while the interminable hours drift by.


A couple of the other fellows whose brains had yet to be baked in their skulls stopped by, so I offered the Yo-Yo to each in turn so they could have some fun with it. We must have spent a couple of hours out there, getting the hang of it, laughing, telling tall tales, and forgetting we were hot, dirty, and far from home.


As a parent, you know the tell tale signs of boredom, frustration, anger, and fear in your children. I see it in our young military folks all too often. I can't tell you how many of these kids I have seen dangerously close to the breaking point. All they need is something to distract them from their daily drudgery.


Therein lies my idea.


I would like for you to forward a Yo-Yo or two to me, so that I may distribute them to the young men and women that are out here sucking up dust and dodging bullets. If you have never sent anything to a deployed service member before, let me tell you that it is a one of their greatest pleasures to receive a gift from the states from someone they don't know. It just makes their day!


I hope many of you will be inclined to take a moment out of your day and box one up. I'll let you know who received it and take a picture or two and post it on TROC. Make sure you put a slip of paper inside with your name and email so I can let you know it has arrived, and so the service member can thank you too! It's a little thing, a Yo-Yo is, but it can mean the world sometimes.


My address is:

Albert A Rasch

AEW 455th ECES/FP

APO AE 09355


One more thing if you don't mind. I want to ask all of my fellow bloggers to please link to this post, or even better, email me and I will send you the html of this post for a guest post on your blog! I sure would appreciate it!

I want to thank you in advance for giving this some thought. And for those of you that will forward a YoYo, I can't thank you enough for the kindness you are exhibiting. Believe you me, you will make a service member's day!


Regards,

Albert A Rasch

Member: Kandahar Tent Club


The Hunt Continues...

Tyler turned 8 Yesterday

I haven't looked yet but that rain we got yesterday I sure hope it's dry enough to cut grass. I have to do the yard and all the trimming today because my son Tyler turned 8 just yesterday and we are having his party on Sunday.

I have a bit of yard work to do while Heidi has the same but in the house. Tyler is excited to say the least but who wasn't at that age.

We did let him have 1 present yesterday which was a game for his DS player, he still is playing it the last time I checked.

I hope he has a great day, he deserves it a lot.

T.G.I.F. Day

Thank God It's Friday!

This has been one heck of a week between the heat and working two 13 hour days when I normally only work 7.5, now it's Friday and I can look forward to two days off.

Even though I have a few things to do around the house tomarrow and shooting at the range Sunday morning and a birthday party Sunday afternoon for Tyler (you'll see more in tomarrows post) it will still be a bit of rest and relaxation.

What are you going to do this coming HOT weekend?

What I have learned after 20 Years of Deer Hunting

In the past 20 years hunting the whitetail deer I have come across numerous types of hunters. Some I would be happy to say I relate to and some I would not want to meet again. I am not trying to put anyone down but to show that everyone has there own reasons for deer hunting,

photo from Buck Manager:
For me deer hunting is not just about the fur, the antlers, the kill, the meat, the time spent in the autumn woods or the bone chilling early winter temperatures but all of it.
It really is odd because 20 years ago I had never seen a deer until I had gotten married and we moved out on our own to a town that seemed to be over run with deer. I had thought about it a lot and one day I decided I wanted to try it.

For me I feel I was one of the fortunate one's because I not only learned the technique's of deer hunting but I learned about deer in general. I have come to let's say admire the whitetail deer. The way it can adapt to any area it finds itself in. How it learns to survive with what mother nature throws at it. They have become so resilient that you can not admire them for what they are and what they can achieve.

Years ago deer hunting was a way to not only spend time with family and friends as it is today but it was also a way to feed and take care of the families.

I feel and this is only my opinion that times have changed a bit and there are more and more so called hunters showing up that are just in it for the loud crack of a rifle or maybe the thrill of killing something not to mention all the bragging rights to getting a deer with a beautiful rack on it.

Let me explain one reason why I feel this way. One day I was out hunting and came across a huge bodied deer laying dead and only to find that the head was missing and that the back strap were removed with the remainder of the deer left there to rot. That experience has just been frozen in my mind and I doubt it will ever go away.

I hear guys say all the time how they got 7, 8 even 9 deer every season. I can only hope that they are either eating all that meat or sharing it maybe even donating it. I have also heard plenty that they do not shoot nothing but bucks because of there impressive racks. I have a problem with that. Don't get me wrong I love and admire a good buck rack just as much as the next  guy but, you can't eat bone. SO, to shoot something just because of say that to me is wrong. I have shot bucks with antlers and that is always pretty cool but, I also think about how I can do my part to be a better deer manager and keep the local herd ration balanced.

When I am out hunting the way I look at it is the freezer comes first because that means my family will have added meat for the next year. I sure would not mind if a big buck shows up first while I am out but if a nice adult doe have to come along first well to me that is a nobrainer such as this doe to the right which I harvested in the middle of a morning snow storm last December which dumped a foot of snow.

I understand everyone has there own reasons for deer hunting and they have that right but if it's just to hear the crack of a rifle or to feel the thrill of killing something then you are not really a hunter. To me a hunter is one that harvests to feed family and those in need, a hunter is one that respects the animal and it's environment, a hunter is who is out to succeed but would also drop what he is doing to go to the aid of another hunter for whatever reason it might be.

Respect and protect what nature has left for us for if we don't it might not be there for our kids and their kids.