Canister Shot - Artillery's deadliest Ammunition

Today I have an interested post for any civil war enthusiast out there. Yesterday I received a ball (which is just 1 piece) that came out of a Canister Shot that was fired out of a 12 pound Napoleon field artilley cannon.

from left: .44 cal revolver bullet, .58 caliber minie ball, 1-3/8 canister shot ball

Field artillery in the American Civil War refers to the important artillery weapons, equipment, and practices used by the Artillery branch to support the infantry and cavalry forces in the field. It does not include siege artillery, use of artillery in fixed fortifications, or coastal or naval artillery. Nor does it include smaller, specialized artillery termed as infantry guns. (Info from Wikipedia)

dug artifact

Canister Shot

Canister shot was the deadliest type of ammunition, consisting of a thin metal container loaded with layers of lead or iron balls packed in sawdust. Upon exiting the muzzle, the container disintegrated, and the balls fanned out as the equivalent of a shotgun blast. The effective range of canister was only 400 yards (370 m), but within that range dozens of enemy infantrymen could be mowed down. Even more devastating was "double canister", generally used only in dire circumstances at extremely close range, where two containers of balls were fired simultaneously.

Now I need to mention that this 1 ball I received was fired in a reenactment so it is not authentic but a reproduction. I was also fortunate to get pictures of the cannon and crew that fired this particular shell

you can see from this picture he is holding a canister shot shell

sighting in and preparing to shoot

12 pound Napoleon in action

This 1 ball from a canister shot shell (even though it's a repro) is still a fine piece to add to my collection.

We interupt this Honey Do List for Deer Season

All year I am constantly making lists of things that I need to do whether it is fixing this or fixing that or projects that we want to do around the house.

Well, when the leaves start turning I start to transform into The Mighty Deer Hunter, it sounded good anyway. But really though it is like when the bucks start changing from their peaceful summer  mode to it's time to chase doe's.

I change from honey I'll put that on my list to honey it will have to wait until spring. In the beginning my wife had a hard time adjusting to that but she to her credit did understand and in time grew to understand how important it was for me to have this time. Maybe the venison chili or venison stew or even the venison steaks with peppers and onions had something to do with the way she looked at this time of year. Just kidding honey!

My mom always called her a hunters widow this time of year because I was always out chasing my dream so I was never home hence the word widow. That was back when my season started mid September for archery season and did not end until the new year. It has gotten a little easier for her since I stopped bow hunting. Now I rifle hunt in November and muzzleloader hunt in December.

So for all you guys out there who have their own Honey Do List's you are not alone.

Deer are not the only Game around

I go through this every year when the temps start dropping. We always seem to have mice that think they can move in when autumn get's here so every fall I have to set up traps to get rid of the pesky critters. The problem is this year all the mice that have moved in are smart ones. You ask how i know that because for the last three days I go down in the basement to check the traps and I find them all looking like this.

Totally licked clean and still set to snap.

I don't know how they do it but 6 traps are baited and ready to do the deal and the next morning they look like their brand new. So I found one more thing to keep me occupied until it's time to go chase bigger 4 legged animals with a lot more meat on them.

Mice meet Rick aka "ctswamphunter"! You might have won the last three battles but you will not win the war.

New additions to the Trading Post.

Come visit and browse awhile.

http://whitetailwoods.blogspot.com/p/trading-post.html

Traditional Knife for Traditional Shooting

I have been trying to get ahead on Christmas shopping for this year because I have a feeling it is going to be tough and I don't want to wait until the last minute. Christmas is a special holiday for most and my family and I are no different.

This is a Frontier Patch Blade Knife that will go well with my traditional accoutrements. I purchased it off of ebay.

Frontier Med Patch Fixed Blade Burl wood Handle Knife

• 6 3/4" overall.
• 3 1/2" stainless blade.
• Full tang construction.
• Burl wood handle.
• Leather belt sheath included.
• sheath fits belts up to 2 1/2" wide.

HO HO HO! 

That is one more item off my wish list.

Product Review - Gorilla Treestands Kong HX- Part 1

I received my next item for review Gorilla Treestands sent me their Kong HX. I was impressed with the way they packaged it, safe and secure.

The Kong HX is our mid-size platform with XPE foam seating for a sleek profile and ease of portability.

FEATURES:

Mid-size platform with XPE foam seat for sleek profile and portability.

All-welded steel HX construction rated for 300 lbs.

XPE foam seat

Single post design system

Flip-up seat design

Seat leveling system

Easy-Cinch™ claw strap

XT-6 Nylon red washers

Mossy Oak® Treestand™ camo

TRAXION Slip-Resistant coating

Specs for Kong HX

Platform Size: 21" x 27"

Rating: 300 lbs.

Seat Height: 20"

Seat Size: 10" x 16"

Seat Style: XPE Dual Density Flip-Up

Weight: 15lbs

I'll tell ya I thought this was going to be heavy but it really isn't. It was put together very well with square tubing which makes it very strong with nice tight welds.

Seeing as I only gun hunt you will have to wait just a bit for my thoughts on hanging and stability comments but I will be hanging it soon and will be hunting from it. 

One thing that I can say right now is the seat which appears to be very comfortable and is very easy to remove. I plan to take it with me at the end of each day, that way I always have a dry seat and the squirrels won't have anything to gnaw on which has happened to me in the past.

What also came with this stand is backpack straps so it makes it easier to carry in and out. A very good added piece and very important to have.

The stand also came with a full body harness. A very very important piece to have for safety reasons. That way if you happen to fall out of the tree it will keep you from hitting the ground and save you from serious if not fatal injury. 

comes with a owners manual, safety harness w/manual, hunting strategies safety cd

 Stay tuned for Part 2 as this will be where I cover hanging the stand and using the safety harness. 

Venison/Apple Cider Stew

I was thinking it had been awhile since I posted a recipe and seeing as October is right around the corner, deer seasons were starting up all over the country and looking at the wet forecast for the next week I thought this would be a good post.

Venison & Apple Cider Stew:

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound beef or venison stew meat
8 carrots -- sliced thin
6 potatoes -- sliced thin
2 apples -- chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 tablespoons minced onion
2 cups apple cider

PREPARATION:

Place carrots, potatoes, and apples in crock pot. Add meat and sprinkle with salt, thyme, and onion. Pour cider over meat and cover. Cook on low heat 10-12 hours. Thicken gravy.

Scouting Season 2011-2

Well I went back out to my muzzleloader spot where my camera is setup and put a better set of batteries in it. After going out last week and finding it dead after just putting it out two weeks prior I didn't want to let it sit for to long not working. It seems the deer are starting to move a bit more.

I didn't see anything while I was out there but I did find this turkey feather under the tree I have decided to put my stand in when the time is right. Turkey feathers I think are not that common to find at least for me so it was a rare find.

Just in case I will give it a week and go out to check the memory card next weekend and again I hope to have some pictures to share. I'm really looking forward to getting out there with a smoke pole.

Give-away at the SoCal Bowhunter

Here the deal I have two requirements to enter this giveaway over at the SoCal Bowhunter blog. The giveaway is for a Pronghorn knife by Knives of Alaska.

One of the requirements is to post what I am using right now as a knife. It is just a plain utility knife and even though the replacement blades are fairly cheap they tend to get dirty and dull because I use them on electrical wire, on sheetrock, on wood and so on, you get the point. Not very sterile. :)

So I really do hope to win this knife as I am in dire need of a real knife.

Wish me luck! oh ya, if you want to try for it then click on the link above

Google Plus

I would like to extend an invitation to join me on Google Plus. All you need to do is click the link.

Best and Last Deer with Bow & Arrow

A few years back before I messed up my shoulder and had to give up shooting archery I had the most memorable of deer harvests with the bow/arrow and when I was browsing my photobucket album the other day I found this picture and could remember the hunt like it was yesterday.

It was a beautiful October afternoon with a nip in the air and beautiful fall colors popping out all over the place. I was at the time hunting a piece of private land behind my parents house which was nice because I parked in the driveway and when ever I came out I always had a hot cup of coffee ready for me. This afternoon was no different I packed up my gear and headed out. I was hunting a small plateau off of a swamp.

As I was making my way around the edge of the swamp just down below where I had a stand set up I realized I was not alone because I had jumped a doe which appeared to have been right under my tree stand so I just stood still in hopes of not totally spooking her. My plan worked, she gradually just fed off and didn't seem to be to worried. I continued my way up to my stand and after viewing the whole area to make sure nothing else was browsing around I tied off my bow and headed up..

Once I got situated and comfortable I pulled up my bow (after tying in with a safety belt) and sat down. It was gorgoues out, I truly do love this time of year. Any way after a bit I had heard a ATV ride up and down this old logging road a couple hundred yards away which I thought was going to ruin my hunt but it might have helped. Soon after that I caught sight of a adult doe feeding down this trail in front and to my left. I slowly stood up and grabbed my bow and prepared to take a shot. When I thought the deer was within 20 yards I drew back.

I'm not sure what happened but I shot to far to the left and the arrow stuck in the ground just in front of her, As I watched the arrow flight the whole way I'm thinking "!@#$ what did I just do". Fortunately the doe just stepped back, looked around and then stepped forward and sniffed my arrow. I was shocked because I had never seen that before. I slowly grabbed a second arrow, nocked it and prepared for a second shot. Once she thought there was no danger she began feeding on acorns again and slowly turned to circle back the way she came but this time it was even closer.

Now she was 15 yards away and more broadside so as she took a couple more steps with here head down I drew back and as she stopped I released my second shot. This time I remember not seeing the arrow fly at all and the sound of what I thought was the arrow hitting a stump. Thinking to myself "What the !@## is going on" I quickly reached around and grabbed a 3rd. arrow but at the same time watching what the doe was doing. She had ran about 10 yards from where I had shot my second arrow and just stood there. As I am beginning to get totally disgusted with my shooting but also happy that I might get a third chance I noticed the doe start to sway back and forth and then all of a sudden she just fell over.

I was so thrilled by what had happened I called my wife from my tree stand and once gratulations were done I climbed down quietly and grabbed my gear. I nocked an arrow just in case and slowly crepted over, I poked it from behind and then a sense of relief was lifted. I quickly realized I had a double lung hit by looking at the entrance and exit wounds. I tagged her and then headed out to the house where by the time I gt there my parents and my wife and son where there and a hunting buddy had just showed up to help me drag her out.

Shortly after that I tore up my shoulder working in a lumber yard and haven't bow hunted since so I'm happy to have ended on a good note.

On a side note I had my dad kneel down with me for a picture with my best bow deer which meant alot because dad had died shortly after that. I would share that picture with you but only have a hard copy and I'm not able to scan it.

Fall Trout Stocking has Begun

DEEP Begins Fall Trout StockingTrout Parks and TMA’s among the areas being stockedOctober 8th will be a “Free Fishing” Day- no fishing license required

The Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced the beginning of its 2011 autumn trout stockings.  From now through mid October, DEEP will release nearly 30,000 trophy and adult sized trout into selected waters throughout the state.  Among the areas stocked this fall are twenty-one lakes and ponds, eighteen rivers and streams including thirteen of the Trout Management Areas (TMA), and seven Trout Parks. DEEP will also be stocking 33,000 “yearling” trout into selected waters throughout the state.

“Trophy” size brown trout - Among the trout being stocked this fall are 14,000 “trophy” size brown trout.

DEEP is stocking seven of the designated Trout Parks this fall. These areas are managed to enhance fishing opportunities for families and novice anglers and are easily accessible with picnic areas and other amenities nearby. “Our Trout Parks are great places for family fishing outings,” said Susan Frechette, Deputy Commissioner of the DEEP. “A family can get outdoors before winter sets in and enjoy a day of fishing and picnicking in the late fall weather.”

This year DEEP is designating Saturday, October 8th as a “Free Fishing Day” where no license is required to fish. “We view this as a great opportunity both for experienced anglers to introduce a family member, friend or acquaintance to the sport of fishing, and for visitors to our state to try the many fishing opportunities Connecticut has to offer,” said Deputy Commissioner Frechette. “We thought that the Saturday of what is for many a three day weekend would be a good choice to offer a free chance to fish. It will also be the prime fall foliage viewing time throughout the state, and a number of great trout fishing areas will have just been stocked.”

Below are the areas that are scheduled to be stocked with large brown trout and/or adult rainbow trout this fall (2011).

TROUT PARKS (two trout per day limit):
Black Rock Pond	Mohegan Park Pond	Wharton Brook (Allen Brook Pond)
Chatfield Hollow (Schreeder Pond)	Natchaug River	Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond)
Day Pond	Mohegan Park Pond
TROUT MANAGEMENT AREAS (TMA, all catch-and-release only during the fall & winter):
Bulls Bridge TMA (Housatonic River)	Mill River TMA (Fairfield)	Saugatuck River TMA
Farmington River TMA (Collinsville to Unionville)	Moosup River TMA	Sleeping Giant TMA (Mill River- Hamden)
Hammonasset River TMA	Naugatuck River TMA	Willimantic River TMA
Housatonic River TMA	Salmon River TMA	Yantic River TMA
Mianus River TMA
OTHER RIVERS AND STREAMS (regulations vary; see 2011 CT Angler’s Guide):
Hammonasset River	Norwalk River	Shetucket River
Natchaug River	Salmon River	West Branch Farmington River
LAKES AND PONDS (regulations vary; see 2011 CT Angler’s Guide):
Amos Lake	Gardner Lake	Quonnipaug Lake
Bigelow Pond	Highland Lake	Rogers Lake
Black Pond (Meriden)	Long Pond	Stillwater Pond
Black Pond (Woodstock)	Mashapaug Lake	Tyler Pond
Cedar Lake	Mohawk Pond	Wauregan Reservoir
Coventry Lake	Mt. Tom Pond	West Hill Pond
Crystal Lake (Ellington)	Pattaconk Lake	West Side Pond

Signing up for Duty

It looks like I am finally gonna do one thing I have always wanted to do.

Can you guess what that is?

I'm not gonna make you guess, I have been doing some surfing on the net and found a active civil war reenactment group that operates not far from me. After emailing my interest and intentions I got a reply, it looks like I will have an opportunity to join the 5th. Massachusetts Battery (E) Light Artillery.

5th Massachusetts Battery(E)

It is the mission of the 5th Massachusetts Battery to be one of the most authentic Civil War Artillery reenacting units in the Northeast Region with something of interest to everyone.  In addition to closely adhering to original drill and field realism, we offer the following additional activities for those who are interested.

• Competitive Artillery target shooting with the American Artillery Association.  We get the lead out!
• Horse drawn Artillery:  We are currently working with horses in the field as appropriate for Civil War artillery towards the goal of a horse drawn piece within the next two years.  We offer an alternative to horse owning people who may otherwise consider joining a cavalry re-enacting unit.
• Blacksmithing: We have use of one of a handful of Civil War traveling artificer forges in existence. Amateur blacksmiths are welcome.
• Memorial graveside ceremonies honoring the original members of the 5th Mass Battery.
• Geneological research into the original members of the Battery.
• Educational historical lectures and presentations in schools and other public forums.
• Civilian portrayals of 1860's life.  Children and non-military 1860's civilian impressions are always welcome. Our children are the next generation of the 5th Mass Battery. 

I was invited to go to Rutland Massachusetts October 1st & 2nd. for a reenactment where as a guest I was told they would put me in a uniform and actually show me the goings on with firing a cannon. I am really looking forward to that, it should be a great experience to see just some of what it was like back then. Below is a youtube video of the 5th. Massachusetts shooting at a gun club in New Hampshire just to give you an idea.

Flint and Steel makes Fire

Being on a traditional black powder forum you get to learn all sorts of things like this video about making fire with flint and steel. Check it out, very interesting and good to know.

Scouting 2011-1

Well after a couple weeks my family and I went out to check my camera and all I have to say is NEVER USE CHEAP BATTERIES because you'll end up with nothing. After reviewing the memory card with the digital camera though I realized there was some pictures from earlier this year that I missed some how.

 I did get to snap a picture of my scouting team for 2011. My wife and the two boys went with me which made for a nice walk in the deer woods.

A Young man's First Deer

I recently answered a deer question for Eddie Dunkin from Missouri and I was happy to help. I just wanted to spotlight his son Jordan. His Father Eddie sent me a picture of him and his first buck which he got in 2008. the picture includes the whole family which I thought was a great addition to the picture.

 

Now doesn't that make for a great family photo. Congratulations Jordan!

Giveaway - Blogger helping Blogger

At a request from a good friend and blogger Sara from "Red Pine Mountain" I want to high light another blog today which is called "A Beader's Blog". I not only love whitetail deer hunting and black powder shooting I also enjoy reading other blogs and being able to hear about their day to day happenings.

Anna just so happens to make some of the best handmade jewelry that I have seen . With christmas not that far away it might be a good idea to stop by her shop at her blog and do some browsing, you just might find something for your wife or even yourself.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DellaMessina

Now I also need to mention a giveaway that Sara is having on the "Red Pine Mountain" blog where you could have a chance to win a very nice pair of earrings.So take a few minutes to browse and stop by to enter in the giveaway.

New Black Powder Forum is a Hit

I recently became a member up a new black powder forum which ironically is called "Black Powder Times" and I have to say it appears to be growing rapidly in membership. Every day I go on it it seems to have new members and it is nice to see. There are very few forums out there that are strictly about traditional muzzleloading. Your not gonna find any modern center fire guns/talk here or any modern inline muzzleloader guns/talk either. Even though I shoot and hunt with a modern inline I just as much if not maybe more love to shoot and hunt a traditional caplock such as my 50 caliber Springfield Hawken.

Now for those of you who might not think these traditional guns can hack it in the deer woods of today than here is a treat from one of the administrators of this new forum.

username Bountyhunter, this buck was shot with a 53 caliber Hawken

If your looking for some great information from some of these shooters that are very passionate about their equipment than this is the place to be. The forum covers or will cover anything from flintlocks to percussion to breechloaders of the 1800's and even about cannons of the civil war era which is one of my favorites. You can even see what some of use when we actually go out to shoot, you think your wives have a lot in the bags well than you need to look in ours.

my possibles

Bountyhunter's possibles

Just so you think we are leaving the shotguns out of the equation what do you think of this bad boy? I have got to get me one of these.

mykeal's double barrel 12 gauge

So if you just want to visit or if you want to register and be a member (which id free) than swing on by. There is always somebody there.

Nightime Temps are starting to Drop

It looks like we are heading for a cold spell, first of the year. Low 40's for the next 4 days, at least at night. That should get some deer moving. I am really looking forward to having a little nip in the air.

wed	thu	fri	sat	sun	mon	tue	wed	thu	fri
sep 14 P Cloudy 83° 63°	sep 15 PM T-Shwrs 75° 43°	sep 16 P Cloudy 65° 42°	sep 17 P Cloudy 68° 42°	sep 18 Sunny 71° 48°	sep 19 M Sunny 71° 52°	sep 20 P Cloudy 72° 56°	sep 21 P Cloudy 77° 57°	sep 22 Sunny 75° 55°	sep 23 P Cloudy 73° 54

I know it is not that cold just yet but it's coming. Typically I usually have better luck deer hunting when it is cold than warm. For me I can relate because when the temps change than so do the deer. They start to change their patterns and their attentions change to other things.

Just like me when the weather turns cold I change my patterns and I start to think of other things. Before you all start thinking wrong I have to say I start to think of chasing whitetails through the cold woods of the northeast.

There is nothing like sitting in a tree stand with just a few song birds around and maybe a squirrel or two or even a chipmunk running along a stonewall and out of nowhere a deer appears and my heart just seems to start beating like a freight train. There is nothing like the feeling.

Looking at this picture below I don't think there is anyone hunter or not that would say seeing that does not get their heart beating an extra beat or two.

photo from larshbristol.com

Freezing Venison, Is there a Shelf Life?

Is there a shelf life on venison once you freeze it?

I have heard anything from 2 months to 2 years so I thought I would put the question out to you folks and hear what you all have to say.

Now for argument sake or not when I butcher venison I typically let it hang for at least 2 days. Then I will skin it and quarter it and cut it into the types of cuts that I want.

Then I wash it and pat it dry then zip-loc for the freezer. I usually don't let it  stay in the freezer for more than a year. Now that is if I package it myself which right now is getting to be to much work for me so this year if I tag on I might have it professionally done which could possibly extend the shelf life.

What do you think?

Fact about the Whitetail Deer's Fur

Do deer have thick fur to help them survive the winter?

 Answer:

 

White-tailed deer actually have more hair per square inch in the summer than in the winter! For protection against the cold, each hair on a deer's winter coat is hollow - like a tiny straw, which holds insulating air next to the body. These hairs are therefore more substantial than the thinner summer hair. So a white-tailed deer's in winter is thicker because each hair is thicker, not because there are more hairs. But this collection of fat, hollow hairs certainly help them survive the cold of winter.

Just a bit of History

Most of you know how I feel, politics is a waste of time at least in the present but, in the past where it meant something you had prominent men who were willing to speak the truth and mean it. Such a man I think was Daniel Webster. This is a quote from him that really has meaning to it.

God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it. – Daniel Webster (1834)

Daniel Webster (January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852) was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests. Webster's increasingly nationalistic views, and his effectiveness as a speaker, made him one of the most famous orators and influential Whig leaders of the Second Party System. He was one of the nation's most prominent conservatives, leading opposition to Democrat Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party. He was a spokesman for modernization, banking and industry. He was an acknowledged elitist. During his 40 years in national politics, Webster served in the House of Representatives for 10 years (representing New Hampshire), in the Senate for 19 years (representing Massachusetts), and was appointed the Secretary of State under three presidents.

September 11th. - A Day to Reflect on

Time and time again there is always somebody who tries to see just how they can push this country and time and time again we show just how we pull together (even with the problems we have) and get the job done.

Standing Tall and Proud!

North and South towers

With the construction of 7 World Trade Center in the 1980s, the World Trade Center had a total of seven buildings, but the most notable were the main two towers, each 110 stories tall, stood over 1,350 feet (410 m) high, and occupied about one acre (43,560 square feet) of the total 16 acres (65,000 m²) of the site's land. During a press conference in 1973, Yamasaki was asked, "Why two 110-story buildings? Why not one 220-story building?" His response was: "I didn't want to lose the human scale."
When completed in 1972, 1 World Trade Center (the North Tower) became the tallest building in the world for two years, surpassing the Empire State Building after a 40-year reign. The North Tower stood 1,368 feet (417 m) tall and featured a telecommunications antenna or mast that was added at the top of the roof in 1978 and stood 360 feet (110 m) tall. With the 360-foot (110 m)-tall antenna/mast, the highest point of the North Tower reached 1,728 ft (527 m). 2 World Trade Center (the South Tower) became the second tallest building in the world when completed in 1973. The South Tower's rooftop observation deck was 1,362 ft (415 m) high and its indoor observation deck was 1,310 ft (400 m) high

WE MUST NEVER FORGET!

INVINCIBLE ENEMY HAS FALLEN!

DESTROYED IRAQ TANK, PAYBACKS ARE A !@#$%

16th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

Daytime rendering of new Ground Zero towers

We may fall but we always get back up. For me this was a turning point in my life and one that I will never forget and one that I will never stand for again.