Be Aware of Ghost's and Gobblin's

Happy Halloween!

 

Please don't forget to look out for all the trick or treater's that might be running around this year. Use your high beam headlights when ever possible and also watch your speed especially in and around housing developments.

Favorite's from the Past

I call this one "Dry Pond Buck"

picture from ctswamphunter

I call this one "Before"

picture from ctswamphunter

I call this one "After"

picture from ctswamphunter

I call this one "10 Yards and No Gun"

picture from ctswamphunter

I call this one "Iron Mine 9"

picture from ctswamphunter

I call this one "Dad's Buck"

picture from ctswamphunter

I call this one "Fans on the Horizon" 

picture from ctswamphunter

I call this one "Catching your Limit"

picture from ctswamphunter

I call this one "Quality Time"

picture from ctswamphunter

Connecticut's first Significant Snowfall for 2011

Well here it is October 29 and we have Winter Storm Alfred on it's way, I can't believe it. The picture of our state below shows what they are saying. I live in the northeast corner so I should be looking at 6+ inches.

Winter Storm Alfred

HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Hartford, Tolland, Litchfield and Windham counties in advance of Winter Storm Alfred.
A winter storm watch remains in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm watches and warnings come in advance of Alfred, the first named storm of the winter weather season that's expected to hit the state on Saturday.
Snowfall could accumulate Saturday from as much as a few inches in southeastern Connecticut to more than a foot in some areas of the Litchfield Hills.
Snow could be heavy at times and also mix with sleet and rain in some places. Additionally, winds are expected to be strong, with gusts possibly up to 30 mph.
The early snow could cause problems for motorists out on the roads and bring down tree branches with the possibility of power outages.
Copyright 2011 WFSB. All rights reserved.

Here is a broader look at the storm and it looks like Connecticut id not alone.

Handmade Possible's bag review

I recently ordered a brand new handmade Possible's Bag for all my black powder essentials that I need for hunting and shooting from K & A Embroidery. The business is run by a mother and daughter team Kathy & April Wiebe and I have to say their work is nothing but quality.

They kept in constant touch with me for any questions that came up and when it came to the embroidery aspect of the project they emailed me pictures and designs for me to choose from. You don't see this kind of customer service these days so it just goes to show how customer satisfaction means to these two very nice people.

I received step by step pictures of the whole process of it's manufacture but do to the little tricks of the trade I won't show them all but I will give you a few pics of the finished product.

The outer layer is heavy but very flexible canvas that should outlast whatever mother nature and the rigors of hunting and shooting can dish out. It also has a quilted inner lining that adds a soft cushion for those pieces that you would like to keep protected.

 
The next pic is a close up of the deign I chose, of course it had to be a deer. I also wanted my nickname on it that has been with me for years "ctswamphunter". Go figure I am from Connecticut and I love to hunt swamps.

This  next pic shows just a few of the items that I will carry in it. I did purchase a very nice patch knife to go in it but the agreement I made with my wife was the knife was for x-mas so she put it away and I can't have it until then.
Anyway the stitching is top notch and can not even be seen and the shoulder strap is reinforced so it will last.

In my opinion if you are into black powder shooting and are in need of one of these bags to carry all your shooting gear or better yet are a reenacter of the revolutionary war or even the civil war than you might want to give these ladies a call.

Award for Whitetail Woods

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the other blogs that were picked for this award.

Congratulations Rick,

Your Blog has been selected as one of the Top 60 Hunting Blogs for 2011!

The Team here at VeteransBenefitsGIBill has spent the year searching the
Internet for the best Hunting Blogs, analyzing them based on their post
content, layout and user feedback, and we are excited to award you with
our seal of approval as one of the best Hunting Blogs on the web!

To recognize your efforts, we are happy to present you with a Top Blogs
badge that you can display on your site. To get your badge, please visit
our Top Hunting Blogs page at:
http://www.veteransbenefitsgibill.com/top-hunting-blogs/ and simply
copy/paste the code from the badge that you like best into your own Blog’s
HTML.

Congratulations on your award!

The Staff at VeteransBenefitsGIBill
www.veteransbenefitsgibill.com

Sighting in my CVA Apex for Deer Season

Yesterday I went out and sighted in the CVA APEX .243 caliber for the upcoming rifle season. I think I did fairly well and feel confident that I should tag one if I see one.

I made this shooting bench out of scrap I had in my work shop.

Ready to go just had to set up target.

Here are my first 3 shots. #1 is the lowest, #2 is in the middle and #3 is in the center. This target was exactly 100 yards away according to my laser range finder. The orange circle is approximately 8" in diameter, not to bad for a 100 yard shot.

My son took this picture while I was getting ready to fire another round down range.

A empty propane can from 50 yards away. Entrance hole

Exit hole

Had to finish what I had in my box. Most of the last shots were at 10 o'clock with another in the center.

Next up will be my CVA Wolf 50cal.muzzleloader

Gotta Love It!

Guest Post - Hunting on a Tight Budget

Here is a treat for you to read. I have a wonderful guest post from Kasey at HuntAndFishGuides.com who graciously offered what I think is important for young hunters to read. There is a lot of misconceptions that hunting is an expensive sport but really if you think about it hunting is what you make it whether it is expensive or what you can afford. So please enjoy and feel free to leave a comment.

Hunting on a Tight Budget

 

Walk into a hunting store and you will find nearly every kind of gadget, technology and article of clothing that is guaranteed to make your hunt a success.  While all of these might aid in your quest for that trophy buck, you need to be ready to shell out a pretty penny.

 

Not every person can afford to do this, let alone afford the cost of hiring hunting outfitters, and that is why many won’t bother becoming a hunter.  The desire to bag that buck or put food on the table is definitely there but many are deterred at the expense they think is involved.

 

Outfitting yourself in the latest and greatest is not a requirement.  If you take the time to become a skilled marksman, listen to the woods and scope the area you want to hunt before the season begins, anyone can take up the sport.

 

Of course you need to start with a gun.  However, you do not have to own one, to use one.  Ask around to friends and family and the chances of you finding one to suit your needs will most likely arise.  Make sure that it is a legal caliber for your area and ask to borrow well before the season begins so that you can target practice and sight it in to your specifications.  As this is a loan, take care of it, clean it after use and protect it from the elements.

 

Clothing is a choice.  To be completely “invisible” in the woods, head to toe camouflage is the preference of many hunters.  However, as long as you are warm, comfortable and have a good range of motion there are other means of camouflage that can be utilized in the woods.  Hunter orange is a must but can be purchased in vest or hat form cheaply in just about any store in your area.  Make sure it is visible; you do not want to become the target of another hunter. Hunt in layers, the weather can be unpredictable.  Deer hunting can be work and you will want to stay comfortable for every phase of your hunt.

 

Scent cover can be done cheaply.  Depending on where you are hunting and how you access it, many things in nature already provide you a means of deterrent.  If you have to pass through a pasture to get to your chosen spot, walk on a couple of dung piles.  It’s a natural smell to the deer already in the area and is good at masking anything you might have on your boots.  If you hunt other seasons, any urine from small game or other deer can be utilized as a cover without purchasing it from a store.  Of course, staying upwind from where you expect the deer to approach is free and just takes a moment to determine.  Do not wear all of your clothing to your blind.  Dress lightly for the walk and pack your extra layers to put on when you are settled.  The less you sweat the less smell you will have to contribute to the woods.  Obviously, you do not wear perfumes, colognes, hairspray, deodorant, etc.  Spraying down with a scent blocker is preferable, but if you can’t afford it and unless you are hunting a remote area, the deer will be used to some human scent in their area. You’ll want to wear a sturdy boot that will protect your ankles as you travel the terrain.  Waterproofing is a great option and again, there are inexpensive methods to treating your foot coverings without spending the money on waterproofed boots that may or may not work as they say.

 

Depending on the time of your season, mittens are not the way to go.  Gloves have more availability to hand things firmly and a pair you already own can be converted with a trigger finger by simply cutting off half the finger part of the glove.  If you are afraid of removing it and possibly losing the extra piece, simply attach a string to the two pieces so that they always stay within reach.

 

A blind or tree stand is not necessary.  Of course a home built version of either one of these can be made with extra materials you already have lying around or by using a “free” list in your area for remnants from someone else’s project.  Depending on the area that you have scoped out, a simple bush or the base of a tree is just as ideal.  You can fool a deer for a time if you are in front of a tree trunk, but if you hide behind it and peer around; you will most likely be spotted.

 

Be prepared for your hunt.  Take along a backpack filled with water, a quiet snack for nourishment, a knife, a compass, a small first aid kit and a phone in case of emergency.  Overall, don’t let the cost of hunting intimidate you; you can make it exactly how you want it to be, even on a tight budget.

A look at the Springfield model 1861 Rifle Musket

Commonly referred to as the "Springfield" (after its original place of production, Springfield, Massachusetts), it was the most widely used U.S. Army weapon during the Civil War, favored for its range, accuracy, and reliability.

Springfield model 1861 Rifle musket

The bullet could be quickly removed from the paper cartridge with the gunpowder poured down the barrel and the bullet pressed past the muzzle rifling and any detritus from prior shots. It was then rammed home with the ramrod, which ensured that the charge was packed and the hollow base was filled with powder. When fired, the expanding gas pushed forcibly on the base of the bullet, deforming it to engage the rifling. This provided spin for accuracy, a better seal for consistent velocity and longer range, and cleaning of barrel detritus.

The Springfield Model 1861 was equipped with a triangular socket bayonet.

A spike bayonet, also known as a pigsticker in informal contexts, is a blade attachment for a firearm taking the form of a pointed spike rather than a knife. Most early musket bayonets were of this type. From around 1800 knife- or sword style bayonets began to appear, which could also be wielded by hand. In the early 20th century Spike Bayonets re-appeared, often folding or stowed under the barrel for compactness, such as on the French MAS-36, Russian SKS and German FG 42. The spike bayonet was also used on the Russian Mosin Nagant. The Lee-Enfield No.4 bayonet or Pig-Sticker, was a short spike (but fixed conventionally), and was unpopular due to its length.

The caplock mechanism consists of a hammer, similar to the hammer used in a flintlock, and a nipple (sometimes referred to as a "cone"), which holds a small percussion cap. The nipple contains a tube which goes into the barrel. The percussion cap contains a chemical compound called mercuric fulminate or fulminate of mercury, whose chemical formula is Hg(ONC)₂. It is made from mercury, nitric acid and alcohol. When the trigger releases the hammer, it strikes the cap, causing the mercuric fulminate to explode. The flames from this explosion travel down the tube in the nipple and enter the barrel, where they ignite the main powder charge.

Information supplied by Wikipedia:

Barnes Bullets perform with great Expansion

The other day I did a post about a friend "Good Luck for the Jones family" who had an awesome successful morning in the deer woods. Well he emailed me back with a picture of one of the bullets and his views. From his email this is what Eric Jones had to say,

Rick this is the Barnes XPB 250 grain pistol bullet that I use in my CVA Omega, I have been using them for about three years now, since the power belts I was using let me down when it came to expansion. I have harvested several deer, one wild hog and two bear with them, and this is only the second bullet I have been able to recover and like the one I recovered from the 420lb bear I shot, they perform very well as you can see in the picture.

I shot a 90lb doe with this one at 73 yards, she was quartering slightly to me, I shot her in the front of the shoulder, it took out the vitals and the hide stoped this bullet after it traveled from the front shoulder through the vitals, through the opposite side hip bone and ham. I was shoked to find it, but very pleased again with the performance of the Barnes Bullets. For this reason, for two years now I only use barnes bullets in all my firearms, 243 win, 7mm-08 rem and 45 long colt hand gun.

I myself have decided to shoot Barnes Spitfire T-EZ as well using my CVA Wolf and my decision was based only on results from the rifle range on loading and grouping from 100 yard shots with my muzzleloader. Of course I have yet to take any deer with this bullet but I soon hope to remedy that with our up coming muzzleloader season.

Easy part is over, the Work begins

So you just shot your buck or doe and all the congratulations and celebrating are over with that is if you hunt with others but now the easy part is over and the work begins. Let's face it nobody like to field dress it's messy and depending on  how strong your stomach is it's sometimes pretty gross but, it is something that has to be done.

Back in 2009 I did a short post that I thinks fits now with this post. I will say that every tool in this post I have used and continue to use as they save me a lot of time.

Tools designed for Field Dressing Deer and other big game

Field dressing has it's many purposes, the most important thing is to clean out your harvest because one of the most important things to do is cool that animals down.  The worst thing to do is leave a warm carcass lying there with the insides still in it because pending on where you hit your target could depend on how quickly bacteria could set in from say stomach contents.

Another reason for field dressing is you can examine the stomach contents which as gross as it sounds could tell you an important clue. That is it will tell you what your animal has been feeding on recently. That information and your lay of the land could point you in the direction of where the deer might be coming from, where other deer might be feeding in the same general area and where you might want to concentrate on a new stand location. The more you know where the deer are hanging out the better your success can be.

Now that you have done all that your next thing to think about is getting your harvest out of the woods so it can be checked in. Of course I forgot to mention that you have already tagged the animal before you have started anything before this point, very important to remember. Now years ago in my younger days I would have just dragged the deer out over the river and through the woods to grandmothers house (don't laugh that is where I used to hang them before I bought a house) but, age and arthritis from to many tick bites have slowed me down considerably so that is why I went out and purchased a deer cart.

I wrote this post "Deer Carts are good for more than one thing" last November and I have to say it paid for itself the first time I used it. Why you ask, well it was opening day of Connecticut's muzzleloader season and it just happened to be the day a nasty snow storm hit and by the time I had field dressed the deer and took a few pictures there was at least 12" of snow on the ground. 

I had loaded up the deer and with my son's help we just rolled it right out and if it wasn't for the cart we would have been dragging dead weight through a foot of snow. I don't leave home without it now and the nice thing is it folds up and fits right in the trunk of my car.

Once you get the deer out of the woods and checked in at your local check in station which fortunately for Connecticut we don't have to do that anymore because all we have to do is phone in a kill report or go online and file a kill report than the next thing to do is hang it. Now if you are alone this could be kinda difficult so I would recommend having somebody there to help. What I am getting at though is getting back to keeping the animal cool once you have hung it in a cold dry place you will need to open up the body cavity so the air can get at it. What I usually do is stick a thin block of wood in from one side of the ribs to the other. This will allow the sir to get in and also allow the animal to drain any excess blood out.

Now everyone has there own opinion as to how long they hang the deer. Some have told me they skin and quarter it right away and some have told me they let it hang for no less than a week. I personally let my deer hand at least 2 days sometimes 3. I guess it is all a matter of preference.

I plan to have a later post on skinning and quartering, cutting up and packaging depending on if I get one.

Shooting Piettas 44-40 Single Action Revolver

For those of you who like the old style revolvers here is another treat from the duelist1954, I think you will like it as much as I did.

The Patron Saint of Artillery Men

As I was doing more browsing for civil war items I came across a coin/medallion that appears to be the size of a half dollar. It was a coin that had Saint Barbara the Patron Saint of Artillery Men. Of course I did a bit of research to see just what this was about and this is what I found.

The Order of Saint Barbara

Information from Wikipedia:
The United States Army Field Artillery Association and the United States Army Air Defense Artillery Association maintain the Order of Saint Barbara as an honorary military society of the United States Army Field Artillery and the United States Army Air Defense Artillery. Members of both United States Marine Corps and United States Army, along with their military and civilian supporters, are eligible for membership. There are two levels of membership in the order, The Ancient Order and the Honorable Order. The most distinguished level is the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara and those who are selected for this honor have achieved long-term, exceptional service to the field artillery surpassing even their brethren in the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. The Honorable Order may be approved by the first lieutenant colonel in the chain of command. The Ancient order must be approved of by the Commanding General, United States Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill.

Front & Back of medallion in excellant condition.

Of course you know me I just had to have it and I managed to get it at a very fair price. If you look closely you will notice that it is slightly different and very slightly worn from years of being in someone pocket but none the less a beautiful piece

New item in the Trading Post

Just letting you know there is a new item in the  "Trading Post"  for sale or trade. take a look!

items inside not included, sorry.

Good Luck for the Jones Family

Not to long ago I did a post about a friend and his daughters first deer, so called "A Friend and His Daughter's First Deer". Well, I am happy to report there has been more good luck for the Jones family. This time it was Eric himself. I received an email yesterday afternoon that Eric had shot to nice doe's yesterday morning with his muzzleloader.

Rick I shot theses two mature does this morning with my CVA OPTIMA and the barnes bullet, awesome morning

Congratulations Eric! 

Hornady / Boone and Crockett Give-a-way

I was contacted with the most amazing email that Whitetail Woods was chosen to partner with the Boone and Crockett Club made possible by Hornady.

About the Boone and Crockett Club:

Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and associated wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair-chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Montana.

We have identified your site as one we wish to partner with. We would like to invite you to participate in Boone and Crockett Club's Blogger Appreciation Program and receive a complimentary Associate Membership to the Boone and Crockett Club.



So, what do you think?

I will be holding a give-a-way for 1 Associate membership to the Boone and Crockett Club. The give-a-way will last for one month from October 21st. to November 21st.


About Fair Chase Magazine and your Associate Membership:
 

Fair Chase is the official publication of the Boone and Crockett Club. The magazine is loaded with information you won't find anywhere else such as Field Trophy Photos of recent entries into the Club's records program, as well as listings of the most recently accepted trophies. You will also find quality features by well known outdoor journalists on North American Big Game, trophy measuring, hunting tips and conservation issues that affect your hunting and more. As an Associate you will receive Fair Chase Magazine on a quarterly basis. You will also have exclusive access to the Associates Community of the Club’s web site. This includes searchable field photos, archive of past Fair Chase articles, and your own personal trophy scoring database. In addition, you will receive a discount on select Boone and Crockett Club merchandise and books. You will also receive a wallet I.D. card and a Boone and Crockett Club window decal.

Participation Requirement
The only requirement is I think easy and quite fair and that is to watch this video and just comment on what you thought of the content no matter what your thought is.

Lead Bullets

Anti-hunting and anti-fishing interests are currently litigating against the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to force the EPA to expand its Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) authority in order to regulate traditional ammunition and recreational fishing tackle.

When the Act was established in 1976 Congress explicitly excluded from regulation any article subject to excise taxes -- including pistols, revolvers, firearms, shells and cartridges.

The EPA has already once declined a petition that asked the agency to prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of lead for shot, bullets, and fishing sinkers because it did not have the authority to do so under the TSCA.

Anti-hunting and anti-fishing interests assert the EPA does have the authority and that a lead ban is necessary to address the significant impacts to wildlife populations that are resulting from traditional tackle and ammunition.

The assertions made by the petitioning groups lack credible scientific foundation, especially when seeking a blanket ban on all lead use. Outside of the California condor, where every death is significant, there is no evidence of a lead crisis at the population level – an entire group of one species living in a specific area.

The biggest threat of lead in wildlife is with birds that have gizzards, which hold on to and grind up food, rather than pass it quickly through their systems.

Proponents of the ban cite the impacts on individual raptors, such as Bald Eagles even though raptor populations are increasing across North America and the Bald Eagle was removed from the Endangered Species list as recently as 2007.

If a complete ban on lead in ammunition where achieved it would have a dramatic negative impact, because of the increased cost of alternative metals, on the cost of ammunition, and therefore participation in hunting and recreational shooting, which in turn is the engine that drives most of the funding for conservation and wildlife management through the excise taxes paid on the purchases of ammunition.

Sportsmen groups have rallied to push forward the introduction of the Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act (S.838 & H.R. 1558), which will amend TSCA in a manner that serves to protect and enhance our hunting, recreational shooting and recreational fishing heritage while concurrently facilitating the important benefits that the hunting, shooting and recreational fishing industries contribute to the betterment of our nation’s economy and treasured natural resources.

The Act is now being discussed and considered in committees. To learn more:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s112-838

Peepers, Swamp Grass and a Albino

I was editing my youtube channel this morning and forgot a I had saved this video. It is one of my favorites.

Venison Sloppy Joe's

Slow Cooker Venison Sloppy Joe's

Ingredients

• 1/4 pound bacon
• 2 pounds venison stew meat
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon prepared Dijon-style mustard
• 1 cup ketchup
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Remove from skillet, crumble and set aside. Brown stew meat in bacon grease for flavor.
2. Put onion, sugar, vinegar, cumin, chili powder, garlic, mustard, ketchup, salt and pepper in slow cooker and mix well. Add bacon and venison and stir together.
3. Cook for a minimum of 8 hours on Low setting. Use a fork to separate the meat into a thick and yummy Sloppy Joe-style barbecue. 

I can remember growing up and having my mom make homemade sloppy joe's with beef but I never had it with venison so when I found this recipe i just had to share it. I bet it even tastes good cold.

This Day in History - October 19th.

Controversial Union General Sickles visits his troops

Union General Daniel Sickles returns to visit his old command, the Third Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He was recovering from the loss of his leg at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in July 1863, and the visit turned sour when the army's commander, General George Meade, informed Sickles that he would not be allowed to resume command until he completely recovered from his injury.
Sickles had a somewhat checkered past. In 1859, while a U.S. congressman from New York, he killed his wife's lover across from the White House in Washington, D.C., but was acquitted when his lawyers employed a temporary insanity defense. He used his political leverage to secure a commission as a brigadier general when the Civil War began, and his personal skills endeared him to his men. He rose quickly, and by early 1863 was commander of the Third Corps.
At Gettysburg, Meade posted Sickles' troops at the left end of the Union line. The Army of the Potomac was arranged in a three-mile long, fishhook-shaped line on the top of Cemetery Ridge and Culp's Hill. On the morning of July 2, Sickles noticed that just in front of his position was a section of high ground. In his estimation, this rise could be used by the Confederates to shell the Union position. Sickles expressed confusion over his orders and three times Meade explained that Sickles was to hold the end of Cemetery Ridge. Sickles was unhappy with the explanation, failing to understand that Meade was fighting a defensive battle. He moved his corps forward anyway, and the move nearly cost the Union the battle. A furious Meade ordered Sickles to withdraw his troops, but the Confederates were already attacking. After heavy losses, the Third Corps moved back to Cemetery Ridge.

Gens. Sickles, Carr & Graham. Taken near Trostle's barn, Gettysburg Battlefield - on spot where General Sickles lost his leg, July 2nd, 1863

Despite his wound, Sickles hurried back to Washington to conduct damage control. One of his first visitors was President Abraham Lincoln. Sickles was one of the few Democrats who welcomed Lincoln to Washington in 1861, and Lincoln remembered that gesture. Sickles gave his account of the battle and justified his move. He even claimed that his action prevented Meade from retreating and therefore prevented a Union defeat. This began a war of words between Meade and Sickles that lasted the rest of their lives. When the reports on the battle were filed that fall, Sickles did not fare well. Many, such as General Gouverneur K. Warren and General-in-Chief Henry Halleck, blasted Sickles for his actions.
The hatred that Sickles developed for Meade after the Gettysburg incident peaked on October 18, 1863, when Meade made it clear that he had no intention of restoring Sickles to command. Sickles later testified in front of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War against Meade, but his own combat career was effectively over. He spent the next half-century defending his record, attacking Meade, and trying to shape the history of Gettysburg by continuing to promote his account of the battle before he died in 1914.

Information from History.com

Your Input is Needed.

I have been thinking lately about Whitetail Woods like I always am. It has changed so much since it's creation in August of 2008. I occasionally add new stuff and delete stuff but I would like to try and keep it to a certain few subjects so I can better keep track of things. Now I tried this once before by putting a short poll in my sidebar and I didn't get the response that I was hoping for so I'm thinking that I am going to try it again but, this time I am going to make it a survey.

I know what your thinking already, another darn survey to take. But, I will make it as short and painless as possible and if you think about it this survey is all for you my readers.

I have five basic topics that I cover right now and I think that is a good number but you all can tell me. I am more than happy to change slightly to give you the most of what your looking for and with any luck I can increase readers or at least keep the one's I have now.

Topics are as follows in no particular order,

1.) Whitetail Deer & Deer Hunting - covers any and all of that subject from deer anatomy to processing your  harvest for the freezer.

2.) Trout Fishing - covers anything from tackle box items to catch and release except for fly fishing, I don't really do that although someday I would like to try.

3.) Black Powder Shooting - covers front stuffers from traditional to modern in-lines. From cleaning products to loading products. Also included and not limited to are tip's and techniques.

4.) Civil War - covers anything from 1861 to 1865. This is a very wide topic but one that I am just as interested in as deer and deer hunting. I will try to cover a lot of history here while I go on my quest for collecting items from this time period and telling you about what I have acquired from reproduction pieces to authentic pieces.

5.) Family - this is a given as I will always include them. Our time is so limited together these days that I like to include you all when we do do something.

Below you will find a set of survey questions and I made them as short and painless as possible. I would appreciate you take just five minutes out of your time to post your answers in the comment section. Be honest with your answers (I won't hunt you down or anything like that, really I won't. ;) ), it is just to see what your really interested in.

Question #1 - Not counting Family what would you say is your favorite topic Deer and Deer Hunting, Trout Fishing, Black Powder Shooting or Civil War?

Question #2 - With your answer to question 1 what would you like to read more of with in that topic?

Question #3 - With my topics in mind if you wanted me to research a specific area and create a post for you and others to read what would that area be? example: The battle of Cedar Creek who were the Confederate units that fought there?

Question #4 - Not counting Family of course What topic Deer and Deer Hunting, Trout Fishing, Black Powder Shooting or Civil War would you like to see more Product reviews in?

Question #5 - What are your honest thoughts about Give-A-Ways, are they really worth it?

All who participate will get honorable mention with link's back to your own sites in a follow up post. I know it ain't much but, you never know Christmas is coming.

What are Civil War Tokens?

Another interesting fact about the civil war is coinage and the scarcity of it. In the absence of it privately minted coins were made with all sorts of different designs and they were split into 3 different categories. I have already purchased one and I'm trying to acquire a second one, they go good with what I have collected so far. They are very interesting conversation pieces.

Patriotic tokens

Patriotic Civil War tokens typically displayed a patriotic slogan or image on one or both sides. Since the majority of these tokens were minted in Union states, the slogans and images were decidedly pro-Union. Some common examples of slogans found on patriotic tokens are "The Union Must and Shall Be Preserved," "Union For Ever," and "Old Glory". Some of the images found on patriotic tokens were the flag of the United States, a 19th-century cannon, and the USS Monitor.
Among the best-known varieties of patriotic tokens are the so-called "Dix tokens." They are named for John Adams Dix, who served as Secretary of the Treasury in 1861. In a letter from Dix to a revenue cutter captain, Lieutenant Caldwell, he orders Caldwell to relieve another cutter captain of his command for refusing an order to transfer from New Orleans to New York. The letter ends with the following sentence: "If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." The quote found its way to a number of patriotic tokens, albeit with a slightly modified wording ("haul down" is usually replaced by "tear it down").

Store cards

 

Civil War store cards differ from patriotic tokens in that one or both sides displays the name and/or location of a privately owned business. Businesses that could afford it had two custom dies made, with both advertising the business. Otherwise, only one side displayed the business's information.

Sutler tokens

 

Sutler tokens are similar to store cards. Rather than listing the name of a private business, however, these tokens bore the name of a particular army unit (usually a regiment) and the name of the sutler who conducted transactions with the regiment. Of the three types of Civil War tokens, sutler tokens are by far the rarest.

Autumn Day on the Mount Hope

Yesterday was beautiful weather for a mid day outing for Tyler and I so we headed out with fishing poles in hand but with all the rain we got on Friday the river and streams were kinda high and flowing pretty good the the trout weren't biting. I did manage to take some nice autumn pictures though.

Mount Hope River

 

 You know I can't go anywhere without looking for some sort of deer sign. This next pic I found on the bank where the deer were using a low area to cross.