New Items in the Trading Post

The Whitetail Woods Trading Post is pleased to announce it has more items for you to browse. It is a friendly reminder Christmas is right around the corner so browse with confidence and take advantage of the good deals.

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

Moon Clocks - Are they Reliable?

I have always thought that the moon had an effect on how deer movement coincided with the phases of the moon. Earlier this year I bought one of these moon clocks just like the one you see pictured here. I was going to try it for rifle season but that didn't pan out so my next available time to try it is Connecticut's December Muzzleloader season which is Dec. 7th. through Dec. 20th.

Developed by 'The Bass Professor" Doug Hannon - one of the worlds most knowledgable wildlife experts.

 

Features of the forecaster:

1. Developed by "The Bass Professor," Doug Hannon - one of the world's most knowledgeable wildlife experts
2. Pocket size - 4" x 6" and easy to carry
3. Based on moon data only
4. Shows moon phases and day of highest activity
5. Use for fishing, hunting, bird watching and wildlife photography

Using the Moon clock to plan an outing:

For my season on opening day it shows Dec. 7th. as having the best time between 8:45am to 10:45am for seeing deer movement. That is not to say they won't show up before or after it is only saying that is the best time according to the position of the moon. I am gonna see if that is correct or not.

Dvor - 1yr. Anniverary Sweepstakes

We're celebrating our 1st Anniversary with our loyal members - those who have helped make Dvor not just the first members-only store devoted to gear, but also the best! We've heard from so many of you on how shopping at Dvor has given you the opportunity to get all of the gear you want and need, and just how much you love our daily deals and offers.


From November 22, 2011 through December 22, 2011, enter the Dvor 1st Anniversary Sweepstakes for your chance to win Dvor credit! With a total prize pool of $3,000 in Dvor store credit, winners will be able to gear up any which way they'd like! Four lucky winners will receive $250 in Dvor credit, while one incredibly lucky person will walk away with $2,000 in Dvor credit.

There's no cost and there's no catch, so be sure to enter today!
No purchase necessary, see official rules for details

A look at the Remingtom 1858 New Army

The Remington 1858 New Army 44 they say is one of the top 3 most used revolvers during the civil war, actually it is #2 with Colt 1860 Army being #1 and the Starr Revolver coming in as #3.



Video from duelist1954

The Remington was a single-action, six-shot, percussion revolver produced by E. Remington & Sons, Ilion, N.Y., based on the Fordyce Beals patent of September 14, 1858 (Patent 21,478). The Remington Army revolver was large-framed, in .44 caliber, with an 8 inch barrel length. The Remington Navy revolver was slightly smaller framed than the Army, and in .36 caliber with an 7.375 inch [Beals Navy 7.5 inch] barrel length. There were three progressive models; the Remington-Beals Army & Navy (1860–1862), the 1861 Army & Navy (1862–1863), and the New Model Army & Navy (1863–1875). The three models are nearly identical in size and appearance. Subtle but noticeable differences in hammers, loading levers, and cylinders help identify each model. The 1861 Remington actually transitioned into New Model appearance by late 1862, slowly transforming throughout 1862, due to continual improvement suggestions from the U. S. Ordnance Department.

 For more information visit Wikipedia:

Game for Anything - Enhancing your Hunting Experience with Literature

We all like to read hunting stories especially when the season is just about to start, it just seem to get the blood pumping and gets you all wound up. I know for me it does. Even after the season is over and we are all laying there wishing we were back out in the deer woods.


Isabella Woods has written another great article that you should browse through because it gives you great suggestions of where to start looking. Half of what we learn as an outdoorsman/hunter we learn from reading. It is typical to  pickup a book or hunting magazines to read what's new or what's old but has worked flawlessly. So with the dull dreary days of winter grab a good book or a good magazine a hot cup of coffee and sit back and learn what others have done or what others suggest you might want to do now or next season.


On a personal note I have been lucky enough to have been found by not one but two writers who I eally do enjoy their writings so I want to thank Isabella Woods a personal writer and Kasey from Hunt and Fish guides for their contributions to Whitetail Woods. I know thy would both enjoy a comment or two from all of you so please take a moment to let them know.


-------------------------------------------------

Game hunting is a widely misunderstood practice.  In a number of communities in the Northeast, mid-Northwest, and Southern parts of the United States, hunting season actually means food on the table.  It is not a recreational activity undertaken with the sole purpose of killing something.  For those people who hunt in order to eat, game represents both an incredible challenge and a necessary part of existence.
A number of books have been written about the subject of game hunting.  While some glorify the hunt itself, the size of the animal brought down, or offer tips to achieve better results while out hunting, there are a few excellent collections and novles that focus on why the hunt can be vital to a community, family, or individual.  Strangely, and sadly, the latter type of book is far less than common than the others.  Below is a brief list of books that explore the psychology and practice of hunting.  On a cold winter day, curling up in your Arizona recliner with one of these books, will definitely make for a lovely afternoon.
Hunting’s Best Short Stories
Hunting’s Best Short Stories is a collection of stories about hunting that includes work from a number of literary greats, like Hemingway, combined with works from a select group of budding authors.  It is edited by Paul D. Staudohar and was published in 2000.  It is a mixture of fiction and non-fiction tales, and while some are solely focused on hunting, others involve hunting, but do not make the hunt the primary point of the story.
The most interesting aspect of this particular anthology is that it is not always positive.  Rather than featuring stories about hunters bagging that one animal they have been seeking forever, Hunting’s Best Short Stories truly explores what “the hunt” means, and it is not always pretty.  While the quality can vary from story to story, overall, the collection is a worthy addition to any hunter’s library.
The Greatest Hunting Stories Ever Told:  Twenty-Nine Unforgettable Tales
The Greatest Hunting Stories Ever Told is a lovely collection of stories whether you are a hunter or not.  Researched and edited by Lamar Underwood of Sports Afield and Outdoor Life fame, the book contains stories by Patrick O’Brien, Robert Ruark, Ed Zern, and even Theodore Roosevelt.  There is also a great group of stories about fishing.  The collection was published in 2004 to excellent reviews.  The quality of the stories, combined with Mr. Underwood’s pithy commentary about what inspired the tales, and his conversations with the authors themselves, has made the book an instant favorite with many readers.
The Gigantic Book of Hunting Stories
The Gigantic Book of Hunting Stories was published in 2008, and is considered by many to be the definitive book of tales about hunting.  This is partially due to its massive 800 pages, but it is also due to the reputation of its editor, Jay Cassel.  Mr. Cassel has edited or written for Field and Stream, Sports Afield, Outdoor Life, Peterson’s Hunting, and Time Magazine, to name just a few publications.  He is also an experienced hunter himself, and it is apparent in the quality of the stories he chose to include in his huge volume of works.  This book explores hunting from multiple vantage points and showcases a wide range of opinions and practices.  It is a fascinating read.  Be prepared to spend a few days (or weeks) making your way through it, as there is a lot of great literature to be found within its covers.
The Old Man and the Boy
This is probably the most famous book about hunting as a ritual and rite of passage that has been published.  Written by Robert Ruark and published in 1993, The Old Man and the Boy follows a boy and his grandfather as they hunt and fish.  The grandfather uses their hunting and fishing experiences to teach the boy about life lessons and about how to make appropriate decisions in the future.  The language Mr. Ruark uses, and the relationship between the two characters, makes this book truly magical.  It also positions hunting as a vital part of the growth process, and explores what life and death means in a very concrete, realistic manner.  The book has sold a huge number of copies in its decade on bookshelves, and it is easy to understand why.
The next time you need a good book on hunting, pass the “how-to” section by, and look for some literature.  This list is just a sample of the books out there about the internal life of the hunt.  With a little bit of research and some time spent browsing, it is possible to find some wonderful stories that will enrich your home library and your hunting experience.

Slight change in what Muzzleloader to Use

Ya, I made a last minute sort of decision. Instead of using the CVA Wolf which by the way was sighted in for 100 yards. Seeing as my rifle season was a big SNAFU I decided to take off the .243 barrel from my CVA Apex and put my 50 caliber muzzleloader barrel on and my best scope A Konus Pro 3-10x44.

 All I have to do is sight it in which fortunately I have time to do it. I will go out during the week in the morning sometime. I have never shot the Apex with a black powder barrel on it but don't have a doubt i will have a problem.

I have like 9 days to go before season opens, god times does go slow when your counting days but I can't help it. The season opens on a Wednesday so I took the first 3 days off from work and you add Saturday onto that and i have 4 days straight so from dawn to dusk + 4 days = deer down I HOPE. My freezer is screaming it needs something to put in it.

I still plan to enjoy my time in the deer woods, I think I could use it.

Newest item for my Collection

I just won this on Ebay which I think will go good with my civil war collection. Actually I was out bidded but for whatever reason I received a message from the seller that I had a second chance offer on the item, of course i was excited and went for it.

THE LAST FOUR SURVIVING CIVIL WAR VETERANS

BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT

May 30, 1926

West Cemetery Civil War Monument

Civil War veterans pictured left to right:

George H. Bates, George B. Chapin, Walter H. Hutchinson, Edward H. Allen.

FIRST DAY OF ISSUE, FIRST DAY COVER, FDOI

POSTMARKED: HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, APRIL 26, 1935

CONDITION: VERY FINE, SEALED, ADDRESSED

Black Friday Deals at the Trading Post

Today only!

 There is a 10% discount on any and/all items in the Whitetail Woods Trading Post. That discount applies to the item plus shipping charges.

Ethics, Morals and Decency - A Friendly Reminder

I have another great guest post article from Kasey Werner at Hunt and Fish Guides which is all about ethics, morals and decency which could be a good reminder for some. We as hunter's are always in the public eye so to speak and Kasey has sure hit the nail on the head. Her words are something we all should either listen to or mention to others as a friendly reminder of course.

Ethics, Morals, and Decency

By Kasey Werner from Hunt and Fish Guides

With the bow hunting season underway and gun season already started in most areas, I begin to look at the many ways that can determine the outcome of a good season. Hunters in many states flock to the woods, the same goal in mind…the possibility of a prize awarded at the end of a long day filled with patience, strategy, determination and no doubt luck.

Equipment is prepped. Clothing is prepared. Vacation time is planned. We dot every “i” and cross every “t”. Conversations are geared to the weather, deer sightings, new gadgets and hopes and dreams alike in every hunter’s vision. It’s such a short time chunked out of the year, yet deer hunting provides much revenue to the states, not only in tags but in tourism as well.

So what can hinder all those well thought out plans? Hunters. We seem to be our own undoing. We can complain about not having enough land to hunt, how hard it is to find permission or gain access to certain lands, how the deer population seems to be dwindling or moving in another direction but in the end, decency in our fellow comrades can determine the kind of year we experience above all else.

More and more, we are questioning the morals and ethics among the hunters in our nation. Opening day can be fowled by a newly placed tree stand not 50 yards from yours, facing in your direction. Rising long before sunrise, with quiet determination, trekking to your scouted location, only to find someone else already there is disheartening and frustrating. Obtaining the proper permission from a land owner, only to find others dare venture where they please.

State land for hunting dictates a “first come, first served” rule. If you hang a stand, anyone can use it. The state can even take it down. If you settle in, only to find another hunter a stone throw away from you, nothing states either one of you are violating any rules of the game. Although there are not written rules to solving these dilemmas, how you respond to these situations is insight to the type of ethics and morals you bring to the adventure.

What ethics do we live by? State land is for public use, all must come to a conclusion on what is tolerable and right when making decisions about where to hunt on them. Private land is of another matter.

Witnessing firsthand, stories where a hunter gains permission to hunt private land only to have it fouled innocently enough by choices he makes. One day he decides to bring his buddy with permission from the land owner. His buddy then decides because he knows of someone who hunts there, he will venture there on his own, perhaps even bringing his buddy, or more. The disadvantages to this can be endless on many different levels.

How one reacts to a scenario, determines how land owners, and non-hunters alike, perceive hunters. One hunter that doesn’t live by any morals can ruin the future for other hunters by leaving a bad taste behind, therefore leaving no doors open for possibly hunts on what was once, available land.

Private land should be treated as gold. Your privileges should be held in the highest esteem and treated with respect. Whether you pay for that privilege by booking a hunting trip with an outfitter or simply gain it by asking, always treat it as if you are paving the way for many generations beyond you.

Respect other hunters; be aware of your surroundings for current locations of stands or blinds. Do not take over a stand, even if it looks abandoned. Talk to the landowner, perhaps he will know who it belongs to. He may not even be aware that someone is infringing on his property. Talk pre-season to any other hunters that might share permission on the same land. Design a game plan to avoid potential issues long before they become a reality.

All it takes is common sense to provide for an enjoyable hunting season. Do unto others….a golden rule to live by for certain.

Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

to all my 

Whitetail Woods Friends.

"2011"

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to David Boggs of "Why i Hunt" for winning the  

Hornady/Boone and Crockett subscription Give-away.

Please email me you full name and address so as I can relay it for your subscription.

Making a Loading Block for Black Powder Hunting

I'd like to say this too was my idea but sad to say it is not. But, from the pictures I have seen I decided to make my own. See when your black powder hunting you only get one shot and if your lucky enough to have time to take a second shot you sure don't want to waste time fumbling in your possibles bag for patches and another ball. This block is pre loaded hence the name Loading Block which allows you the opportunity to load a patch and ball a lot faster than normal.

I had a piece of scrap pine board laying in the work shop which I rough sketched what I wanted.

Once I did that than I took a spade bit and my cordless drill and did a test hole and tried a patch and ball in it to make sure it wasn't to loose or to tight.

At this point I used my bench grinder to round and chamfer all the edges to give it that well worn look and also did a little hand sanding.
Now I tested once more to make sure the wholes would accept a patch (.015" thick) and ball (.490" thick) which you will see in the next pic.

This next pic is the bottom of the block. Notice that the patch and ball are protruding slightly. This is to help quickly center the patch and ball in the muzzle where you can finish starting it with you ball starter.

Now once I put 2 or 3 coats of polyurethane on it to protect from the elements it will be good to go.

Finished and ready to use.

 

This Day in History - November 22nd.

Nov 22, 1864:

Confederate General Hood enters Tennessee

On this day in 1864, Confederate General John Bell Hood invades Tennessee in a desperate attempt to draw Union General William T. Sherman out of Georgia.
This movement was part of the saga of Hood's Army of Tennessee in 1864. In the spring, the army, commanded then by Joseph Johnston, blocked Sherman's path to Atlanta from Chattanooga. During the summer, Sherman and Johnston fought a series of relatively small engagements as Sherman tried to flank the Rebel army. Johnston slowly retreated toward Atlanta, but kept his army intact. By July, Confederate President Jefferson Davis had seen enough territory lost to the Yankees, so he replaced the defensive Johnston with the aggressive Hood. Hood made a series of attacks on Sherman outside of Atlanta that did nothing but diminish his own army's capabilities. After a one-month siege, Hood was forced to withdraw from Atlanta.
He took his army south, then swung around west of Atlanta in an attempt to cut Sherman's supply line. This line ran down the corridor from Chattanooga covering the same ground over which the two armies had fought in the summer. Although Sherman had to commit a substantial part of his force to protect the lines, Hood could do little more than pick at them. In October, Hood headed into Alabama to rest his beleaguered army.
Hood then embarked on a bold expedition to save the western theater for the Confederates. He planned to move toward Nashville, into Kentucky and maybe even into the Northern states before turning east and joining up with General Robert E. Lee's army, which was under siege at Petersburg, Virginia. It was an enormous task, but Hood was determined to carry it out.

The November 22 passage into Tennessee marked the start of a new campaign that spelled disaster for the Confederates. In early November, Sherman took part of his force, cut loose from his supply lines, and began his March to the Sea, which would end with the capture of Savannah, Georgia, just before Christmas. He sent the rest of the force under George Thomas back to Nashville to guard against Hood. Hood charged toward Thomas and attacked part of his force at Franklin, Tennessee, on November 30. Hood suffered a devastating defeat there but continued on to attack Thomas at Nashville on December 15. After that attack, little remained of Hood's once-proud Army of Tennessee.

 

Still time to Punch a Deer Tag in Connecticut.

I found this report on Deer Hunting Guide.net. it is never to late to get out there and punch a tag or two.

photo from Field & Stream

Connecticut Deer Hunting

Connecticut deer hunting continues to shine as an extremely long archery season with very liberal bag limits, and a peak rut gun season make the nutmeg state a great place to bag a trophy buck. The general trophy deer hunting hotspots are the northeastern and northwestern parts of the state, due largely to an abundance of quality habitat and relatively low hunting pressure, along with some of the states largest tracts of public land. However, trophy bucks can be found all over the nutmeg state. Seven counties have produced ten or more 150 class bucks in the past 5 years. Tolland county led the way with 17, followed by Windham, Middlesex, Litchfield, Hartford, New Haven, and our favorite...Fairfield County. Click on the link for maps of Connecticut deer hunting land open to the public.
The key to finding trophy deer hunting in Connecticut may lie in your ability to gain access to small tracts of private land. Permission may be easier to get in Fairfield and lower New Haven counties due to the huge numbers of deer found there. The state has implemented special regulations in these areas in order to curtail the burgeoning deer population. Bow hunters in these zones are offered repacement tags. For every doe that you harvest, you are issued a replacement tag. If you harvest three does, you are issued a bonus buck tag. It is a great way of reducing the deer herd, as some archers harvest upwards of 20 deer.

Read more information:

On a personal note: I myself have been hunting whitetails for 21 years and I find that I have better luck when the temperatures drop. As this article mentions is is good sometimes to get private land to hunt on especially in high pressure areas but, I find at least in the northeast corner that state land is also good. 

This buck to the right I captured on my deer cam where I plan to be for muzzleloader season which is state land by the way. I was suppose to be there for shotgun season but do to circumstances i was not able to go. I'll be there for muzzleloader though so just maybe I will have a chance at him. To me any deer is a trophy. Yes, buck are spectaular with their polished antlers but you can't eat them and that is my main direction of thought. Even though I have been collecting antlers for as long as I have been hunting I still need to fill the freezer so if a doe just happens to appear first well it would be that buck's lucky day.

Venison Dishes That Make Everyone Happy

Just one more great guest post from Isabella Woods:
 
As a kid who grew up traveling between a small community in New England, and an even smaller community in the Deep South, deer hunting season was a large part of my childhood.  More important than the actual hunt, was what you did with the deer meat afterward.  Most of my friends and family raised, grew, and/or caught the majority of their own food, so everyone had suggestions and advice regarding how to store and prepare the animals that formed a portion of our diets.  Venison recipes were especially plentiful and everyone had an opinion about the best.  More often than not, these opinions had nothing to do with each other.  There were a couple recipes, however, that managed to please everyone.  As game-hunting season is about to begin, it seemed only fitting to share some of these tried and true recipes with all of you.

The Basics
When cooking venison, it is important to choose your recipe based on whether you are working with fresh deer meat, with meat that has been cured, or with meat that has been dried.  Depending on how the meat was handled, it will take to spices and heat quite differently.  Make sure that you are clear about the type of venison with which you will be working, or you could end up making a dish that will emerge from the oven or pot next to un-eatable.  If you are new to cooking with deer meat, try starting with the below recipe for deer sausage.  Even if you are a little uncertain, the spices used will go a long way to saving you.  If you do not have experience grinding deer meat, you may want to try the recipe out with pre-ground deer meat, or ask a friend or neighbor to give you some freebies and grind your meat for you.

Spicy Italian Venison Sausage
This recipe is great if you like spicy foods.  This was a favorite of all my southern cousins.  It is also quite versatile.  Once you have spiced the meat, you can turn it into casserole meat, meatballs, taco stuffing, or a meaty pasta sauce.
Ingredients:
2 pounds of ground venison
1 pound of ground pork
1/2 cup of water
4 teaspoons of crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon of salt
1 tablespoon of black pepper
1 tablespoon of fennel seeds
2 teaspoons of oregano
1 teaspoon of basil

Mix all of the ingredients together and put it in the refrigerator for 24 hours or so.  It needs that long for the spices to infuse the meat.  If you try to cook it right away, the taste has a tendency to be uneven, and portions of the meat will be noticeably spicier than others.  Remember that the crushed red pepper is what makes the dish hot, so add more if you like your sausage atomic, and use less if you know that some of your diners have “gentler” palates.  After 24 hours, remove the meat from the refrigerator, pat it into patties, and fry it.  If you want to use it in a sauce or make meatballs out of it, add some raw egg and minced onions and garlic.

Venison Stew
New England can be ridiculously cold.  Sometimes you just want a little comfort food.  Stew is the ultimate comfort food.  Hardier than soup, but less work than a full entrée, stew is a great wintertime dish.  Venison stew is next to perfect.  This is a great dish to make if your family is one that likes to build snow forts or go sledding.  It can take up to two and a half hours to cook, so putting it on the stove and going outside to play for a bit is totally within reason.  This stew is especially useful if your deer meat has been frozen, or if it is a little tough.  You can add some water to the meat during the browning process, and let it cook for an hour or so before adding the rest of the ingredients.
Ingredients: 
1 and 1/2 pounds venison, cut into half-inch cubes
3 tablespoons of flour
2 tablespoons of bacon grease
1-1/2 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon of black pepper
1 cup of corn
1 cup of green beans
1 cup of peas
1 cup of carrots
1 cup of onions, chopped
2 cups of potatoes, cut into half-inch cubes
2 large, or 4 small, bay leaves
2 quarts of water

Season the meat with your salt and pepper.  Then coat the seasoned cubes in flour.  We used to add the salt and pepper to the flour and then coat it all at once, but my aunt insisted that practice was close to sacrilege.  Put the bacon grease in a large pot, heat it, and brown the venison.  [It is at this point that you should add water if the meat is tough. Pour two cups of water over the meat, cover the pot, and let the cubes soften over low heat for approximately an hour.]  Next, add the vegetables, the bay leaves, and the 2 quarts of water to the pot.  Allow it all to simmer, covered, for one to one and a half hours, or until everything is tender and smells amazing.
Both of these recipes seem to make everyone happy.  They are relatively simple, hardy, and can be easily stored or packed in lunch boxes or bags.  Have a safe and happy hunting season and enjoy cooking what you catch!

Seventeen Days and Counting

Seventeen days and counting until Connecticut's Muzzleloader season opens, I can hardly wait.

CVA Wolf 50 caliber

I took out the Wolf yesterday to see where it was hitting and with adjustment to windage and elevation I was hitting dead-on at 100 yards. I was very pleased with how it was shooting. For me the combination of the next to items you will read about works very well in my Wolf.

I am shooting 100 graiins of BH209 which I found to be very clean shooting powder compared to most I have tried.



Blackhorn 209 is a low residue, high performance propellant made for muzzleloaders and black powder cartridges. It is engineered to consistently shoot at higher velocities and with greater accuracy than any other muzzleloader powder available today. In fact, if you compare the advantages of Blackhorn 209, you will quickly see there are nine areas where Blackhorn 209 simply smokes the competition:

Read Technical Data:

I started shooting these as a suggestion long ago from one of my readers and AI absolutely love them.

 Barnes’ NEW Spit-Fire T-EZ muzzleloader bullets load easier, even in tight bores. A new sabot reduces the ramrod pressure required to load and seat these .50-caliber, flat-base bullets. T-EZ bullets deliver the same match-grade accuracy all Barnes’ MZ bullets are famous for. The 100% copper bullets feature a polymer tip that enhances expansion and boosts BC for superior long-range ballistics. They expand at both close and extended range, creating six razor-edge cutting petals that maximize shock and penetration.

17 days and counting!

Colt's 3rd. Model Dragoon revolver

Here is another civil war period revolver that's interesting.

Learning to Cast my own Muzzleloading Bullets

This is something that I have wanted to do for some time so I finally decided to try. I contacted Lee Precision Inc. and told them my plans. I spoke to a very nice girl named Stephanie who was very helpful. Not knowing much but the basics of the process I am starting off slow. I am starting with two important items I will need. The first is the Lee 50caliber 250 grain R.E.A.L. Double Cavity Bullet Mold w/handles and the other item is the Lee Precision Melter Electric Pot with Thermostat Control.

LEE "Precision Melter" Electric Pot
with thermostat control

 A 500 watt higher speed melter, holds 4 lbs of lead and melts it in less than 15 minutes, easily supplying multi-cavity gang molds. Designed for continuous duty. Warranted 2 years, by Lee.

Lee .50 caliber, 250 grain R.E.A.L. bullet mold, double cavity, includes handles

 Lee molds are aluminum blocks, in permanently attached steel handles with sturdy grips. Aluminum blocks won't rust, lead won't adhere, and they heat quickly. But they are softer than blued steel and require gentle handling. If you treat these high precision molds with care and respect, they will last a lifetime. The cavity cannot rust. 

Gently break in your new mold. New molds require a break in period, and are most likely to be damaged during first use. Wash the mold cavity, dry, and lubricate the cavity and the underside of the sprue plate with candle smoke. As you cast, increase your casting speed to increase temperature and bullet quality. Apply more smoke, as needed. Be gentle!

This is the beginning, I am waiting for these as I write this. I figure I would start collecting wheel weights to melt down. I know I still need a ladel, forgot to order it. I plan to show you the process as i go along, remember I have never done this before but i am sure looking forward to getting started. 


I want to take this time to thank Lee Precision inc. and Stephanie's help to get me started. This is going to be a great winter project for me. Don't forget to keep an eye out for my step by step post on "Casting my own Muzzleloading Bullets".

The Joy of Tagging your First Whitetail Buck

Let me say Congratulations to Emily of  "Scent Free Lip Gloss" for tagging her first Whitetail Buck

You have got to stop by and read the exciting events of her hunt as they unfolded. It is not every day when a plan comes together.

G.A.R. & Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

There were a lot of things that came from and out of the civil war and one of those that I would like to mention now is the organization of union veterans so called  the G.A.R. "Grand Army of the Republic". Not only did my great great  grandfather Leander Allen become part of this organization.

The development of an organization of Union veterans was the postwar conception of Benjamin Franklin Stephenson of Springfield, Illinois. The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) quickly became the preeminent veterans' organization formed at the close of the Civil War. Membership reached its peak in 1890, when over 400,000 members were reported. By then the GAR had well over seven thousand posts, ranging in size from fewer than two dozen members in small towns, to more than a thousand in some cities.
The Vermont Commandery of the G.A.R. was established on October 23, 1868. In 1875, there were 13 posts, with 561 members. There were 151 posts at one time or another, with the largest number of posts 113, in 1892 and 1894; the highest numbered post was 117, several numbers were reused as posts came and went. The largest number of members was 5,473, in 1890.
The organization of the GAR was based upon three objectives: fraternity, charity, and loyalty. For a complete explanation of these objectives, and a more complete history of the organization, see "The Grand Army of the Republic and Kindred Societies, at the Library of Congress website.

I from time to time do research trying to learn more about my great great grandfather but most of the time I find myself getting lost and confused so I give up for awhile. I do know he went to the 50 year reunion of Gettysburg by this list I found. Even though this list came from Vermont where he was from he did not join in Vermont because the story as told to me was his parents would not sign his enlistment papers so on his horse he rode to New Hampshire and lied about his age and enlisted.

Vermont at Gettysburg - July, 1863 and Fifty Years Later

The following is an alphabetical list of the Veterans from Vermont who attended the celebration as compiled from the transportation orders sent in by the railroad companies for payment, with their post office addresses and organizations to which they belonged as taken from their applications.  (I had to narrow the list, it was quite long)

Allbee, J. H., Saxton's River, 16th Vt., A

Allen, H. W. , Burlington, 13th Vt., A

Allen, Isaac K., Brattleboro, 4th Vt., F

Allen, Leander, North Troy, 1st N. H., K

Allen, Nye J., Stockbridge, 7th Vt., K

Amadon, J. H., Hyde Park, North, 11th Vt., A In 1881 the GAR formed the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America (SV) to carry on its traditions and memory long after the GAR had ceased to exist. Membership was open to any man who could prove ancestry to a member of the GAR or to a veteran eligible for membership in the GAR. In later years, men who did not have the ancestry to qualify for hereditary membership, but who demonstrated a genuine interest in the Civil War and could subscribe to the purpose and objectives of the SUVCW, were admitted as Associates. This practice continues today. Many GAR Posts sponsored Camps of the SV. In 1925 the SV name was changed to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), under which its federal charter was issued in 1954. The SUVCW is legally recognized as the heir to, and representative of, the GAR.  Upon my goal of volunteering as an assistant curator of the New England Civil War Museum I will also be applying for membership in the "Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War" because of my great great grandfather. The way I feel about are armed forces and this country I was born and raised in I feel I would be a good member. I should find out more about it. I was invited to the Alden Skinner Camp #45's christmas party.

Picture of the Week

Please say Hello to Jessica Jolene Barlow

"Last Light"

Visit to The New England Civil War Museum

This past Sunday afternoon we visited the New England Civil War Museum in Vernon Connecticut. There was one reason in particular why we went there and that was to meet the executive director Matthew Reardon. It seems they are looking for an assistant curator for the museum and I thought maybe they might be interested in me. Now it is not a very large museum and the position is a volunteer position as they all are there but it didn't matter to me. I brought my wife and son who with me so it was a nice outting.

The only museum in Connecticut devoted to the fighting men of the Civil War.   

The New England Civil War Museum is located inside the longest continuously used Civil War veterans hall in the country.  

The old home of Thomas Burpee Post #71 is one of the very few intact Grand Army of the Republic hall's still left in existance.

The New England Civil War Museum is owned and operated by volunteers of Alden Skinner Camp #45 Sons of union Veterans of the Civil War. 

Lt. Colonel Thomas F. Burpee 21st. Connecticut Regiment

 A Short History of Camp #45 

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUV) was sanctioned and established by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) in 1883. In the beginning, this organization was mainly comprised of sons of Civil War soldiers. The group's philosophy was essentially the same as that of the GAR: to honor and remember all Union soldiers, to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and to be fraternal, charitable, and loyal. The SUV's primary function was to help the local GAR post in carrying out their duties. As GAR members got older and died, the Sons took on more and more responsibility, such as decorating graves, raising money, and maintaining the post.

Dr. Alden B. Skinner 25th. Connecticut Regiment

When the Rockville Sons of Union Veterans camp was founded in the spring of 1890, the first members decided to name it in honor of local doctor Alden B. Skinner. Known as a man with a "big heart" and having an "uncommonly strong and vigourous intellect," Skinner volunteered to serve his country in the fall of 1862 at the age of sixty-four.  Commissioned the Surgeon of the 25th Connecticut Regiment, Skinner went with them south to Louisiana in the winter of 1862/1863.  Then while taking care of the men of his regiment he fell sick with malarious typhoid.  He died shortly after on March 30, 1863.  His remains were shipped home where they now rest at Grove Hill Cemetery.  Each year for Memorial Day members of Camp #45 decorate his grave.





Here are some other items we looked at, I have to say there is a lot of history to be seen in such a small place. The building though has some much history to it that it really is the perfect place for such a museum.

 

 

 

 

This is a very nice museum to visit and it does not cost anything to get in. Because they are owned and operated by volunteers they are only open the 2nd. and 5th. Sunday of every month from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. The people there are friendly and always willing to try and answer any questions that you may have.

Picture of the Day

Take a guess on antler score, weight and age!

Minnesota historical Society purchases Original Colt .44 Revolver

There is a new blog that I started watching called the "The Civil War Picket" by Phil Gast and while I was commenting on his blog this morning I saw a post he did not to long ago about a Colt revolver that went for $25,000, can you believe it. Take a look.

 Civil War Colt fetches $25k

 John Huthmacher
johnh@hastingstribune.com

The Samuel Colt .44 caliber black powder revolver once owned by Civil War 1st Sgt. First Minnesota Volunteer Infantryman Mathew Marvin is going home.

The piece, which includes the original box, holder, cartridge box, belt and belt buckle, was purchased at auction by the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul for $25,000 Sunday afternoon at Adams County Fairgrounds. It was the main attraction in a 43-lot auction by the family of the late Don Bonham that included 25 firearms, coins and other items.

Steve Gerritsen of Gerritsen Auctioneers & Appraisers conducted the auction, which he called the crowning achievement of his career. Bonham and 10 staff members preside over the event, which included live, telephone and online bidding.

"I was really happy with what it brought," Gerritsen said this morning. "We proved our point again — we always seem to have to prove our point because we live in a small town — that if you have something with this historical magnitude, they will come to you. That's a proven fact.

"We had people from all over the world interested in this one Civil War memorabilia piece. I was so elated that it went home. It wasn't the highest dollar sale I've ever sold, but for me, I'll never forget it."
caption that went with the picture: Bonham family members (L to R) Scott Bonham, Roxanne Valentine, Doug Bonham, Mary Rose Taylor, and Sue Gentert pose with the Civil War Model 1860 Colt .44 Revolver and accessories from Civil War 1st Sgt. Matthew Marvin purchased by their late father, Don Bonham. The grouping sold at auction Sunday at Adams County Fairgrounds.

Do Madstones have Magical Powers?

I received a email from a good friend Ed Blankinship with a link to an article that he thought I might be interested in, he was right. I never heard of this before and would be curious to hear if any of you have.

Madstones may be found in the stomachs of deer, cattle.

Whitetail Pearls? No, Just Madstones

In the stomachs of some deer, you can find unusual “stones” once said to be capable of curing rabies and snakebite.

by Keith Sutton


Prior to the late nineteenth century, a bite from a rabid animal struck terror in the heart of the victim. People infected with the rabies virus experience a variety of horrible symptoms, including hallucinations, terror fits, frothing at the mouth and an inability to drink. Victims also develop a fear of water, hence a common name for the disease, hydrophobia. Loss of muscle function eventually leads to complete paralysis.
Before Louis Pasteur developed a successful vaccination in 1885, a long, slow death from rabies was a forgone conclusion, unless, many people believed, a madstone could be obtained, preferably one removed from the stomach of a spotted or albino deer.
Madstones, also known as bezoar stones or enteroliths, resemble rocks but are actually concretions of mineral salts combined with hair and fibers. Most are smooth and rounded, ranging from marble-sized to as big as an orange. They occasionally are found in the stomachs of cattle, horses, goats, llamas, camels and even elephants. But those who believed in the curative powers of madstones thought the most powerful stones came from the stomachs of deer, especially white deer. No stone out of a cow could have the virtue of one out of a deer. The deer containing a madstone was not always white, but whiteness in a carrier gave the stone more drawing power.

To read the rest of this interesting just click here.

I also want to thank Ed for passing along the link to this interesting article. I also want to take a minute to mention that if you are a turkey hunter and are interested in some of the best hand made quality turkey calls than you need to visit Ed's website. Ed is the owner of  "Gobbler's End Turkey Calls". You have handmade anything from a scratch box call to a wing bone call. Trust me I have them all from Ed and they are top notch call that do work.

http://www.gobblersend.com/

Traditional craftwork for black powder Shooting

Leaning toward the more traditional side of things lately I decided to get creative again with antlers. Now I know I have made ball starters for black powder shooting before but this time I made one a little different. I can't say it was my own idea because I saw it on the internet.

 Now the base for the ball starter was of course antler with a hard wood dowel that was 6" long from base to tip. The brass at the end was a bullet casing from one of my .243 rounds. The dowel was gorilla glued into the base and the brass casing was gorilla glued onto the dowel. If you know gorilla glue it expands as it dries so it makes for a very very snug fit.

The two small pieces of antler tines are powder measures. The shortest one is made to hold 25 to 30 grains of FFFg pistol powder for my revolver and the larger one is made to hold 50 grains of FFg powder for my Springfield Hawken. These were the hardest for me because of drilling out the holes but after a few mistakes I finally managed to create two that I was please with. Once I pick up a nice piece of rawhide I can keep them together

I Swear I am a tick Magnet

As most of you know I have been going back and forth with Lyme Disease for a few years now. Well as the story goes "To Be Continued" rings true. Wednesday the 9th. all I did was going out to check my deer cam. Thursday  the 10th. I dug 2 ticks out of me. These pics were taken this morning the 12th.

This one is the right side of my back below the shoulder blade.

This one is my left leg inner thigh.

Let me just say these are real painful right now and the itch is almost unbearable. Please take all the necessary precautions to prevent these kind of bites even though you spray yourselves you still need to take the time to look yourself over. I even dug one out of my wifes forearm but I think she was lucky because she noticed it a lot sooner than I noticed mine. Her's looks just like a plain old skeeter bite.

This Day in History - November 12th.

Nov 12, 1864:

The destruction of Atlanta begins

On this day in 1864, Union General William T. Sherman orders the business district of Atlanta, Georgia, destroyed before he embarks on his famous March to the Sea.
When Sherman captured Atlanta in early September 1864, he knew that he could not remain there for long. His tenuous supply line ran from Nashville, Tennessee, through Chattanooga, Tennesse, then one hundred miles through mountainous northern Georgia. The army he had just defeated, the Army of Tennessee, was still in the area and its leader, John Bell Hood, swung around Atlanta to try to damage Sherman's lifeline. Of even greater concern was the Confederate cavalry of General Nathan Bedford Forrest, a brilliant commander who could strike quickly against the railroads and river transports on which Sherman relied.
During the fall, Sherman conceived of a plan to split his enormous army. He sent part of it, commanded by General George Thomas, back toward Nashville to deal with Hood while he prepared to take the rest of the troops across Georgia. Through October, Sherman built up a massive cache of supplies in Atlanta. He then ordered a systematic destruction of the city to prevent the Confederates from recovering anything once the Yankees had abandoned it. By one estimate, nearly 40 percent of the city was ruined. Sherman would apply to the same policy of destruction to the rest of Georgia as he marched to Savannah. Before leaving on November 15, Sherman's forces had burned the industrial district of Atlanta and left little but a smoking shell.