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Did anybody do ANYTHING today?

201799 Views 3354 Replies 140 Participants Last post by  maggs01, 
mailman
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I did!! For the first time in a couple years I went trap shooting. After about a 20 year lay-off four clubs are getting together to revive the Hangover Trap League. I shoot for the skeet team at one of them so what the heck. Today was the first shoot and happened to be at my club. There's a total of eight shoots, two at each club, and a shoot-off. $2/week/shooter goes to prizes, so I don't think many ringers are going to spoil the fun. All four of these clubs are just around the north end of Seneca Lake from me. Three are within 10 miles and one I've never been to is maybe 30 miles down some beautiful country roads. I hope spring gets here because the top-down Mustang is ready to roll!

I don't think I ever posted a pic of my home-made custom trap gun. I found this in a little Mom & Pop gun shop when I was killing time at the Waverly NY Auto Auction. Paid $200 NIB never fired. It's the Nat. Wild Turkey Foundation raffle gun from 2007 made by H&R. I put the custom pad on with a spacer for some extra LOP, not a bad do-it-yourself effort, if I must say so! I added some serious weight in the stock, those H&R's kick like mules! Got a hammer extension, an IM choke, and I load really light 7/8 oz. loads.

First station today I missed three birds, then nailed 18/20 the rest of the way. I kinda forgot how to float the birds. Ended up with a 37/50. I'll take it. I had a blast!.........................the Mailman






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Drove up from Bristow to Neosho today to do a quick tune up hunt with Hal before heading to NE next week. His cover is great this year and the birds flew very strong (as expected).

Going up to SW Nebraska for a quick DIY next week before picking up the new pup and heading back home. The breeder says there are a few "small covers" around that one hunter and one dog can tackle successfully. We'll see.

Hal says "Hi" to everyone.

OklaMike
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Took my son-in-law and the "boys" to the local "boot and shoot" on Saturday. He's never seen the pup work. I think he got a kick out of it.

I know we all PREFER to hunt wild birds; but, I don't think the dogs give a rip. They just want to chase birds - ANY birds.

OklaMike
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RM, I think that is an "experience" thing. Both of your dogs are old hands. Clyde will crowd preserve birds but stand off of wild birds. Fritz is in his rookie year and stands off of all birds wild or preserve.
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I guess this is a pre-"do anything" post.

Leaving at Zero Dark Thirty tomorrow for a full day hunt at Spring River then on over to 4B's for a night in Hal's lodge then a full day hunt there.

Should arrive home late Monday evening with the "boys" worn out; but, hopefully with the rust knocked off of them (at least a little bit anyway). This is our first outing of the year.

I've kept them pretty slim all summer; but, I know that they are not in peak condition yet. Clyde is now 7 years old and that is REALLY hard to believe. Fritz the "puppy" in my mind is of course no longer a pup. He turned two last month and is heading into his second full season.

OklaMike
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Spent Sunday at Spring River Hunts. Weather was miserable. Soaking wet snow.

Had a great time in spite of the weather. Phil and Debbie are great hosts. Stuck to pheasants as they tend to shed the water better than chukar or especially quail.

In order to get the birds worked as quickly as possible so they wouldn't end up too wet to fly, I ran the dogs in a brace instead of by themselves. Man, running these two at the same time you can really clear a field FAST.

Left SRH after lunch and headed to 4-B's for the night and a full day hunt on Monday. Temps were about 20' +/- so things weren't wet at all Monday morning. Kind of crunchy though!

Had the chance to run the dogs by themselves today. Pheasants first then ran on Chukars. All birds were found and pointed pretty quickly. Pup still tends to out run his nose from time to time; but, he's getting there. Was really doing better by staunching up about 10 yards off the bird by the end of the day.

Older dog is now 7 YO and pretty much runs on autopilot. As a handler, I tend to not pay as much attention to him sometimes and found he was getting on point closer than I like and had to physically back him off of points in the morning. By the end of the day he re-learned the drill and was back to holding his distance again.

I mentioned that all birds were found and pointed. I did NOT say all were shot. I re-learned the lesson that the shotgun will NOT fire if it is not loaded! Lost a Chukar that way. Another lesson re-learned was that if you intend to use your e-collars, you MUST actually pack them -- as a result, I got to run the dogs "old school" on these hunts with nothing but a whistle and hand signals!

All in all had a really enjoyable couple of days afield with great hosts and my "boys." Looking forward to seeing a bunch of you guys next month at 4-B's.

BTW, for you guys that remember the pup, it doesn't look like he is ever going to be the size of Clyde. He's settled out about 5# lighter.

OklaMike

Clyde the Barbarian (7 YO GWP)
Fritz the Destroyer (2 YO GWP)
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Had a chance to quail hunt yesterday with a childhood buddy. We hunted a private ranch adjacent to the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve. Great property, great cover and great company. Just, very few birds. Found one covey.

Still, can't think of a better way to spend a day!

OklaMike
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Spoke to the Government Trapper last night. Seems they needed my permission to shoot wild hogs from a chopper and might need to fly over my farm.

I am hoping for an Apache and a 7.62 mini gun; but, will probably see something much more mundane.

I am not sure that anything short of thermonuclear ordinance will get rid of those @#+^^$ hogs; but, I am sure willing to let them give it a try!
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Took the "boys" out for a run last night. Fritz caught a 'dillo and Clyde joined in the fun. Due to the wild hog issue discussed above, I no longer walk the farm at dusk without some sort of firearm. I grabbed the 'dillo from the dogs and dispatched it with a round from a .357 snubby. MAN, are those things LOUD without hearing protection!!

Before anyone can point it out; Yes, I know that is not the best medicine for wild hogs; but, it is portable.
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Sounds like a great day afield, Rex. I would really like to get in one more day trip if we can before it gets too hot.

Spent Monday evening, before the rains, stripping the coats of my two outlaws. Will probably take two more sessions because I can't get the young one to sit still long enough!

If I can get them peeled down to a summer time hair-do, they might be able to stand the heat a bit better. Their fat old handler is another story.....
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Chuck;

If I were you, I'd not delay getting in to see the eye doc. I experienced very similar symptoms a few years ago. Without getting into all of the gory details, let it suffice to say that those symptoms can indicate a pretty damn serious condition. I could have lost the sight in my right eye if I hadn't gotten it treated ASAP.

Do yourself a favor, Chuck. Get in to see an eye specialist (not an optometrist) PDQ.

Just sayin.....
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Much better safe than sorry. Glad you are listening to your (much) better half!
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Got back Friday from a few days travelling (vaca not work). Had to kennel Clyde and Fritz while we were gone. Upon check in, Clyde was at his usual 65# and it now seems that Fritz has stabilized at about 61#.

Funny, as visually similar as these two renegades appear when apart from each other, when placed side by side, you can really see the individual differences. Clyde is significantly more "rangy" and Fritz is quite a bit stockier.

Coloration and markings are very similar; but, coat type is different - both are "correct" but are definitely different.

Both had the same sire. Go figure...…..
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Going to have to attach something heavy to Clyde's collar. At 8 years old, he's decided he's going to start jumping the yard fence. Six foot chain link. Same fence as his kennel; but, the kennel has a top on it.
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Had the "opportunity" to assist one of the cows deliver a calf amid the heat and humidity. Mother and son are both doing well. I am getting too old for this c**p!!
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Yes. It is significantly later than is optional. My previous bull got lazy and failed to get all of the cows "covered" in a timely manner. Thus the reason for my new bull.
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Had my first experience with Sporting Clays at a charity event. Man, what a humbling experience.
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Keith, the place is Quail Ridge Sporting Clays. Between McLoud and I-40. Nice place. Took good care of the charity event participants. As I said, a humbling event.

I must go on record as agreeing with Chuck: A pistol MUST have its chamber within its barrel. That's my story and I am sticking to it.
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OK:

We shot the course immediately South of the clubhouse. If there was another course further South, I did not see it. Also, did not see another course North of the clubhouse. So, I am not much help as to which course we shot. I only saw one SC course and the 5 stand that was just East of the clubhouse.
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Thanks, Keith. I will do that. I am in Bethel ALL the time. My mother still lives on her farm there and my daughter's family is there as well.
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Celebrating the 44th wedding anniversary.
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