Last Two Weekends For Kansas Upland Hunting

me_with_hat
The New Hat

Heading out tomorrow morning for the next to the last weekend for pheasant and quail season here in Kansas. I’ve been itching to get all of January and things just haven’t gone my way. I’ve got a new hunting hat and I need to see if it brings me any luck, because we all know, hunting it all about the hat. At least that’s what Keith tells me.

I’m heading down to Southeast Kansas Saturday morning with my daughter to get a tour of a new aquaintance’s ranch. He says it hasn’t been hunted much over the last couple of decades and there used to be some quail down there.

Sweet! I love a good quail hunt.

So I’ll be sporting my new hat and my Browning pump 12 gauge and my daughter will be along with her Stoeger side-by-side (which is a really cool story that I’ll have to tell some day). Wish us luck. I hope we see something tomorrow.

Keep your powder dry.

Dick’s Sporting Goods, You’re Killing Me

marlin 336So, we’ve decided on the rifle to buy. But apparently, so did everyone else, because there’s not a Marlin 336 to be found in this city. I kid you not. Well actually, I did find one, but the sporting goods help on the phone was rude (you’re loss Wal-Mart). It wasn’t exactly what the wife was wanting, she wants the scoped version.

Dick’s Sporting Goods has exactly what we’re looking for, only they don’t have any in stock. They don’t have any in stock in this state either. So we have a rain check. It has the scope and is the same price as others without a scope. Shoot, it’s lower than some used ones I’ve seen on auction sites. And Dick’s can’t tell me when one will come in, nor can they ship one from another store.

So, now we wait. I’m not good at waiting. Please Dick’s Sporting Goods, hurry…

Buying A Rifle For Your Wife – An Expert’s Opinion

Your wife wishes you to purchase a new rifle? Allow me congratulate you on marrying such an intelligent and insightful woman! My wife… not so much.

However to the uninitiated, purchasing a firearm for one’s spouse is fraught with hidden dangers. Before embarking on such an undertaking the smart husband will consult with an expert. In this case, ah hem.. me.

One might be tempted to believe that a wife’s desire for a new rifle is all a man could wish for.

Not so fast.

The true enthusiast will ask himself “How do I turn my wife’s desire for the new rifle SHE wants into the rifle I want.”

As mentioned in your article, we must first define sexy. You are correct Bill, a lever action rifle is very sexy. A wife who WANTS her husband to buy a new rifle is the DEFINITION of Sexy!

Next we must define expensive.  A new Marlin might cost 7 or 8 hundred dollars. A vintage Marlin might cost twice that. But a vintage Marlin is an INVESTMENT (More on that later).

Follow these simple steps and your wife will get the rifle she REALLY wants.

Ideally find the rifle YOU want. Perhaps an investment grade, vintage Marlin or Winchester in in the calibre YOU want.

Next, buy the rifle.

With much fanfare and ribbon cutting, present the rifle to your lovely wife, beaming with anticipation as she opens the package (NOTE: Be sure to beam).

Upon opening the package your lovely wife will certainly  express her disappointment, “You bought me an OLD gun?” and her outrage “This OLD gun cost HOW MUCH?!!

Immediately, don the mask of shocked, hurt feelings (Find your motivation here, you are grievously wounded). You only bought the over one hundred year old rifle as a symbol of your undying love. After all diamonds are millions of years old. Does a woman scorn getting an old rock, because it COSTS too much?
(NOTE: do not attempt this analogy if one has not actually purchased a diamond for ones wife in the past).

Finally, and for most men this is the hard part…APOLOGISE!

Explain that you are sorry. Sorry that all the time and care you put into choosing just the right rifle for her went so horribly wrong. Tell her you will try to make it up to her. Insist that you must sell the rifle  immediately… probably at a profit because the vintage rifle is such a shrewd investment. Dejectedly mention that you will probably only realise a fraction of the profit the rifle will return in just a few years.

Be Firm: The important thing is that she must be happy with the new rifle that SHE wants… rather than your thoughtful gift.

At this point sigh theatrically (don’t over do it) slump your shoulders in hurt resignation and leave the room.

Now for the hard part, this will test your resolve. How bad do you.. er,  I mean your lovely wife, want that rifle! You must go outside (this time of year is perfect because the temperature is like single digits) and set upon some distasteful task. Choose a task like yard work or fixing something on the house. Even though you have been neglecting this task for months, within the context of the subject at hand, it will demonstrate the:

  • Guilt and pain you feel for buying the wrong thoughtful gift.
  • The routine hard work you put into the:
    1. Marriage
    2. Kids
    3. Home

How could she be so heartless?

Make sure to stay outside until your face is red and you nose is runny.

Meekly enter the house as if you are ashamed that the brutal weather conditions drove you from your outdoor mission to make your family’s home into a more beautiful and better place.

Plaintively explain that you will go back to work outside as soon as your hands thaw enough to work the pipe wrench.

Following the best case scenario,  by this point your wife should be cradling the rifle and crying. She will exclaim that she did not realise the amount of care and expense you put into finding just the right rifle for her! She loves the rifle and wouldn’t trade it for ANYTHING! Your spouse might even ask how she can make up for her thoughtlessness? The true operator can par lay this situation into:

  1. Special food.
  2. More “ME” time in front of the TV, hunting, etc.
  3. More frequent and special bedroom activities.

You get my point. If the above fails, and remember this IS an advanced technique. One must be prepared to fall back on plan B:

  1. Spend the week sleeping on the couch.
  2. Promise to sell the gun immediately then explain that in this economy it is difficult to find a buyer willing to pay what the gun is REALLY worth.
  3. Keep the gun out of sight while continuing the stream of excuses for why the gun hasn’t sold.

Continue to stall indefinitely. Soon you will do something so egregious, that if your wife doesn’t actually forget about the rifle (she won’t), at least the subject will move to the back burner.

CAUTION: Be prepared to hear about the ugly, expensive rifle for many, many years. The half life of an angry wife’s memory is roughly twice that of uranium.

The willingness to initiate plan B is what separates the true enthusiast from the fair weather shooter/collector.

At any rate, following these careful steps will ensure your lovely wife will enjoy years of shooting pleasure from the rifle you’ve always wanted.

The Lum.

The Words of a Good Wife

The other day at lunch with my wife, I heard the words that every guy wants to hear…

No, not that, the other words…

OK, let me rephrase. I heard the words every hunter or shooter wants to hear.

“I think we need another rifle. I don’t want to shoot the ones you have,” she said.

Internally, my mind is jumping for joy like a 12 year old at Christmas.

“Oh yeah? What are you thinking about?” I said very cavalier.

Basically, I got out of her that she doesn’t want to shoot black powder, which is 2 of my 3 rifles. The other is an old military surplus, 303 British Enfield. Evidently, those just aren’t sexy enough for her. But she does want a big enough caliber that I, uhm, we can be use it for deer hunting. Yay for me!

Fine. I can go sexy. Nothing’s sexier in my mind than a lever action rifle. I’ve had my eye on a Marlin for quite some time. So I do what I normally do (and what any hunter in my situation would do), I run with it. I’m going to see this one to the end. I’ll either get another rifle or I won’t, but it won’t be for lack of trying. So, I’m showing her pictures and checking auction prices.

“Oh yeah, that’s nice,” she says, barely glancing at the plethora of photos on my computer screen. Now she’s the cavalier one. Man, women are frustrating sometimes.

Well, on to the good stuff. Let’s say I go with a Marlin 336? I knew they came in 30-30 caliber, my brother hunts with one. Didn’t realize they came in .32 or .35 Remington. Not even sure what those rounds are. So which round? 30-30 or .35 Remington? More running, more research. The Marlin has a great history, being made for a century or so. Fit’s into the gun philosophy fine (of using something with a history, a story to tell).

Maybe I should look into a Winchester rifle? I’m sure it will cost more than the Marlin. That is one thing she stipulated, it can’t be expensive.

I suppose I’m going to have to let her be a part of the decision here? I know, bad thought… bad, bad thought!

So give me your thoughts. I’m probably going to have to go used since I have a price limit. And a used Marlin fits into that price limit fine. Anyone have any thoughts on 30-30 versus .35 Remington?

Meanwhile, I’ve got some convincing to do.

Keep your powder dry and “watch your top knot”.

Follow up, 1/8/2010: Here is a great write up on the Marlin 336 vs. Winchester 94 over at the Guns and Shooting site. Even the author like the Marlin in the end. Although I do agree with him that that 94 stock does look better.


Hunting Site Review: Black Powder Notebook

Black Powder NotebookOne of the things I want to do with this blog in the new year is add reviews of other hunting related web sites. Well, it’s the new year, so here’s our first review.

I was turned on to this site by my hunting buddy and co-blogger, Keith. The name of the site is Black Powder Notebook and it chronicles the adventures of Bob Spencer as he sets out to hunt and camp as our forefathers did as this country was being founded. He strives to re-enact exactly as a late 1700’s homesteader or pioneer would have hunted. He has logged many of his treks through the years and it’s very entertaining reading.

He seems to favor squirrel hunting (something I’ve never done but am curious after reading his site) .and he begins his first article reminiscing about how he came to be at that moment while hunting squirrels. He talks about how he got started in the black powder world his love of flintlocks. What I like is how he’s out to just do just more than hunt, but to experience it from a different viewpoint. I like these quotes (from various articles):

“As each new aspect of the subject opened to me, and I acquired new skills associated with it, I began to have a better understanding of our ancestors. It is impossible to know what they and their life were really like, but muzzle loading has opened a small window into the past for me, and I thoroughly enjoy the view.”

“Sitting there under that walnut tree, I realized with surety that black powder had been for me a siren song, leading me inexorably onward to more wonderful experiences. Because of it, I have become a better, more thoughtful hunter, a more involved and knowledgeable citizen, a happier and more satisfied person.”

A Siren Song

“I truly do enjoy hunting them more than killing them, and I’ll miss all those early mornings, watching the woods come alive.”

Perfect Doe Hunt

“The center seam elk skin moccasins made ala Mark Baker may be the best thing I’ve ever made. They are, I suspect, the real secret to my enjoyment of this season, because there’s something elemental about traipsing through the woods and streams with nothing between you and the good earth but a soft layer of elk hide. Contact…I can’t describe it better.”

Special Turkey Season

One of my favorite stories is Squirrel Stew, a story about an overnight trek where he describes the entire trip. It sounds so peaceful and relaxing, enough so that I envy him. I would really love to experience the outdoors in that way.

Along with his hunting stories are some black powder related articles on loads, shooting, fire making, tomahawk throwing and casting round balls over a camp fire (which is another thing I’ve been wanting to try my hand at).

This is a great site to get in the mind of a hunter and outdoorsman. It’s refreshing to read about someone who enjoys being out in nature more than just bagging a trophy buck. It’s a feeling we attempt to reach at our deer camps as well, but I think Bob has us beat, by a really long shot. Even if you’re not into black powder hunting or shooting, this site is a definite must read.

Hunting Site Review: Black Powder Notebook

One of the things I want to do with this blog in the new year is add reviews of other hunting related web sites. Well, it’s the new year, so here’s our first review.

I was turned on to this site by my hunting buddy and co-blogger, Keith. The name of the site is Black Powder Notebook (http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/) and it chronicles the adventures of Bob Spencer as he sets out to hunt and camp as our forefathers did as this country was being founded. He strives to reenact exactly as a late 1700’s homesteader or pioneer would have hunted. He has logged many of his treks through the years and it’s very entertaining reading.

He seems to favor squirrel hunting (something I’ve never done but am curious after reading his site) .and he begins his first article reminiscing (http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/song.html) about how he came to be at that moment while hunting squirrels. He talks about how he got started in the black powder world his love of flintlocks. What I like is how he’s out to just do just more than hunt, but to experience it from a different viewpoint. I like these quotes (from various articles):

As each new aspect of the subject opened to me, and I acquired new skills associated with it, I began to have a better understanding of our ancestors. It is impossible to know what they and their life were really like, but muzzle loading has opened a small window into the past for me, and I thoroughly enjoy the view.”

Sitting there under that walnut tree, I realized with surety that black powder had been for me a siren song, leading me inexorably onward to more wonderful experiences. Because of it, I have become a better, more thoughtful hunter, a more involved and knowledgeable citizen, a happier and more satisfied person.”

Siren Song – http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/song.html

I truly do enjoy hunting them more than killing them, and I’ll miss all those early mornings, watching the woods come alive.”

Perfect Doe Hunt – http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/PerfectDoeHunt.html

The center seam elk skin moccasins made ala Mark Baker may be the best thing I’ve ever made. They are, I suspect, the real secret to my enjoyment of this season, because there’s something elemental about traipsing through the woods and streams with nothing between you and the good earth but a soft layer of elk hide. Contact…I can’t describe it better.”

Special Turkey Season – http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/SpecialSeason.html

One of my favorite stories is Squirrel Stew (http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/squirrel.html), a story about an overnight trek where he describes the entire trip. It sounds so peaceful and relaxing, enough so that I envy him. I would really love to experience the outdoors in that way.

Along with his hunting stories are some black powder related articles on loads, shooting, fire making, tomahawk throwing and casting round balls over a fire (which is another thing I’ve been wanting to try my hand at) (http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/runningball.html).

So, this is a great site to get in the mind of a hunter and outdoorsman. It’s refreshing to read about someone who enjoys being out in nature more than just bagging a trophy buck. It’s a feeling we attempt to reach at our deer camps as well, but I think Bob has us beat, by a really long shot. Even if you’re not into black powder hunting or shooting, this site is a definite must read.

2010 Hunting Resolutions

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. And I hope you all have a happy new year. I know I’m looking forward to 2010, I have a lot of disappointments – in regards to hunting – that I hope to rectify in the new year. As the 2009 hunting season winds down, I’m looking back and thinking on the things that I want to work on in 2010. So here’s my 2010 Hunting Resolutions list.

My first resolution is plain and simply, become a better shot. The three misses of this year’s deer hunts have gotten into my head and I’m just not confident in my shot or my rifle. I need to rectify that. Which means put in time at the range. A win-win for me there. I certainly don’t mind spending time at the range.

As far as the rifle is concerned, my 50 caliber Ardessa Woodsman, I want to experiment with different loads and possibly different rounds and see if I can come up with the optimum load/round combo for it. I’m even thinking about getting into casting my own rounds as well.

My second resolution is to get my daughter out into the field more. She’s active in a couple of sports that keep her active during the school year, so there’s lots of conflict trying to line up a free weekend for her during any hunting season. But the hunting bug has definitely bit her so I’d be remiss not to help her get out more in 2010. She’s a pretty good shot with her Stoeger side-by-side, but she hasn’t had the chance to drop a pheasant yet. That needs to get resolved in 2010.

My third resolution has to do with the positive things of the 2009 season. I rattled my first buck in this year and that was indeed thrilling. But I want to get better on my stand. Whether that’s calling in deer or just being better on the stand (I really have a problem setting still), I wan to improve there.

And fourth, I just want to continue to have fun. The 2009 season was a blast, even with the disappointments. I learned a lot, had some great times with all the guys and had some good experiences. I can’t imagine hunting not being fun, and I’m not about to let it go down that road.

I guess, if I had to sum those up, I just want to become a better hunter in 2010. I want to become a successful hunter in 2010. And really, that’s probably every hunter’s resolution. So how about you? What are your resolutions for the 2010 hunting year?

Deer Hunting with an Original Spencer Rifle

The title sounds pretty cool doesn’t it. It would be, if I had actually taken a deer with it! You see, I am writing to you as a failed hunter.

I am deerless for the Kansas rifle deer season of 2009 and it’s my own fault. See I had this plan; I was only going to shoot a big buck if the opportunity presented itself during muzzle loading season. Because my plan, was to shoot a deer (any deer) with my original Spencer 56-50 rifle during rifle season.

Plains Hunter, dedicated to hunting with historical weapons, I thought my plan would be cool, right?

So I was not upset when I did not get a deer during Muzzleloading season.

Flash forward to Opening evening of rifle season. I’m on the stand when a really nice buck (the one Bill missed during ML season) presents itself 135 yards out. I draw a bead and fire. A clean miss. I forgot to take into account the 183 MPH cross wind. Some where in Oklahoma a farmer is thinking “How did I get that giant bullet hole in my John Deere”?).

One hour later two smaller bucks, a spike and a ragged six point, run down the hill 20 yards to my right and stop 30 yards in front of me. This is where my plan went south. I start thinking: “You know… that big buck will probably be back… It’s only the first day of rifle season… It would be a shame to end the season sooo soon.”

Meanwhile, Dad and Jim are hunting without much success.

Bill arrives Thursday and begins his tragic battle with Buck Fever. In Bill’s case Buck Fever doesn’t properly describe it. Is there such a thing as Buck Cancer? Or at least Buck H1N1? Seriously Bill should see someone. If cost is an issue maybe the Shriners can help. I don’t believe anyone should have to suffer like that. Three shots, ALL at BUCKS! Not a single doe shot. Deer know, I swear they know! If a deer can sniff out Buck Fever maybe they can sniff out other deadly diseases. I think I’m on to something here. I’m going to contact the Mayo Clinic.

Speaking of animals with extraordinary abilities; Every time I walked to any deer stand, carrying only a rifle, a pheasant would flush perfectly; RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!

But while pheasant hunting just a month ago, carrying a shot gun, DEER WERE FLUSHING EVERYWHERE! They Know!… I’m telling you they know!… DON’T CALL ME CRAZY! THEY KNOW!

Uh hem.. I digress. A few days into the season I’m hunting on a different stand. Two does, a shooter buck, and the FATHER OF ALL MONSTER BUCKS is standing thirty yards away. Then the Monster walks within twenty yards and TURNS BROAD SIDE! Then he stands on his hind legs and FLIPS ME OFF! WHY? Because he is a MULE DEER and I have a WHITE TAIL ONLY license! My Dad has an either species license and Bill has an either species license. I change stands so Dad or Bill will get a shot at the muleys. Neither one sees them. After Dad and Bill return home, I return to the stand and the mule deer are BACK! I’M TELLING YOU THEY KNOW!

Slightly changing the subject, I’m not much of a tech guy, Bill can tell you that. But before deer season, I decided I just HAD to have a range finder. So I bought one. Pretty neat little gadget. That’s how I know I missed that buck at 135 yards. Seems like I paid a pretty steep price for a gadget that’s only usefulness is to tell me how far away the deer was that I missed.

wes with doeI bought another item I thought would be a lot handier. I bought a set of insulated coveralls. And they are pretty nice, warm. The problem is that I have always worn a size XL. So I bought a size XL. I’ve packed on a few pounds lately (Noo problem I’ll lose the weight after the holidays, like I planned last year). I sure don’t want coveralls that are too big. So ultimately I paid a pretty steep price for coveralls that fit like a scuba suit. Which wouldn’t be so much of a problem, but I didn’t try putting a rifle to my shoulder wearing my scuba suit until I was sitting on the ground at my deer stand. Consequently, if …I lean back… Juuust righhht… and stretch my arm just sooo…and lean my head waaay down… I can kind of get a sight picture and almost reach the trigger at the same time.

Ultimately Dad saved us from getting skunked by shooting a white tail doe. He shot it with his 50-95 1876 Winchester (I personally think Dad just put a Sheriff’s Office salvage tag on a doe that was killed in a collision with an 18 wheeler.) That 50-95 messed that deer up!

1876 winchesterThe second week of deer season a cold front moved in. One would think in this day and age of high technology the weather forecasters would have better instruments. Our local weatherman stated the temperature was down into the single digits. I know for a fact that the on my stand the average morning temperature actually hovered around 77 degrees below zero. I’m not kidding, cold like that would have killed a normal man.

On the last Saturday I took a friend and two of his sons out hunting. One of his boys shot a button buck with an M-14 with iron sights at 200 yards (I know it was 200 yards because I used my rangefinder!). An M-14 is a historical rifle, kind of.

The final Sunday of the season I rested against a fence post looking out over a milo field and watched a beautiful western Kansas Sunset. I even relaxed smoking my pipe. The wind was in my face so I wasn’t concerned anything behind me would scent me anyway. The light was fading fast so I decided to hunt my way back to the truck and leisurely set about securing my items and stood up. Just in time to see the whitetails fifty yards BEHIND me hauling away. WHAT THE *#@+!! THEY KNOW! I’m telling you THEY KNOW!!

On the plus side the very historical former chicken coop (I’m not kidding) now hunting lodge has come a long way this year. We have a fridge so we no longer have to deal w/ice for beverages, food etc. And we have a TV and DVD player. Now I know many of you are saying that watching TV ruins the historical atmosphere of our hunting experience. Not True! We only watch WESTERNS! John Wayne shooting Comanches, just after the Civil War with a 94 Winchester is very authentic and only enhances our western hunting lifestyle!

If you enjoyed hearing our tales of woe, send your tragic hunting stories to Plains Hunter. Don’t send tales of your amazing success, we don’t want to HEAR IT!

The LUM