Continuation of the Hunting Journal
I need to know more about how my guns handle, and what I can and cannot expect.
The other hunters tell me that seventy five feet is considered close range. And that my deer slayer should be capable of consistent accuracy up to and beyond one hundred yards.
12-15-99
Yes it is still important to be patient and wait for a sure killing shot. However it is time for me to work on my marksmanship, that the range of the sure killing shot be significantly increased.
Let me note the conversation with the other hunter on Mary’s land. He described his method of hunting. It is much different than mine. He walks the ridges, bumping the deer out of their hiding places, downing them as they flee.
Monday 12-21-99
Well, the late season is over. I put one more effort in. And still came up empty handed.
I spent Saturday afternoon in blind one. On account of the frigid air temps, and the run of hard luck I’ve been having, I decided to leave the a little early. For a measure of precaution.
Also, I promised Mom I’d be extra cautious on account of the extreme cold.
After three and a half hours in the blind, I gathered up my gear, and headed for the truck. After I stepped from the woods into the cornfield, a movement caught my eye. I had been looking down, intent on getting back to warmth quickly.
I looked up and five beautiful deer were trotting right for me. They saw me before I
My eyes fell on the record book size antlers of the lead buck. I dropped my stuff and raised the rifle. I had one shot with the muzzle loader. I fired, and the huge buck changed its course, heading for the nearest cover. No sign of blood or hair.
Then last night I was back in blind one. Three doe were working their way toward me when the wind shifted. Paw, snort, bob the head, and gone.
I had at least nine deer course through during the season. Eight of those appeared during brief lapses in my concentration and awareness. I am not a day dreamer. I can sit in the blind for four hours, and not drift off at all. Nevertheless, those small seams in my mental focus have occasioned most all of my sightings and opportunities. I will call this the zen factor.
Moreover, I resolve not to crucify myself over missed chances. Face it, firmly resolve to do better, and continue on. Self crucifixion is needless.
I need to have my guns sighted in, and to do a lot of shooting practice. And increase my range of lethality beyond just a few yards. I resolve to scope the field when entering it from the woods. And to be diligent in meditation, to the end of augmenting awareness and right action.
Sun. 9-10-2000 10:15pm.
It’s raining on this aluminum trailer’s roof as I write my first entry for the new millennium.
I came down here to Portageville to see Cousin Billy. But he left for Florida the day before I arrived here. I’ve proceeded alone to make preparations for the deer season. First I swept out and swabbed down the trailer. Then I spoke to Walt Mehlenbacher and Mr. Burns for permission to hunt their properties. I then proceeded to rebuild the new blind on Pennycook Road, as well as the old blinds on the property of Mary Cartwright.
Squirrel season is open, so I was carrying my new 20 gauge single shot. I saw no squirrels, and jumped one deer and a woodchuck.
I came back here to the trailer, and made my targets for today’s shooting session. Then I tried out a new catalytic heater. It’s small, but I found it generates quite a bit of heat.
This morning I scouted out put in points on the Genesee for a canoe trip I am planning. I drove down to Fillmore, and to Belfast to scout it all out.
Then I took my guns and gear and targets for practice on one of Mehlenbacher’s parcels. I was going to mount my target on a six foot round hay bale. As I dug a hole in the bale for a stick to fasten it, my knife blade snapped. I lost half the blade in the bale. It dawned on me that this hay was going to be fed to livestock. So I dug for quite awhile with the stub of my blade to get the metal tip out. But I couldn’t find it. I went back to Billy’s for a pick axe, and after several minutes of digging the shiny blade end fell out on the loose hay. It occurred to me that lead bullets in cattle fodder are potentially harmful, as well. So I decided to nail the targets to a broad tree.
I bruised my shoulder in this days shooting practice, and gave myself a slight shiner, as well. But I have a better idea of what I can expect from my guns. When the shooting was done, I rubbed mud into the trees wounds, wondering again if a plant can know pain.
9-10-2000
The family took it’s week up on Kiwassa in late June. I took a few nice bass on shiners. One pike on a shiner, and one on lead core. Both pike were small, at 21”. I’ve seen much better fishing.
Notes Undated
I worked on the old catalytic heater that I brought up here last year. It’s horribly smoky, not usable. I’ll have to repair it back in Buffalo.
Aunt Vicki is deceased now, as is Uncle Billy. Their old house is up for sale. Our generation is now making the decisions. I pray the tradition of family will be carried on, and that there continues to be a place in Portageville here for me.
9-12-2000
Yesterday I spent more time on the parcel Mehlenbacher just purchased. I found a funnel with well worn paths. A good place to sit opening morning.
I’ve drawn maps of the Burns- Hines, Aronholt, and Mehlenbacher parcels. Also here are put in places on the Genesee at Fillmore and Belfast. Let me conclude this entry by saying that found I two four leaf clovers on the mehlenbacher property yesterday.
I rechecked the funnel on the Mehlenbacher parcel. I’d have to go in there with pruners to clear shooting lanes. It would be a good spot for a blind.
This year I am going to hunt in peace and quiet faith. I will accept whatever the woods decides to give me.
10-01-2000
Jon and I took our canoe down the Genesee. We launched in Fillmore, and floated to Portageville. The trip took six hours. We paddled for five hours, and fished for one hour. About ten miles.
The water was low, and we grounded out several times.
We passed over several deep holes, counting daylight hours, and miles to go. We didn’t fish much, until a half mile from our takeout place. As we approached our takeout place, the sun was setting, and the small bass were beginning to bite.
We pulled the boat out behind the hotel, and carried it up to Kent and Terry’s. Kent drove us back to Fillmore. We drove back to Portageville, changed into dry clothes, and loaded the canoe on top of the van. We used a total of four straps on the canoe. We cinched the canoe down tight, and it didn’t move all the way home. The bottom of the canoe took a beating. I can see that when the canoe grounds out, both passengers need to get out and carry. I would suggest as well, that we launch in Rossburg, two miles from Portageville, and spend the day fishing, not paddling. There’s nice bass in the Genesee. it would be fun.
10-11-2000
I recently bought a new Mossburg 500 combo in 12 gauge. It cost 321.00 with tax. It has a synthetic camo stock, three interchangeable chokes, and two barrels. A bird barrel, and a slug barrel.
I had Paul, at Rainbow Sport, disassemble it for me. He oiled it, and put it back together for me. Disassembly is a little complicated. I look forward to killing deer with it.
Sun. 10-14-2000 5:15 pm
It is the eve of the first day of bow hunting. I’m down at the trailer. The weather is fair. Partial clouds, windy, 65 degrees.
I’ve set up here with two operable catalytic heaters. We repaired the larger one, replacing the wick. And I bought a new one at a garage sale. Small, but powerful.
I spoke with gunsmith Jim Salasny, about sighting in the 16 gauge. He said to move the rear sight in the direction you want the bullet to go. Four inches to the right a 45 yards means the rear sight should be moved to the right about 5/1000ths of an inch. Or one hairs breadth. Drive it with a small hammer, and a brass or nylon pin. I have small pieces of dowel.
I’ll also have to fire the muzzle loader.
10-17-2000
I’ve seen ten deer, so far. Unfortunately, they have all seen me. I’ve been standing still, in full camo, yet they’re picking me out as if I glow like a street light.
I’ve posted in three locations, and seen deer in them all. I’ve done some squirrel hunting, but have not been able to hit my target with the 20 ga. single shot.
The deer close enough to shoot happened by before dawn, and after sunset. Too dark to shoot.
How is it, all this shooting of guns at dawn, the first day of bow season?
I’ve been checking in with Rose, and Aunt Miska, each day when I come in. So someone knows I am OK. When I was at Roses, the cat brought in a mouse. The mouse got away from the cat, and hid under the fridge.
Up here at the trailer, a tiny frog got in. It slipped out of my fingers, and hopped back in under the old furnace.
Let me note here that both heaters are operable.
I saw five deer tonight. Down on Pennycook Road. Seventeen, so far.
I did a little medical procedure on myself, yesterday. I had a sore toe, for a few days. Two days ago, I looked at it. It seemed blistered. Yesterday, the pain was worse, as was the red and swelling. Upon close inspection, I saw a small wound channel, where a foreign object had entered. Evidentially, when walking, the object was driven quite deep. I applied pressure to the blister, to force the object out, to no avail. So I heated up three quarts of water, and added a splash of Clorox. Then I soaked the foot for ten minutes, and pressed again on the blister. Out came a splinter. I opened the wound with a needle, and let it bleed. Then I applied antibiotic ointment. It’s healing well today.
Skunked Again 11-28-00
The Cartwright property was marked “no trespassing”, with a large and bright new sign. Billy called Mrs. Cartwright. She explained that hunting rights had been leased out. Now access was strictly limited. So much for blind one, blind two, and my magical sweet spot.
I divided my hunting time between four locations. The Pennycook blind, Mehlenbacher’s new parcel, the Hines Aronholt parcel, and the flats down by the river in Portageville.
A buck ran quickly by, day two, at Mehlenbacher’s. It came up from behind, and disappeared in an instant. I snapped off a shot, which hit a tree. On the third day weather turned horrible. I drove back to cousin Roses, in town, where I was bunking, and took off on foot. Snow melted, and ran into my Deer slayer. Then the sky cleared, and the temperature plummeted.
