.22 Henry - Card Cutting - Cool Toys

Typically Memorial Day is spent at the coast bathing a pent up saltwater addiction with sun and sand.  Fore casted 30 mph winds and overbearing grass in the surf re-directed us to the ranch.  Caleb turned 13 this month.  So we turned this opportunity a day of dad / son time before 5 of his buddies came along to celebrate his birthday and hunt hogs (come back for later posts for that).  

Despite the blowhard forecast - Thursday afternoon was a 95 degree pressure cooker in deep south Texas.  No wind to speak of. 

A particular habit the boy and I developed comes from my youth.  Hours and hours farting around with an old friend - Lance Fox.  As long as I can remember, if we read about it in a book or saw it on TV, we'd try it.  Hand tossed dimes, quarters, marbles, with BB guns and .22's we did it.  50 - 75 yard shots with multi-pump pellet guns, crappy scopes and some serious hold off - you bet!  Flying stuff with bow and arrows - no problem.  There are saltwater issues.  Kingfish, offshore, on medium action bass fishing gear and 12 pound line.  Done!  We never could stop blackfin tuna on 8 lb line though.   Tons of stuff people say can't be done - can....you just gotta try it. 

Caleb is a talented shot and kids think everything is possible.  Passing on the "can do" philosophy is easy.  Incoming clays with a pellet gun and .22 - he's done it.  Hell on wheels with a shotgun, blowgun, and very solid at 25 yards shooting 9mm brass with my RWS.  500 yards with a .223 or 30.06, trust me, you don't want to be on the receiving end!  So we're always pushing the limits because paper punching is boring.  So we decided to cut a playing card in half with a .22 since we'd seen some guy do it on TV.  A sawhorse, handy grooves - nice!

 

Your target awaits.

 

 

20 yards away - the cards view.  Do notice he is not pointing at me....just for artistic effect.

 

 

Well, it took 4 shots.

 

 

First of all, you gun guys and gals will notice the rifle.  It is a full sized Henry lever action .22 with a Truglo red dot sight on top.  This rifle is super accurate, including a silky smooth action - solid as a vault.  They ain't cheap, but nothing good is cheap, so don't skimp on your kids.  This gun will be around when I am laying under the daisy roots.

Now it's time for the old man -  5 shots.  Maybe we need to back it up!  Gotta tell you, it is very satisfying to hit something that small.

 

 

My more fastidious readers will notice all the scratches.  Well, yeah, uh, it slid off the roof of the ranch house and fell to the ground last November.  It was a much safer situation than it sounds - while sounding completely stupid.  Thus I am justifying the actions of a mismanaged situation.....on the upside we proved durability at a level you won't see on a comment or message board anywhere else! 

Dad and son, easy times, relaxing a bit and pushing the limits of marksmanship.  It is a great way to become a superb shot.  If you can hit the edge of a card, everything else is easier.

 

Take a kid outdoors, teach them to participate in the ecosystem because apex predators rock. 

Especially when they have cool toys.

 

Small Boy with Laugh Lines

A.D.D. is AWESOME

Youth Fishing - Baseball - Deer - A First

Holr Smokes - Baseball, really?

Please hang in there - fish, random critter puncturing, and hopefully a bit of wisdom occur later in the story

 

Working with youth in any capacity is natural for your correspondent. Today he will cross pollinate outdoor blogvangelism with baseball.  The spring 2011 10U Orioles came roaring out of the losers bracket to the championship; losing to the #1 seeded White Sox.  It was hard to end like that but, just like I told them: "If you're gonna play, play the best team out there!"

 

 

Connor Hathaway is one of our most determined players.  Always attentive, a fast learner, thinking kind of young man - you love coaching kids like that. Here he comes sliding under the tag at home just like he was taught!

 

 

Connor's dad discovers this baseball coach dude has an outdoor addiction.  Chit chats ensue: guns, ammo, set ups, adjustments for youth, fishing and alot of baseball but that is self-evident from the beginning.  Mr. Hathaway is kind enough to peruse my blog at times.  He recently sent some pictures of a fishing trip.  Boys and men lean many things from chunking around in a stock tank.

 

 

A trusty Zebco, warm sun, life as you know it should be.  Time passes, it's just a "ho hum" kind of day.

The fish start cooperating. 

 

 

Those little buggers keep you busy, Connor is after bigger critters. 

His patience is rewarded.

 

 

 Moving further back in time, during our discussions this season, a.k.a telling hunting stories, I find out Connor took his first deer this year.  80 yards with a .243.  Attentive, fast learner, thinking kind of young man..........works in the deer blind as well.

 

 

 

We're making this a double day dream kind of thing.  Cool crisp weather, gun oil, freshly fired gunpowder, the great outdoors.  You can't find that on Xbox.  Connor is turning out to be quite an outdoorsman.  Way to go dad!

 

5 boys are at the ranch for a porcine puncturing mayhem weekend.   Updates in the near future will include fun.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.  Mr. Hathaway found this thing on his hitch haul.  If you can identify it, send me an e-mail.

 

 

Small Boy with Laugh Lines

A.D.D. is AWESOME

Youth Fishing - Baseball - Deer - A First

Holr Smokes - Baseball, really?

Please hang in there - fish, random critter puncturing, and hopefully a bit of wisdom occur later in the story

 

Working with youth in any capacity is natural for your correspondent. Today he will cross pollinate outdoor blogvangelism with baseball.  The spring 2011 10U Orioles came roaring out of the losers bracket to the championship; losing to the #1 seeded White Sox.  It was hard to end like that but, just like I told them: "If you're gonna play, play the best team out there!"

 

 

Connor Hathaway is one of our most determined players.  Always attentive, a fast learner, thinking kind of young man - you love coaching kids like that. Here he comes sliding under the tag at home just like he was taught!

 

 

Connor's dad discovers this baseball coach dude has an outdoor addiction.  Chit chats ensue: guns, ammo, set ups, adjustments for youth, fishing and alot of baseball but that is self-evident from the beginning.  Mr. Hathaway is kind enough to peruse my blog at times.  He recently sent some pictures of a fishing trip.  Boys and men lean many things from chunking around in a stock tank.

 

 

A trusty Zebco, warm sun, life as you know it should be.  Time passes, it's just a "ho hum" kind of day.

The fish start cooperating. 

 

 

Those little buggers keep you busy, Connor is after bigger critters. 

His patience is rewarded.

 

 

 Moving further back in time, during our discussions this season, a.k.a telling hunting stories, I find out Connor took his first deer this year.  80 yards with a .243.  Attentive, fast learner, thinking kind of young man..........works in the deer blind as well.

 

 

 

We're making this a double day dream kind of thing.  Cool crisp weather, gun oil, freshly fired gunpowder, the great outdoors.  You can't find that on Xbox.  Connor is turning out to be quite an outdoorsman.  Way to go dad!

 

5 boys are at the ranch for a porcine puncturing mayhem weekend.   Updates in the near future will include fun.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.  Mr. Hathaway found this thing on his hitch haul.  If you can identify it, send me an e-mail.

 

 

Small Boy with Laugh Lines

A.D.D. is AWESOME

Youth Rifle .223 - Get Close - Recipe - Success

     If you have perused this blog a bit ......

     You might agree with me on the heavy gun thing.  You might agree light recoil helps accuracy.  If you have not perused my blog, please check out some of my earlier posts and note I have a recipe for all this:

    1.  Heavy gun, check,

    2.  Light recoil, check,

    3.  Bipod, check,

    4.  Light caliber - preferably a .223

    4.  The final ingredient is the most important - “If you think you are close enough, get much closer.”

   Here in Texas with deer blinds and bait, you have the perfect situation for accurate shot placement under hunting stress.  100 yards is pretty easy at the rifle range, on a bench, with a sandbag.  But hair and horns result in central nervous system overload.  So, cut it in half in the field.  Yup; 2 X 25, the mid-field stripe, 50 yards – maybe less!    Rig the deal my good man!   

     55 grain soft points pushing 3,000 fps create a delightful "POP" on impact.  They are quite convincing.  My son's first hog, right at 200 pounds, was not ballistically astute, had not considered a 55 grain bullet as too small.  He responded by sticking his feet up in the air.

3 months later we picked up his skull.  Notice the baseball sized chunk missing just left of his artistically applied eye. There are no chew marks, so this is not the result of an over zealous coyote wielding a Sawzall.

Our .223 has another nuance.   We call it, "The 1st gun" meaning:  If this is the first time you are hunting with us, we give you our Handi Rifle Ultra Varmint .223, the same one seen above.  WHEN you are successful, your name is permanently engraved on the stock.  Tipping the scales just under 10 pounds but she's "muscular" - but not "fat".  Recoil is almost non-existent contributing to a healthy blog roll.  This picture is dated. Three more names are on there now and we have a hunt coming up in the next couple weeks.

A little bullet in the right place beats a big bullet pulled due to pucker factor - every time.   (I highly recommend the H@R Handi Rifle Ultra Varmint!  It is offered in larger calibers's) - whatever gun you choose, take my recipe, liberally apply rule #4 - your success rate will skyrocket.

Hunting and fishing is the ultimate "green" experience.  Teach every kid you can find how to participate in the ecosystem.  Lord knows they get enough tree hugging propaganda out there.

Small Boy with Laugh Lines

A.D.D. is AWESOME

Beer Belly Archer 2006

This is self explanatory.  Take a peek at the early development in traditional archery.  Punch through and see a threee year old give 'em heck!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hjDWrblKJY

Skattergun Games - Fall - Laugh Lines

           My dear reader a shotgun is a fine instrument.   I have had the great fortune to receive instruction from  previous Army Skeet Team members and mentors with God given talent.  Result - “scattergun love”.  One used an over and under .410 for every shotgun game out there.  I never saw him take more than a couple boxes of shells into the dove field.  He didn't have to. 

            Another shot a 12 gauge Winchester 101 with 30" barrels choked full over full; an exceptional trap shooter, he was particularly hard on ducks and those high flying white wings.  One thing they all had in common, shotguns were for fall field work: doves quail, ducks.  Man I can still feel the apprehension in those early mornings, cold ears, coffee, laughter, cigarette smoke, a day full of surprises.  It never seemed like they would start the truck.

             Spend some time with your shotgun and teach a kid the great games offered. 

 

12 year old Caleb Fowler station 4 - at Best of the West in Liberty Hill.

 

Small Boy with Laugh Lines

A.D.D. is awesome

Skattergun love

            My dear reader a shotgun is a fine instrument.   I have had the great fortune to receive instruction from  previous Army Skeet Team members and mentors with God given talent.  Result - “scattergun love”.  One of them used an over and under .410 for every shotgun game out there.  I never saw him take more than a couple boxes of shells into the dove field.  He didn't have to.  Another shot a 12 gauge Winchester 101 with 30" barrels choked full over full, an exceptional trap shooter, he was particularly hard on ducks and those high flying white wings.  The one thing they all had in common, shotguns were for fall field work doves through ducks, that was the real game.  Man I can still feel the apprehension in those early mornings, coffee, laughter, cigarette smoke, a day full of surprises.  It never seemed like they would start the truck.

             Spend some time with your shotgun… which is a good thing for boys and especially rewarding for some of us who have a few laugh lines.

 

            ,

Small Boy with Laugh Lines

A.D.D. is AWESOME

Youth Hunting – Feral Hog – Shot Placement – Cheek Grenades

I realize Traditional Bowhunter printed a very similar article this week.  Hey, I am on a roll and decided to round it out for rifle wielding folks, here’s a tip for youth hunters that just might work for us old guys too!:

 

            Reality TV has taken hate to a new level.  Poor hogs, I guess it’s okay to hate some things. That is too bad!  This outdoor correspondent gets the giggles every time he can pursue them.  Think about this.  Our pork friends are available year around, they have no curfew, no season, and remain high in number; what could be better?  Significant behavioral problems – that’s what!           

            Anthromorphically, imagine a psychotherapist describing feral hog behavior as such:  “The subject is easily pre-occupied while showing no regard for other species in its daily activities.   Intensely self absorbed and moderately aggressive while seeking the presence of its own kind.  The hog is a peculiar case.   Of note, when confronted with a food source the subject exhibits A.D.H.D behavior.  Given this erratic combination of behavioral opportunities; the subject in not recommended for a traditional classroom setting.”  

            Moving on -

            Kids are literal.  An interesting thing happens when you describe a head shot as follows: “It’s easy kid.  Just shoot them in the head.”  Or what I used to say is more descriptive but apparently still confusing, “wait till they are broadside and shoot them right under the ear.”  The kid doesn’t really know which part of the head or “exactly how far below the ear?”  Coach them this way and you’ll get the Labrador retriever head tilt and the kid just goes along.  So, make it more concrete.  Tell them, “take a broadside shot.  Shoot them in the cheek.”   (Noted: if you coach kids to shoot a pig in the cheek, they will wait for a broadside shot because the cheek is on the side of the pig; handy.  Man I wish I was smart enough to have figured this out before making all those other mistakes!)

            Now on to rifle skills before we wrap this up:

            The typical new hunter (including adults) will lift their head at trigger pull looking over the scope for a neatly dispatched critter.  End result is high bullet impact or a pulled shot.  On the pig’s end of the deal, a squeal and missing parts followed by bulldozing into brush a fast moving rabbit would avoid.  They say mean things about your family too.   If you like adrenaline, it’s a hoot.  Try it at night with that dim flashlight we all own.  You know the one.

            Or shoot the cheek.  Here’s a picture I pulled off of biggamehunt.net.  A contributor named gknutson used this diagram to describe shot placement for archery.  I borrowed it with permission, then added the red lines to show the cheek shot I am recommending.

 

  

 Photo located at: www.biggamehunt.net/tips/hit-mark-feral-hogs

 

           What you have is a shot delivered to a large, lethal, area.  It is all bone.  Bone is good!  I know this is graphic but I am literal, just like the kids.  Bone turns into a grenade when your bullet arrives on target.  Anatomically, all the major arteries and spinal nerves funnel together here.  Sheer impact breaks the neck.  It is very humane.  Shots pulled high, previously discussed, result in direct brain impact and bone grenade scenario.

            End result – dirt nap.

            A .223 along with a kid is a great combination.  55 grain soft point, loud whop, you got pork.  Low recoil helps young hunters (and old guys) place that little pill in the bone/grenade area.  If you think it takes a .300 Weatherby Magnum to get this done.  Go for it.  That will work too.  But please do not give your .300 to a kid!!!!

            Go get yourself some hog hunting action.

             

 Small Boy with Laugh Lines

A.D.D. is AWESOME

TBM Tip of the Week - Go Low for Pork

 

Traditional Bowhunter accepted one of my favorite tips for all bowhunters.  This particular shot placement concept will help you acquire Jackrabbits, Mastadon's and everything in between .  (Man I wish they'd open up Mastadon season again!)

 

TBM Tip Of The Week - Go Low For Pork Sent Wednesday, May 4, 2011 View as plaintext

	TIP OF THE WEEK View this newsletter online  Go Low For Pork By Troy Fowler These days it is avant-garde to be a hog hater. TV shows, hunting message boards, tweets, blogs, you name it, tell us to "Kill 'em all." I don't agree. I am fond of the darn things. There are lots of hogs in my area and they can be hunted year around, and around the clock. In the spring they are bold and easy to stalk, and I really like chasing them with my longbow. I hope they never leave our ranch! That makes me a swine-loving contrarian...true, so true. This tip is about arrow placement on feral hogs. It's very simple--use a sharp broadhead and shoot the lower third area, as shown in photo. (Just between you and me, start shooting deer in the same place. It is very effective.) I found this great hog picture on a blog by Gknutson. I learned the grid concept from Cross Trail Outfitters chief, Mike Arnold, and I added the groovy red lines and dot showing the point of impact. So, my advice is to go low for pork. If the pig is quartering away, shoot the same area. Ideally the arrow will exit between the front legs. If you are shooting from an elevated position, shoot low but expect the arrow to stay in the pig. With their really short legs the broadhead hits the ground before the arrow can get all the way through the pig. After the shot, listen very carefully. I often hear a heavy gurgle and/or growling sound. That's your pig.     Troy Fowler writes about real, field tested, youth hunting and fishing solutions in his blog, Small Boy With Laugh Lines.        Comments on Traditional Bowhunting Mentors   Bill K. writes: Boy, did Mr. Cervantes story make a lot of you go back, as I did, on how and what we did when we started bowhunting? It has been a great road to travel and learn, just as Cervantes did. Many times we were flying by the seat of our pants and didn't really know what we were doing, but we learned or were lead by someone, as he was. Keep those types of stories coming.       What's New at Tradbow.com?   Dr. Ed Ashby has sent us his 2008 Study Update, Part 7. Read through the latest update and join the conversations in the Ashby Forum.         Celebrate Star Wars Day!   May the fourth be with you!             © 2011 TBM, Inc.  All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited, but you may send this entire newsletter to a friend.   Reminders  Add Us To Your Address Book     To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add this address to your address book or contacts list:   webmaster@tradbow.com   Have a Question?       Don't hesitate to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive.     Have a Topic Idea?       We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about.   We also welcome tips, like this one, that you might want to share with others. Please email your tip and a photo or two to Robin at webmaster@tradbow.com.   Follow Us On   www.twitter.com/tradbow      How Would You Rate This Email?    Fantastic     Pretty Good    It's Okay    Not So Good    This email was sent to because you recently signed up for occasional messages from us at www.tradbow.com.

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Small Boy with Laugh Lines

A.D.D. is AWESOME