FIREARMS AND HUNTING
Well, it is May and we are 5 months now into the year of 2008.
As of this writing WV Spring Gobbler season has come to an end. Jerod and I are still scoreless on bagging a turkey. Of course we only went out once this season. With work and with the bad rainy weather we had things just didn't work out for us to get out and do a lot of hunting this spring. Of course we feel that season came in to late. Opening day was April 28th, and we went the following Saturday and never heard a single bird. We know we were in the same areas as turkeys, because we get run over by them during fall hunting season.
Jerod bought his very first handgun this year. We went to our local pawn shop and was looking at the different handguns they had. Jerod showed me a Hi-Point 45 ACP that he was looking at. Well when I took it from him I laughed out loud. I told him that was a plastic toy and that he should look for something better.
About 2 weeks later Jerod comes home with the Hi-Point, but not the 45 ACP but a 40 S&W. They had sold the 45 and wouldn't be getting any in for a week or so. We took the 40 S&W out to shoot and I was impressed. This thing shot great, no jams or anything and it was right on the money at 7 yards. I was so impressed with the Hi-Point that I went a week later and got the Hi-Point C9, 9mm and an extra magazine.
Before Jerod had even thought about getting a handgun I had went and taken my Conceal Carry Weapons permit. I took the class that we are required to take in WV and after passing, I took my application along with a copy of the certificate I received from class and a copy of my drivers license to the Sheriff's Department. About two (2) weeks later I had my Conceal Carry permit. For my class I used a Bryco Arms Jennings Nine 9mm, of course the instructors said to stay away from certain handguns and my 9 mm was one of them. That is why after Jerod bought his Hi-Point and went and got me a Hi-Point.
Jerod is planning on getting his Conceal Carry permit here soon. He has taken the class and passed it and now needs to apply to the Sheriff's Department to get his permit.
Here are some photos of my Hi-Point C9.
Hi-Point C9 Hi-Point C9 in Holster
I also came across another nice firearm this spring. Jerod's girlfriend's dad had a very nice Norinco Chinese SKS in 7.62x39 that he wanted to sell. He had sent it home with Jerod for me to take down and clean for him. After seeing it I told Jerod that I wanted it. I found out her dad had the original wood stock, hand guard, 10 round magazine, cleaning kit (goes in the butt of the stock), cleaning rod, shell pouch with 50 rounds of ammo and 7 stripper clips. The rifle is in a Ram-Line non-folding synthetic stock and has a 30 round magazine. I also have a 20 round Tapco magazine. The rifle has all matching serial numbers except for the wood and 10 round magazine. Everything else matches!
Here is a photos of it.
Before After
I have added the scope mount with 3 picatinny/weaver rails. I have on it a Leapers tactical red/green dot scope, tactical flashlight with pressure sensitive switch and a laser site with pressure sensitive switch. I have a muzzle brake installed and a two (2) Tapco 20 round magazines for it. I put a Tapco T6 stock on it and grinded off the bayonet lug. I also modified the bolt so you can insert and remove the magazines without having to lock the bolt open. I joined the Survivors SKS forum and made some new friends and got a lot of good information about SKS's.
Another New Toy
Here is another new toy...of course it is kind of old. This is a German 8x57 Mauser, Model 98K with cleaning rod and front hood site. This little gem still has the German proof marks and the swastikas on it. The only identifier on top of the receiver is "42". I found a website that gives you all the information about the Mauser (military Mauser). The only thing that is missing from this fine firearm is the original sling for the era of this rifle.
I had been searching for one of these locally for a long time. I bought one for Jerod back around 1995 or 1996 for $89 from Angler's Roost, a sporting goods store in Nicholas County. Jerod's is a capture Mauser that has had all the German proof marks removed. I know I could of bought one from Mitchell's Mauser, but I didn't want to go that way. Finally after years of thinking that may be the way I would have to go, the local pawn shop (Roy's Loan) here in Fayette County had one setting on the shelf. Immediately I took the thing off the rack, checked the rifling, bolt and chamber. I didn't hesitate...I told the clerk that I wanted the rifle, I didn't even try to get the price down. After seeing how much these things were going for on the Internet and at Mitchell Mauser I figured $189 wasn't a bad deal at all!
I took it to the range and ran 10 rounds thru her. She shot GREAT for such an old rifle!
I am already setup to reload for 8x57 Mauser, so I was sure to save my brass. There isn't anything like these old military bolt action rifles. We all know that most of our modern day bolt actions came from the Mauser action to some extent.
Other little toys that I got for 2008 was a Llama Mini Max Sub Compact 45 ACP pistol. Another very nice addition to my collection of firearms. The only downfall I have found with the Llama is that it doesn't like Remington 230 grain JHP ammo. So now I shoot Blazer Brass (CCI) 230 grain FMJ's in her. She eats them up!
Now for the new toys for the two bows I have. Last year I got a Whisker Biscuit for my Martin Jaguar and Jerod got one for his Mathews Solo Cam. Anything to help in the pursuit of the elusive whitetail deer. Well Wal-Mart had their archery stuff on close out for the season and I came across the QAD drop away arrow rest. I bought that and put on my Martin and took the Whisker Biscuit and put that on my Hoyt Raptor bow (my back up bow).
Since then I have put a Tru Glo 4 pin site on the Hoyt and removed the Toxonics Solo Track 4 pin site. I have also made the switch from aluminum arrows (2213's) to carbon arrows. MAN TALK ABOUT FAST NOW!! With the QAD drop away rest and carbon arrows on my Martin, well lets just say I feel sorry for any animal that gets in my sites!!
2008 Spring Gobbler Season
Well there is not much to type here. We never got a chance to get out and turkey hunt but one time. With Jerod working his new job and my work we just couldn't seem to get our schedules right so we could hunt.
Fishing Season
Did some fishing this year. Not much, mainly with my wife Brenda and our granddaughter Bre. It is such a joy to watch a 5 year old casting a pole and waiting for that moment when the bobber goes plop plop under the water. I was amazed at how good she could cast her pole without paw paw's help!
2008 Bear Season
This year the WV DNR has initiated an early bear season here in WV. You have to check the regulations to determine the details, it is to hard to try and explain online. The one thing I can say is that September 18th thru to September 27th here in Fayette County is bear gun season (with or without dogs) and a bow can be substituted for a rifle.
The DNR has also increased the season limit to 2 bears. But one of those bears has to come from Fayette, Raleigh, Kanawha or Boone Counties. Again, you should check the 2008-2009 Hunting/Trapping Regulations for the details.
2008 Squirrel Season
Well the first day of squirrel season opened and success was had by all in the hunting party. Jerod and I got a shot off at a squirrel first thing while walking into the woods. I finally brought the thing out with my second shot. Jerod got one shot off but his Remington 1100 magnum didn't work properly, it didn't eject the shell. In fact the shotgun didn't even attempt to cycle at all. He manually ejected the empty and put in another round.
After he got to his spot he got a squirrel with one shot. Better be glad that it only took one shot. The shotgun did the exact same thing, didn't eject the empty.
Later at home I took the barrel off the 1100 and discovered that someone (the original owner or the shop where he bought it) had disassembled the shotgun and put the o-ring on first then the piston seal and then the piston on the magazine tube. The correct positioning is the piston seal, the piston and then the o-ring. After cleaning and putting the gun back together we went out on Monday for another hunt. Didn't see any squirrels to get a shot at, so when leaving Jerod shot the shotgun and it worked properly. I had him fire another round just to make absolutely sure that it was working properly.
2008 Archery Season
This year WV Archery season opens on October 18th. Jerod has gotten that day scheduled off so he can get to hunt the whole day and not have to worry about going to work.
Well the 18th came and we were in our stands before the first hint of daylight. We had our cameras out since July and had gotten pictures of does with fawns and a few young small bucks. Nothing to really right home about. At first light I had two does with their fawns come into my stand. I had already made up my mind, as well as Jerod, that we weren't going to harvest the does that still had fawns with them. So I let them pass.
Later that morning I had a very young buck come in. He was a spike with about inch and a half spikes. I let him pass, didn't want to take a young buck. That whole day I saw about 7 deer, but nothing that I wanted to shoot.
Well the 2008 season is over and this posting to this 2008 page here is about thievery.
On December 30th, 2008, Jerod, Alvin and I went to our hunting club lease. We decided to try and get one more day of bow hunting in before season went out. We also decided to check mine and Jerod's game cameras. I checked my camera and had about 90+ pictures on it, but my batteries were down to about 30%. So I pulled my camera that day. Jerod checked his camera and his battery showed dead, but when he opened the camera and checked the connections it then showed 100% and he only had one picture. Jerod decided to leave his again and see if he got any more pictures.
On January 10th, 2009, Jerod and I decided to go and check his camera and to put mine out. Our first trip was to my stand and set my camera. After getting my camera set we then proceeded to Jerod's stand. His stand is around the point about 100 to 120 yards from mine. As we were walking up to his camera box, from a distance I noticed that it looked like there was no camera. I asked Jerod, did you take your camera home the last time we were here? He said I don't think so. Then we noticed that the hasp was bent the lock was gone and the Master Lock python cable was gone. Someone, some idiot, some criminal had taken something and pried on the hasp enough to pop the lock with the other end of the hasp out of the hinged hasp.
We finally found the lock and the part that it goes through about 20 yards to the right of the camera box in a dead fall where someone had thrown it. The part the lock goes through had pulled out of its base. The welds on the hinged hasp and on the base were still holding and intact. We searched and searched and finally found the python cable over the hill about 40 to 50 yards behind the camera box where someone had thrown it. They didn't get the cable cut into, they had taken something and popped the end off where the cable is attached permanently to the locking mechanism. That end of the cable swivels in the mechanism and the end of the cable has a lead like end on it with what appears to be a big washer and they busted it off. The part of the cable you pull through the lock was still holding.
Then they had tried to use a chisel, screw driver or pry bar to turn the bolts but couldn't. The corner of the bolt has marks like it was beaten with a screw driver and hammer to try and turn the bolts.
Apparently when they got the python cable off and the ratchet strap loose they found out the box was attached to the tree. So they tried to pry the box off the tree to no avail. There are several marks on the tree where they put something between the box and the tree to try and pry the box off of the tree. That is why I guess they pried on the hasp and broke it and removed the camera then tried to turn the bolts with whatever tool they had.
So they left the box and the ratchet strap. Don't know why the left the ratchet strap...it was still good.
After finding the lock, python cable and removing Jerod's box, we went back and pulled my camera and box so there wasn't anything there for them to come and take. Then we went to check Alvin's spot out. I knew his camera wasn't there but I was sure he left his box attached to the tree. He had pulled his camera back just before buck season, but left his camera box. Well when we got there we discovered it was gone. I called Alvin to see if he had been back over and removed his box and found out that he had not removed his box. They also stole Alvin's stablelizer bar off his ladder stand. This time I was sure who or whomever took this stuff had left the woods after getting Jerod's camera and went back and got a ratchet with a socket to remove the bolts. I figured since they damage Jerod's box the wanted one not damaged. But I don't know why they didn't come back to get mine. UNLESS they knew the Brinks lock I had on my box, which is a little different design than Jerod's, could not be removed with a bolt cutter. Alvin's box had an elongated lock on it where it would be easy to get a bolt cutter on.
Whomever stole those items better BEWARE. I will be watching and waiting and when I catch this person, and I am praying to God that I do, they will be sorry. No I won't beat the crap out of them, as much as I would like to, but I will be calling 911 and I will hold them there until the law gets there. I WILL press charges.
This isn't the first time our stuff has been messed with, but it is the first time that someone actually stole something of value, the camera. Last year (January 1, 2008) they thought they could, but found out that a python cable can't be cut with a knife. They did still the ratchet straps last year (January 1, 2008), but I discovered this before they had a chance to get back and take the cameras. The reason I know the date is that the cameras were in the boxes and took pictures when they dropped after the ratchet straps were removed. Just wished they would of been standing in front of the camera.
That is why this year we put two (2) three inch lag bolts in the boxes to secure them to the tree along with the ratchet strap and python cable.
Here is a picture of Jerod's box showing the bent hinged hasp and the lock with the part of the base hasp that the lock fits through. You can see that the base is still attached.
This is another reason why I prefer the Moultrie cameras over those high dollar cameras. The Moultrie does what I want, it gives me pictures that I can use to see what is in my area. I can use it to judge which deer I want to take. No it isn't a Cuddeback or one of those other over prices game cameras. Yes I am mad that someone stole my son's camera, but it was only $100...could you image how I would feel if someone would have stolen a $500 or $800 digital camera! So all you overly priced game camera users...just wait until someone decides to steal your camera and you will see why that I prefer Moultrie over those others.
So if anyone who reads this, if you buy a used Moultrie 2.1 Mega pixel with a 6 volt rechargeable Wildgame battery and an 1 gig Scan Disk SD card...look for the his name on it. I wrote his name on the battery, on the SD card and about 5 or 6 places in the camera. One place was on the door and I am sure if the person who stole it sees that he will try and cover it up or remove it. The other places are inside the battery compartment and possibly along the side of the camera compartment itself. If you buy it you are buying stolen property and you can email me at [email protected] and report it to me. Let me know if you have it, what you gave for it and if you got the name, address and number of the person you bought it from.
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