Shovelbuck
Active Member
What a year it was! I usually wait to make my yearly, year in review post until after January 15th when our late doe season ends. With the snow drifts, or better yet.....Glaciers, blocking the way to my hunting spots, now is as good of time as any to write up last years highlights.
Last January and February found me having a blast hunting bunnies with a .54 flintlock and my original percussion gun.......
That was a lot of fun and hopefully I'll be able to do it again.
Next came shed hunting. I had an off year but still managed to get some.
At this time of year I also do some fossil hunting. Unfortunately, this year on the sandbar didn't produce anything.
Next thing I knew it was Turkey time. Last year I had mentioned a plan I had for some unique turkey harvest photos. That plan hasn't worked out yet but it's still in the works. I have my new lodge poles cut but can't seem to get the turkeys to cooperate when I have the time to set it up. These photos will have to do.
After turkeys, I rebuilt some antlers and then got serious on some muzzleloader builds.
Built my .62 flintlock first.......
Then rebuilt my .54 rifle along with a derringer.
Somewhere in this time frame I played around making some bone knives along with some others.
Dove season was here before I knew it and I really wanted to get some with the smoothbore flintlock. I missed a few early on then the third time out, I tripped and fell, breaking a rib in the process. That ended my bow season before it even started.
On to gun season.....
Trail camera photos had shown some good bucks in the area but I'm done chasing just a particular animal. I hunt to have fun and challenge myself with primitive / traditional weapons. Congrats to those that hunt big bucks only, but it just isn't for me anymore.
Headed out for our rifle season with the smoothbore......
Awesome feeling to take one with a gun built by myself!
A few weeks later during our muzzleloader season, this doe went in the freezer.
During this fall seasons, I chased turkeys a bit as time allowed but they didn't cooperate and that tag went unfilled along with my muzzleloader either sex tag.
I still have a season choice tag good through the 15th, if possible, I'll try to get out and fill it. I'm also hoping to get out before the small game seasons are over and connect with some bunnies or pheasants.
A lot of other things happened along the journey this year. One was meeting up with Blake in Omaha for the Nebraska Deer Classic. Unfortunately, the visit was cut short due to a bad knee, causing my early departure. Because of this I was unable to meet dc240nt and probably a few others.
I thank the Lord every day for the opportunities to do these great hobbies I enjoy, and to the great folks here on Iowawhitetail to share them with.
Keep your powder dry and take care,
Jay
Link to last years highlights......
http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28976
Link to .62 smoothbore build.....
http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30703
Link to .54 rebuild.......
http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30956
Last January and February found me having a blast hunting bunnies with a .54 flintlock and my original percussion gun.......
That was a lot of fun and hopefully I'll be able to do it again.
Next came shed hunting. I had an off year but still managed to get some.
At this time of year I also do some fossil hunting. Unfortunately, this year on the sandbar didn't produce anything.
Next thing I knew it was Turkey time. Last year I had mentioned a plan I had for some unique turkey harvest photos. That plan hasn't worked out yet but it's still in the works. I have my new lodge poles cut but can't seem to get the turkeys to cooperate when I have the time to set it up. These photos will have to do.
After turkeys, I rebuilt some antlers and then got serious on some muzzleloader builds.
Built my .62 flintlock first.......
Then rebuilt my .54 rifle along with a derringer.
Somewhere in this time frame I played around making some bone knives along with some others.
Dove season was here before I knew it and I really wanted to get some with the smoothbore flintlock. I missed a few early on then the third time out, I tripped and fell, breaking a rib in the process. That ended my bow season before it even started.
On to gun season.....
Trail camera photos had shown some good bucks in the area but I'm done chasing just a particular animal. I hunt to have fun and challenge myself with primitive / traditional weapons. Congrats to those that hunt big bucks only, but it just isn't for me anymore.
Headed out for our rifle season with the smoothbore......
Awesome feeling to take one with a gun built by myself!
A few weeks later during our muzzleloader season, this doe went in the freezer.
During this fall seasons, I chased turkeys a bit as time allowed but they didn't cooperate and that tag went unfilled along with my muzzleloader either sex tag.
I still have a season choice tag good through the 15th, if possible, I'll try to get out and fill it. I'm also hoping to get out before the small game seasons are over and connect with some bunnies or pheasants.
A lot of other things happened along the journey this year. One was meeting up with Blake in Omaha for the Nebraska Deer Classic. Unfortunately, the visit was cut short due to a bad knee, causing my early departure. Because of this I was unable to meet dc240nt and probably a few others.
I thank the Lord every day for the opportunities to do these great hobbies I enjoy, and to the great folks here on Iowawhitetail to share them with.
Keep your powder dry and take care,
Jay
Link to last years highlights......
http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28976
Link to .62 smoothbore build.....
http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30703
Link to .54 rebuild.......
http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30956
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