Neanderpundit

Having failed utterly to make contact with Bambi via the compound, I figured I’d at least check the aim on the Marlin to see if I could repeatably put the lead where I pointed the damned thing. So friday I spent some time at Kingsbury’s rage- which I can highly reccomend- though it’s a $4 range fee, it’s a nice and professionally run range.

Turns out I can hit what I point it at.

The first is the 20 yard target, just a bunch of shots trying to get the thing to print. The middle target is at 25 yards- a couple taps here and there on the back sight and I had it.

The last target is at 50 yards. A couple fliers as I got used to the sights, and then three right in the red.

So I spent a couple hours sitting in a field. Sleety snow pouring down on me- though I was snugged up fine. My Jon-E handwarmer kept me from freezing- though my tootsies could have used a bit of help. More socks next time, I guess. I was ready. I had good equipment. My equipment worked- in fact, worked just fine. And now I just need Bambi to show up for his appointment.

I can’t wait to use this to shoot a deer. Considering it was a rusty pile of crap when I got it, and I turned it into a nice, elegant, useful lever action, the correct caliber, and I can shoot it… Good feeling.

Headed afield. I’m going to be pleased to be out and about carring a rifle, and be happy wiht that. If I get a deer, great. If I don’t, i will have spent the day doing something a huge percentage of the world cannot legally do.

I swear, I can’t buy a break.

So today I’m sitting home, contemplating my actions for the next phase. I will probably miss tomorrow as well. Standing in the pouring rain or driving snow until my fingers, toes, and… other extremities are numb doesn’t appeal a lot. Last night it took me two hours to stop shivering. And I don’t get cold easily.

All to see four deer out of range of any arrow.

Rifle season is open, but i can’t even see a doe in range let alone a buck. Hell, I haven’t seen a buck (except dead ones!) anywhere I’ve hunted in the last five years.

I am quiet. I am very careful about the clothes I wear and the scent I have. And noisy, fat bastards smoking cigars walk into the woods and come out five minutes later with eight, ten point bucks. What the hell i’m doing wrong, I have no damned idea.

Dad was a fisherman, and liked his quail and rabbit. What I learned of those skills- from him- are OK. But deer hunting I’m learning alone, and I have no idea why I was successful the first couple years and not the last two.

I’m fidgety, and have almost no ability to sit still- so this is all torture to me, and I put myself through it, and it’s not paying off.

I’m starting to get annoyed. And that’s not a good thing.