Hi;
I've been waiting for the start of the monthly bowling pin shooting matches since last October. It's finally arriving. Sunday morning, cold, rain or shine. I think it's going to be cold and sunny. So, I'll be dressed in long johns, heavy socks, maybe my hunting pants and shirt (they keep me warm) and a big heavy coat.
This year the guys that run the morning shoot are a bit short handed with helpers. I will be assisting them this year. Probably registering shooter and taking care of the money. But, I may get to run the timer for the match scoring. That's more fun because I get to watch all the shooting. If I'm registering people I have to pay attention to them, the cash. I also call out the name of the next shooter so they are ready to come up to the line after the active shooter is done.
I practiced last week with my 9mm auto. This week I need to get out with my .22 and shoot some plates.
One benefit of helping out, I do not have to pay to shoot. My score will be posted in the results, but because I did not pay, I will not be eligible for a prize if I come in 1st - 3rd. I think that is okay.
I'll report back after the match.
Oh! The Wednesday Night Trap league starts up for it's 8 week run beginning in April. Nice :)
Take care, good shooting and good hunting.
M.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Rain and more rain
Hi,
This past week I shot in the Wednesday Night Trap League and on Sunday (today) the monthly bowling pin shoot. Both were wet, wet, rainy and cool. It could only have been worse if it had also been windy!
It was a steady down pour for Trap. I had never shot competitively in the rain. A whole new experience. As you can imagine, there is no overhead cover for Trap. I shot my double barrel Beretta Lighting. I figured it would be easier to dry out and clean the double than to take my Remington 870 Pump. I think I was right. Everyone shot in the rain the whole time we were there. No let ups no reprieves. I did dress for rain. My camo rain coat goes down to my ankles. My ball cap kept my head dry. It ended up that I was not as uncomfortable as I thought I could be. My only issue was my wet hands. It meant I really had to think about how I held the gun. I was not expecting to do well. My first round was a 19, which is good for me. I was very happy. Then the second round brought me down to earth. I shot a 12. My goodness! Next week I have to make sure both rounds are equally as good. Two week to go. I have to do a shoot ahead for the last week as I will be in Colorado mule deer hunting on the last Wednesday of the league. So looking forward to this hunt. I am still high Lady by 36 birds. My team has sunk to 6th place out of 12. I am pretty sure that is where we were at the end of the last league.
Bowling Pin shooting was almost as wet as trap shooting. The big difference, there is overhead cover at the bowling pin range. It was pouring down rain when we arrived this morning. Three of us were there to run the match. 2 people actually showed up before 9 am to shoot. The guy and gal had not shot at bowling pins before so they were stoked to try it out. We ended up having a great time shooting with them. Then just as we figured no one else was coming (about 10:30 am) three more shooters showed up. This group had been to a few shoots before, so they were ready to go as soon as they walked up to the range. It was wet and got colder as the morning wore on, but absolutely everyone there said they had a great time, and will be back in March next year when we start this all over.
My times were good. I did very well with the .22 shooting a 3.73 sec first round (10 yds) and a 5.94 sec second round (15 yds). Total for the run at 9.67 sec is my second best time this year. Center Fire was not nearly as quick, but acceptable. I end the year on a happy note.
Now it is on to serious deer hunting. A bit of cross bow hunting in two days. Then Colorado for the rifle season. Back home for opening day of muzzle loader and the rut. After that we settle into the long rifle season. Surely I will get several deer this year. I am always hopeful.
Take care, good hunting and good shooting.
M.
This past week I shot in the Wednesday Night Trap League and on Sunday (today) the monthly bowling pin shoot. Both were wet, wet, rainy and cool. It could only have been worse if it had also been windy!
It was a steady down pour for Trap. I had never shot competitively in the rain. A whole new experience. As you can imagine, there is no overhead cover for Trap. I shot my double barrel Beretta Lighting. I figured it would be easier to dry out and clean the double than to take my Remington 870 Pump. I think I was right. Everyone shot in the rain the whole time we were there. No let ups no reprieves. I did dress for rain. My camo rain coat goes down to my ankles. My ball cap kept my head dry. It ended up that I was not as uncomfortable as I thought I could be. My only issue was my wet hands. It meant I really had to think about how I held the gun. I was not expecting to do well. My first round was a 19, which is good for me. I was very happy. Then the second round brought me down to earth. I shot a 12. My goodness! Next week I have to make sure both rounds are equally as good. Two week to go. I have to do a shoot ahead for the last week as I will be in Colorado mule deer hunting on the last Wednesday of the league. So looking forward to this hunt. I am still high Lady by 36 birds. My team has sunk to 6th place out of 12. I am pretty sure that is where we were at the end of the last league.
Bowling Pin shooting was almost as wet as trap shooting. The big difference, there is overhead cover at the bowling pin range. It was pouring down rain when we arrived this morning. Three of us were there to run the match. 2 people actually showed up before 9 am to shoot. The guy and gal had not shot at bowling pins before so they were stoked to try it out. We ended up having a great time shooting with them. Then just as we figured no one else was coming (about 10:30 am) three more shooters showed up. This group had been to a few shoots before, so they were ready to go as soon as they walked up to the range. It was wet and got colder as the morning wore on, but absolutely everyone there said they had a great time, and will be back in March next year when we start this all over.
My times were good. I did very well with the .22 shooting a 3.73 sec first round (10 yds) and a 5.94 sec second round (15 yds). Total for the run at 9.67 sec is my second best time this year. Center Fire was not nearly as quick, but acceptable. I end the year on a happy note.
Now it is on to serious deer hunting. A bit of cross bow hunting in two days. Then Colorado for the rifle season. Back home for opening day of muzzle loader and the rut. After that we settle into the long rifle season. Surely I will get several deer this year. I am always hopeful.
Take care, good hunting and good shooting.
M.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Trap League shooting.
Hi,
Our weekly Trap League shoot was a nice one. Weather was perfect, mild and no wind. The deer were out in force feeding just out of shotgun range. Our trap shooting never bothers them. Several of us saw two nice bucks in the herd of about 15. If they know what's good for them they will stay within the gun club grounds.
My team did exceptionally well this week. We ended up in a tie for first place for the week. Unfortunately that means when we shoot next week we have to be at the 19 yard line instead of the 16 yard line! My husband and I plan on a practice shoot Monday to see how we do that far back. My scores were 21 and 21. Best for me ever. Maybe I am getting the hang of it.
Will be out deer hunting this afternoon. Wish me luck.
Take care, good hunting and good shooting.
M.
Our weekly Trap League shoot was a nice one. Weather was perfect, mild and no wind. The deer were out in force feeding just out of shotgun range. Our trap shooting never bothers them. Several of us saw two nice bucks in the herd of about 15. If they know what's good for them they will stay within the gun club grounds.
My team did exceptionally well this week. We ended up in a tie for first place for the week. Unfortunately that means when we shoot next week we have to be at the 19 yard line instead of the 16 yard line! My husband and I plan on a practice shoot Monday to see how we do that far back. My scores were 21 and 21. Best for me ever. Maybe I am getting the hang of it.
Will be out deer hunting this afternoon. Wish me luck.
Take care, good hunting and good shooting.
M.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Squirrel Hunting
Hi;
Yesterday I went squirrel for the morning. It was a nice day for it, in the low 60's and sunny. I did not get any but I have a story to tell.
When I first got into the woods and pick out a place to stand, I saw a partially bent over small tree limb just bobbing away. From the looks of it, I thought a squirrel had been sitting on the limb and I scarred it away. Figuring that was the case I decided to stay there and wait for the squirrel to reappear. The woods were quite for over 10 minutes. No squirrel chatter, no leaves rustling, just some birds singing. All of a sudden behind some low brush about 30 yards away I heard a big commotion. I thought at first maybe a deer was coming though, but no. All of a sudden on a bent over tree trunk (maybe 10 feet off the ground), a squirrel comes tearing up the tree trunk. When it got to the apex of the bend a hawk came swooping down trying to pick up the squirrel in it's talons. Fortunately for the squirrel, he jumped off the tree trunk just as the hawk was reaching out to grab him. The squirrel ran off to safety. The hawk was making a bee line towards me! With in 5 yards of me he turned slightly and flew away. Whew!
From that point on any squirrel in the area had fled. I heard all around me the barking squirrels. Time for me to move to a new area. I followed one of the barking squirrels and set out to hunt that one. To bad for me the squirrels I did find were all way up in the trees, hidden most of the time by the leaves. Oh well. maybe next time I get to go out the leaves will have turned and beginning to fall.
Take care, good hunting and good shooting.
M.
Yesterday I went squirrel for the morning. It was a nice day for it, in the low 60's and sunny. I did not get any but I have a story to tell.
When I first got into the woods and pick out a place to stand, I saw a partially bent over small tree limb just bobbing away. From the looks of it, I thought a squirrel had been sitting on the limb and I scarred it away. Figuring that was the case I decided to stay there and wait for the squirrel to reappear. The woods were quite for over 10 minutes. No squirrel chatter, no leaves rustling, just some birds singing. All of a sudden behind some low brush about 30 yards away I heard a big commotion. I thought at first maybe a deer was coming though, but no. All of a sudden on a bent over tree trunk (maybe 10 feet off the ground), a squirrel comes tearing up the tree trunk. When it got to the apex of the bend a hawk came swooping down trying to pick up the squirrel in it's talons. Fortunately for the squirrel, he jumped off the tree trunk just as the hawk was reaching out to grab him. The squirrel ran off to safety. The hawk was making a bee line towards me! With in 5 yards of me he turned slightly and flew away. Whew!
From that point on any squirrel in the area had fled. I heard all around me the barking squirrels. Time for me to move to a new area. I followed one of the barking squirrels and set out to hunt that one. To bad for me the squirrels I did find were all way up in the trees, hidden most of the time by the leaves. Oh well. maybe next time I get to go out the leaves will have turned and beginning to fall.
Take care, good hunting and good shooting.
M.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Trap League two weeks and deer hunting begins
Hi,
The Wednesday Night Trap League began two weeks ago. The first night the weather was beautiful, in the low 80's and a slight breeze. That did not help my first round though! My husband and I shot the day before to practice and I shot my average a 17 and 18. I was feeling pretty good.
We have a new person on our team this year. He is a skeet shooter. One of our friends suggested to J that he give it a try this year. Boy did that turn out to be good for us. He is a excellent trap shooter. In the past two weeks he has had rounds of 22, 23, 23 and 24. Keep up the good work.
I on the other hand had a dismal first round on the first week. A 14. I had one particularly bad set at the 4th station - only 1 bird hit. I was not going to let that faze me. Thank goodness my second round was one of my best, go figure. I shot a 20! That put me in a tie for high lady at 34. At this point I don't think that is saying much. My husband shot a 22 and 22. He was okay with that. Our team for the first week ended up in 6th place out of 12 teams. A bit better than last year.
In between the first and second week of trap, we went deer hunting. This year our September hunts will be with the pistols. I took my S&W 41, and my husband took his scoped S&W 44. The day was pretty hot and a bit humid, thankfully a small breeze came through from time to time. Before we settled down for the afternoon hunt, we set up a spot for my father-in-law to hunt the next time we go out. We located two spots that he could stand. We set up the camo blind in both locations to make sure it worked. Then we set out surveying ribbons at 40 yards. That is his limit with the shot gun and buck shot. He should be in good shape with this set up.
I got up in a tree stand, and ranged out to 50 yards. That set me up with several good lanes should the doe's come by. Unfortunately, I did not see one deer. My husband set up in a ground blind in the woods near a field. He had two doe's playing around but just out of range. They taunted him for over an hour. Finally one of the doe's started to head out to the field, bringing her within range of my husbands pistol. He took a shot at 45 yards and nailed the doe. It went straight down. Very nice not to have to trail the deer.
The next day we butchered the doe.
Week two of the trap league was better for me but worse for my husband. The weather was hot, around 93 degrees and humid. Maybe I just like shooting in the hot weather. I hope not because the temperatures are only going to go down from hear on out for this league. I shot a 17 and a 20. The other ladies must have had really ruff times shooting this week, because I ended up in the lead for top lady by 10 birds. Wow.
My husband however was not having a good evening. He shot a 18 and 19. Now he feels like he is out of the race for top men's score. I told him to just sit back, have fun at all the rest of the shoots, the pressure is off. Maybe he will actually shoot his best from now on. I'll let you know.
Our team jumped up a spot to number five. Wish us luck for the next round of trap. Also I need your good wishes that I see a doe next time out hunting.
Take care, good hunting and good shooting.
M.
The Wednesday Night Trap League began two weeks ago. The first night the weather was beautiful, in the low 80's and a slight breeze. That did not help my first round though! My husband and I shot the day before to practice and I shot my average a 17 and 18. I was feeling pretty good.
We have a new person on our team this year. He is a skeet shooter. One of our friends suggested to J that he give it a try this year. Boy did that turn out to be good for us. He is a excellent trap shooter. In the past two weeks he has had rounds of 22, 23, 23 and 24. Keep up the good work.
I on the other hand had a dismal first round on the first week. A 14. I had one particularly bad set at the 4th station - only 1 bird hit. I was not going to let that faze me. Thank goodness my second round was one of my best, go figure. I shot a 20! That put me in a tie for high lady at 34. At this point I don't think that is saying much. My husband shot a 22 and 22. He was okay with that. Our team for the first week ended up in 6th place out of 12 teams. A bit better than last year.
In between the first and second week of trap, we went deer hunting. This year our September hunts will be with the pistols. I took my S&W 41, and my husband took his scoped S&W 44. The day was pretty hot and a bit humid, thankfully a small breeze came through from time to time. Before we settled down for the afternoon hunt, we set up a spot for my father-in-law to hunt the next time we go out. We located two spots that he could stand. We set up the camo blind in both locations to make sure it worked. Then we set out surveying ribbons at 40 yards. That is his limit with the shot gun and buck shot. He should be in good shape with this set up.
I got up in a tree stand, and ranged out to 50 yards. That set me up with several good lanes should the doe's come by. Unfortunately, I did not see one deer. My husband set up in a ground blind in the woods near a field. He had two doe's playing around but just out of range. They taunted him for over an hour. Finally one of the doe's started to head out to the field, bringing her within range of my husbands pistol. He took a shot at 45 yards and nailed the doe. It went straight down. Very nice not to have to trail the deer.
The next day we butchered the doe.
Week two of the trap league was better for me but worse for my husband. The weather was hot, around 93 degrees and humid. Maybe I just like shooting in the hot weather. I hope not because the temperatures are only going to go down from hear on out for this league. I shot a 17 and a 20. The other ladies must have had really ruff times shooting this week, because I ended up in the lead for top lady by 10 birds. Wow.
My husband however was not having a good evening. He shot a 18 and 19. Now he feels like he is out of the race for top men's score. I told him to just sit back, have fun at all the rest of the shoots, the pressure is off. Maybe he will actually shoot his best from now on. I'll let you know.
Our team jumped up a spot to number five. Wish us luck for the next round of trap. Also I need your good wishes that I see a doe next time out hunting.
Take care, good hunting and good shooting.
M.
Monday, August 26, 2013
I'm ready for the Trap League and Deer Hunting
Hi,
My wrist has healed enough to shoot the shotgun. Yeah!! I went wobble Trap shooting a few days ago. Shot two rounds of 25 and my wrist is feeling good. My shoulder though is a bit sore : (
It was a long 4 weeks of recovery. I am now using the free weights of 5 lbs and 8 lbs to strengthen my wrist. I am so glad it was my left wrist. I am right handed. Whew!
Next week is the beginning of an 8 week trap league at our club. I am going to practice on Friday to make sure I am ready for the season. I'll keep you up to date on my progress, and hopefully another win as top lady.
I also began practicing with the cross bow for the deer season which starts in September.
My plan right now for the doe only month of September is to first take the 41 special handgun out deer hunting. Then if I take a doe I will switch over to the crossbow and see what happens. The month of October is bow season only. During October I can take a buck or doe. That will be a nice challenge.
The USO sponsored a Wounded Warriors trap and skeet shoot at my gun club. Benelli and ATK provided guns and ammo. My club provided volunteers to help the participants with scoring and instruction. I had a really good time with the groups of Army, Air Force, Marines and their family members that came to the event and shot at my station. I think there were at least 80 participants that Saturday. It was a wonderful day and everyone had fun.
Wish me luck with both the Trap League and the Deer Season. Thanks!
Take care, good hunting and good shooting.
M.
My wrist has healed enough to shoot the shotgun. Yeah!! I went wobble Trap shooting a few days ago. Shot two rounds of 25 and my wrist is feeling good. My shoulder though is a bit sore : (
It was a long 4 weeks of recovery. I am now using the free weights of 5 lbs and 8 lbs to strengthen my wrist. I am so glad it was my left wrist. I am right handed. Whew!
Next week is the beginning of an 8 week trap league at our club. I am going to practice on Friday to make sure I am ready for the season. I'll keep you up to date on my progress, and hopefully another win as top lady.
I also began practicing with the cross bow for the deer season which starts in September.
My plan right now for the doe only month of September is to first take the 41 special handgun out deer hunting. Then if I take a doe I will switch over to the crossbow and see what happens. The month of October is bow season only. During October I can take a buck or doe. That will be a nice challenge.
The USO sponsored a Wounded Warriors trap and skeet shoot at my gun club. Benelli and ATK provided guns and ammo. My club provided volunteers to help the participants with scoring and instruction. I had a really good time with the groups of Army, Air Force, Marines and their family members that came to the event and shot at my station. I think there were at least 80 participants that Saturday. It was a wonderful day and everyone had fun.
Wish me luck with both the Trap League and the Deer Season. Thanks!
Take care, good hunting and good shooting.
M.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Ruff week with a badly sprained wrist!
Hi,
Last Monday I took a tumble off my bicycle and sprained my left wrist really bad. I'm right handed so I've been able to function pretty well. Man oh man is it a pain, both physically and figuratively!! By Thursday the swelling had gone down enough to where I could see my knuckles when I made an attempt at a fist. Yesterday, Tuesday, I did not use the wrist brace, and suffered this morning because of it. Woke up to pain and swelling. So, back on icing the wrist and wearing the brace afterwards. That helped. Oh so glad I did not break a bone.
It has effected my shooting. Think about it. When shooting a pistol with both hands, the recoil would bend my left wrist exactly where it was sprained. Not a good thing. Then with a rifle, holding the forearm with my left hand to balance the rifle. I cannot do that yet. Maybe in a week or two. Today I did shoot a .22 pistol one handed. That is it for now. I sure hope to be back in shape for the next bowling pin shoot in about two weeks. I may be doing some fancy one handed .22 auto shooting if nothing else.
I'll keep you posted.
Take care, good shooting and good hunting.
M
Last Monday I took a tumble off my bicycle and sprained my left wrist really bad. I'm right handed so I've been able to function pretty well. Man oh man is it a pain, both physically and figuratively!! By Thursday the swelling had gone down enough to where I could see my knuckles when I made an attempt at a fist. Yesterday, Tuesday, I did not use the wrist brace, and suffered this morning because of it. Woke up to pain and swelling. So, back on icing the wrist and wearing the brace afterwards. That helped. Oh so glad I did not break a bone.
It has effected my shooting. Think about it. When shooting a pistol with both hands, the recoil would bend my left wrist exactly where it was sprained. Not a good thing. Then with a rifle, holding the forearm with my left hand to balance the rifle. I cannot do that yet. Maybe in a week or two. Today I did shoot a .22 pistol one handed. That is it for now. I sure hope to be back in shape for the next bowling pin shoot in about two weeks. I may be doing some fancy one handed .22 auto shooting if nothing else.
I'll keep you posted.
Take care, good shooting and good hunting.
M
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