doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com OT (maybe) The skills-Where did they go?

I've a friend in Lincoln, NE, who is a great shooter. He uses fixed chokes. He tells of a hilarious sporting clays shoot where he was the first shooter: He stepped up and shot all ten, and as he was walking off the station; someone asked "What chokes did you use?" He said "skeet & skeet." He said the portable power screwdrivers went berserk changing chokes. On the next station, he ran 'em all; and the question came again....so he said "full and full." He said you could hear the buzz buzz of the portable choke changers running behind him.
It's a great, funny story.
Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE

Amen, Last Dollar...Amen

If he had said "cylinder bored" would the hacksaws have come out?? great story!
Jim

Yes things have changed a bit over the years and most of the reason can be found in the adage "follow the money". Today I read an article about a couple of guys who wrote a book on grouse hunting and would like to start a tv show on upland hunting. It made mention that here in PA the number of grouse hunters has been cut in half in the last ten years. Talks about GPSs and maps and all the good stuff you can buy(didn't actually say buy) that a grouse hunter needs. You know the kind of stuff a mentor (dad) use to show a son or daughter except with a compass and map. I'm sure the guys are doing grouse hunting cause all the walks for cures are shutting down for the winter.
Also an article on how there's and organization that wants to unite the consevationist hikers, bikers, and rock climbers with the hunters and fishers. Thinks they all may agree on a increase in the hunting license fees? I'm certain the hikers, bikers and rock climber are solid on that one. Can't wait to see how the lead shot issue brings everyone together!
Lastly I remember an article about a women nonhunter who had an elk hunt booked for her, by the magazine, so she could see for herself what real hunting was all about. She and her guide chased around through the Wyoming elk country and finally found a good bull about 400 yards out. The women dropped down on the ground oragnized herself to a steady hold with her rifle then pronounced the hunt a success without taking the shot. Implications that it wasn't needed. I remember thinking that if she was going to do that why not try to get 200 yards closer- at least?
Awh sorry. One more. Letter to Field And Stream. Guy says if you aren't going to wait for trophy antlers on a whitetail you shouldn't be in the woods cause its important for healthy deer management. Well best I can make out a young buck with fork horns has the same genes it will have when it gets a "trophy" rack and those game managers keep selln those doe tags so as the kids say or once did: "was up wit dat"? I don't think meat hunting sells as much stuff though? Come to think of it grouse don't have big antlers either?

Our entire economy is based on convincing people to buy junk they don't need. Shooting the TV is an effective cure.

Case in point:
I looked at a Perazzi Sporting clays gun several weeks ago that had 21 choke tubes with it.........WTH????

On the Antelope trip mentioned, I was sharing my truck with a woman, who despite all of the gimcracks had missed SIX antelope. On the 7th, I said, "leave all that crap in the truck, get out, rest on the bed and shoot. If you havnt shot by the time I count three, I'm gonna kick you right square in the ass". She shot at the two count, 207 yard kill....I wonder if she learned anything...

Friends:
Not much I can improve on with these comments. Just that i never even look at the choke of a gun I pull out for a round of clays, and seem to do a passing job with all... including cylinder.

The last elk I shot was stone dead from a .30/06 at about 250 yards. Used a fixed 4X scope for decades and never wanted more.

Gimmicks keep the manufacturers going. The good shot learns by shooting within his limits. And is always careful to respect the game at any range. The rest is just commerce.

Best, Kensal

If it gets peopel into hunting, great.
but most of it is not needed.
remember, wayback, they call scopes new fangled. and bolt action rifles, and pump shotguns, and ..............
technology is the current rage. it keeps progressing (??) But in the end, its trigger control, breathing and sight picture.

As part of my Hunter Education classes I teach compass, map and GPS (really just an introduction to these subjects as I am time limited.) Of the approximate 500 students I see each year, about half are adults. Only one in 50 knows how to make even the most basic use of a compass. Map reading of topo map is even worse. About half of the adults have GPS - but I haven't found one yet that really knew what the combination of all three could do for them. Most didn't even know how to properly setup the GPS. It is truly pathetic how little outdoorsmanship remains.