|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 10, 2022 9:58:53 GMT -5
Hard to believe we're only about 2 weeks till season opens!! I hope to get to my camp for at least a long weekend to take my ole smokepole for a walk plus if bad upstate weather may check Mom's woodland out as I have a leftover Buck Tag & a WMU 5B license. Sorta funny...when I left my Sullivan County Camp just a week ago thought that may be it for season.....but after being home for a week ready to return!! It's that darn Camp Kinda Thing!!  Anyone else thinking of smokin in upcoming Late Season?? |
|
|
|
Post by davet on Dec 10, 2022 16:25:34 GMT -5
It's gonna depend upon the weather. If we get snow I'll go out. I love to hunt in the snow with smoke poles!!
|
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on Dec 10, 2022 17:10:08 GMT -5
My second favorite season after archery. I will be out there every chance I get!
|
|
|
|
Post by davet on Dec 10, 2022 17:47:01 GMT -5
I was at my hunting spot this am actually looking for coyotes. I also set a few traps....but that was a real "job" as the ground is a former coal strip mine and as rocky as you can get!!
I wanted to set 4, but 2 was enough to zap my energy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 11, 2022 7:07:50 GMT -5
I plan to get to the range a few times in next 2 weeks for what I call a lil "confidence building" sessions!! Seems the off season smoking time of mine is too busy to do a lot of shooting as im fishing, crabbing, afternoon naps, grandkid stuff etc.....NOT complaining! Main thing I always tell myself is keep the sight on the target until I see the bullet hit!! That solves most issues outside of being sure I'm getting positive ignition more times than not!! |
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on Dec 11, 2022 8:34:35 GMT -5
Not sure what to expect with flintlock this year. After stomping around the woods during archery and deer season, it seems doe numbers are down in my areas for some reason. Quite a few decent bucks made it through rifle and there are a good supply of young bucks ready to fill the ranks. Doe numbers seem to be weak.
|
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 11, 2022 16:25:32 GMT -5
Today..... least here in Youk County would be one of the horrible "pasty pan" days if flintlock season were in. Give me cold/dry!!
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Dec 11, 2022 21:00:29 GMT -5
I've lived for the late season ever since the first one in the late seventies. With that said, I don't get around in the woods like I used to and have had to change my hunting tactics. Taking a walk with my muzzleloader in the snow and cold is still one of the most looked after times of the year. I hope that the day I can't do that is long in coming.
|
|
|
|
Post by moosemike on Dec 12, 2022 6:23:06 GMT -5
I just got a crossbow for Christmas from my wife. Now I have to decide between that or my flinter for late season
|
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 12, 2022 7:12:47 GMT -5
I just got a crossbow for Christmas from my wife. Now I have to decide between that or my flinter for late season I would say carry whichever you're most proficient with with also considering type area you're hunting(thick cover, open etc). I bought a crossbow when Full Inclusion passed but never hunted with it & only shoot target in back yard. "On a target" I'm pretty good out to 50 yards. For me it's no decision...I'll carry my flintlock. I have a 54 Cal PA Mountain Rifle built by Brad Emig with a 1-56 twist tapered flared Colerain barrel where I'm comfortable out to 100 yards. My longest kill had been around 80 yards but out to 100 yards if I miss...it's not the gun's fault based on its range performance. With a stout 54 cal load has plenty of energy to quickly bring down a deer within that range. |
|
|
|
Post by moosemike on Dec 12, 2022 7:47:05 GMT -5
Well I'm deadly with a flintlock if I have a rest. Offhand I flinch. I don't flinch with an Xbow
|
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 12, 2022 7:53:51 GMT -5
I never used shooting sticks before my PA Elk hunt 2 year ago. My guide strongly suggested. I'll tell ya....they make an unbelievable difference. They are now with me whenever carrying my gun. Easy to carry & very compact with telescoping/trigger lock feature on the Primos models. I have both the Mono model very compact for in blind & Tri model for outside. Lotta guys also like for crossbow.
|
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on Dec 12, 2022 7:59:30 GMT -5
I always carry shooting sticks with me if flintlock hunting.
|
|
|
|
Post by davet on Dec 12, 2022 8:39:03 GMT -5
I have a Primos ....umm...well it's in 3 sections. Earlier this year I had to fix the lower part so it would collapse. Found out Primos uses an aluminum piece run through a steel bushing. Well...as we all know with two dissimilar metals, gauling (gaulding?) will (and did) occur. After two days of soaking in oil, and the subsequent beating to death with a ball-peen, the aluminum "piece" came out. Primos used an aluminum piece to save....what?....mebby $0.02 per shooting stick in cost? Stick works fine now.....but I'd not recommend a Primos. Oh....shooting sticks do work well....but sometimes you don't have the time to set them up properly. Practice, practice, practice offhand until it's as natural as drinking a glass of water. And since we are on the subject of what kind of firearm...(were we on that subject?)  Here's my .54 cal Leman style build. I've got an incredible amount of time in this "first-build" (like 300 hours). I used a TOTW parts. The stock was a "pre-carve" and not a "pre-inlet". Essentially, you take half the wood off the piece you buy and each section of the build is...in and of itself.... a requirement of focus until you get it right. I made several mistakes, and fixed those mistakes. In the end my rifle is one that I truly enjoy. I'd never win any "replica contest"....but that doesn't matter.  |
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 12, 2022 9:01:42 GMT -5
Sure Dave...post-up anything you want!! Sure beats reading Holiday Inn Express visit reports!! lol
Your build project gun looks great!! Gonna shoot those 435 Grain mini's for deer if you carry it this season??
On the Primos...not sure what model you got but I've used my Primos Mono as a "walking stick" and it's holding up well even with abuse. BTW...Primos says NOT to use as a "walking stick" so of course I had to try it!! lol
|
|
|
|
Post by dougl on Dec 12, 2022 11:18:07 GMT -5
I'll go out if someone asks me to shoot one for them but I have no room and little ambition to deal with any dead critter bigger than a pheasant.
|
|
|
|
Post by davet on Dec 12, 2022 12:19:35 GMT -5
Sure Dave...post-up anything you want!! Sure beats reading Holiday Inn Express visit reports!! lol Your build project gun looks great!! Gonna shoot those 435 Grain mini's for deer if you carry it this season?? On the Primos...not sure what model you got but I've used my Primos Mono as a "walking stick" and it's holding up well even with abuse. BTW...Primos says NOT to use as a "walking stick" so of course I had to try it!! lol I have the Primos Monopod Gen 2. There are videos on-line that will explain how to take these units apart. I would suggest anyone who owns one of these to pull the bottom two pieces of the stick apart (find video on line) and apply either oil, or better an anti-seize lube to this aluminum nut. I think when a little moisture gets in between the aluminum machined piece, and the steel sleeve....the seize will occur and you will not be able to move the lower part of the stick. And as for the 435gr Conicals......behind 100gr FF that rifle kicks like a modern 30-30.....and I'm pretty sure that chunk of lead can punch through a set of whitetail lungs with little effort!! |
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 12, 2022 14:36:36 GMT -5
Just checked & I have the Primos Gen 3 shooting sticks. Not sure if they're any bettter than the Gen 2 but "knock on wood" still functioning fine.
Thanks for pointer....gonna give them a shot of RemOil or other penetrating lube on all connecting parts. Primo just suggests keeping clean but in the real world thats almost impossible.
|
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 13, 2022 6:27:34 GMT -5
I've lived for the late season ever since the first one in the late seventies. With that said, I don't get around in the woods like I used to and have had to change my hunting tactics. Taking a walk with my muzzleloader in the snow and cold is still one of the most looked after times of the year. I hope that the day I can't do that is long in coming. Dan......just reduce distance of walk & depth of snow tolerated and you'll be good for many, many years to come!! |
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on Dec 19, 2022 8:09:45 GMT -5
Stellar weather for the opener it looks like for a lot of the state. Here, our dusting of snow is almost gone. We may get some Friday and if so, it should stick around for the opener.
|
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 19, 2022 8:28:15 GMT -5
Hope the forecast holds Ridge! Cold is good & better yet if dry!!
I know couple days ago didn't look too promising.
|
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on Dec 19, 2022 8:52:19 GMT -5
Not sure yet where I will headed come Monday. I feel like looking over some new ground so may head to a farm I have not hunted in a few years. It gets hit hard in rifle and archery but clears out good for the late season and there are usually a lot of deer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 19, 2022 9:17:25 GMT -5
I doubt if I'll get to Sullivan County early in season but plan some time out in Mom's woodland. Have a 5B plus buck tag so well covered. With Flintlock Season spanning 19 days bound to get some favorable weather!! Neat they tacked on Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday(Monday) at the end.
|
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 21, 2022 6:20:54 GMT -5
Opening day Monday morning temp in Sullivan 4 degrees,,,,,,break out the wool!! |
|
|
|
Post by moosemike on Dec 21, 2022 6:39:32 GMT -5
Yeah I think I'll go to Schuylkill Monday but I might do Sullivan instead. I won't open up the Camp though
|
|
Here's my .54 cal Leman style build. I've got an incredible amount of time in this "first-build" (like 300 hours). I used a TOTW parts. The stock was a "pre-carve" and not a "pre-inlet". Essentially, you take half the wood off the piece you buy and each section of the build is...in and of itself.... a requirement of focus until you get it right. I made several mistakes, and fixed those mistakes. In the end my rifle is one that I truly enjoy. I'd never win any "replica contest"....but that doesn't matter.