Just a man and his new muzzle loader

My wife and kids got me everything to go in-line muzzle loader hunting for my birthday, I have been talking about getting one for some time now. I went up to the club and tried 2 different bullets and had the rifle sighted in for 100 yards and was ready for the first day of the season. What I wasn't ready for, was the "first day of muzzle loader season"!

We woke up, at camp on Saturday morning to find there were hurricane force winds and almost enough rain to float and ark, yet we still went out. We saw several deer during the day.   Unfortunately they were either a half-mile away or traveling at mach 1 as they went by us. You would think that after having to go back to camp and dry off three times during the day, we would have enough sense to stay in.   We didn't.

I got back in my stand at 5 o'clock and settled in for the rest of the day. At 5:15 I saw a doe at 125 yards, standing broadside. I put the crosshairs on the deer and pulled the trigger, my rifle went "pffft". I fumbled around and got another primer in, the deer was still standing broadside, and I pulled the trigger again.  This time it went "pffft - wosh - bloop", and I watched the bullet fall out of the end of the barrel.   The deer was still broadside.

I took out the breech plug and looked down the barrel to make sure there was nothing in it. What I saw was the deer standing broadside. Now I am in full panic mode! I reloaded the gun, put in a primer, put the cross hairs on a still-standing broadside deer and pulled the trigger. The rifle worked flawlessly, and after the smoke cleared I got to see the tail of the deer waving goodbye as it ran into the woods.

You would think I should have been able to stay calm after all that happened, I wasn 't!  My son explained to me, as he was laughing, that black powder does not like wet weather. I know this now.  But I reminded myself that, "A bad day of huntin' is still better than a good day of workin'!"

Good luck to all you hunters.

- Tom Hamilton

Steve Strouse, Linda Solida (twice) and Tom Hamilton win top honors in Oct. 9 400-yard deer rifle match

Member Steve Strouse on a hot streak!

After winning the 200-yard Benchrest match, on Sept. 17, Steve fired a perfect 25 score on Oct. 9 in the 400-yard deer rifle Unlimited class to take top honors two matches in a row. The day was as perfect as you could get, with no wind and great temperatures. We shot 31 targets.

Linda Solida continued her own hot streak  by shooting two winning scores in the Factory Heavy Barrel class, tying Tom Hamilton for the top spot in that category.  Linda's husband, Mike Solida, shot two runner-up scores in the Unlimited class.

Unlimited:
1. Steve Strouse from Boonesboro (Perfect 25 Score)
2. & 3.   Mike Solida from Dubois (23 out of 25)

Factory Heavy Barrel:
1. 3 way tie:
Linda Solida (X2) from DuBois
Tom Hamilton from Curwensville

We have one more 400 -yard match, on round targets, on Nov. 13.   The three  classes are 30 caliber, 22 caliber and everything else.

This match has unlimited sighters.  We encourage all members to come out, fine-tune your rifle for deer season, eat good food (venison chili and corn bread muffins) and have a great time.

- Match results reported by Tom Hamilton

Steve Strouse and Bob Houson win 200-yard IBS matches

Steve Strouse and Bob Houson won top honors in the 200-yard IBS benchrest rifle matches held September 17 at Anderson Creek Sportrsmen's Club.  Strouse also took third place in the factory class.

Varmit for Score:
First place  - Steve Strouse - 248-5x
Second place - Art Whitaker - 245 3x
Third place -  Larry Seger -242-2x

Factory
First place -  Bob Huston - 240 1x
Second place - Jim Chesley - 237-3x
Third place - Steve Strouse - 235-3x.

- Reported by Brian Allen

Youth pheasant hunt scheduled Saturday, Oct. 8

Marty Hin reports that there will be a Youth Pheasant hunt on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Volunteers are needed as mentors or to supply dogs for the hunt.

Anybody who knows of any kids who are interested in participating should contact Marty for more information. The hunt is open to youth between the age of 12 and 16.  Those who wish to participate must have completed the hunter safety training education.

For more information or to volunteer, please call Marty at 814-583-5979.