Buck Creek Bash - Paddle and Portage

Making a note to participate in the Buck Creek Bash. It looks like a blast. Flat paddle across CJ Brown from a beach launch. Portage to Buck Creek and through Springfield, Ohio to the Art Museum. Have a beer. Sounds like a great day.

Ohio Trout Stockings 2012

Every year the Ohio DNR stocks many lakes and ponds around Ohio with catch-able size trout. Most of these waters can't support the trout through the entire year. The water is simply too warm. I won't get into my opinions on conservation, dollars spent, etc. regarding this government handout. I understand it's too provide opportunity in areas where it might not exist otherwise...

So get out there and take advantage of this opportunity with the wiggle fish before they succumb to the heat or somebody else catches them. According to the Buckeye Sportsmen Podcast, Dan Armitage says don't over think it. A crappie minnow a foot below a bobber is all you need.

Check out the Ohio spring planned stockings here.

Photo from the Ohio DNR Website.

Coonhound Stacking

 I don't know if this coonhound thinks it's a bird dog, but it sure seems to be steady and have the "whoa" thing down pat. Anywhere. Fun shots.

Too Many Deer - at Least One Too Many

When the final numbers came in for the Ohio 2011/12 deer season down about 20,000 in total, I didn't think much of it. After all, the weather was awful the first couple of days of deer gun season. No matter what the weather, you know some people would be out, enough to certainly move the deer around some. There's no mulligans for opening day. There's just one. After that the deer know what's up and everything changes. But then a deer ran in front of my daughter in my car and I wish there's been at least one more deer taken. And of course as my daughter (who was fine) exclaimed "and it ran off so we don't event get to keep it."

New Bird Species Found ... In a Drawer

Just when I thought I was bad at filing and keeping track of projects, this Field and Stream blog post made me feel slightly better. At the same time I feel bad for the scientist involved. Worse for the Bryan’s Shearwater that might not be any more.

Ohio Sportsman Survey - Ohio Deer Rifle

What's the difference between .44 magnum revolver and .44 lever-action rifle? One is a legal weapon for hunting deer in Ohio during the firearms season and the rifle isn't. The Buckeye Firearms Association has set out to change this. However you feel about it, go take the survey now.
I'm personally for it. As a kid I often wondered about slipping a .41 magnum cartridge into my .410. Of course I never did, but there was little doubt in my mind that the straight-walled .41 magnum would be a more effective load than a .410 slug. And the thought of carrying a snappy lever-action rifle to a deer stand seems much more like the traditional deer hunting that the rest of the country knows rather than lugging the 870. Even if it's not a 30/30.
From a safety standpoint it doesn't seem as though these cartridges pose a dramatic increase in range, which was the reason for the original shotgun and muzzleloader restriction. Indiana has already made the change, the only state bordering Ohio that had a rifle ban. As long as the ODNR can keep up with and enforce, I am for it.
Photo from www.gunblast.com

Feels Right - Franchi

The only Franchi I've ever held is the AL-48. But I love this commercial. It stops me every time. It captures a lot of favorite moments for me. If (when) I'm in the market for a double they will sure get a look.