Fantasy Fun

This is why I shouldn't have a long weekend, see what my mind does?

I should go hunt, but Mrs. Sigboy is working and my freezer is full. Anybody want Venison steaks?


I was sent this one today, I dont know where it came from. But I did laugh at the irony in it.

My Texas Mule Deer

This is Carl.

Stories about this trip will be forthcoming, right after he is safely in the freezer, not to mention the rest of the story on the whitetail that I found the weekend before.
I also would like to apologize for the crappy pictures, it was a little hectic that day and I didn't get any good ones.

It All Makes Sense Now.

Via Tam, and from West of the West (whom I have never heard of and am now considering changing that), we have a flow chart that helps you choose your religion, strangely enough, it seems to work. As usual, it all seems to come down to bacon.

National Ammo Day

Thursday was National Ammo Day. After much chagrin, I decided to participate. I really didn't need much so I decided to keep it conservative.

I wonder what I'm going to do to keep me out of trouble at home?

California Places Increased Burden on SubjectsCitizens

I have just heard that on November first, California increases it's income tax with holding by 10%. The LA Times reports. Please note that this is not a tax increase, just a forced loan to the state. And it is only a 10% increase on the taxable amount. So roughly the same amount as your cable bill. John Marshall said that "The power to tax is the power to destroy." Many people are already plagued by wage cuts and other employer cut backs that put more burden onto the employees. The state of California has decided that they will not roll back all the expensive programs that they have enacted over the years. They will take more money from the people to cover their shortfall. 1.7 BILLION dollars in an interest free loan strong armed from already strapped California citizens. "The power to tax is the power to destroy." How many will be destroyed so that California can maintain their socialist policies?

Isn't it ironic, don't you think?

I Should Have Hit Her, Part 2

As many of you know, I wiped out my elbow almost two months ago. Last Friday I took the ACE bandage off and have been functioning almost normally. It had been fairly unnerving there for a while, the swelling would go down, and than come back. I was starting to get worried, I cut out all but the minimum physical activity. I surely did not want to have to have surgery. I was speaking to a Doctor friend of mine and he asked me a few questions about my healing process. I told him how it was progressing and here is his exact quote: "You went off your meds didn't you?" Now anybody that knows me very well knows that I have an aversion to drugs. Not just the illegal stuff, that's another long drawn out story. I don't go running for the Tylenol when I have a headache, I don't go diving for the Motrin when my back hurts, frankly, I would rather suffer through the pain and allow my body to heal itself. I told Doctor friend that he was right, I wasn't on anything. He proceeds to lecture me how the body wasn't going to get rid of that swelling without drugs. Being a Doctor, he tells me 800mg Motrin, 3 times a day and I would be better in two weeks.

So I'm mostly better now and I decide that I need to start being active again. A few days ago I stretched and did about an hour of calisthenics, not bad, started loosening up. Last night I picked up some free weights. Wow, I knew that I was loosing muscle mass off my arms, after all I wasn't using them, but I am definitely weak. So looks like I am back on a workout routine and going to drop all that weight that these sedentary months have put on me. Maybe I can get motivated and drop that extra ten as well.......


And next time, I`m just gonna hit her.

Preperation Pays Profusely

Without further ado, I would like to introduce Harvey the Heavy Deer.

Early Saturday morning I had seen two does hastily leaving the meadow and heading up into the canyon. Naturally, I wasn't in the proper position to get a shot off. I had seen plenty of sign down in the meadow coming off of the river. I just didn't know what time of day the deer were moving. I decided to work my way around to the other side of the little plateau that I was sitting on and too watch the trail that the does had followed. My hunch paid off as I saw sunlight glinting off of antler as a medium sized ten point trotted down the same trail that the does had been on.

My heart fluttered as I made the decision to take the shot, the distance appeared to be about 300 yards. I set my binoculars aside and picked up my rifle, smartly cambering a round as I shouldered the rifle. I smoothly tracked him through the scope, waiting for him to pause. Fate would not have it so I decided to intervene and let out a small, "Bleet". He stopped, ans of course my shot was obstructed by a large Mesquite tree. Time was measured in heart beats as I waited for him to step out from behind the tree. One step, and than two and he was clear. I settled the cross hairs and squeezed the trigger. I recovered from the recoil in time to see him collapse in the grass.

I thanked the Great Spirit for blessing my hunt, and thanked this beautiful creature for providing nourishment to my family and I. But now the real work begins.

1 1/2 miles from the deer to the truck. Through the thickest, nastiest brush you have ever seen, not to mention the river crossing. The emotional satisfaction of having to earn your deer thru physical and mental exertion makes the memories sweeter and more fulfilling.

Deer Season Prep, Part 4

Mental Preparation

By the time you read this, I should be deep in a canyon, surrounded by red rocks and mesquite trees. The mental preparation for this trip began long ago. What would I need to pack? What rifle would I use? Where would I go? These are all very important. Most importantly is the mindset that will get us to our final goal. The taking of a life, any life, is almost religious in nature. It is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. This magnificent animal will provide sustenance to my family throughout the year, and it's sacrifice will not be forgotten. Heavenly Father placed beasts upon this Earth to serve man, that does not give man the right to abuse these resources. It is my responsibility as a sportsman to insure that I make a clean kill, to insure that nothing is wasted, and to manage what I take wisely, so that others may follow in my path.

It is not about the kill, that is secondary and anti-climactic. The endorphins that are released into the body when you have made the decision to take an animal are powerful and difficult too control. It is man at his basic form, a hunter, some call it a relic of our distant past. A cruder form of society that has no place today. I challenge them with this, think of your last steak, did that cow suffer more or less than my deer? I already know the answer. Do you? Forgive my wild tangent, back on topic, endorphins. The taking of an animal makes you a predator, very close to the top of the food chain. It puts meat into your hands, protein that will give you life and make you stronger. The deepest part of your subconscious realizes this and dumps chemicals into your body to prepare you for the fight. Senses are heightened, respiration and heart rate go up. Muscles tense as your visual acuity goes up. You become attuned to the slightest sound, the rustle of leaves in the breeze seems louder than before. These are all great for fighting, but we are not fighting, we have to pull a trigger on a rifle.

These things are things that must be overcome to make a clean shot. Your body must be able to relax and focus on the fundamentals of shooting. I have found that mental exercises long before we reach this point allow me to keep my body under control. Almost as if you were mediating, imagine yourself shooting at animals in the field, under many different conditions, in many types of terrain. This allows your mind to follow thru all the steps without the distraction of an adrenaline dump. Every hunter, whether he admits it or not, has seen his cross hairs wildly moving as he tries too settle down and make the shot. Mentally preparing to take the shot ahead of time will make this easier, and allow you to put more meat on the table. To me there is little more satisfying than preparing and serving a meal that I have harvested myself.

Deer Season Prep, Part 3

Gear Prep:
This is the part that most people focus on. You can spend alot of time and effort in the off season trying to find the perfect gear. The simple answer is that just like any shooting sport, find what works for you and stick with it.





Most importantly, your gear has to be tested before the season, and it has to be inspected before use.
If you reload your own ammo, remember to be diligent, you are responsible for making sure you get a 'bang' instead of a 'click'.


I will do a more in depth gear post when I get back, now it's bedtime, and I have an early appointment with the great outdoors.

Pithy Observation

Am I the only person that notices the trend among cop TV shows? The one that has a heroine law enforcement officer, decent clothes, hair, make up, and a $10 nylon holster?

Maybe the recession has hit Hollywood as well.....

Deer Season Prep, Part 2

Physical preparation, probably the part that never truly ends, but sometimes you have to make sure your body can handle the strain you are going to impose upon it. If you aren't used to climbing mountains, go climb some. If it has been a while since you humped a pack, throw it on and do a few miles.




Last weekend I decided to do a few miles with a loaded pack on. I didn't max the weight out, I started with about 35 pounds. After two miles I was in good shape, a little soreness in my calves but no worse for wear. It had been a few years since I put a full pack on, luckily my body remembers what it feels like and was able to adjust quickly. I have walked several times this week and have been gradually adding weight. I should be good to go for next weekend. Remember preparation and training are the keys to success, whether it be hunting or any other endeavour.

Perishable Skills

I have a confession to make. I cannot recall the last time I dry fired. It has been months since I shot a pistol match. It has been weeks since I pulled a trigger. I am getting rusty, I can blame most of this on my elbow injury (next time I'm not dodging), but it's a lie. I can blame it on Mrs. Sigboy's work schedule, but she feels that should her job holds a higher priority than my shooting.

Either way I need to rectify this problem. So my plan is simple, just like keeping the mind and body sharp, I need to do something everyday. Nothing carried away, things like dry firing, drawing, firing positions. Something every day. Just like working out, even though most days it is just stretching and some push-ups.

So what do you think? Any ideas to improve this and make it more successful?

White Collar Sumdood

Special thanks to AD and Lawdog for showing me what this truly was.

My thought was that I had left him in my past. I had seen hide nor hair of him since I left California all those years ago. I had laughed at all my buddies that caught the occasional glimpse of Sumdood. I was not worried, he was no threat to me.

I am comfortable in my position at Large Corporate Energy Company, awesome benefits, good retirement plan, great hours, decent pay. I had climbed a few rungs up the ladder, what more could I want?

I volunteered myself to travel to Dallas and act as a representative for Large Corporate Energy Company and purchase a piece of equipment that another department needed. Not a big deal by any means, I had authority to spend about 35k, and I intended too perform diligently and enamour myself with this deal. A few trips back and forth to Dallas and the deal was finalized. I had performed well, and secured an excellent deal for Large Corporate Energy Company. A few days went by and the equipment was set to be delivered. Suddenly my company cell rang, "Large Corporate Energy Company, this is Sigboy"

"Sigboy, this is Salesman Sumdood." My thoughts ran rampant, it couldn't be. I hadn't seen him in years. "I was able get another discount on that equipment. Since the wire transfer is already done I will just write a check for $500. Who do I make it out too?"

"Make it out to Large Corporate Energy Company, I will take care of it from there." No big deal, what was Sumdood playing at?

"Are you sure, I can make it out to Sigboy if that would be easier."

"Nah, make it out to Large Corporate Energy Company." It all made sense now, Sumdood was trying to pay me off, after the deal was done. Sneaky little bastard, that Sumdood is getting smarter.

Let this be a lesson to all of you that Sumdood can be anywhere. Keep your eyes peeled, and your mind sharp.