Gearing up; whats new this fall.

     The grouse season is just around the corner. I haven't checked, but early goose season is probably already open. I don't feel like it's the advent, nor do I feel ready. Sure, I'm constantly train with Ginger, and shooting skeet, but gone are the days of making all kinds of lengthy plans, and mapping out destinations. Now when the season opens its just, off I go. It's nice to know your coverts intimately, but the thrill of heading into the unknown, that feeling of excitement and expectation doesn't attach. Still, I wouldn't miss it for the world.

     While the grouse season up north opens October 1st I generally don't start seriously hunting until around the 15th of October. Generally it's still quite warm before then, and unless there has been a heavy rain there can be a lot of leaves still up on the trees. That said, It's been quite some time, perhaps 10 years or more since I've made an early season, opening day dash to Maine. In the past I'd spent a few early days in the Down East region, and often shot an opening day grouse there. I love the state of Maine, and am considering making a quick, budget trip up there.

     As the weather is still quite warm during the earlier part of the season I thought it would be a good idea to get a shirt more suited to the weather. Hunting clothing are usually quite warm. I decided to go the athletic route.

What do you think?

     And now a quick word about Under Armour. There has been a lot of people going on about Under Armour being anti-hunting. This is not true. Yes, UA did fire one of their Prostaffers. Yes, the firing might have been contivertial, or unjust. But UA has not stopped supporting the field sports and hunting. UA still has hunting pro staffers. Still makes hunting apparel. Still produces the Ridge Reaper TV show. UA still supports hunting. They just fired one individual. If they'd have fired one of golf or tennis pros, would they then be anti- golf, or anti-tennis? Lay off the hype.

     I've picked up some new kit for the upcoming season. As I've stated before, my primary hunting boots are Wellies, but  I'd been contemplating giving lace-ups a try. I took the plunge, and bought a pair of Cabelas by Meindle. I'd been looking at Meindle boots, and hearing good things about them. After hearing a serious grouse fool, cover dog fool, hunting guide friend rave about them, I knew they had to be good. As fate would have it, they were not only on sale, but the young man working the register at Cabelas gave me the military discount in lieu of a public safety/first responder discount, which cabbalas doesn't offer (yet Bass Pro does).

     I also found a great deal, online, of a light weight, packable, breathable, water proof shooting coat. So I now own another article of Musto clothing. Truthfully, one can't go wrong with Musto. This coat, as well as the new boots, will be making the trip to England with me this year. 

     I also decided it was time for a new upland hunting vest. I like a strap vest, but I carry quite a bit of stuff with me, so I need storage space.  Because I often walk/hike a long way into the woods on my outings I also wanted something that has a lumbar belt to carry the weight on my hips. I looked at quite a few. Some were nice, others not quite there. 

     One of the first vests I looked at was the LL Bean Pat'ridge II. I really wanted to like this vest, but it needs improvement. The lumbar belt was nice, but the vest lacked adjustability in the back. The belt is attached too high to the game bag, so the entire back section rides up, and the straps bulge out. A loaded game bag would pull down and back at an uncomfortable angle. If changed slightly, this vest would be very nice.

     I also looked at the LL Bean Technical Upland Vest Pack. Believe it or not, this thing is pretty nice. It's not got much style, but it has got lots of adjustability, and storage. No doubt this could be an all day hunting vest. The issue that kept me from buying it was the pockets. The front pockets are basically designed so that a box of shells fits right into each pocket. Who keeps that many shells, and only shells in their pockets? In addition to shells I carry a knife, GPS, EMT gel, a compass, a snack, and several other small essentials up front. With a couple of proper pockets, this vest could be a keeper.

     The Browning Bird n Lite vest was also on my short list. This vest has been around for a while, and gets the job done. Nothing kept me from buying this vest other than a better deal coming along. 

In the end, I ended up ordering a Q5 San Carlos vest through a friend who is a pro staffer for Q5. Unlike the others, the San Carlos rides lower, primarily around the hips, with only the straps running up your back. I like this because I tend to sweat right in the middle of my back and don't need a vest helping that along. I haven't got the vest in hand yet. I'll be picking it up next weekend, but I'll be sure to review it later.

     Q5 also makes an upland bird belt. I am very intrigued by the belt, but don't think it'll satisfy my requirements as a hunting accessory, however, it may make a nice dog training belt at some time in the future.

     And that my friends, is all I've got for you.

New Toy Search, Part 2

     My search for a new gun continues. I'd like to thank everyone who voted in the poll. While there was clearly a voter preference for the Uggie, it was far from a run away victory. I haven't made up my mind yet, and a few new revelations and concerns have muddied the water. So, here is what I've been thinking, and why.

     I am heavily leaning towards my new gun being an O/U. Why? My only SxS is a short barreled Beretta, which doesn't fit me very well, and as a result, unless I shoot this gun exclusively and a lot, I don't shoot it well. Because this is my only experience with a SxS I am reluctant to spend a lot of money on a new one. That is, until I've had a proper gun fitting done to which I can compare my "gun script" to the measurements of the Beretta. I have never had a gun fitting, and would like to know what a proper fit should be. By knowing and comparing to the Beretta I will have a better idea of whether I have a fit issue with this gun, or if I'm just no good at shooting a SxS. For what it's worth, I've killed a lot of birds with this gun, but consistently struggle at skeet and sporting clays with it. The results of the fitting will also help me decide whether to have a new, custom stock built to my "script".

     I've also begun having second thoughts about spending big money on a 16 gauge gun. While 16 gauge enthusiasts swear it is the ultimate gauge I have a little trouble investing too much in a limited gauge. Finding 16 gauge ammo is not terribly easy, and I can easily see myself running out of ammo on a road trip, and being stuck without. None of this is meant to say that I won't be adding a 16 to my collection. It just won't be a terribly expensive one. Fortunately Browning makes a couple of 16 gauge O/U's that I would be happy to own. One is the Citori White Lighting, of which I currently shoot in 20 gauge and love. The other is their Citori Gran Lightning, which is a grade V gun, and offered at a very reasonable price. It also bear noting, that Browning has begun offering many of their field guns with 30", and 32" barrel options for those who either prefer shooting game with longer barrels, or shooting clays with lighter guns.

Browning 16 gauge Citori Gran Lightning

     So where does that leave me? Quite honestly I am still very much thinking of getting the B. Rizzini, but rather than getting it in 16, I will probably get it in 28 gauge. I've got a short barreled 28 gauge Gamba O/U, and I like it quite a bit, but I simply shoot longer barrels better, so I believe the 30" barrel option on the Rizzini is the way to go. But,.....

     There is one factor I haven't laid before you yet. There is a very high likely hood, in the 90%+ range, that I will be having a wrist surgery that will keep me from shooting any gun for several months. Because of this I've got time to think about it, and consider my options carefully. 

England, Part 2. Random Observations.

     A week in England, essentially dedicated to the shooting sports, and countryside has been eye opening, and left me with a few random thoughts about guns and shooting I feel I must share. So let us just jump right in at the point which without a doubt registered the most sensory overload; the gun rooms. I visited two gun rooms while in London; the Beretta Gallery, and William Evans, both of which are located in the St. James area, and are in fact on St. James St.. Both gun rooms have a collection of really beautiful shotguns and rifles displayed museum style behind glass, but unlike a museum a sales person will gladly let you touch and handle the art. While I may never be able to afford a bespoke best gun, I was thrilled to be able to see such beauty up close. I highly recommend to anyone exploring London to take a bit of time to check out a gun room.

     In Britain the market for shotguns differs from here in the States, and nature of the shooting dictates some of the changes. Longer barrels, and a heavier gun facilitate a smoother, steadier swing, helpful when shooting driven bird. Unlike the long walks through unforgiving young forest I routinely take, which dictate a lighter, fast moving gun, driven bird shooting is much like a round of sporting clays; on station the gun is at the ready, between stations the gun is in a soft case slung over the shoulder. Another difference I noticed is that a lot of the guns seem to just be more ornate. Perhaps there is more of an appreciation for engraving in the UK. Take a look at the two different lines of guns produced by Browning, if you'd like to see for yourself. In the US, the 725 Grade 5, while a nice gun.....

doesn't carry the same quality of wood found on the B725 Sporter G5,

and is only marginally nicer than the B725 Hunter G5.

Then there is the Heritage model Browning's, like the B525 Heritage 20. You see what I mean? And these examples are just a few easily recognizable O/U's, you should see some of the doubles.

     There was a noteworthy ammo difference, too. First, I discovered that shot is sized differently. I was shooting an ounce of 6's, which is smaller than the 6's in the US, and comparable to our 7's (not 7 1/2's). There was also a great difference, at least in the shells I was shooting, in felt recoil. I was shooting 2 1/2", low brass shells, and they were sweet. Still travelling quickly, about 1100 fpm, these shells (Hull Cartridge Co.) were getting the job done. In addition to these shells being soft, they used a fiber wad, which is something I wish was more predominant here in the States. From a conservation stand point, plastic wads spread throughout the woodlands is tough to justify, and not really environmentally healthy. The sportsman here in the States who wishes to make the move to fiber wads can do so, but with a bit of an increase in ammo expense. RST Ltd, in Pennsylvania (http://www.rstshells.com/) makes not only fiber wad shells, but they are in a 2 1/2" hull, too. I will be exploring the possibility of shooting fiber wads next year. 

     Having now had the pleasure of shooting driven birds with a fantastic syndicate in England I can say that without a doubt true driven bird shooting can be had here in the US, but, it'll take a little outside the box thinking, and a bit of a change in the attitude of the guns. What will it take? Let's break it down.

     First, bag limits will prevent it from happening wholesale, but should a club, or a syndicate if you prefer, have sufficient property to shoot on, and gets said property licensed as a permitted shooting area, that no longer becomes a problem. That is pretty much the biggest problem facing the American shooter who wants to have home grown driven bird shooting. With the property licensing issue is behind you, iron where the drives will be on the property. One way that birds are held on the property is by raising them in an area on the property with plenty of food, water, and cover. You raise your birds in that area, and then ideally, after the birds start moving around, on shoot day you drive the birds deeper into the property, back towards the area they were raised. 

     An attitude change is needed too. Many are so accustomed to walking up birds, or hunting behind a dog, that it'll be hard to stay out of the area on non-shoot days, but it is essential that the birds aren't pushed around and out of the cover, or they won't be there on shoot day. Of course this is a very simplistic overview, but I think it sums up the basics. 

Cliche and Contradiction

     The sport of hunting is filled with stereotypes, and cliches. Why wouldn't it be? Life, and everything we do, suffer at the hands of the unimaginative. Just look at the efforts the animal rights/PETA/ anti-hunting crowd go through to smear our image. The image of blood thirsty, half-drunk -on-moonshine redneck may indeed describe someone we've met before. They may even go out and shoot an animal in the woods on occasion, but they are in no way a "hunter". Of course, those who would have us be such, will never openly admit we're not. Within the sportsman community, we too, tend to look upon each other, and presume, with an I-know-something-you-don't-know-attitude, that we've got the other guy figured out. With a glance, the entire story of another hunter can be figured out instantly. We judge your gun, your dog, your footwear, the brand of clothing you wear, your truck, whatever. We stack it all up, using each piece, each clue, to fit you into a shoebox labeled "cliche".

     We've all met the "cliche" before. You know what I'm talking about. The just stepped out of Gray's Sporting Journal sportsman. The first thing you'll notice is the matching Orvis label on his hat, and shirt. Next you're drawn to the $80 leather lanyard around his neck, and it's $6 whistle. "I'll bet he's got a pointer", is what you're thinking, but you quickly forget that thought when you see the beautiful 16 gauge he's been missing all those clays with on the skeet field. But wait, isn't that a Barbour jacket, and an Orvis hat hanging on the hook in the hallway. Why yes it is. That and a few other things I've added to my collection are part of what creates a contradiction in my sporting life. While it's easy to chuckle at the uber-urban sportsman make over, we've got to admit that sometimes it's nice to have good stuff, stuff that works. A WalMart hunting vest is great, for a while, but sooner or later our needs change.

     Contradictions can be fun, but I'm sure they piss people off too. In many ways I'm probably close to being that well-heeled sporting cliche. Except I'm not well-heeled. Maybe some of my sporting contradictions stem from a bit of insecurity about being "that guy", or maybe they stem from the need, like all sportsman, to have a little one up on the next guy. A quick look and you'll see that I fit the mold in an obvious way.  I shoot a 20 gauge double, over an English Setter, at Ruffed Grouse. This alone pays for my club membership, but that I also like fly fishing in the off season too, really seals the deal. Why? It's cliche; This image of the Brahman, blue blood with his double gun, and perfect oil-on-canvas-setter (which, I have).

     It's the contradiction, however, that keep things fresh. Confusion begins at the gun rack. Though I do shoot a nice double, I own both single barrel, and stack barrel guns too. I've got a rather pedestrian appreciation for guns, however.  The gun rack at grouse camp is in no way of museum quality, but I've a fondness for all the guns I've seen there. Perhaps it's a the memories of the many great camps attached to them, or the many Woodcock appetizers they're responsible for. One such gun  is a Browning BPS. This gun is a grouse killing 20 gauge work horse with 24" barrels and a straight stock. I want one, and think the 12 gauge version would make the perfect jump shooting gun. I  doubt this gun gets dreamt about much on Wall Street.

                                                                                   
     When it comes to dogs I've been known to alienate myself too. Not because I train my own dogs, rather than sending them to a trainer, but because I've been rather outspoken about flushing breeds being more suitable for grouse hunting than pointing dogs. And currently I've got a Setter. Pointing dogs are fun to watch, each with their own highlights. A brace of setters coursing through the woods together really is a beautiful sight. Spend enough time shooting grouse though, and eventually you'll end up shooting over a Spaniel or a Lab, and you'll see a different quality to the grouse flush. True, pointers cover more ground, resulting in more finds, but ultimately shooting over a flusher you'll kill more birds. Though many spaniels are capable of maintaining ones state on the social ladder, I seldom see them being walked on Beacon Hill.

     It's probably my inhumane fly fishing practice that ticks people off the most. I'm not talking about keeping my fish; I release, but my obsession with nymphing. Often viewed as not really fly fishing, I view the nymph as the spaniels of the river, while I view the dry fly as the setters of the river. To make matters worse, I use a strike indicator too. A fuzzy version of a bobber. What can I say? I told you I wasn't well-heeled.

     Setting my contradictions aside, the cookie cutter side of me doesn't always struggle with fitting this mold. Socially, hunting is loosing it's popularity, and many areas in the countryside, where I hunt, are being gentrified. The blaze orange hat doesn't always get you a smile and a wave from the farmer hauling hay. Frequently it brings you a sneer from a Volvo driving soccer mom, who doesn't recognize you, and is a gun control nut. If appearing to be something which makes people more comfortable gets me access to the alder grove running along the back of the pasture, then so be it. Once upon a time gentlemen wore ties while hunting, and in some parts of the country(think Massachusetts), this may have to be the norm again, if only to serve as a distraction. I'm also comfortable knowing that should I ever need the services of an attorney, a stock broker, or a podiatrist,  I can no doubt find one who owns a bird dog.