I recommend a floating camo blind bag.  They’re not waterproof, but if your bag gets knocked off your boat it won’t sink, unless you have a lot of weight in it. Read More→

I have been having problems with two of my game cameras not taking pictures.  At first, I thought that it was the SD cards so I bought two new ones and the cameras still were not working.  I replaced the batteries and still didn’t have results for one of the cameras, so I figured that it was toast (it’s about four years old).  So, I bought another one. Read More→

When I first started to hunt deer (back in 1976), hunters considered rifle scopes as optional equipment.  There was even a segment of hunting society that considered scopes as unsporting, unmanly, and/or cheating.  Since that time, scopes have become prominent, and hunters now regard them as standard hunting equipment.

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I recommend the following minimum gear for deer/hog hunting backpacks (in order of importance): Read More→

A few years ago I went on a dove hunt at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.  One of their rules was that you had to hunt with non-lead shot.  I bought three boxes of 12 gauge steel dove shot (7 shot) but we didn’t see or shoot at many dove that day. Read More→

It is well known that I much prefer to hunt hogs over deer because I find hogs more challenging. Read More→

If you’re looking for a fishing challenge – an elusive quarry that gobbles down perch sized shad, wrecks hooks, line, rod and reels and often leaves you gasping for breath – the striped bass, AKA striper, is the fish for you. Read More→

People frequently ask me what my stance is on such and such gun control bill.  To make things easier for me and the inquiriers I put my thoughts down on electronic paper.

All gun control is about controlling legal gun owners who have done nothing wrong and who probably never will do anything wrong.  Look at the states and cities with the most gun control – Washington D.C., Detroit, Chicago, New York, etc. and you’ll see that it’s safer to walk down the streets in Afghanistan than it is to do so in certain neighborhoods in one of those cities.  The more gun control they impose the worst crime becomes.  The states and cities that have the least amount of gun control also have the least amount of crime. Read More→

Finally got a batch of muzzleloader hammers and triggers cut out on a water jet machine.

This process I’ve been talking about for a year now and finally got all the research done on design of the parts for several styles of muzzleloaders. Read More→

For hunting dove, you pick a spot to hunt, sit down, and be ready for something to fly within range. Know your target area, which directions you can and cannot shoot BEFORE you see the birds so you don’t shoot something or someone you shouldn’t. Camouflage is beneficial, but not critical. I have killed dove in blue jeans and a white undershirt before. There is no baiting allowed for migratory birds, but you can use decoys. Use 7 1/2 shot in your shotgun. Which choke you use will depend on how the birds are flying that day, but a Modified is usually a good choice. Read More→

When I was growing up, my father would give me rules for living a good life. Sometimes when we were fishing or hunting, I would ask questions and he would respond by giving me “sayings” instead of full-fledged answers. It frustrated me then, but it makes good sense now. Read More→

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As most of you know, I bought a boat in July of 2010 and took it duck hunting several times in 2010 and 2011.  After a 11/19/10 – 11/21/10 duck hunt and fishing trip to lakes Belton and Stillhouse Hollow my non-waterproof trailer lights stopped working.  I couldn’t figure our why they stopped working, and I knew that it would cost me a lot to have the problem diagnosed at a trailer repair shop, so I went to Academy and bought new trailer wires and installed them.  Still no workie. Read More→

I just returned from attending the Todd Bender Skeet Clinic in Kerrville, Texas. This is an all day clinic conducted by 20 time World Champion Skeet Shooter, Todd Bender. Todd has succeeded at setting so many new records over the course of his career, it would be hard for me to list them all. As always, this clinic was fantastic! Thanks to Todd and to Robert Davis for putting on this event locally. Read More→

In short, the answer is yes, it is worth it. And, I can load a better shell than the factories make. Shot shell reloading is a subject that I have spent many years debating with fellow shooters and factory reps. While I have been reloading my own shells for over twenty years, I would advise readers that it’s not for everyone. Read More→

I know many of us can’t wait to get out there on opening day with a case of new shotgun shells and blast away. That’s right, I said a case! I have been dove hunting many times where I watch hunters go out and shoot a case a day to get a limit of dove. Don’t be embarrassed I wasn’t talking about you; I was talking about that other guy. Or, it could have been me the first time I went dove hunting. My first time was a humiliating experience to say the least! Read More→

I don’t carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

I don’t carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place. Read More→

I began my shooting and hunting hobbies back in 1975 when I was 15 years old. Oma Claunch, a 13-year-old friend in my neighborhood, got me hooked on both dove and deer hunting. Read More→

In 1911 Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917 about 1.5 million Armenians, who were unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. Read More→

“European” mounts seem to be increasingly popular as time goes by.  They originated in Europe and remain very popular there. Read More→

It is not difficult to get started in shotshell reloading.  The necessary ingredients include reloading tool, components (empty hulls, primers, powder, wads, shot), safety glasses, a measuring scale and at least one good reloading handbook. Read More→

I have been hunting deer and other medium-sized game, on and off, since I was sixteen years old.  Over the years I have taken many animals, most from heart/lung shots. Read More→

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On November 29, 1991, the Burp and Poot Club changed its name, by a majority vote of the members present at a Club meeting, to The Fellowship of Christian Sportsman Club. Read More→

There are many FCS officers that I could find cause to brag on.  Many have made and continue to make significant contributions of their time that brings great benefits to the Club. However, instead of praising one of our officers, I instead will brag on one of our members – Virgil Vargus. Read More→

The concept of ethical hunting and fishing or “fair chase” is one that is difficult to define among our sporting fraternity.  It can even be more so among the non-sportsmen. Read More→

There is a popular belief that “You cant’ get too much of a good thing.” In reality, we know this is not true. Read More→

Did you know that we are in a war? “Stupid question,” you say; “outside of invalids and imbeciles there is not a person in the good ole’ U.S.A. who is not keenly aware of all the intricacies of the War with Iraq.” However, it is not the Crisis in the Gulf that I speak of; it is the war for hunting rights in America.

In case you have been on the lease so long that you have never heard of the war for hunting rights; allow me to briefly outline a history of the conflict.

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Gizmos, gadgets, and gear are names that you commonly read in hunting and fishing magazines and hear on hunting and fishing shows and videos.  Basically, they are man-made things that enhance our sports and improve our chances of being successful.

Over the years I have bought many gizmos.  Many have not been worth a plug nickel and are gathering dust in my garage.  Some are just OK.  But a few are indispensable.  Below is the list of my favorites for hunting.  Some of my recommendations are expensive but most aren’t, some are high tech but most are low tech, and some are new but most are old. Read More→

When we humans go into the woods for deer we are at a considerable disadvantage.  Deer have incredible senses of sight, hearing, and smell.  However, we can nullify these advantages through full camo, making as little movement as possible, noise control, scent control, and using the wind to our favor. Read More→

You’ve done it! After hours of reading, contemplating, praying for guidance and seeking the counsel of hunters, skeet shooters, reloaders and witch doctors, you have bitten the bullet and selected the perfect reloading tool for your hunting and shooting habits. You thought that only self-employment taxes could be harder or more complicated. You were wrong (hah-hah)! Now you get to make the arduous choice of choosing a shotshell recipe! Read More→

Hardly a month goes by that I don’t receive an inquiry from a friend (or sometimes a stranger) regarding what type, brand, gauge, etc. shotgun should he purchase. In order to help the inquirer make the best decision I ask him several questions. Note that most of the available guns section for each action hasn’t been updated since 8/16/10. Read More→

It always amazes me when a hunter tells me that the last time that he went to the range was two (or three, or five, or ten) years ago! Usually this answer is in response to the question, “When was the last time you checked your rifle’s accuracy at the range?,” which is asked after the hunter missed a relatively easy shot at a deer, hog, etc. Read More→

Rarely does a month go by that I do not receive a call from a friend who inquires as to what brand, action, caliber, etc. rifle should he purchase for hunting Texas deer and hogs.  To adequately answer his questions, I will make a few inquiries of my own. Read More→

There are several factors that must be considered when considering an every-day carry (EDC) pistol, including safety, reliability, concealability, power/ammo, and price. Read More→

The following tips are a compilation of common sense and experience gained through failure. Read More→

The March 1992 issues of The American Rifleman and The American Hunter (NRA publications) describe how on December 16, 1991, over 60 local law enforcement officers and federal agents broke into gun owner John Lawmaster’s home.   Read More→

As is stated in “The Fisherman’s Dictionary” the term angling probably comes from the ancient Indo-European word, anka, meaning “hook” or “to fish with a hook,” but it could have come from the words enka (“unwise expenditure” or “useless task”); inkla (“to repeat a foolish act”); and angla (“love of pointless suffering”). Read More→

The act of hitting dove and other birds on the fly causes emotions for the vast majority of hunters that range from frustration to abject humiliation. It is a practice that defies mastery and has even been known to cause preachers to cuss. Yet, even though the vast majority of us often head home dejected at our performances, we will eagerly look forward to the next opportunity to throw lead at our elusive quarry. Read More→