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Well as usual for me, I was running a little late and my gate lock was frozen. Had to go back inside to get a cigarette lighter to thaw the lock. Drove to my neighbors house and got there at exactly 5:42 a.m. which was the legal hour to shoot this morning. I got all my stuff and headed out, I had to cross an open field about 40 acres, and when I got where I could see there is a deer standing broadside, the .45 cal Encore at 129 yards and down went the deer. I thought at first I had seen antlers, and he had some about 8 1/2" long, a nice young about 140 lb. He is now resting peacefully in an Igloo ice chest in the barn. This is now the shortest deer hunt, may have taken 8 minutes. Previously shortest hunt was also muzzleloading season back in Mississippi and it took about 30 minutes from time I got out of truck until I pulled the trigger. I got into my ladder stand very quietly and you know all the stuff you carry while muzzleloading and got it all situated and it was just getting light where you could see and about 17 yards from the stand this doe is just standing there. These hunts do not resemble a lot of my hunts where I don't see any deer . More than 1 time I have sit from before daylight until dark and not seen anything. If no critters at all are moving, get up and go home!!

I didn’t see any deer but got to share space with a bald eagle this morning. He sat in a tree about 5 yards away and about 30 feet higher than me. He stayed for about a half hour.

That just means she likes having you around. If she suddenly changes her tune, especially after you up your life insurance, then I’d be concerned.

The very first brand new rifle I bought when I turned 18 in 1977 was a M1A. SN 006022. It was a nice rifle but accuracy was out the window once the barrel got warm. Nation Matching the bedding points is some what of a fix but not an easy job and takes on wear with cleaning take downs. I sold it when Springfield started selling SAR48's and that rifle is the nut. After tuning it up to my liking, I at one time fired 10 rounds in 5/8ths" group @ 100yds. Hand weighed & prepped cases with W748 behind Sierra 168g BTHP Match kings. Typically the AR's will out shoot a FAL but the history, parts and field reliability loom large in the FAL's corner. The HK is a decent rifle but they are far more rough on the brass with their fluted chamber walls and the sheet metal stamping of a receiver is a huge negative compared to the sleek FAL's milled bolt guides. AK 308's are built AK reliable but what you inadvertently get with that is an over gassed weapon with a high piston over barrel bore that inherently creates way more barrel whip that the close to bore piston of the FAL. Speaking as a trained Gunsmith, a properly built FAL is the best bang for the buck in SHTF hardware. In that scenario, adjustable gas launches it past the more accurate AR guns. The M1A is simply out dated with its multi point bedding system compared to FAL barrel harmonic geometry. I like the M1A but I love the FAL design. So much so.... I hang FAL lowers on more than just their uppers! Best buy right here...DSA w/ life time warranty

The rebuild kit arrived and the ratchet is up and running again. Thanks again to Chucktshoes. Apparently I am with tools as I am with firearms. I decided to disassemble, clean and lube all of my ratchets after I rebuilt the one. After going through my boxes and gathering all my 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch ratchets I came up with a total of 16 ratchets 12 of which were USA Craftsman with an S-K, two Snap-On and a Proto. As I looked around my shop I realized that I am the same way with all my tools and assorted "guy stuff". This is when I realized two things, 1 - There is no way I can ever move again, and 2- my kids are really going to hate me when I am gone.

Here's a picture

Awaiting review

I will be out as well. Probably won’t be at the big farm but may hunt my small property. Have to go to a wedding tomorrow afternoon. Good luck to everyone who’s going out. Please wear a harness up in those stands y’all.

I hear those are slightly larger than a mousechet.

Needed some meat for the freezer so I decided to shoot a nice young buck that walked by this morning. After a thorough search and not finding any blood I guess I missed him.