ReeferMac

Ditto what @Jackalope said. My FIL lives about a mile down the road from the hospital. He has said good things about the LGS and gunsmith he uses in town. I have had fair luck at Frontier Firearms here in Kingston.

I had the TWRA out at the property a few years ago to show them some bait piles being left around the wildlife management area behind me. I showed them my little apple tree's and all the damage the deer had been doing, mentioned I may have fired off a few 9mm in their general direction one day to try to scare them off, didn't try to hit them, wasn't in-season. Don't want to kill them...? "Do you own a shotgun?" "Yessir, 20 ga." "Get yourself some target loads, let a few fly from about 50 yds., it won't pierce their skin but a few mm's, and give them a reason to never come back. Worst case you can harvest them outside hunting season due to nuisance ordinances with your homestead, but need approval first, I can give you one of our forms, its no problem here..." You know I haven't seen the bastards in the pasture garden since? I meant the deer... Now I have a clutch of Turkeys eating my squash and melons! Theres 3 hens and about 20 young... any turkey hunters?

40 S&W has greater velocity.

I like corn that comes from a mason jar, but 23 quarts would last me a couple years!

There is a worm/caterpillar that bores into the stem/vine on squash, have seen that same thing happen before as well. Seems to impact the winter squash more than summer type. Short of weather induced, or physical damage (stem broken upstream), thats about all I can think of? Squash are usually pretty tough.

I've been grabbing an ear to test every night. Tasty stuff, I think some of mine is ready. For 3 years I've been trying to get a patch to come in, this year is the first I've actually eaten any. The local wildlife has really enjoyed my efforts....

Lol.... was gonna ask him to pass it down!

Hey there! Checkout tge Oak Ridge Sportsman Association for local competitions. Would definitely pay to be a member. I was for several years, its a great facility, and some really great people.

I saw Ralph selling signed Giclee prints at what I thought reasonable prices... tempted to get one for myself, but I don't have an office to hang it in! Would look nice above my reloading press out in the shed... https://www.steadmanclassics.com/

Checkout the meat between Chattanooga, Knox, and Crossville. Dayton, Pikeville come to mind. Likewise the strip between I-40/I-81 and the mountain range (Greeneville, etc.) from Johnson City to Sevierville has a lot of 'that'. I'm happy on the West side of Knox, checkout Route 58 southbound.

That was my take on it. I dropped 100 bucks yesterday, tax man got 10: Perhaps prices and availability will come down in the near term. So I overpaid pandemic prices for a few items from a locally owned vendor (I see the guy at school, church, kroger, barber, etc., he is a part of my community). I'm ok with supporting his business, he sponsored my kids ball team, has good inventory of new/used guns and supplies, nice range, knowledgeable staff, access to a gunsmith, cerakote, etc. Availability of either item has been ZERO the last 6 months for me. Worst case, a pound of quality modern smokeless propellant, and 3 loads for my revolver could end up being priceless!

I hear ya, new acquisition... gotta get at least a few personal defense loads for it. I recall clocking most of my Gold Dots and HSTs at about $1-1.25/rd for 9mm when I stocked up back before in the long ago time. Figured I was lucky to get the 1 box they were willing to sell me (43.99/20 Barnes). I reload for 9mm now, and will likely focus on acquiring dies and boolits as funds allow. If nothing else, need to get started on a big 'ol pile of brass!

They did, saw 1 jug. I got the last pistol powder on the shelf (Ram Silhouette, perhaps more in back?) Were charging 53-57 per lb. I'm working Sat, but if they're still open afterwards I'll try to swing by and grab it for you.

7/23/21 had a few Lbs of various Hodgson and Ramshot rifle powders, 5 boxes Rifle primers and a supply of some ammo, various calibers. Paid 2 bucks each for HP .357 factory rounds... but at least they had some!

I remember hearing about a few instances of that sort of thing in my past life in the print biz up in NY. Interesting stuff, especially with all the stuff going on.

Well I didn't get skunked, but either someone got in ahead of us or the storms knocked a lot off. Only got 1 gal. worth of berries today. Looks like peak is passed. Might try one more time, or look for another location. For now I washed and froze the berries.

Gotcha. Now granted, we were discussing making jam, so that may have been a benefit in that situation! Funny, last year I made a batch of jam, and apparently I didn't add enough pectin, as it turned out as syrup instead of jam! Was good for pancakes! Made sure to add enough this go 'round.

Haha, thats wild... I just started working in the fire sprinkler biz!

I've heard that... and the old-timers here said boil the berries, then mash them, extract/discard the mash, more juice... The missus has 2 of those KitchenAid desktop cement mixers w/ PTO on the front? And we've got the juicer attachment... I've run blue and black berries through that thing... you get a pretty dry mash out the other end. Can't imagine extracting much more? I'll send the stuff through on a second pass if it looks a little wet! I like the idea of the neatness of 'just the juice', too. I can make more jam, or try some wine, or maybe both! I forget how many quarts of juice I got from the 4 gallons of berries, but it was quite a bit, prolly 1.5-2 gallons. Maybe 7-10 bottles of wine? Or 20 more jars of homemade jam... ? Both make great Christmas presents!

Well dang, we used to go camping down thereabouts every summer. Keuka was our fav, better bass. Appreciate the offers for help! I may have to try this (got enough jam).

Oh, AND you're close by! Any issue with juicing the berries pronto Sunday and freezing the juice?

Anyone ever try making some? Any hobbiest winemakers here? I got a chance for a 2nd trip up a mountain in Morgan County LOADED with blackberries/black raspberries. My 1st trip netted 4x 1-gallon freezer bags, I made a buttload of jam. Imagine 2nd trip will bring back similair amount. Thinking about trying to make some blackberry wine? I have a large glass car-boy I can use for a fermenting vessel (and some large steel pots to mix it all in/primary fermenter)... minimum investment in equipment I hope. There is a home-brew shop in area I can source remainder at (and get technical advice). ... my biggest fear is losing all those jars of jam and ending up with 4 gallons of vinegar (or some nasty tasting homemade hooch!) Anyone ever try before? Suggestions/advice appreciated. Can I trade jars of jam for .357?

How does the missus can the beans? I've blanched and frozen a bunch, but read you have to pressure can beans (just enough of a PIA more than water bath canning I hate doing it!)

Was going to say the same thing, only not nearly as eloquent and succinct. Really depends what you're looking for. Nashville is a big city, its sphere of influence is easily 2-3 hours drive. EastTN itself has different character between Knoxvegas and the Phar East. Never been further west, so can't comment.

Interesting idea pickling the zuch!? Have to let us know how it comes out. I can second the zuch noodles. I've had them and they are very good. Similair to a spaghetti squash, but milder flavor.