Sometimes Only Horses to Eat

This is another one of the books reviewed in the March/April 2010 issue of MUZZLELOADER. I enjoyed this book, and when I took it to deer camp last fall, I ended up selling 5 or 6 to folks at camp. There was a lot of campfire talk about this book throughout the season.

Bill Scurlock

Wally Peters' Blacksmithing

Mike Nesbitt reviewed this talented blacksmith in the March/April "Prime Possibles." Wally Peters lives in Winlock, Washington, and attends many events in the Northwest.

Bill Scurlock

Following the Drum

Linda reviewed this nice book, written by Nancy K. Loane, in the March/April issue of Muzzleloader. This book is about the women at the Valley Forge encampment. I haven't read it yet, but she says it is "a wonderfully readable account of that cold, winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1777-1778 from the point of view of the women who shared it with the soldiers." It's definitely one I want to read.

Bill Scurlock

Amber Flints from Heritage Products

Here are pictures of the French amber flints reviewed in the March/April 2010 issue. They're good flints.

Bill Scurlock

Deer Behind the Office

On Monday at about 5:30, I was driving from the office to the house and came upon a nice buck (either 6 or 8 points with a nice spread) in the field beside the pond. He just stood there about 40 yards away while I grabbed by camera. About the time I got the camera in hand, he turned and headed away. I snapped one photo, with the window still up, and it's not very good, but if you look close, you can see a red oak tree, and to the right is the deer's tail and antlers. If he had stood still a minute longer, I would have had a much better photo. I got out of the truck and followed him because he went behind the levee of the pond. Thought I might get another shot at him. I did get close (about 25 yards) but as soon as I saw him, he saw me and bolted. I didn't even get the camera up and on him that time.

Bill Scurlock

March/April Issue Mailed

The March/April issue of MUZZLELOADER was mailed on Friday, February 26. That is about 5 days later than we wanted, so please be patient. It may arrive a little late. We were a couple of days late in getting it to the printer, then they lost a couple of days in production because of minor problems in their shop. Together, we were about 5 days behind in getting it to the post office.

It is an excellent issue, beginning with the cover by Barry Powell. Barry is new to our cover and I expect you will see more of his work in the future. This one is entitled Morning Attack and was done with colored pencil. I think it makes a nice cover and will be available at some point soon as a print.

I will be out of the office today because I am working at the polls at our primary election. I was asked to help, and since I think that voting is one our most important rights, I could not refuse.

Bill Scurlock

Saturday Shoot

About 20 of us had a good time at the shoot on Saturday. Several guys came out just to watch and visit. Gene brought his son and grandsons and a beautiful new rifle that Matt Avance made for him. A couple of guys shot flintlocks for the first time. We warmed up with a 5-shot match at a standard 25 yard bullseye.

Next we shot a 3-shot match at a "Mike Fink" style paper target (a mountain man with a tin cup on his head). Only shots touching the tin cup counted. If you hit the man anywhere, you got no score. Only two guys hit the cup at least once and didn't hit the man. I had two forehead shots. That's the winning target shown on the left.

Then we shot 5 shots at playing cards taped to cardboard backings. It you hit the cardboard, you got 1 point. If you hit the playing card, you got two points. In the case of ties (there were several) the tape on the playing card is cut and the card is turned over. The higher card wins the tie. Steve Weir (that's him in the photo) and I tied in points, but my 9 of clubs trumped his 6 of clubs, so I won. That was our blanket prize shoot, and I chose a turkey-wing-bone call as my prize.

At this point, some of the guys had to leave or had done enough shooting, but a few of us took some shots, without keeping score, at a metal deer target at about 75 yards.

One of the neatest things about shooting muzzleloaders is that you can shoot about 20 shots over the course of a couple of hours, mix in a lot of visiting and helping other shooters with their guns, and enjoy a full afternoon of fun that didn't cost a lot.

Bill Scurlock