Trophy Doe

In an effort to help manage the herd, our hunting camp shoots a lot a does each year. We all like to eat them, so it's a win/win for us. Just for fun this year we started weighing every deer brought into camp and established a big doe contest. Since October, we've been stuck at two does weighing 124 and 125 pounds. On Friday evening, Jacob blew us all away with this 140 pounder. He made a nice shot through the heart. She only went maybe 40 yards before crashing in a pine plantation. It was an easy track, even in the dark.

That is a Steve Davis .54 caliber rifle that Jacob is holding, and his third deer this year with this rifle.

The contest will continue through the bow season that ends in February. I expect that it will be hard to top this one.

Bill Scurlock

Defending the Backcountry

I reviewed the book in the Jan/Feb 2011 issue. It is an excellent source for documenting the dress and habits of spies and scouts on the frontier. It is priced right and available from store.scurlockpublishing.com.

Bill Scurlock

Jan/Feb 2011 Preview

Here's the cover of the next issue. Just printed this week. Should be mailing next week.

This is a painting by Tim Tanner, entitled On the Headwaters of Spanish River. Tim says, "This name is taken from a quote by Nathaniel Wyeth, speaking of the Green River country. There is a complete article on the research for this painting in the 2010 edition of the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade Journal. (Every single item you see in the painting is documented - scenery, horses, equipment, everything)."


You can contact Tim at www.timtannerstudios.com. The website has been undergoing construction, but should be up soon. Email Tim at ttanner@silverstar.com.


Bill Scurlock

Duck Hunting

Both Justin and Jacob were home for the Thanksgiving weekend, so last Friday we went to a beaver pond I was saving. No one had hunted it this year, and I had found some mallards there the week before. We had a great hunt (8 mallards and 1 shoveler) and got home in time to prepare for a family gathering at noon. Left to right in the photos: Kate, Justin, Juno and Jacob.

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately. With hunting, work and holiday functions, I just haven't had time to think much about posting. I hope to get back into the routine of it soon.

Bill Scurlock

1980 Scurlock Horn

I was at the hunting camp the other day and ran across this horn that I made back in 1980. My father-in-law carries it attached to the hunting bag he made. I would not make one like this today, but it was kinda cool back in 1980, especially for a guy who had never seen or handled original horns. It has forged iron strap hangers and a poured pewter junction between the horn and the maple spout. It was all filed and shaped by hand and includes the hokey tomahawk and pouch mark I used to put on stuff I made back then.

Bill Scurlock

Hartley Horn Drawings

Another book reviewed in the Nov/Dec issue, this book is a great resource for horn makers, especially those who want to do a little scratching on the horn's surface. It's available from store.scurlockpublishing.com.

Bill Scurlock

Moravian Gun Making

This book was reviewed in the Nov/Dec issue. It has beautiful photos and interesting history and is available from the Kentucky Rifle Foundation, PO Box 768532-L, Roswell, GA 30076.

Bill Scurlock