Savage M11 Trophy Hunter XP

I can't wait to sight in the new Savage Trophy Hunter chambered in .308 It has a Nikon 3x9x40 BDC Reticle scope and should be a tack driver.

Savage has a great reputation for providing high level accuracy for the budget minded shooter.  Having this rifle chambered in .308 is perfect for whitetail deer and I would not be afraid to use it on a Pennsylvania black bear or elk if the opportunity ever presents itself.

The synthetic stock and Matte black finish should be easy to care for. This is definitely a working hunting rifle not a display case beauty queen.

9 Point Buck on Opening Day 2015

You can watch a video of the shot by clicking here

Unfortunately my aim was a little high and the buck drops down Creating a higher shot behind his shoulder into the non lethal zone. I was hoping for a lung shot but it did not happen.

After the shot we began trailing him. A huge thunderstorm created a downpour so we had to back out and try to recover the buck on Sunday morning. Several guys went out looking Sunday morning but we could not find or retrieve this buck. I am hoping it is a nonlethal shot and we will see him on trail cameras again this week eating apples.

Archery season starts September 19, 2015

Archery season starts September 19, 2015 in 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D.  It starts statewide on October 3rd. I plan on going out for a few hours tomorrow and starting my season.  Good luck to all the Pennsylvania archers who are going hunting tomorrow.  Be safe and shoot straight!

Staying Dry In a Wheelchair

Sometimes hunting from a power wheelchair can be made even more challenging by the weather. Rain presents it's own set of challenges but it can be easily mitigated. If you are prepared.

I always keep two heavy duty contractor bags in my backpack along with two quart size zip lock bags. The first contractor bag goes on my lap and the second bag goes over my legs. Finally, the quart bag goes over my controller. You can easily add a few rubber bands to keep the zip lock bag on your controller.

With the right attitude and a little preparation a power wheelchair user does not have to call it quits just because of a little rain. Good luck this season, shoot straight and be safe.

Spring Gobbler Mount

My spring gobbler is up on the wall and I think it looks fantastic. It's a huge bird and a great reminder of a wonderful hunt with my friend Skip.

McDonald Sportsmen's Association Pheasant Hunt 2015

Yesterday was the second annual McDonald's Sportsmens Association pheasant hunt for the Western Pennsylvania wounded warriors. It was a fantastic day and everyone had a great day out hunting.

The morning started off with donuts, juice and coffee at the safety meeting. It was great seeing all of the McDonald members from last year. The volunteers are so nice and thoughtful, they really make this event first class.

My friend Terry from the Western Pennsylvania wounded warriors delivered my spring turkey mount.  I will be getting this gobbler on my wall sometime later today.

We all loaded up on trailers, golf carts and side-by-side's to start the day's pheasant hunt. Handlers and sporting dogs accompanied each hunter. There's something about hunting with a well trained dog, that makes the whole experience that much better.

I was able to put three pheasants in my game bag. I am always so thankful that I have the opportunity to be out hunting, bagging a bird is just a bonus. It's hard to believe that last week I was in the hospital having my big toe amputated.

I did have to wear a protective foam boot. But with a little creativity and some camouflage cloth, it all worked out fantastic.

After the morning field hunt we all assembled for lunch. McDonald had the lunch catered and let me tell you, it was the best. I had a perfectly grilled steak, fried cod fillet and a side salad. A raffle was held following lunch and each hunter was given a prize. My friend Tom won a new 12 gauge shotgun! No one was left out and we were all surprised by the raffle (I won a sweet NRA folding knife).

After lunch we all went back out for a Continental pheasant shoot. Although it rained off and on throughout the day it could not put a damper on our enthusiasm.  I am already looking forward to next year's event. Thank you to all the volunteers who made this hunt possible. I know we will all be talking about it for a long time.

Sip and Puff Trigger

I thought I would get a little practice in using my sip and puff trigger. Unfortunately no pheasants were found in my kitchen.  Hopefully I am hunting pheasants on Saturday. I may not be able to stay out long because of my foot but I am going to give it a try. I look forward to the pheasant hunt at McDonald Sportsmen's Association every year.

Hopefully this trigger makes it easy to fire my shotgun and I can bag at least one pheasant. Good luck to all the hunters who will be participating from the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors.

Talisman

Do you have a lucky charm? Something you pull out every year and take along hunting? I do and I'm not ashamed to admit it. My lucky charm is this handcrafted damascus steel arrowhead made by Gary Pickens of Boise Idaho.

I pulled it out last night and put it on. It definitely feels like hunting season around my house now. Good luck with your season, shoot straight and be safe.

Accessible Hunter Sticker

The accessible hunter logo is up on my mini van, I think it adds a certain amount of class.  But really, how much class can you add to a minivan.

Hospital Stay

I have been battling with four pressure sores on my right foot the past several months. Two of them became extremely bad this week so I went to the emergency room on Wednesday. The surgeon had to amputate the big toe of my right foot and remove the bone along the blade. I was discharged on Friday and I am recovering now.

Hopefully I am able to go on the pheasant hunt scheduled for next Saturday with the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors. Wish me luck, I could sure use it right now.