Woods loafer

[BUGEYE]

I grew up with a rifle or shotgun in my grubby jelly stained hands and was one of the most blood thirsty little varmints that ever lived.
We lived almost exclusively on what we hunted or our own chickens, rabbits and hogs. (my mom made the best rabbit and sage gravy)
I would stay in the woods till dead dark on the chance I could get my limit of squirrels. (I ate the heads too) and I'd hunt the beagles till I got my limit or it got too dark to shoot.  Quail and pheasant came along only occasionally while rabbit hunting, but often enough that I learned to hit'em.  I saw my Dad get an entire small covey of quail one time with one shot.  He spotted them in their circle and backed up several yards and shot into the middle of them.  He was raising three boys who ate like horses and wanted all that meat. This was circa 1950.
My blood thirstyness kept on through my teen years when I branched out into ducks and geese.  I've killed four deer in my life.
Then I aged into my 20s then 30s and so on till here I sit about to turn 78 and if the world record white tail deer stopped to scratch on my pecan tree, I would not have the least desire to kill him.
I still enjoy the woods, and I carry a rifle and pistol, (for snakes) but everything out there is completely safe from me.
So I'm only a loafer.  I've had my day.  You young whipper snappers can have my share now.

[Dee]

We used to that "skillet shootin" on coveys of quail. I'll eat deer meat any day over beef, and I'll take fish over beef also.
I have a grandson, a stepson and his wife, and two great nephews that deer hunt.  I'm hoping they keep us in deer meat since we've moved back up here.

[BUGEYE]

We used to that "skillet shootin" on coveys of quail. I'll eat deer meat any day over beef, and I'll take fish over beef also.
I have a grandson, a stepson and his wife, and two great nephews that deer hunt.  I'm hoping they keep us in deer meat since we've moved back up here.

Oh I love all venison except antelope.  I had it once that someone else had killed so that could be the reason I don't like it.  Bad processing??
But now I'd rather feed'em and pet'em than shoot'em.

I wish I could fish year round because I too love fish.

[Ranger99]

I don't know that my father ever
got to use a gun much until the
army handed him one.
They were pretty poor, so I imagine
his daddy had the only one.
I only had bb guns as a kid, but
I still managed to pop a few squirrels.
The only "real" gun I ever shot when
he was alive was this Winchester 22
sitting behind me. It hasn't been fired
in a long time, and would probably do
ok still

[BUGEYE]

I don't know that my father ever
got to use a gun much until the
army handed him one.
They were pretty poor, so I imagine
his daddy had the only one.
I only had bb guns as a kid, but
I still managed to pop a few squirrels.
The only "real" gun I ever shot when
he was alive was this Winchester 22
sitting behind me. It hasn't been fired
in a long time, and would probably do
ok still

Well Ranger, whether he hunted a lot, or not at all, most of us have memories (like your BB guns) to think back on when we get old.

[DEACONLLB]

I started off with BB guns and in my day they had a lot of power today they don't have the power they did back then. I am talking about the Daisy and old red rider type.

Deaconllb 

[orerancher]

We used to that "skillet shootin" on coveys of quail. I'll eat deer meat any day over beef, and I'll take fish over beef also.
I have a grandson, a stepson and his wife, and two great nephews that deer hunt.  I'm hoping they keep us in deer meat since we've moved back up here.

Oh I love all venison except antelope.  I had it once that someone else had killed so that could be the reason I don't like it.  Bad processing??
But now I'd rather feed'em and pet'em than shoot'em.

I wish I could fish year round because I too love fish.

Take care of the Meat, Soon as the Animal is Down...Antelope, is the Best Thing You can put in Yer Mouth!
I've eaten a LOT of Deer...Most Taste like Sage Brush...

[BUGEYE]

We used to that "skillet shootin" on coveys of quail. I'll eat deer meat any day over beef, and I'll take fish over beef also.
I have a grandson, a stepson and his wife, and two great nephews that deer hunt.  I'm hoping they keep us in deer meat since we've moved back up here.

Oh I love all venison except antelope.  I had it once that someone else had killed so that could be the reason I don't like it.  Bad processing??
But now I'd rather feed'em and pet'em than shoot'em.

I wish I could fish year round because I too love fish.

Take care of the Meat, Soon as the Animal is Down...Antelope, is the Best Thing You can put in Yer Mouth!
I've eaten a LOT of Deer...Most Taste like Sage Brush...

If I ever get another chance to try it I will.

[Land_Owner]

Hunter Evolution
Shooter Stage is about “getting-in some shooting.”
Limiting-Out is obvious.
Trophy Stage is a logical experience progression.
Method Stage is a subset that not everyone goes through.
The pinnacle is Sportsman Stage where the hunter isn't "mad" at the wildlife anymore.

[BUGEYE]

Hunter Evolution
Shooter Stage is about “getting-in some shooting.”
Limiting-Out is obvious.
Trophy Stage is a logical experience progression.
Method Stage is a subset that not everyone goes through.
The pinnacle is Sportsman Stage where the hunter isn't "mad" at the wildlife anymore.

Good 

[Land_Owner]

I wish I could call that "thinking" my own, but not being "mad at the wildlife anymore" came from my 28-year Host and personal family friend in South Carolina, the finest man I have had the privilege of knowing, and a (now retired after a 43 year career) Wildlife Biologist for the SCDNR.  You are correct, that one is GOOD!

[oldandslow]

I cannot remember ever being mad at wildlife but I did do a lot of shooting and eating of it and if my wheel bearings wouldn't have become rusty I still would be. I have always fed the critters that live around me and continue to do so and love to watch them go about their day. My hunting now is done with a jeep and long zoom camera. Man evolved as a predator and animals are prey. There is not one thing wrong with being a predator and eating your kill.

[Dee]

I've not been able to recall ever being mad at any wild animals either. A few horses, a lotta bird dogs, and countless humans yes.

[ironglows]

I don't know that my father ever
got to use a gun much until the
army handed him one.
They were pretty poor, so I imagine
his daddy had the only one.
I only had bb guns as a kid, but
I still managed to pop a few squirrels.
The only "real" gun I ever shot when
he was alive was this Winchester 22
sitting behind me. It hasn't been fired
in a long time, and would probably do
ok still

   Ranger;
  "Come on man"..  Take that old Winchester out into the  woods and wring it out a bit.  If you haven't shot in some time ...or haven't shot THAT gun in a while..you're in for a treat.  An old, single shot .22 can be More fun than a barrel of monkeys..

[BUGEYE]

I don't know that my father ever
got to use a gun much until the
army handed him one.
They were pretty poor, so I imagine
his daddy had the only one.
I only had bb guns as a kid, but
I still managed to pop a few squirrels.
The only "real" gun I ever shot when
he was alive was this Winchester 22
sitting behind me. It hasn't been fired
in a long time, and would probably do
ok still

   Ranger;
  "Come on man"..  Take that old Winchester out into the  woods and wring it out a bit.  If you haven't shot in some time ...or haven't shot THAT gun in a while..you're in for a treat.  An old, single shot .22 can be More fun than a barrel of monkeys..

Yeah, I have a tube fed bolt action but when I feel like a woods walk, my single shot cricket is the one I choose.

[ulav8r]

I have been mad at crows, blue jays, and squirrels in the pecan trees.  Also snapping turtles in the pond.

[orerancher]

I'm pretty mad at The Damn Elk!

[BUGEYE]

I get pretty mad at snakes.

[Dee]

I get pretty mad at snakes.

I hadn't thought of snakes. I don't like snakes.

[BUGEYE]

I get pretty mad at snakes.

I hadn't thought of snakes. I don't like snakes.

All snakes are poisonous.
All snakes can bite you from either end.
All snakes are out to get me.

[Dee]

I get pretty mad at snakes.

I hadn't thought of snakes. I don't like snakes.

All snakes are poisonous.
All snakes can bite you from either end.
All snakes are out to get me.

Agreed. Snakes can cause me to hurt myself.

[ironglows]

I get pretty mad at snakes.

I hadn't thought of snakes. I don't like snakes.

All snakes are poisonous.
All snakes can bite you from either end.
All snakes are out to get me.

Agreed. Snakes can cause me to hurt myself.

   ..And watch out for those "hoop snakes"!  You know, the kind who put their tail in their mouth..and roll like a hoop, to catch you.  I have heard that they are really fast !  ..you can't outrun them...

[Dee]

LOL, haven't heard that hoop snake tale since I was a kid.

[ironglows]

LOL, haven't heard that hoop snake tale since I was a kid.

  When I was just a kid..(about 6 to 10 years), an elderly lady named Bertha, lived nearby.  I and my brothers used to visit her regularly, because she made some tasty apple pie and oatmeal cookies.
  We could have a piece of pie or a couple cookies, but we had to eat it there, and listen to her 'tales of the past', of which the hoop snakes were one of them.

  Between hoop snakes, and her "coughing up one lung" when she was 23, some of the tales are not easily forgotten...

[Dee]

My grandmother used to describe "hoop snakes" to me and my cousin.

[BUGEYE]

LOL, haven't heard that hoop snake tale since I was a kid.

  When I was just a kid..(about 6 to 10 years), an elderly lady named Bertha, lived nearby.  I and my brothers used to visit her regularly, because she made some tasty apple pie and oatmeal cookies.
  We could have a piece of pie or a couple cookies, but we had to eat it there, and listen to her 'tales of the past', of which the hoop snakes were one of them.

  Between hoop snakes, and her "coughing up one lung" when she was 23, some of the tales are not easily forgotten...

LOL, I too heard the hoop snake tale and coughing up a lung, and both were from an old woman who lived near us when I was a kid.
It's funny, you and I were separated by hundreds of miles as kids but the stories we heard were the same.
And I'd bet that the folks out west heard them too.

[ironglows]

  What is this hangup some old ladies apparently have, concerning lungs !

[BUGEYE]

  What is this hangup some old ladies apparently have, concerning lungs !

I think they’ll say anything to keep you around for company.
Old folks get lonely.

[DEACONLLB]

I have heard of hoop snakes, they grab their tail and roll after you then there was the whip snake that would grab you by the pants leg and give you a spanking or so grandmother said and of course grandmothers don't lie. Then there were the panthers that would eat you if you went off in the woods, any way those stories kept us kids very close to the house till we learned better

Deaconllb