Brian Albert Broom

Light Getting Dimmer

2009-11-15T10:43:00.002-06:00

For a while there, the powder and primer situation was looking a little better, now I'm not so sure.

I may have mentioned this before, but a few weeks ago I was looking at powder and decided I should pick up another pound of Reloder 7 since I only have a half pound left and I use a good bit of it. When I saw the price, I changed my mind. $36 for the same powder I paid $21.50 for about two years ago. You've got to be kidding.

I've also been watching Hornady pistol bullets on Cabela's website. I needed some 180 grain XTP's since I'm down to about 100. For a while there, some weights were available, but the 180's stayed backordered. Well, I wasn't too worried since they were starting to filter back onto the cyber-shelves. Now there are none available in any weight.

With that in mind, I thought it would best to see what the primer situation was at Cabela's. (not that I would order any, that hazardous fee is a price killer and I try to shop with our advertisers whenever possible) Backordered...10-11 weeks.

I'm not sure how it looks locally, but I don't like the looks of what I'm seeing on my computer. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little dimmer.

I guess before I overly concern anyone, we need to remember that this is the start of deer season and probably the highest demand period of the year.

There is also the scalper situation. I don't know it to be a fact, but I strongly suspect there are some folks out there trying to capitalize on the current events. I saw a post on an outdoors site recently where a guy was trying to unload a few thousand generic brand primers for something like $55 per thousand. Now, I don't know what primers go for in his area, but premium primers here are substantially less than that. I suspect others are wary of him as well since that post went up over a week ago and he has not had a sale yet.

I guess I agree with what I'm hearing many other hunters saying, "buy what you need and leave some for the next guy."

If I'd Known Then...

2009-11-12T10:20:00.004-06:00

I've trying to scrounge up brass to reload and trade for a few days and my dad said he had some brass from bullets I had reloaded for him some time ago.

He brought them over yesterday morning when he stopped by to pick up some pecans in my yard and I was surprised to see some were in the first box of 45-70's I ever purchased. I had gotten them at Jackson Sports (Remember? Out on Lakeland Drive?) when I bought my first 45-70 rifle, about 15 or more years ago.

Check the price. Yep, $17.95 a box. And at the time, I thought that was highway robbery. My next purchase was an RCBS reloading kit and dies. It was the only way I could combat wallet-busting prices like that!

If I'd known then what I know now, I would not have a dime invested in a bank or my 401K. Every extra penny would have been spent on ammunition and I would be retired about right now!

.357 Handi Finally A Shooter

2009-10-31T15:09:00.003-05:00

If you've read my earlier posts, you probably know I've been toying with 360 Dan Wesson bullets in my .357 Handi-Rifle. The chamber in most .357 Handi's, if not all, is way longer than it should be so the 360 Dan Wesson cases fit without a problem.

Since there is little data out there for this short-lived cartridge, I was pretty much starting from scratch. After a lot of research and advice from others on the www who were familiar with the cartridge, I started working up loads with Lil' Gun and 180 grain Hornady XTP's.

After testing loads from about 15 grains up to 21, I settled on 19 grains of LG. (Note, none of the loads showed any signs of too much pressure and all casings were easily extracted.) Up until this week, the best groups I was getting were around 2 inch groups. That is OK, but not what I was looking for. After probably putting 80 to 100 rounds through the gun, it finally all came together with one inch groups this week. I feel the rifle is more accurate than that, I just need to get it on a more solid rest to really see.

So, one gun ready for deer season, two more to go. (Though both of the others just need to have the scopes checked)

If you have a .357 Handi and are interested in trying the 360 DW's, contact Starline Brass on the internet. They are waiting to get enough orders on the brass so they can go ahead and make a run. Also, if you want to know more about this little project of mine, just go back through my earlier posts.

Perfect Days Off

2009-10-30T09:05:00.002-05:00

Standing in the woods with a .22 rifle in hand, I knew my couple of days off were off to a good start when I looked to my left and a squirrel was twelve feet away carrying a pine cone up a tree. It seems the soaking wet ground worked (almost) in his favor as well, allowing him to move around on the ground without making a sound. Once he found a place to sit, that was all she wrote for him.

Squirrels everywhere, but on the move. Not good targets for a rifle. Despite that, I still managed to put five in the bag and covered a good bit of ground, seeing deer sign everywhere. Since some of them looked to be about as old as me, which rules out fried squirrels and gravy, I guess I'll try my hand at squirrel stew.

Despite laundry and cooking, I managed to get some bullet work done. Got a few pounds of wheel weights melted and fluxed, got some 45-70's loaded along with some 360 Dan Wessons, and tested out my new mold.

A few months ago, I ordered a 105 grain Lee semi-wadcutter .358 mold for small game hunting. Once I got a chance to try it, virtually every bullet came out offset because the mold was not aligning. I tried cleaning it, removed some traces of metal flakes and still had the same issue. After trying it three different times, I finally called Lee and told a tech guy about the problem. He said to send it in.

Once I finally got around to mailing it, I got a mold back in less than three weeks. I'm not sure if it was the same mold or a new one, but I could see it had been smoked, so I know they tested it before sending it back to me. Works like a charm. I cast over 250 bullets in no time and only had a few that were not aligned and I chalk that up to working very fast and not paying attention. I couldn't be happier with it and can't wait to load a few.

Squirrels in the freezer, several meals cooked, clothes washed, trash taken out, dishes clean and bullets loaded...I'm pretty happy.

Bolonga, Its What's for Dinner

2009-10-22T15:05:00.003-05:00

Had some time while waiting for an assignment in Terry yesterday, I decided to take a look at a bridge I had photographed about a year earlier. It was so unsafe at that point, one of my feet went through it. On the way, I spotted this sign in front of a business. Yes, Bolonga. Do you how hard it is to find good Bolonga? Especially accompanied by pig ears? You can't find that just anywhere.

When I got to the bridge, I opted to park on the side of the road as opposed to actually crossing it in my car. I walked around it taking a look and saw there where old, rotten timbers below it that had been replaced. Guessing the bridge is probably 100 years old, it was probably time. From the top, you can't tell because the replacement lumber looks just like the original lumber that is still in place. It seems the replacement lumber was salvaged from another bridge or structure. Not to worry, the replacement lumber appears to be much newer than the original. Probably no more more than 75 or 80 years old.

This is a picture taken from the bridge, which is on Rosemary Road, east of Terry in Hinds County. This is only about 100 yards from the Pearl River, and you can see the creek is just as high as the river. This will be a better image when the leaves get more of their fall color.

An Opening Day of Firsts

2009-10-19T09:54:00.002-05:00

This opening day of squirrel season was certainly one that resulted in a lot of firsts, though some are nothing to brag about.

It was without a doubt the first opening day where I put on my insulated bibs and coat. That was a nice change from the typical light clothing that still left me sweating and sticky from the 85 degree temperatures and a million percent humidity. (Yes, I'm certain a million percent is possible here.)

The next first was the moisture situation. Every year I can remember, it has been like walking through rice crispies as there were already leaves on the ground...not from the cold weather causes trees to shed, but from lack of rain just drying them up. The weeks of rain before this opening day had the ground so damp I could move around almost silently.

The last of my firsts was the bag at the end of the morning. One small squirrel. I saw a few and somehow missed two (my scope has to be off) so that was a bit embarrassing. My dad on the other hand, killed four and saw several more, so I don't think the low number I saw is indicative of the overall population this year.

I just chalked up my squirrel to quality, I killed a nice young tender one. One of those beats four old and tough ones any day. At least, thats my story.

New GPS...Where Have I Been?

2009-10-12T20:47:00.006-05:00

I don't really have a fear of technology or electronics, but there are times when I just don't see a need or choose to not use them. GPS's kinda fell into both of those categories. So, until about five months ago, I had never really touched one. I got an older unit from my dad and learned some of the basic functions. Then I used one to sail from New Orleans to Biloxi. I was pretty well hooked then. After reading about the newer units and their capabilities, it was time to invest.

I chose the Garmin 76CSX for it's mapping capabilities, the fact that it is waterproof and just as important, it floats. Considering it will be used mostly on a boat, those were all key in my decision. When I opened the box, I immediately could tell the user manual was woefully incomplete. It really needed more detail, but I finally got most of it. For those of you who are more familiar with GPS's and have used newer units, the learning curve should not be so steep.

While it is a great unit that offers an electronic compass, WAAS, a barometric altimeter and other features, the description of the pre-loaded map is optimistic at best. That leaves you buying more maps. There are road maps, topo maps and nautical charts that can be purchased. I got a Blue Chart of the Gulf of Mexico and am happy with it so far. If the others are as complete and accurate as the Blue Chart, I think most people will be pleased. Be aware, the maps aren't cheap.

My first chance to try it out was on my way to Madisonville from New Orleans. Everything on the Blue Chart appeared correct. Depth soundings seemed correct, markers were accurate and channels were where the chart had them. Worked like a champ.

Another addition to the unit was a Ram mount. The one I got attaches to anything tubular up to one inch. So it is ideal for bicycles, motorcycles, ATV's or, in my case, a stanchion in the cockpit of a boat. It is solid, holding while we pounded through five foot waves in a storm. It never budged.

Now I can see it getting some use while deer hunting. All I have to do is use the tracking feature beforehand and I shouldn't get lost on my way to a stand in the dark.

Wondering what to get me for Christmas? Topo map would be a nice stocking stuffer.

Madisonville By Boat

2009-10-09T13:51:00.004-05:00

Spent a couple of days in Madisonville after sailing there from New Orleans. Pretty great place to check out. I'm including a link to a quick video I shot while there. It's worth watching to see the osprey eating a pogie.

BTW, I have no idea how Tchefuncte is pronounced, I heard several pronunciations.

Do I Need All That Stuff?

2009-10-09T09:01:00.002-05:00

Trying to wind down last night and get to sleep, I turned on one of the hunting channels. While I watched kids killing elk, a hunt I'll probably never get to do, the usual commercials came on. Then a new one came up. (It may only be new to me, I rarely watch television) Yes, scent killer products, a whole line of them. Laundry detergent, dryer sheets and then for the last step, spray to use on clothing before going into the woods. Then the soap and shampoo. Is this excessive?

If I just used the detergent, why do I need the dryer sheet? If I've used both of those, why do I need the spray? Now, I do use a hunting soap when I shower before hunting, and so far as I can tell, it seems to work. On my hunting clothes, I wash them in a scent free detergent that has baking soda in it. It is not specifically designed for hunting and can be found at most grocery stores. It seems to work, too. Then I keep my clothes and gear in a water-resistant duffle bag to keep other smells off of them. That's it. Now this is so simple, you're probably wondering how I ever kill a deer.

Like I've blogged about before, I've sat in a tree with several bucks and does milling around below. Most walking right over the path I came in on and some actually coming to my area on the same trail I came in on. Not one had a clue I was there.

Do the hunting de-scent products work? I'm quite sure they do. I just don't know if all that, five different products, is really required.

I guess the reality is, if it makes a hunter more confident, by all means use it. Me, I'm still just not sure I need all that.

.357's and 45-70's

2009-10-08T14:21:00.004-05:00

I've been doing a good bit of internet reading on .357 Handi-Rifles recently. Various sites, forums, etc. (You'd be surprised what you can find out on certain forums. For instance, I learned that the TV show Jericho was canceled by the government because it depicted a failed U.S. I'm pretty sure that guy sees a conspiracy behind every tree. Can you say paranoia?)

Anyway, back to the topic. I ran across some guys using 180gr. Hornady Single Shot Pistol bullets by Hornady. They were using them in Handi-Rifles with .357 Maximums and .360 Dan Wessons. A question came up about using the bullet in a regular .357 Handi. Some felt the speed may not be adequate to make the bullet perform.

So, I started wondering and called Hornady. The tech I spoke with said it will perform for hunting between about 1,600 fps up to around 2,600 fps. So, for single shot rifle and single shot pistol use, it will certainly work with a regular .357 Magnum using hot loads.

While I had him on the phone, I asked why Hornady brass used in the 45-70 LeverEvolutions was shorter than standard 45-70 brass. He explained it was because of the bullet length. The case had to be shortened a bit so it will properly feed in lever action guns. He went on to say that load data using that particular bullet and brass is on their site. If you reload the cases with standard data and other bullets, remember the case is shorter and your pressure will be slightly higher than listed.

So there we go. Now I have another bullet to test. I need at least 48 hours in a day to get everything done!

Taking a Break

2009-10-06T14:18:00.003-05:00

I've been pretty busy lately, so blogging has suffered a bit.

The good news is I made a trip sailing from New Orleans to Madisonville. So, some the next few blogs will be about that. At about 21 nautical miles from New Orleans, its a good weekend trip and the Tchefuncte River is absolutely beautiful. The houses along the river are certainly something to envy and once you get further upriver, it turns to a cypress-lined paradise.

We stayed at Marina Del Rey, which has some pier issues, at least in the section we docked at. The finger piers are only about 12 feet and the piling situation is really bizarre as well. The first ones must be fifty feet from the main pier, and about fourteen feet apart. If anyone had a boat long enough to use them, it would be too wide to fit in between them with any margin of error. And trust me, between what current there is and the wind, it can get tricky fast.

The good thing about staying there is the town is a short walk away and bathrooms, showers and a convenience store are only feet away. There are also free docking areas with electrical hookups and water that are basically in the town. We made reservations a while back for Marina Del Rey because we thought the free spots could be full.

Like I said, I'll get into it a bit more when I have time this week.

Cast Bullets and Barrel Leading

2009-09-29T14:17:00.003-05:00

I have cast bullets for a number of years (about 15), but it has been generally limited to muzzleloader bullets until about a year or so ago. After doing some internet research, I figure there are about 100 opinions to every real personal experience. So, if you're thinking about casting bullets for a 45-70, here are some real experiences.

If you read my blog often, you already know I tested a Handi-Rifle in 45-70. The loads ranged from about 1,500fps to well over 1,600fps. The bullets were cast with a Lee mold, 340 grain flat point, with lead from wheel weights that were water cooled. These are plain base bullets, no gas check. Once dried, they were coated with liquid Alox lube and allowed to dry for a day. They were not sized since they drop from the mold at just over .459.

From an earlier blog, you know that I did not enjoy the heavier loads at all and the only real accuracy testing was on the 1,500fps loads, giving me about 1 inch groups at about 75-80 yards. The rest of the bullets that weren't target tested were fired into the ground just to get rid of them.

When I got home, it was time to clean up. Looking down the barrel, it was pretty dirty, as expected from the amount of rounds fired through it. I gave the barrel a good scrubbing with a brass brush and bore cleaner, then started running patches through it. The first patch I ran through dry, then about three or four more with oil and the barrel was just as clean as it is after shooting jacketed bullets. No leading. And, as I mentioned a few weeks back, we had the same results with 293 grain bullets cast with the same wheel weight alloy from a Lyman mold. They were shot from an 1886 Browning and also unsized.

How fast can you go using this combo without leading that takes forever to scrub out? Dunno. But for typical 45-70 hunting speeds and the amount of bullets you would typically shoot to get it sighted in for the season, you should have no leading problems and clean-up should be about the same as jacketed bullets.

Natural Food Source Management

2009-09-27T14:44:00.002-05:00

For most deer clubs, I'm sure 13-13-13 and seed is an annual purchase, and everyone knows that fertilizer really puts the green in a rye field.

Works on pecan trees, too. My dad and I took a 2x2, sharpened one end with a hatchet and hammered it in the ground about six inches deep. Then we filled the hole with a handful of fertilizer. We did a circle around the tree about eight feet or so out from the trunk and put holes in the ground about every six feet or so. Then we did another circle at the edge of the canopy. Now I'm loaded with pecans. (This did cause a problem. The grass under the tree grew about five times faster than the rest of the yard and was ten shades darker green. Looked funky and about made my mower choke! Thick and lush is fine...to a point.)

A few days ago, I saw a persimmon tree at his camp that we were setting a stand up near for bow season. Talk about absolutely loaded! I've never seen so many on one tree. Same deal. He used the same method on that tree as well. I'm sure all the rain this summer helped a lot as well.

This was just something I had never thought about; fertilizing natural food sources for deer, not just the plots. Now I'm wondering about white oaks. Why not pick a few out and fertilize them as well? It does not take a lot of fertilizer or time. The pecan tree we fertilized is pretty big and I think we did it in thirty minutes or maybe less.

I guess after deer season I'll give it a try.

Squirrels and Photos

2009-09-25T13:09:00.003-05:00

If you haven't seen it, I posted a gallery of images I shot yesterday while traveling on US 61 between Vicksburg and Rolling Fork. Nothing outrageous, but a few interesting things along the way.

Also, if you go down to "More Galleries" you'll see we have dramatically increased our gallery space. So keep the pictures coming. On a similar note, you may have noticed some problems on our site. I think everything is working now, but if I overlooked anything let me know and I'll try to see it is fixed as quickly as possible.

While traveling around Deer Creek in Cary, I ran into a fox squirrel who thought he could outrun my car. Typically, this is the type behavior that will get a rodent killed. I just creeped along behind him until he ran off the road and climbed a pecan tree. I tried for quite a while to get a decent picture of him, just didn't work. But, it did remind me that squirrel season is just about here. This morning made the anticipation even worse, cool, foggy, wet...perfect for an opening day and would make that first spider web of the season really stick to your face. Maybe we'll luck out this year with a perfect opener.

More Time on the Range

2009-09-24T05:30:00.001-05:00

I had a little more time to get in some range time and work on my .360 Dan Wesson loads for my .357 Handi-Rifle this week. Things went pretty well.

I got a message from a reader recently and he suggested my 17 grain load of Lil' Gun with a 180 grain Hornady XTP was about the minimum, and I tend to think he is correct. My dad and I had already concluded that the case mouth fouling on my earlier test loads of 15 and 16 grains of Lil' Gun were caused by not having enough pressure to expand the case mouth and seal the chamber.

Now I needed to try some hotter loads. I loaded up 18, 19 and 20 grain loads and tested them. All appeared to function normally. Cases extracted like normal and primers were no more flattened than with the lighter charges. Accuracy with the 18 grain loads appeared to be about the same as what I got with 17 grains, about 2" groups at 75-80 yards. I'm still not overly impressed with that, but I still haven't had a chance to shoot off a good rest. As the charge increased, the point of impact moved higher, as you might expect.

If I get reasonable groups, I'm thinking I will stick with the 19 grain loads for now as it should have plenty of power to kill a deer and with all my other obligations, I'm running out of time before the season starts.

So far, that leaves us with this: 17 Grains of Lil' Gun with 180 grain XTP's and Winchester small pistol magnum primers is the minimum load. 20 grain loads of Lil' Gun appear to be perfectly safe in my Handi-Rifle, showing no negative results. My other conclusion is that if I can get better groups, this will be my all time favorite rifle. It is a joy to shoot and can be used for anything we have in Mississippi, including small game hunting with light .38 loads.

I'm figuring another afternoon or two of shooting and the next stop will be a deer stand.

A Break in the Rain, Don't Try This at Home

2009-09-23T08:16:00.004-05:00

While it looked like rain at first light yesterday, it held off and even got sunny for a while. My dad and I were able to get in the woods and get a stand relocated for bow season. The stand is a 12ft. Ole Man ladder and the lightweight design made it a lot easier than I expected. The one's I've dealt with in the past were heavy enough to make me dread dealing with them, but not this one. In addition to the light weight, he said the trawl-type net seat made it the most comfortable of all his stands. May want to look into one if you're in the market for a new stand. After that, it was time to test some bullets.

Like I said yesterday, I started rethinking my loads and decided to load up some lighter charges for the Handi-Rifle in 45-70 and I'm glad I did. The first load was 41gr. of Reloder-7 with a Lee mold 340gr bullet. Since Handi's have the reputation of liking bigger bullets, I left them unsized at about .459 and a half. Load worked great. Good group, 1" at 75 yards with one flyer, and recoil was very manageable. Next load was 43 grains...BOOOM! Recoil was no longer fun. I couldn't even get a decent group since I was flinching from the recoil. To make matters worse, the fore stock slipped out of my sweating hand on one shot and the scope almost knocked my hat off. Enough of that. I shot the rest of the test loads into the ground and decided we would go with 41 grains at about 1500fps according to my data.

Some may wonder why I always sight in at 75 and 80 yards. Well, I rarely have taken shots any further. The food plots we hunt over are small and when hunting the woods, we usually only get glimpses of deer any further out due to the vegetation under the tree canopy.

Does it kick that bad? Yes, the little 45-70 Handi does. It got noticeably more uncomfortable at 43 grains and punishing at 45 grains. It is related to the Handi size and design. My High Wall in 45-70 is easy shooting, even with 50.2 grains of RL7 and a 300 grain bullet. Will the lighter load effectively kill a deer? Yes. 41 grains of RL7 and a 300 grain Hornady HP have whacked several deer for my son, no trailing required.

Why switch from Hornady's to cast bullets? Easy, have you priced components lately? Reloder-7 is now $36 a pound at Surplus City. Two years ago it was $21.50. Considering I like to shoot, I've got to keep it affordable. The Lee mold only costs $20 for a two cavity and the melting pot is about $50. The best price I can find on comparable Hornady bullets is $20 per fifty. (And I don't see prices doing anything but going up.) Cast 200 bullets with the Lee mold and you've gotten your money back and then some, providing you have someone at an auto tire shop that will save wheel weights for you for free.

Now I need to get out to my shop and load some .360 DW's and hope the rain holds off long enough today so I can get some more shooting time.

45-70 Test, Autumnal Equinox

2009-09-22T05:15:00.002-05:00

If I can get a break in the rain today, I plan to do a little shooting and test some loads in a 45-70, along with helping my dad prep some stands for bow season.

The bullets are 340gr. cast with wheel weights from a Lee mold. The weight, coupled with the flat nose should drop a deer in his tracks. My only concern is the recoil. While there isn't a lot of difference between a 300gr. bullet and a 340 grainer, the 300's kick hard enough in a Handi, so I'm going easy on the powder. I have some loaded with 43, 44 and 45 grains of Reloder-7, but I'm rethinking that and will have a few with 41 and 42 grains loaded before the sun comes up this morning.

One note for those of you using Hornady LeverEvolutions, if you purchased a new box this year, make sure you test your gun. A hunting buddy shot some in his 1886 Browning and they were 6-8 inches high at 100 yards with his sight set as low as it will go. We had to work up some handloads for him. My dad took the rest of the Hornady's, because that is what he has used for a couple of years, and shot some to make sure his scope was on target. You guessed it, 6-8 inches high...in a gun that was already sighted-in for that particular bullet. Coincidence? Don't know.

One other note, today is the Autumnal Equinox. I never really knew what that was, but a little reading revealed it is the day when the sun crosses the celestial equator as it moves south. The day is also about the same length as night. As winter gets here, the sun will be further to the south, which is why ant beds next to trees will generally be on the south side during winter. More sunlight equals more warmth. I had never heard or noticed that until last year when my dad pointed it out while we were picking up pecans n my yard. So far, it has proved to be true. (yet another thing that I'm possibly the last person on earth to know)

I noticed the same thing with termites while working on my boat restoration project. Almost all of the termite damage was on the port side, which faces the south. The starboard side is shaded most of the day in winter.

Well, I'm off to do some loading. I'll report on the results if the rain let's me shoot today.

More Than Just Deer Management

2009-09-21T05:30:00.000-05:00

My photo editor and I have been having the same conversation that goes on in a lot of offices this time of year, food plots. Clover, Tecomate, rye grass and weeds, rain, drought, the whole thing. Habitat management typically fall in there as well. Planting trees and other things to improve the native food sources, etc.

While looking around at the Mississippi Department of Wildlife's site a few days ago, I noticed they have sections dedicated to habitat improvement, but not just for deer. (Am I the last person on earth to know this info was there?) They have instructions for quail, rabbits and others. Good to know. While I don't have enough property to really hunt on or manage, some of you do.

If you are interested in improving the "rabitat" on your land or improve it for a better turkey population, check it out. MDWFP Wildlife Programs

Strong River Spotted Bass Heating Up

2009-09-19T05:30:00.000-05:00

I had a little time in between assignments in Mendenhall recently so I stopped by the D'Lo Water Park on the Strong River to talk with manager Chris McPhail. Not only is he the manager of the park, he is an area native and grew up fishing on the Strong.

The river is known for producing good spotted bass fishing in the fall and McPhail says this year is no exception. According to McPhail, the fishing started heating up a week or so ago with some nice fish being caught and he says that it will continue to get better until we start getting near-freezing temperatures.

The fishing comes at a good time as the summer is over and the odds of getting a camping space are good. The park has RV hook-ups, primitive camping and cabins for rent. There are also shower facilities, canoe rental and shuttle service. You can check out the facilities at this link.
D'Lo Water Park

Like I've written about before, you can also paddle downstream and camp on one of the sandbars and paddle back upstream to the park. You might even work out shuttle service for an over-nighter on the river. McPhail said the river has also been drawing more and more interest among fly-fishermen due to the scenery, quality fishing and because it is close to Jackson area.

While I was there, I saw some of the images McPhail has shot of the river over the years. He has some really nice photographs and was nice enough to give me a CD with a selection of pictures on it. I'm putting a couple here and a gallery on the Outdoors home page gallery section. If you are a photographer, amateur or professional, the coming weeks will offer opportunity to shoot some great images and get away for a day or a weekend.

Shrimp Time

2009-09-18T05:01:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in my last post I was in Biloxi picking up shrimp. I caught a little grief from a friend who was trying to figure out why I was driving to Biloxi for them when I could get them right there in New Orleans. Here's the deal, I try to always support the fishermen in our state. I always have. It is even more important now because the Coast economy was bad after Katrina then we got hit with a recession. When it comes to andouille, crawfish and a few other items, we almost always buy those in Louisiana to support them as well.

Prices looked pretty good. About $2.50 for medium and $3.50 for large. If you are buying a lot, like fifty pounds or more, you can probably get them down 20 to 30 cents per pound and you can usually get them to throw in a few extra pounds.

If you want to head down there and buy some, they will have shrimp until about November, so you've got a few weeks. I get mine at Biloxi Small Craft Harbor. You can pull into the bottom floor parking at Hard Rock Casino and there are parking spaces next to the pier for shrimp buyers. To make life even easier, fishermen there have carts for you to roll your cooler on. The one I used even had a hydraulic lift so you could raise your cooler and push it into your car. Too cool.

Some of the boats will also have fish for sale, so don't pass that up if you go. I have never seen anyone selling crabs there, but I guess they do, I've just never asked.

Now I'm heading them. All you need is a bucket for the heads, a cooler with some ice for the headless shrimp and some beer. Now you're ready. About one third of the weight is the head. So, expect about twenty pounds of headless shrimp for every thirty pounds you buy.

Once headed, I weigh them and gently drop one pound into a zippered freezer bag that is about one-third filled with water. Gently pouring them in the bag, plus the water, helps keep the tails from poking holes in the bags. BTW, I have found Glad freezer bags work the best for me (they seem to be more puncture resistant) and they are also cheaper. With all the air squeezed out of the bag, I put them in the freezer and I try to keep them spread out so they freeze faster. If you stack them, it could take days for them to freeze solid.

Right now, the most plentiful size is large, with few mediums available. In October, the jumbo whites will be coming in. So depending on what size you need, you may want to keep that in mind.

Lincoln County Wildlife Expo This Weekend

2009-09-17T05:30:00.000-05:00

Here is one I was not aware of until recently, The Lincoln County Wildlife Expo. From what I've read, it was annual event in years past, but was discontinued until last year.

It is supposed to have over 60 vendors, food, activities and lots of door prizes. Hours are 5pm-9pm Friday and 9am-7pm Saturday at the Lincoln County Multi-Purpose Facility in Brookhaven.

There is a 2008 big buck contest and official scoring will be offered by the Magnolia Records Club for any deer killed in Mississippi in any previous season. There will also be a 3-D archery shoot and a chili cook-off as well.

$5 admission for adults, $3 for children 7-12 and free for 6 and under.

The address is 1096 Beltline Dr. N.E. in Brookhaven. For more info, including a complete event schedule, contact 601-823-9064.

High Tide, Low Clarity

2009-09-16T11:19:00.003-05:00

Had a couple days off and lots of things to do. First order of business was to head to New Orleans to get a boat project done and take some reloading supplies to a friend who is trying to get ready for deer season.

When I got to the marina, the boats seemed to look bigger. They looked like they were two feet taller. On top of that that, the finger piers looked about two feet shorter. Yep, the water in Lake Pontchartrain was up by about two feet. Now I was aware they had been getting a lot of rain, but I didn't expect this. I had to use a three-step ladder to get on board.

I talked with a guy from a neighboring boat and he said the rain had not helped, but the real culprit was the east wind blowing water in the lake through the Rigolets and there had been high tide warnings all week. Once the wind changed, he expected the water to drop.

A few hours later, the wind switched and came out of the west. By the next morning, the water had dropped at least eight inches.

I left New Orleans that morning and headed for Biloxi to pick up our annual supply of shrimp. Coming over the I-110- loop, I could see pools of standing water on the beach all the way back to the seawall and the Gulf was choppy and about as dirty as I have ever seen it. I don't think that is going to help the fishing at all.

Looking at some reports, the rain hasn't helped down there either. I did hear a few good reports in between rains and heard a good report on specks in the Jordan River. I hope it gets right soon, my favorite time of the year to fish on the Coast in just about here.

Filet-O-Fish

2009-09-12T05:31:00.001-05:00

Just read a story about how certain waters that were once thought to hold an inexhaustible supply of fish now appears to be in danger of overfishing. The species is the hoki and the waters are near New Zealand. The world's appetite for fish appears to be insatiable and according to the story, has led to declines in species such as red snapper, orange roughy, monkfish and tuna.

If you have ever eaten a Filet-O-Fish at McDonald's (which, according to the story, is hoki), you would think the hoki population was perfectly safe. That is about the worst sandwich I have ever eaten and I can't believe anyone would eat a second one. Yuck.

Snapper and tuna? Well, I'm not a big fan of red snapper. Not that I dislike it, there are just other fish I like better. Tuna? I have done my part to cause a decline in their population.

Here's my feeling on the topic. If you, or a relative, or someone you know doesn't catch the fish, you don't get any, except for catfish since they are farmed. I will throw in a 65 or older clause, providing you were once an avid fishermen, you can have fish.

Don't know how to fish or where to start? Call Sonny Schindler at Shore Thing Charters. He'll get you on some fish.

My suggestion to McDonald's. Learn to cook fish. You're frying it, how hard can that be? Then, use only U.S.- raised catfish and stop importing. (Support the folks that made you what you are, OK?)

Van's

2009-09-11T05:00:00.000-05:00

I have to admit, it has probably been close to 10 years since I have been to Van's. That is largely due to the location, which really isn't near any of my usual travels. But yesterday, I shot an assignment nearby and I decided to check it out.

Wow, it has grown! Tons of guns, lotsa camo and other clothing, new and used treestands.... I didn't even make it over to the fishing area. I now see why they have such a loyal following.

The important stuff.

Pretty good amount of primers. Small rifle, large rifle magnum, small pistol magnum, all there. No large rifle, which I needed, and there is a 1,000 primer limit. Another sign of the shortage is that they only had Federal and Remington. At this point, I'm not gonna be picky.

Powder selection looks pretty good as well. Found Lil' Gun, IMR 3031 and a couple of others that have been scarce. Prepare yourself for the price. It is well over the $19 or so per pound I paid two or three years ago. But, that is the same everywhere.

Bullets. Hummmm. The bullets I looked at, namely Hornady's, were 30 percent more than what Cabela's charges. That is substantial. My cousin ran into the same issue at Gander Mountain in Hattiesburg recently. Gander Mountain wanted nearly double for a particular bullet compared to the same at Cabela's. Though I almost always choose to support local businesses, I guess I need to start watching my prices a little closer.

News From Calling Panther and Deer Out and About

2009-09-10T05:30:00.001-05:00

Finally made it out to Calling Panther a couple of days ago. Not the best time of year, but any day on the water is a good one.

My dad and I decided to try an different strategy, going deep in the warm water, about 15 feet deep. The first spot was a bust, not even the slightest bite. The next spot looked good at first with a nice male bluegill right off the bat. A minute later, a medium sized female...back in the water. Two minutes later another bite, but didn't connect. After that, nothing. Time to go to old reliable.

Not that every day at the old reliable hole has ended in a cooler filled with bulls, but a lot of them have. Every time we go, the landmark changes as the result of dead trees falling in the water. This time, we had trouble recognizing it. Once we were on it, we made life miserable for a few crickets and waited. And waited. And waited. And waited.

That was it, not another bite. So, needless to say, the boat ramp area was filled with the sounds of some really happy crickets as we drove away.

A morning wasted? Not by a longshot. Any day I get to spend with my dad on the water or in the woods is a day to be remembered, and hopefully we have plenty ahead of us.

What about the deer?

OK, we're going to back up. Enroute to our third stop on Calling Panther, I looked over into a cove and there was a doe and a fawn wading through foot-deep water, some of the foliage around them beginning to turn. I whispered to my dad in a gentle yell and got a look before they were both gone, too. Talk about an awesome sight. I had my video camera on the seat, but there just wasn't time to get it. That would have some great video. Oh well, maybe next time.

Look both ways.

While driving near Wesson yesterday, I passed a doe standing on the shoulder of the road, apparently about to cross it. I slowed down big time and creeped along because I was pretty sure there were some fawns in the bushes behind her. As I got almost to her, she turned to go back into the woods, but stopped and looked over her shoulder across the road. Uh-oh. The fawns were in the woods alright, just on the other side of the road. That scenario always concerns me. So, as always, slow down when you see a deer and look around. The deer you see isn't the only one you need to worry about. (As if anyone reading this needs to be reminded.)