Made Meat This Morning

Well, it's opening morning of muzzleloader season in Oklahoma. For years I passed up smaller bucks waiting for "The Big One" but 2 years ago I finally realized that doing that has left my family an empty freezer more often than not.  I now adhere to the old adage "never pass up on the first day what you would shoot on the last day", so this morning about 8:35 l made smoke and dropped this smaller 7 point.

The old .54 flinter did it again.  I hope to put about 3 more deer in the freezer this year.  Good unadulterated meat, not that poison stuff they sell in the store.
Hope you all have a great hunting season.
Watch yer top knot.
TC

Winter With The Crow

I want to share a couple of songs with you.  These songs are by Pete Kosky and if they don't tug at your very soul I figure you and me are cut from different cloth.
Enjoy and God Bless
TC

Winter With The Crow
https://youtu.be/a9171Ef4dLA

The Cordelle Line/Colter's Run
https://youtu.be/ajJfZkYoX1M

October 17th; A Very Special Day

I wanted to post this yesterday but didn't have time.

October 17th is a VERY special day! Yes, the American patriots won the battle of Saratoga on October 17th, 1777 and that is very important. But infinitely more important, on October 17th 1981 my Darling Sweetheart became my Darling Bride!  And what a blessing to me she has been for the last 36 years!  Four years after we were married she (along with our 3 year old daughter) went with me to Montana and Wyoming so that I could pack horses and mules and guide elk hunters.  She went with me to rendezvous and dove right in to a life of camping, hiking and distance running.  While not a hunter herself, she always supports me in my hunting addiction and cooks what I bring home.
She has given me two wonderful children, Bridget who has published three novels, is married and has given us two wonderful grandchildren, and Ben who is a Navy Gunner's Mate Veteran and now a civilian gunsmith.
What a woman!
Linda, thanks for putting up with this old mountain man!  I love you with all my heart and soul and I'm looking forward to the next 36 years!

Shooting The Leman Trade Rifle

I'm pretty happy with the way this rifle turned out. The lock is fast and it throws very good sparks. The gun balances well and feels trim in the hands.  It shoulders nicely and recoil,  even with a heavy load, is not bad.
This gun is for sale and I will have it on the table at the Tulsa gun show November 11th and 12th.  Also, I will try and get some close up pictures on the For Sale page in a few days.
TC

Leman Trade Rifle Finished

I finished building a full stock,  flint Leman Trade Rifle yesterday.  It has a .54 15/16 x 36 inch barrel and an L&R Late English lock.
It started out like this.

And ended up like this. 

I plan to shoot it in the next couple of days and I will post video of the first shots in a few days.  Also, I'll take more pictures and post them on the "For Sale" page.
Until then, watch yer top knot.
TC

Close To Heaven

Bob Nolan was with The Sons Of The Pioneers for many years. This is one of the songs he wrote.

Close to Heaven

(Bob Nolan)

Long, long ago I learned to love the rolling hills and open plains.

To me it’s heaven.

There, if the sun is shinin’ down or if the dark clouds send the rain,

It’s still like heaven.

Refrain:

Here comes the prairie sun. It’s morning!

I wake and give the world this warnin’,

I’m mighty glad that I was born in

A land that’s close to heaven.

All through the day the plains I’m roamin’.

My heart has nowhere to be homin’.

I make my camp at twilight’s gloamin’

And there I’m close to heaven.

There where the moonbeams spread a blanket o’er the ground,

I make a bed and lay this weary body down

And let sweet dreams come to console me,

The tender arms of nature ‘fold me

Against her heart to ever hold me and keep me close to heaven.