All hogs big and small

Just got back from an Alabama hog hunt with a couple buddies Chris and Bruce from work. Alabama Hog Control just got control to rid this property of hogs, with a night permit. Which for us it meant that besides doing a regular day hunt, we would get to go night hunting with AR's in 308 and FLIR thermal imaging scopes. For those who have never looked at or hunted with one, it's hard to put in words other than "Fu&;%#g Cool". However the terrain was so thick as to be almost impregnable. Friday night Bruce and I nailed a big sow in the road, but 2 bounds and we couldn't find her until morning  and then just barely.

 Salvage the tenderloins and on to more hunting. Which was tough, muddy, and sooooo much fun. Chris got one our sows piglets the next day. Young tender and tasty. Saturday night Chris and Bruce popped another one with the thermal scopes, but thick brush swallowed it up. As always the camaraderie was real gem. Barry and Bart worked hard for us, even though the hog count didn't quite reflect it. I can't wait to go again 

By-Tor and the Snow Dog

It has been a real winter this year. Cold and snowy like winter should.  Really, if you ain't bitchin' about it, it really ain't winter. So another snow didn't stop me and Bub for taking tour of the neighbor hood. As soon as we left I realized it showing harder than I though. But we pushed on and relished the beauty. Nothing as pure as fresh snow. Need to get back to the cabin and finished getting ready for an Alabama hog hunt. Tawny got me some gravel for Christmas, so I thought I'd get her a wild boar for Valentines Day. Screw chocolate,  unless it's wild boar bacon cover in chocolate. Mmmmm. I'll update next week with a pile of hogs.

Happy Holidays

I can say this has been a happy holiday for us. I've been off since the 20th of December and still don't have to be back until the 7th. So been getting some stuff done. Tawny got me 14 ton of gravel for the drive which we extended, yeah. Replaced the front piece on my truck I busted running into Tawny's truck over deer season. Been playing my new dulcimer I got 3 weeks ago. Super sweet and smooth action on a ebony fret board and extra fancy cherry bottom, with Fishburn EQ pick ups. We even made a short IN trip, even got to see our dear old friends Ivan & Vivian. It was so good to sit and talk as the're closest thing I've got to parents. Memories of Mom and Dad with them were warm and not sad. I got cold chills looking at the sidewalk in front of their house and vividly remembering riding bike without training wheels down that very sidewalk. Tawny got a t shirt that says "yantalay" which is a Cherokee word that she used from calling the cat to telling me to shut up. Not sure really what it means, because Tawny really won't tell, just a wry grin.

 It was a big laugh and a good look with her "Ted" hat, though Bub looks good in it. Speaking of that, I want to shout out to everyone on Bub's 14th birthday yesterday. Can't do steps well, little more grumpy, and more deaf, but he couldn't be happier. Lets shoot for 15. I hope everyone has had a good of holidays as us. For the ones we missed, I miss you all and hope to see you on the next trip to IN. For those who depend on others, always be prepared to be let down.

Another deer season

Has come and gone. Another fat doe makes my total 62, but that big buck has still eluded me. I did see a big buck at Hoberts getting his ass kicked by one on his mules. We even got snow, which for me hunting deer in the snow is the best, nothing more beautiful to me is  newly fallen snow. I should of had 2 more does, but my gun was sighted in high as I expected some farther shots and overshot both times at close range. Oh well, still got meat in the freezer. The Ranger was a big help and fun too.

Otway, Then & Now

While researching the history of Otway and the railroad, I found these 2 old pictures of town. I even found a Utube video of the last steam train to come by the house in 1990. It was cool. Our little store called "The Depot" is were the old depot use to be in town. I was torn down in the 80's and store built on the same spot. New county bridge is done, ready for traffic, now just get the covered bridge ready. The county got the bridge from an other they abandoned. Painted it, new concrete abutments, and road deck, lot of money for a bridge to nowhere. The railroad access road lets use run the Ranger to town and the bridge without have to go in the road and then deal with Johnny Law.

Where's Waldo

On our way to Wayne NF to go riding again this little doe walks across the road and stop on the side for nice fall picture. But after downloading I looked at it said "Where's the deer". It's right there but you got to believe.

New Bridge

Standing on the deck enjoying the warm sun, I noticed a silver gleam  at the cover bridge. I woke up Bub and we went to investigate. We got a new used bridge from the county somehow. I guess the historical society want to totally restore the bridge to vehicle traffic. We'll see. Just another day in Otway.