Our Thanksgiving plans changed at the last minute with the virus surge. While not concerned about the small group of family members, the 4 hour travel each way with necessary gas and restroom stops on a busy travel corridor seemed senselessly risky.
Our day was saved when two dear friends called and said their two sets of married children were opting not to travel from the larger urban areas they lived in to come to their parents rural home. Thus a 20 lb. turkey and all the fixin's was begging for attention. We could drive over and back easily with no stops from our isolated rural home to theirs and thus, the day was splendid. Dear friends, good food, watching 9 turkeys scratch about their yard all afternoon. Jim and I in one room flappin' our bourbon moistened gums and the ladies in another room with glasses of post prandial wine catching up on everything.
On the drive home we saw deer everywhere, just out and moving. Made it home without incident.
I think I will rebuild a couple of tip ups today, take down the Thanksgiving yard decoration and find the Christmas stuff. Probably time to put the fabric back on the flip over portable ice shanties. I store the fabrics and covers in screw top 8 gallon pails where they are absolutely safe from mice.
The up coming weather forecast, while colder, does not hold promise of ice any time soon. So far I have built 3 rods, spooled some fresh line, sharpened hooks, ordered a few things on line, cleaned and organized the tackle bucket and boxes. The urge is getting stronger daly.
What hunting I did last week was with a .33 Winchester lever gun, a politically incorrect black rifle in 7.62x39 with a scope, and a 1873 replica in .44 w.c.f. loaded with Big Lube bullets and Olde Einsforde. Of course the only deer I saw I had the black rifle in my hands, the Milazzo two stage 2x2 lb. trigger is just a joy to use. I took a Rocky Doc approved neck shot at 72 long paces with the predictable result. I lost about 3 oz. of edible meat. Had I been holding either of the other two rifles I would not have attempted that placement.
Enjoy the left overs gang!
