Next Event

What: Chukar Hunt

When: 2/16/25

Where: Sugar Creek

Join our Shooting Team

Patti Beasley Madison Berg Larry Boram Steve Bowman Mike Brown Dennis Campbell Tony Clem

Denny Conklin Tom Conner Doug Denney Mike Dollinger Luke Garcia Robyn Garcia Steve Gaskill

Blaine Guenin Randy Justus Randy Kantner Chris Kelly Larry Long Mike Leonard Kim Polizotto Skip Powers

Laurel Pritt Joanne Randall Andy Robinson Jim Robinson Phil Robinson Gary Ruston Tom Siddall

Pat Shettle Barb & Eric Simpson Jim Snyder Mike Tolley Steve Walker Rudy Zeigler Ron Zeisloft

Blast From The Past

Alexander Henry Antique Hammerless Sidelock Ejector

Alexander Henry Ltd.

Serial Number 6892

Date of manufacture 1895

12 gauge 2 ½ inch proof (original)

12 gauge 2 ¾ inch Birmingham reproof (nitro 2022) – 3 tons or 13,920 P.S.I.

Maximum service pressure – 8,938 P.S.I.

Recommended maximum service pressure – 6,000 P.S.I.

Barrel material – Sleeved, Damascus to steel

Barrel length – 28 inches

Chokes – right .008 light IC; left .013 light MOD

Bore diameter – right .732, left .731

Minimum wall thickness – right .030, left .032

Weight – 6 pounds 13 ounces

Length of pull – 14 7/8 inches

Drop at comb – 1 ½ inches

Drop at heel – 2 inches

Cast at comb – Negligible, at heel 1/8 inch

Trigger pull weight – 3 lbs 8 oz front, 4 lbs 4 oz rear

Exhibited Patents: Purdey bolt patent no. 1104 of 1863, Scott spindle patent no. 2752 of 1865,

Anson forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872, Purdey 3rd bite patent no. 397 of 1878, Deeley

ejector patent no. 4289 0f 1886.

Features: This gorgeous sidelock ejector exhibits the very best quality engraving and finishing in

keeping with the excellent reputation of this renowned Scottish gunmaker. Engraved with 100%

coverage of intertwined vine leaves, stems, and bunches of grapes, the overall effect is simply

stunning! Presented in the Maker’s Oak & Leather case with some accessories. The action is of

normal sidelock design with a 9 pin bar action and intercepting sears. Gold line cocking indicators,

disc set strikers, and automatic top tang safety slide. Bolting is secure with a Purdey double

underbolt working through a Scott spindle via a top lever opener. A Purdey doll’s head extension

provides a third bite. Double triggers, beaded fences, and an Anson forend catch. Double triggers

control the locks and the front trigger is lightly engraved. The top rib is of the smooth, game type

and is engraved:

Alexr Henry Ltd Edinburgh and London

Maker to Her Majesty and The Royal Family

Deeley ejectors are fitted and the barrels are of the brazed dovetail lump construction. The gun

balances ¼ inch ahead of the hinge pin. The original highly figured stock features 22 lines per inch

checkering and boasts traditional London oil finish. Carefully restored to excellent condition, it is

not only beautiful, but highly suitable for either game or clays.

History: Alexander Henry was born to James and Janet Henry in 1818 Scotland. Eleven months

later his father died and in 1820 his mother remarried a blacksmith named John Scott. John’s own

son is listed as a journeyman blacksmith and Alexander as a journeyman gunmaker, age 22 in the

same house in Leith in 1841. This appears to be where Henry’s interest in working with metal was

born.

After serving an apprenticeship to Thomas Mortimer in Edinburgh, he set up shop on his own at

12 South St. Andrew Street, Edinburgh, in 1852. He focused from the start on rifle manufacture,

conducting many experiments into rifling, bullets, and trajectory. In 1860 he took out one of the

most famous patents of the nineteenth century, his rifling system that created the world

renowned Henry rifling. The Henry rifle won competition after competition and soon became

known throughout the world.

When breach loaders appeared in the 1860’s, he invented a falling block action in 1865 that

became the most popular and successful of all such actions. In 1870 he also became the first

gunmaker to patent the ubiquitous snap cap. Finally, after military trials, his rifling was adopted

to create the Martini- Henry rifle of 1871. It was used by the British Army through the late 19th

century.

His rifles, both muzzle- loading and breach- loading, became revered throughout the world for

their accuracy and quality. He supplied them to most of the British and European Royalty, the

Indian Maharajahs, the aristocracy of numerous countries, and many famous sportsman.

Alexander Henry had three sons, anyone of which might have carried on the business. The eldest,

James, was killed in a shooting accident in 1860. The other two, Alick and John, showed no

interest in the business. When their father died in 1894, they put it up for sale within 6 weeks.

One ended up in jail, the other the poorhouse.

It was a sad note on which to end, but the good news is that many fine Henry guns live on,

burnishing their makers name every time they change hands. That is well deserved and fitting,

and perhaps the way he would have preferred it.

Low Pressure Reloading Notes

Those who admire and shoot vintage shotguns are faced with the choice of using either black powder or smokeless powder shells. Depending on the age of the gun, what powder was used in proof testing it, or if the gun has been re-proofed with smokeless powder, all these factors weigh in on that choice. Another key to consider is how much you intend to shoot the gun as black powder shotshells are very expensive.

All of my vintage guns have been re-proofed recently with nitro powder. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE APPROVED TO SHOOT MODERN 11,000+ PSI SHOTSHELLS! It means they were tested to approximately the same pressure of the original black powder proof using smokeless (nitro) powder. The maximum Service Pressure, or the highest pressure shell one should use, is the same as before, whether black or smokeless powder is used.

Since I shoot my vintage guns quite often, low pressure (LP) smokeless loads are the best choice for me. It was a long, winding road of research, discovery, setbacks, and success. I can say for certain I don’t know it all, but I do know much more than when I started this journey. Here is what I know…

The change from black powder to smokeless powder took place over several years in the early 1900’s. Material Sciences advanced to produce stronger steel alloys, and new manufacturing techniques produced better gun barrels at lower cost (though not as beautiful). The age of smokeless powder was born! These advancements allowed for higher pressure loads to be used safely with increased effectiveness for the shooter. The rub comes in here as black powder loads generate roughly half the chamber pressure of a modern smokeless powder shotshell load. Obviously, special loading data is required in order to reduce the chamber pressure of the smokeless powder load to an acceptable level. I will focus here solely on 12 gauge LP shells.

HULLS

Let’s start with the empty shell. The best type is a straight wall hull with a low base wad. The greater internal volume produces a lower pressure compared to a one piece, tapered wall hull. Many older guns have chambers shorter than 2.75 inches. The same rule applies to shell length. A 2.5 inch shell will generate more pressure than a 2.75 inch, all things being equal. If you are trimming down longer shells to produce 2.5 or 2 inch shells, Cheddite shells are best. The plastic is softer and responds well to forming a good crimp further down the tube. Paper shells are fun to shoot with that amazing smell of gun smoke and hot wax! They can be harder to load. The crimps must be firm to get good ignition. After 3 reloads burn throughs appear above the brass. I have not had much success shortening paper shells and getting consistent crimps. But I do love them in my 2.75 inch chambered guns. I just wish they lasted longer!

PRIMERS

I usually use a medium force primer such as the Winchester 209 in my LP loads. The Cheddite 209 seems to be a good substitute, however the cup is fragile and all my hammer guns will at times perforate the cup upon firing. Even some sidelocks occasionally punch through them. The Winchesters are stouter and rarely give way. The low force primers such as the Remington 209P, or the CCI 209 I have avoided. A good ignition and powder burn starts with the primer. An area I want to explore is the high force primers like the CCI 209 Magnum and the Federal 209A. They might improve the powder burn cycle. Can they withstand the strike from a hammer gun??? I do have 1000 Federals on hand - more testing…

POWDERS

The next ingredient, and without doubt the most important one, is the powder. It generally will be slower burning than usual compared to normal loads. In order to perform well in a LP load the powder needs to possess the following traits:

1. Ignite easily

2. Produce pressures near those of black powder while achieving velocities of 1,100-1,200 fps

3. Be relatively unaffected by temperature

4. Produce consistent pressure and velocity shot to shot

5. Burn completely shot to shot

It is hard to check all of those boxes above. They are listed in order of importance to me. I can put up with some unburned powder fowling if everything else is good. Some powders that would work well are currently unavailable. Others are hard to find and very expensive. The gold standard of years ago was IMR PB powder. I still have a little on hand though it was discontinued years ago. Here is a rundown of what works and each powder’s strengths and weaknesses.

12 GAUGE 7/8 OUNCE LEAD SHOT

700X – good ignition, burns fairly clean, good in cold weather

High Gun – good ignition, burns very clean, good in cold weather

International – Fairly good ignition, burns fairly clean, becomes sensitive in cold weather

Green Dot – similar to International above

Clays – Good ignition, burns very clean, good in cold weather, unavailable at this time

Clay Dot – Have not tried it but should be similar to Clays above

12 GAUGE 1 OUNCE LEAD SHOT

Universal – Good ignition, burns fairly clean, good in cold weather

Competition – Fair ignition, burns fairly clean, fair in cold weather, needs firm crimps

Super Handicap – Fair ignition, dirty burn, best in warm weather, needs firm crimps

Some of the powders listed for the 7/8 ounce loads can be used in the 1 ounce loads. However, velocities may need to be lowered to keep the pressures in the LP range. On the other hand, using any of the 1 ounce powders in the 7/8 ounce loads can result in poor ignition and wide swings in pressure and velocity from shot to shot.

WADS

This is another critical choice for creating a great LP load. The wad (or wads) diameter must be a close fit in the hull to achieve good ignition and produce consistent pressures and velocities. Never use a tapered hull wad in a straight walled hull when loading LP ammo. It simply will not work correctly or consistently at low pressure.

Ballistic Products carries an extensive line of wads made by Gualandi which covers 2, 2.5, 2.75, and even 3 inch shells in all gauges. I use several for my 2.5 inch loadings. With 2.75 inch shells factory wads by Federal, Remington, and Winchester, as well as aftermarket brands like Claybuster, Downrange, Duster, and more can also be utilized. The wad fit in the hull, providing a good gas seal, and the correct wad height for a firm crimp are paramount. Also, an active cushioning section along with a shotcup to protect the pellets from bore scrub will produce the best patterns.

SHOT

My experience with LP loads has been limited to lead shot. I have loaded 9, 8.5, 8, and 7.5 sizes for clay target shooting. I have also loaded nickel plated lead for hunting in sizes 8, 7, and 6 for bird hunting. As for charge weights, they range from ¾ ounce to 1 1/8 ounce. A 15/16 or 1 ounce load is my favorite in 12 gauge. At 1150 fps they are pleasant to shoot even in a light double gun. I tend to push my hunting loads a little faster – around 1200 fps. This gives better penetration on the birds and helps offset the cold temperatures effect on velocity.

THE CRIMP

The finishing touch to a great LP load is the crimp. It must be tight in the center (no hole) and at least 1/16 inch deep. This provides firm resistance upon firing to get the powder burn started properly. If the crimp is a little dished inward at the center it’s okay. Dished outward at the center is not okay. You must adjust the crimper die!

There is a good deal of LP loading data either online or in print form. I have found some of it works well and some does not. Hodgdon has quite a bit on their online data center. Alliant has hardly any at all. Several vintage double gun sites list or will share LP loading data. I would consider the source carefully before forging ahead and stuffing “Uncle Joe’s” fantastic load into my vintage pride and joy. It is possible you could lose more than your pride and joy. Like fingers, a hand, eyes, even your life. Don’t let that happen!

I tend to reverse engineer my LP loads. That means I first select a load from a trusted source, knowing full well that it may not be a winner. I next load 10 or so shells with weighed charges. I then shoot them in a modern gun noting of each shot the recoil, report, and barrel fouling. If it passes those tests then I move on to actual ballistic lab testing to measure the velocity, chamber pressure, and the consistency shot to shot of the load. Once I have that data in hand, I can compare that to it’s published data and to any data I already have to see how it stacks up. If then deemed worthy, it can then be loaded and fired in one of my vintage guns with the confidence that all is safe and working well.

Below is a test fire worksheet showing all the data from a very good LP load. This load was tested on 7/19/2021 at Precision Reloading.

I do have experience with LP 16 gauge and 20 gauge loads as well. Perhaps a future article? If you would like additional information or help loading your own LP shotshells please reach out to me. I would be glad to help you get started!

Randy

1/4/25

Pheasant Hunt at Maier 1/12/25

There was a little snow on the ground as we headed north to Bremen Indiana for a pheasant hunt at Maier Pheasant Farm. Upon arriving at 8:30 they had about 2 inches of snow on the ground and the temperature was just below freezing. The wind however, was blowing at 10 mph and and making it's presence known.

Cara was our guide for the morning and she had Sampson with her for the day. He had not hunted for a while and was really excited to get started. He is a very social boy and will come to you for love and a head rub, He is also business oriented when in the field and his focus is sharp when looking for birds! What a great combination in a bird dog!

Here is Sampson on point with the bird hiding in the hedgerow. He has a really good nose. If he points, a bird is there somewhere. If he points again after a flush, there is another bird there. I can vouch for that! He is also a really good retriever. Such a Good Boy!

After shooting a flushing pheasant, I was down wind to a shower of feathers and one actually entered the barrels of my gun. I think that was a first in my hunting almost 60 years. Cara snapped this picture to record the event.

Mike moves in as Sampson holds steady on point. Bird in there! We had some snow flurries for about half an hour during the hunt. The snow on the ground was not melting so footing was good and no muddy boots to deal with. I hate muddy boots!

All of the birds flew well and had strong flushes. A few didn't wait for us to get to them. A couple of birds left us only a few feathers and made a hasty exit. It was still a great hunt, with great dog work, great memories, and great time spend with friends(both 2 and 4 legged) in the field.

Check out those hammers! They are still at it after 130+ years and so are we! Sampson is the star here for without his talent and drive we would be birdless hunters!

Sampson on the sofa warming up after the hunt.

Mike was a big prize winner. As for me, I won the DST, so I'm off and running for 2025!

Happy New Year!

Quail Hunt at Maier 11/24/24

We had nearly a full house of hunters turn out at Maier Pheasant Farm near Bremen, Indiana for our first hunt of the season. I was joined by Mike Tolley, Phil Robinson, Andy Robinson, Kim Polizotto, along with new members Doug Denney and Blaine Guenin. We split into 2 groups on either side of the farm.

We must get our quail hunts in early before heavy snow accumulates up north. The temperatures tend to be lower there as well and that can be hard on both hunters and birds! Our Sunday hunt was fairly mild and about and hour in I realized I was over dressed as the temperature rose.

Phil, Andy, Kim, and Blaine were guided by Cara. She brought Lindie and Sampson to sniff out the birds. As you can see above, they take their work seriously!

Here they go! Pushing through the field! Without the dogs success would be unlikely.

Mike, Doug, and I were guided by Randy and he had Annie ready to go. Patti and I hunted with them last March and she was less than a year old but very driven to hunt. I was amazed that she is now 4 inched taller and even more driven to find birds! She has a great nose and is very good at marking birds and retrieving them. She does seem to enjoy a victory lap with her retrieves! Such a bundle of energy and enthusiasm!

Randy, Mike, and Doug with our first 3 quail. Off to a good start!

Here we are at the finish. Doug and I holding our bonus pheasants. Thanks Randy & Annie!

We all set down and had lunch while the birds were being cleaned. I believe our total bag was 40 quail and 6 bonus pheasants. Not bad for a bunch of old guys(except Andy) who just don't know when to quit! Thanks to Kim for bringing brownies for everyone! Thanks also to Gary, Cara, and Randy, along with Lindie, Sampson, and Annie for a great day In The Field!

We gave out some prizes after lunch and here are the lucky winners:

Randy- Cabela's gift card, $20 value

Mike- 12 ga shells, $10 value

Andy- 20 ga shells, $10 value

Phil- Beef jerky, $4 value

Doug- DST, Priceless value

Welcome to the club Doug! You have decreased the chance of us winning the DS Trophy!!!

Chili & Clays 10/26/24

Twelve members turned out at Kokomo Izaak Walton League in Kokomo for our final club Shoot of 2024. It was a very nice fall day for shooting and the leaves were peaking in color as we walked through the woods. I really enjoy that walk each year and appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds one while shooting the course.

The targets were were set somewhat soft but with a nice mix of angles, speeds, and elevations. One had to focus on seeing each bird and what it was doing to consistently score the pair. There were no super long targets and I shot the entire course with IC chokes. My compliments to the target setter for my 83!

Here we see Larry sending a shot load on it's way to the target. Just a few inches removed from the barrel and traveling about 820 mph, it makes clear just how precise the aim and timing must be to intercept the moving target! BTW - Larry broke that target!

Food is always a part - some say the most important part, of our club events. There seemed to be a lack of appetizers and side dishes this year. I hope we can do better next year. Thank goodness Phil brought the Guacamole or we would have been up the creek! It was delicious! I was able to sample that, a bowl of Chili, a piece of apple pie, and Patti's cheesecake. All very good!

Here are the lucky winners of the prize drawings:

Phil - Free round, $35 value

Tom C - 12 ga shells. $10 value

Dennis - 20 ga shells, $10 value

Patti - Mega cup, $10 value

Kim - BP coaster, $6.50 value

Skip - Beef jerky, $4 value

Larry - BP quail decal, free

Andy - DST, Priceless Value

Jim passes the DST to Andy with a smile on his face! Andy looks a little horny in this picture.

A total chance alignment that makes this picture an instant classic! Could not have planned it better!

Sporting Clays at Coal Creek 9/21/24

Seven members converged at Coal Creek for some shooting action on Saturday September 21st. The weather was ideal and the targets were very interesting around the course, My problem station was a bouncing rabbit that I missed 2 out of 3 times. We shot a lot of true pairs which made for some decisions on which target to shoot first. We also had a station where the pair crossed and so the trick was to break them both with 1 shot. Great fun!

After the sporting clays we sat down for a great lunch in the clubhouse. The homemade pies did not disappoint! They alone were worth the trip! Next time I'm going to get a whole pie for the road.

We were joined for lunch by Denny who shared the latest goings on near Rockville. I was very pleased to finally get to show him my 1895 Alexander Henry sidelock. He looked it over carefully and upon shouldering it concluded, "I think I could shoot that gun". We think a lot alike when it comes to shotguns!

Following lunch we held the prize drawings and here are the lucky winners:

Dennis - Cabela's gift card, $20 value

Steve - Gray's Sporting Journal, $10 value

Denny - 20 gauge shells, $10 value

Rudy - 12 gauge shells, $10 value

Randy - Beef jerky, $4 value

Jim - DST, Priceless value

We then wrapped up the day with some trap shooting from both 16 and 27 yards out. I'm not going to mention any names but the 27 yard line was not my idea! At my age I have enough of a handicap built in! In golf, they have shorter tees for the seniors! I'm just saying...

Great finish to a fantastic day of shooting with friends!

Bunker Trap at Fairfield 9/7/24

Eight shooters descended on Fairfield for an afternoon of shooting at the bunker trap field in Ohio. It was a windy day and the targets moving left went up, the targets going right went down, and the targets going straight away was any ones guess. I guessed a lot! My scores indicated I was correct 50% of the time!

We were shooting the number 8 program which is a bit easier than some others. We had some first time shooters (at bunker) and I believe they enjoyed the challenge. Hopefully, they will continue in the future.

After shooting 4 rounds, we held our prize drawings and here are the lucky winners:

Steve Gaskill - Free rounds, $22 value

Jim Snyder - Cabela's gift card, $20 value

Jim Robinson - 12 ga shells, $10 value

Rudy Zeigler - Gray's Sporting Journal, $10 value

Mickey Moore - Beef jerky, $4 value

Mike Tolley - DST, Priceless value

Mike T is a 6 time DST Winner this year. You can tell by the look on his face! Congrats!

Tag Team Skeet Shoot 7/13/24

We had a great summer day and a great turnout of members for our annual Tag Team Skeet Shoot at Indiana Gun Club. Four new members attended their first TTSS and became part of the tradition that started back in 2010. Welcome Ron Zeisloft, Jim Robinson, Tony Clem, and Mike Dollinger! Also welcome to Jim Snyder who was unable to attend!

A total of 13 shooters took part as teams for 3 rounds of skeet. I must say the competition was closer than ever. Eight teams tied with total scores of 48. They all needed 1 more target to force a shoot-off with the winning team of Tom Conner and Randy Kantner.

We took a break for a pizza lunch along with healthy snacks which Patti provided. Lots of ice cold water hit the spot as well! This was all paid for by RW-RW.

Next, we hit the field for the Singles Shoot-off. Everyone shoots till they miss and last man or woman standing is crowned. Speaking only for myself, the pause for lunch had an adverse effect on my shooting prowess. I quickly became a bystander! lol

The action reached station 5 with Kim, Tom C, and Steve W still standing. When the last shot was fired, Tom had missed none, Kim missed 1, and Steve missed 2.

Jim Robinson won the Number One Teammate award with a total of 26 saves. If he ever gets drawn with Sybil we are all in trouble!

Here are final results of the TTSS;

Winning Team - Tom Conner/Randy Kantner -49

Singles Shoot-0ff - Tom Conner - 6

HOA Score - Tom Conner, Randy Kantner - tied - 70

Number One Teammate - Jim Robinson - 26 saves

We wrapped the afternoon up with our prize drawings and here are the lucky winners!

Patti - 4 tokens, $24 value

Ron - Cabela's gift card, $20 value

Tony - 2 tokens, $12 value

RJ - 12 gauge shells, $10 value

Randy - 20 gauge shells, $10 value

Phil - BP stone coaster, $6.50 value

Steve W - Beef jerky, $4.00 value

Tom S - DST, Priceless value!

Olympic Trap Shoot 6/22/24

We had a hot time at the bunker over at Fairfield last Saturday. The competition was hot as well as the air temperature. There was a nice breeze blowing which kept us going throughout the event. As for the competition, the spread after the first round was 5 targets. After the second round it was 6 targets. After three rounds it was 2 targets top to bottom! After the forth and final round...Well, I'll get to that later!

It is always a shock when those first targets fly. They are so fast! And the angles are so extreme! It gets your attention right away! On the other hand, that is what is so appealing to me. It is an extreme shooting challenge. It is an Olympic sport for that reason. When you shoot a good round at this game, you really have something to be proud of!

Getting back to that last round...only a tie could have been closer. The Gold, Silver, and Bronze were separated by 3 targets top to bottom! What a finish! Mike Tolley took the Gold, Randy Kantner got the Silver, and Rudy Ziegler won the Bronze.

We gave out some prizes at the Shoot and here are the lucky winners:

Patti - free rounds, $22 value

Randy - Beef jerky, $4 value

Rudy - Red, White, & Blue shells, $2 value

Mike - DST, Priceless value

Reel Women-Reel Men

2024 Tweed Shoot 5-19-24

RW-RM sponsored the annual Tweed Side x Side Shoot on Sunday May 19 at Indiana Gun Club. It was a perfect sunny day at the club and 15 shooters took part in this years sporting clays event. The twelve stations used mostly A and B traps, but several C and D traps were in the program as well. Seven stations were report pairs, while 5 stations featured true pairs.

Here is squad 2 looking quite dapper in their hats, caps, and even a tie and jacket! There was a lot of plaid on hand. Maybe the most ever visible at IGC! All adding to the atmosphere of the occasion. Kudos to Michael for keeping that jacket on the entire day!

At any RW-RM event, good food is a high priority. We spared no expense with a catered meal from City Barbeque. Pulled pork and chicken, baked beans, green beans, mac cheese, corn pudding, banana pudding, and chocolate cake! Whoa! It was awesome!

There were some amazing guns on display (and in use) at the event. I'm sorry that the above picture just does not capture the fine details and superb hand craftsmanship that was rendered so long ago. In my opinion each is a work of art in steel and wood. Thank you for sharing those treasures with all!

Congratulations to our podium shooters who love to break targets with horizontally joined barrels!

Randy Kantner - 80, Chris Kelly - 78, Larry Long - 71

Thank you to all our participants this year. I can't wait to for the 2025 Tweed Shoot and I hope to see everyone there again along with a few more!

Sporting Clays at Coal Creek 5/11/24

The weather was near perfect in Terre Haute for our Sporting Clays Shoot at Coal Creek. We had 5 shooters on hand which made for a perfect squad size, if not perfect shooters! The course was still set for registered shooters so we had some tough targets. They were made even tougher by a strong wind that was moving the birds around. But hey, if this game was easy, we wouldn't want to do it! It was no surprise that Chris Kelly was our Top Gun. Chris broke 84 birds and would have had more on a calmer day. Good shooting Chris!

We had a special treat when Denny joined us for lunch. We have not seen him in awhile and it was great to catch up with him again and listen to his unending pool of stories. He has pretty much done it all when it comes to hunting and shooting. I never tire of listening to whose adventures from years past. How fortunate some us were to be part of it. Denny lost his little Brittany named Spanky several months ago after a long and amazing partnership in the field together. That little girl had the heart of a lion in that she never quit, never complained, and never stopped trying to find that next bird. She gave us so many great memories in the field and her and Denny made that possible. Words cannot begin to thank them enough. So on that note, Denny and Spanky grace the cover of our 2024 Club Calendar. When I presented it to him after lunch it was emotional to say the least. I expected it would be and that's okay. It was one of those moments when everything was honest and clear and straight from the heart. We all miss her.

The food was very good (I had the chicken salad) and dessert featured a deliciously gooey cake that really top things off. Patti and I both wanted more but were too ashamed to ask.

We gave out some prizes at the Shoot and here are the lucky winners:

Rudy- Free round at Coal Creek, $40 value

Randy- 12 ga shells, $10 value

Chris- Stone BP coaster, $6.50 value

Patti- Beef jerky, $4.00 value

Mike T- DST, Priceless value

After the prize drawings a few of us shot some trap using the microphones you clip to your shirt or vest. They worked perfectly for us. I really liked them.

KIDS - Don't try this at home. Professional driver and shooter on closed course!

Clays & Hunters Feast 4/20/24

Twelve shooters turned out at Kokomo Izaak Walton League for our annual Clays & Hunters Feast event this year. The event features the bounty of the upland bird hunts during late fall and winter and a wide selection of dishes and appetizers, desserts and drinks provided by attendees. But before the feast we hit the course for a round of sporting clays!

The trees were not yet fully leafed out so target visibility was pretty good. I can recall only a couple of stations where the targets were strobing noticeably. The presentations were tough- the course was set for registered shooters. I enjoyed the challenge but my score was not stellar! I wish they would have had a rabbit and a big chondel. Those targets would have helped my score! No matter, it was great fun and a great time in the woods!

When the shooting was done we all settled in for the main event- THE FOOD! The headliners were Pheasant Soup and Quail & Noodles. The table was filled with a charcuterie board, a cheese & meat tray, corn bread, fruit salad, pies, brownies, a variety of drinks, and the BIG COOKIE! All so good and tasty!

We gave out some prizes at the Shoot and here are the lucky winners!

Tom C - IWL free round, $35 value

Kim - RW-RM calendar, $20 value

Rudy - Mega coffee cup, $10 value

Mike T - 12 ga shells, $10 value

Tom S - BP coaster, $6.50 value

RJ - Beef jerky, $4.00 value

Patti - The Double Shit Trophy! Priceless Value!

Just a little reminder so she wouldn't leave without it!

Pheasant Hunt at Maier 2/24/24

Mike Tolley and I drove up to Maier Pheasant Farm on Saturday morning for a rooster hunt. We had about 1 inch of new snow at home when we left. The snow was deeper as we got further north and when we arrived at Maier they had about 3 inches of new snow with clear blue skies and very light wind. The temperature was about 32 degrees - perfect for hunting!

The snowfall made for a beautiful scene with the trees and the ground lightly covered. We made the first tracks along the hedgerow on the west side of the farm. Cara was our guide and she brought her good boy Frank to sniff out the birds. Frank did a great job of finding and retrieving birds for us.

A winter wonderland for hunters both 4 legged and 2 legged! A couple of birds got away but all in all it was a great hunt. We could not have asked for better conditions. Frank is doing so well for such a young dog. Cara really has a winner with him!

We gave out some prizes at the hunt and here are the lucky winners:

Mike Tolley - IGC token, $6.00 value

Randy - Beef Jerky, $4.50 value

The DST was retained by Mike due to apathy. lol

Pheasant Hunt at Maier 1/7/24

Mike Tolley and I attended this outing at our favorite spot to hunt pheasants on an early Sunday morning. The conditions were really nice with a fresh 1-2 inches of snow on the ground. The temperature was about 32 degrees and there were some light flurries at the start, but they ended quickly. I aways love to hunt on fresh snow (if not too deep!) as you can see the bird tracks all around as you go. There was a light breeze when we started which increased to about 10 mph by the time we finished around noon.

The snow and the wind may have been why the birds were nervous and moving. They had their track shoes on for sure. It soon became apparent they were not waiting for us to arrive. So, we had to figure out where they had disappeared to. We had a lot of help with that! Cara, our guide, was packing some major dog power with Lindie, Frank, and Sampson in tow. Three noses are better than one! Especially when the pheasants are on the run!

Most of the birds flew Mike's way and he made several super long shots (over 40 yards) that brought down the birds! We were both using 16 gauge guns. Mike went modern with his Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen. Or as we like to call it, the Brownelli. My 16 is not so modern being 134 years old. Made in Birmingham by G E Lewis it still functions perfectly and scored its first double (with me) on a rooster and hen. Very Sweet 16!

The dogs found a covey of quail and I managed to get off one late shot. Had to cock the hammers! I may have hit one as about 75 yards further on the dogs found a dead single quail. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it! We ended up with a total of 8 pheasants and 1 quail. A good hunt considering how the birds were running. We later learned that the other group that was hunting only got 4 birds. So, we more than doubled their tally. Lindie, Frank, and Sampson really earned their keep. Cara did a great job handling them as well. Thank you Cara!

I am so happy to report that Mike won the DST while I won a $20 Cabala's gift card. Mike also received a pack of beef jerky! I did buy him dinner at Grindstone Charlie's after the hunt. The perfect ending to a great hunt.

Chukar Hunt at Royal Flush 12/16/23

Mike Tolley and I made the trip south of Rockville to Royal Flush for a chukar hunt mid December. There was a fine mist in the air for most of the hunt but that did not stop us from using our vintage shotguns. As you can see in the above picture, side by sides ruled the day! Mike is holding his 12 bore J&W Tolley while I have my G.E. Lewis 16 bore hammer gun. These much admired British doubles were more than a match for the hard flying chukars! So light and easy to carry(the Lewis has a round action), but so deadly on fast flushing birds. It is truly a joy to use them in the field!

We ran into a covey of wild quail on the hunt but did not get a shot. The dogs located them in tall grass and the birds popped out at random as the dogs moved through the cover trying to locate them. They got out of there fast and low - it was like Whack a Mole if you know what I mean!

All in all it was a fine day and a great hunt. Eric had Pat on the ground for most of the hunt and added Ripley with her for the final cleanup. They did a super job!

The prize drawing came down to a bag of Beef Jerky or the DST. Mike did the drawing and he won the jerky which left me with the Trophy once again. I have won the DST 6 times in 2023 and that is an all time record for any member. So glad this year is over! lol

Sometimes all you can do is grin and bear it! I'm hoping for better luck next year!

Quail Hunt at Maier 11/18/23

Six hunters headed north on U.S, 31 to Bremen for our first hunt of the season. Maier Pheasant Farm was the destination and the weather was perfect. The group consisted of Phil and Andy Robinson, Chris Kelly, Scott Mertz, our newest member Madison Berg, and myself. There were a few foggy spots on the drive up which made for some very cool pictures. It quickly departed after sunrise and it was bright!

We split into two groups and hunted opposite sides of the farm. Cara was handling Lindie and Frank. Frank was just a pup last year and is the son of Lindie. Phil, Andy, and Scott joined them and ran into several bonus pheasants while seeking quail. They generally put pheasants on that side of the property and do the tower shoots there as well.

Frank and Lindie on point!

My hunting partners were Chris and Madison and Randy was our guide. He was handling Gracie, the old pro, and his new pup Annie. I met her last year when she was just a baby. Now she is ready to rock and roll! She is a bundle of energy and hunt drive along with a great nose. After about an hour she calmed down and settled in to the job at hand. She found most the birds for us while Gracie retrieved most of the birds. They made a good team!

Annie and Gracie have found a Quail!

The farm was as dry as I've ever seen and the dogs would have benefited from some moisture and a little wind. The frost quickly evaporated as the sun rose higher and the wind was very light throughout the hunt. I thought they did a remarkable job considering those factors were working against them. We did see two pheasants on our side and managed to bag a hen.

Our total bag for the morning was 31 quail and 8 bonus pheasants. It was a really fun hunt and a near perfect day for it. I truly enjoyed seeing the puppies I met last fall running through the fields in search of their prizes! It was the beginning of a new chapter for them as well as the hunters who follow them.

We gave out some prizes at the hunt - with a twist that I'll explain below. Here are the lucky winners:

Scott- Cabella's gift card, $20 value Madison- LARGE coffee cup, $10 value Andy- 12 gauge shells, $10 value

Phil- Beef jerky, $5 value Randy- DST, Priceless value

So, the drawing for the DST came down to Chis or myself. She explained (cried) that she was leaving for Florida right after Thanksgiving and could keep it only a few days. She then offered me $100 to take it before the drawing! I thought this was great as we could then obtain another End of Year Prize for the drawing in January. I accepted and took one for the team. We then drew anyway to see who would have won it and Andy pulled her token! She said it was money well spent! We now have a precedent for avoiding the DST, however I hereby decree it is a $100 minimum cost and that payment must go directly to the Shooters Fund.