The Jungle Cat

Remember this: The jungle cat is on the prowl.

In the beginning, there was grass. In the grass crawled a predator with keen senses like a black panther. Stalking its prey near a flowing sea of green, the beast slowly made its way across the grasslands. Thunder echoed from miles away. Danger was at every turn. The horses stared at the simpleton in the grass, wondering why their owner was scurrying so low to the ground and pretending to be a mouse. With every twitch of the doe's ear, the predator knew that it could be discovered. It lowered itself along the dirt like the black snake then moved as silent as the grave to the strike zone. The beast realized the grass was giving her the mad itch. She let out a low growl. Maybe a painful groan, before proceeding. Stretching her body out and moving with silent agility, the black panther finally reached a point to spy the prey. The deer were standing to attention. The tattletale horses had given the beast away. The horses ran away laughing, while the deer stood by the trees pointing at the idiot in the grass. The beast was bested this day and shook her fist, "I shall get you."

I wanted to get some photographs of the deer herds before local hunters mobilized , guns ablazing, for the upcoming deer hunting season. I went about my rounds but the day was humid. I could hear thunder and periwinkle clouds were above the trees. I didn't realize till much later that I had left the only battery to my camera in the house. I went to feed the dog when I stared off near the trees. Out in the field were a small  herd of deer. I didn't have time to go and get the battery. I decided to be a sneak thief and take these photos with my cell phone. If the quality is not that good let us chalk it down to Barney's shakey trigger finger.

I thought I would be slick and just walk out there to them. The wind was blowing away from me. I strolled straight out to the field and hid along side a paint mare. I had her walk towards the deer. The deer seem too enthralled in eating the soybeans. I moved closer. I realized I would not be able to hide behind this horse much longer. I got to the edge of the pasture then dropped down on my stomach.  I wanted to get as close to them, without spooking them, as possible. I crawled on my stomach for what I thought was three or five long minutes.  It could have been eternity. It felt like it. I would stop and look over the soybeans to see if they were still there. I was sweating bullets because it was getting more humid by the minute. The wind began to blow up my back toward the deer. I figured this would compromise me and drift my smell over to them. I laughed about this, snorted and thought, "I smell like roses." I crawled on.  Old horse poop land mines lay at every turn. I chalked this one down to my doctor prescribing exercise and this helped me to the pain medicine hours later. Crawling should be in your exercise regime for hunting. You never know when you have to stop, drop, crawl, or roll. Unfortunately, I can't ever run again. I would have to just sit there and be eaten by a bear; maybe dash salt and pepper on myself for good measure.

I stood up and took some photos, which I was closer than these appear. I chuckled all the way back to the house. I am definitely paying for it now. I thought I would share my shenanigans and give you a laugh because I am tons of fun. I think there might be some leprechauns hiding out in all that green. No one shall find my gold.

Written by: W Harley Bloodworth

~Courtesy of the AOFH~

The Crystal Ball of Hunting.

Remember this: It doesn't take a psychic to predict the occurance of a bad event, if every decision with cause and effect is driving a narrative to a tragic end....for someone. It will eventually happen.

I was watching Jim Shockey's Uncharted a couple of nights ago on the Sportsman's Channel. There was this little umble dude about to fall off a log and the natives caught him. He put his face in the camera and spoke. He reminded me of Gru with hair. I heard someone call him Corey then I thought...wait a minute. I think that is the guy from  the Black Rhino debacle. I finished watching the show and wanted to update myself by reading up on Corey Knowlton's endeavors to see what end it came to.

Most of the articles were stating his family's lives were in danger, the FBI got involved, he had security detail, animal activists where threatening his life and Anonymous got involved; or at least someone claimed to be Anonymous.

I looked at Knowlton and couldn't make my mind up over the fact that he looked sickly or stressed to death.

I then see this 19 year old cheerleader that has been in the news for lion hunting imagery circa Bachman.  Some of the things being said here is the fact this person is excited over all the attention she is getting; good or bad. Of course, my first thoughts were that this had FBI written all over it. She truly is nothing more than bait.

No one really is looking at her accomplishments. This should have been relegated to her peers. She is now hashtagged the Happy Huntress, murderess, and a slew of other words. Her narrative right now is not an ambassador for hunting or conservation. Just a twat with a gun killing exotic animals; regardless of her age. Of course that is not my opinion because its futile with this subject matter  but the people at large in the world.

The only reason I am  writing this is a marker for myself. I want to see how much time will pass before the hunting and anti-hunting machine ends the life of a person.  This could be through murder, suicide, happenstance, or whatever. This is not what I lay awake at night thinking about but somewhere it does bother me that it doesn't seem to bother anyone else. I guess if you play in traffic expect to get hit by the bus. I do go about my life and forget these thoughts until I see articles and disputes posted to the net.

The concern I have is this:

How do parents or the individual prostrate themselves or their children out publically to a world that has already exhibited an underlining murderous contempt for hunters? Simultaneously hunters have thrown  gas on the fire of internet conversations, to invite something so negative into OUR world, in the name of hunting or conservation, which doesn't seem so positive anymore based on participants behavior.

I have no idea which way this situation will go. All I see is a group of people or an individual egged on by a group of people in hunting, while putting a target on themselves.

One bright day, an extremist person who is against the idea of hunting is going to decide to make a  clear statement. This statement will be: one or more persons' losing life, limb, or being scarred for the rest of their life. Conditions over this topic are revolving. Its an  escalating situation with lows and very big highs. Anything with this tendency will eventually peak or spill over. 

Disturbed people kill for non-sensical reasons all the time en masse such as James Holmes, Elliot Rodgers, and the Columbine shootings. In the case of hunting, its pretty square the possible reasons an extremist will flip his or her lid. There doesn't seem to be any kind of damage control to hinder the progression of this kind of fall-out by death. If they are far enough away a gun will not help you.

Also the narrative of this young girl's life will be altered. The possibility the narrative will go in a negative direction to come back to bite her later in life is there. All this attention seems great  right now but the downside comes quickly. When you can't even go out in broad daylight of your own freewill because  you never really truly know if the people stalking you have gone away, is a lot for a young person to deal with.

The narrative I see is hunters re-enforcing liberty, freedom, and the right to hunt yet these online personalities are damning themselves to a form of self-incarceration. I have been confused for sometimes on the true reason for this. Hunting, conservation or celebrity? Now because of the pointless conversations in hunting, conservation is under fire.

Hunting participants as a whole are being chucked in with the bad behavior of online personalities that make way more money than the average man. I can not grasp the concept that in order to push conservation and hunting the best we can do as sportsmen and sportswomen is to use the most negative platform and podium to speak from. The other problem is it is not the voice of a hunting collective but a hypish frontperson that is stumbling over his words like Barney Phife whilst shooting us all in the foot, behind and the face for good measure. If you really want to do yourself a favor as a person who hunts, stop kissing Gluteus maximus just to be in the hunting cliche. (No, that is not a Roman  Emperor).

I feel like there are established groups in the hunting echelon that think they are driving the narratives to protect and improve hunting when it is damaging hunting left and right. These groups that we can't see could not give two shits about the rest of the hunters because they want their agenda pushed. Their agenda is going to be the undoing of hunting and chokehold conservation,  if it goes unchecked. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this is a fear driven machine.

I feel truly empathetic towards this young girl because she is a tool in a game. She is just being used for some end that is temporary but the effects will loom over her for a lifetime. I hope she is at least getting a fat paycheck. If she is going to sell her soul young, she might as well be able to pay for a bodyguard.

Mark my words. Eventually someone, somewhere will lose their life or wish they had. Everybody involved will be asking themselves for what end or purpose did it ever serve.

Finally the only conclusion I can come to is an empty pointlessness. Someone is using a young female to anchor a dispute when there are better ways to argue the concept. This is nothing more than kindergarten school yard fighting, where kids hit each other in the back then run away; rinse and repeat.  There is always that kid held as a shield to block the onslaught of blows. Kendall Jones just hasn't felt the full brunt of it yet. Ergo we could ask ourselves, why do grown adults act like children? For rhyme or reason, humans do things all the time that don't make sense.

Hunting is there for everyone; not just for a group with a political agenda.

I think I shall go vomit now.

 Written by: W Harley Bloodworth

The Moving Target

Remember this: Out there in front of you is a moving target.


Watching the competitive shooters at the 2013 US Open Sporting Clays Championship in Georgetown, SC, my son and I observed several prominent and proficient competitive shooters. The target hitting consistency varied depending on the shooter and his/her preferred style.

In the pursuit of investigation, what would be some observations one could glean from watching other people shoot?  Well, let us investigate what is exactly moving in front of the business end of the shotgun.   When starting out to do any kinds of sport always taken into consideration the following:

• Get checked by a doctor for health problems; eyes, ears, spine, shoulders, reflexes, etc.
• Do your research into the Sporting Clay event.
• Talk to people in the Sporting Clay Field and ask questions.
• Go to Sporting Clay events and read current news.
• Find an exceptional or adequate patient instructor with a good reference list.
• Sign up for the NASC or the NSSA.
• Purchase a gun after shooting, appropriate ammo, clays, clay thrower, or join a reputable sporting clay club.
• Stay away from negative or deceitful people that would hinder your progress or are out only for themselves.
• Practice, practice, practice.

 With this being said, let us focus on the shooting of the clay target.

Things to Consider:

Shot-string: Once the shotgun casing ejects pellets, they move in a uniform string formation where each pellet is occupying a differing place in time and space from the other ones. As the pellets travel (depending on choke use or not) and the distance of the target the pellets will spread wider apart but eventually will fall in an arch to the ground if not on a target.

Time lag: The difference in the time you decide to shoot and the time it takes you to react and put the shotgun in play. This also includes the speed at which you swing the gun (which varies with different clay bird speeds.)  *If you shoot then do not carry the shotgun all the way through, lag time is going to send the pellets into an area of space that is after the interception of the clay bird; causing a bird away.*

Gun Mechanism Timing: Each gun will probably be different so get your gun evaluated or ask before you purchase.

Fast-moving targets: Swing the shotgun to track the target and over take it. Pull the trigger. This will send the shot-string out into the path of the air borne clay to intercept the clay for a break. Keep your follow through.

Straightaway shot: Cover the target point blank. Lead horizontal and vertical on targets angling away and gaining or losing altitude.

Slow Flying birds: Less lead then a fast flying bird.

Rising Shot: Shoot a little above the target.

Falling bird: Shoot a little below the target.

Target Break point: Approximate area in which you want to break a target. (Consider natural barriers, distance to target, target flight, shot-pattern efficiency, and maximum exposure of target surface.)

Eye Focal Point: Where you will focus your eyes to pick up the target visually after launch.

Between Target break-point and Eye focal point is the Gun hold-point:  The direction your muzzles will be pointing when you call for the target.

 At the Station

As we were looking over the shoulder of the shooter from a distance you can get a pretty square assessment of what might be on the shooter’s mind when he’s preparing to yell, “Pull”. One shooter would be standing in the station, gun at the ready, while his amigos are standing behind him doing hand gestures and looking like bird dogs pointing out a fowl. There was a moment where each clay is released to give the general direction from winced the clay makes birth from the bush across its arc to land on the ground. This is when you put on your internal wide angle lens as you go to shoot it while taking the composition in completely.

I waited to see where the target would eject from. There were a couple of machines that had bushes in front. As for where in flight there might be some ‘landmark’ to tip off the shooter when to blast it out the sky I do not know. When you are standing at an angle behind the shooters or to the sides of the station, does not give you a good idea what presents a great shot opportunity unless you are standing in the station yourself. That would be like checking your eyes to see which one is dominant.

As for angles:  “If the target will be coming from a sharp angle, over your shoulder or even behind you, don’t screw your body around or move your feet in order to see the target as soon as possible. Foot and body position should never be compromised just to see a target a little sooner. The target break-point should always be your top priority when positioning your feet and setting yourself in for a shot.” (Meyer 37)

I walked the course, which was huge, and each station had a different direction, height, and patterns of sequential target toss that challenged the shooter. Each station affords the shooter to alter his attempt by testing shooting style to hit the clays. There were also stations where shooters where lined up like race horses while taking their turn.

Observing these differing stations gave one a better sense to the care it takes in gauging target activity from the time it leaves the clay target thrower to the moment it reaches the ground; whole or in pieces.

“There is much more to be learned from observing a target than just where it comes from and where it is going. Is it a standard, mini, midi, or battue? Is it raising or falling? Where in its flight is the trajectory most level? Where is target speed most uniform? Are there obstacles that will interfere with visibility or obstruct shot patterns? Is wind affecting target behavior? Does the sun become a factor at some time during the target’s flight? Where in its flight will the target expose the largest surface area to your shot pattern? “(Meyer 38)

Always observe and ask questions. When you step up to that station; you better prepare yourself for silent major decisions.

 “There are three major decisions that must be made prior to stepping onto a station and attempting to break a target. First, you must decide on the general area in which you intend to break the target. This is what I call the target break-point. Once the target-break-point is identified, you will then decide upon where the eye focal point and gun hold-point will be. “ (Meyer 39)

When looking at the clay target burst after impact:

• Small piece distribution with one large chunk falling to the ground: Shot to high.

• Big chunk goes to the left: Shot too far to the right. *Bird quartering to the left-shot behind the target.*

• Big chunk goes to the right: Shot to far to the left and ahead of the clay.

 After spending several days watching others I was rift with the fact that even the best of shooters do miss and the bird is away. That is normal otherwise it would not be a competition. My son was also eased of his tension when he saw that even the ‘best’ missed. As this is not a replacement for sound schooling of a shotgun or competitive shooting, it’s a start in the right direction for readers to see the challenge of competitive sporting clays.

As for shooters in the sport that may not be experts just yet, watching, learning, and applying are what helps a shooter become proficient at making his/her mark.

There is a lot to be said for going out to any event no matter what it is. Go, the outing might bring to you a new sense of social participation that you found lacking in your life. If this chance at viewing a sport that is new to you would lead you down to the NSCA booth or online and have you sign up; go ahead. As a novice, getting out there and participation is what is going to open that door to learning sporting clays. All you have to do is sign yourself up. If you never put your name in the pot then no one is going to know how well you might do. Not even you. It's easier to hit the wider side of a sporting clay than the thinner side.  Always know what is moving in front of you.

If you would like to see what the NSCA~NSSA are all about click on the link:

http://www.nssa-nsca.org/index.php/2013/05/shooting-tip-shot-tempo/

Literature Sourced:
George Laycock.  The Shotgunner’s Bible, revised edition. Garden City, NY:  Doubleday & Company, 1969, 1987. Print.

Meyer, Jerry. The Sporting Clays Handbook. Guilford, CT. Lyons Press. 1990. Print, pgs.37-39.

Angelia's Reading list:

Written by Angelia Y Larrimore

~Courtesy of the AOFH~