Happy Birthday Sarah !!!!

My 12 year old daughter, Sarah, swears that she is turning 18 today. Happy birthday and wishing you all the happiness in the world.

Meanwhile.........

30 miles from us on the Big Black River....

13 + 13 = SOB!

Trent took his second 13 point of the season this past weekend at the famous Christmas Place. He wandered up on the Indian Mound and blasted this 200lb. buck we had called Whitey. SOB!!!!

A Halfhearted Attempt

Camo and I are heading back to camp tonight. Camo is excited but I just don't have the fire. Of course, that could change if Granpa Rocking Chair walked out in front of me. We will see.

Austin Gets The Big Buck

Austin finally got his big buck. This wonderful 10 point was taken at the Double White Oak stand.

Blogging The Hunt

Marian and Bob came up last week and hunted with us. She got this nice doe at her favorite stand, Arrowhead.

Christmas Gifts

We made it through Christmas Day, but I wanted to let you know what I got my brothers for Christmas.
I got my evil brother (Paul) the usual, a new pitchfork. After a year, his is always bent and twisted from being held in his evil hands. He is at camp right now hunting. I am sure he has 3 or 4 deer hanging off his new pitchfork by now.

My other evil brother (Trent)got a new coin counter. His is worn out.
Pennies, nickels, dimes, whatever he can steal. Damn lawyers!

Off To See Ebenezer

Spencer and I are off to see his Uncle Ebenezer (Trent)for Christmas dinner. I wonder how much it is going to cost? I am also wondering whether we are going to have to listen to those damn ghost of his rattling chains and moaning all through dinner.
Christmas movies and eggnog later.
Merry Christmas everyone!

It's A Weird Life

I had seen enough. bills, bills, bills covering me and Bobby and his pet squirrel had lost the deposit just as the auditors got here. I was doomed.
I drove out to the Yocona Bridge screamed "Good Bye Cruel World" and jumped in. Unfortunately the water was only two feet deep. It almost killed me!

When I came up an old fisherman pulled me in his boat, he looked a lot like GuyK and asked me what was the problem. I told him how hard it was and that I wished I had never been born. He said "You got your wish" just as he pulled in an 8 lb stripe. I crawled out on the bank, got in my car and drove back to Water Valley. The changes I saw were a nightmare.
My evil brother Paul was president of the United States which was horrible in itself. He had declared war on the Christmas Place in an effort to kill Thunderhoof once and for all.
Trent was the mayor of Water Valley, uh check that, Trentville. He controlled everything and taxed every hunter per inch of rack taken.
Dad was in jail for harboring a fugitive (Thunderhoof) and raising an illegal garden. Bobby was in the old folks home with Uncle Billy. Denise had moved away and was married to Brad Pitt. SOB! Camo was a famous star in Hollywood making movies "MissionDog Impossible" and was known as Cam Cruise. Burney was the editor of some magazine called PlayDeer. I was afraid to open it.

I ran down to my broken down Real Estate office. It was a casino. Trent's Gambling House. I ran to my house. Trent's B&B. Yikes! I drove out to the lake and met my mysterious fisherman. "Change me back" I cried. He said "Sorry, the fall really did kill you, welcome to Hell! I screamed and screamed until I woke up and found myself in my chair at that broken down miserable Real Estate office. Thank God and Merry Christmas to you all!

A Fun Party

The party was a major success and no one was killed. We ate on the fine china and drank from crystal glasses (not jelly jars) and enjoyed a great night of friendship, fun, good food and conversation. Everything was relaxed and enjoyable. The house looked great and my butler dog acted very well. I thank all of you that came and hope to have another sometime in the next 40 years.

Looking For Santa

Camo is ready for Christmas! She spends a lot of time looking out the window and waiting for Santa and his reindeer. She loves Santa but hates a damn reindeer.

The Ball At Dagger Hall

Tonight is the big shindig that Denise and I have been working on for a month. I am completely broke so it should be a good one. All the Dukes and Duchesses of the Valley will be there. The Royal Dog (Camo) will be in attendance. This will be some party with glitzy furnishings, food that I can't pronounce much less eat, Hors de'vores of teeny tiny things on silver trays and enough liquor to float an army.
Intrigue? you got it. Spies, crooked lawyers and bankers, sultry women, nuclear scientists, academia, nouveau Rich billionaires, secret messages and international business deals.
There will probably be at least one murder before it is over.
Should be a hell of a party.

A Hog for Christmas

This past weekend the deer were running everywhere at the famous Christmas Place but our hunters (including me) could not get their sights on a big one to put on the hanging pole. My 85 year old father did not let this bother him as he headed to the GameWarden Stand and shot this 200lb. hog. I know I make a lot out of his age and hunting ability but how many 85 year old men do you know that are still actively hunting at all. This nasty jet black varmint came out at the end of the field and he downed it at 200 yards. Congratulations and Merry Christmas!

When Burney found out how much fun it was, he shot the damn things twin.

Satan Goes Click!

I don't know why bucks are attracted to him, what with the fire, smoke and smell of brimstone surrounding him, but they do. My evil brother (no, Paul)
likes to use his shiny new muzzle-loader and brags about how great it is.
Satan sat in his stand as bucks ran all around him. A big 10 point walked up to him (perfect) and he leveled his trusty muzzle-loader and pulled the trigger. CLICK!
Click? Oh crap! CLICK! The buck, surprised to be alive, staggered off. No amount of cursing or fiddling with the infernal gun would make it work. Later he called and asked what he should do. My advice was to take the damn thing and sling it as far out into the lake as he could and go buy a 45/70.
We will find out just how smart he is very soon.

The Moorehead Buck

fact or fiction that is a hell of a picture. Will let you know.

Burney Gets A Big buck

While I was up here shopping, doing yard work and practicing my needle-point, Burney was busy taking care of business at the famous Christmas Place. He shot this big 210 lb. 8-point at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. (SOB)
Burney has hunted extremely hard this year and it is a well deserved big buck. Now I am putting him on pig patrol. Congratulations Burney!

Nope, Not Going

Nope. I am not going to camp this weekend. I am not overly obsessed with deer hunting like my evil brothers. I have a lot of work, Christmas shopping and household chores to get out of the way. Plus I really need to take Denise out on the town.
I am tired of being around these people that just want to hunt all the time.
There are more important things in life than deer-hunting. I swear!

The Working Deer Blues

I wake up in the morning
there's been a frost in the night.
As the sun comes up I'm dreaming
about bucks moving at first daylight.


I got the blues.
I got the working deer blues


The phone is always ringing
I won't answer it at all.
I know my buddies are calling
with the news of a big Swamp hog.


I got the blues.

Oh Lord, the working deer Blues.

Can't wait for the weekend to get here

then my boss begins to call.

hang up your rifle and get here

You ain't got no deer hunting time at all


no hunting for you!
I got the blues
I got the working deer blues
Oh shoot me!
I have the working deer Blues.

Snow Bucks

Woke up this morning to see snow falling and it has continued most of the morning. There is nothing more exciting than seeing a big old buck creeping around in the snow. Unfortunately the snow is not going to stick enough to stay but it has been fun to see.
The Christmas Place is absolutely beautiful when it is covered in snow, especially when the rut is on and the bucks are moving.

Rockin Around The Christmas Place

Rocking around the Christmas tree at the Christmas party hunt
Mossy horns hung where you can see, every hunter tries to grunt
Rocking around the Christmas Place let the Christmas bullets ring
Later we'll have some pumpkin pie and we'll do some caroling

You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing let's be jolly blast those bucks unil they’re sorry
Rocking around the Christmas Place have a happy holiday
Everyone hunting merrily in the new old-fashioned way

You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing let's be jolly blast those bucks unil they’re sorry
Rocking around the Christmas Place have a happy holiday
Everyone hunting merrily in the new old-fashioned way

Pressure Relief

Everyone poured into camp on Friday to hunt that afternoon and before you could say "Where Did Satan go?" gunfire erupted over the hill.
Paul had us go help him drag in this fine 8-point from some ungodly canyon that night. He spent the rest of the night drinking, bragging, crowing and giving us hell. For most of us, it looked like another long season starting.

I went to my stand with a heavy heart and saw nothing the next morning and decided to give the old college try to my stand up the lake. This pretty nine point came in chasing a doe and I got him in the boat and back to camp way before dark. Now the pressure is off.

Burney got a hog later and that was that. So the pressure is off Trent, Paul and myself. I don't know if I will get another buck but I am about to get after some damn hogs.

Weekend Deercast

Yes, it is supposed to rain but that's not what I am really talking about. Over on my stand it should be barren, cold, lonely with no deer and no sign that one has ever been there. At Paul's stand the deer will be running hot, grunting, jumping, chasing does and doing everything in their power to get in his sights. I feel a 14 pointer coming his way. Trent got a 13, you know a 14 will head toward Paul as quick as it can. The rich get richer. Meanwhile Burney is hunting hard at the Spike Camp, don't bet on him killing a damn thing. The Mailrider is supposed to be there and he has hogs on his mind. He's a hog hunting fool. Maybe that's what I should do. Spencer is finally getting into it and will be here tonight. A doe master if there ever was one. Will post pics of all the action and my dog of course.

The Rut is On !!!!!

No, I am not talking about Spencer and Michael's problems. I am talking deer hunting. The weather has been at 28 degrees and sunny the last couple of mornings with a light frost. Perfect weather for those nasty bucks to chase does all over the place. We are leaving tomorrow for the muzzle load season for bucks. It should be very interesting and fun.

DeanO Does DeerO

Welcome our newest link DeanO. He blogs about life, religion, deer hunting and friends. He thinks he is getting too old to hunt but keeps at it. He has wonderful stories to share, cost-cutting advice, some political mish mash and writes a really good blog. Go over and visit him.

A Very Close Thanksgiving

Paul and Michael eating first of course

Dad with my daughters, Erin and Sarah

Wanda and Denise getting the desserts ready

Erin with your friendly neighborhood blogger

the girls, Michael and Trent almost ready for some pecan pie!

How Was It You Ask? Don't

How was it? Not so good. There were some bright spots of course but overall not our best hunt even though the Thanksgiving meal and fellowship was good right up 'till it started raining. It started well as Austin got a doe and Paul got a hog! Then Spencer got a big doe for his first deer of the season.

Then things started to unravel.
Paul shot at a giant buck at 50 yards and MISSED. Yes, I know he sold his soul to the devil for antlers, so this was the most unusual thing I have ever witnessed. We are going to mount the tree limb he shot so all is not lost. I shot a hog, it got away. Michael shot a hog, it got away. Spencer shot a hog, it got away. Where the hell is Phillip?
The Thanksgiving meal was great and I will post pics tomorrow.
Then it started to rain and we were cooped up in the camphouse listening to it pour. The septic tank backed up. You don't want to know. It kept raining and raining. Trent managed a hog in the drizzle on Sunday morning.

Too bad about Paul, you know how humble he is about his shooting ability.

Thanksgiving At Deer Camp

Each year we celebrate Thanksgiving at camp. It is crowded and there is little privacy but we get 4 days of hunting in and get to be with our family. I am leaving this afternoon (probably too late to hunt) and will be there through the weekend. I think there is a big buck down there with my name on it. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Another Geat Hunt

While Trent was shooting the little deer in the post below, my friend Jeffrey Hollis was doing something important. He managed to blast this big hog over on the River while hunting on the opening weekend. This 200 pounder would make the Mailrider jealous.

One Really Fine Deer

This was the first weekend of gun season and Trent started the year off right when he took this really fine 13 point buck. The big deer weighed in at 210 pounds with an 18 inch spread. Looks like the bar is going to be at an all time high. Congratulations!!!!

Hell Hath Froze Over

For the first time in recorded history, the Bloody Baron (aka Paul Howell), yes that minion of evil, is not expected at camp for opening day. Why? Hell if I know. The excuse he gave was something about going to the ballgame. This is the same guy that moves to the camp in November and stays 'till March. He has never missed a day of deer season, much less opening day. When there is killin' to be done, he's your man. I sent him an email asking him what was up with that and he sent me this picture.

*WHEN YOU ARE IN DEEP SHIT, LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD,
KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT & SAY NOTHING !!!!
(methinks he is in deep do-do)
HEY! That means his stand is open!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where to Hunt???????

I swear I have no idea. Should I go up the lake or just go to one of the fields? Paul and Trent have been scouting and looking for months but some people have to work. I have three days to figure it out. Maybe I will do something totally unexpected. Either way DEER SEASON STARTS SATURDAY!

The 600 Pound Doe

I was hunting the Arrowhead field this past weekend during our muzzle-load doe season. At 7:00 AM three does came out in front of me easing across the field and heading for the edge of the hollow below me. I shot and the doe reared, turned, took two leaps and was gone. I could not believe that it did not fall in its tracks. Then I prayed that it did not make the edge of the hill. I got down and eased over to the edge of the field and followed the blood trail. Twenty feet into the woods I saw where the deer had made the edge of the deep ravine in front of me and I could see the deer at the very bottom. OMG! It was straight down 200 feet. It was in the deepest, steepest canyon on the whole property! I worked my way down and checked the deer. It weighed about 100 lbs. I started taking off gear, grabbed the deer and started pulling. Almost an hour later I got to the top of the hill with the 600 pound monster doe just before I had a heart attack.
Trust me that if you shoot a deer here, the last thing you want is for it to fall into one of our deep canyons.

Early Doe Season Results

Our early muzzle-loader opener went very well this past weekend. Your friendly neighborhood blogger (moi') took one doe an a gray-back hog. My little cousin Katie was with me and we had an exciting hunt. Austin got a deer! (miracle) and a young man named Justin Rose got his first deer. Dean Lammey had his usual results (0) and Oh yeah, Old Blind Jones managed to miss another deer.

Saturday night after a successful hunt

Me and Jonesy with my Porkulus Phillipius

Justin bloodied for his first deer

Old Blind Jones

Mr. Jones is going to deer camp with me today. It has been awhile since he has killed a deer but he has high hopes. I am worried since he is blind as a bat. He says his glasses are broken (he won't get them fixed), says he can see through his scope (???), and says he is a great shot (haha) If I can get a deer within 10 feet of him he might have a chance. PS hope a hog doesn't get him when he is blindly traipsing through the woods and thinks it's a really big squirrel coming toward him.

Someone Knows What to Do

Burney got this nice doe last weekend, it's his 2nd deer already.

A Trap For The Masked Armadillo

Usually at the time of year a mysterious hunter appears while we are working and traips through the middle of us and goes hunting. Not this year.
A clever trap laid by Dad finally caught the Masked Armadillo before he could get to the woods on his 4-wheeler. Minutes later he was shoveling with the rest of us in a project of busy work that dad had decided on. When we finished he tried to get away again but hauling brush was the next priority and Dad threw him right in the middle of it. I guess justice does exist, even with the Masked Armadillo.

The Last Youth Hunt

I hope that it is not the last youth hunt but all my children are past the age of 15 except for Erin. This will be her last youth hunt. She is just about grown now. Here is a pic from her recent prom. Erin is on the left.

On the bright side, we are about to blast the hell out of some deer and hogs!

Off To The Range

This morning Greg, Mark and I are heading out to Greg's property to shoot our rifles. I need to get the dirt dobbers out of my barrel and see if I can hit the side of a barn before deer season starts, and those two guys need all the practice they can get. Will let you know the results later.