Checking the Trotline

This morning I got to go out with my neighbor across the street, Ken Jackson, and help him check a trotline he has been running. There were three fish on the line. Only one was a keeper, so we re-baited the line with some shad. The lake was absolutely beautiful this morning with the calm water and the cool air. It brought back memories of when I used to run trotlines with my Grandaddy when I was a kid.

Opening Day of Dove Season 2008

We had a really good opening day of dove season at the hunting lease this year. I had scouted the morning before and thought we might do okay but I didn't expect it to be this good. My Dad and I each got our limit of 15 by 9:00 that morning. We were joined by my Uncle Rusty and my cousin Shane and all together we bagged 44 birds on opening morning. I believe that should be enough to justify firing up the grill during our upcoming work weekend on the 13th and 14th.

We also got a ladder stand put up in a new spot and my trail camera up and running in preparation for archery season which is just around the corner - September 27th to be exact. We did a little fishin' while we were there as well. Shane is a photographer on the side and he brought his camera and snapped these pictures from this weekend. I thought they were pretty neat.

Sportsman's Feast

Yesterday evening was the 3rd Annual Sportsman's Feast at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church in Allen, Texas. This is part of the men's ministry at Chris Mogan's church, and he has been kind enough to invite my Dad and I for the third consecutive year. Each year they have a good meal, exhibits, several speakers, and lots of door prizes. This year the keynote speaker was retired 4-star General, Tommy Franks. He was very interesting to listen to and emphasized that we are "One nation, under GOD" and "In GOD we trust". He is definitely a man's man who takes a common-sense approach to everything he does. I know I enjoyed listening to him, and I wish he would have spoken longer. It seems like he was just getting warmed up when he quit talking. I enjoyed the Christian fellowship with the other guys and hope to get to attend next year as well. Thanks for the invitation Chris!

No Luck Getting Drawn for Public Hunts

All my life it seems like my name never gets drawn when it comes to raffles, give-aways, and other games of chance. And now it appears the same is holding true for public hunts. First, I didn't get drawn for Hagerman, then I didn't get drawn for an Iowa tag, and I found out today that I didn't get drawn for either of the archery hunts I put in for which are offered by TPWD, one being the Whitetail hunt at Gus Engeling WMA and the other the Mule Deer hunt at Matador WMA. So I'm 0 for 4 so far. I still have a chance at getting drawn for a managed hunt in Missouri and several of the gun hunts offered by TPWD.

Actually, I did get drawn for something one time. About ten years ago I bought a raffle ticket at the Gunter High School basketball game for a chance to shoot a half-court shot during halftime. If you made the half-court shot you won the pot of money which had been increasing in size all season long after each of the washed-up locals whose ticket was drawn airballed the shot and didn't even come close. The raffle was being held to raise money for the prom or something. Well it came time for the drawing and I was sitting in the stands with my parents and I leaned over to my mom and with a confidence similar to that displayed by Jimmy Chitwood in the movie "Hoosiers", I calmly told her "If I get drawn, I'll make it." You can ask her, I'm not making this up. Well what do you know they just called my number! So I walked out on the court and they bounced a basketball to me. Picture this, I just got off work digging trenches for a plumber and I was wearing an old nasty T-shirt, a pair of dirty Wranglers, and some work boots. I dribbled the ball a couple times and glanced up at the goal. I dribbled it one more time and took a jump shot. As soon as I let it go, I knew it was in. It had a perfect arc on it and it went through the rim with nothing but net. I leaned back and gave one of those Tiger Woods' fist pumps as the crowd went wild - well at least a few of them went wild. I think I won $100 for that shot. They did away with the half-court shot raffle after that. I guess they lost money or something.

I guess if history repeats itself and I actually do get drawn for one of these hunts something good is liable to happen!

Practicing with the bow

Less than two months until archery season!

I just put my new arrow rest on my bow. This one is a "capture" rest which will replace the "drop-away" style I was using last year. You can pretty much turn the bow upside down and the arrow stays put. No more arrows falling off the rest with a buck standing 30 yards away. Now I just need to sight her in and practice every day and I should be good to go!