Not exactly a Survival or Wilderness camping trip, but camping none-the-less!
The stars aligned and I got my three sons to the ranch for two nights and three days for Camping, Hunting and Old Times. The deer weren't moving very much but that's okay. #3 son shot a big Boar Hog so that kinda satisfied everyone's desire for cleaning dead animals. We fried fish for supper the first night and had grilled pork steaks last night of course with the obligatory potatoes, onions and other culinary accoutrements.
Forecast for Friday night was for a low of 41..... the thermometer read 28 when we got up. It's been at least 5 years since I've been camping and I fell back into the groove pretty quick. I guess it's like riding a bike. The boys told me they want to do it once a month.... I think they must be after my guns.... Camping is one of those double edged swords. I eat less, and less junk, I exercise more, and stay up later. But I don't get up as much in the night simply because I'm paralyzed after laying down for two hours, even on an air mattress. The cold really bothers me more now too. But, I think I could get back into it and it might make me live longer, or kill me faster. All I know is that tonight I will sleep in a nice soft bed and I won't have to crap in a 5 gallon bucket in the morning. There's a lot to be said for those two things.
I was sitting under a tree yesterday evening and facing into the wind. Nothing moving... I thought, hmmmmm, the only place I haven't watched is behind me and I hadn't bothered because whatever was there would have gotten my wind, and even after only two days, there was quite a bit to that! I turned and there was a little doe standing about 20 yards back just looking at me. I put the sights of that Henry 45-70 on her, and even though I had absolutely no intention of shooting her I realized that I couldn't see the sights on the deer, even with my glasses. Bummer. The Henry is tapped on the top of the receiver. I guess it's time to give up on the iron sight fantasy. I'm going to look for some kind of low profile 2X scope and rings. Oh well.
When the boys were boys, it seemed like all I did was work the whole time. I cooked and cleaned mostly. I made camp, broke camp and nearly everything in between and cleaned dead animals. This time I still worked some but I was mostly working at playing. They cooked, cleaned up, I only touched that hog once, and I just helped out mostly while they did all the real work. It was kinda nice. I'm still tired.
We stayed up talking both nights about everything from the stock market to politics, and the cosmos to God and the meaning of life. We covered a lot of ground. Of course there were the stories and remembrances of times past.
We did some shooting yesterday. Some serious and some just for fun. We have a 24" plate hung at 800 yards and #3 son was ringing it every time with his M700 308. It's some kind of tacted out sort of flavor. I never have thought too much of bi pods, but it didn't seem to hurt his shooting any. I know I don't want him shooting at me. Odd thing, He had factory Remington and Winchester, and reloads from a very good load we worked up, but the best shooting ammo of the day was Monach FMJ steel cased. Boom-Clang, Boom-Clang, Boom-Clang, Boom-Clang, as many times as he shot. At 800 yards with no wind. #2 son shoots a M700 270. He was shooting sub MOA groups at 100 yards. He shoots a load we worked up years ago with 150 gr Hornady Interlocks. #1 son has been hunting with a crossbow. He told me what kind it was, but I forgot. I was floored at how accurate it is. I had no idea. He can shoot that thing better than I can shoot a rifle. He shoots one bolt then goes and gets it from the target because if he takes the same point of aim one bolt will hit the other. He buys a number of bolts and then shoots them all and separates them into how the shoot. He keeps the four most uniform bolts in his quiver for use. He says max range is about 50 yards, or a little less.
All in all it was a great weekend. It used to be every weekend. I'll admit I didn't fully appreciate those times back then, but, I REALLY appreciate those times and this time Now.
Alan
