I wish you all a safe and Happy New Year! I am thankful for the many blessings we experienced in 2009. However, I have my fingers crossed that I don't see an operating room anytime soon, 2 surgeries in past 15 months is enough for me.
I've decided to take up hunting in 2010 and my first step is joining a skeet shooting league. For this I am borrowing my friend's Winchester 1300, which has been a great shotgun to shoot, but I honestly haven't shot much to have anything to compare it to.
That being said, I would like to purchase either a Remington 870 Express or a Benelli Nova pump shotgun for some duck and turkey hunting next season. I would say my budget is under $400. What thoughts do you have on these two shotguns? I've heard rave reviews for the 870 Express, but I checked out a buddy's Nova pump and really like it as well.
I would appreciate any thoughts/comments you have on which shotgun you would suggest, doesn't have to be either of the two models mentioned above. Any thoughts on synthetic vs. wood stock would also be great.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you and your family have a safe and Happy New Year!
Coming soon.....www.tackleboxtalk.com - fishing site, forums and more.
If you are looking for web design and e-commerce & SEO optimization check out www.antalconsulting.com
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry CHRISTmas from TackleboxTalk!
Just wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family a Merry CHRISTmas! I put an emphasis on Christ since I continue to see a world that has more and more wishes of "Merry Xmas". Ironically, this holiday wouldn't exist without the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We struggled with how much hype to give Santa this year to our girls since this holiday has strayed so far from the true meaning of Christmas, however we also don't want to completely isolate them from the real world. I think we've found a pretty good balance. Whether you believe or not, and I am not talking about Santa, I wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you get to spend it with your family and loved ones.
Look for my New's Year resolutions sometime next week....
Coming soon.....www.tackleboxtalk.com - fishing site, forums and more.
If you are looking for web design and e-commerce & SEO optimization check out www.antalconsulting.com
We struggled with how much hype to give Santa this year to our girls since this holiday has strayed so far from the true meaning of Christmas, however we also don't want to completely isolate them from the real world. I think we've found a pretty good balance. Whether you believe or not, and I am not talking about Santa, I wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you get to spend it with your family and loved ones.
Look for my New's Year resolutions sometime next week....
Coming soon.....www.tackleboxtalk.com - fishing site, forums and more.
If you are looking for web design and e-commerce & SEO optimization check out www.antalconsulting.com
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Clay Pigeons 24, me 1 - My First Skeet Shooting Practice
Driving rain and chilly temperatures couldn't keep me away from my first round of shooting skeet, or mostly just shooting in my case. Yesterday morning I went out skeet shooting for the first time at the Coeur d'Alene Skeet and Trap club. I am joining our church Skeet shooting league and since I've never gone skeet shooting before, I thought it was worth practicing.
Since I've never been to a gun range, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was very impressed with the friendly atmosphere. Everyone was there to have fun and it seemed like a family friendly environment. A large clubhouse with views of the gun range was a great place to get an idea of what skeet shooting was all about. You can check out this video to learn more about this sport. I was pleased to see that safety was definitely not something to take lightly as shotguns had to have the action open and were only loaded out on the range prior to shooting.
A little background here, I've only shot a shotgun a handful of times with my buddies, never at a moving target. A special thanks to my new shooting buddy Tim McPhee, who was willing to take the time to show me the ropes of skeet shooting. His patience and laid back demeanor really set me at ease, I hope this sounds more like gratitude and not a budding man crush :).
I was trembling with a mix of fear (of not hitting anything) and excitement as I loaded my shotgun for the first time. I missed my first 21 clay pigeons by a country mile, save for one that I was pretty sure I took some paint off of :). As we moved from station to station, Tim was blasting clay pigeons with ease, I have to admit I sighed a sigh of relief when he finally missed one. My concentration on keeping my action open and trying to hit a target led to a spilled box of shells. Perhaps a canvas mesh hull pouch like this one found at Cabela's would be a great last minute gift idea.
I finally found success and hit my one only only clay pigeon from station 7, a straight shot from the "low house". I am very grateful to Tim for his patience with me and also to my good buddy Jamie from the use of his shotgun. I look forward to the league starting after the New Year and many more practice rounds at the range.
A call to my buddy Chad on the way home confirmed that shooting with accuracy takes a lot of time, patience and practice. Sounds like more time on the range is needed:) I have the option to shoot trap or skeet, but only had time to shoot skeet yesterday. I would like to get MUCH better on the range as I plan to go duck hunting next year. I would be curious to hear any suggestions/recommendations on Skeet vs. Trap to get ready for hunting. You are welcome to share any of your favorite skeet or trap shooting stories here.
If you are interested in joining our Skeet and Trap shooting league, email Tim McCormick and he will get you all set up.
Coming soon.....www.tackleboxtalk.com - fishing site, forums and more.
If you are looking for web design and e-commerce & SEO optimization check out www.antalconsulting.com
Since I've never been to a gun range, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was very impressed with the friendly atmosphere. Everyone was there to have fun and it seemed like a family friendly environment. A large clubhouse with views of the gun range was a great place to get an idea of what skeet shooting was all about. You can check out this video to learn more about this sport. I was pleased to see that safety was definitely not something to take lightly as shotguns had to have the action open and were only loaded out on the range prior to shooting.
A little background here, I've only shot a shotgun a handful of times with my buddies, never at a moving target. A special thanks to my new shooting buddy Tim McPhee, who was willing to take the time to show me the ropes of skeet shooting. His patience and laid back demeanor really set me at ease, I hope this sounds more like gratitude and not a budding man crush :).
I was trembling with a mix of fear (of not hitting anything) and excitement as I loaded my shotgun for the first time. I missed my first 21 clay pigeons by a country mile, save for one that I was pretty sure I took some paint off of :). As we moved from station to station, Tim was blasting clay pigeons with ease, I have to admit I sighed a sigh of relief when he finally missed one. My concentration on keeping my action open and trying to hit a target led to a spilled box of shells. Perhaps a canvas mesh hull pouch like this one found at Cabela's would be a great last minute gift idea.
I finally found success and hit my one only only clay pigeon from station 7, a straight shot from the "low house". I am very grateful to Tim for his patience with me and also to my good buddy Jamie from the use of his shotgun. I look forward to the league starting after the New Year and many more practice rounds at the range.
A call to my buddy Chad on the way home confirmed that shooting with accuracy takes a lot of time, patience and practice. Sounds like more time on the range is needed:) I have the option to shoot trap or skeet, but only had time to shoot skeet yesterday. I would like to get MUCH better on the range as I plan to go duck hunting next year. I would be curious to hear any suggestions/recommendations on Skeet vs. Trap to get ready for hunting. You are welcome to share any of your favorite skeet or trap shooting stories here.
If you are interested in joining our Skeet and Trap shooting league, email Tim McCormick and he will get you all set up.
Coming soon.....www.tackleboxtalk.com - fishing site, forums and more.
If you are looking for web design and e-commerce & SEO optimization check out www.antalconsulting.com
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Ice Fishing Anyone?
I have never actually been ice fishing, but it has always fascinated me. How do those hardy anglers really know that ice is thick enough to walk on, not to mention fish on? Once those brave souls are on the water, how they know where to go or what to use? I've linked to a recent article from our local paper with some tips for ice fishing on our local area lakes.
The article highlights the importance of safety while ice fishing, including these two important points:
Finally, here's a clip from one of my favorite fishing movies, Grumpy Old Men. I apologize for some of the language in the first part of the clip, my video editing skills from a You Tube clip aren't that great yet.
If you are looking for web design and e-commerce & SEO optimization check out www.antalconsulting.com
The article highlights the importance of safety while ice fishing, including these two important points:
- Double check before drilling every two feet
- Be careful of "honeycombs," or the dangerous ice conditions that occur when air ice thaws, then re-freezes
Finally, here's a clip from one of my favorite fishing movies, Grumpy Old Men. I apologize for some of the language in the first part of the clip, my video editing skills from a You Tube clip aren't that great yet.
If you are looking for web design and e-commerce & SEO optimization check out www.antalconsulting.com
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Bass Gear Giveaway at Flowing Waters!
One of the newer bass blogs I follow, Flowing Waters, is currently hosting a contest and they are giving away a ton of bass gear including soft plastics, Strike King gear and some terminal tackle and plenty more. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on his blog answering 3 simple questions about your bass fishing preferences and the biggest bass you've ever caught.
It got me thinking back to my early years bass fishing from shore with a worm, that is how I caught my biggest bass ever. My friend and I guessed it at just over 4lbs. Since those early days I've spent a lot of money on my boat, maintenance, licensing and tabs and a boat load of gear. Save for a few special trips I hold close to my heart, I haven't exactly broke the scales with the bass I've caught.
While I grew up catching trout and perch from a dock on night crawlers, I've become a boat snob and can't stand fishing from shore. I am a little happier on a dock, but definitely prefer my boat. While I am anxious for some decent snow fall this winter, I can't help but think about launching my boat next Spring for some bass fishing. Who knows, maybe I'll skip the fancy stuff and should just stick to worms.
Coming soon.....www.tackleboxtalk.com - fishing site, forums and more.
If you are looking for web design and e-commerce & SEO optimization check out www.antalconsulting.com
It got me thinking back to my early years bass fishing from shore with a worm, that is how I caught my biggest bass ever. My friend and I guessed it at just over 4lbs. Since those early days I've spent a lot of money on my boat, maintenance, licensing and tabs and a boat load of gear. Save for a few special trips I hold close to my heart, I haven't exactly broke the scales with the bass I've caught.
While I grew up catching trout and perch from a dock on night crawlers, I've become a boat snob and can't stand fishing from shore. I am a little happier on a dock, but definitely prefer my boat. While I am anxious for some decent snow fall this winter, I can't help but think about launching my boat next Spring for some bass fishing. Who knows, maybe I'll skip the fancy stuff and should just stick to worms.
Coming soon.....www.tackleboxtalk.com - fishing site, forums and more.
If you are looking for web design and e-commerce & SEO optimization check out www.antalconsulting.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
