Oh the Chains that Bind Us

[Cattywompuss]

Before I developed some of the infirmities that come with age I was a grouse hunter. When you follow a dog all day you quickly learn what you do need to carry and what you do not need to lug with you.

This reminds me of rabbit hunting(with a centerfire shotgun). Field coat, gun, and either dump a box of shells in the big pocket of the coat or rip off the top of the box and put it in the pocket. Knife for dressing, and that's about it. Provided you had your biscuit before leaving the house, you could chase those beagles all day and need little else. Shoot, given the temp outside, water wasn't even required. A good four hours or more chasing swampbucks, a break for lunch of the extra biscuit in the other coat pocket, and back at it till sundown. Mind you, make sure you have enough tobacco before the day begins.

 

[oldwood]

The old W.Va. grouse hunter that taught us kids to hunt those wonderful grouse , used to cut a chunk off a block of head cheese to reward ole Spotty , the English Setter that had no respect for any grouse. He just wanted to chase and point all of them. He had what they call a "Hard Mouth." Any bird he had to retrieve was tenderized a little before he handed it to ya. I miss my hunting friends , RIP , and our dogs , RIP.......oldwood

 

[mushka]

I only hunted once in my life with a muzzle loader, and that was about 25 years ago. Eastern Az. with a 36 cal Seneca looking for Javelina. Always used centerfires, only got into the MZ thing three years ago. Old age and numerous infirmities have set in on me so I'm chained to a range box here of late. Without some serious medical help I might not get to hunt again but I will probably be able to tough it out on an organized range. My box is a .30 ca or .50 cal army ammo can depending on the caliber that I will shoot that day. Everything is in the can except the gun, rod, and powder. I got strange looks early on with the cans but they've gotten used to it . I also take a folding camp chair and spotting scope. I like my comforts. I'm not really sure I would work well with a bag at this time with my stupid fingers that don't like to work the way I'd like them too. We will see in a month or two how things will work out.

 

[rmark]

Since I only shoot on the range I have a plastic toolbox with earmuffs, glasses, targets, etc. and a second plastic toolbox with muzzleloading stuff, plus a plastic folding table that’s sets right next to my station for easy loading. I also have a pickup truck

 

[springfield art]

I was just reading through a thread this morning and was struck by some experiences that I had...memories that came flooding back.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/range-box-examples.144565/#post-2036366
The link to the thread is posted just above.

I love to shoot out of the bag, it gives me a sense of freedom. The pace of this sport is slow and methodical, compared to modern firearms, and I love that aspect. When I'm in the woods, out in the field, with a fine muzzleloader...every shot counts, you take your time. There are people that come into this sport and never really get that...

Years ago, I used to have a shooting range down along a small river and I'd shoot there most weekends, with close friends and family. Not my dream range, but pretty darn close. I'd shoot for a bit, work on loads, site in a new gun and then usually go stump shooting down along the banks of the creek for an hour or so, before heading home. I loved it, those walks were my favorite part of shooting; Load, prime, walk...pick a challenging target and BOOM; Load prime, walk...pick a challenging target and BOOM. Rinse and repeat for an hour or so, then head home. Great time and wow does that build confidence in your shooting abilities.

I had a college friend/lab partner that started to come shooting with me. Didn't take long and he had his own muzzleloader and was enjoying the weekend mornings and/or afternoons at the range. When it came time for me to go on my little "Woods Walk/Fantasy Hunting Trip", most times he'd stay at the range loading and shooting. One time in particular he walked with me. We'd pick a target & shoot; then he'd head back to the truck, while I loaded and got ready to look for the next challenging target. After each shot he'd walk back to the truck and I'd load and get ready and wait for him to return.

Finally he asks, "How do you do that?"........."Do what?"

"How do you shoot, load and shoot again without having to go back to the truck each time? How do you do that?"

I was engrossed in my surroundings and hadn't even noticed.

My friend had fallen into that notorious trap of being "Chained" to all his gear and do-dads that he brought to the range with him each time we went shooting. He loved his tool box full of bits and pieces and parts that he could use for any situation that occurred. I swear he could build a gun from scratch at the range with all his gear...And that tool kit, that he lugged out each time, had slowly created this mental Chain that tied him to within walking distance of the truck. In my opinion it robbed him of one of the simple pleasures of this sport. It took awhile to unchain him from this mental anchor.

And I see this all the time in my shooting club. Seriously...go to a club and shoot and watch. A couple guys will move from station to station, shooting and loading, shooting and loading...club rules dictate that they have to leave the line...but they shoot and load. Most of the members have all their stuff at the table and they will walk back and forth all day...and at the end of the shoot they are exhausted, but they surely got in their steps...

How many of us see this? There's a big difference between shooters and hunters...Well unless you're a road hunter, I guess...

How many of us truly feel comfortable going off with nothing but the contents of a shooting bag, some powder and shot?

Lots of people "say" they can...those chains are hard to break

Yes. The guys who do woods walks, etc., carry everything with them in the pouch and horn.

 

[user 49399]

I started out shooting muzzleloaders with a range box and oodles of doo dads. But then I learned to do it the right way. Gun, bag, horn.

 

[smo]

I’m a bag shooter….

Sometimes a two or three bagger depending on how many gadgets & do dads I think I’ll need… lol

 

[Mulebrain]

Depends on what I am shooting, I like a range box at the range. I also put together this setup so I can duplicate it in the field.
I also shoot from bag and horn on steel shoots and woods walks. I enjoy it all

 

[Timber Wolf]

I guess I am a “bag” shooter, but I have a box full of everything I think I could maybe possibly need back at the car. We range shoot and woods walk about 50/50 here at the club so bag shooting is the way to go most times.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

My current club has it setup so that the range rules make it difficult to shoot from the bag. I still do it though, much to the consternation of others…