During the 72 yrs that I've hunted and after recollecting all my experiences, have determined what types of hunting were the most enjoyable.
Neglecting the hunts using modern guns, some of which were equal as far as the enjoyment to those in which MLers were used, I realized that only 3 types of hunting w/ MLers met the "most emjoyable" level.
In the 3 "most enjoyable categories" using MLers is elk hunting in the Rockies, many years of squirrel hunting w/ my flintlock and again many years of snowshoe hare hunting in winter w/ the same flintlock which was my first build.
Can't enumerate the preferences between the 3.... but elk hunting could have been first, but it was only a 9 day season and wasn't available every year. The scenic mountain views added much to these hunts...especially for a Midwestener.
Snowshoe hare hunting could also have been first but some years were on the population "down cycle" and during that time, very few snowshoes were shot. But being out in the snowy, very quiet woods had it's appeal and traversing the terrain on snowshoes added to the fun.
So....of the 3 types of hunts, squirrel hunting would have to be first....plentiful populations of both gray and fox squirrels, a long season in the ever changing colors of the trees and many beautiful sunny days would justify the #1 rating.
Equal to squirrel hunting was the pursuit of ruffed grouse w/ my English Setters, but this was done w/ either an over/under shotgun or a S X S which were modern guns. Both grouse and squirrel hunting were done alternately....many times depending on the weather. Very windy days gave the birddogs "fits"....hard for them to pinpoint the birds and the wind caused many wild flushes. So those days were spent in the quiet of the squirrel woods.
No longer hunt because of the macular degeneration in both eyes, but don't need to.....the memories are sufficient at this time......Fred
Neglecting the hunts using modern guns, some of which were equal as far as the enjoyment to those in which MLers were used, I realized that only 3 types of hunting w/ MLers met the "most emjoyable" level.
In the 3 "most enjoyable categories" using MLers is elk hunting in the Rockies, many years of squirrel hunting w/ my flintlock and again many years of snowshoe hare hunting in winter w/ the same flintlock which was my first build.
Can't enumerate the preferences between the 3.... but elk hunting could have been first, but it was only a 9 day season and wasn't available every year. The scenic mountain views added much to these hunts...especially for a Midwestener.
Snowshoe hare hunting could also have been first but some years were on the population "down cycle" and during that time, very few snowshoes were shot. But being out in the snowy, very quiet woods had it's appeal and traversing the terrain on snowshoes added to the fun.
So....of the 3 types of hunts, squirrel hunting would have to be first....plentiful populations of both gray and fox squirrels, a long season in the ever changing colors of the trees and many beautiful sunny days would justify the #1 rating.
Equal to squirrel hunting was the pursuit of ruffed grouse w/ my English Setters, but this was done w/ either an over/under shotgun or a S X S which were modern guns. Both grouse and squirrel hunting were done alternately....many times depending on the weather. Very windy days gave the birddogs "fits"....hard for them to pinpoint the birds and the wind caused many wild flushes. So those days were spent in the quiet of the squirrel woods.
No longer hunt because of the macular degeneration in both eyes, but don't need to.....the memories are sufficient at this time......Fred