Government Center

 Seen at the county government center.....

 

Top Gun

Scored some 50F and sunny weather last Friday.  What to do?  What to do?

You hitch a ride with your hunting buddies Lawyer and Sid for a mid-day round of sporting clays over to Little Creek Lodge in Suamico, WI.

After beers and lunch you get in a power nap before cocktails and a fish fry at our favorite local dive bar - Why Lee's.

BTW, and for the record, Sid mounted a come from behind challenge but yours truly was Top Gun.

National WWII Museum

On our road trip to the Gulf Coast we made a point during our time spent in New Orleans to visit The National WWII Museum.  From a purely sensory point of view it was close to overwhelming.  I don't mean that in a negative sense; but unlike other museums this venue makes significant use of personal testimonials and multimedia lighting and sound technology to add realism to many of its experiences.

I recommend a visit - particularly if you like military history or have a personal connection.

Most of you readers likely know that my father was an infantryman during WWII. 

Howard landed at Utah Beach as an infantry replacement shortly on the heels of the initial invasion. He was assigned to M Company, 47^th Infantry Regiment, Ninth Division. He served in a weapons platoon and including mortar his MOS was - 605 - heavy machine gunner.   

He was a gunner on this...

The M1917A1 Browning Machine Gun

Introduced in the waning days of the First World War this heavy machine gun saw service in multiple global conflicts from 1917 into the 1970s.  

This was a crew-served, belt-fed, .30 caliber, water-cooled machine gun.  The weapon had a cyclic rate of 450 to 600 rounds per minute and unlike the lighter, air-cooled, Browning Model 1919, was capable of a longer sustained rate of fire.  Because of its weight (gun, tripod, water chest and ammo) this was frequently a regimental-level support weapon and on rare occasion crews were assigned a Jeep for ease of movement.

During my dad's war his crew made use of M2 ball, armor-piercing and tracer rounds to provide both offensive and defensive fire in support of infantry.  If he were alive, dad would tell you that when on the move his crew ditched the water chest, preferring to carry additional ammo.  Urine was always available to pee in the barrel.

National WWII Museum

This machine gun was gradually phased-out of service in the late 1960s - replaced by the lighter M60 machine gun chambered for the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge.

If you are interested you can read an account of my fathers story about Operation Cobra and the Breakout from the Bocage at Saint-Lô.  On the home page of the blog you can search under "Normandy" or "D-Day', etc. for similar accounts and references.

The museum in New Orleans has an extensive exhibit hall on the European Theater of Operations if that interests you.

Firearms Safety

Those who know me would tell you that it is not at all unusual for me to have a pistol on my hip while walking or working in the woods or just generally out-doors.  

And no I am not some sort of deranged wacko gun nut, someone making a political statement or attempting to intimidate a visitor.  I am simply living the Boy Scout Motto - Be Prepared.  This habit started about a dozen years ago when around Christmastime I received an email from a friend that included a trail camera photo of a gray wolf taken a couple of miles north of here.  Hunting dogs and wolves are not on generally good speaking terms.

Over the years I've spared my dogs a couple of bad encounters with skunks, killed a few raccoons stumbling-around during daylight hours and behaving rabid and dealt a measure of justice for the depredation of nesting songbirds by ditch tigers.  There is also the risk of dogs running at large and locking horns with my dog.  I've never had an encounter with other dogs that has risen to the level of deadly force - but I had a close call a year ago.  Being prepared is a good best practice in rural America.  

In September of 2016 I was issued a Wisconsin permit to carry a concealed weapon - a CCW License.  

I should hope that I would never have to use a firearm for any purpose other than hunting or target shooting - nevertheless it is an additional level of preparedness.

It also affords me the luxury of carrying a loaded handgun secreted in a vehicle, the glove box of a UTV, a backpack, briefcase or concealed beneath an article of clothing. 

Anyway, the Missus and I have been engaged in various adult education endeavors in our retirement including taking classes in person and online.  For instance I recently completed a course on Native Americans of Door and Kewaunee County and Beyond.  Also the very timely:  Electoral College Past and Present.  On tap are additional subjects including:  The History of Diesel Locomotives, Medicinal Herbs and much more.  Exercising your brain cells is a good best practice.

Last weekend I spent a Saturday completing a firearms safety course.  A prerequisite to obtaining a CCW License.  Even though I already am a legal license holder I figured it would be a good refresher.  And it was.

Facilitated by a USCCA and NRA Certified instructor it was a review of basic firearm safety, handling and storage.  Basic stuff. Included was legally permissible possession, transportation and use of firearms. Most important was a review of the use of deadly force and techniques for avoiding and controlling violent confrontations.

Some takeaways for those of you who are not licensed but might be interested in what responsible firearm use is all about include the following:

It is legal to 'open carry' a weapon in public.  Nevertheless, is is not recommended.  It can draw unwanted attention and appear provocative to the general public.  A best practice is to carry concealed.
 
In Wisconsin brandishing a weapon is against the law.

You can carry a concealed weapon into a tavern as long as you are not consuming alcohol on the premises. Furthermore, you cannot carry with detectable alcohol in your system. 

Wisconsin is not a 'Stand Your Ground' state. Wisconsin follows the 'Castle Doctrine'.  Deadly force is permissible only to defend life in your own home (automobile or business) if the aggressor is over the threshold.    

Corollary:  The best weapon for home defense is not an AR-15 or a handgun - but rather a pump-operated shotgun.  If you are defending your castle it is a best practice to not go looking for an intruder but to retreat with your loved ones to a 'safe room' with your shotgun and call 911.

Use of deadly force to defend property is criminal.  Dogs are property.
 
Use of deadly force is allowed only:  

• In the face of great bodily harm   

• You must be an innocent party     

• No lesser force is sufficient/available    

• There is no reasonable means of retreat/escape

If you discharge your weapon it is not unreasonable to expect jail and charges even if ultimately found to be in the right.

A CCW license does not absolve the holder of civil or criminal liability for negligent weapon use or storage. 

The single best thing to do is to avoid violent encounters in the first place.

Safari-Ready

The Mule now sports a couple of useful accoutrements.

A rear view mirror - with blind spot coverage.










And an overhead gun rack.

Safari here we come......

Achtung Schützenfest!

Schützenfest was a part of last weekend's activities and will likely persist into the coming weekend as Six Deuce and Sid return to complete repairs of a remaining deer stand, zero their rifles and perhaps indulge in some adult beverages and deer camp-style cooking. 

You may care to know how Schützenfest found its way to the Door peninsula.

As the legend goes a German sharpshooter (schütze) shot an eagle from the sky that had attacked him as a small child.  In the states this act would land you in jail; nevertheless, the people of his village were so impressed by this feat that they crowned him 'king' for the year and a celebration followed.

A more realistic explanation is that 15th century soldiers were returning from war to reoccupy their farms and shops and their return was celebrated with a shooting festival. 

In any event Schützenfest has likely been around longer than Oktoberfest and the German tradition celebrating marksmen and marksmanship occurs from summer to autumn and persists almost 500 years to modern times. 


It's a rather big deal and as evidence of this fact the Schützenfest held in Hannover Germany is such a really huge deal that it has become the largest of marksman festivals.  A parade of 10,000 participants from Germany and other parts of the world stretches about 7.5 miles making it the longest parade in Europe and probably the world.  Of course there are carnival rides, a humongous Ferris Wheel, five massive beer tents along with music, dancing and other entertainment to accompany the feats of marksmanship.

click on my 100 yard 3/4 inch group for a closer look

Around here the event is quite subdued although there is the shooting tradition followed afterwards by adult beverages and some really good food.  The company of friends is particularly enjoyable.

Prosit!



Quote of the Day

You give them a little bit of a bonus, so practically for free, you have now made the school into a hardened target

-Donald Trump

.17 HMR

 click on images to enlarge

This is a Savage Model 93R17 Cal .17 HMR.  This rifle came into my possession during my trip to Mississippi last month.  It has been entrusted to my care for a very good reason; however, that's a story for another time and another post.

In any event, it had some minor maintenance issues so I performed a complete disassembly of the piece, gave it a thorough scrubbing, oiling and reassembly.  

I added a sling and a pair of scope covers too.

This afternoon I took it out back and ran a half-box of rounds thru it and within 25 shots I do believe I have it dialed-in.

A straight shooter entrusted to me by another straight shooter.

Edit to add:  Two inch group - fifty yards - give or take.  No laser rangefinder.  

Pistolero

Never leave home without it.

Deer Camp - The Rifles

Hardly all of the guns but a couple that some intrepid hunters took pictures of while pondering their deer stands.

Browning A-bolt.  Chambered for 7mm Remington Mag. 

Sakko bolt action.  Chambered for 270 Winchester.

View thru the scope on that Finnish rifle.

click on images to enlarge

 

Schützenfest

Schützenfest 2015.  

Nine guys working on our deer stands, eating real well and enjoying some firearm competition.

click on images to enlarge

Love the smell of spent powder, barbecue and testosterone in the air...

Sidearm

click on image to enlarge

An essential tool when out for walks with the pooches or working in the woods.

The Platz has its share of varmints all of which will succumb to a well-placed .22 long rifle 1280 FPS velocity 36 gr. plated hollow point from the trusty Browning Buckmark and its 10 round magazine.

Swing and a Miss

Someone did this.

If the bullet hits a tree...

The deer will go free.

click on image to enlarge

 

Schützenfest!

The Sixth Annual  Schützenfest (shooting festival) closed yesterday and was an exceedingly safe and fun time.

Some photos...

click on images to enlarge

 

Schützenfest!

Sniff, sniff...

Do you smell what I smell?

The smell of spent powder, testosterone and barbecue in the air.

You know what that means.

Schützenfest!

An opportunity to ramp-up for the hunting season, demonstrate prowess with a firearm and revel in our manliness...

Schützenfest 2012

Schuetzenfest 2012 was a resounding success.

Here is some nice off-hand shooting at a binary reactive target...

Signage

This sign has been posted prominently upon the entrances of the building where my day job is located.

click on image to enlarge

This facility participates in the "no guns/weapons allowed" security program.


We respectfully ask that you remove any weapons before entering for the safety of all customers and our employees.


Thank you.

Deer Camp

All the unloaded firearms are stacked lovingly
on the rack by the  back door of the garage.

By the grilling supplies.

click on image to enlarge

Ouch!

Since the first of the month the routine for morning dog walks is to grab the shell vest and my trusty 12 ga. Browning auto loader and a handful of dove loads.

I figure the little blond dog (unfazed by the report of a shotgun) can learn from the big black dog what flush, fetch and retrieve is.

Yeah - I know you don't flush doves but wing shooting is wing shooting and before too long we'll have woodcock and grouse to add to the list.

What's with the thumb and that nasty rotten spot?

The first time out I got my thumb caught between the bolt and the breech.  Never put your thumb in the receiver when releasing the bolt.

A thousand times I have handled this gun and never made this mistake.

Sheesh....

Schützenfest 2011

OK.

Here's the video.