Philadelphia......

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Gentlemen,

I'm preparing to leave for my trip east to shoot against that fellow from Peoria. I'm overnighting this evening with Jeffery Milliken, representative of the Browning Arms Company, to view his display of their new autoloading shotgun.

I will then proceed in the small hours to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to join Mr. Kaas and Mr. Kimble for a try at the fowl on the Chester River. In the afternoon it's on to Philadelphia and Mister Kaas' gun club for an evening repast and much needed slumber. Our pigeon match begins bright and early on Saturday morning.

Mr. Kimble has edged me out by one bird on each of our two most recent meetings. Be assured that I will be out for blood this time and intend to take the purse and trophy. I've spend most of the fall and winter duck shooting in Ontario so am warm to my gun and well prepared to do some serious business at the traps.

I will be seeing Mr. Kimble off at the train station early on Sunday morning then I'm off to Leesport, Penna to visit the famous gunsmith R. Bickle who'll be doing some small repairs on a couple of my guns that have seen hard service this past season.

I've just recieved a last minute wire from Mr. Thomas Flanigan, eastern salesman for the Parker Gun, saying that he's left a new D grade hammerless pigeon gun in the hands of Mr. Milliken to pass along to me. The company wishes me to try the gun in my match against Mr. Kimble and give a full report of it's performance. I'm much pleased and surprised at this opportunity and will do my level best to make a good showing.

I wish, in advance, to thank Mr. Kaas and all others who have made this small tour possible. I'm sure reports of the match will proceed me home, watch this space.


Regards,
Capt. A.H. Bogardus aka Destry L. Hoffard

[Dean Romig]

Destry, please give my most sincere warm regards to both Tom and Jeff, We never hear from them on the forum anymore and miss their informative and jovial posts. And, of course, my best to John, Don and Russ as well. Your visit to the east should prove lucrative and rewarding. Keep your head down and the gun moving.

[Chuck Bishop]

Will the good Captain be visiting Wing Pointe that Sunday also?

[Bill Murphy]

Captain, I have seen the new Grade D pigeon gun in action when Mr. Flanigan demonstrated it at a pigeon shoot of our South Ridge Flyers Club some time ago. It has your favorite uncommon length of barrel and should suit you just fine. Good luck with the North Shore waterfowl and especially good luck in your competition with the aging Mr. Kimble. Your friend, W.S. Perry.

[Ed Blake]

Mr. Perry - just how long are those barrels?

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Gentlemen,

I've arrived at the Milliken house, receiving a warm welcome as always. You are correct Mr. Perry, the gun is all a pigeon gun should be, 34 inch barrels, high stock, sans safety, a positive killer. Again my thanks to Mr. Flanigan for providing it. He wasn't able to be with us this evening but is here in spirit as his name has often been on our lips.

Mr. Bishop,
Gunsmith Bickel has suggested visiting Wing Pointe on Sunday just as you mention. I'm always keen for any chance at pigeon shooting. So, should things work in my favor, I'll be on the grounds sometime in the afternoon.

I've heard from Kaas and Kimble via wire, they're awaiting my arrival in the small hours at the old Sprinkle Mansion north of Chestertown. The weather is a bit fair for my taste, hopefully the fowl will cooperate with us come morning.


Regards,
Bogardus

[Bill Murphy]

Captain, I'm not sure you have visited the Wing Pointe club. Unless a flyer shoot is scheduled for that day, you will probably be treated to a taste of the recent development, the clay bird. They have a course that winds through the woods with many contraptions along the way that propel these clay birds. I was hosted by Mr. Bickel and Colonel Gross some time ago and was impressed not only by the shooting facilities, but by the on grounds saloon where the food and drink is quite good and well served. A young redheaded shooter from Virginia accompanied us on the course. He claimed to know you from an earlier hunt on the Upper Shore of Maryland. He was a bit of an embarrassment because he not only declined to order proper distilled spirits at lunch, I think he shot a Belgian shotgun at the clay birds even though he claimed to have some knowledge of our Parkers. Your friend, W.S. Perry

[Bill Murphy]

Captain, "fair weather" is a bit of an understatement. I'm sure, as you awoke, the Montgomery County sun was blinding. The ten o'clock sun has expanded the mercury to a reading of 80 degrees F. By the way, Mr. Bickel seems to favor a somewhat odd Parker for his clay bird shooting. It is a very nice top lever hammer gun, but equipped with the new black barrels that have just recently been offered on the hammerless gun. I think he may have constructed the combination himself although the gun shows every sign of factory work. I certainly wouldn't think that Parker Brothers would install the inferior and potentially unsafe black barrels on one of their hallmark hammer guns. It is hoped that Mr. Bickel has not discarded the Damascus barrels that originally adorned the gun. What will these local gunsmiths think of next.

[Dean Romig]

For one who spends his day in front of a forge hammering and shaping horseshoes he seems to have come up with with some very unusual tubes . . . one wonders where he may have obtained such inferrior black iron...

[Jeff Mulliken]

The good Captain is working his way toward the confrontation with Kimble. He was in good form and seemed to be full of confidence as he pulled an all nighter before driving 600 miles on Thursday.

We restocked his ample frame with pork tenderloin, string beans and corn bread and drink pail of malt beverage. Many stories were told of buxom redheads and the public libraries of Lapeer Michigan.

After putting a man sized dent in my sofa for an hour and a half of sleep he was off again to go rest up in a duck blind with a view of brackish water.

The Captain is in good form and will arrive with style.

Now, it is with heavy heart that I drop back off into relative obscurity.......for now. As my time allows I'll be back to follow the fun.

But for now I can just pass on my regards to all, but especially to RogerCodger and John Hickerson who I know were worried that I found the edge of the earth and stepped off.

Jeff Mulliken and Luke the Wonder Dog

ps: Luke is savoring his retirement, but it's hard....every good day counts
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/jeffmulliken/IMG_0065.jpg

[Bill Murphy]

Thanks for the message from our friend, Jeff Mulliken. We miss him a lot. He is a Smith-Parker Challenge team member and a valued poster on this forum, as well as a friend to many PGCA members. We would like to hear more from him.

[Dean Romig]

Jeff, Luke is my favorite Lab (now that my Lab, Tobie is gone). I liked him from the first day I met him at pintail point a few years back and I hope he is comfortable in his retirement... he certainly looks comfortable!!
I hope you show up more often and leave a few posts so we know you're still watchin'.

Dean

[Jeff Mulliken]

Dean and Bill,

Thanks for the kind words. The good Captain gave Luke a bit of his pork tenderloin, so the Lab God's will be smiling on him during the 'race'.

I have one particular memory of Luke at Pintail...when he made eye contact with the leopard skin rug and head mount under Kevin Mc's display table and he went into attack mode. Every hair stood on end and I heard him growl for maybe the only time in his life....I just barely stopped him from charging that rug.

We came within an inch of having cat fur and guns and tables flying all over the tent. I convinced him to leave it alone but he kept one eye on that rug and his lip curled up until we left. I dont think he ever really figured out what the hell that big spotted cat was doing under that table.

Every one of us deserves one great dog. They are gone so soon.

[Dave Suponski]

Jeff,It's really good to hear from ya again.Stick around will ya? I really enjoyed your post's.

[Robin Lewis]

Yes, I remember that too, really quite the reaction to that cat.


file:///C:/Users/robin/Desktop/IMG_0353.JPG

[Jeff Mulliken]

Oh Lord, I'd forgotten there was a picture. I got him to sit to prevent any mayhem....but look at his lip and throat, that's a snarl and growl going on.

Robin, can you email me a full resolution copy of that picture? I'd sure like to have one!

[Robin Lewis]

Jeff, check you messages.

[C Roger Giles]

Kimballs and Buggard

If it isn't raining yet I hope it does at piegon shooting time

Da Coger

[C Roger Giles]

Jeff

Really good to hear from you and to know Luke is still around to lick your hand.

Are you ready for a Steelhead session on the Pere and if so I offer my home, hospality, and riverside advise plus either Famous Grouse or Oban and anything else that is friverless.

Rog

[Jeff Mulliken]

Roger,

I'll be making the run to the PM right about the time the tax man darkens our doors. I'll see if there is a way to time things with Pascal to pay you a visit on the way up or back and get a beer and a bear hug.

Regards,

Jeff

[Christopher Lien]

Jeff,
Good to hear you and Luke are still out there and doing well... I always enjoyed seeing photos of Luke's waterfowl hunting adventures, and hope you post some more photos in the near future... Dogs have different personalities just like people, and Luke the Lab will always be one of my favorites...;)

Best, Chris ~ CSL
_____________________________
http://www.webpak.net/~dslcslien/1LukeLabJeffMulliken.jpg
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[Don Kaas]

NEWS FROM PHILADELPHIA Jan 16, 2010 BOGARDUS TRIUMPHANT!

Capt. Bogardus regained possession of The Sterling Watch, The Championship Pin and the Prize Monies. In a field crowded with 25 shooters, adversary Fred Kimble's slow start could not be overcome by a late charge in the afternoon event. Bogardus won both morning and afternoon matches and the high overall score. The latest of the man to man matches was held today at the Philadelphia Gun Club. Both of these noted competitors used the famous Parker Bros. gun with cartridges by Messrs. Eley of the United Kingdom. Details to follow.

[C Roger Giles]

Congratulations Captain;

You are now in good stead with us midlanders of the PGCA after some dismal results of the past coupla years. I would say the hours you put in a duck/goose blind has resulted in elevating your shooting skills into winning ways.

This to John who lost this match of honor/dishonor, what ever, probably said, well Captain you just wait till next year or perhaps at The Southern.



I am sure a vast amount of fun was had by all as it should be.

Also Captain please note that I kindly omited smelly hat remarks.

PTG Roger

[Bill Murphy]

Don or Destry, did the Captain shoot the Flanigan pigeon gun or something else?

[Don Kaas]

The Captain shot the 34" DHE in practice but being of a sinestral bent its substantial cast off proved problematic for him. This may easier be corrected by bending. He shot a 32" straight grip #2 frame DHE #157,150 of mine choked .010/.035 (I got it from him so he was familiar with it). He used 1 1/4oz 2.4 mm Eley Bismuth loads at 1220 fps.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Gentlemen,

Sorry for my lack of attention in making my final report, business here at home has kept me occupied since my return from the east.

The final score of the 30 bird match was:

Bogardus - 22

Kimble - 18

The sun glaring off the river was brutal for the first half of the match, though the weather was warm for the season and pleasant enough. The members of the Philadelphia Gun Club made us very welcome as they always have in the past. We were visited for lunch by Mr. McCormack of the Parker Gun Company, always a pleasure to see that gentleman.

Mr. Kimble had a rough morning drawing some tough birds and I managed to get a considerable lead on him. After lunch he came back with a fury and drew the match very close but I managed to hold him off and win the day.

We shot three separate contests actually, a 15 bird race in the morning for the silver watch that was donated my Mr. Kaas last year, a 15 bird race in the afternoon for the championship medal which we've shot for on several occasions, and then a cumulative match adding the scores from morning and afternoon for the $50 purse.

The afternoon match came down to the last shot, we were even at 11 dead and had to decide the winner by long run which I took with 7 birds to Kimble's 6 birds. As I said, he came back with a vengance after the luncheon break and was a hard man to beat.

I took Mr. Kimble to the train station on Sunday morning and then proceeded to Gunsmith Bickel's home in the hills of Berks County. We had some refreshment and looked over his collection of guns, his shop is full of fine fowling pieces he's taken in for repair and restocking. We'd planned on shooting pigeons at Wing Pointe in the afternoon but the foul rainy weather had kept many of the gunners at home so they were closing down the ring just as we arrived. No matter though, we had a good visit, I left him in the late afternoon and headed home.

About 1500 miles under my belt for this tour, meeting with excellent friends and sport, what more could a man ask for. Again my thanks to Mr. Kaas Esq. for his hospitality in setting this up for Kimble and I.


Regards,
Bogardus

[Bill Murphy]

Captain, congratulations on your success. No lesser congratulations to my friend Kimble on his fine performance after a long trip north. I assume that the new Bogardus Club Gun may be the weapon of choice for the next shoot. Would that be at the Deep River facility in April by chance? If your friend Mr. Baker can't come up with suitable quantities of his excellent RST ten gauge ammunition for the contest, I would be willing to front you some of his product to insure your next victory. Am I recalling correctly that the BCG is a ten bore? Waiting to read your next submission. Your friend, Perry.

[Don Kaas]

Actually the purse was $100 and Bogardus long run that secured him the afternoon win was 8...he is so modest...

[Bill Murphy]

Good gosh, man. I had no idea such a purse was involved. What would it take to get Perry involved in this shoot? OH, forgive me. I remember my reaction when another outsider presumed to enter this competition. A "match" is a two man affair as this one should remain, regardless of the magnitude of the possible winnings. Your friend, W.S. Perry.

[John Davis]

The good Captain proved more than I could handle on this particular occassion, but then he's not considered Champion Wing Shot of World for nothing. My hope is to reclaim the medal in the Spring. Perhaps 100 clay targets will prove more forgiving. See you in Sanford Mr. Bogardus.

Fred Kimble

[Don Kaas]

Perhaps, even Capt. A. W. "Bluerock" Money will appear Parker in hand at the Southern. Arrangements for a booth touting the wares of the American EC Powder Co. of Oakland, N.J. are rumored to be afoot.

[john hickerson]

Bill,

I will second your motion

Hick