Thanks for the good reporting.

I like this description. I have been an "intruder" at such places. I think we who shoot Parkers and other fine century plus doubles have an abiding longing for an era that will never be again. Part of the reason it is lost is an acceptance of mediocrity. There is little pride left in creating lasting products of any ilk. If it lasts, that's not going to generate future sales. Why do we accept that an appliance is lucky to have a ten year useful life, when there are "ancient" appliances that still function perfectly? Why do we accept that some electronic item is to be routinely considered a piece of crap after a year or two? I think the list can go on and on. Then there is that other list. Parker, Lefever, Fox, Smith, and some from across the pond. Pride of manufacture remains evident in a "product" that will continue to provide pleasure and good (even tough) service for another century and beyond with a minimum of TLC. From the forgers and fitters, the machinists and wood workers, the engravers and those charged with quality control throughout the process, the by-word was "excellence". Mediocrity was only to be found in a dictionary and was not an understood concept at any of the fine gunworks. Time to stop and re-fill the cup from one of them new fangled coffee makers destined to be in a nearby land fill in the not too distant future. Sighhhhhhh..............

Jack

We finished up on Saturday morning with a Canada and 18 ducks- mallards, blacks, ringnecks, woody drake and a greenwing teal. the weather had changed overnight from summer to fall. It was about 40F, overcast, drizzle and swirling, gusty wind of about 20 mph. After Destry and I combined on a single goose at dawn, the next hour was slow and "duckhunter's despair" began to creep into the blind but we began to pick away at them. Both Destry and I shot banded mallard drakes for a total of 3 bands for the trip. We were finished at 10 a.m. Kevin and I left the lodge at 1:00 p.m. and arrived at my home in PA at 9:00...a 498 miles trip door to door.

Not trying to high jack this thread.
But very well said Mr. Cronkhite.

Thanks for keeping us posted Mr. Kaas.
I always enjoy hearing about your and Destry's trips and shooting adventures.
Please keep em coming.

John

Don: I very much enjoyed your hunter's diary. Thanks for sharing the adventure.
Cheers,
Jack

We should have some more to tell this season. Brant hunting on Barnegat Bay, the annual pilgrimage to Beaver Dam in Tunica, MS, tales from the old duck club on Church Creek off the Chester River in MD...I'll make sure there is a Parker along on each trip so I don't get "the black spot"...we might even pretend to shoot a goose on my farm with my 8 bore DH in a loud act of civil disobediance!:corn:

sounds like the hunting trip was enjoyed by all espically me... maybe destrey can buzz me when yall get down tunica way..im not to far from there 1 1/2 hour away...looking for them next reports... charlie

Charlie,

I'm not going to make it down to Beaver Dam with them this year unfortunately. If I'm passing through on one of my crop protection shoots down in the southern part of your state I'll try to give you a ring.


Destry

I shot the big 34 inch gun every day but one, wish I'd have taken it along that time as well. The Swamp Angel and I get along pretty well, though the ducks don't seem to like the old girl much.....

Destry

P.S. Just entered my band numbers on the government website and both came up with no information available so it looks like both were probably banded this year. Info will come through later in the winter when the banders get all their dated complied.