Dave, that reminds me of my first weekend of 'grouse camp' this season - I always thought I was a 'dyed-in-the-wool' Jack Daniel's man but I was introduced to some fine sippin' likker by a local feller. Morton's Reserve as I recall . . . very, very nice :shock:

I guess you can teach an old dog a new trick :cool:

Jay, you wouldn't be hunting some of the areas that we hit last year would you. I plan to try an make a one day run up there. At my property a friend of mine was staying last weekend and moved a few grouse and six or eight woodcock without a dog and that was just around the cabin... I need to get up there. Eric

No. I have not been back there yet this year. I thought I would save that in case you and I could get together for another hunt. This Saturday is out but I may be able to get there on the 25th. Interested?

;)
 

If a repro counts.. From today - a little 28 GA... While I usually use a 20 - I'm liking the 28 more and more for the NE woods...

It certainly works for me, John. As much as I would like to own an original Parker 28 I just can't see spending that kind of coin for a gun that I'll use the hell out of in the grouse woods. I really enjoy my 28 ga Repro and use it often, especially early in the season.

BTW: had a chance to handle that 28/30 at Jaquas last week. It is a very nice gun but whomever cut off the SSBP needs to be smacked silly but not as badly as whomever did the crappy job of splicing the SSBP back on.:cuss:

I had a run in this past weekend with a bottle of Blanton's. Yikes. I used to be a Jack-man but then I discovered Buffalo Trace.

I've been shooting my 28" modified and full VH for 50 years this hunting season. I've never used anything but 3/4 ounce loads, but the chokes make up for lack of shot. I've never felt undergunned. However, when I used to shoot Southern Maryland quail as a teenager, I know I missed many close birds because of the tight chokes. My only experience with my new 26" cylinder and full straight grip VH was last year on off season field trial leftovers. We had some nice close pointed birds in the bag, when I took a desperation left barrel shot on a bird that had not been shot at. She was curving around a little stand of trees about 40+ yards out and I fired as she disappeared. Just on a whim, we walked toward the point at which I last saw the bird. I was a bit proud when one of the dogs came up with the dead bird right where I knew she would be. It's nice to have a hunting partner to witness a shot like that. I haven't patterned my old gun since I was in high school, but I patterned the new gun shortly after I got it home. The .020 left barrel just tears the middle out of the paper at any reasonable bird shooting distance. I think a full choked 28 is fine for pheasants up to almost 40 yards if the shooter knows what he is doing.

Jay,

Blanton's wins all the tast test on most all such comparisons nation wide. Buffalo Trace is the old Cream of Kentucky recipe and is made at the same place as Blanton's. Elmer T Lee is very modestly priced and I think is nothing more than Blanton's rejects and is what I drink on special occasions. Another wheeted bourbon fron this distillery is WL Weller 12 year old Special Reserve. Very modestly priced and a real treat to the tongue if you can find it.

Harry

Harry,

Thanks for the tips....I think I'll have to hunt some down. One of the things we tried with Blanton's was to twist a mint leaf and drop it in the glass before adding ice and the hootch. Very plesant and lightened it up a little.

Where does Old Pogue fit in to the food chain? Took a bottle of that to deer camp last year and found it spicy but still smooth.

Cheers,

J

Jay,

I have not had Old Pogue and I would not be adverse to try it. The truth is I don't care what horse I ride so long as I get there.

I drink the good stuff neat most of the time, but a real treat is a silver cup filled with crushed ice and a very good bourbon.

Harry