What do I have?

[DeAn Durham]

Thank you all so very much for your condolences. Its been a very difficult year for me losing both of my grandparents and Dad last year and now mom. With gods grace I will get through.

[ch]

Dee, If you ever want to talk about any shooting or pistols you are shooting I don't think anybody would care. Got me some Glaser PowRball 380 for my LCP hope they feed smooth there supposed to got a hollow point filled with a plastic ball. You must feel mighty lonely since your parents passed read your Bible helps me. ch

[DeAn Durham]

It is definitely lonely and scary all in one. I'm only 34 and confused as to how to come to terms with losing my parents so early. Time will make it managable just not easier I guess

[Marc Retallack]

I'm sorry to learn of yet another loss for you Dee. If it's any help, you're not alone. I lost my father and one of my favorite uncles within 3 months of each other last year. At 36, I thought I had more time with them as well. Not long after my father's passing, I adopted a 4 yr old black lab. He was probably the best therapy I could have asked for. I'm certain you're in many prayers this evening.

Marcus

[DeAn Durham]

You know.....I've been contemplating getting myself and my girls a puppy to keep us busy and redirect our love to a faithful companion. Just haven't been able to settle on what to look for. But of course my thoughts are all over the board right now. I've thought of a Bassett Hound all the way to a German Shepherd lol. I did come across a Bloodhound rescue here locally but not sure of the breed and care for them. I will keep looking and know when the time is right, it'll happen. I appreciate all of the words of encouragement and sympathy. You guys are the best!

[DeAn Durham]

On a more upbeat note.......I just got a new S&W 9mm and a Taurus 45. Once everything calms down a bit, I'm looking forward to going to the range and getting a little bit of "gun therapy" in. Also, next weekend I will be going turkey hunting for the first time, so I'm really looking forward to it. Any tips and tricks you guys can give to the new kid?

[Dean Romig]

First off, let me suggest a Lab as a great family dog - they're a lot of fun and love kids... and they can be really good pheasant flushers and retrievers.

I'd recommend you get your first turkey advice from the people you hunt with but always take a head shot on them. Body shots are often crippling shots on turkeys.

[DeAn Durham]

I've thought about getting a lab, but I don't know the first thing about training it for hunting. That and I've never pheasant hunted before either. I love the outdoors and shooting, so once everything calms down, I think I am going to try my hand at just about every kind of hunting I can think of. I know for me, deer hunting is very relaxing and calming so I look forward to trying new things and occupying my time.

Firstly, my sympathies on the losses of your dear family members. Time may not always heal the wounds of such a loss- I can still close my eyes and picture my best two buddies from HS- both are buried in Arlington and their names are on the Black Wall in DC. I was one of the lucky ones-

I am an avid waterfowler, tried turkey hunting last April with a private land senior license here in MI-and got "beginner's luck" took a Jake with a head shot at 35 paces mid-morning 19th of April 2010. He and two hens walked right up to my "hide" and I used my tight choked 12 LC Smith 32" F&F- No. 6 paper Rem express in both tubes- he never knew what hit him-- here are some reasons why I 'got lucky" at least, IMO-if they help you, well enuf!

(1) I have been waterfowling and shooting woodchucks, crows and pigeons on that private farm for 25 years, know every square inch of the land.
(2) I had scouted for several days, when scoping the fields for woodchucks, and had seen turkeys in a going to water pattern from the picked corn fields and the hard woods- remember, oaks mean- deer, turkeys, squirrels and wood ducks!
I got their early and was in full camo- like I use for crow shooting- the old sniper's mantra- No rattle, No shine- also-- "every deer thinks a hunter not moving is a stump-- every turkey thinks every stump in the woods is a hidden hunter- their eyesight and depth perception/sense of motion is akin to Superman's X-ray vision-- have your shotgun positioned where you expect the bird to come from, less motion, better- and remove any sling when you get to your hide-out, so it won't catch in the brush at a critical moment of truth.
(3) pattern your gun and know it like a soldier knows his rifle- if the safety catch clicks, get that silenced before you go out. If you shoot a choke tubed gun, make sure the choke of your choice is solidly in place in the muzzle-
(4) If you don't know how to call- Don't- I call very little for waterfowl, none at all for turkeys- I hunt like a sniper- 100% concealment, 100% confidence in my choice of weapon and knowlege of its killing range and patterning potential-

Lastly, I am also an avid pistolman- mainly Colts- both wheelies and the great 1911-A-1 .45 ACP. I have a "Statie" for a close neighbor, so I get to shoot on their qual course several times a year by invite-

[DeAn Durham]

Fantastic advice!!! I will take it, use and see what happens Thank you!