Hanging Out at Hausmann's 2019

[Brett Hoop]

Ask someone with a passion for double guns if they are going to Ernie’s, and it seems like everyone knows your talking about Hausmann’s Hidden Hollow. It may be no where near nothing PA and hidden but folks drive a long way and find it, even if your GPS takes you a different way than last time. As Kenny wrote above, and at least for me it’s about the people. That and having a precious few days fully immersed in the double gun dream state of mind. I think we all shot about till we dropped. I am still trying to figure out that left to right slight crosser that came out 20 feet below the station, and first became a target about 35 yards out. Bill figured it out, and Pete said something like almost 40 years of hunting together and he never shot like this before! And those moments are why you go to Hausmann’s. Also when your buddy Allan let’s you shoot a round with his 0 frame 16 top lever hammer gun and also a Holland! Or maybe it’s peeking at a Grade 6 Parker hammer gun that looks like it left the factory last year. Or watching someone uncase a lifetime treasure of a 28 ga Skeet gun. Sharing a biscuit with Fancy, watching Grace be a guide dog. That’s why I want to be at Hausmann’s.

This year we missed a few of our boys, Edgar, Frank, Eric and Rich, Smitty. Folks mentioned you fellas frequently. When it looked like Edgar for certain was going to be absent, he still got the ribs there via his wing man Allan. A big thank you to both Edgar and Allan for that not so small chore. Who else but the Ole Grouser himself Harold, would show up with smoked grouse? If you didn’t get any it’s because I ate it all! I did leave a bit of the smoked pheasant Harold also had brought. Parker and Fox’s dad, Daryl delivered with buttermilk batter fried pheasant. The no canoe beer was in full observance, with cold Bass, and a proper Scottish ale of bottled Belhaven. Thanks to everyone who made the trek to the back of Paul’s field, hopefully next year Edgar will hold court once again.

[Harold Pickens]

We campers did eat well, for certain. Brett had coffee going really early each morning, so I never had to fire up my pot. Sarah LeFever brought over a big container of soft sugar cookies, and Brett had a big tin of cathead bisquits. Sugar cookies and coffee make a great breakfast. Thursday night we cooked steaks on Kenny's grill, along with fried potatoes, mushrooms, and broccoli--you couldnt have found a better meal in Vestal.
Of course there were plenty of good beers and assorted bourbons to sample.

[Harold Pickens]

Friday I shot 4 rounds, and must admitt I was getting a little tired by the end, but I wanted to shoot with alot of different people. I think I shot with everyone except Daryl, as he was busy manning the BoWhoop table. Tom Pelligrino(Quigley) made it back to his home state of Pa., and looks like he really enjoyed himself--come back next year Tom!
I shot the main event Sat. with Kenny, and was flagged down by Frank Jezorio, who joined us. Frank was the the head of the West Virginia DNR for many years, and is a prolific author with several upland books, and has a feature article in each Pointing Dog Journal. I shot my Ithaca 4E 16 in the main event, its the gun I shoot the best.

[Harold Pickens]

More pics and comments.
Bill Janelle shot lights out the whole time--was probably tough riding home with him, huh Pete. Missed that dry New England humor of Frank Cronin, and of course Edgar.
We certainly missed Eric, Rich, and Mike Smith also.

[Harold Pickens]

more pics

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Harold Lee Pickens

More pics and comments.
Bill Janelle shot lights out the whole time--was probably tough riding home with him, huh Pete. Missed that dry New England humor of Frank Cronin, and of course Edgar.
We certainly missed Eric, Rich, and Mike Smith also.

Bill shot great, he suddenly came alive after 40 years of shooting, fortunately I bested him by a few birds in the main event which made the trip home bearable lol.

[Double Lab]

Yes Harold, I was busy on the Bo-Whoop and did'nt get to shoot as much as I normally do. Next year I will be the shoot director for Fox so I'll be in charge of the Bo-Whoop and the Fox-Lefever challenge. I invite all of you to at least give the BW one go around as I know quite a few of you own Foxes and this is a major fund raiser for the AHFCA. The AHFCA is not as big as the PGCA so we need your support and to be honest with you it's just plain fun.

It was a great time and am counting down the days until next year.

[Harold Pickens]

As a member of the fox gun Collectors Association, thanks Darryl for all your hard work. One last photo from housman's, of my beautiful dog fancy