Sitting under the tree watching the bucks play is a great way to pass the morning. I wasn't hunting deer, but rather hogs. They had been tearing up the place. Literally. A hog wallow under the deer feeder, a spot 30 feet across near the road. Pasture land that is needed to sustain cattle looks like someone went after it with a tiller.
This particular hunt I didn't see any hogs, but I had settled into a nice spot and didn't feel like heading back to the house yet. The sun was warm, cutting the chill from early morning. I had setup downwind of the feeder, and watched with no small interest as first the does and then several bucks headed from their bedding area out to a corn feeder. As they approached a particular area, they would also flash the white tail and get skittish. Circling almost all the way around to my side. Nearly getting my scent, but at the last second heading back towards the feeder. A bachelor group of bucks comes crashing through the woods from the East without a care in the world. Making enough noise to spook the button buck and doe eating on the far south side of the feeder.
Oblivious to my presence, they head up to the feeder. One particular clump of brush has their attention. The Alpha in the group refuses to give ground. A stomp then a loud chuff show his displeasure. Several more steps then another chuff. Finally, a lanky bobcat struts from the brush. He isn't in a hurry, and like me, he isn't after venison. He trots off to the East, like only a cat can do. No rabbits or coons today, but he has other spots to hunt.
It's good to remember, that you aren't the only predator at the feeder.
173 Years ago today, Delegates to the 1836 Convention gathered in a small village named Washington-on-the-Brazos, and voted for Texas independence. A partial listing of this declaration is below. Here's hoping that US can hold things together.
"When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty and property of the people, from whom its legitimate powers are derived, and for the advancement of whose happiness it was instituted, and so far from being a guarantee for the enjoyment of those inestimable and inalienable rights, becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression.
When the Federal Republican Constitution of their country, which they have sworn to support, no longer has a substantial existence, and the whole nature of their government has been forcibly changed, without their consent, from a restricted federative republic, composed of sovereign states, to a consolidated central military despotism, in which every interest is disregarded but that of the army and the priesthood, both the eternal enemies of civil liberty, the everready minions of power, and the usual instruments of tyrants.
When, long after the spirit of the constitution has departed, moderation is at length so far lost by those in power, that even the semblance of freedom is removed, and the forms themselves of the constitution discontinued, and so far from their petitions and remonstrances being regarded, the agents who bear them are thrown into dungeons, and mercenary armies sent forth to force a new government upon them at the point of the bayonet.
...
These, and other grievances, were patiently borne by the people of Texas, untill they reached that point at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue. We then took up arms in defence of the national constitution. We appealed to our Mexican brethren for assistance. Our appeal has been made in vain. Though months have elapsed, no sympathetic response has yet been heard from the Interior. We are, therefore, forced to the melancholy conclusion, that the Mexican people have acquiesced in the destruction of their liberty, and the substitution therfor of a military government; that they are unfit to be free, and incapable of self government.
The necessity of self-preservation, therefore, now decrees our eternal political separation.
We, therefore, the delegates with plenary powers of the people of Texas, in solemn convention assembled, appealing to a candid world for the necessities of our condition, do hereby resolve and declare, that our political connection with the Mexican nation has forever ended, and that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, Sovereign, and independent republic, and are fully invested with all the rights and attributes which properly belong to independent nations; and, conscious of the rectitude of our intentions, we fearlessly and confidently commit the issue to the decision of the Supreme arbiter of the destinies of nations. "
OK, so it really isn't an After Action Report. Rather, a brief synopsis of the fun we had (however short it may have been).
The Background:
A couple weeks ago I was blogsurfing, when I hit Speaker Tweaker (Where sometimes things go bang). He mentioned that all the coolkids where getting together, and we should as well (I'm inserting myself in as a "we" simply because I read the blogs). He left an open invitation, and like the fat kid who finds a lost birthday part invitation, I wanted to eat cake. He and Murphy started planning.
The runup: I told my wife, who then mentions we had a party that night in San Antonio anyway. Score! Seems to be working out, until I started on the details. She didn't want to take two cars. Makes sense to me, but she wasn't excited about shooting. It just isn't her thing (no big deal I can understand). We decided that 9AM was too early anyway and we would show up late. Still excited. I started loading mags.
The Day: Loading the truck, I realized I didn't want to lug a ton of firearms down to San Antonio then have to explain to my in-laws what I am carrying and why I have them. They don't know I blog. It's easier for me to complain, talk about the stuff they don't know about (tattoos), and frankly I just don't want them to know.
This brings up a dilemma. What to bring. I decided to bring the Sub2k 9mm and my cursed 1911. I'm still not sure why I decided to bring this particular pistol, as it has never worked properly. Typically giving a failure to feed. Last time out it worked almost flawlessy, but I wasn't lucky this time. (As an aside, if anyone knows a smith who works on 1911s who can do the work for say $200 I would appreciate it).
We roll in with no problems (Yay GPS!), and walk in. The range is nice, although I'm glad I brought ears with me, as you park in a central area and shooting is going on all around. I walk into the pistol area and quickly realize I don't know what anyone looks like. The range is cold, and I'm able to listen in on several conversations. Through this I pick two groups that might be the people I am looking for. Only one has a CZ52. Bingo, I walk up and casually ask if Jim was part of the blogmeet. Fortunately he was. I pulled out my doomed pistol and lay it on the table.
I'm not going to force a play by play, but here are some of the highlights:
*"Is this screw supposed to look like this?" Crap, no.
*Bang. Why did my magazine just blow out the bottom of my Keltec? Hmm, something isn't right. Why does this brass have a whole in the bottom? Looks like a case head failure. Time to switch ammo.
*I might be crazy, but I didn't think the Mosin was too bad. "That's because you are a masochist." Fair enough.
*"Did anyone notice the disconcerting number of holes in the tin roof of the rifle range."
*"We only allow slow shooting from the bench. No more then 3 shots every five seconds." Possibly related to the holes in the roof?
*"Time to go." Looks like I'm done guys, my wife has been way more then patient with me.
Aftermath: I had fun. Next time I will be more prepared. Why I decided to bring that pistol I don't know. I kinda felt like the Ahole of the world, but at least had a good time when I shot that Mosin. I think I have one of those on my list. I can only imagine the impression I left. My ADD was firing and I was a spazz. Oh well, it happens.
Here are a couple more images:
Jim & the Sig 556
Speaker and the M44
I'm not sure how I missed a picture of Murph. Probably more of me being a Spazz.
Back from Midland, TX. Once again, I made a small section of the world safe from the wicked mourning dove. Not as many as I would have prefered, but I was doing a little teaching also.
A buddy of mine wanted to learn to dove hunt, and while he had been one other time, the guy he went with was a relative newcomer also. We got into the field later then I would have liked, but only because I brought along some other toys that go boom to play with. I wanted to field test a couple new (or new to me) shotguns & ARs, and he had fun blasting away at cheap generic sodas (which make a great target).
A couple doves and one beautiful sunset later, and we packed it in. Next time, I think we should hit the skeet range first, as I think he was taking shots that were too far, but we can fix that. One thing I always forget, is that even though the land is flat and dry, I do love it out there. Heck, I have been keeping my eye out for some land. Unfortunately, anything for sale is still way out of my range, or is too far away.
Rabbiteach convinced me to go out and listen to some music. One of her friends plays in the Burnett Jones Band, and the were playing at Poodie's Hilltop. We got there a little early, which is shickong since I managed to drive about 20 miles further then I should have (and then had to back track). It was a blast! Burnett Jones sounded great, and Poodie's looked like it hadn't changed since the last time we went (probably 2 years ago).
(taken with my phone)
Burnett Jones plays a mixture of Classic Country, Texas Country (Pat Green, Cory Morrow, etc), and their own stuff. I need to get their CD as it is sometimes difficult to hear in Poodie's, but the custom stuff was good.
Following Burnett Jones' set, they had a band from Dallas called Eleven Hundred Springs. 1100 was even louder then Burnett Jones. Maybe i'm getting old, but I like to be able to actually hear the music, not just feel it through the sound waves. They also didn't sound much like their album, but that could have been them trying to excite the crowd. We left mid way through their set. Not because we didn't like them, but I didn't want to drink anymore beer (BJJ in the morning), and because the combination of smoke and volume was giving us a headache. I'm still going to download their album.
Sorry for the crappy pictures. Poodie's is an "interesting" place. I need to take a good camera there and take some portraits. Lots of character in the faces of the people there.
Texas is a state of mind. Texas is an obsession. Above all, Texas is a nation in every sense of the word. - Steinbeck
"If a man's from Texas, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him by asking?" - John Gunther
On this date, March 2, 1836, 60 Texans signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, and officially created the Great Republic of Texas. While this Declaration was being officially made, William Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett were besieged within the Alamo. Four days later (March 6, 1836), the Alamo fell.
While historians will continue to argue about the Alamo, and the military significance of attempting to hold the fort, we do know that the death of the Alamo defenders along with the Massacre at Goliad on March 27th became a rallying cry for the Texas troops at the Battle of San Jacinto, when Texas forces led by Sam Houston captured and defeated General Santa Anna.
Ten years later, the fledgling Republic joined the United States of America. While the Republic of Texas may have had a relatively short run as an Independent Nation, the words written then, still bear repeating.
"When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty and property of the people, from whom its legitimate powers are derived, and for the advancement of whose happiness it was instituted, and so far from being a guarantee for the enjoyment of those inestimable and inalienable rights, becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression.
When the Federal Republican Constitution of their country, which they have sworn to support, no longer has a substantial existence, and the whole nature of their government has been forcibly changed, without their consent, from a restricted federative republic, composed of sovereign states, to a consolidated central military despotism, in which every interest is disregarded but that of the army and the priesthood, both the eternal enemies of civil liberty, the everready minions of power, and the usual instruments of tyrants.
When, long after the spirit of the constitution has departed, moderation is at length so far lost by those in power, that even the semblance of freedom is removed, and the forms themselves of the constitution discontinued, and so far from their petitions and remonstrances being regarded, the agents who bear them are thrown into dungeons, and mercenary armies sent forth to force a new government upon them at the point of the bayonet.
When, in consequence of such acts of malfeasance and abdication on the part of the government, anarchy prevails, and civil society is dissolved into its original elements. In such a crisis, the first law of nature, the right of self-preservation, the inherent and inalienable rights of the people to appeal to first principles, and take their political affairs into their own hands in extreme cases, enjoins it as a right towards themselves, and a sacred obligation to their posterity, to abolish such government, and create another in its stead, calculated to rescue them from impending dangers, and to secure their future welfare and happiness."
"These, and other grievances, were patiently borne by the people of Texas, untill they reached that point at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue. We then took up arms in defence of the national constitution. We appealed to our Mexican brethren for assistance. Our appeal has been made in vain. Though months have elapsed, no sympathetic response has yet been heard from the Interior. We are, therefore, forced to the melancholy conclusion, that the Mexican people have acquiesced in the destruction of their liberty, and the substitution therfor of a military government; that they are unfit to be free, and incapable of self government.
The necessity of self-preservation, therefore, now decrees our eternal political separation.
We, therefore, the delegates with plenary powers of the people of Texas, in solemn convention assembled, appealing to a candid world for the necessities of our condition, do hereby resolve and declare, that our political connection with the Mexican nation has forever ended, and that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, Sovereign, and independent republic, and are fully invested with all the rights and attributes which properly belong to independent nations; and, conscious of the rectitude of our intentions, we fearlessly and confidently commit the issue to the decision of the Supreme arbiter of the destinies of nations."
I think Davy Crockett said it best. "You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas. "
