Getting ready

AWS

Custom Accessory Maker & Retired PM Staff
We do not have night hunting here and temps are brutal in the summer, we've had a little cool down, it just dropped it into the mid 90's and it doesn't look like we'll get to into the 80's untill the end of the month. So Oct will be spent fishing and predator hunting will start in Nov. While fishing I might call a couple in in the park just to scratch the itch.

I've had a little downturn in luck, vision in my right eye went wonky, my 30 year old cataract lense fell back into my eye and the Dr had to go into the eyeball and fish it out and then sew new lense in. The surgery was two weeks ago and he said it would be a month or two before the eye stabilizes and and the body absorbs the blood in my eye. I can see again but everything is still blurry. Yesterday I grabbed a rifle and took a look, reticle is fuzzy and I can't adjust it to clear it up, but I can see it.

Tomorrow will be my first day at the range, pretty sure I will be able to see a four inch fluorescent dot at 100 through the scope. Wish me luck, I have a suppressor sitting on a rifle for 1.5 months and am chaffing at the bit to shoot it.

So with the down time I'm getting ready.

I pulled out the back scabbards and and making sure they have a knife and spare call in them, shooting sticks for each scabbard and stool attached.

I pulled all the batteries from callers last spring so they will get all new and tested, might change a few presets. I'll be starting the season with Wildlife Tech, Foxpro Patriot and an old CS-24 (first model).

Rifles, this will be my first season with a suppressor so I'll spending time with them and see if it really makes any difference on the stand. I put together a 223 BA Carbine 16.5" barrel with a OCL PoloniumK suppressor and fitted my HB 6mm ARC Mini Howa with Sonicore Rekker OB suppressor. I also put together a Bolt-action AR in 223 with a 16" barrel and a 4" linear compensator, I'm really interested in how they will fair in the field. I'll also have one of my combo guns along in case I find the right stand or some birds for the pot.

Will be starting the seasons n with a new to me 4x4, first one since the 80s. I spent the summer building in a bunk, kitchen and storage. It's 14 years old but low mileage looking to get some miles on it. Sold my van.

I am starting to walk more to get back in shape,with the lense loose in my eye they didn't want me doing much of anything they just cleared me to go back to normal activities. Changed out the heater hoses in the new rig yesterday and started building a new portable target stand.

Trip planning, a week moseying up the eastern AZ border calling preds, up to Kingman to hunt with my nephew, hopefully find enough water to shoot some ducks, added a large wheel to the front of the trailer so I can lower it down to water where there isn't a landing and pull it back up to the top. A trip in the spring to hunt large northern pike, was supposed to go next week but return visits to the DR put that on hold till spring.

How's your fall/winter looking?
 
Sorry to hear about your eye problems, Erich. Prayers for speedy/complete restoration of your vision.
 
Bummer about the eye AWS! Give it time, it will clear up! What they can do with eyes is amazing. Last year I was diagnosed with restenosis, in both eyes LOL. They did 5 emergency surgeries over 3 months but finally got them stabilized. I had a bunch of blood vessles break as a result and like you couldn't see jack-shit for a few months. Fast forward a year and fingers crossed all is good!

So, hang in there pal!
 
Dr gave me the ok to resume normal activities, exercise, lifting heavy objects etc. my itty bitty rifles should be fine. I'll give the shotgun a month.
 
this time of year grows on my patience, to hot to really hunt and the fields are full of corn and beans so I can't see a thing. Went out a few times in August but entertained the mosquitoes and such. Really, I just need to wait for the harvest most my hunting is in the corn and bean fields. Hope things cool down for you soon, and good luck!
 
Hey EB, dang sorry about your eye, especially your shooting eyeball. I plan on seeing if you can do some stands sometime in the fall. I have fully retired and so no darn need to go to "work". Looking forward to see your new rig. F
 
The suppressor could change your time on stand, if you get an early bird single don't be in a hurry to get up. Keep calling. I have had coyote come in 10 minutes apart. Occasionally 3 in a row, 10-12 minutes between seem to be about average.
 
Man, you’ve had quite the ordeal. Glad the eye is healing, and it sounds like you’re ready for a great season.
 
Erich, glad things are going well with the eye. I was just getting ready to PM ya for an update.
Hopefully today at the range you found that 4" minute of coyote acceptable and are now ready to try for some meat reports.
Me, I am always ready except I can't seem to hit chit last week:mad:. Hoping to get out a few nights this week and see if I can rectify that.
 
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Rained most of the night so put things on n hold untill tomorrow or Sunday, monsoons have finally moved in.
 
I made it to the range this morning. Pretty disappointed, I shot a couple decent groups aiming the fuzzy reticle at the fuzzy spot on the target. Found the leupold VariX lll 1.5-5 was a little clearer than the Bushnelll Elite 4500 1.5-4.5 not t much but the German #1 was easier to put on the target. The Athlon 2-12 cranked up actually gave the target some definition. Shooting without my glasses was slightly better than with.. I'll add some pics when I get home. I treated myself to.breakfast out this morning.

100 yards
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Erich, have you tried to re-adjust your scope for a clearer reticle? A clear reticle, or front sight is much more important than the target when you have to sacrifice one or the other.
I did lots of playing around with that as my eyes started to fail when shooting competition w/iron sights.
Had a special small lens ground to fit my rear sight that, in combination with my eyeglasses, sharpened up the front sight. Gave up some clarity of the target, but center of a blurry target is better than a fuzzy sight on a clear target.
 
Yes, I did try and adjust them, northing got better only worse. After my next appointment I'll give it another go. Will just have to fish, can't see the fish anyway.
 
Just thought I'd ask. I had same luck w/clearing up mine when macular degeneration first set in, but it was worth a shot. Hope yours clears up soon.
 
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