BETTER SHOOTING - JUST ADD A LASER

SHOOTING STRAIGHT – WITH A CRIMSON TRACE
By Jim Foster

Standing on the firing line with your handgun and being in a life-threatening situation are two different happenings. Being taught as a youngster that the only time I should only pull my handgun is when I plan to use it has served me well. It has been my rule and has never been broken.

However, preparing for the time when I must defend my life or the life of a loved one has kept me on my toes and encouraged my quest for better marksmanship. At one time (my Air Force years) I was a good pistol shot. The years and age have reduced this ability along with not being able to shoot on a regular basis. It was about that time when I met the people at Crimson Trace (CT) and started using one of their laser sights.

Today, I still use the Crimson Trace products and have seen the company improve and fine-tune the sights just as the sights have helped and fine-tuned my shooting skills. They are now available for most carry handguns and a few other firearms.

Last year I was having a problem with the ejector on my 1911 Colt .45 auto. My brother-in-law Ron Johnston did a repair job for me - then took the vintage 1911 .45 auto out to the range to give it a road test. I mentioned he should try out the CT laser sights while he was out there.

The next day Ron greeted me with raves and a target showing his first clip shot with the laser sights. He was convinced laser sights were something worth having.

It was time to test a few of Crimson Traces new sights and I arranged for one to be sent to Ron for his KEL-TEC P-3AT 380 Auto. These hard shooting little pistols are easy to carry but quite hard to shoot and can only fired double action. In spite of his being a crack pistol shot and expert reloader, Ron was having grouping problems.

After fitting the CT laser site on the auto his first targets were grouped well and the accuracy was vastly improved. Today Ron is a laser sight promoter and has only grand comments about the Crimson Trace product. It was great test of the product. His photo of the pistol and target were his first four groups.

Crimson Trace has just produced a DVD titled, The Art of Survival: Real World Laser Tactics. The DVD demonstrates expert laser tactics with experts Michael Bane, Julie Goloski, Ken Hackathorn, Todd Jarrett, and Wes Doss. It should be seen by anyone interested in shooting and self-defense.

If anyone wishes a copy of the DVD all they must do is request a catalog and the DVD will be sent along. The DVD is well made and is entertaining as well as educational.

Contact them at their web site; www.crimsontrace.com or call their toll free number 1-800-442-2406 and request a catalog and DVD.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

HUNTING - THE PHEASANT OF TEXAS

NORTH TEXAS PHEASANT
By Jim Foster

Opening the season on opening day has been rare but this year found me in Spearman, Texas on opening day. My friends and fellow hunters were not due in until Sunday afternoon so I found myself with time on my hands.

Taking Brit, my German shorthair pointer, I drove out to a section of land where some years ago a conservation project had been started. Hoping to find a few birds for my as yet to be tested dog I was happy to see her point her first bird. Letting it fly away we kept hunting finding several more pheasant in the quarter mile grass strip.

As we near the Jeep Brit found another bird. I slipped two shells in the 20 gauge side-by-side and as the colorful rooster took wing a string of number five shot returned it to earth. Brit found the bird and we headed for the Jeep. Later the cleaned rooster found it’s way into my crock-pot to be ready for Sunday lunch.

Later that evening Allan Tarvid drove in from Helena, Montana and we decided to hunt Sunday morning. We had a great hunt then went back to the motor home for a pheasant lunch.

Later that day the remainder of the crew arrived from Houston and Dallas.

Monday morning after a good breakfast the hunt was on. We hunted dry lakebeds, brush patches, and corn and grain fields. I believe all the hunters killed birds and of course there were quite a few misses. Our count for the day was 25 birds for 8 hunters.

As the day progressed the weather forecast showed the chance of snow and high winds on Tuesday and there was conversation among the more southern dwelling of pulling out for home.

Tuesday morning we awoke to several inches of snow on the ground and a steady wind blowing from the north. So this column is being written while watching the snowdrift outside and a cup of hot coffee near the computer. As the plan goes Allan and I will hunt again tomorrow when the weather clears. We hope.

Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) is asking hunters to consider possible changes to the traditional first weekend in December opening date.

"The purpose of this discussion is to gain feedback from hunters and landowners regarding the possibility of opening future pheasant seasons the Friday after Thanksgiving to afford hunters a three-day holiday weekend to enjoy pheasant hunting," said Vernon Bevill, TPW game bird program director. No immediate changes to the pheasant season framework are being considered in order to ensure the public has ample opportunity to weigh in on the discussion.

The current pheasant season framework calls for opening the first Saturday in December for 30 consecutive days. Any change to pheasant season could take effect November 27, 2009 or be delayed until November 26, 2010 to give hunters and outfitters ample time to make travel plans.

To participate in an informal online scoping survey available on the TPWD home page http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ by clicking on the Public Comments link. Public input can also be made in writing to Vernon Bevill, TPW Game Bird Program Director, 4200 Smith School Rd., Austin, Texas 78744 or at one of the upcoming scoping meetings; locations and dates to be determined.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please Email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

HUNTING - IDAHO ELK

THE SEARCH FOR IDAHO ELK
By Jim Foster

No one ever told me that hunting elk in any of the Rocky Mountain States would be easy.

That said, I must add elk hunting is something I enjoy almost as much as following a good dog after upland game or stalking a tailing redfish along the Texas Coast. The scenery, the air, and yes even the adventure.

During past hunts I have encountered bear, both black and grizzly, mountain lion, badger, and many other species of native wild game. This year has been no exception but with the time drawing near for my return to Texas - time is running out. Sadly, I have not seen an elk while hunting this year.

What I had seen was plenty of wolf tracks. They seemed to be everywhere. New elk tracks in the snow were all followed by at least one or two sets of wolf tracks.

I was excited to draw one of the cherished cow elk tags in special Unit #29 and had high hopes of filling my freezer with fresh killed elk. As if the guys on the noise 4-wheelers weren’t bad enough now the wolf population has grown and begun killing off elk in larger numbers. The elk that aren’t killed are chased until they leave their normal range.

But, some legal dimwit in Montana put them back on the endangered species list so now we must live with an animal that shouldn’t be here in the first place. No wonder western ranchers regard the Federal Fish and Wildlife people on the level of whale poop on the ocean floor. So do I. I’ve always called them the US Fish and Worthless "service" – and that’s using the word service very loosely.

So, here I go again, mounting up my mustang mare in the dark and riding into the mountains in search of elk. I let her have her head and she finds the trail at a nice walk. The hunt is on.

Now after several days of hunting and not seeing an animal I have begun to wonder where the elk have gone. What I am seeing in great abundance is wolf sign. Their tracks are everywhere and I have found several dead elk and deer, all wolf kills. Why are these damnable animals here?

So as I load my animals for the last time I do hope the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will get busy and delist the devils and let the states where the wolves are do the “management”. Maybe that sorry excuse for a judge in Montana will get the message. I know I’ll buy a license.

The latest records in Idaho show wolf related damage to cattle and horses were up 52 percent from 2006 to 2007, another 52 percent in 2008. And a shocking verified livestock depredation in Idaho of 62 percent.

In an ongoing research in the area north of my hunt area it has been documented that 75 percent of the cow elk deaths are wolf related. That’s the lowest survival rate in the state.

As I end my hunt and depart for the fertile pheasant fields of Texas wondering when those in charge will start taking care of the people of this country and let well enough alone. The fact is man and the wolf can’t live together.

The wolf must go. What is there about a “problem” does that judge not understand?

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com