Seasons End|Winchester Hunting, Shooting & Reloading|Forum|Winchester Collector

Well, another hunting season has come and gone here in south Texas. We put our Winchesters to the test and had a good time hunting doves, ducks, turkey, hogs, and deer.

My father-in-law Joe, my son, and I took a turn at duck hunting on his rice farm in Nome, Texas. The ducks were flying fair and we managed to get a couple with the old Model 12 and the Browning A-5. We ended up trading the ducks to one of the farm hands wife for some grapefruits from a tree in her front yard. Duck has never really appealed to me–the grapefruits were good.

Back in south Texas, Im fortunate to be able to hunt on my parents cattle ranch and another ranch a few miles down the road. We call it the log cabin ranch after the log cabin that was built on the place around the turn of the last century and believe it or not, it was occupied up until the late 1960’s. Here is a photo of the front of the building–We’re about to head out for the afternoon hunt, 1894’s at the ready (carbine in 38-55 and a 20" short rifle in 30WCF).

The log cabin ranch is abundant with game because it has a dry creek that runs through the middle of it that acts as a corridor for game to travel, provides lots of brushy cover and it adjoins several big ranches tha have minimal hunting pressure. Unfortunately our part of the country is overrun by hogs making it difficult at times to hunt deer. The 38-55 has been busy and has taken at least 17 out of the current population in the last month, put some meat in the freezer, and has kept the coyotes fed. I also managed to take two turkeys with it–neck shots at 40-45 yards each.

The highlight of the fall hunting season for me has always been whitetail deer. I had plenty of opportunities to take younger deer this year but since we are a 1 buck county I held out for an older mature buck. I saw plenty of rubs, scrapes, and maybe even caught a glympse at "the big one" but in the end, the old buck won his chance to make it through one more season by being a little smarter and a little faster in seeing me before I saw him. Hunting with these old rifles is challenging when it comes to shooting distances and lighting conditions at dusk and dawn, somewhat leveling the playing field a bit. But even with those limitations its well worth the effort, its the pursuit, getting into the woods and having fun. As long as the eyes hold up, I wouldnt have it any other way. We will see what 2013 brings.