Bodie, the Black Mouth Cur, sees his shadow on Groundhog's Day 2012. Photo courtesy Tammy Ballew.

 CAMO MOM

Groundhog’s Day is not just for groundhogs. Bodie, our Black Mouth Cur, seemed to be smiling as he saw his shadow this morning. I know that means we are due to have six more weeks of bad weather, but with a day like today, which is gorgeous, that doesn’t even seem like such a bad trade-off.

The groundhog is a “stocky, North American burrowing rodent, Marmota monax, which hibernates in the winter.” I was interested in other names the groundhog is known as, so I Googled it.  Some were familiar to me, but others I had never heard of.  Woodchuck and chuck are common names in my area of the country, while whistle pig and land beaver are very new names to me.  If you have any other groundhog aliases to share, please leave a comment below.

ORIGIN:  1665–75, Americanism ;  presumably a reshaping by folk etymology of a word in a Southern New England Algonquian language; compare

Narragansett  (E spelling) ockqutchaun  woodchuck.*

Groundhog, whistle pig, woodchuck ...

The Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08 caliber is an excellent choice for an all-around hunting rifle. Photo courtesy Ashley Housewright.

The opinions I’ll express are mine, but I hope other readers will join in with comments on what they have found that works or doesn’t work for them.

The first segment in this series will be about the Remington 7mm-08. This is the rifle I most generally use for deer hunting or coyote hunting. One of the reasons I tend to reach for it in the gun safe when heading out to hunt is that I am most comfortable with this rifle.

My firearm is a Remington Model 7 Youth. The shorter stock of the youth model enables me to bring the gun up in position to shoot quickly and comfortably. There’s no adjusting the rifle, struggling to obtain a bead on the target because of a poor fitting firearm.

Ballistically, the 7mm-08 is a flat shooting round, reaching out accurately to around 400 yards. I can confidently take a shot up to that yardage and know that the bullet will hit where I’m aiming.

The load I shoot is a 139 grain Hornady with 42.2 grains of Varget powder.  They actually travel at about 2,950 feet per second. This is plenty of knockdown for deer and any varmint hunting you’re interested in doing. However, for bigger game, I personally feel that a larger caliber rifle would be more efficient.

According to the Remington Arms website, “the compact, short-action Model 7 has been a knock-down, drag-out leader in the woods since it was introduced in 1983.”

Remington Model 7 Youth. It's a beauty.

On one occasion, I saw a couple coyotes down on our lake, which is about 300 yards from our home. I stepped out on our deck and took a shot at one of them with the 7mm-08, and he dropped in his tracks. I was really anxious to get to him so I could take some photos, but he was out on the frozen water about 30 feet, so I didn’t risk getting out on the ice to fetch him. Later that day, I was perusing the lake area for any other activity and there was a bald eagle feeding on the coyote carcass. The eagle hung around for several days until the remains were completely divulged.

My daughter, Ashley, actually got her first deer using my 7mm-08. Now that’s the gun she reaches for when she and I go deer hunting. My oldest grandson, Waylen, also has a 7mm-08 that he is extremely accurate with and has taken a few deer in his short hunting career so far.

It’s an excellent caliber rifle for most hunting, and the youth model is a great fit for women and young hunters.

I hope this article helps answer your questions on the 7mm-08.  Please send a comment if you have any questions regarding this caliber that I haven’t covered.

Remington Model 7 available in black synthetic stock.

The Model 7 Youth is also available in a synthetic stock with msrp of $702.

Check out Remington’s website for their wide array of firearms.  www.remington.com

So I thought I would sum it all up:  I am most thankful for the 2nd Amendment, the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, for this is the root of what has enabled me to have all of the other memories. This privilege affords us the right to protect our family and loved ones. The rest of the freedoms this allows is just icing on the cake.

I hope and pray that you all have a blessed Thanksgiving. And I hope and pray for the safe return home of our troops to their families. I am extremely grateful for their service to this beautiful country we call AMERICA!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Oh beautiful for spacious skies! A sunset view off our back deck. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew.

Big Game Safety Harness Vest in action. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew.

I’ve heard of it happening for years, and even just last week I received an email from a hunter who had lost two friends in a week’s time due to treestand accidents. I know for my part, I used to always think this could not possibly happen to me as careful as I am. But that is simply not true; it could happen to any of us outdoor enthusiasts.

The EZ-On Harness/Backpack System works great for carrying treestands and climbing systems backpack style, freeing up your hands for safe transportation of your bow or firearm when traveling to and from the field. Most importantly, the fall arrest harness includes a tree belt, lineman’s belt and SRD strap. No more worries and uneasiness as you climb to your favorite perch to hunt.

Peace of mind when taking that shot. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew

And, yep, we’re still rolling. The vest also features four large pockets and optic hooks for packing and use in the stand. It’s so easy to use and the peace of mind will ensure that you have an enjoyable, safe hunt.

Check out all of their products at www.biggametreestands.com.

Fish on Kids Books. Four in a series of children's outdoor adventure books by Kristine (K.J.) Houtman. Photo courtesy K.J. Houtman.

In Book One, A Whirlwind Opener, you’ll meet Gus Roberts, a fifth grader, who is anxiously awaiting opening weekend fishing with his family. Not only is Gus excited about the upcoming fishing trip, he can hardly wait to get away from the school bully, Matt Driver. As often happens with well-planned events, things turned out a little differently than Gus had hoped, but the adventures along the way will keep you flipping the pages to the end.

Driving Me Crazy, the title of Book Two in the series, sets the scene for Gus’ Memorial Day weekend camping trip around the headwaters of the Mississippi River and Lake Itasca. Gus is hoping the time spent camping will give him a chance to reflect on the trouble Matt, the school bully, is causing and hopefully arrive at some solutions. In this book, Gus and his new friend, Drew, share some adventures of their own, even when the going gets tough.

Gus’ mom and dad spring a surprise on the family on the last day of school in Book Three, Spare the Rod. Jake, Gus’ older brother, isn’t too happy about the unexpected detail, but Gus is so ready for summer vacation, he couldn’t be happier. A trip to Wisconsin for a cousin’s high school graduation poses good times and not so good times, and Gus spends some gravel travel time with his dad where adventure and surprise await along the way.

Fish On Kids Books make great stocking stuffers. Photo courtesy Tammy Ballew.

Your children or grandchildren are going to love these books and will no doubt be anxiously anticipating the release of the next in the series. What a great Christmas gift idea for the youngsters in your life. I’ve got to warn you though, after reading this series, they’re going to want to experience the great outdoor world of fishing, camping and hunting for themselves!

The author, K.J. Houtman, is no stranger to the outdoor industry and communities. In the early ’90s, Ms. Houtman worked at the American Sportfishing Association and spent the next 15 years with a media company involved in producing North American Fisherman and North American Hunter magazines, along with their skill-building books, television shows, custom-produced events and web-based connectivity. Not surprisingly, Ms. Houtman is an accomplished marketer and noted public speaker.

For more information about the author and about this remarkable series of outdoor adventure books for children, go to www.fishonkidsbooks.com.

Leupold Ultimate Slam scope. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew.

It had been one of those days of hunting where it rained, then it poured, then it came down in buckets. Unfortunately, earlier that morning, I had carried one of our Hunter’s Specialties Scent Safe bags back into the cabin, thinking I wouldn’t be needing the items in that bag. Wrong. It contained my Prois Eliminator rain gear. So I was sitting in my blind, very cold, extremely wet, but even in the foggy, dusky rainfall, was able to see keenly through my light-gathering Leupold Ultimate Slam Scope.

I love the scope's reticle. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew.

Wayne Bosowicz, owner and operator of Foggy Mountain Guide Service, had told us that morning in a hunting safety briefing that we should be able to see well enough until about 7:30 in the evening. Since I was hunting in the last blind up the mountain, I was the one with the vehicle. So while sitting there, I started worrying (a little) about the others maybe being ready to go in for the day. We had no cell service and our walkie-talkies that were supposed to work within a ten-mile radius, did not reach out to the others. But I was determined to stick until I could no longer see through my scope.

I was hunting with a Remington 7mm-08 that was decked with a Leupold Ultimate Slam 3.9×40 scope. Every once in a while, as the skies darkened with clouds, I would check my scope to see how well I could acquire my crosshair alignment. I was amazed (and a little disgruntled) at the light-gathering capabilities of the Leupold Ultimate Slam. I was freezing and drenched and all my gear was soaked, but as the last light of the day was slowly fading, what little light was left seemed to push and shove to get into my scope’s aperture.

Leupold Ultimate Slam Scope on my Remington 7mm-08; a pair to be reckoned with. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew

It finally became dark enough that I could no longer make out the crosshairs in the Ultimate Slam. I crept down the side of the mountain with water sloshing in my waterproof boots. Everything I had with me was saturated. I even had to wring water out of my gloves several times. When I got to my vehicle, I quickly threw the water-logged gear in and slithered down the slimy, treacherous mountain road to pick up the other hunters.

After we got everybody’s gear loaded up and continued our rocky journey down the mountain, we were laughing and talking about the horrible weather, and how cold and wet we were, and about how that dang Leupold Ultimate Slam Scope held me in the blind until the last possible light of day.

Always in the past, I would use the name brand scent-be-gone products, which are good scent eliminators, but HERCAMOSHOP has gone the extra mile with their sundries. Many of the other soaps and shampoos would leave my skin feeling very dry and my hair feeling like straw, but the their scent-free line did not. I really liked all of their products that I tried, and was especially impressed with the hair conditioner and the body lotion. It was amazing to feel the difference in my hair after using the conditioner. And … the body lotion was excellent also, didn’t leave me feeling greasy, but refreshed and moisturized.

CAMO MOM

Now, please don’t get me wrong; I’m not a fluffy-stuffy gal that has to go to the woods looking gorgeous. I take my hunting very seriously and don’t want the animals I’m hunting to detect my scent. These products truly work!

I feel as though I’m sounding like an Oxy Clean commercial, but that is sincerely how I feel about this line. It works, it’s excellent quality, and it’s available at HERCAMOSHOP. Visit them at www.HerCamoShop.com to find out more about what they have to offer women hunters.

Cuzin' Camp Shooting Team. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew.

The extreme heat sent us to the lake for afternoon swimming and fishing, but several mornings and evenings were spent on the shooting range. Shooting is such an important tradition for me that it plays an integral part of Cuzin’ Camp. Thanks to Matt Rice of Blue Heron Communications for providing shooting glasses and ear muffs for each shooter/camper. He even surprised the kids with a Smith & Wesson hat.

Waylen bearing down on a steel target with a custom Ruger 10/22. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew.

Depending on the age and ability of the shooter, the “cuzins” shot a wide range of .22 caliber firearms:  Browning Buckmark pistols, Ruger single-six revolver, Marlin single-shot bolt action rifle and a custom Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic. I was amazed at their accuracy and enthusiasm for shooting. They were even asking me, “Can we shoot again?”

The Li'l Pistol Annies. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew.

They were all very attentive to the safety issues and were not allowed to handle the firearms until it was their turn to shoot. We went through a lot of .22 shells that week, but it is so worth it watching them light up when they heard the ding on the steel targets or the tin cans fall off the post.

By the end of the week, I was fairly exhausted, but the enjoyment I get out of sharing this time with my grandchildren actually rejuvenates me and gives me hope for our future generations to pass on the shooting traditions.

Tammy Ballew

After years and years in existence, the bandana is as useful today as it was at its inception.  There have been new versions and thousands of colors and designs over the years, but the basic bandana hails a solid reign over all.  The bandana’s uses are countless. I’ll list a few for you:

• On a recent motorcycle trip up into Canada from Missouri, I found several ways to utilize my bandanas along the way.  In fact, I bought a couple extras to take on the trip.  I like folding them up to form a headband and wrap around my heard to wear under my helmet.  This helps to hold the fine hair across my forehead in place to alleviate my hair twisting in the wind.  They also work well as a dewrag to wear in place of a helmet in the no-helmet states, should you choose not to wear the extra protection.
• As we got up into Canada, some of our early morning riding was in cooler temperatures.  The bandana tied around my neck enabled me to stay warm and comfortable.  On the flip side, when the Missouri and Iowa temperatures soared into the three-digits, the bandana dipped in water was very cooling to wear around my neck.  My husband was glad I had packed a few additional, because he used them as neck wraps too.
• They also work great for tying up an easy-to-reach snack when traveling down the road on a motorcycle.  (Not that I did any snacking!)

The Bandana Tree: Bass Pro bandana to wear when bass fishing, Friends of NRA Patriotic bandana and a camo bandana are a few among my arsenal. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew.

The bandana is very simple, but extremely useful, and it still holds a country charm about it.  I visualize red bandanas and county fairs and hay bales when I think of them.

I hope you’ll share some of your ideas with us here at The WON on creative uses of the incredible (but not so edible) bandana.

There’s a camo bandana in this photo, and I will send a free camo bandana to the first reply I receive that has spotted it.

Bandana Girl -- Here's Lauren ... daughter of Beth Cowgill of Sass, Brass and Bullets' blog fame. Photo by Beth Cowgill.

My grandson, Waylen, just fishin'. Photo courtesy of Tammy Ballew.

Fishing is an excellent way to introduce youth to the outdoor world.  It can be done as a family or one-on-one.  It’s a great way to spend an afternoon or evening, idling throwing out a line and being mesmerized by a dancing bobber on the water.  Or there’s the beauty of an early morning fishing trip, watching the sun lazily rise up out of a good night’s sleep and the fog gently rolling off the water, like folding a blanket up and putting it away for the day.

There’s always the different birds and singing insects you can try to distinguish and name, either by sight or sound.  At the water’s edge, usually there are crawdads or frogs or snails to captivate the adventurer’s attention when the fish aren’t biting.

It’s a perfect time for telling your own fishing tales or even just conversing about any subject that comes up.  It’s also a good time for listening.  I’m amazed at how much more I hear when my mouth is closed.

So the next time you decide to take a child or grandchild fishing, know that that memory, as Trace says, is “gonna be a big ‘un,” and they’ll think you’re “Just Fishin’.”