Hunting season pretty much ended at the end of last month when turkey season closed here in Washington.  Of course, tag hunting season was still ongoing and I just finally received  word of all those efforts and am getting ready for next season.   Last year was really my first true hunting season.  The year before when I decided take up hunting again it was limited to a few pheasant hunting trips but in 2016-17 it got much more serious.   I ended up the season with 30 days of hunting in total,  23 days of pheasant hunting, 5 days of deer hunting and 2 days of turkey hunting.  Overall, I was pretty successful, I must have taken about three dozen birds, one Mule Deer buck and two Merriam’s turkeys.   I managed to gather enough food that we have been eating wild game a few days a week since last fall. Add in fish that I catch and we are just under half our food supply now from hunting and fishing.

I’m hoping to up the ante a bit next year and get enough game to supply the bulk of our food.   Lira should be an improved bird dog this coming year, she was getting pretty good by the end of last season though still crazy as hell at times so hopefully a bit of aging will keep her a bit more focused.   I managed to draw a Multi-Season Deer Tag for Washington state which gives me multiple seasons in both rifle and muzzleloader so I’m putting together a plan now locally.  I also drew a cow elk tag in Colorado and am heading there in late October for the second rifle season.   An elk would be a huge help in getting our food supply covered, I think we’d be good for over a year with a decent cow.    I’m already thinking of next spring and possibly hitting multiple states during turkey season.

In the meantime, trying to get in as much trap shooting as possible since I’m still inconsistent as hell.  I got my 12 gauge Ethos fitted properly finally and am at least hitting with that now unlike last year where I just shelved it.   I also have been working up loads for my .270 and have have been trying to get to the range weekly to tighten up those groups.  Going with all non-toxic ammo this coming year.  I did steel for birds last year totally but did use lead for my deer.  This year I’m going with Hornady 130 grain GMX and Barnes 140 grain TSX bullets only, luckily I can be at the range with the 130 SST and easily switch to the GMX with the same ballistics. The TSX is only slightly different so I’ll have to re-sight between deer and elk.   In between I’m using my air rifle to practice off hand shooting in the yard without the recoil and expense of real ammo.

So until September it is all about fishing.  I’ve managed to sock away about three dozen trout so far and hopefully will get some salmon and other fish over the summer and looking forward to the 2017-18 hunting season to begin.