Primitive Arms...

The deer hunting season is coming to a close in New England. We are down to 2 more weeks of hunting and it'll be with a muzzle loader (black powder.)

There's something so cool about hunting with primitive arms...I love that we are shooting these guns in a way that people have for 100's of years (though some have chosen to add on scopes and other new-fangled contraptions. :P)

My muzzle loader is only about 10 years old. It was purchased second hand at the Kittery Trading Post in Maine, and is a very basic, .50 caliber, Thompson Center Arms Firehawk. It shoots just as accurately (if not more so) than the 12 gauge Mossberg that I've been shooting and hunting with. It takes just a few seconds longer to load than a shotgun, but is still very basic and easy to use.

I've always been a bit of a history buff...okay, well since I've been an adult I've loved history :P

(I didn't like the history taught by public schools where everything revolved around tests and memorizing dates....I wanted to learn more about the different time periods, how the people lived, what the civilization were like, what were the religious movements at that time etc. That's why I love homeschooling! :P)

Learning about primitive arms has been so interesting! The different kinds of guns, ammunition, and where they all came from.....and the greatest thing is that our children are getting lessons in history and real life.....and they don't even know it! :)

I'm hoping to be archery hunting by next season...I'm thinking we'll be studying the Native People of America next! :P

Target Shooting and First Hunting Trip...

I had such a wonderful day yesterday! It was the perfect fall day (low 60's and sunny) and I was able to spend it with some of my favorite people :)

We started the day off with some dental visits (the older girls and I all had cleanings) and then we headed out for my fathers house. Cassidy, Karina and Adam all stayed with my stepmother, while my father, husband, Arianna and I all went out to a field to do some target practice.

At first I was a bit intimidated by the shotguns...they are LOUD!!!...and the recoil can be fierce (I have a bruise on my shoulder to prove it :P) but I quickly got over it and had tons of fun.

After shooting for a couple of hours, we went hunting. My father split off from us and went archery deer hunting, while Roy, Arianna and I went hunting for pheasant, and small game. We almost hit a pheasant with our truck but that was as close as we managed to get lol :P Overall, it was a blast, great exercise and something fun that I could share with my hubby and oldest daughter. I'm going to be going again soon with my father...I'll keep you all posted on how that trip goes!