Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Never Again!

This is about my 50th deer season, give or take a few.Started w/my deceased Dad in 1958 in a small hill country community called Doss.It is located between Mason and Fredricksburg and at the time was a prime hunting location in Texas.My Dad paid $35 for a season lease and I can remember my Mom saying,"Oh my God how are we going to pay for it." My Dad worked for General Tire in Waco building truck tires and I can remember him saying that in 1958 he made a gross income of $5830.My Dad had to hunt on the weekends and once in a great while he would take a day of vacation to work in a 3 day hunt.My mother would give him between $5-$7 for his entire trip.That's gas and everything.He would take a sack of bologna sandwiches and usually a small pot of beans,a quart mason jar of tea, and a thermos for coffee that he would make at camp.He started this regiment in 1956 and continued it until around 1964 or so.

His rifle was an Enfield 30-06 that he bought for $12.95 and sporterized by him...mainly w/a grinder and file taking off the ears,cutting and straightening the floorplate and cutting the barrel of behind the front site.He said at the time the actions were so hard that many were almost impossible to drill so the bases had to be soldered on as a alternative.He attached a relatively inexpensive SPI scope that was sturdy scope for the time.After the gunsmith finished polishing his file work and alterations plus bluing the bill came to a little over $15.He ordered a stock from Rhinehart-Fajen for between $10 and $15...I believe $12.95. He fitted and finished it himself w/a lin speed oil concoction that left a wonderful smell in the kitchen and a beautiful finish but one that was not real shiny.I'm sure he had no more than $60 in the finished rifle.For some reason he always used a rope in his early days for a sling.He shot the 150gr Sierra w/4064 I believe and paid the gunsmith $1.50 to reload a box of shells for him.He never target practiced except the week before deer season to check zero.This was a lesson carried over from the depression where one never wasted shells.

He always hunted from an oak tree not more than 6-8ft off the ground.He would find a place to nail up a 2x6 between to limbs w/a smaller limb below to rest his feet on.Several 2x4's served as steps to get into the tree.This is how he hunted in his younger years till us boys came along.

My Dad was an excellent game shot on both running and standing deer.He killed two bucks every year I can remember from my youth.We were a family of 6 and all loved venison w/the exception of my Mother.The deer however only lasted us until about May or early June.Talk about jonesen for venison from June until November...whew!My Dad passed down a legacy to me that I will forever be grateful for.He taught his children to love God,fishing and hunting,respect for authority and their elders and family is the only thing.My Father passed away last year early in November just 3 days before his 59th big game season.I have had such a hard time getting used to "Never Again." powdr