I have a couple of International Harvester M1 Garands to go
with my tractor collection. Yes, International made rifles in the 1950's.
There is also a little twisted irony in a rifle called "Harvester." Although, not all
gun owners are crazed killers and, indeed, the shooting sports are a wholesome
activity if properly conducted.
Any injury or loss of life is tragic. If everyone would follow the most
important firearm safety rule, no one would ever be hurt:
ALWAYS KEEP THE GUN POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION!
Click on thumbnails for a larger picture....
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| 1953 M1 Garand |
In 2002 I qualified and filled out the paperwork
for a CMP M1 Garand and I specified IHC when I ordered it. When I checked back the
website indicated they were becoming scarce. In September they announced they had
run out. I figured at this point that my order would not likely be filled. One of
the guys in the local club called me and asked if I still wanted an International
Harvester Garand and I said yes. So I bought the 1953 from a private party. I have
been shooting this rifle in the local competitions and my shooting has improved each
time so far.
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| Late 1927 Springfield M1903 - The barrel is stamped 4 - 18. |
CMP announced they would be able to sell a few M1903 rifles but they would go fast. One of the guys at the rifle range made the same announcement and said I should get one. That was it, I couldn't take the pressure! I love shooting this rifle!!! In 2005 I shot this one in the 1000 yard match using the ladder site and a shooting mat. I finished 11 points behind the winner who was shooting a Palma rifle. I thank my coach for dialing in my shots. The range officer running the match said, "You are my hero." If you've never shot this match, do it! It is very challenging and fun.
On Tuesday, 3 June 2003 my son Caleb was dry-firing the Garand when the trigger got stuck. It started working again but of course, something was wrong. We disassembled it and found that the locking tab on the firing pin had broken off. I jumped on the computer and ordered another firing pin. Wednesday morning a Fed-X truck rolled up in front of the house. No-way, I just ordered those parts a few hours ago... I told the Fed-X lady that I wasn't expecting anything so she said she would double check the address and proceeded to pull out that instantly-recognizeable long box. I said it looked like a rifle but I am not expecting a rifle. The address said CMP. Could it be my long forgotten order? The picture tells all...
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| 1954 M1 Garand straight from CMP. What great timing! | Caleb and I with the Garands. |
This was the first Garand Caleb ever fired. Together we put 100 rounds through it over the next few days. (After a cleaning and thorough inspection of course.)
Caleb has enjoyed the shooting sports since he was old enough to hold a firearm.
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| Practice:
Of course, all this shooting is fun, but it is also practice for hunting.
I figure that if I can trust myself and the gun to perform then it takes
a lot of the pressure off during the hunt. We just have to find the
animals. I have had my share of misses too, but I can't use lack of
practice as an excuse.
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The following pictures show a cow elk I took with my muzzleloader in 1996. I was
drawn for the hunt with my partner Dave but a mutual friend of ours came out and
offered to be "guide". Randy is an accomplished hunter so we did not refuse. Long
before daylight we hiked to the top of KA hill, Dave went off on his own and Randy
and I started down a ravine on the West side.
As it began to be light we sat down for some breakfast and waited. Randy was
munching on some Cracker Jacks and about the time I was thinking that there was
no way we would see any elk with that noise, out came a head from behind a tree.
There was no shot as there were too many trees. I didn't want them getting
any closer so I took a chance, scooched to one knee and shot between a couple
of trees where I thought the vitals should be.
When we started to skin her, to quarter her out for the haul to the truck,
Randy felt a lump under the skin. He said, "Do you want your bullet back?"
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| As she dropped | Randy telling me how to pose | Proud hunter! |
I finally shot my first buck in 1999.
I wrote the story in full in an email to a friend.
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| Original Story | Original Story | Nice shed, probably should't hold it like that... | The only picture |
Andrew and I were drawn together for Bull Elk in 1999. A mutual friend of
ours offered to take us to a good spot as long as we keep it secret.
Opening day Les took turns helping each of us. While I was by myself I
had a clear shot on a big bull from a rocky outcrop. I didn't believe
it, at the time but I must have missed. Les called on the radio and said,
"Don't move, I'll be right there." I talked him to where I had shot but he
found no indication of a hit. He asked me how far I thought it was and I
guessed 250. He said it was closer to 400 yards. No wonder I missed.
While Les and I were working on that scenario, Andrew took a spike. He
got on the radio and said there were two and one was heading my way.
Sure enough, he came by me and I shot and missed, but he came
right toward me after my shot. I racked another round and the brass
went tink-tink-tink down the rocks and
the bull took off. I had one more shot from above the Elk and behind.
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We didn't always fill our tags, though I must admit that Dave usually filled his deer tag more often than not. Mule Deer are much more illusive and dificult compared to the Eastern Whitetail where they are almost a pest. I include these pictures as a testiment to the times where the great effort was put into the hunt with the result being only good times and great exercise.
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| Dave thought using a bike to scout might be a good idea | Great view, I hope Dave didn't drag me to the top of this one |
Dave, Jim and I were drawn together for the 2002 Muzzleloader Deer Seson.
I had never seen a Western Whitetail before and my first couple sightings
of them were not recognizable as deer. Their heads aren't the right size
for their bodies. The guys asked me what I saw and I said, "I don't
know, it looked like a couple Emu escaped from the zoo."
None of us filled our tags but we had a great time together.
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| A very old Aligator Pine, Deer-2002 | Dave, a great cook. I wouldn't eat if it wasn't for Dave | Winter Cabin |
I bought a new truck the day before opening day of Elk season 2002. The dealer
said to bring the truck in when I get back and they would wash it for me.
They did.
My friend Jim came out and helped me with the hunt.
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| Camp | Resting | Got one |
Dave, Jim and myself went Quail hunting together opening weekend 2003. It started out
bad, I tore all the brake wires off my trailer (though I didn't know it at the
time) and we couldn't find the spot we wanted to be in. We saw very few quail
opening day and the ones we did see we couldn't connect with.
Jim and I camped in my trailer and Dave stayed in his truck that night. The
next morning we tried another spot and we saw some beautiful scenery but not
much quail action. Dave went home after most of these pictures but unfortuanately
before that last picture.
That evening Jim and I found a new ravine and subsequently got into the best
quail hunting either of us has ever had. Litterally take a step and shoot!
We couldn't re-load fast enough! We have been back to that spot again but
it has never been as good.
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| They made me do this! | Yes, this is Arizona | Tired Hunters | Resting Hunters | A productive day |
When I am out hunting by myself I often try to get a self portrait, especially if there are very unique conditions. Take these pictures for what they are, art. Enjoy.
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| Waterline Road | Cold! | Indian Ruins near Strawberry Crater | Sunset! |
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| Caleb & Steve, Quail-2004 |
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| Camp Wannagohome | Dave | Indian Ruins near Strawberry Crater | Sunset! |
Why do I hunt? I am a meat hunter. I hunt for food. Don't get me wrong, I love the camping, comraderie, a nice beer after the last hunt of the day, being outdoors, not seeing other hunters or hikers and the hiking. But we love elk meat!
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Here are a couple of funny ones:
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