Jun 1, 2024 5 min read

Summer is almost here. My grass is almost mowed to an acceptable level. I’m almost ready to retire. … Almost.

So much to do with summer on the way and the close of another school year. I sat down at my desk the other evening and began assembling my own honey-do list in preparation of the coming summer vacation – yes, I do recognize the ridiculous nature of such a statement – but since I am an absentee husband and father for the duration of the high school baseball season, it’s the least I can do.

Apart from barn repairs, tree trimming, weeding, painting, shop cleanup and a million more minutia too mundane to mention, I have accumulated several pages of related notes that will accompany my many outdoor-writer-related tasks. This is really just a flimsy cover to intersperse the things that I most enjoy between jobs that I need to be accomplishing. I find that combining the tedious with the more motivating tasks keeps me … well … more motivated.

First off, I need to install sights on several weapons. My duty pistol is in need of a new set of sights, friendlier to these aging writer’s eyes. I have found that the larger, brighter front sights of the newer styles not only acquire the target quite a bit faster than traditional three-dot sights but also result in greater accuracy at distance. My bedside home defense pistol will receive a similar set of figure-eight sights.

Another pet project that has been on the shelf for quite a while is an old Winchester model 94 .30-30′. My intention is shooting a doe with open sights. I’ve killed a few deer over the years with open sights but the older I get the more difficult it has become to fill my tag with such. Factory sights won’t do the trick. The XS sight company sent me a brilliant white front blade matched with a large rear aperture (more commonly referred to as a “peep” sight or ghost ring). I have used a similar Skinner sight on a Marlin lever action Guide Gun .45-70 back when a younger version of me didn’t mind the wallop of such a beastly caliber. Time for a tamer version of that same setup, hopefully providing equally beneficial results.

I’m planning to attend an appleseed event this fall where I aim to improve my rifleman skills, learning basic marksmanship that accompanies such an event while learning some advanced American Revolutionary War history. While I can’t wait to get to work on my marksmanship skills, I recognize that this will require a great deal of practice throughout the summer.

In the process, I’ll need to get my Ruger 10/22 set up and sighted in for the 25-yard line required at appleseed events. Selecting the correct ammo, learning to use a sling, and forcing this old frame to contort into the required shooting platform will all prove quite the challenge I am sure.

Unfortunately, a host of older friends have passed away these last few years. An old friend’s rifle beckons to be returned to service as it has not been carried afield in several seasons because of his failing health.

The old 6mm Remington caliber is one with which I do not have great familiarity. Because of the passing of a different acquaintance, I have a goodly supply of 6mm bullets, powder and primers on hand. I’m looking most forward to seeing just how much accuracy can be wrung from the platform by these journeyman hands. I look even further down the road to harvesting a deer in honor of Joe. It’s always more satisfying to develop a recipe and then take a good deer with the rifle of a departed friend.

A number of scopes need adjusting and changing, once again the unfortunate byproduct of old pals departing this earth. Better glass but fewer friends. Not much of a choice when it comes right down to it. I’m finally learning how to install a scope properly, but unfortunately at what end cost?

One of the best problems is having more dirty guns than clean guns. This means one is shooting more than cleaning which is always a good state in which to reside. I’m hoping to continue in this vein. I really don’t enjoy the cleaning of arms. I’ve heard there are sick sorts who relish in such depraved behavior but I do not subscribe to their dogma. I like to think of cleaning as a necessary evil.

There are trails to improve, blinds to build, tree stands to install. All my knives are dull and in need of sharpening. My shooting house plans stalled as the skids came off the shed as we were moving it up the hill and it into place. Seems as though a swarm of yellow jackets took up residence before we could get the shack off the hill and onto the old gas well pad where it is destined. This could prove to be a bit more than temporary hold up until we clear the way of bees.

Holy cow, it’s almost time to start packing up my shooting bag for a round of sporting clays. Grouse season is only four months away. Where does the time go?

Dave Bates writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.