Monday, November 14, 2016

Statwide firearms deer opener tomorrow, be safe

Tomorrow, November 15, the woods will come alive with hundreds of hunters decked out in hunters orange, sitting on a stump, leaning against a tree or in a blind waiting to take a shot at a whitetail deer.
Make this year's hunt a safe and enjoyable one. Leave the partaking of alcoholic beverages at home and enjoy your hunt the way it's supposed to be enjoyed.
Saying be careful while hunting doesn't seem adequate. Those of us that try to write about these topics are forever reminding ourselves and you, our readers, about the importance of taking the time to be safe.
In addition to wearing hunters orange and leaving alcohol where it belongs, remember to treat every firearm as if it's loaded.
Keep the muzzle (barrel) pointed toward the ground. That trigger finger should be off the trigger and outside the trigger guard.
When shooting, be absolutely sure of your target. None of this shooting at noises or flashes of what you thing are deer moving. Don't take moving shots. Wait until your target is standing still.
Be sure of what is beyond your shooting area and what your backstop is. When going to and from your blind, use a flashlight so others know there is a human moving in and out of the woods.
No one has seen a deer using a flashlight. Those that are hunting from tree stands, be sure the stand is safely secured and that your steps are safe.
When climbing, use a safety harness. Keep in on and around the tree to gain your stand. Use a "haul rope" to pull your firearm or bow into the stand and to lower it all back to the ground at the end of the hunt. Never carry firearms or other weapons as you climb up and down.
Make your hunt a safe and memorable one. Good luck!

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Passwords are a necessary pain

Seems each time I go to do something on the computer I get asked to sign in which requires a password.
Keep in mind the things I sign into are things I normally use and have never been asked for a password other than the first time I created the account. Now all of a sudden, everyone wants a password.
And as many of you already are aware of, once you change a password here or there, other apps and accounts demand to be update with the new password. It's a never ending process.
I'm not a big computer user. When I do get on it, often I run into a snag that requires me to call someone for help.
Computers, cell phones, pads and other new technology have surpassed me long ago. My poor wife is in the same boat.
Any computer questions we get she hands to me. Anything that needs to be done on-line I get to do. Guess she figures out since I write I must know my way around these things. Little does she know.
And don't even bring up a GPS. When I get lucky and get it right I love it. Most times I get conflicting messages or it's taking me someplace I'm not going.
So I usually shut the thing off, pull into a gas station and ask for directions. You can't beat a hand-held compass and an old fashioned map.