Great Pennsylvania Squirrel Hunt pics

[Dale Hajas]

Gary at the helm  

[Dale Hajas]

SnakeEater Larry ready to loose...

[Dale Hajas]

Darren- Hackbow  

[Dale Hajas]

Now I must explain that this was a Squirrel hunt and NOT a squirrel "Kill" he he he More like A "Squirrel recon mission" I'd say

We was huntin em devils fer next year so's we can shoot 'em  

[laxbowman]

I had a blast...........Can't wait till next year.
Came home tonight, and after the lers got rocked, started on my arahs for GORH. I look good in that pic

[frankb]

I sent this out in E-mail... but what the heck... I'm too tired to type anything else.    

-frankb
---------------------

Gary... I'm glad that you made it home safely, bud.  Sounds like you've got the problem narrowed down, at least, also. I wanted to thank you for all that you did in order to make this happen. That bakers dozen of nutters that you presented me with was an awesome gesture, brother.  I really appreciate it. They were definitely a close range set of arrows... but they flew like darts. Guys like you are hard to come by... and I think you're a keeper.

I agree with Gary. I had a blast and I know that I told some of you... maybe most... This past weekend was probably, by far, one of the best times I've had with a group of guys I only knew for a short time over the internet. Definitely a top-notch group of guys... and I want to thank all of you for helping to make this past weekend the most enjoyable time in the field for me in my twenty three years of archery.  Converting to trad hasn't come easy for me... and to tell you the truth... I aint completely there... yet.  But thanks to you guys... I know it was a push in the right direction... and a giant push, at that.

Doc.... dude... you are a mad man!  Thanks for all the cooking and stories over the last few days. You definitely kept me entertained... and full.. and I don't care what they told ya... there is someone else who aint confessing to eating them cookies.  It must have been one of them kids... yep, that's right... one of them kids.  gotta blame someone since they are most like not gonna see this... so... yes... it must have been one of them... I thin I saw John with a few crumbs on his shirt late Saturday after you went to bed... but I aint trying to insinuate anything. ;-) And for a guy that's allergic to onions... cologne.... and a handful of other things... you're an all right guy... and probably a keeper, too!  Hey... at least you've got nice limb bolts! :-P

Dale and Darren... make sure you tell your boys how much I appreciated their enthusiasm for the sport of traditional archery... They've got a great start on their craft or arrow making and shooting. Walking through the woods with those two little guys meant a whole lot to me.  I see a whole lot in them which I had in me when I was a kid... and still a little bit [maybe a lot] of that remains in me today... and boy... it was refreshing to see that level of sincere interest, knowledge, and talent... at such a young age. You both deserve an "atta boy" for a fine job of parenting.  In my line of work... it's nice to see parents taking an active part of their children's' lives. Thanks for that lesson.  Both of your kids were total gentlemen... and an absolute pleasure to be around and shoot with. They have you to thank for that.. and you both are very lucky to have such fine young men [in the making].  All of you guys are keepers.

Lastly, to Larry.  Not sure how I can thank you enough for showing me the fine art of birthing a nutter.  If it wasn't so late... I bet I would have blistered my fingersto the bone by the time we got to the end of that pile of dowel's. Again... It was my pleasure to make your acquaintance.... and to learn a little about [and from] you.  Hopefully the next time we meet we will have brought both of our daughters... and mine will be able to learn from her as I have learned from you over the last few days. Please keep up the work with the edu. "Our" little ones need mentors like you. Surely.... you are a keeper.

Shooting the Little Delta Bow was probably the biggest surprise of the weekend.  Ever since the first time I read the history of the LDB... I've wanted to see it in person.. and every once in a while the LDB would pop up in a conversation on the tradGang... and that yearning would grow a little stronger each time I heard about it.  Not sure why.... but I am one that believes in mojo.  Maybe it's a sentimental thing... maybe it's the history behind the bow... or probably a combination of both... but while I was sitting at the kitchen table and I heard that Darren had the LDB... my heart skipped a beat and eyes lit up like it was Christmas day and I just found a bike that my parents were hiding.  Then I was asked if I wanted to shoot it... and well... I can't really describe what that meant to me... just to have the opportunity. For that... and the "keep sake" pictures taken by Dale... well... I am truly grateful.  That LDB... [You guessed it] is definitely a keeper!

Thanks again, guys!  I'm gonna keep these memories with me for a long time to come... and hopefully... we can hook up together again real soon.  If guys ever need anything... anything at all... all you've got to do... is ask.


Semper Fidelis,

Frank J. Butala


ps-I thought about GORH... I'M IN!

[Hackbow]

I can only echo Frank's sentiments. It was great. I had more fun shooting with old and new friends than you can shake a stick at. This was a fantastic bunch of men and a camp I'll measure others against for years to come.

Frank, the enthusiasm evident on your face the whole time is what I remember experiencing when I first went to MOJAM. I hope you never lose the fire buddy.

George, I know we discussed a date change, but I've got to tell you that the last two years have given me some of my best hunting memories. I know that is due to the company, but there's something about adverse weather conditions that adds to the mix. I'll do my best to be there whenever it's held, but we don't need to change the date in my opinion. Thanks again.

I also want to thank John Gowaty. We stopped by his place on the way home to do some trading. He was a great host and, like most trad guys, generous to a fault. After we left his shop, my son John says, "I love being a kid in trad archery!"

Thanks for the pics Dale! I can't wait till GORH, we get to do it again!

[Doc Nock]

Great pics and postings, Dale.  Also great Soup..cudos to the wife!

Here is one pic that credits the man who kept us in hot coffee-Gary D!  As stated earlier, Gary took the initiative to find lodging inside the park to avoid doing the motel thing for many of us...it was a great house, cheap when split with so many people who a) are fun to be with and b) seemingly don't need sleep!   :rolleyes:  

 

And of course, the wonderful kitchen that went a long way to keeping the madding hordes fed and watered...

Oh..and the cherubic face is Dale's boy, Jared.

[Doc Nock]

And Phil, there were other sunny days... as seen in this pic of Gary surveying all of which he mastered on Friday afternoon...

 

Of course, only thing that we saw then that was alive was a pair of turkeys Gary saw and a woodpecker... them woodpeckers are hardy souls..or eating bugs is a full-time job that rain, nor sleet nor dark of night...wait...no. That was the postal service, huh? Sorry Killdeer! don't go postal for the mis-quote!  

[Doc Nock]

Before I launch into how cool the guys were at the house, I need to personally thank George for being our guide and motivating force. Thanks, George! Beautiful country!  

I've sent a note to the guys at the house, but let me quickly add one other thought regarding the quality of men/boys there.  Gary's truck wouldn't start Sun AM. True to his nature, Gary was out there trying everything he could even though he's started coming down with some Crud Saturday night and felt pretty grim.  

Here's the special part... Hack and company and Dale and son were gonna stop by "Strickly STicks" on their way home. Everyone had several hours of travel ahead of them. Even though AAA had responded to our call and we'd talked to the tow company, the guys would not leave us there!

How cool is that!! Darren made the comment.. "It's a good lesson for the boys that sometimes, being a friend, means you don't get to do what you want..."  

Dale echoed those sentiments.  The future might belong to those 2 young men in archery, but the brightness of that future depends on the capable parenting of the ones updraggin our youth.

While we were never in danger of being stranded, I offer cudos for what I saw in the way Dale and Darren are raising them boys!

The only other real "kid" there was that mischevious imp Frank...and I dunno if his Dad takes ownership of that rascal or not.    :rolleyes:        

Oh..gotta go...smell of leftover scrapple frying for lunch is callin...  

[coaltroll]

Man that looks like you guys had a great time. If it wasn't over a 1000 miles away I might have been able to consider something like that. Way to go with the boys. Keep shooting      

[woodchucker]

WOW!!! I haven't seen that much Blaze Orange since the opening day of Deer Season!!! Now don't get me wrong guys, I don't have any problem with Orange. As a matter of fact I have a RealTree Orange Camo fleece jacket that I wear when Bowhunting during the Gun season and I just LOVE IT!!!!! So much in fact that I bought 2 more!!! ($14.95 on clearance of coarse,NEVER pay full price for camo LOL).  What I'm wondering is... I know Pa. has a Blaze Orange law during Big Game season,does it apply to Small Game season too??? Or are you Gentlemen just practicing good common sense???   Looks like you all had a GRAND TIME!!!

Happy Hunting!!!   Chuck

[Doc Nock]

Chuck...go figure.  Small game requires the 250 sq. inches...

Our 2nd season (after Christmas) for Deer (archery and flintlock) requires NO orange, but them hunting small game at the same time, have to again wear 250 sq. inches.

  :eek:

good thing is that the woods are pretty open, so if 'm bowhunting, I usually wear OJ goin in and out, but in this case, it's all small game (deer closed jan 15) so we all had to wear hat and vest.

Besides, it was the only assurance we had that if someone fell down, we could find them in the snow!      

and thanks for the suggestion of common sense, but if we had any of that, we'd have all stayed home with that weather forecast!!!  

[Hackbow]

Thanks for the comments Doc. I've only known Dale for a year now, but I can tell you that doing the right thing is easier around folks like him than with others. I'll throw Larry in that mix as well. I learned a lot about their passion for educating folks and shoring up the base of archery. I am convinced that if a real "Survivor" type show would ever be produced, that Gary could win it hands down. He's prepared and unflappable. I aspire to be as good one day.

And for all you readin' this, if you need camp entertainment, invite Doc. He has stories and experiences that'll have you laughin' all night. ( Or at least until the old man fades and goes to bed     ) He also introduced me to scrapple....should be on every camp menu! I sure wish Phil woulda stuck around, I enjoyed watching and listening as he, Larry and George discussed the history of the Bear bows and all the design attributes. I never had an appreciation of those things before.

[Doc Nock]

Thanks, Darren (I think)    .  Due to sleep depravation, (you young snots got no respect fer yer elders...ya ratchet jawed buggars!   :D   )I was not on my game as I'd have liked... if I were, I'd have offered to let you pry a pound of the leftover scrapple outa my hand to take home.  

I don't like some scrapple, but I like what I brought a lot. Only better is some homemade stuff young fella (ain't they all younger an me?) shared with me from down-country from me...they make some kickin scrapple, too.

Like you, I wish Phil would hang longer... he, Ranger, and Snake and I sat for the whole time you guys went back to get wet all over again Sat. afternoon and talked about the PBS organization. It was an illuminating and thought provoking exchange that has made me a more informed person.

I agree too that Gary keeps gettin more awesome...soon now he'll have AAA-Plus and will be a true force to reckon with!  HA!
  :rolleyes:      :cool:

[Phil Magistro]

I would have liked to stay but obligations on Sunday prevented it.  I enjoyed spending the day with you guys and enjoyed the conversations and the shooting.  Hopefully we can get together at a shoot this summer and spend a weekend shooting targets and the bull.

Phil

[kyle]

HOLY CR@P that looks cold!!!  Even so, I wish I coulda been with y'all.  7 degrees?  Jeez no wonder the truck wouldn't start.  Heck I can hardly get started at that temp.  Glad y'all had fun and proud to see all those nutters in action.
Maybe I can get there next year.

Kyle

[Ranger58]

Alright Doc, If we were to be prepared, you would have had your rollback there so that we wouldn't have had to call to get one to show up.  That would have saved enough time, that those yunguns could have made their shoot in time.  Talkin about me havin AAA-plus, ha!  Anyways guys, for those of you who missed the GPSH'05, you missed a time of your lives.  We had eight guys staying at the lodge and everyone got along great.  We had a night of "nutter birthings".  Some great "stumpin" on Sat, (no squirrels!), I think that George was keeping the locations of any real populations for himself.  And to top it all off, everyone that stayed at the lodge got to hold and shoot the LDB!  I can attest that it definitely holds some serious "mojo".  I think everyone there wants to try and take it hunting in the very near future.  Dale how about putting some nicknames to the group pic for all of those that couldn't make it.  
I for one was very proud to be in the company of all that stayed and visited the Shawnee Lodge this past weekend.  A greater group of people you'll never meet.  Can't wait to do it again.  
Oh by the way, can someone give me the dates for the GORH?  I may try and get off work for that one too.  
L8r
Gary

[Peckerwood]

DANGNABIT I can't believe I missed it again ! Like a fool I listened to weatherman , wrong move. After looking at all the pictures ,looks like the get together was all I imagined it would have been. Glad everyone had fun and a safe trip home.
Next year!

Bill

[Snakeeater]

Somebody asked to have names put with the group picture, so here it is.  I hope I got the names of the folks who were there on Friday correct.

Doc's floating head is a little fuzzy because I had to take it from a lower resolution picture.