Fellow Hunters,
I second everything Mekaniks and 1dirthawker have already said.
Indeed Erik (Gizmo) was an outstanding host and likewise, Miss Kelly is a very fine cook for sure.
Even thought we walked our boots off every day, I still gained 4 pounds while at the Rocking G Ranch.
Seems like Gizmo said his ranch is something over 3,000 acres.
And I will say it is perfect habitat for game critters, large and small, Bison to Birds.
And 1dirthawker is understating his own shotgun skills, as I distinctly recall watching him crumple a decent pile of pheasant, chukar and quail.
This, in spite of the wind gusts.
I brought the little Beretta Model 409 SxS in 20 gauge, 2 & 3/4” that my wife had given to me for one Christmas awhile back.
It was made in the late 1950’s or early 1960’s,
But, by its lack of nicks and blemishes, it hasn’t been shot or even carried much.
It has 2 sets of barrels but, I only brought the 26” ones choke Improved Cylinder and Modified.
More than one quail and chukar I shot with high velocity #6 lead were badly mangled.
They looked like they had been run over by a car.
Next time I am blessed to hunt the Rocking G (and I do plan to return), I’m thinking perhaps I will by then have the chokes carefully sanded out to true cylinder on one or both sides of that little shotgun’s 26” barrels.
Either way, I might bring a supply of low velocity cartridges, to carry in one barrel for the first shot at rising birds.
That notion would both be to spare the excessive meat damage and to help me hit the ones I missed on this trip.
Mekaniks loaned me his Beretta Model 686 in 12 gauge for waterfowl.
But, the quackers were not flying much,
due to the uncooperative weather I suppose.
I did manage to shoot two ducks though.
One I shot when it suddenly landed on the pond in front of our blind.
But it got back up and flew again.
At which time I promptly missed him with my 2nd barrel.
Oye vey.
Eventually a little flock of 3 or 4 ducks came whistling in and I stoned one with my first shot and he made a satisfying splash in our pond as he hit.
I didn’t fire another shot at the rest, as by then, I would’ve been shooting over 1dirthawker as well as our excellent guide and dog handler, “Vince”.
After that, we had no more action at the duck pond and returned to the lodge for yet another perfect meal and then some upland bird hunting, over the excellent Drahthaars.
Those dogs did excellent work finding plenty of birds to point for us, in spite of the wind.
And no surprise but, they likewise retrieved the downed birds with soft mouths and wagging tails.
Gizmos Rocking G Ranch is a great bird hunting destination and I highly recommend it.
Likewise, I saw plenty of mule deer and feral hogs.
I understand that there are other species there and we saw plenty of their tracks but, due to the wind they evidently stayed down in the canyons.
Said canyons are brushy and perfect to conceal plenty of game in.
He also offers hunting for the other species on his place, besides the excellent bird hunting.
Meanwhile yes, the DSC Convention was interesting, especially the large portion dedicated to firearms makers and dealers, including some of the biggest names in London Gun Makers.
Westley Richard’s is my favorite of those, due to their drop lock design in both double barrel rifles and double barrel shotguns as well.
Never mind that I cannot afford one.
That said, I did manage to find a double rifle that I couldn’t resist.
It was at the Foxtrot-Francis Lombardi booth.
I had been watching it in their web site for a good long while.
And I might not have bought it, but for the fact that it was suddenly and unexpectedly, right there in front of my nose.
I described this rifle’s details in the Thread posted by member james white, back on or around Jan 14, entitled:
What could you just not resist at DSC?
In brief, it is a SxS ejector double, caliber .375 H&H with 26” barrels and 2 triggers.
The maker was Franz Sodia of Ferlach Austria.
I think was made possibly in the 1950’s or 60’s.
There is what appears to be cosmoline turning to varnish, on the breech face and in the various nooks and crannies, down in the action.
Plus, the top lever is stiff and there is not one scratch, ding or handling mark on this rifle.
And so, although it was sold to me as used, it appears unfired.
Blah blah blah, whatever.
Anyway, I repeat that Gizmo’s place is tip top and I do plan to return some day.
His newly constructed lodge is designed well and built well.
The bird hunting was a heap of fun, the food just right and Gizmo himself kept us all laughing with his quick sense of humor.
Also worth mentioning is that Gizmo also does taxidermy to a level that I have to say, I’ve never seen better.
Besides being a very funny guy, he also is quite the artist.
The critters he has crafted into shoulder mounts look alive, even up close.
Anyway, I guess that’s about all the news from me that’s fit to print.
So I’ll close now.
Cheers,
Velo Dog.
