Howdy! While gettin’ the Landrum
household ready for the upcomin’ holidays, I had spent some time goin’ through
a bunch of old huntin’ gear. I came
across a cache of stuff that brought back some fond memories, and wondered why
I still kept some of it. I guess I’m
sorta retrogressin’ … ‘cause my hapless old ass cain’t seem to part with most
of it. I’m old school, but border on
bein’ a hoarder! Seriously, how much
crap can one man keep? I thought y’all
might get a kick outta some of this stuff, so, here goes: Jon-e Hand Warmers … any of y’all
remember these? Fill ‘em, light ‘em and presto … you got heat! Just don’t
ever stick ‘em in the pockets of your favorite flannel huntin’ shirt … unless
you like your breasts overcooked. You
used to be able to purchase these at most any small-town store that sold sportin' goods such as Otasco’s or Western
Auto (yeah, I’m showin’ my age). These oversized lighters were a must for
anyone huntin’ in cold, damp conditions like
bays or swamps and would burn strong for several hours. I even have a can of fluid … which is almost
full. Just for sh¡ts & giggles, I
looked for these online and was shocked at what they are now goin’ for … that
is, if you can still find ‘em. Due to the fact that the Farmer’s Almanac
warned us that this winter would be much colder than the last, I think I’ll be holdin’-on
to ‘em … as in, very dang-shortly!
Remember the Wrist-Rocket?
I still have and regularly use mine ... replacin'
the rubber tubing annually. I remember gettin' this
jewel for Christmas back in 1972; incidentally, I also remember gettin' my ass tore-up for aimin' it toward someone. Paw-paw Jones did not appreciate the small wild melon that mysteriously splattered at his feet from 75-yards away. I have always been deadly accurate with it. Combined with a Crown Royal bag full of marbles & steel bearin’s … I
would varmint hunt with it, and still carry it in my boat wherever I go. I’ve kept many a gator that got too close to
my rig while fishin’ at bay; a steady aim followed by a good “thunk” on the noggin and they
usually go elsewhere! I guess that since
the game wardens might be readin’ this, they might-just ought to appreciate the
fact that I wasn’t ever harrassin’ them gators; I was simply keepin’ ‘em away. Whenever gators get within’ a push-pole’s
distance of my boat while I’m standin’ on the friggin’ trollin’ motor in
high-gear, I’d say that I’m pretty-much well in fear for my safety. Y'all please realize that it’s better than the alternative; ‘cause I’d
rather not have to dispatch one, know
what I mean?
Here’s my trusty old Benjamin .22-cal. pellet pistol … which still fires
as powerfully and as accurately as it did in the 70’s. I still have a can of the original pellets, as
well as an unopened package of .22 cal. darts!
The finish is gone, but I ain’t goin’ to try and restore it. Remember, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! And if you love it, lube it and maybe the
seal won’t dry-out. At the disdain of my
wonderful wife, this old pistol currently resides on a curio shelf, even though
it ain’t there just for display purposes.
This beast can still penetrate a galvanized bucket, and even back in the
day I preferred it to any of the CO2 models that my buddies had. And even though I love our resident wildlife,
God help the next friggin’ squirrel that decides to gnaw on the keel of my dang
kayak! Again, since the game warden
might be readin’ this … if that were
to happen … there won’t be any dang wanton waste; it’ll simply get added into
my next gumbo. Period. I make a mean squirrel gumbo. And in no way, shape or form do they taste anything like chicken ...
I also found several pairs of coveralls that I no longer wear, but cain’t
seem to part with. They just don’t make
‘em as well as they used to … nor do they make these patterns anymore. Talk about retrogressin’ … I'd come across my traditional brown camo, original Realtree and Trebark. I’ve even got the matchin’ gloves, hats &
overboots as well. Now, don’t y’all be
makin’ fun of my friggin’ overboots; ever
sit up in a tree stand or a duck blind in the extreme cold for an extended
amount of time? I’m talkin’ about at
a time before there were boots made with Thinsulate. Wearin’ these gems would keep my toes from
turnin’ friggin’ blue! And speakin’ of
which … who could forget them battery-powered electric socks? I got a pair of ‘em as well. I bought these long before I discovered overboots. The wires rubbed blisters, and the battery packs usually bruised my ankles. They worked, but usually not when or for as long as I actually needed ‘em to. But they don't have any holes in 'em, which is usually when my old huntin' socks become shop rags ...
Before
the days of hydration packs, I simply carried a canteen or a bota-bottle. Hell, they didn’t sell or even have
bottled-waters back then! The bad thing
about these two types of containers is that A: neither held very much, and B: both
sloshed loudly while traipsin’ around through them woods. I fashioned a custom Trebark cover for my old
canteen to insulate it, and then found this bota bottle that was puncture-proof
as well as bein’ insulated. I’ve not
used either in years, but just cain’t seem to part with ‘em. Oh, wait, I
have used the latter; but, only to transport bourbon or rum. Incognito that is, when I feel like retrogressin’! Y’all take care and
be safe out there in them woods …
