16ga.com ~ View topic - Thanksgiving at Moo Dairy Ranch on Standing Rock

David Bergthold his son Dillon and myself spent the Thanksgiving Holiday at Moo Dairy Bed & Breakfest on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation .

I took an unusual set of shotguns with me this time , Belgin Guild Husqavarna Clones under lever hammer guns in 16 bore the short gun is choked .000 & .004 the longer barrel gun is choked .000 & .029 .

Weight of the short gun is 5 lbs 15 oz the long gun is 6 lbs 4 oz , Very fast handling , easy to carry and all around a blast to shoot .

This another one with Ole Ben teaching the kid on the block about real Upland Bird Guns .

I was not overly impressed with having to cock the hammers with a cut up thumb that I sliced open the day before we left for the Dakota's , but I sure have found a SXS that shoots and carries easy in my hands unlike all the clubs that I have picked up in the past , these ole guns shoot to the point of impact ( I have shot 4 of these guns with the same results ) I have found a SXS that is worthy of packing into the field to hunt with " FINALLY " .

Picture of Dave & Dillon with an assortment of game .

A few birds to round out the day !

Cream love to have his picture taken as much as Peach hates it , now this was a riot to get done let me tell you not .

Now no one was more suprised about me shooting these guns but what the heck I finally found a SXS worthy of me packing around , dang I was sure that ghost didn't exist .

But sure enough , I now believe in ghost .

Regards , Charles

Member Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 497

Charles, remember when I told you about the how elegant Hammerguns were ? Cool

Now just go easy on the pressure.... Wink

No need Rocky the things are built to take it , Recoil is the problem not pressure . Just tame the pay load weight down and the ole girls will last forever .

Regards , Charles

Member Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 497

Charles I have a Husqvarna Lafacheaux (sp?) in another gauge, and I like it but is the locking system up to modern pressures ?

I have run a bunch of 11.500 PSI loads through the ole girls and will continue to do so after a study of the ole girls they can take anything you dish out to em within reason .

Regards , Charles

Charles,

Looks like you and your friends had a great time. Did you "rough it" by camping out again at the Moo Dairy Ranch or "wimp out" and stay in one of the cabins? What did Char fix for Thanksgiving at the diner? Any chance you will be heading back up to the reservation before the season ends?

How is the trigger pull on your two SxS's? My dad's old 16 ga. Springfield-Stevens SxS hammer gun (made in 1930-32) that I remember as a kid but never shot, had such a hard front trigger pull that dad said he often carried the gun with that hammer cocked since he felt that briars, branches or a dropped gun could not accidently discharge it.

By the way, regarding that old Stevens, my dad sold it in the late '40's to a hunting buddy, who is now in his 80's. When I saw dad's friend in October following my sister's funeral, I asked him about the gun, and he said he had given it to his son. A few weeks ago his son contacted me and said I could have it! I'll pick it up when we are in Illinois next month visiting family. I have no idea what shape it is in. However, it really doesn't matter. It was the first brand new gun my dad bought (he paid $15.00 for it at a local hardware store), so to me it will always be "special."

Regards, Barry

Hello Barry :

Char went up to Minot ND for Thanksgiving with her daughter and grand daughter , she returned Late Thanksgiving day so we went to the Casino for Lunch/Dinner .

We stayed in the trailer that you and Ron Borko stayed in on the first hunt .

The trigger pull on the ole Hammer Guns are very very fine , I will have to admit I do have a slight facination with the ole guns .

I am going back just as soon as the crops are out and Eddie Fry is well enough to hunt after the surgery .

Regards, Charles

Charles,

The trailer is definitely a lot more comfortable. I hope all goes well with Eddie's recouperation so he can make the trip to the reservation with you before the season ends.

We'll be in Illinois the first part of January to help my mother-in-law celebrate her 92nd birthday. I hope to go hunting with my nephew for quail and pheasants on my dad's place and possibly pheasant hunting on one of the state's DNR controlled hunting sites (with released birds) if there are any openings.

I talked to Ron Borko earlier this week. He said he had not talked to you for a while, and he had not seen the photos of our opening day hunt. I printed out a few pictures that you posted and will mail them to him. I only had regular paper and the quality off of the web site is not that great.

Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 972 Location: Keller,TX

Thinman, I'm sending Char a book for a Christmas present that chronicles the birth of the Standing Rock Reservation as well as its most famous resident-Sitting Bull. It has some old photos of Major McLaughlin as well as local townsfolk in McLaughlin.

Check your PMs.

Hey Barkey - I'm in IL - where are you visiting and what put-n-take pheasant place do you like in IL?

bustingclays,

We have family in Litchfield (I-55, exit 52) and Farmersville, IL. (I-55, Exit 72) My nephew suggested that we look at the following DNR areas. I hunted at Moraine several years ago (in northern IL) but have not been to the Carlyle Lake site which would be closer to you.

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/programs/controlled_hunt/default.asp

Click on calendar and select:

Controlled pheasant hunt-Moraine view or Controlled pheasant hunt-Eldon Hazlet Carlyle Lake.

Hi Barkey:

Have done Carlyle many times in the past - this year have not (no local friends with dogs). I do know two who are hunting there weekly - will get report tomorrow at gun club if possible. Early report was that 2 of the 5 areas were under water (we are 11.5 inches of rain ahead of normal this year - again - sigh Rolling Eyes

)

Have shot sporting clays at Fallers in Litchfield many times. I'm in Glen Carbon (typically get off at Troy at exit 18 on I-55 to go to house).

Have fun if you go!

HI Bustingclays,

I've shot sporting clays and 5-stand at Fallers a couple of times. I've also shot skeet and trap at Brittany Shooting Park, 11374 Prairie Dell Road, Bunker Hill, IL (a few miles west of Gillespie, then south off of Rt. 16.)

I also stop by Kink's Korner in Hillsboro (picked up one of my 20 ga. Marlin Model 90's from him several years ago) and Sportsman's Choice Sporting Goods in Litchfield when we are in the area. Never know when you might find a bargain at those small local gun stores.

Please let me know how your friends did at Carlyle. We may try to go on Jan 9 or 10. Hopefully it will be dried out by then.