A few years ago, at a trade show, I was stopped by a vendor to try their new Dry Fire training system. Like many of the systems I’d used with previously, I was skeptical, but being in the training industry and always looking for new ways to help students improve their shooting, I obliged. I … Continue reading Mantis X…the answer to the ammo shortage
Author: Black Dirt Diaries
I didn't grow up hunting or fishing, but developed a passion for it in my late twenties, and now I'm trying to catch up for lost time. Follow me, as I learn the do's and don'ts of the outdoor world, and try to do my best to get more people outdoors, and preserve this way of life for generations to come.
The Sound of the Hound
As we pulled up to check a bait, the wheels of the trucked squealed to a halt. The truck doors slammed, and the dog box began to whine in unison. They wanted out. They wanted to work. The bait looked good, so we dropped the tail gate, and opened the box, to let the 2 … Continue reading The Sound of the Hound
Why It Matters
I’m admittedly stepping out of my lane a little bit with this one, but here it goes. It seems that from the beginning of this year, now that the COVID scare has dwindle, the left is targeting us, as sportsmen, and our hunting culture. Maybe it’s out of sheer boredom, maybe it’s because it can … Continue reading Why It Matters
Rationalizing A Miss
A piece of spent brass can either be a rewarding or painful reminder of your hunt It’s not something I’m proud of, or even like to admit…but, it happens. It shouldn’t, but it does. I’d practiced the shot dozens of times, it was 148 yards, a chip shot, and I missed. A week prior I … Continue reading Rationalizing A Miss
Stop It With Stopping Power
A single Lehigh Defense 90gr 9mm FTM round tore this 2" hole in a bear's heart So let me start off by saying, I’m not a ballistics expert…but I know a few things. I don’t just toss things out into the world because it’s cool or trendy, I do my research, then come to … Continue reading Stop It With Stopping Power
The Icon of the North American Wilderness
I don’t even know where to start with this one...and hoping I don’t ramble too much and turn this into an essay. A lot of folks ask me what got me into bear hunting, and to be completely honest, it was 100% on accident. I was invited on my first bear hunt in Maine, in … Continue reading The Icon of the North American Wilderness
Piston Perfection
Like I said...that red dirt is still there! I’ve been shooting AR’s in one form or another for the past 15 years. I’ve gone through a lot of guns, from a lot of different manufacturers. Some worked well, some worked half the time, some didn’t work at all. I did the whole transition from direct … Continue reading Piston Perfection
Shooting Fish in a Barrel
My first ever high fence kill...Trophy Fallow Deer. Is hunting on a game preserve really “hunting”? I guess it depends who you ask. I’m on the fence, and here’s why. First off, yes, I’ve hunted game preserves before, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Why? Because some animals I enjoy chasing simply don't exist … Continue reading Shooting Fish in a Barrel
The Thing With Thermals
Shot through the Pulsar Accolade XP50 LRF Thermal Binos during the day I haven’t been hunting in the dark that long, but I’ve been hunting at night long enough to know…I want to see EVERYTHING. Hunting at night is a completely different experience than hunting during day light hours. There’s an eerie feel to it, … Continue reading The Thing With Thermals
Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions
A classic lever gun, or a more modern semi auto...is one "better" than the other for hunting? When I first started hunting, I remember I wanted to hunt with an AR style rifle…a “Modern Sporting Rifle” if you will (I hate that term). I was trained, and proficient with an AR, had countless hours behind … Continue reading Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions
Black Dirt Diaries 