This season was my first to hunt with the Encore. The thing had been finicky for about a season. Failures to fire were common- I suspected a weak hammer spring. However after changing it out, the problem persisted. After a bit of head scratching, I realized that the hammer assist was added at the time the problem started. I removed it and the problems went away and it shot well.
Now that my encore is humming along- I gotta admit these things can shoot better than I ever will. I was able to put a 5 round group in under an inch at 50 yards- which for me is good. The gun did this with Remington Core Locts and did a bit better with Hornady spire points. The 139 gr bullets seem to fly best for me.
soon I'll start playing with cast- probably over the holiday.
I didn't get a chance to take any game with it this season, but I did get to thinking a lot about my hunting with my father.
Now make no mistake- I am barely a hunter. I get lost more often then not, and still haven't developed the most patient mindset while woods bumming. That being said, my father is good- I'd go so far as to say a very good hunter. He does his best to instruct me into something that resembles a woodsman, and it is taking, albeit very slowly.
However reading a story posted online about another hunter's experiences while hanging out with his father moved me a bit; and as so often happens, got me to thinking.
Some of the best experiences I have with my dad are while hunting. We have probably sent more deer fleeing in fear of hearing us laugh together sitting on a pair of buckets under a tree then some people see all season- but I wouldn't trade a day of it.
So this is for you Pa- I love ya, and we'll get em next year, and hopefully many years after that.
