Andy Munson's Weblog

New Post Testing Testing 123

Andy — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:42:24 +0000

Text here about blah and stuff and such

Photos 500 pxl wide

CAPTION: Yeehaw good times

Dispatches from Texas 2010

Andy — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:11:41 +0000

Kyle and Jennie's beautiful house

First night here I jumped in the pool (freezing) but warmed up in the hot tub. Kyle and Jennie gave me an update on life in Texas.

The entryway tree looking great

Texas Col' Beer

Real healthy Whataburger. Kinda tastes like the Lions Old Fashion Fair burgers

Painting a chalk wall in the kitchen

Kylie's park

She really, really, really loves this park

My blogging tool

Hide and seek - I found em!

Recent coatings at Guncoat Northwest

Andy — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:29:26 +0000

These are some of my most recent projects at Guncoat Northwest. I have a few more completed, but cannot release the pictures until after Christmas as they are gifts. Contact me via sales@guncoat.com if you have any questions or would like a quote.

Sitka Mountain Mimicry

Tiger Shaddow in ACU colors

Magpul FDE + Gas Piston Install

*Click photos to enlarge*

NoPDX Anticon 2010

Andy — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:11:53 +0000

A very Portland event. I think there were over 1000 santas this year as we took over bars and restaurants in North Portland. We even stopped by the mayor’s house and he came out and got the crowed pumped up with a megaphone. Then they handed out egg nog and we marched away singing Christmas carols.

Mayor Adams in center of photo

We donned our custom santa suits again this year

My additions were names on my jacket and Whiskey's, as well as 502 patches and girl in oregon patches. Note spray on beard.

BEER socks!

Northside Elk 2010

Andy — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:41:27 +0000

The quest for bulls was on this year. I hadn’t drawn a tag since 2006, so I was very excited to get back out and put in some work. In 2006 I had been fortunate enough to shoot a 6×6 bull on day 2. In 2007 my friend Tate shot a 5×5 bull from the same log. In 2008 my brother got skunked, and we had no luck in 2009 when Karl drew his tag and brought his friend Ulf from Europe. I was really hoping this would be our year to turn things around. The success rate is 20%, so even with 4 tags we weren’t guaranteed to get a bull. We rolled into camp Tuesday just as the sun was setting and the snow was coming down. The wall tent and stove kept us warm through the night. The morning couldn’t come early enough.

When we awoke, I headed down to my favorite morning spot with my friend Karl while our friend Kevin would post up on another draw. We got a late start, and found ourselves hurrying down the hill as everything became illuminated by the morning sun. I sat down at the infamous “Pee Log” where I shot a bull in 2006 and Tate shot one in 2007. The log is covered in bright green moss so it was appropriately named.

Within 30 seconds of sitting I could see a heard of about 40 elk moving across the furthest hill at about 1000 meters. I signaled to Karl that I had spotted animals and he made his way to the log. We quickly devised a plan of attack. The heard was feeding across the hill from left to right. I would head directly towards the heard, and Karl would move to the right while walking towards them to head them off. That way if I spooked them he could pick up a bull as they busted out.

I made my way closer and stopped to glass at 600 meters. I could see a large heard bull with white tips on his antlers. He was a nice, big bull and had several cows around him. The heard also had some sentry cows that were looking for threats from all directions.

I closed the gap to 400 meters and had a shot. But I hadn’t shot too well recently and realized that I could probably get closer. I walked down into a ravine into thick trees and across a stream bed. I used the trees for cover as I worked my way up the hill. All of a sudden a large 5×5 bull and cow busted out of the thick brush. I radioed to Karl that they were headed his way and waited to hear a shot. But I didn’t hear anything and he said there were still elk on the hill. He hadn’t seen the 5×5 come out in his area. So I continued up the hill and the trees got sparse. I went from one tree to the next and as I approached a small tree I saw the heard bull – a large, heavy 6×6.

He was 80 meters in front of me and was grazing with a cow. I set up my bipod and took a deep breath. The cow took one step back and I took my shot. The bull collapsed and the rest of the herd erupted up the hill. I watched above, and could see the big bull down. I waited several minuted for him to expire, and then came up close to put him down for good. I was standing over a magnificent creature and was overwhelmed. I knew this was just the beginning so I got to work with my knife.

My 2010 Bull Elk - Public land - Northside Unit - Northwest of John Day

If you look in the upper right hand corner, we camp from the snow patch at the start of our stalk.

Back at Gunny's ranch where I got to store my meat and antlers.

502 HQ 2010

Owyhee 2010

Andy — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 06:00:14 +0000

I got to break in my new wall tent this year with an 8 day trip to owyhee unit for deer hinting. This is an area east of Burns Oregon effectively in the middle of nowhere. While the area didn’t seem to be heavy with deer, we were able to find a couple of bucks. And quite a few sheds from big bucks that eluded us. The views out there were worth it alone, and I’m glad we made the trek.

The ol' man and I

Center of pic - tiny white speck is our home for 8 days

Double Rainbow! Almost at least!

First sunrise

Looking with the new spotting scope. It's 25-75 power and is too powerful for me....I think I would be better off with something smaller, lighter and less power.

Our long driveway

Mind you that's 15 x 18 feet of heaven when it's cold and rainy

Karl, Myself and Matt that angry Badger

Karl's one week old truck - it even smelled new!

This showing just how desolate it is out there. The tent is dead center of the picture (click to enlarge)

Karl and Kevo gearing up early

Rolling fog made for a beautiful morning

I sat at this same spot in 2007 and saw an enormous buck. It will always be the one that got away after I found out my scope was bent.

After some burn off

Later in the day - badger deployment! It hissed at Dapper as we drove by. Big mistake for that guy to get aggressive...

Dapper and his creature -it will become my new hat for hunting and running errands

To the tune of wild horses

Feeding em'

Dapper told us he could walk right up to that big bull

Great idea

Victory!

Camp V O II - Note BBQ that lost almost all it's bolts on the way in, and our flag pole complete with whiskey dispensing deer skull

Night hunt we found a buck

While not a monster, this buck would taste far better than tag soup.

The speck of light is the quad coming up the trail for retrieval

Spotting bucks for Karl and Kevin - Dapper is reeeeal photogenic at times. I think the camera said something disparaging about his badger and he's mad...

It's funny to be in such big country and not see animals

Sunrise

Spotted a forky out there an watched it bed down

there are deer all over the hill above the rock, and a buck on the left side. I'm talking about the lower right hand side hill that is darker in color.

Success - Kevin got his first Mule deer. Karl was really close to walking into this buck but just barley zigged when he needed to zag.

This wards off badgers and mormon missionaries

Karl and I's last hike for bucks in the evening

This is what I look like when I wanna look like I'm looking at things

Karl thinking "Im on top of the world!"

Last day

The fog kept made spotting difficult on the ridgeline. It was fun whispering through our secret service ear buds from twenty feet away.

And it only got worse...

Headed out after a long 8 days, glad to have visited Owyhee again

This about sums it up…

Andy — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:32:05 +0000

John Day 2010

Andy — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:42:03 +0000

Back in the saddle!

The first set of rapids - Brian and I with cameras eagerly wait(and possibly hope) for our first catastrophe but these pros sailed right through.

Hash Goods

Andy — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:06:31 +0000

I have created a new extension of 502 Global Acquisitions to focus on hashing (my running group). I am very excited to be diversifying 502 Global and offer great prtoducts to great people.

Currently the site has my knee high socks, and soon it will have glass etching as well as t shirts and other products.

Check out the site! www.hashgoods.com

Camouflage Sewing Machine

Andy — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:26:53 +0000

This is my second camouflage sewing machine, and the first to have the ACU (Army Combat Uniform) pattern. My first machine was sprayed multicam and can be seen here.

I want to eventually show these at a gallery and hopefully find new homes for some of them.

Are you an operator with a need for tactical sewing in hostile environments? This machine can be yours:

Etsy: ACU Camo Sewing Machine