I leave next week for my Oregon fire lookout job - armed.

[DemoTex]

Yesterday was a first for me. I bought a gub, er I mean a gun (Woody Allen fans will recognize that). Many DUers gave me advice a few months ago when I asked what would be a good lightweight rifle to protect Nick and me from the increasing mountain lion problem in my area of operation.

Yesterday I went to Dewey's Pawnshop in Greenville (SC) and bought a Marlin Model 1894 lever-action .44 carbine. I fired it in Dewey's indoor range. I was impressed. I impressed my instructor, too. It has been 41 years since I have pulled a trigger (Viet Nam, 1970), but I fired a tight pattern at 50 yards with a very short-barreled rifle.

I hope I only use the carbine for noise. I hope I never see a cougar close enough to Nick or me to even consider a shot. If I have to shoot, I will shoot to scare - two shots. Then I will lever in a hollow point and shoot to kill. I hope to sell this damn gun back to Dewey's Pawn Shop when I finish my fire lookout career!

BTW: I will have a night game camera out by mid-June. I'll share those photos too.