Ammunition for an Unsuccessful Elk Draw

Formal Results
License Type:  NONRESIDENT COW/CALF ELK
Results:  Unsuccessful

Informal Results
Ammunition Availability:  Very Limited

I'm planning to go west this year for Antelope hunting and wanted to add a cow elk to the mix.  It didn't add much (relative) to the cost, but added time to the hunt which is nice since most antelope hunts are not terribly long.  It will take a solid two days to get to Wyoming for a three day hunt which implies more time driving than hunting.  The journey is part of the adventure, but it is a small additional investment in money with a return in quality time with the addition of the cow elk tag.

Since most of my hunting is East I don't shoot beyond 100 yards very often.  I've shot a couple deer and wild boar at a greater distance than that, but not by much.  I have an excuse to spend some quality time at the range to get ready for the greater distances that can be encountered out west.

However, ammunition availability is dreadful right now.  Politics and paranoia aside, when influential politicians started talking about significant gun control, less influential politicians (and some influential individuals) also talked about removing ammunition availability, using price (tax) as a proxy.
In addition to firearms, ammunition began flying off the shelves.  Some of this is paranoia.  Some might not be.  Everything is up in the air.  Since I shoot primarily my own handloads, I thought I was largely immune to the mayhem, but this is not the case.  Just about everything-gun related is in short supply.  I almost always have over a hundred rounds ready to go for every caliber I own and components for many more.  With what I feel I should do prior to heading west, I am still a little concerned.

I've recently tallied up what I have for the two rifles I may take to hunt antelope and possibly elk and I guess I have a minimum needed.  I have a few hundred rifle rounds and about twice that many in components.  If I could just locate one more pound of the correct smokeless powder, I'm sure I'll be all set.
Ammunition availability does seem to be starting to return, albeit slowly.  A local store had a good supply of bulk .45 ACP ammo.  Higher priced "hunting" rifle ammunition is still available.  Since my shooting is currently hunting focused, the increased cost of this option is only slightly objectionable.  It will allow saving handloads for hunting.
What is frustrating is the suggestion that gun violence is going to be controlled by taxing ammo out of existence is ludicrous.  This is an option that will only affect the hunter and avid target shooter.  A lunatic doesn't need much ammo and probably doesn't care what it costs.  Suicide is an expenditure that is immaterial of cost.

The 2013 Wyoming Elk draw was this past week.  My draw was unsuccessful.  According to my outfitter, there is still a good chance at a leftover tag later this summer.  I can't count on that.  Hopefully I do draw an antelope tag, but I guess I shouldn't count on that either.

Regardless of what happens, I'll enjoy spending some time at the range.
President Obama has stated he respects hunting and its traditions.  Coupled with a widely publicized photo of him shooting an over/under shotgun.  Unfortunately, it doesn't pass the smell test that a man who never shot a gun prior to becoming president has suddenly found enjoyment out of skeet shooting.  The White House photographer might as well have used a green screen to achieve the same result without subjecting the President to the horrors of an inanimate object he objects to so much.

I'm a little disappointed I didn't draw the elk tag as I thought they were pretty easy to obtain.  I can't blame politics for not drawing it though..
Political pragmatism forces all but the most rabidly anti-gun politician claim their gun control schemes will not affect hunters.  Unfortunately, it already is.

Unintended Accelerated Consequences

Toyota is in the news this week.  It was reported by many sources that the car company has agreed to pay $29million to several states over the unintended acceleration issue.

In a previous post, I wrote a review of my 2009 Toyota Tacoma.  After rereading that review it could be perceived that I don't like the vehicle.  I do.  At the time it was the best option for me.  There are likely better options now, but revisiting that 5 years later isn't realistic.
The tone of that post is pretty realistic though.  I don't feel the need to cut a major vehicle maker any slack.
I do think Toyota is getting a horrid deal here due to overly dramatic sensationalism surround "sudden acceleration."

Many cars now are drive-by-wire.  As anyone who has ever used a computer, owned a smart phone knows silicon can do unexpected things especially when coupled with frustrating software (or firmware).  Say "Abort, Retry, Ignore" to anybody but a child and watch shudders of frustration relived with those three options.

Major car companies are under intense scrutiny in the areas of safety.  There is no doubt that Toyota has put many fail-safes in their systems.  There is no doubt they have tested these systems under every imaginable scenario except one...the idiot.  It is impossible to make something foolproof because fools are so ingenious!
What I find frightening about vehicle safety is what the general public and regulatory bodies expect of the inanimate object.  There is a push right now to possibly ban assault rifles, certain magazines, or otherwise affect lawful gun owning.  Yet, based on numbers alone, we are over 4-times more likely to die in a car accident than be shot (not counting suicides, which I won't here).  If living a life devoid of the excitement of significant crime or substance abuse, it is about 10 times more likely one will be killed in a car.  But vehicle safety is a joke.  Forget that routine traffic norms are ignored, vehicle manufacturers are making vehicles that help people park; we are encouraging people who do not have the skill to put a 2 ton vehicle in a defined area at slow speed to drive at any speed desired.

Driving tests should be done in a car from the early 60s.  Think manual transmission, no power brakes, no power steering. If you can't safely drive and maneuver that vehicle, no license.  This is similar to having a 4wd truck.  Drive in 2wd, and the 4wd is there to get you out of trouble.
Look around the next time at the state Department of Motor Vehicles.  These are the people we share the road with.

There were two cases of Toyota Sudden Acceleration that stick out in my mind.
The first was a housekeeper who crashed her bosses car.  The press paraded this example of Toyota's failure until it was clearly revealed that she had floored the accelerator and the brake was never touched.  Operator Error.

The second was James Sikes issues in California.  He claims his Prius screamed down the interstate outside of his control.  Google James Sikes and see what your top choices are.  You don't even have to go to the conspiracy sites for this one.  What is most unexpected about this story was that he was able to get his Prius up to 94MPH.  I wasn't able to find how that situation was eventually resolved, but I didn't care enough to look too hard.

Unintended acceleration?  Hit the brakes.  Even a Roush Racing 540HP Mustang can be overcome by the brakes.  To much of an idiot for that?  Neutral, or off.  Then park, forever.

Toyota doesn't get off free with this.  Once these questions came up, some damaging info was eventually revealed. As is often the case, it wasn't the {crime} it was the cover-up.  Maybe some day we'll all learn that lesson.  Until then, Toyota is $29million less rich.  The states get a few bucks and the lawyers are happy.

I'd rather see the press be $29million poorer on this one.  Want to feel even better about how the press reports on cars?  I have no opinion on Tesla, but this is pretty funny.  Maybe there is a place for Jayson Blair back at The New York Times afterall.

I had an extra day off recently and finally (after almost four years) got my Toyota recall done for the accelerator/floor mat on my Tacoma.  After a subsequent trip to the DMV, I just don't feel any safer.  Maybe I'll see if I can find a good used early 80s Audi.