I’m doing some digging for my planned firearms FAQ.

One of the reports I found was a 1999 report (which you can read HERE) from the U.S. Justice Department that included a study of the impacts, from 1994 through 1996,  of the 1994-2004 federal Assault Weapons Ban.

I haven’t gotten to part covering the the impact (or not) on crime, but I was very interested in what the report had to say about the firearms market. Check this out:

“Market effects
Primary market prices of the banned guns and magazines rose by upwards of 50 percent during 1993 and 1994, while the ban was being debated in Congress. Gun distributors, dealers, and collectors speculated that the banned weapons would become expensive collectors’ items. However, prices fell sharply after the ban was implemented. Exhibit 4 shows price trends for a number of firearms. Prices for
banned AR–15 rifles, exact copies, and legal substitutes at least doubled in the year preceding the ban, fell to near 1992 levels once the ban took effect, and remained at those levels at least through mid-1996. …

These trends suggest that the preban price and production increases reflected speculation that grandfathered weapons and magazines in the banned categories would become profitable collectors’ items after the ban took effect. Instead, assault weapons prices fell sharply within months after the ban was in place, apparently under the combined weight of preban overproduction of grandfathered guns and the
introduction of new legal substitute guns at that time.”

I’m not saying that this will happen again. But, history tends to be a pretty good teacher. And, remember this, the investments didn’t pay off even after the ban took effect. What might the impact be if efforts to implement a new federal ban fail altogether? (Which even most supporters of Sen. Feinstein’s bill are predicting.)

So what I am saying is that, if you’ve got your name on a waiting list for an AR, I wouldn’t be sweating it too much.

Trevor Simmons scored twice during his Thanksgiving morning hunt in Franklin County.

The six-pointer, which had a broken leg, fell first. Then Simmons killed the gobbler, which had an 8-inch beard, an hour later.

Not a bad way to start a holiday!

13 year old boy from riner takes a 10 point buck with muzzleloader , first deer of his season Sent from my Droid Charge on Verizon 4G LTE

Twelve-year-old Nathan Lucas of Christiansburg has been hunting for three years. Unlike some kids he didn’t get to enjoy beginners luck, getting blanked those first two seasons.

But he made up for that on Saturday, rewarded for his perseverance with this awesome buck.

Nathan was hunting in Montgomery County with his dad, Michael Lucas, who looks pretty happy with this buck himself. Nathan made his shot with a Remington .308 bolt action rifle.

I had to chuckle when I read this story from Heather Johnston, who sent in several shots of her daughter, Victoria, after Saturday’s youth day:

“Her very proud grandfather, Eddie Caldwell, took her hunting on Saturday evening for youth day.  She bagged her biggest buck yet and they were both very excited.  And I am very proud!!!

She used my rifle of choice, a 243, and had a perfect lung and heart shot.  Last year, she got a pretty nice buck but decided to wait for something bigger for her first shoulder mount.  As soon as she saw me, she said ‘Mom, I think this one is the shoulder mount.’

So, to the taxidermist we will go!!  My only complaint is that I let her take my stand for this hunt!  :0)  If it gets her excited about hunting, then I guess I will just have to share and let it slide.

Aaron Myers of Salem sent in this great shot, and this even better story:

“I was able to hunt a few days during Indiana’s opener with my grandpa, which I look forward to every year.  It’s a good nine-hour drive but it’s something I look forward to every year.  My Grandpa is pushing 80 now and from the looks of him he has plenty more seasons ahead of him.  He trained me from the age of 10 years old.

I remember walking behind him as we trailed rabbits in wheat patches and sometimes I would spot one before he would, then boom, and I would get all the credit after he made the shot.  Then he took me into the deer woods, watched me, advised me and taught me everything from where to hunt to what happens after the hunt.

Many years have passed since then and This year was a little different as I was able to go for opening firearms which I usually miss due to coming during Thanksgiving in the past.  The rut was on and I went back to a spot I had seen good sign before.  It was right at last shooting light a doe came trotting in at the bottom of a revine followed by a rush of thunder as big boy was right on her crashing through the woods.  I picked a spot out and the 20 gauge rifled shotgun did the job at  120 yards.

My Grandpa came down the hill to check it out and I could do nothing but hug him.  With the help of our buddy Ron we were able to drag him out of the ravine in his four-wheeler.   It’s a story I will tell my kids one day if I have any, and its something I will never forget nor will my grandpa.  This was a special week of memories from the past and present.  This is why I love the outdoors and will always cherish every moment in the field.”

Karl Bates was hunting near Moneta on the first Monday 0f the early muzzleloader season when he dropped this awesome buck.

The rack was 18 inches wide and had 13 points. Great mass, too!

For those who missed the Outdoors Page in Friday’s paper because they were too busy standing in lines for Black Friday shopping — or, better, out in a treestand — my feature on the page related the story of Jim Grisso of Craig County and Jim Grigsby of Blue Ridge.

We ran a big shot of Grigsby, but unfortunately this shot of Grisso (pictured here) and his giant moose, which scores high enough to earn a spot well up in the Boone and Crockett record book, didn’t make it into the paper.

Pat Patterson reported being covered up with does from the time the season opened. But good bucks were nowhere to be seen on his hunting spot near Roanoke.

His luck changed in mid-November. Patterson had returned from a business trip “sick as a dog,” but was tired of being cooped up indoors. So he went out and did some still hunting, and spotted this guy moving along a hillside. Patterson hit his grunt call and turned the buck, which eventually got close enough to offer a shot that Patterson made good on.

I’m sure he was feeling even better after tagging this beauty.

First the good news. I killed a nice doe this evening. I was watching several deer well out of range when she came in solo behind me.

Now the bad news. I am still out here. I had to cross a creek by foot to get to my stand. I didn’t want to drag her through the creek. Or, frankly, carry her 100-pound carcass across the creek. Fortunately there is a ford. I’ve crossed it plenty, even just a couple weeks ago. But that was in my 4Runner,which has aggressive tires. I am in my Toyota Tundra, which has old tires,not to mention a long wheelbase.

Anyway, I can’t get up the bank. So the landowner is on his way with a tractor. Guess who is getting an extra nice Christmas gift this year?

UPDATE: My good friend David Levine pulled me out in short order with the big ol’ John Deere. He laughed at my tires, as he should have. I mentioned the final line of this blog entry and he said, “You know, there is something I could use. I will be building a barn and could use your help for a day or two.” I’ve always wanted to help build a barn!