Kitted up and went for a stalk tonight. The sneaking thread helped with the inspiration.
I am not amused.
Got it in my head to see how much of the edge has decayed and went for broke, at night. The eyes and ears are still good and the brain remembers but the body and coordination are shit to put it nicely. I didn't pick the best night, just starlight but I learned a few things about my current abilities and thought some of you could use it (motivator? wake up?)so I'll put it here as a sort of buffet of self criticism and positive notes.
Night is tough without light, knew it and was reminded constantly call it a plus. Fuck that baseball cap, next time it's the old boonie hat to keep the twigs, limbs, webs a little farther out.
I'm spending the money and getting a good pair of clear safety glasses with surgical tube keeper to match my day shades Gonna put a hard case in the bag for switching them out when needed Cheap clears don't cut it.
Speaking of putting things in the bag where they belong I'm springing for a camelback and the belt 2 quart canteen goes in the bag and off the belt to avoid snags, I hate snags (belt real estate is at a premium too).
Always ran as slick as possible up front, hit the ground a few times on purpose and low crawled, EVERYTHING is getting cleared to the sides and back, no compass, no binoculars, no shit like a knife or the torniquete on the straps. Every f ing snag you can't see at night grabs.
The pack/bag is getting smaller and shaped better, see comments on snags above. Front body armor I have planed will have to be considered and selected carefully.
The old alice mag pouches are good, the one newer one needs at least a good wire brushing to fuzz it up and get rid of that gawd awful plastic scratching sound it makes when things brush against it. I need to practice mag changes blind on my property until I'm right. Yes I left the rifle at home. The couple of 2 mag MOLLE pouches were good.
More permethrin on the cloths and equipment, I also hate bugs.
Machete is too big and bumps the leg, gotta think that one thru.
Everything's going pretty good til half way while walking the back tree edge of a farm field, what pray tell you ask happens? I'll tell you, the little voice in my head has changed, the vicious bastard and a little bit smug lizard brain has left the building and there's this little primate monkey brain starting to worry about someone seeing me and the trip back and if I should really even be... screw you you little bastard, where the hell are my balls, I know I brought them... gotta do something about this, 15 minutes later I'm on the backside of a dirt berm from the spoils out of a drainage ditch in good concealment but the chattering little SOB won't stop. I pull out the binoculars and start watching the cars pulling up to a stop sign. I'm determined to stick it out till the little shit thrower leaves, I notice just how visible dashlights make drivers and the oh so oblivious tunnel vision look on everyones faces. I can't be seen. A smirk. Godzilla is back, we parallel the road just far enough in to watch and wait out of the drivers sight till the lights pass. I cheat and use the over powered 1aa led light taped to a slit, 1 hour to home. Worse than a flinch, I need to get right in the head now too.
More stalking the densest land I can use, gonna have to get back in the water and swamps too, there part of my terrain and can be a massive advantage. Self note, got socks?
Gotta get the gear and rig right, refine refine refine.
Itty bitty dim 1 led red light needed.
I really want a can for both the primary and pistol.
Small & light as possible.
