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Claude
Mathis
Administrator - Profile
I was
born in San Diego, California. Over the years I've worked in the outdoor
industry both in retail and as the owner of an outfitter service that took
clients canoeing, rock climbing and backpacking. I currently do computer consulting and web design.
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Musketman
Moderator - Profile
My name is Randy Morris and I live in Andover, Ohio. I started my muzzleloading experience way back in 1980 and I loved it so much I shunned all my centerfire guns for many years. I served as a jet engine mechanic for the United States Air Force from 1976 to 1982. I married my girlfriend Lily in 1985 and over the years we adopted five wonderful children. I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease around the summer of 2006, although I can no longer shoot my muzzleloaders for obvious reasons, I will try to assist everyone here as best as I can as one of this forum's fine moderators.
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Stumpkiller
Moderator - Profile
I was born in 1959 and have lived in the same geographic area since – in or near
Binghamton, NY. Currently we have a 20 acre “hobby farm” with a flock of chickens
and raise a goodly chunk of our own food. I am a lifelong lover of the water
and fishing, and we own a 31 foot sailboat on Cayuga Lake and a couple kayaks.
My first muzzleloader was a .36 T/C Seneca percussion I purchased
in 1976, followed soon by a .54 T/C Renegade. A slew of various cap-locks and
rock-locks followed.
A graduate of Binghamton University with a B.S. in Organizational Behavior
with an emphasis in accounting, as well as dual associate degrees in accounting
and business administration. Started out in chemical engineering after high school
but took a Greyhound bus to California with this cute little number I met in
the college aviation club instead of returning for the second year. Returned
home and swapped majors, but kept the girl. We were married in 1980 a week after
I graduated and she is still my wife and best friend. I started out as a purchaser
for a metal foundry but somehow got sucked into accounting (which I taught along
with economics and business math at Elmira Business Institute at one time) and
now am deputy comptroller of the City of Binghamton.
I didn't start hunting in earnest until after I was married in 1980 and have
put over three dozen whitetail, and one fallow deer, on the meat-pole in that
span. I've taken bucks with rifle, shotgun, cedar arrows from a recurve, and
muzzleloaders (smooth and rifled).
I have found a pleasure in flintlocks; my most recent two being a Kit Ravenshear
1759 L.I. fusil and a John Donelson Lehigh/Northampton rifle. Still a pilgrim
in reenactment, I never lost my love for hiking, backpacking and camping from
Boy Scouts and am transitioning that into trekking. I build and fly radio-controlled
aeroplanes as a hobby. Muzzleloading is a lifestyle.
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Zonie
Moderator - Profile
Born in
Iowa in 1943 and moved to Arizona in 1950.
My wife and I have been married for 38 years and we have two sons and
one grandson.
I started shooting when I was 9 years old and haven't stopped yet.
I have
an AA degree from Phoenix College in Engineering Design and a BA from
Arizona State University in Industrial Arts Secondary Education.
Following
graduation, I worked for 39 years for a company which manufactures Gas
Turbine and Fanjet Engines. During this period, I worked as a Tool Crib
attendant, Tool and Gage Designer, Machine designer, and Quality Control
Engineer. My last position which I held for 25 years was in Auxiliary
Power Engineering as a Principal (Lead) Design Engineer.
I have recently retired.
I like
hunting, fishing, target shooting, reloading, motorcycle riding, sports
car racing, building guns, playing the guitar, studying Firearm history
and being on this Forum.
My first
Blackpowder gun was a .44 caliber Kentuckian Flintlock and a .44 caliber
1851 Colt style pistol that I bought in 1971.
I built
my first CVA Rifle kit in 1975 and my first Pecatonica River parts kit
gun in 1995. I have been building Black Powder guns ever sense.
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Huntin
Dawg
Moderator - Profile
I was born in Glens Falls, New York. My parents were both from Vermont. We raised show horses until about 1980. I was raised in the outdoors. We spent all of our free time fishing or hunting. My father purchased 60 acres of land that was a haven for the young sportsman. There was plentiful game both small and big for me to hunt. I joined the Air Force in 1989 and I made a career of it. After 20 years in telecommunications I am now retired.
I met my wonderful wife in Texas and we have three great boys and a beautiful little girl. I can't honestly tell you why I bought my first muzzleloader. I think the challenge of something new caught my attention. I started with an inline...argh! but since then have switched to traditional percussion and flintlock.
I heard of this great forum while surfing the old CVA forum and I made the switch and have never looked back. As a moderator I hope I can make a valuable contribution to this fine site.
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Jethro224
Moderator - Profile
I was born
in 1966 in Central Illinois. My family sold the farm and moved to town, Pekin,
when I was 2 years old. Other than a year in Kansas, I've lived here ever since.
Vacationed in
Arkansas and Missouri a lot when I was a kid so some hillbilly rubbed off on
me.
In 1988 I married my high school sweetheart and we're still happily married
with one daughter. She's a great kid.
I am employed as a Auto Service Technician specializing in suspension repair
and alignment. They can't call me a Mechanic 'cause I don't work on engines.
Been getting paid for it for over 20 years now.
When I was 6 years old my Grandpa gave me my first BB gun. I was fascinated
by guns as long as I remember and that pretty much sealed the deal.
Around 1990 I
bought a used CVA Frontier 'cause it was a good deal, but it just sat in the
gun cabinet for several years. I didn't know what to do with it.
In the meanwhile
I got hooked on deer hunting. Actually started with a bow. Then I got a shotgun
tag the next year. Went from a pump the first year to an autoloader the second.
After a few years I switched to a single-shot 'cause I figgered that was all
it really takes. All my huntin' buddies made fun of it.
Another buddy
from Michigan said "You're gettin' there. Now you just need
to switch to blackpowder". Got me thinkin'. By then I had the CVA.
At that time
IL had weird rules(still do) and it was hard to get ML tags. I applied several
times before I got one. Then I had to figger out how to shoot my CVA.
That's when the
fun really started! The Blackpowder Bug bit me hard! Now I have too many MLers
and the CF shotguns are gathering dust.
I have been a
member here since 2005 and hope to be around for years to come. I've learned
more than I knew there was to learn, found there's more to MLing than just deer
hunting, found that I have an interest in American History that eluded me in
school, laughed my butt off, wiped a few tears from my eye, and met some folks
I am proud to call friend.
I will always
do anything I can to help the muzzleloading forum and it's members. I'm honored
to be part of this fine group of people. |
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Kapellmeister
Moderator - Profile
I was born and raised in northern New Jersey in the ‘50’s - a city boy I guess
you could say… but I always longed to be in the outdoors. I’d watch “Lassie”
and “Rin Tin Tin” on TV and wish I lived on a farm or a ranch! I spent my high
school years in southern New Hampshire and loved it! Music was a big part of
my life from the age of five right on through college, majoring in both music
as well as Bible. I’ve played keyboard instruments (piano, organ, synthesizers)
professionally for over 30 years but along the way, in the '80's, plugged into
a “real job” in IT (Information Technologies). I currently work in disaster recovery
services for the largest IT company in the world. Working in “corporate America”,
with computers, PDA’s, cell phones, plastic, and “virtual” everything else… makes
me long all the more for escaping into the world of the “real” stuff like wood,
iron, leather, bone, horn, linen, wool, etc.!
First & foremost, I love my Lord & Savior,
Jesus Christ and I’m a devoted family man - married with 5 children (3 grown
up and 2 young ‘uns). I’m also presently a church music director. All that’s
enough to keep me busy, but I’ve got way too many other “hobbies” as well…
A late bloomer
when it comes to hunting… but when I killed my first deer (with a bow) on my
first day hunting at the age of 45, I was hooked – big time! I also enjoy chasing
pheasants & turkeys
and fly fishing here in Penn’s Woods!
Although never a “history buff” as such, since my first trip to Williamsburg
as a kid, I’ve had a love for 18th century colonial America… the music, the guns,
the clothes, the architecture… everything except the absence of modern plumbing!
Well, all these interests started coming together for me with “living history”.
I found that I could incorporate an 18th century slant into anything I chose
to… music, cooking, family camping, even hunting the way they did 250 years ago
– with a flint and blackpowder. History has actually become interesting to me
and I'm trying to pass that down to my children! I can still remember the first
time I fired a flintlock… whoa… my eyes widened and I was in love!
The Muzzleloading Forum has been a great help to me along this path and I’m
glad to be able to help out here in return. |
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Homesteader
Moderator - Profile
I was
born in Ohio in 1960 and got my first front stuffer in the mid-70’s. I’ve been
in love with them ever since. Though I settled in South Carolina over 20 years
ago, I’ve traveled quite a bit and toted a charcoal burner through the woods
from Wisconsin and Michigan’s UP to Louisiana and texas, and most places in between.
I’ve learned a lot, but still have lots to learn. That’s something I do everyday
here on the ML Forum.
I do have many
other interests, including Amateur (“Ham”) radio, martial arts, (especially Judo
/ JuJitsu), bodybuilding / weightlifting, sailing, kayaking & canoeing,
archery, fencing, cooking, and much more. I know a little about a lot, and a
lot about a few things.
My hope is to be an asset to the Muzzleloading Forum, so if there’s anything
I can do to help anyone out, please let me know. |
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