'Bout time!
 

Well, Muzzloader Season starts up here tomorrow. Seems like nearly a year since the last one. ;)

Going after the same atypical big boy for the third year; they're already chasing does around out here.

Good hunting to anybody else who's heading out...

Three weeks until rifle season begins here; though the population is down quite a bit due to the long winter last year and the wolf population. I did draw a tag to try and reduce the wolf kill this next winter;).

It's aLIVE!
 

Well, I got a shot at the big 'un I've been trying to ambush for 3 years Sat AM. (He winked at me last year at the last light of the last day to hunt.)

I shot, reloaded, fiddled around, took off some snivel gear-gave him plenty of time. Through the triple-7 smoke, I'd seen him crow hop.

I went down the hill and found a blood trail (heading straight for my truck!) across a cow feeder field, but it wasn't pink or black, but thin and watery, and petered out. No more than half a pint, total.

I marked the last drop and cloverleafed for 2 and a half hours, covering the entire 840-acre zone.

Then I went back and got my beagle with the best nose and a couple of neighbors, and we did it again, spooking one meelion does while we searched.

I could not figure it out. I released a 295-grain hollow point chunk of lead right at his boiler room, and he got a supercial cut from it ? :confused: I've hit small steel at 924 yards in a gusting, 18 mph wind out at Badlands, and this deer was less than 60 yards away when I fired.

I had flashed on the fact that my bead looked different when I shot, so I checked my front sight, and the light tube was missing. I took it home and shot a 3-ball group...4 inches high.

Gotta be a lesson here somewhere besides the Law of Murphy...

I'm gonna go set up on him again, a little closer to his bedding area, after I fix my weapon.

Pre mission prep?

I always go out a few days prior and verify my zero and take a lot of care during transport and stalking to not bang around the gun.

I knocked off my zero once and that assed me up so much by missing a deer that I have OCD about my sights since then. But I have never missed due to a bad zero since then.

I feel your pain but I am sure you will get him. Enjoy all I have to shoot at down here are gang bangers.... Season is open all year round.:p:eek:

Bummer. I am right there with you. Every year I have at least one stud (150 and up) running around the farm. Last year I had two of them on my game cameras. Finally got one of them in close (about 15 yards). That buck stayed in unpenetrable brush, waiting for dark, for so long that when he finally came out in my field, I couldn't make out his antlers with my scope (a Zeiss) at 25 yards.

I have seen two studs this year on my place. The cross-country team has been coming out and running my 5K, so I thought the deer would be a little spooked. But, the deer are still everywhere.

I guess the thousands of dollars I have spent setting up quail cover is working for quail and deer.

Exactly right, but I shot it Friday to check round impact. The little cylindrical high-visibilty light-gathering doomaflatchy (scientific term) fell off somewhere between the house and the hide.

You're absolutely right-there are plenty of bucks in the area-but I have a personal grudge against this particular Odocoileus Virguanewanus. :D

See you are going against the black power gods. No high tech devices:cool: they were just getting even for putting that abondanation on a Black Power gun. Hell Cap Locks are unfair also. Flint is the way to go........:p

Good Luck hope you get him. Waiting for the photo....:munchin

I know how you feel Dusty, I had a similar experience, except I was shooting low. My scope had gotten knocked off somehow, and all I had at the scene was some white hair and a few drops of blood. I was certain I had aimed correctly. We even came back the next day, and couldn't find anymore sign either.

After the daylight search, I checked my zero and it was 6 inches low and 4 inches right. I still am not sure how the scope moved. And yes, I check my zero every year before deer season too.

I went out this afternoon and found where he switched his rub line. He made a couple fresh ones last night, so hopefully he's not hurt too badly. The youngbloods are already sneaking around the does, but the ladies are keeping their tails down. ;) There must be some estrous floating around, though.

I moved my hide, and I'll wait til after it rains and slide in there again.

I set up a little closer to his rub line this time. ;)

lol Got up this morning and decided to ambush him in the rain. After what happened, I scrutinized that rifle thoroughly, and the rear sight was loose on the ramp!

I just could not figure out how missing a fiber optic tube in the front sight could throw off the elevation, anyway.

I had the set point marked, so I re-adjusted it and screwed the sight down tight, and hopefully it won't come loose before I take a shot-if I do. Apparently the screw point has cut a little indent right where I've got it marked, and if it backs off at all, it will slide. :D

What outstanding examples of dedicated craftsmanship these CVA's are. :rolleyes:

Next year, I'll get a TC Impact like I should have, this year.

Lessons learned.

Another sympitic FOG.

I was hunting BP season about 20yrs ago in the Brown's Farm WMA, just west of Ft Lauderdale. It rained all night and was still drizzling at 4am when I got up. My 54 cal TC Renaged slep in the truck with me, so I was hoping it would stay dry. I had a leather bib over the primer.

My tree stand was a 10min walk, nice little scrub oak, lots of acorns, at 10AM this 8 point buck comes in behind me and starts munching, after 15 mins he walks right below my stand, 8ft shot down his back, feared he would spook when I cocked the hammer,, ready aim...

POP, the primer fires not the power &^%^%(^%*^*^*&^*

He didn't spook, so I slapped a new primer on,, ready aim...

POP,, I am thinking this is his lucky day.

I didn't reload, just watched him for another 15 minutes munching the acorns.

Back at the truck, I screwed the slug out, dumped the powed, it was clumpy... :o


I can Sympathize, with a capital S...


:boohoo

Back to Rodgers Rangers ---- keep your power dry. Good luck Tuesday. Hope to see some photos from you and Dusty soon.

No pics today.

I'm not gonna post again 'til I get this rapscallion.

Given your predictive history, I hope you don't wait that long.

Been nice knowing you.... :D

TR

Good luck, Brother. Hope you close the deal this time.