'Bout time!

Dusty · 10-18-2013, 07:57

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...

TrapLine · 10-18-2013, 11:09

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

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Dusty · 10-20-2013, 07:40

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 ?

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.

SF_BHT · 10-20-2013, 08:46

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.

Dusty · 10-20-2013, 08:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

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.

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.

SF_BHT · 10-20-2013, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty

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.

See you are going against the black power gods. No high tech devices

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........

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

craigepo · 10-20-2013, 08:52

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.

MR2 · 12-21-2013, 08:07

Now that deer season is over, our intrepid Dusty has decided to take on bull riding...

Yehaa Dusty - ride'em cowboy!

Dusty · 12-21-2013, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR2

Now that deer season is over, our intrepid Dusty has decided to take on bull riding...

Yehaa Dusty - ride'em cowboy!

I'm sure that's utterly hilarious, as usual, but I can't seem to enlarge the pic so that I can see what it is...

Incidentally, deer season's not over. Christmas Gun season ends on 12/28. Bow season ends the last day of February.

Turns out the monster I wanted was killed toward the end of the regular modern gun season at 325 yards with a 7mm mag by the guy I bought my shack from. I saw his head the other day. RIP.

There's a good-sized, wide-racked buck at this new area I was invited to hunt, but I haven't found his feeding spots, yet, and it's too close to huntin' time to go out there and stink up the area. I know where the boss nanny is out there, so I'll just set up on her and see what happens.

I do pity you and Sdiver your Antler Envy...

SFOC0173 · 12-27-2013, 20:10

Never saw the buck. Assuming 2nd and 3rd pic is a bobcat and the other two are coyotes, but not sure. The area is southeast of Hot Springs, AR.

Dusty · 12-28-2013, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFOC0173

Never saw the buck. Assuming 2nd and 3rd pic is a bobcat and the other two are coyotes, but not sure. The area is southeast of Hot Springs, AR.

That buck'll be a shooter next year.

The does are back up here-how 'bout your area?

SFOC0173 · 12-28-2013, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty
The does are back up here-how 'bout your area?

The does are still hitting the food plots but mostly everything is nocturnal. There is some daytime activity. I’m planning to ML hunt the next three days and then switch back to crossbow which will require a change in tactics.