George's Hunting Adventures

The Next Adventure…Illinois 2011

2011-10-20T19:27:00.001-04:00

I have an opportunity to hunt in Calhoun County, Illinois during the second gun season, in December. Calhoun County is on the southern boarder of the much renowned Pike County. Trail camera pictures show several nice bucks on the property. I will write more on this after the hunt.

Turkey Hunting in Kentucky - My First Tom

2011-04-19T20:53:00.005-04:00

Last Saturday marked the opening of the spring turkey season in Kentucky. I traveled to Hopkinsville to hunt with Chuck Stephens at Kentucky Trophy Bucks. Chuck has 7000 acres in Christian County that is prime habitat for turkey and deer. Each day I had an opportunity at a mature gobbler and sealed the deal on the morning of the 3rd day. There were several hunters in camp including a father and son from Alabama, three gentlemen from Georgia and writer, Bob Karel, from Florida. All are great fellows who love the sport. I would consider it a privilege to hunt with this group at anytime. During the hunt there were six gobblers taken. The bird in the picture came in just after daylight. He was taken at 65-yards using Heavy-13 Magnum Blend in a Benelli Nova with a Primos Jelly Head choke. (22 lbs, 9 1/2" beard, 1 1/4" spurs)

Operation Caribou 2010

2010-10-05T21:38:00.003-04:00

I returned last Friday from a true northern adventure; a hunt with Sammy Cantafio’s Ungava Adventures. This truly was the hunt of a lifetime. I hunted caribou at North Camp with legendary guide Moses Partridge. Moses expertise allowed me to tag out on the second full day of hunting. During this hunt, I had the good fortune to team up Bob Doyle and his sons Tony and Bill. Sharing camp with these men was a privilege. On day four we flew to the Charlie Lake camp to fish for lake trout and hunt ptarmigan. The bull to the right, my second caribou, was taken at 450+ yards with a .325 WSM. I give Sammy and his staff my highest rating and would recommend this hunt to anyone looking for an exceptional northern adventure.

Operation Caribou 2010

2009-12-22T09:57:00.000-05:00

My next hunting adventure is one that I have been dreaming about for many years. This September, I will be traveling to Canada to hunt caribou with Sammy Cantafio’s Ungava Adventures. I did a lot of research prior to booking this hunt, including contacting Ken Piper at Buckmasters. Ken had recently hunted with Sammy and spoke highly of his operation. Plus Ken gave me a wealth of information on what to expect and what gear to bring. I’ll post more on this as we get closer to the hunt.

Short but Sweet

2009-11-26T16:25:00.002-05:00

Short but Sweet
By George Mitchell

Having booked this hunt in January of 2008, I was very excited to get an opportunity to hunt with the folks at Halls Creek Whitetails. Halls Creek, established in 1997, is located in Central Missouri and known as a premier hot spot for big bucks. The main property encompasses approximately 600 acres with several hundred acres of surrounding land secured by long-term lease. Arriving in camp earlier than expected, I had a chance to meet with principal partner Mark Burgess and get acclimated prior the evening hunt. Several other hunters were making sure that their rifles were zeroed-in, at the rifle range adjacent to the main lodge. I walked over to see how things were going. In between shots, a huge 9-pointer appeared out of the woods in search of a hot doe. The rut was definitely in full swing and I could not wait to get started.

To my delight, I was told one of the guides was going out to check trail cameras and I would have the opportunity to ride along. After grabbing my gear, we jumped into an ATV and headed out. As we traveled it was easy to see this property was well managed; big buck sign was everywhere. We entered one of the many food plots and stopped for a moment to admire a rub on a 6-inch diameter tree, at the wood line. At the other end of this plot, I was amazed to see that bucks had even been rubbing on the wooden supports of one of the elevated shooting houses.

After checking two cameras, we dropped down off a ridge into a hardwood bottom to check a third. As we approached another large food plot, I spotted a doe moving through the woods to our right. We stopped for a moment to see if anything was following her. Just then, the guide says big buck. I blurted out "where," as he pointed ahead of us. There along the edge of the plot, about 125-yards away, I laid eyes on a huge whitetail. This buck was obviously out cruising for does. I quickly chambered a round and took a hasty rest. At that point, my heart was pounding and things became a little blurred. I remember asking “what do you think” and hearing a reply of “he’ll go 165, shoot him!” The buck turned broadside as he started to leave the field, giving me an opportunity. I settled the crosshairs and pressed the trigger. At the roar of the 270 WSM, he dropped in his tracks. After regaining some composer we went down to take a look at him. This monster would turn out to be my biggest whitetail to date, grossing 165 1/8. This just goes to show you, that during the rut, things can happen fast. My hunt was over in less than 30-minutes but man was it sweet.

Hall Creek Whitetails, a Successful Hunt

2009-11-15T07:51:00.005-05:00

I just returned from my hunt at Halls Creek and wanted to make a brief posting on the hunt. In a nutshell, this hunt was short and sweet. The rut was in full swing and bucks where cruising looking for hot does. I went with my guide to check some trail cameras and ran into this bruiser trailing a doe along the edge of a clover-plus field. I think the picture says it all. This buck grossed 165 1/8. I will write more on this hunt at a later date.

Antelope, A First Encounter

2009-11-08T22:11:00.002-05:00

Antelope, A First Encounter
By George W. Mitchell

After months of research on the Internet and talking with several Outfitters and Services, I contacted Keith Hartman at Adventures West Recreation. Keith told me about a smoker deal he was offering on a trophy antelope hunt out of Gillette Wyoming. In this instance, the hunter would be responsible for room and board. Knowing that Gillette had the reputation of being the Antelope Capital of the United States, I booked the hunt and applied for a leftover antelope license (this is a 100% draw in the area I would be hunting as most of the area is private land).

Excitement mounted as the hunt neared. I had planned to fly in to Rapid City, arriving the afternoon of the day before hunt and drive to Gillette. I felt this would give me some time to settle in. Well, so much for plans…after hours of fight delays I arrived in Rapid City at 9:30 at night only to find my hunting gear and rifle were no where to be found. Going into panic mode, I spoke with the local airline representative and explained the direness of the situation. The representative was sympathetic to my plight and began searching through the baggage system in an effort to locate the items. My baggage had somehow been routed though Denver and would be arriving later that night.

The airline representative offered to have my bags delivered to my hotel when they arrived. So I gave him the contact information and began the 2-hour drive to Gillette. While in route I called my guide, Dennis Edwards, to make him aware of the situation. We agreed to make contact at 6:00 am the following morning. While checking in at the hotel, I shared my equipment loss story with the clerk. She said that she would ring my room when the bags arrived. Sometime around 2:30 am the telephone rang; it was the front desk with news that my gear had arrived. Once everything was secured in my room, I drifted to sleep dreaming of Boone & Crockett antelope.

After breakfast, Dennis and I met at the hotel for a short briefing on the days hunt. I was impressed by his professionalism knowledge of hunting (Keith had already told me that Dennis was one of the best in the business at judging trophy antelope). I was pleased to find that Dennis was willing to pass on his knowledge to a novice antelope hunter like myself. I remember Dennis mentioning that he liked to wait until well after sunrise to start hunting as the additional light made the antelope easier to spot and judge.

After a few minutes of driving, and a stop at the rifle range, we arrived at one for the ranches Dennis has access to in Unit 24. Almost immediately antelope were everywhere. I was trying frantically to look at all of them through the binoculars when a voice said, “no need to look to hard, there are no big ones there.” We continued to drive to a good vantage point to do some glassing, while I continued to look at every thing in sight. During the first couple of hours of the hunt we had seen over one hundred antelope, several small mule deer, two coyotes, and more jackrabbits than you could shake a stick at. All the while, Dennis explained what he was looked for in a identifying a trophy antelope; I tried my best to put this to practice. We spotted several bucks that warranted a second look and one possible shooter who headed to parts unknown while we were trying to get into position for a good look. By lunchtime, Dennis’s teaching was taking affect and I found no need to raise the binoculars to look at every antelope buck for trophy potential (though seeing these animal in there natural habitat was very rewarding and something I remember to this day).

After lunch, we made a short drive to another ranch Dennis leases. This ranch also had a good antelope population. I spotted one buck that looked great given my recent training. After taking a closer look, Dennis said we should pass on him, as he was only a 13-inch buck. (I found out when talking with Dennis later in the year that another of his hunters took that buck. He was indeed 13-inches but scored 80 B&C points. So, I guess some of the training did rub off on me.)

After looking at another hundred or so antelope. Dennis had told me about a nice buck hung out at one of the ranches boundaries. If he were in position, we would attempt a stalk. Sure enough, the buck was where he needed to be. We parked the truck and walked through some drainage to get to the crest of a hill. There were three bucks in this group and it was easy to tell who the big-boy was. I kneeled to place my shooting sticks and found the buck in the scope. Dennis called out a range and I hesitated; the buck had broken off part of his left prong. I told Dennis who said, “you should really think about shooting this buck.” I declined. I found out later that though Dennis did not force the issue (he never tells a hunter they must shoot), he had been scouting this buck for several weeks. I had just passed on an ivory-tipped buck, close to 16-inches in length. Had he not had the broken prong, the buck would have possibly made Boone & Crockett. (Maybe I didn’t learn as much I as I though I had.)

After another hour of glassing we spotted another buck that warranted a closer look. To my eye this buck had all the qualities you would expect for a true trophy antelope. After looking at him through the spotting scope. Dennis agreed this buck had potential and we move in for a closer look. After a couple minutes of closer observation at 400-yards, Dennis said, “that’s a 15-inch antelope.” I asked what he though he would score and the reply was “mid-seventies.” Needless to say, the stalk was on. Dennis suggested we use the cover of a creek bed to get within effective shooting range. About a hundred yards into the stalk Dennis came to a quick stop. Several mule deer were bedded in the shade just ahead of us along the creek bank. If we bumped them, they would spook the antelope. We backtracked and drove to another vantage point to rethink the approach.

Dennis suggested that we use the hill behind the antelope for cover and sneek in from above. This worked out well in an a few minutes we were in position. As I inched toward the edge of the hill I could see several does bedded near by. The angle was such that I could not get a clear look at the buck without exposing my self to all those extra sets of eyes. I backed up and worked myself to another spot. I could see the buck but still could not get a clear shooting angle. Keep in mind the route Dennis had suggested put us within 60-yards of the antelope. I inched a little closer to the crest of he hill. The buck was still only partially visible as I sat up, placed my shooting sticks and prepared for a shot. Dennis, who was directly behind me, slowly stood up and ever so slightly, waved his right- hand. The bedded does stood up and trotted off with the buck close behind. I followed him in the scope. At what I estimated to be 150-yards the group stopped and the buck gave me a straight on shot. I eased the safety off and began concentrating for the shot. I remember in the back of my mind hearing Dennis asking if I needed the range, just about the time the shot broke. The buck dropped in his tracks. I looked at Dennis who smiled and said, “he’s at 147.” I walked down to my trophy while Dennis went back to get the truck. We took several pictures and I felt truly blessed to be able to have this experience. Remembering that Dennis had judged the buck to be 15-inches and in the mid-seventies, we did some scoring. The buck’s was indeed 15-inches with a gross green score of 74 5/8 B&C.

Homcoming 2009

2009-11-08T22:01:00.007-05:00

Homecoming 2009
by George Mitchell

2008 was an eventful and life changing year. Having triple bypass surgery in October, I felt truly blessed to be able to continue into 2009. After talking with my Cardiologist, I made arrangements to hunt the January rut with my friend Matt Free at Tatum Creek Hunting Camp. Tatum Creek is located just outside Selma Alabama. It had been several years since I last hunted with Matt and this trip felt like a homecoming of sorts. I was excited to arrive in camp, see my friends Matt and William, and meet the other hunters. Like myself, most of the other hunters in camp had hunted with Matt on previous occasions. All were excited and eager to get started. After settling into one of the rooms in the new lodge, I soaked up a little of the atmosphere. The lodge is truly a beautiful setting with its 25-foot high sealing and large stone fireplace. The abundance of whitetail mounts adorning the walls help fuel the excitement and anticipation of the coming hunt.

Prior to leaving for the afternoon hunt, we had a short meeting to discuss the rules and regulations that are part of hunting at Tatum Creek. Safety is paramount with the quality deer management plan coming in a close second. Hunters get a refresher on State regulations, safe hunting practices, and are advised not to shoot 2½ year old bucks even though they would meet the 15-inch inside spread restriction and score upwards of 120. We were asked to look for deer 3 ½ years of age and older. (Short of assigning a guide to sit in the stand with each hunter, not much more can be done to protect the younger deer.) During this time, we were also briefed on the number of does that still needed to be taken per the management plan.

The first afternoon found me setting in a comfortable box blind overlooking a food plot that was surrounded on two sides by CRP and a hardwood bottom on the back. As the sun started to go down, several does entered the food plot. A young spike came out of the woods with his neck outstretched and lip curled. He immediately stated chasing the does that were in the food plot. At dark a good looking 2-½ year old worked the edge of the plot checking for does, as well.

The next morning was cold with 15 mph wind gusts. I was sitting in another elevated box blind watching a food plot surrounded on two sides by CRP with hardwoods and pines behind. I started seeing deer moving though the CRP at first light. About 9:00 o’clock I watched two does travel through the CRP and enter the woods. I noted their range at 187-yards. I had a good feeling about seeing the does and sure enough, about ten minutes later a nice buck followed their scent down the same trail. I immediately opened the plexiglass window of the shooting house and got ready for the shot. This buck has no intention of stopping. So I took a comfortable lead and squeezed the trigger. At the shot, the buck did not even flinch. He continued to trail the does as if nothing had happened. In disbelief I chambered a second round, adjusted my lead, and squeezed. When the shot broke, the buck hunched down, ran about 15-yards then piled up in the edge of the woods. After regaining my composure, I called Matt to let him know that I had one down and went over to put my hands on him. He was an awesome 3 ½ year old, 18-inch wide, mainframe 8-pointer. I thanked God for the privilege and blessing of this special homecoming.

Lessons Learned

2009-11-08T21:50:00.001-05:00

Lessons Learned
By George Mitchell

Most of us who are passionate about hunting whitetails understand that each season brings forth new excitement. Being so blessed, we learn and grow from the hunting experience; adding to the wealth of lifelong memories. This story is one of learning. Not just any type of learning but that, which makes a seasoned hunter feel like a freshman taking whitetail 101.

During the previous season, I had almost missed an opportunity at what turned out to be the largest buck I have ever taken. Low light and poor optics selection were the primary culprits. Understanding that low light is prime time for big buck movement, I invested in some quality optics (Swarovski binoculars and a Zeiss 3X12X56 scope). At this point I was feeling somewhat proud of the lesson I had learned, and confident I had the advantage during those last few golden minutes of daylight. Moreover, I could not wait for a return trip to Alabama to put this new equipment to the test.

After what seemed like an eternity, January arrived and it was time for my annual trip to Tatum Creek Hunting Camp, which is located in the famous “black belt” region of Alabama. Anticipation was high and the 7-hour drive once again flew by. Seeing several deer in fields along the Interstate had helped build excitement. Needless to say, when I made the turn off Alabama Hwy 22 onto the southwest entrance of the camp property, I was ready for some serious hunting. After being greeted by my friend Matt Free, I stowed my gear and got the latest details on how the rut was progressing. The weather had cooperated and all the signs pointed to the next three-days being primetime in the deer woods. There is something real special about hunting Tatum Creek during the rut.

After some more friendly conversation and introductions to another group of hunters who were finishing their hunt, Matt asked what time I wanted to head out for the evening hunt. I had not planned on hunting that evening, but jumped at the chance. I was ready in a flash and we headed out in his new fangled, high stepping, golf cart. Matt dropped me off at a shooting house overlooking a large green-patch. The field was surrounded on two sides by hardwoods and the remainder by pines.

After getting situated, I ranged the field (226 yards to the back edge) and settled into hunt mode. Long about dark, I spotted a rack about 150 yards to my left just inside the wood line. I raised my binoculars and could pick out the buck’s outline but could not get a clear look at the whole deer. What I did see were 8-inch G2’s and G3’s. In my mind there was no doubt this was a shooter. The buck continued to circle just inside the wood line. Occasionally stopping to test the wind for the scent of a hot doe. I switched from binoculars to scope and slowly opened the window to the shooting house. The buck was at the left end of the field but too far back in the woods to risk a shot. I lost sight of him as he went behind a thick spot. By this time shooting light was almost gone, and I could still not locate the buck. I frantically panned across the entire back edge of the field and was finally able to spot him at the wood line in the opposite corner. That should have been my first clue that something was not quite right but in the excitement it slipped by unnoticed. In retrospect, I remember seeing antlers through the scope and then concentrating on shot placement.

The muzzle flash of my 300 Weatherby caused me to lose sight of the buck once again. This time I was not concerned and felt confident I had hit my mark. After taking a few minutes to regain my composure, I grabbed my flashlight and climbed out of the shooting house. In anticipation, I started out across the field. I could not wait to get a good look at this buck.

Elation turned to shock, when the flashlight illuminated one of the most beautiful high-racked 1 1/2 year old 6-pointers I have ever seen. I had managed to shoot the wrong buck! In the excitement it had not crossed my mind that the shooter buck would head for parts unknown and another might come in to feed. This impressive youngster was nowhere close to meeting the fifteen-inch inside spread size restriction. Needless to say the price of venison just went up in a big way. Lesson Learned!

Upcoming Adventure, Missouri Bound

2009-09-24T18:45:00.006-04:00

This November I will be traveling to Missouri to hunt with Mark Burgess at Halls Creek Whitetails. Halls Creek, located a little west of St. Louis, is known as one of the premier spots for big whitetail and has been featured on several nationally televised hunting shows. For more information on hunting this exceptional property, visit www.hallscreek.com or give Mark a call at 423-260-3893. I will post more on Halls Creek Whitetails pending the conclusion of my hunt.

Trail Camera Photo

2009-02-08T20:26:00.005-05:00

Here is a trail camera photo of the buck I harvested while hunting at Tatum Creek back in January. They nick named him the "water hole buck." The photo was taken on 11/18/08 at 6:52 AM while visiting a local water hole.

Homecoming 2009

2009-01-24T10:21:00.011-05:00

Well, 2008 was an eventful and life changing year. I am blessed to be able to continue into 2009. As I had mentioned in an earlier post, I had made arrangements to hunt the January rut with my friend Matt Free at Tatum Creek Hunting Camp just outside Selma Alabama. It has been several years since I last hunted with Matt and this trip felt like a homecoming of sorts. I was excited to arrive in camp, see my friends Matt and William, and meet the other hunters. Like myself, most of the other hunters in camp had hunted with Matt on several occasions. All were excited and eager to get started. After settling into one of the rooms in the new lodge, I soaked up a little of the atmosphere. The lodge is truly a beautiful setting with its 25-foot high sealing and large stone fireplace. The abundance of whitetail mounts adorning the walls help fuel the excitement in anticipation of the coming hunt. Needless to say, the hunting at Tatum Creek is superb; the quality deer management plan that was put in place many years ago is paying big dividends. On the first morning of my hunt I harvested an 18-inch wide, 8-point, scoring in the mid 120’s. At that point the pressure was off and I could sit back and enjoy the rest of the hunt… and that I did.

The next Adventure, Alabama Bound

2008-12-12T16:17:00.002-05:00

I've made arrangements to hunt once again with my good friend Matt Free at Tatum Creek Hunting Camp (Selma, Alabama), during the January rut. His trail camera pictures show several deer in the 130 class. I will write more on this in the latter part of January. If you are interested, there are still a few openings. Visit http://www.tatumcreek.com/ for additional information.

Some times things don’t go as planned…

2008-11-10T08:13:00.004-05:00

Several week’s ago, I mentioned that I was preparing for a hunt in Missouri. As part of my hunt preparation, I do a considerable amount of walking around the neighborhood to help build endurance. This time, something unexpected happened. While walking up several long hills, I noticed an unfamiliar pain in my chest. The pain would go away once I topped the hill and started the downhill side. This pattern continued for most of the week. So, I decided things were not as they should be and went to our local medical center to get checked out. There was no evidence of a heart attack, which made me feel somewhat relieved. However, a stress test revealed that I had two blocked arteries. To make a long story short, today marks week three since my bypass surgery. It’s funny how life-changing events cause one to stop and reflect things that are truly important. I can say without a doubt that I am blessed.

Reloading

2008-10-08T19:19:00.011-04:00

Earlier in the year, I decided to give reloading a try. Not wanting to invest a large sum of money in the endeavor, I purchased a LEE 50th Anniversary Breech Lock Challenger Kit. This kit has proven more than adequate for the job and the Breech Lock bushing makes die setup and changing a pleasure. I did add a digital scale, powder trickler, and electronic caliper out of personal preference.

For several months I’ve been trying to work up a load for a Weatherby SMOA chambered in 270 WSM. Being sold on Accubond bullets, I tried both the 130 and 140 grain variants. My rifle seems to perform better with the 130 grain bullet. Powder wise, I have tried several. My best results to date have been with IMR4350. The 130 grain Accubond, 59 grains of IMR4350, WLMR primers and a 2.860 OAL, produces a muzzle velocity of 3070 fps in my rifle. Using this load, I have shot several SMOA 3-shot groups at 100 yards. The smallest thus far has been 0.695. Last week, I was at the range getting ready for an upcoming hunting trip to Missouri. While zeroing at 200 yards I was pleased to see 200-yard, 3-shot groups, in the 1-inch range.

Federal Premium Aumunition

2007-12-31T12:53:00.000-05:00

Over the last few years, I have been using Federal Premium ammunition on most of my hunting adventures. Back in September, prior to leaving for Wyoming, I spent some time on the rifle range checking my zero and getting reacquainted with my rifle. Using Federal Premium Vital-Shok, 140gr. Nosler Accubond, 7mm WSM was able to a shoot 200-yard, three shot, group measuring 1 ¼-inchs. That speaks volumes for the quality of a factory load.

Having just purchased a Weatherby Vanguard SMOA chambered in 270 WSM, I was pleased to see that Federal offered a 140 gr. Accubond load for this caliber as well. Ballistically, the 270 WSM load is only 50 fps slower than the 7mm WSM load. I am looking forward to trying this cartridge on my next hunting adventure.

This leaves me with one item on my wish list; a Federal Premium 200 gr. Accubond load in 325 WSM.

But wait, I still had an antelope tag to fill...

2007-10-28T18:41:00.000-04:00

After taking an absolutely beautiful mule deer, Dennis an I set out to find a respectable antelope. Having seen several nice bucks during the course of the hunt, we found one with good horn mass and ivory tips. So, the stalk was on. After two miles and a couple of close calls, we were able to get into a comfortable 300-yard range. Well may be not so comfortable after a two mile forced march. Any how, after a minute or so to get my heart rate down and regain some breath control, the 140-grain Accubond found it's mark; a 15-inch buck scoring 73 and change.

Operation Mule Deer 2007 continued

2007-10-25T19:06:00.000-04:00

On this adventure, I hunted with Outfitter Dennis Edwards out of Gillette, Wyoming. We would be hunting one of several ranches Dennis has access to. This particular ranch consists of 10,000 acres of prime western habit. To insure a supply of mature bucks, only three mule deer are taken from the property per year. We hunted hard the first four days braving both snow and rain while covering a lot of ground. Each day several nice bucks were seen while glassing. I must say the views from our multitude of vantage points were breathtaking and I felt blessed by the experience. On the evening of day three, I made a decision to go after a really nice buck that we had been watching in an alfalfa field. (Dennis judged him to go around 155-inches.) As fate would have it there was no way get into position that evening. So, we regrouped and took up the chase the following morning. Sure enough, the buck was in the field were we left him the evening before. After some quick positioning and a well placed shot, the buck was mine. Needless to say, I was one happy camper; grinning from ear-to-ear! After taking time for everything to soak in, we proceeded to do some scoring and take a few pictures. Earlier, I had mentioned that Dennis had already judged the deer to be in the 155-class. What I didn't mention was that Dennis always scores conservatively. The buck actually grossed over 167-inches... not bad for my first mule deer and not to mention enough memories to last a lifetime. But wait, I still had an antelope tag to fill...

Now for some information on gear. During the hunt, I carried a Winchester Model 70 Classic, Laminated in 7mm WSM and used Federal Premium ammunition featuring the 140gr Nosler Accubond bullet. The rifle was topped with a Swarovski AV 4x12 scope with the TDS reticle. In addtion, I carried my trusted Swarovski SLC 10x42 binoculars and ATS 80 HD spotting scope. I was also testing a new product on this trip; the Optic Belt by Del Norte Outdoors. The Optic Belt performed well, keeping my binoculars high and dry; reducing the strain typically associated with carrying glasses afield. I'll write more on this product in the near future.

My Latest Adventure - Operation Mule Deer 2007

2007-10-23T08:12:00.000-04:00

I recently returned from another fantastic hunt near Gillette, Wyoming. This much anticipated adventure marked my first attempt at hunting mule deer and will go down as one of my most memorable. We hunted hard for several days seeing many nice bucks. On the morning of the 4th day, I was able to get into position on a great buck. He ended up grossing over167-inches. I will write more on this hunt in the coming days but for now, I need some time to collect my thoughts.

Reticles for long range shooting

2007-07-22T13:47:00.000-04:00

I also wanted to share some thoughts about another Long Distance Reticle offering. This one, the Boone and Crockett reticle, is from our friends at Leupold. I have this reticle in a 4x14 Leupold VX-III, LR. One of the useful features of the LR is the side focus adjustment. I use this optic on a Kimber Montana, chambered in .325 WSM. The Boone and Crockett reticle has aiming points (given a 200 yards zero) at 200, 300, 400, and 450 yards. This is well suited for the ballistics of the .325 WSM.

The TDS reticle, an effect tool.

2007-07-21T06:57:00.000-04:00

A couple of years ago I started researching scopes for long distance shooting. I wanted something that did not require adjustments and most importantly, it had to be effective. I found this in the Swarovski AV 4x12 with the TDS Reticle. (The only short fall I seen in this optic is the lack of a parallex adjustment.) Our friends at Swarovski have further complemented the reticle by providing customers access to an online ballistics program. The software allows the user to enter data about the load along with a host of conditions and finishes with a reticle analysis. I found this to be most helpful in understanding the bullet path with respect to reticle design, distance, and target size. The example is based on a load I shoot in my 7mm WSM. The target size is 3-inchs.

You can never have to many backpacks, right?

2007-07-15T15:37:00.000-04:00

Over the years, I have purchased several. Last year, I purchased a Horn Hunter Mainbeam backpack. This pack has numerous features including an internal frame and padded back. There are multiple side pockets to store items for easy access and it has built in gear grippers for your spotting scope, tripod, and gun or bow. I have carried mine on several hunting trips and photo excursions and found it is both practical and comfortable

Preparations for 2007

2007-07-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

As most of you are aware, advanced planning is needed when hunting western states. I started preparing for this years hunt last fall. If memory serves me, Wyoming's non-resident application deadline is the last day of March. Our friends at Wyoming Game and Fish started a new online application process this year. I found this to be a welcome addition. Drawing results were recently published. I was able to draw both an antelope and deer permit for this coming season. Also, in the part of Wyoming I plan to hunt most of the land is privately owned. Before applying for a permit contact your outfitter to verify the hunting unit. Hunters who prefer a do-it-yourself experience should secure land access well in advance.

License Type: Results Area/Type
Non-Resident Antelope, Successful, 019-1
Non-Resident Deer, Successful, C

My Latest Hunting Adventure 2006

2007-07-13T23:34:00.000-04:00

Last October, I traveled to Gillette Wyoming for my first antelope hunt. This turned out to be one of my most memorable hunts. I spent a considerable amount of time researching prior to booking and ended up using the services of Keith Hartman at Adventures West Recreation. My guide was none other than the legendary Dennis Edwards. Dennis is true professional and one of the best in the business at field judging antelope. This antelope, a 15-inch buck, scored 74 5/8.