lancetkenyon

F A K E But sure wish it was real!

Great buck! Thanks for sharing.

OP, you have been misinformed. There are no deer in AZ. Or elk. Or antelope. Just millions of coyotes. Go do your thing on them, and maybe the deer will come back to AZ.

Best of luck today. Prayers going out now to keep the hand of the surgeon steady.

It takes some real balls to confirm you have a tom while keeping the dogs in check and your blood pressure down.......literally.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

I had a couple of the Vortex Viper HS 4-16x50. I took mine out to 1327 on a coyote, and 1371 on steel quite often. They are really light weight, decent glass for the price point, good mechanics, and the warranty is second to none. I sold mine for $400 each when the time came to upgrade after a few years. They hold their value pretty well. I think the 50mm is worth the extra $30, even if it gives you 5 minutes more of hunting light. Those might be the 5 minutes that seal the deal on a big buck or bull. You can easily go to 1300+ with the .257 Weatherby on targets or varmints. The 16X will be enough to get you there just fine.

Great teaching techniques. My 12 year old daughter is a member of the "one and done" club for her big game hunting too. Javalina and bull elk. I did something similar, but will add my $.02. Started with .22s just like everyone. But, at the age of about 8, got her shooting my fairly heavy .223 AR. She probably had 500 rounds through it at least in the first 2 years. Started out at 25 yards, 50 yards, 100 yards. When she drew her first tags last year (at age 11), we really started putting some rounds downrange. We started shooting 400, 500, 600, 800+ yards with the .223. 850 yards is plenty doable with a .223, and it really helps with the basics when the gas gun is very light recoiling. I had her shoot just a few (maybe 2-3 per outing) of my .22-250, .250 Ackley, .25-06 Ackley out to 1000+, even at 1371. But never more than 3 shots. For her javi hunt in February, we planned on a long shot, and were ready with 3 different rifles at the glassing spot depending on where they came out and what range we might have a shot. Well, they came out at 400 yards, and we hustled over to get close. And a big boar finally presented a fantastic shot at......18 yards. For her bull elk hunt, I was actually building a .270WIN, but I just could not get it to do what I wanted. So I decided she would shoot my .300RUM (it has a brake). Here was my trick.....my .300RUM looks very similar to my .25-06 Ackley. Same finish, similar scopes, same color stock, etc. I told her she had shot it a couple times at the range and never seemed bothered by it......so no fear of the big gun. Come time to finally shoot her bull, no recoil fear, no nervous wondering. And we all know how it is shooting at game. You don't ever remember the recoil when shooting at game, right? So when her bull finally appeared, she ha no pre-conceived notion and very accurately put the round where it needed to go. She only commented on her ears ringing after the shot. So she still has no memory of any recoil from it, so she will be shooting it again this year, God willing a bull presents itself for a shot again. But she has put about 500 rounds downrange this year so far, and will be doing a lot more after it cools down in the Valley......with the .223 and my new 6.5 SLR. Deception and trickery are key!!! Just don't let the kids catch on.

If they are "International Commuters"......when in the heck are they going HOME?!?! Commuting has two-way traffic, to and from, not just TO. And you commute to go to WORK!!! Not to get free crap and stay.

That is cool!

Ladder test once you figure out what projectile and powder combo you want to shoot. Shoot slow enough your barrel does not heat up. Sounds like you have a light contour barrel if it starts walking at 5 rounds. Load one of each charge weight from low to 2 grains above max in .5 grain increments. Go to 400 yards and shoot at the same point of aim. You will have 2 nodes (group of 2 to 3 that group together vertically), one low and one high. Stop as soon as you see any signs of pressure. That could be a middle load to above max, only your gun can tell what is too hot for it. Then take those two nodes and start .2 grains below and go in .2 grain increments to .2 grains above. Load 3-5 each and go shoot at 100 yards for groups. Best group is your load. Then play with seating depth to really fine tune. 400 yard ladder test should look something like this. Shots 1-3 (40.5, 41.0, 41.5 grains) are the low node, shots 6-8 (43.0, 43.5, 44.0 grains) are the high node.

185-210 Berger HVLD or 175-210 Sierra Match King would be my choice if I were shooting a .300 WM.

I have noticed game animals are far more on edge at water holes than on the trails to and from. Much easier to ambush game before they get to the water where they are expecting predators.

Maybe not legally, but in my opinion, there is a difference between taking game out of season for the sole purpose of food to survive, and poaching like the other 99% of poachers do. Most who take game out of season for the purpose of survival don't shoot the monster bulls/bucks/rams.

Check the limbs carefully for cracks. If none are found, should be fine. Might want to have a professional check it while installing a new string.

Is anyone who posted on this thread in the group of people who have spoken for the pups?

PM on the way.

Any males that are ticked and patched? I like the looks of the one straddling Mom's hind leg.

All loads from a 24" barrel Winchester brass (fully prepped) CCI 200 LR primer 54.8 grains IMR 4350 130 Sierra Game King 3120 fps @ 3/4 MOA Winchester brass (fully prepped) CCI 200 LR primer 55 grains IMR4831 150 Barnes TSX FB 2950 fps @ 1 MOA Winchester brass (fully prepped) CCI 200 LR primer 58.3 grains H4831 140 Berger HVLD 3090 fps @ 3/4 MOA Winchester brass (fully prepped) CCI BR-2 Match primer 57.8 grains H4831SC 150 Nosler Accubond LR 2909 fps @ .5 MOA

Look at the nasal cavity on that skull!!! Wow.

Wow, seems like only yesterday you were 25......happy birthday buddy.

How many males/females? I am really interested. Meaning the wife wants one....

Limiting movement is more important in my opinion. I have had deer and elk walk within 2' of me with nothing more than camo on. No scent control. Just a daily shower. And I had a bobcat within 5' of me while wearing jeans and a black t-shirt.....until my phone rang. You would have thought that cat stepped on an electric fence...... But I think scent control is important for some of my old hunting buddies......just saying......

My 12 year old daughter has another bull tag this year, and our goal is a mature animal again. I don't care if it is a decent 5x5 like last year, or a 400" bull. The enjoyment of the hunt, and sticking to taking mature animals is our goal. Filling the freezer is a priority, but not at the expense of fun. A 350" bull, or even a 300" bull would be a fantastic accomplishment for her. And from what I have seen in my own experience in the elk woods, I would think 200" is the average. It takes a 440" bull to make up for each spike that is taken. And most raghorns can't gross too much more than 200". I see a lot more spikes and raghorn shot than 300+" bulls every year. Just the 300"+ bulls get a lot more interweb time.