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duckhunter175

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Posts posted by duckhunter175

  1. Posted · Report reply

    I've been considering the purchase of a back up rifle to take with me on trips and also double as a solid, general purpose rifle for hunting here in Texas. I'm looking for a bolt action rifle on the lighter side that will not need a bunch of extra, aftermarket components, but will be durable (synthetic stock, maybe cerakoted), reliable (not a fan of detachable magazines), reasonably priced (thinking scope and rifle in the $1000ish range). For cartridge I'm looking for something that will be moderate in recoil (without a brake), handle up to elk sized game out to 300 yards, easy to find quality factory ammo (hence the back up part) and also easy to find reloading components.

     

    My current tools in the tool box of rifles are a 6.5x284, a 7 RUM and a .338wm (2x Rem 700s, 1x Win M70)

     

    Here are my thoughts:

     

    Rifle (I want a 24" barrel to be able to squeak out some extra velocity, see cartridges below)

    1. Weatherby Vanguard Wilderness

    2. Rem 700 SPS stainless (hate hate hate the stock)

    3. Kimber Hunter (I know i said no detachable mags)

    4. Browning Xbolt (mag issue... and its either a 22 or 26" barrel)

     

    Scope (dang hard to keep in budget)

    1. Leupold VX1 4-12x (best option to stay in budget?)

    2. Leupold VX6 2-12x w/CDS (price on these is coming down)

    3. Swaro Z3 3.5-10x w/ BT

    4. Vortex Razor HD LH 2-10 or 3-15x

     

    Cartridge-

    1. 270win-- I like the ability to push these fast....and also be able to bump up to 150 partitions

    2. 30-06-- I like the ability to go from 150 to 220...

     

    What are your thoughts??

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Quick sanity check--

     

    For species like Bison, Turkey, Javelina where they have a spring and fall draw--- you can only earn one point per year total, correct? Then I can cash them in for either spring of fall when I decide to try and draw.

     

    Ex- When I started applying in AZ the OCT draw (for spring) was over already. So I put in for points for all 3 species in the draw in June along with my Deer app. Since my strategy is just to build points for a bit there is no harm to gain my points during the 'fall' draw?

     

     

  13. Posted · Report reply

    I had plans for a 22-243 build and had ordered a barrel from pac-nor but a few other priorities got the in way (Swaro 10x42 EL). There is plenty of load data around for that round and the various 22/6mm.

     

    For availability of components I think 22-250AI is the all around best option and it can handle those long, heavy bullets.

     

    BUT-- If you want a classic I think a .220 Swift in a old Ruger #1 or 77 would be pretty awesome! Heck you could AI the swift and probably get a little better barrel life, coupled with slower burning powders and bigger bullets... plus you get that "no one else has it" factor.

    • Like 1

  15. Posted · Report reply

    They definitely share some disdain, hence the crow locator call being so effective. However- in the east many places I hunt have resident Canada goose populations and those calls work well also for locators. And I've seen big turkeys and geese chase each other around on small farm ponds.

     

    Turkeys will be where you find them. If you aren't hearing birds then look for sign, if you aren't seeing sign, move.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Just got back in off the next to last leg of the Turkey Season. Spent 3 days in OK, 2 days in KY and 4 in Missouri (thanks to the floods).

     

    OK-- Met up with more old Army buddies and went hard for two days in the blind. Day 1 we struck a bird while hiding in some round bales. He scurried into the dekes, never presented a shot to my buddy with his bow and when he tried to make a hasty exit I ensured there would be no witnesses. Double bearded RIO-- this made two birds for the season and 4 beards. Day 2 we returned to that spot with Mike's daughter and her great grandfather's shotgun. In a repeat of Day 1 the bird strutted in and she dropped him at 30 yards!! Her first bird ever and certainly not her last. This little girl was TOUGH- temps that morning were in the low 40s and she was soaked from the dew when we crossed the field. Day 3-- Saw 22 birds on public land but couldn't work the flock in. On the walk back to the truck 3 Jakes squirted across the path in front of my truck and I opted to leave my 1500 intact so they got a pass. Oh we also slammed some monster 2lb+ crappie!

     

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    KY-- I drove all day to KY and hunted for a day with my old duck/goose hunting buddy. It was a slow morning but we struck a bird about 1030. Long story short we had to belly crawl down an old hedgerow as the bird hung up in the middle of a field. Once we closed the distance he came over the crest but refused to come any further. My buddy slipped as far up as he could but the result was a swing and a miss. The next day I had to head to Missouri but I squeezed a quick public land hunt in with two other hunting buddies. Nothing seen that morning but most likely because we were cutting up in the blind. I was supposed to leave at 11am for a 6hr drive but we struck a bird at 1030 and worked him for nearly 45 min. He circled completely around and slipped up within 40 yards of Tim, who had been doing the calling. Without his turkey slayer in hand he only got to briefly enjoy the show before that wise old Eastern slipped on out.

     

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    MO-- Made the drive Sunday to Missouri and got in right before I-44 was closed because of a washout. I was hunting with another Army buddy who was itching to scratch out his first ever turkey. Monday was a bust because of 30mph winds but we saw a few hens. Tuesday we got up earlier and got into the thick of things quickly. We heard 4 birds that morning and worked one who got picked off by hens and up the hill he went. A large bird was still in the field gobbling his head off so we low crawled, snuck across the creek and stayed below the bank. Mind you-- at this time the creek was ankle deep. The bird hammered back at us and came towards the creek bed. Knowing that birds had been hanging up I opted to flip out a jake fan and when he caught sight through the weeds he sprint in to 20 yards and got dumped!!! When we got to him he had a Triple colored beard. Even a 30 year DNR employee we were with had never seen anything like it-- if you have ideas please let me know!! Wednesday we slipped back across the creek and set out our blind and dekes. It was raining but once the thunder closed in we high tailed it down to low ground and out of the open.... leaving our blind and everything but our guns. An hour later (after the storm)when we tried to cross back the creek had risen nearly 4 feet and it was obvious we weren't going to be crossing back any time soon. The submerged rock I'm pointing at in the pic was 4ft tall when the creek was down. We headed out for another blind on the farm and did our best to make things happen with a tail fan and a little ingenuity. No dice, but after nearly 12 hours I was able to retrieve our gear and head home the next morning.

     

    One more hunt in TX and then my season is over; needless to say it's been an adventure!!

     

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  24. Posted · Report reply

    Great job!!! "Scrounge" up some Kuiu huh??? :)

     

    LOL. The Tiburon pants were luckily in my 'big game bin' which I moved myself. The top was brand new purchase for my turkey road trip....

     

    And as a bonus-- the movers called this afternoon and they are coming tomorrow... but apparently didn't get the note or 3 phone calls that an 18 wheeler won't fit into my 'hood. So we will see how this adventure goes.

     

    If all goes well I will be in Oklahoma by Friday and then KY and MO.... AL sadly will be a wash this year:/

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Short background to the story: I left active duty after over 10 years and 7 combat deployments, moved to Dallas and went into the National Guard to give my wife a shot at chasing her dream job. For the last little bit I've been occupied as a "Stay at home Dad, with no kids". Some might call that a dream job in and of itself. However- we've been house hunting, doing a bit of traveling and right now, still waiting on our movers to arrive with our stuff!!!

     

    Fast forward to this past Friday-- I was supposed to be on a Turkey hunt road trip between Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri and Oklahoma. Movers are going to be late... by 5 days (thanks Army) and I have to cancel the first leg of the trip. So, to make the best of a bad situation I decide to chase turkeys here in Texas while we wait. The opening day is Saturday, 15 April. I scrounge up some camo, as my official "Turkey Tote" is not here, no dekes, nada. I go buy snake boots, license, PUBLIC LAND LICENSE (thanks Texas) and decide to get in some quick google earth scouting.

     

    The Texas PWD website has some decent resources so I scour what land doesn't require their version of a limited license and is within a decent drive of the house. Bingo-- 85 miles away there is a section of National Grassland that is wide open. I spend an hour whittling down some spots, dropping points and then uploading imagery to my GPS. Now 10pm it is time to dig the shotgun out, change chokes and get ready to roll.... Benelli- Check... turkey choke... NOPE... full choke... NOPE--- Looks like it will be Improved Modified and some Hevi-13 #6s. I decide it will be 30 yards or closer or I won't be pulling the trigger.

     

    0400 comes quick and I'm in the truck rolling, arrive at my 'hidden' spot and there is already a truck. Nice gentlemen and his grandson-- we quickly deconflict areas so there will be plenty of room between us if we need to make moves on birds. He scouted the night before so I defer to him on where he wants to be. Glad to hear he found good sign.

     

    By 0600 I'm easing into the unknown on public land that I've never stepped foot on and less than 600 yards from the truck a bird FIRES off... and then again. He is roosted on a thin row of trees between two overgrown fields. I cut the distance to him down by creeping through the woods. I am now 150 yards west of him and the parking area is 500 yards east. A door slams in the parking lot at 0620 and he triple gobblers... Now everyone knows where the game is going to be!!! I scoot in close, hoping that the other hunters didn't hear him or if they make a play they might push him to my side of the field. I'm now 100 yards from the gobbler and out of room to manuever and its 5 minutes until shooting light. I quickly plop down, tree yelp and he GOBBLES. Cue the other hunters who have moved in on the east and set up. I do two more light yelps and transition to my secret call.... I grab a stick and rake the heck out of the oak leaves around me.

     

    The gobbler hears this and just cannot stand it, he fires off again and again... I stop mouth calling and just scratch a little bit. Not 5 minutes later I hear wingbeats and look up to see this guy sailing across the field right to me!!! He plops down at 25 yards but is obscured by some small oak saplings. I scratch again... gun is in my lap (always a good plan) He runs 5 yards to the right to see and when he clears the oaks I drop him, 10 minutes into the opening morning!!

     

     

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    • Like 18
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