azslim

Yea Amanda I could, but I hate computers. Besides, someday I am going to auction off all my maps and become a gazillionaire - or at least make enough money to buy a box of shells.

Can you shoot good with the current scope? If yes then why replace it, 3-9x40 is good enough for 400 yd shots, lay prone, dial it up to 9 and squeeze. I have a couple hand-me-downs that have old glass on them that don't measure up to today's standards that have killed lots and lots of animals and will continue to in the future. If you do get a new scope get into a grade with a lifetime warranty.

Yep, Guides are pretty worthless. Just ask the hundreds that I have taught Hunter Ed to over the last 11 years, or the first timers I have taken out and taught how to scout, hunt, field dress & butcher, or the kids & old folks I help out when I run into them in the field (able bodied adults are on their own) or the ladies that attend my classes at Becoming An Outdoor Women workshops. Yep, we are a worthless bunch when all things are considered......... Hey, CW - what is it you do to help keep the hunting tradition alive?????

Coming out of 5B on Wed there was smoke S of Blue Ridge from a controlled burn, believe that is 5A. The burns don't have that much impact on game. I saw a bunch of elk wandering through the black on the Eagle Rock fire, they were working from green spot to green spot eating. Saw deer feeding right next to active flames, granted it was in the evening and the flames were laying down, on the Taylor fire last season. Have a picture of a cow elk laying in the middle of a moon scape burn in Mt 4 years ago. If you can find unburned islands in the black I would hunt them.

I wear double front Carharts and a camo t-shirt under my flannel jacket, the camo t-shirt is just so you can't see how dirty it is, leather gloves are nice to have too. I do camo up for archery hunts tho.

Having pushed platoons for a couple years at Parris Island I can attest to the fact it takes a while for you to get back to "normal" - or whatever was normal for you.

I clip my 8x32's on the left side of a bino harness and my range finder on the right side. They hang under my armpits out of the way of the bow and are both easily accessed. I put split rings on them for the clips to attach to. Only issue is the release has banged against the rangefinder when I reached for it, blew a couple chances at cow elk that way, got a smaller one that is easy to tuck out of the way now. Been using Slick Tricks for a few years, they fly like my field points even if my bow is out of tune and do the job when they get there.

Another vote for the gutless method. I carry a boning knife and 4 to 6 pillow cases, 4 for deer & 6 for elk. Take them apart where they fall, pack em out then stick them in the cooler at camp. My meat cooler is full of a case of frozen 16 oz drinking water bottles, put down a layer, stack the meat in and shove the remainders where ever I can fit them. This keeps my meat from soaking in water and still cools it down. To butcher just muscle out the hind qtrs, you will get a couple roasts and cut up a few steaks, cut at 90 degrees to the grain. I turn the front qtrs into grind, burger or sausage. The backstraps I cut about 8" in length, you can cut it into steaks later or cook it whole wrapped in bacon while it rolls around on the grill. I have packed a hand crank grinder long and done the whole job in the field, coues are small so it only takes a hour or so and a few cold ones in the shade.

I've had decent luck with the Spike bugle from Modern Call Products, sounds like a punk with high hopes.

Check out pawn shops, you can find good guns at great deals if you are willing to dicker a little.

Great pics......looks like the Super Star needs a feedbag or three.

The Leupold Mojaves listed on this site are pretty good. The price is wholesale.

Having watched the focus change over the years to size of the rack vs filling the freezer and spending time with family/friends has had a detrimental effect in my opinion. The current crop of TV shows just make it more so. Amanda, that is a scary crew in that 2nd picture..........

I have been using frozen water bottles for about 10 years, works great! I also use pillow cases as game bags, send the wife to yard sales and she gets them for about 25 cents, then after you use them you can either wash them up or pitch em and send the wife to yard sales again. I use 6 for elk and 4 for deer, I pack a boning knife and take them apart right where they fall.

First up I walk the water, either dirt tank or guzzler, and see where the game seems to be coming in for the most part. I will walk the fence perimeter and see where game is jumping the fence, usually a couple different spots and they really like corners. Then I look for a bush or tree within shooting distance, but not too close, then figure out where to set my chair and string my burlap. I will get old limbs and sticks and whatever I can find within packing distance and build up the front so it breaks up my outline, dig out a flat spot for my chair and clean up anything that may make noise if I kick it or snag it. Then it is just a matter of sitting. I try to wait until the deer has dropped his head to drink before I draw and shoot. I like to sit about 40 yds from water on a guzzler, this distance allows you to get some movement in without being caught if there are multiple deer.

These make great backups and loaners.

I have seen great bucks of both species in 33.

EH, nice idea about having backups and loaners, but it is cheaper and you don't cringe as bad loaning out Vortex Vipers vs the Swaro's........

Take a case of frozen 16 oz water bottles for your meat cooler and you will be fine. Just qtr the deer up and stick em in the cooler with water bottles stacked around them, this will keep the meat from soaking in water. They are real easy to butcher too, you can have one in paper in about 1 hour and do the grind when you come home.

For the most part my blinds consist of my ghillie suit and a 4'x12' strip of burlap strung out in front of me with some brush piled around the front and a flat spot for my chair. I need to pile the brush early for guzzlers, I have built in the morning and killed a deer that evening on a dirt tank, they didn't seem as skittish about the change around the larger water source. I string the burlap in front of me to hide my hand movements then take it with me and I usually don't have to fight with someone to sit it next time as it looks like a poorly built ground blind without the burlap.

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Try to build your blind about 3 weeks before you plan on sitting it, this gives them time to get used to it - the first few days it is an "ugly coffee table" and gets a lot of attention. If you can't sit all day sit 4 to 5 hours in the mornings. If you are on a guzzler try to set back about 40 yds from the water, this gives you enough distance to move without spooking the deer, especially if there are more than one. I have got by with a ghillie suit, backed into a bush sitting on a stool but prefer a comfy seat for any length of time.

I'm a old hold-out, I still like my 7.5 min maps. I like to learn the country and pencil in what I learn, write notes on the back (mostly to remind me of what the heck that waypoint is marking). I like to study them in my living room before I head out on a scout to plan my travels to make the most of time and gas.

back it off so you don't tip it over with muzzle blast, you aren't going to see much difference in readings with only 10 feet change that close to the muzzle.

Need to hit pawn shops too, you can pick up good deals if you are patient. Take cash and never pay the price on the sticker, if they won't take your offer today come back in a week, if the rifle is still there start negotiations again. I avg paying a little over half what the sticker price is, altho a few times I have lost out.