Coach

Thanks 4Falls. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me. I was able to take a huge bodied, small racked old 6x6. They did just what I expected they would and I was presented a good shot, but he decided to die in the bottom of the deepest, most nasty canyon I could dream up. It took my oldest son and I about 6 hours to quarter, bone and pack out. It was straight up in every direction with rolling rocks and dead blow downs from the fire. Hardest pack out of my life, and I've had a couple tough ones. But we got it done, so now I can say I've taken bulls with rifle, bow and muzzle loader. Ironically, the bow and muzzy were easy compared to this. In the spirit of this thread, my 165 Accubonds did NOT perform well at all. This elk should have been dead 200 yards from the road. If I ever shoot a bull elk with a rifle again I'll be shooting something heavier.

Thanks guys. I just ordered a 1/4 28 touch hole liner, but I might move up to 5/32.

I have a Cabela's Hawken .50 cal flint lock with a stripped-out vent/touch hole that I would like to have repaired. Anyone know of gunsmiths who work on these?

And there is this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMQCFqgAGyM

Here's to those who give thanks on this day to a higher power. To being grateful for what we have, hoping to improve conditions for those who have less, and using what we have to make the world better for others. I am truly thankful for road and destiny placed before me. For my failings, if they are a lesson to be taught -- or my blessings if they are a lesson in humility.

Never hunted bull elk with a gun but in a few hours I'll be trying because I screwed up my app and got my second choice - late rifle 3A/3C. Was supposed to be archery 3A/3C. I've got a plan, but it has to pay out in the first 45 minutes of light, or I'll be quail hunting near Roosevelt by the afternoon.

Very awesome! But I'm still rooting for the cats. Gotta support my alma mater.

I use technology in all my hunts - from google earth and GPS to high end optics. I've learned more from getting out and hiking, studying game trails, watching clouds for weather patterns and how animals respond to dropping or rising atmospheric pressure than I have from tech tools. The problem is, when technology replaces woodsmanship. I find my most rewarding hunts are those when I get to a place I don't know, have a look around and start trying to think like the animal I'm hunting. Where does it sleep, where does it eat, where does it find water and where does it go when pressure increases? If I could pay to have all those questions answered without learning the answers on my own, I'd question why I was there in the first place.

Let me start by saying I'm a little po'd - so take it for what it is. I took my youngest son out this weekend for his first ever deer hunt. Opening morning I knew exactly where I wanted us to be because my oldest son and I connected there last year. Last year we never saw another camp or even another hunter, so I wasn't worried about pressure. Way before sunlight we were on our way and just barely on the road and we had forgotten a phone back at camp. We went back to get it and a vehicle went by. Long story short we followed that guy or the next half hour to the exact spot I wanted to be hoping he would either pull off or keep going. Nope - he had the same spot in mind. So we kept on going and had to figure out another plan - that's just hunting. He got there first. We found a different area over the weekend and got out there early this morning before light - it was way back in there. After an hour drive and half-hour hike we were right where we wanted to be and bumped a really nice muley buck. Almost got a shot but he wasn't too bothered so we backed out a bit. I heard some quads coming down the road and expected to see them drive on by, but they didn't. I figured they saw us in there and turned around. About the time we were going to go see if this buck had settled in and find him again, we hear shots right from the bottom of the ridge we were hunting. So we headed back out, got back to the truck and there were two quads parked about 80 yards from us. They clearly saw where we were parked on their way in, knew we were hunting that secluded spot, and decided to just hunt the same place. On the one hand, I hope some lucky youth hunter connected. On the other, I just don't see how a responsible adult can teach a young hunter to go right in the middle of where you know someone else is already hunting. Left them a note, I hope they post it. Thoughts?

Almost exactly what I shoot, but mine likes 63 grains even of IMR4350, WLRM primers.

I'm going to really look at this head. I love my Sprint Pro tripods - they handle most situation well, but the ball head on them tends to get a little gritty after a while making it hard to just push with your nose. Thanks for posting this.

With Christmas coming up, my wife is looking for ideas. I'd like a really good jacket. Something wind-proof, waterproof/resistant, not too heavy as most of the hunts I do range from 20's in the mornings to 70's in the afternoon. I've been looking at KUIU, Sitka Gear and Kryptec. Any recommendations for the best mid-weight jacket out west? So far I'm partial to the 90% and Jetstream by Sitka.

I'm afraid the game laws won't be able to keep up with technology. Given what some of the high rollers are willing to pay for a trophy, I don't think we're too far off from seeing military technology trickling into hunting. Drones, thermal, it's all becoming mainstream, and has the potential to wreck hunting, IMO.

Awesome bull - and even more impressive as a late season bull. Great job! Huge congrats.

That is 100% what it's all about. Huge thanks to everyone who made this possible for Wade. You guys rock.

Yeah I did the same - not a fan of them charging me full price because they don't have them in stock. I get the added benefit of waiting several weeks for the extra $$?? Bad business IMO.

Yeah, that'll be better. Government employed software writers. LOL. You know the old adage, those who can't, teach. Well those who can't teach go to work for the gov't. Their best and brightest created the Obamacare sites that died within hours. We'll just have to pull our boots up high to see how this debacle will unfold.

The online system they use now is probably the worst possible waste of technology I've ever seen. It should be used by colleges across the country to illustrate dozens of software design and usability flaws. I write software for a living, so I can attest, this is the result of laziness, lack of standards across the board and no care whatsoever for the end user. Just comically bad.

Awesome job. That's a really great looking deer. You're making memories with your daughter that will last a lifetime. Hat's off to you!

Awesome buck right there. Huge congrats to Jody! Becker, you are heck of a coues hunter. You really have a knack for finding giant bucks - kudos!

I looked through a pair of their binocs a few years back and was really impressed. With optics it takes a while to gain a reputation, so I kinda waited until the jury was out on quality of build, warranty, etc. Honestly, I thought they would have more name recognition by now.

Raccoon or coati?

A buddy of mine had electrical tape over the end of his barrel. I wondered if it affects accuracy - or worse, could blow up the barrel, but looks like a lot of people do it. Good thread.

Awesome bull. HUGE congrats.

My Mother-in-law has a sweet setup in Punkin Center. Up on top where the dome houses are, she's got a nice 1/2 acre lot. Well, she hurt her heel really bad doing the Clay Spring mud run, and has been on crutches for about 3 months, and her lot got a little overrun with weeds so Carrie and the boys and I went up there to get it under control. She's got a good sized metal building that she keeps her ranger and boat in. It's super clean inside there, but the black widows have really gotten out of control. There are huge webs in every corner, I've got pictures of the biggest one we saw catching and eating a lizard, the webs have huge wolf spiders, even small mice and horned toads in them. So, it's easy enough to go eradicate them once by stomping and burning them out, but how do you keep them from coming back? Moth balls and lime are what we are thinking, but I've seen these kinds of infestations around Tucson and it's really hard to keep them out. Hoping some desert dwellers have figured out how to get rid of these guys.