SteveKDC

I have two boys that are going to be hunting this year as long as they get drawn. A 12 year old and a 10 year old. They are both "big for their age." I am thinking a full size .270 with a scope that has good eye relief. I want something a little heavier to absorb some of the recoil. I like the Weatherby Vanguard since it has the weight and synthetic stock. I would appreciate any feedback with specifics i.e. barrel length, scope, etc. I didn't do much shooting when I was younger so I could use some great feedback. Thanks in advance.

Thanks again for all the great input. My oldest boy shot his first Coues last year (a spike) with a 7mm mag with a cut down stock and muzzle break. He didn't have time to get ear plugs in and talked about his ears ringing for close to an hour after the shot. That is the biggest reason for me not wanting a muzzle break on it. I don't know much about 25-06. Can that "reach out and touch someone" to about 250-300 yds assuming the scope is set at a 200 yd zero?

That was great. Being fairly new to AZ, I didn't realize they got that big.

Awesome. I love the pics with the dogs working. How do you get the mule to stand still with a cat on its back?

I have seen a couple yotes just west of Germann and Ellsworth about 4-5 times. The City of Mesa might have something to say about it though.

Watching some great dogs on birds has got to be one of the best sights in the world. I know that I have missed more than one bird from watching the dogs, at least that's my story.

Looks like we need some more chlorine in the gene pool. What part of "wild" don't these people get?

Up in South Dakota where I am from, we used mostly 4 1/2 or 5's. This was on wild birds that typically jump a little earlier. I am not the best bird shooter but when I did get some lead into a bird the bigger shot brought it down more often.

Great job. I am looking forward to the time when I will be able to take my own kids out for their first hunts, possibly this fall.

Guessing 135.25 lbs.

I took my two boys in to Walmart to get some BB's for their guns with their own money. The cashier made me take the money from them and I had to hand it to her. WOW!!! I may understand if a bunch of kids are running around by themselves buying BB's... no, I wouldn't understand that either.

Happy Birthday guys. Hopefully you will both have many more.

Awesome. I remember talking to a guy down there while I lived in SD. I couldn't believe that they could get 2 deer a day. I hope that you get many more chances to fill the freezer.

I am somewhat surprised at the great choices of carbs and fats that are being talked about here, with so much of the mainstream diet education focusing on low fat. To those that are still young enough to think that they can eat whatever they want (cake, candy bars, soda), here is a word of advice "you are what you eat." Keep eating healthy and staying in shape, it will make hunting and hiking that much easier.

I gave a presentation at my clinic last Thursday evening (2/3/11) on some low tech exercises and nutrition to help hunters be ready for the field and be prepared to stay in the field longer. I was wondering if anyone on here has any exercise program or certain exercises that they do year round? Or, maybe just a month or two before the season starts? I would also like to know what nutrition secrets people have figured out over the years that help them during the season? Thanks,

Great choice of fats and carbs. Whole grain carbs are also a good choice due to the fiber. Many people don't realize that the heart only burns fat, that is why these low fat/no fat diets can be detrimental. Too many of the wrong fats can also be detrimental.

I just moved to the Phoenix area last summer and noticed how 'great' living in the valley is for getting ready for hunting in the mountains. I went out Coue's hunting last fall with Hunterdan and n777ea and was sucking air pretty hard for the first couple of days.

Youngbuck: could you explain the strict diet? low carb? low fat? etc. Raquetball is a great cardio workout, even better than jogging for an hour, due to the windsprint type of activity. New research is showing that high intensity interval (windsprints) training actually stresses the heart better than jogging and your body makes and releases it's own HCG.

Yep, I'm hungry now.

Nice looking bucks. Great job.

The question I have is why are these other doctors worried about the shockwave when they will go ahead and do an ultrasound on a fetus sometimes more than once? As far as the mother being able to handle it, as long as she wasn't a couch potato before had and was in decent shape I don't think it would be a problem. Just take it easy and let her set the pace. I still have to agree with a lot of the other posts though, if she doesn't want to do it in the end, don't push it.

I saw a guy out hunting that took a shot at a deer at over 600 yds. I asked how long he had been shooting at those distances with that gun and he said he just got it about 3 weeks prior to the season. I didn't notice if the deer got hit but he told me later that he saw blood when he walked over to where the deer had been standing. No, he did not recover this one. What a waste. I don't think that he has been hunting for the past few years. Hopefully he is done hunting forever.

Awesome photos. Whenever I see a pheasant now it takes me back to my home state of SD. Thanks.

I never have thought of boiling them. My wife's uncle would put dry roasted peanuts in his bottle of Coke. I prefer the chocolate covered ones myself.

If you look at what is going on up north (Montana, Idaho etc.) The feds have stopped the wolf hunts because Wyoming doesn't have a program in place to help sustain the population. There are many articles on OutdoorLife.com that talk about all the problems that outfitters are having like was posted earlier. I think it goes to show that someone can be too educated. Also, in some places, common sense isn't very common.