eldiablo

Congrats!

I drew the same tag this year. Anyone have any info on what to expect?

Good advice. The best (IMO) being, shoot what your gun likes (within reason). Elk are tough, you need an accurate, well-made, heavy-hitting bullet. After shooting many of the choices out there over the past 25 years, my current preference is the TC shockwave with 250 (for lighter game) or 300 gr bullets. I have killed bulls with TC conicals, Powerbelts and sabots with various bullets. For elk, I like the TC 300 gr bonded version with the Shockwave. Has worked well for me and shoots well in my Encore to 300 yards. Don't get me wrong, I would not fire a first shot at a bull over about 150 if I could help it, but I know what the bullet will do past that if I need it to. The closer the better. The Encore and Omega's barrel is 1 in 28" twist. I have an Omega as well. They both do well with mid range weight/length bullets (200 to 300 gr). For powder, I prefer 777 loose powder (most guys, including me, find better accuracy with loose vs pellets). I use 90 to 120 grains. Good luck. I'll be hunting in Unit 10 for a bull this year with my Encore. Wow - just noticed the date on your original post. Hope you had a great hunt!

Guys, we are planning a trip (first) to Africa next year. We have booked 7 day plains game hunts with Kuvhima Safaris, who operate primarily in the Limpopo Province in South Africa. They were highly recommended by other guys at a local SCI banquet. Haven't decided on species yet. I hope to use a muzzleloader but it looks like it will be tough getting powder shipped there. Anyone have any experience with that? Any suggestions on species, best time of year or experience with that outfitter? Thanks in advance!

Thanks Bill! I was hoping for some good advice from you.

If you're using a leg hold trap (private land I presume), you have the pan tension set too low if you are catching rabbits. If you set it at 3-3.5 pounds it will cut way down on your non-target catches. Sounds like a good spot though! As Hyperwrx said, if you were caging, you couldn't use a game animal as bait - but you could use a jackrabbit. Some thoughts for next year. Good luck.

I've released lots of pigs - 8 this year. + 1 on what Hyperwrx said. Big ones tear the H+ll out of a cage. As for choking out (to release) lions - no big deal. I've released two that way. Besides the pucker factor, it's only slightly harder than a bobcat.

I'd say everyone's in the ballpark. Too bad his right isnt as tall as his left. Pray for moisture and he'll go up a notch this year.

Mytopo.com I get all my maps from them. The first order I placed with them a few years ago arrived just two days before I was leaving on a hunt in NV - I waited till the last minute to order. When I opened the envelope, I found that they had mistakenly sent another hunter's maps (of another NV unit). I called Mytopo up in a panic. The guy was very apologetic and explained that mistakes like that rarely happen. He told me to keep the maps and he overnighted me the right ones at his expense. Can't beat that kind of service! I've never had another problem since and the maps always arrive within a couple of days.

Wanted to share this pic. Scouted this area pretty hard and hunted for five days without seeing this guy during the rifle hunt. Bumped into him in the open at 100 yards in January this year. Hunted him for another four days - but never saw him again.

Anybody want to venture a guess on score? Even with the broken right G1, I think he would measure pretty well.

TC Encore 209 x 50 Leupold 3.5-10x50 B&C ill ret .45 300 gr bonded shockwave bullets 100 gr 777 powder

My best (first and only) Coues is 99 7/8" taken with a muzzleloader. Spotted him at about 1 1/2 miles, watched him bed and stalked to within 10 yards. 5 min later he took off and I dropped the hammer at 80 yards running.

Thanks TJ. The first was taken here in Colorado of my old friend Bear (passed away after 14 years in 2010). The second is Wyatt on a chuckar hunt in Utah.

Great photos. Here are a couple of my best buddies...

Awesome! Sounds like a lot of work putting up 30 cats. But the check will be nice...

Nice! Lets hear the story!