The Hunting & Fishing Thread

[pus]

Deer season opens tomorrow and I was lucky enough to draw a buck tag. If I fill the tag I'll take the critter to my partner's place where 4 of us keep our refrigerated meat truck. It's a great way to cool out and take good care of the meat and let it age for a few days before we cut and wrap and freeze it. Works great for elk hunts, too.

All of us grew up with deer and elk hunting and our families eating the meat. My buddy's are the best (amateur) butchers around here and we have other friends whom we let use our reefer truck and they chip in on the fuel and maintenance costs.

And I certainly agree that the only justifiable reason to hunt an animal is if you're going to eat the meat. Otherwise just take a photo which can be a worthy memento and you have the good feeling of knowing that the animal was still alive when you left it.

[The Marshall Plan]

Deer season opens tomorrow and I was lucky enough to draw a buck tag. If I fill the tag I'll take the critter to my partner's place where 4 of us keep our refrigerated meat truck. It's a great way to cool out and take good care of the meat and let it age for a few days before we cut and wrap and freeze it. Works great for elk hunts, too.

All of us grew up with deer and elk hunting and our families eating the meat. My buddy's are the best (amateur) butchers around here and we have other friends whom we let use our reefer truck and they chip in on the fuel and maintenance costs.

And I certainly agree that the only justifiable reason to hunt an animal is if you're going to eat the meat. Otherwise just take a photo which can be a worthy memento and you have the good feeling of knowing that the animal was still alive when you left it.

That's how I see it too. We do the same thing with fishing.

If someone is going to kill an animal that's fine, but eat it.

[southdakbearfan]

Tried out the new shotgun this am, me and the boy went out and had a mildly successful morning duck hunt. He’s 14 and just getting into it. In total we got nine ducks, mixed bad of teal and gadwalls. Migrators aren’t down yet but today was the first freeze of the year as it was 28 when we left the house.

I like the new gun a lot. Best part, while I am cleaning up guns and putting dogs away the boy was cleaning ducks. Looks like kabobs on Sunday evening.

[southdakbearfan]

Caught Covid on Wednesday, so of course I spent Thursday through Saturday in bed, finally had to escape so I took some rifles out to shoot at a friends farm, make sure everything is zero’d for deer hunting the next 3 weekends.

Here was the lineup:

Model 54 Winchester - 270 Winchester. Manufactured in 1929 - my Great Grandfathers gun. I restocked it with a chunk of black walnut off the farm where my dad was born. 4.5 x 14 - 50 Burris on it. Zero’d it up at 100 then practiced at 200, 300 and rang the gong a few times at 450 yards. 93 years old and still driving tacks.

Ruger M77 tang safety 257 Ackley Improved -Same Burris as the 270 for a scope. I didn’t have to move the scope at all, all dialed in out to 350.

Just for fun Remington 700 SPS Bull Barrel 22-250 6 - 20x50 Burris. I could shoot flies on the paper at 100yds if I wanted too. 55 gr HP for coyote and prairie dog control.

My Dad is 84, and I believe this will be his last hunting season with us seeing his decline the last 6 months. He is excited to go out and sit in the blind with us, which is heated. The fun part is he is the only one in the family with a buck tag. Me, my boy and nephew all have doe tags. So we get to hunt for him, as we can harvest our does in an afternoon when we want too where we hunt. He gave me that 270 when I graduated from college, my son will get it at the same time, but it’s going back in his hands for one last buck hunt next weekend. Hopefully it’s a lucky weekend.

[pus]

I had some visitors on my deck last week.

The area where I live always has a lot of deer. It always brings in the predators, too. First time I've ever has mountain lions. These two looked to be about 30-40 lbs and they were in prime shape, not starving or anything. I figure their mom dropped them off near my place while she hunted. They hung around for about an hour and then beat feet - I think mom called them. Massive thrill for me - the last cougar I saw was way back in '62 - a big adult crossed the road in front of our school bus.

The wolves and bears have also been increasing over the past few years. Still haven't seen a wolf from my home, but my neighbor saw a lone wolf on the ridge above my place last year. Had a Bear snoozing in a tree right over my mail box (not the one in my avatar) a few years ago.

It's interesting that this resurgence of apex killers seems to have coincided with an increase in really big bucks.

[mmmc_35]

I had some visitors on my deck last week.

The area where I live always has a lot of deer. It always brings in the predators, too. First time I've ever has mountain lions. These two looked to be about 30-40 lbs and they were in prime shape, not starving or anything. I figure their mom dropped them off near my place while she hunted. They hung around for about an hour and then beat feet - I think mom called them. Massive thrill for me - the last cougar I saw was way back in '62 - a big adult crossed the road in front of our school bus.

The wolves and bears have also been increasing over the past few years. Still haven't seen a wolf from my home, but my neighbor saw a lone wolf on the ridge above my place last year. Had a Bear snoozing in a tree right over my mail box (not the one in my avatar) a few years ago.

It's interesting that this resurgence of apex killers seems to have coincided with an increase in really big bucks.

257 ackley improved. I got a 257 Robert's. Grandpas gun he sportized a 1919 mauser. Shoots great but I dont reload. Im thinking of rebarreling and making it a 270.

[southdakbearfan]

I had some visitors on my deck last week.

The area where I live always has a lot of deer. It always brings in the predators, too. First time I've ever has mountain lions. These two looked to be about 30-40 lbs and they were in prime shape, not starving or anything. I figure their mom dropped them off near my place while she hunted. They hung around for about an hour and then beat feet - I think mom called them. Massive thrill for me - the last cougar I saw was way back in '62 - a big adult crossed the road in front of our school bus.

The wolves and bears have also been increasing over the past few years. Still haven't seen a wolf from my home, but my neighbor saw a lone wolf on the ridge above my place last year. Had a Bear snoozing in a tree right over my mail box (not the one in my avatar) a few years ago.

It's interesting that this resurgence of apex killers seems to have coincided with an increase in really big bucks.

257 ackley improved. I got a 257 Robert's. Grandpas gun he sportized a 1919 mauser. Shoots great but I dont reload. Im thinking of rebarreling and making it a 270.

Would be easier to rechamber to a 25-06 and cheaper.

[The Marshall Plan]

I had some visitors on my deck last week.

The area where I live always has a lot of deer. It always brings in the predators, too. First time I've ever has mountain lions. These two looked to be about 30-40 lbs and they were in prime shape, not starving or anything. I figure their mom dropped them off near my place while she hunted. They hung around for about an hour and then beat feet - I think mom called them. Massive thrill for me - the last cougar I saw was way back in '62 - a big adult crossed the road in front of our school bus.

The wolves and bears have also been increasing over the past few years. Still haven't seen a wolf from my home, but my neighbor saw a lone wolf on the ridge above my place last year. Had a Bear snoozing in a tree right over my mail box (not the one in my avatar) a few years ago.

It's interesting that this resurgence of apex killers seems to have coincided with an increase in really big bucks.

That is so awesome. Thank you for sharing.

Two weeks ago my kid and I went fishing and on the way to our spot a pack of coyotes started howling as the sun came up. Didn't sound more than 50 yards from us.

[southdakbearfan]

I had some visitors on my deck last week.

The area where I live always has a lot of deer. It always brings in the predators, too. First time I've ever has mountain lions. These two looked to be about 30-40 lbs and they were in prime shape, not starving or anything. I figure their mom dropped them off near my place while she hunted. They hung around for about an hour and then beat feet - I think mom called them. Massive thrill for me - the last cougar I saw was way back in '62 - a big adult crossed the road in front of our school bus.

The wolves and bears have also been increasing over the past few years. Still haven't seen a wolf from my home, but my neighbor saw a lone wolf on the ridge above my place last year. Had a Bear snoozing in a tree right over my mail box (not the one in my avatar) a few years ago.

It's interesting that this resurgence of apex killers seems to have coincided with an increase in really big bucks.

That is so awesome. Thank you for sharing.

Two weeks ago my kid and I went fishing and on the way to our spot a pack of coyotes started howling as the sun came up. Didn't sound more than 50 yards from us.

They always sound so close. We can hear them most nights in the summer. In the winter, when I spend quite a few evenings in my ice shack you hear them. They sound like they are right outside. Sometimes eerie.

[mmmc_35]

257 ackley improved. I got a 257 Robert's. Grandpas gun he sportized a 1919 mauser. Shoots great but I dont reload. Im thinking of rebarreling and making it a 270.

Would be easier to rechamber to a 25-06 and cheaper.

I thought about that but will 25-0_ be around in 20+ years. Super good cartridge. 270 is much more common. I wanted the army to go to one of those 25 caliber rounds to replace the 223. I dont know maybe I'll do the 25-06. I've been thinking about this for a few years.

[southdakbearfan]

Would be easier to rechamber to a 25-06 and cheaper.

I thought about that but will 25-0_ be around in 20+ years. Super good cartridge. 270 is much more common. I wanted the army to go to one of those 25 caliber rounds to replace the 223. I dont know maybe I'll do the 25-06. I've been thinking about this for a few years.

Love the 25 cals. I have my eye out for a Ruger #1 in 257 weatherby.

25-06 will be around forever. It’s too simple and too good of round not to and there are too many rifles already made and still made in it every year.

Now 6.5 creedmoor, I could see that falling by the wayside for the PRC rounds. The WSM’s only have the 270 and 300 left, the wssm’s, rem SAUM and Ultra mags are all dead rounds.

[pus]

Why shoot a 25-06 when the 270 will do everything it will do only better? They're both a necked-down 30-06. If you're in a real out of the way place and your ammo gets lost - or you didn't bring enough with you - the local mom and pop general store will have some 270 or '06 ammo, most likely.

My buddy's 270 Weatherby does not perform like my '06 on elk. He's got a slightly flatter trajectory but my bigger hole and heavier bullet are more deadly at every distance and they buck the wind better. His Speer Grand Slam 270 150Gr bullets don't hold together as well as my pedestrian Remington factory '06 cartridges with 180 gr bullets and his trajectory advantage at longer ranges does not have the same killing power.

[southdakbearfan]

Why shoot a 25-06 when the 270 will do everything it will do only better? They're both a necked-down 30-06.

When you already have the gun with the proper cal barrel, a simple rechamber is a lot cheaper than a barrel or gun replacement.

And I could argue caliber specifics, like recoil, ability to drop down to varmint bullet weights, etc. but why have a 270 or 30-06 when a 340 weatherby is deadlier? Or a 45-70 sharps?

[pus]

I think it's (generally) true that the best shooters - we're talking about hunting, not benchrest - are people who shoot only one rifle as well as only one load.

That said, I have two Remington 700 30-06's. One is scoped and the other has a peep sight. If it's raining cats and dogs I like to have the option of a peep instead of a scope so that is an exception to my "one rifle" policy.

I think an '06 is an excellent compromise on the weight of the rifle, the trajectory, the recoil, the killing power and availability and cost of ammo. I don't use anything other than 180gr Spitzer-type bullets and I only hunt deer, elk, and antelope.

Never fired a 45-70 but I'm sure the 340 Wthrby has more kick than my puny (old) body can handle. I used to hunt elk with a 338 but that's more weight than I want to pack since I've gotten older and it does have more kick than my 30-06's. I only hunt what I can eat these days so the varmint cals aren't useful for me.

You're obviously a reloader and I haven't gone too deeply into that worthy hobby, so I do stay with factory rounds, but I get quarter sized 3-shot groups at 100 yards from both of my Model 700's, and the 180Gr bullets work just fine as long as I do my part as the shooter...

There's certainly more than one way to get the job done so to each his own.

[southdakbearfan]

I’ve fired a 340, 338 ultra, 375 H&H and a 416 rigby . Personally they all suck to shoot more than a couple times. My 300 win mag barks enough for me to only carry it for elk, even though it’s a tack driver. I was being sarcastic about calibers. There’s nothing that can’t be done in North America by a 30-06.

As far as calibers go, I got quite a few, load for all. There are lots of do all calibers that are absolutely fine, and there are lots of niche calibers that are as well. 2 - 22’s, 222, 223, 22-250, 257 ackley, 270, 300 win mag, 303 British. Then toss on 6 12 gauges, 3 20 gauges and 2 Muzzleloaders. Most are older, inherited guns that get shot maybe once a year or not at all. Zero semi autos, zero pistols.

My favorite is probably my old 270, but I have taken a ton of game and my farthest shot on big game with my 257 ackley. 560 yards on an antelope, in absolutely perfect conditions.

And you are close, the best shots know their rifles and loads, but the best shots shot a lot, a lot of different guns, and shoot them all well.

[southdakbearfan]

Well, my son and me filled our rifle tags for the year, but we are now onto muzzleloading season here which is a low success rate but fun and interesting hunt.

Two deer self processed and in the freezer, time to start making jerky and sticks after muzzleloader season. We will also can about 1/3 of it as well which turns out real good for us.

[mmmc_35]

I took a good sized doe during rifle season. I saw more this year then the last 4 combined. Its wierd most people I know saw very few. Only saw one buck a six pointer.

As for the caliber talk above. I have a few rifles. This year I used my rem model 70. Beautiful rifle made in 1949. Still shoots were its aimed. The 30-06 can do almost anything you want it to. I shoot 150 grain and only white tail hunt. Looking at the charts and options you can do almost anything you want with it.