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Posts posted by solamente73
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One of my favorite things to make for family gatherings is rack of pork. Roasted over hickory. Served with wife’s “Fleming’s Potatoes” and grilled asparagus. Not pictured: smoked au ju.
Highly recommend. I can usually only find them around the holidays at Costco. Buy a few for the holidays, throw a few in the freezer for the rest of the year.
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Add to it spent shells and empty dip cans. Let’s just say that it was easy leaving the blind cleaner than we found it.
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@Spaulding Smails man, that’s a tough go. Looking forward to the recap and forensics. Still excited for you and your adventure, though. New experiences and new learnings.
————I was fortunate last weekend to bring another into the fold. A long-time friend had gotten into shooting the last few years, but he had never had the opportunity to actually go hunting. He recently moved back to Texas, so I invited him up to the farm to help with hogs.
Armed with his brand new Ruger Precision Rifle chambered in 6.5 Creed and a Sitemark Wraith, he made the trip. I guided him through three long hunts. The first night, we were down scope on a sounder when, literally about to take the shot, drunk neighbors unleashed the Second Tet Offensive on their gun range. Pigs fled. Nothing the rest of the long night.
The next morning came early, but the hogs didn’t show up until late morning, and when they did, they just barreled through the kill zone - no shot.
That night, for hours we heard pigs but they wouldn’t show. Finally, a boar poked his head out from a tree line. 99 yards at night, one shot to put him down.
I really like what @NotActuallyALonghorn posted about above - hunting can provide a pace that allows the hunter to immerse himself in nature… and therefore grow to appreciate it so much. My friend got to experience that, and he’s now hooked.
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With Tom Thumb, Albertson's, Market Street, and Kroger together, it should have a big impact on the DFW market. DMN covers it here. Looks like the merger would capture just over 28% of the DFW market, making it #1 ahead of Walmart.
From the DMN article:
My neighborhood stores are Tom Thumb and Albertson's about a mile apart from each other. Albertson's is shit, and Tom Thumb is just a more expensive Albertson's. I expect one of those to close as a result of the merger. HEB owns a large undeveloped tract a mile or two down the road from them, but no public plans yet for that property. HEB can't get here fast enough.
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On 9/8/2022 at 3:13 PM, Spaulding Smails said:
Congrats @solamente73! What an amazing animal. Love everything about the story. Send more pics and elaborate on the hunt!
Why not? Gotta do something (other than drink) while waiting for the game to start and for @deadshank to post his epic adventure. Spoilered:
Spoiler
First bull we saw, about 300 yards out. I was floored. He quickly disappeared down the backside of the ridge:Bulls were ganging up as the rut was about to start. We were about 2-3 weeks early for the prime rut, and it was hot, but we still heard bugling. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard elk bugling at each other in the morning light, echoing in the canyons.
These were at about 550 yards. Did not get in position before they disappeared over the ridge into trees:
These lasered at 730 yards; we lost them in the trees downslope to the right:Set-up, hoping and praying that they’d hold the pattern we’d identified the previous couple of days.
Victory drinks, fellowship, and telling stories around the fire that will last a lifetime.
We also had the opportunity to help out some bow hunters who connected on an elk but it didn’t go down - they think the arrow hit its left scapula and got little penetration. My buddy and I did pick up the blood trail, but no joy beyond that.
While we were searching, we literally stumbled on this guy and couldn’t fucking believe it.
Insane trip of a lifetime. The drive to-and-from was gorgeous. We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful country. New Mexico on the way home:
On 9/21/2022 at 10:34 PM, 686 said:
Any elk steaks consumed yet? What else did the processor work up for you? My go-to quick and easy elk steak recipe from the last year of enjoying them is: defrost steaks, (tenderize with a bladed tenderizer if the processor didn’t) put in 1gallon ziplock bag with ~1/3 cup Fischer Weiser Raspberry Chipotle sauce and ~1-tbs Worchestshire sauce, mix thoroughly and refrigerate ~30 min. Get a good fire going (or gas grill as hot as it will go~ 500+), and cook the steaks over direct heat for ~3 min per side(total only about 6 min, depending on thickness), check internal temp as needed, don’t overcook. The marinade will caramelize, hot fire gives you some crispy outside, comes out nice.From my freezer, not yet. I’ve been on-the-go nonstop since we got back and haven’t had a chance to break out recipes. At my friend’s place we’ve had ribeyes off his Blackstone and some elk roast. I will definitely try your method on my BGE.
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Lost a big limb off an oak thanks to a storm a couple of weeks ago. After some research, I was still unsure exactly where to trim the limb back to the trunk and didn’t want to take too much off and/or cut into tissue that would help healing. Any thoughts on how or if I should modify the original cut to help the tree heal? Pics spoilered below:
TIA
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16 minutes ago, Spaulding Smails said:
@solamente73 Thanks for the info on the transport. What was your breakdown on the cooler situation? I'm trying to figure out my game plan. I have two 100 qt Igloos and a 120 at Yeti. Wondering if that's enough or if I need to invest in a 250 qt Yeti before then. My buddy is bringing his coolers as well, so we'll be doing the Tetris thing for sure. I have an 8-ft bed with a tool box, so I'm optimistic I'll have enough space, but I may have to add on the bed extender to be sure.
Our final cooler tally:
1x120qt Igloo
3x60qt Igloo
1x60qt Coleman (in-cab)
1x45qt Yeti
(Plus 1x30qt softside for emergency overflow, used for drinks)I have a 5.5 bed with a Retrax cover, so it was a tight fit, but we had some room left over for boots, small bags, tools, etc. The 120 had to be centered for the tonneau to close.
With your 100s and 120, you might be able to get another 100-120 or equivalent straight in there without the extender, taking you to ~400+. How much volume do you think you'll need? Also, it's hard to imagine a 250 Yeti anywhere other than on an offshore boat - that's a monster of a cooler, hard to maneuver.
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On 9/11/2022 at 8:57 PM, 686 said:@solamente73 What are your plans for the meat / trophy; how did you transport back? I’d like to see a pic of those antlers sticking out of a truck bed if you have one! Did your friend hunt/tag out just along for the ride?
My buddy was originally just along for the ride, but my journey inspired him and early on decided to hunt as well. He’s a waterfowler who hadn’t even hunted deer before, but he put in the time and when the opportunity presented itself, he connected on a nice bull, too. It was awesome. Even better for him (but perhaps worse for his pocketbook), he’s been bitten by the Big Game Bug and is planning an African Safari for himself and his wife, and his wife wants to hunt Alaskan brown bear. We’ve talked Nilgai down in South Texas. I’ve created two monsters, so to speak.
We were fortunate to have local processors nearby, so we had processing done there with a turnaround less than 24 hours. Steaks (ribeyes, sirloin, tenderloin), roasts, ground cut with beef, stew meat. Dry ice and 7 coolers for the trip home. We played cooler Tetris and ended up with 345 quarts in the bed and another 60 in the cab. My elk alone did a decent job of filling up my new 19.5cf upright freezer:
Sorry, no pics of truck bed antlers. We had a local Utah taxidermist take care of the trophies - familiarity with elk plus no need for awkward transport over 1250 miles. My friend is doing a full shoulder mount, straight / no bugle. I’m doing a euro mount and a full cape. As much as I wanted a shoulder mount to capture the animal’s beauty, my house just isn’t suited for it, and euros are really more my taste. Plus, I think the full cape given his gorgeous champagne color was worth it. I kept the ivories in the skull for the euro, my friend might have jewelry made for his wife. I’ll also make a plaque to accompany the euro - it will have a pic of me, rifle, and bull; the shell casing; and pertinent details (date, location, range…). I might have my euro by EOY, my friend should have his by May 2023.
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On 9/8/2022 at 3:18 PM, deadshank said:Fantastic bull!! Congrats!! Look forward to reading up on your trip and how it all went down when you saw the bull, got to a spot where you were able send a bullet down range, what was churning in your bean when crosshairs were on him. Apparently you didn't forget to breathe.
Great job.
Nice hat, too.
Thanks! Even though I just returned from my hunt, I envy the journey upon which you embark tomorrow. It’s a high I can too easily see chasing again and again.
I’ll post later more pics and tidbits, but to your ask about the moment of truth… (spoilered for longcat)
SpoilerThe guide, my friend, and I had been chasing singles and gangs around for a couple of days. It was hot (high ~90), steep, lots of timber, sagebrush meadows. I’d tried to get shots on two different bulls, but no joy. The guide had told us that the elk, even in that hot weather, tended to take water once per day, usually in the morning. We had figured out where a very promising gang, which we hadn’t been able to glass well, had been taking water and then the trail they took up-mountain to feed later in the morning. We set up across a meadow from where we thought they would emerge to feed. Sticks set, round chambered, safety on.
This was the view:
Sure enough, mid-morning we saw an elk emerge from the tree line way off to the right of the landscape in that photo. Then another elk showed up. Then another. It was a holy shit - game time moment. We adjusted our position to better target that area and started to assess. The sun was directly in our eyes - it wasn’t the ideal position but it’s what the terrain and elk gave us to work with.
One by one, 10-12 elk emerged and began to graze… right behind an oak grove about 200 yards out. It was frustrating as hell. Every now and then two or three would make their way from behind the grove and we could get a good look, but then they’d disappear again behind it.
Then I saw The One. I knew it immediately - he stood out from the others with his light champagne coat and clean rack. The G1s an G2s were amazing, and the drop at the end of the main beams was sweet. I made the decision to target that bull… just in time for him to disappear back behind the grove.
We waited, maybe 30 minutes. They were grazing around, popping out every now and then, teasing us. The One was no where to be seen. We dared not move as we were in full sunlight and in full sight of one or more of the elk - at least our silhouette was obscured by the tree line behind us. Thick sagebrush is a real bitch to gain solid footing in, and everything from my toes to my neck were killing me without being able to move around and shift weight as I remained in position to take a shot. Sun directly in the eyes was a beating.
Finally, I saw The One emerge again. Two other elk partially obscured him. I confirmed with the guide that it was him. I called the ball - I just had to wait for the clear shot. Yeah, it had been go time, but now it was really happening and shit was real. I swear, my pulse rate must have jumped to 200 for a few seconds - it was unsettling and nothing like I’d experienced with any other animal in my crosshairs - not even close. Somehow, I pulled myself together and it was all business. Just aim where you want it to go.
The other two elk moved out of the way. The One was broadside facing left, grazing. Crosshairs near the top of his left shoulder crease. Safety off. The One raised his head. “I’m taking the shot.” Squeeze. Bang.
Jeezus the recoil on that thing. Plus shooting off sticks and bad footing. I’m lucky I didn’t fall over. I chambered another round and then back on target. He hadn’t moved. “Did I hit him?” “Yeah, he’s sick.” Then, through the rifle scope, I saw blood come out of his nose and/or mouth. A few more eternal seconds passed. He slowly turned 180 to face back towards the oak grove. “Should I put another one in him?” “No, he’s done.” Then he dropped and rolled.
The image through those crosshairs of that bull finally dropping and rolling, kicking up dust clouds illuminated by the bright Utah morning sun, is something etched into my brain for all time. It was absolutely cinematic.
I couldn’t believe it. Elation redefined. Fist bumps with the guide and my friend. I thought I would howl but I couldn't muster more than an excited whisper. “How long do we wait?” “We can go now."
Walking across that sagebrush meadow is a bit of a blur as my mind tried to recall all that had just happened, all while under a deluge of emotions bottled up for decades. It's cliche, but it was truly surreal - it was that moment when all the hard work and expectations culminate exactly as you had imagined it.
Walking up on the bull, I was awestruck. It's awesome size, and that ridiculous rack. Majestic and beautiful beyond compare:
It was hot, so after some photos and taking the time to venerate the bull, we had to get to work. Field dressing confirmed a double lung hit. I had joked to my wife (no pics) about eating the heart and wearing its blood as war paint (I have some Native American ancestry), but the guide told me I had to do it for real since it was my first elk. The heart was quite good if a tad bland, and blood went everywhere. My binoc pack has some blood stains that will spark good conversation.
That night, my buddy and I toasted the hunt, the animals, our guide and camp staff, and my dad. Dad's favorites were Wild Turkey 101 and Chivas, so both made an appearance, though the 101 I think won the night.
Dad's rifle had a purpose, and my father never had a chance to fulfill that purpose before cancer took him far too early. My mission to fulfill that purpose evolved into a journey on multiple levels that educated me on many unexpected things and that made me a better hunter, husband, father, and man. Not only was it an experience of a lifetime, but also a window into how my next 50 years can be even more rewarding than my first.
TL/DR After a couple of days of chasing a few elk around, we patterned the elk and set-up on an area where we figured they'd be feeding. When they appeared, it was a holy shit moment. Then once I had a clear shot on the one I wanted to take, shit got real really fast and I thought my heart would explode. Somehow I got control of myself and got to work. All business. One shot, double lung, essentially a DRT. Excitement, relief... so many emotions came flooding in. I practiced a ton with that rifle, so some kind of muscle memory just took over when the time for the shot came. Had it not, I probably would have been paralyzed by my brain saying "don't fuck this up."
So, don't fuck it up.
Good luck to you, sir! Have a great time, and hope to get periodic updates, though cell service in the mountains SUUUUUCKKKKSSSS.
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Mission accomplished:
Near Helper, UT
7x7 w/ a kicker
397 B&C score
Dad’s Weatherby Mark V chambered in .300 Weatherby Magnum
211 yards
200gr AccubondThis was a journey 37 years in the making, and he was the most majestic animal I had ever seen.
Dad was with me every step of the way. He would have turned 94 the day before I took the shot.
Thanks again for all the help and inspiration over the past year as I set out on this adventure of a lifetime. And @686 was right - I’m already planning the next elk hunt.
I hope all y’all going after elk this fall have great success and an even greater time achieving it!
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Posting here before going to the 2022-2023 thread just to say thanks y’all for all the advice and insight on elk hunting y’all have given since last December. Our elk hunt begins tomorrow. We’re here and ready to get to it!
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fuck waf-fle \fuhk' - wah - full\ n. (coined by @BabaYaga ) (origin) (2022) 1. a person of extreme moral turpitude and the lowest order who scavenges truck beds for, and steals, game meat and/or trophies that have resulted from other people's successful hunts while hunters are taking a piss inside a DQ or are otherwise away from their truck. 2. a worthless sack of shit who should be shot on sight and left strung up as an example to others.
@deadshank you already have the gist of the above, though I wouldn't give two shits about hauling heads into my room at that point. FYI we're thinking about just rolling straight through on the way back to minimize stops, but that seems exhausting and a waste of beautiful scenery.
Both your scopes are sweet, and I think it's a good call on the illuminated reticle if your eyes are like mine in low-light conditions. It's the one thing that keeps me drifting back to illuminated on the Swaro, but they are backordered and I'm running out of time.
@Spaulding Smails I haven't had to pay much attention to clothing since my hunt won't require technical clothing or planning for mid-to-late season weather. I've looked at Sitka and it's quality stuff, but talk about sticker shock. I have had zero exposure to Kuiu. I've found Red Head / Cabela's and Game Winner (Academy) to be durable enough for what I do in Texas and for what I expect in Utah. If the camo pattern is important to you, I like Truetimber Strata and Kryptek Highlander for both Utah and Texas, depending on time of year and specific terrain. I like the Optifade subalpine for Sitka. I subscribe to what @RMac5 said - cotton kills, so I go synthetic when I can.
I thought about hauling my 14' trailer, but I really don't want to unless I have to. If it came down to it, I'd rather have a third party handle the trophies than take the trailer. I'm leaning heavily towards installing a Rhino Rack t-bar system on my RetraxPRO XR tonneau cover and topping it with a Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform to provide a second level for cargo. Having talked with Retrax and Rhino Rack, if I use 4 t-bars, the system should be able to onroad about 500 lbs of cargo. I like this system because I will also use it a lot going to and from my farm. At this point, the cargo weight capacity of the F150 might become the limiting factor, so I need to crunch some numbers before pulling the trigger.
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Update: Bull Elk Mission (Late Aug 2022 in Utah with Dad's Weatherby Mark V chambered in 300 Weatherby Magnum)
First, ongoing thanks to all those who post here and on the Gun Owner's Thread - tons of great information, leads, and insights shared that have helped directly and indirectly.
Second, here's what's going on with gear (sorry for longcat):
- Tried to balance between 1) Elk mission, 2) utility in Texas, and 3) potential future western hunts
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New Rifle Scope:
- After a ton of research, it seems @686 nailed it from the get-go. I'm likely going with the Swaro Z5 3.5-18x44 as it seems to have great glass for my shitty eyes and is versatile enough for Elk and anything else I might need it for in the future (looking at you, Muley). @williemackgarza and others seem to be Swaro fans, too.
- I'm still mulling reticles - illuminated or not, go plex with ballistic turret or go BRH. Anyone have thoughts on reticles and/or BTs?
- Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44 CDS-ZL2 Side Focus and Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16x44 rounded out my top three.
- Ammo: @Gladeite provided some great insight, and agree with those who say it comes down to shot placement. Decided to go with the Weatherby Select Plus 200gr Accubond - go big or go home.
- Sling: @686 nailed it again with the Slogan sling - got the long magnum version. Will really help when traversing uneven terrain.
- Binocs: My old Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42. Work great for Texas deer and hog, but might be a weak link for Elk. Outfitter has spotting scopes (and sticks). Bino pack TBD.
- Clothing/Camo: Layers made of synthetic materials. Lightweight but rugged.
- Boots: Won't need serious mountain boots as this is an early season hunt maxing at 9500 feet and I wanted something suitable for Texas, too. Danner Pronghorn uninsulated fit the bill. Break-in was quick and comfort impressive.
- Rain Gear: Redhead Squaltex parka and pants; also provides extra protection in case of unexpected cold weather.
- Celebratory Libations: My dad liked to drink either Wild Turkey 101 or Chivas. Since this trip is in his honor, I'm bringing both.
Third, the prize:
- A lot of this we're still learning about.
- Butcher: Local place called Jerry's Meats will "cut, wrap, freeze the meat." I do not yet know if they will process the meat entirely or if we'll just bring back iced meat for processing in Texas.
- Trophy: The ranch can set us up with Accurate Services, whoever they are. I'm looking around DFW for someone to do a Euro. No word on cape - seems a lot of elk hunters leave it to nature rather than keep it for themselves.
- Bringing it all home: Getting everything in the F150 will be a challenge. Ranch recommends three to four 40qt coolers per animal. Plus two racks and two capes. That's A LOT to keep on ice and not much space in which to do it. Working on an upper deck solution for the truck bed to hold a few coolers. We'll keep an eye out for "fuck waffles" as we make stops on the way home.
I'll update as more is known and as we plan things out further.
Oh, and this will be the only orange I'll be wearing on this hunt (yay private land):
@Spaulding Smails how is your elk trip shaping up? @deadshank, now that you have the 7mm worked out, any other issues in planning your elk hunt? I miss anyone else?
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Shit I cooked for the family - shells stuffed with grilled chicken fajita; sautéed onion, bell pepper, jalapeños; cream cheese; Mexican cheese mix; Bolner’s southwest fajita seasoning. Topped with roasted hatch green chili sauce (roasted Hatch chilis, chicken stock, onion, garlic, dash cumin) and more cheese. Baked. Decadent.
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2018 F-150 Lariat Super Crew FX4 44k miles checking in with the dreaded SYNC APIM failure. Typical onset with delayed response to inputs, then failure of GPS and compass, then failure of Apple CarPlay… Yay.
Two questions:
1) I haven’t had to take my truck in for service since COVID started, so the following was a surprise: I had to make my appointment at the dealership three weeks in advance just to see a service salesman. Then after I see the salesman, my truck must stay onsite for a minimum of four days for a tech to diagnose the problem. Resolution sometime after that - no timeline given.
Is this the new normal? In 30 years of car ownership, I don’t recall this kind of process before. WTF I have to leave my truck for a week just to get looked at… and that’s after I made an appointment weeks in advance to drop it off?
2). My understanding is that only dealerships can work the APIM issue, but perhaps this is incorrect. Anyone know of a shop in the DFW area that could replace the APIM and program it for my truck? Apparently there are DIY secondary market options but I don’t want to fuck it up and end up with the heater blasting all summer or some shit.
2022-2023 Hunting Thread
in Hobbies
Posted · Edited by solamente73
Youtube for 'yotes
I'm literally right there with you. I hunted deer a few times, but with an elk in the freezer, I just prioritized other things. Not worrying about deer, I was able to introduce some folks to shooting sports... and to eradicating pigs, of which I have no shortage. So, no deer this year, but it's a priority for 2023, if for nothing more than "managing" the local herd for meat in the freezer.
Tons of fun working the farm and getting a good understanding of the deer population and its movement via cameras. I plan to build a new blind, and I hope to also hunt archery next season.
Like you, I'm concerned about the coyotes, and I plan to get into predator hunting this year. I already have the nightvision rig I use for hogs, a thermal scanner, and a general knowledge of where they move thanks to cameras. I plan to use some sort of electronic predator call. Youtube has helped as @BabaYaga mentioned. Just need to get to it.
In the mean time, need to find somewhere for spring turkey, 'cause we have none where I am in NE Texas.