Hunting ‘23/‘24: Bag ‘em and Tag ‘em

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2732]

1 hour ago, huge said:

Strange bedfellows when we are complaining about rain after the summer we had.

Yes, however we can't all get out for long weekends very often so this has been on the books for quite a while.  We will still have fun, but if it is raining hard while I'm in the blind it is a guaranteed nap.  

[fattyflattie 4639]

1 hour ago, T’Boo Ted Marshall said:

Yes, however we can't all get out for long weekends very often so this has been on the books for quite a while.  We will still have fun, but if it is raining hard while I'm in the blind it is a guaranteed nap.  

 

[Matagorda 118]

Picked up a little CZ Sharptail 28 gauge.  Its a fun little gun. 

[686 3447]

I’m packing up to head to Colorado in the morning. My elk season starts Saturday. Packing has been pretty hectic, since I was whitetail hunting all last weekend, didn’t get as much done on my Colorado prep, so it’s going to be a late night and an early morning tomorrow. I feel like my gear situation is probably ok, but I’m wishing I had some more time to shoot long range with the hand loads I’ve worked up. Still need to load some extras tonight. I’m bringing several boxes of factory ammo as well and need to spend some time shooting up at elevation Friday. It’s weird, when I started doing this trip a few years back I just threw some stuff in a bag and went, now I’m worried about every little gear detail. My partner is up there already and has seen a lot of cows and does but no bucks or bulls. It’s warmer and drier than usual where we’re hunting, which I don’t mind staying dry, but the snow does seem to help the hunting sometimes.

[686 3447]

168gr TTSX and 84 grains of 7828ssc was giving me 3390 feet per second at the range. Filling this box and hitting the hay.

[BabaYaga 15289]

10 hours ago, 686 said:

168gr TTSX and 84 grains of 7828ssc was giving me 3390 feet per second at the range. Filling this box and hitting the hay.

Caliber?  Look like WSM cartridges for those in the black case?

[686 3447]

300 Weatherby. I only was able to shoot 20 rounds of my final load work up, but I was getting over book velocity and ~MOA accuracy. My last 3 shot group was ~2” in spread, just off the bullseye at 300 yards. The 168gr TTSX is an interesting bullet. Looking forward to shooting it more and hopefully ascertaining some terminal performance soon.

[Matagorda 118]

17 hours ago, 686 said:

I’m packing up to head to Colorado in the morning. My elk season starts Saturday. Packing has been pretty hectic, since I was whitetail hunting all last weekend, didn’t get as much done on my Colorado prep, so it’s going to be a late night and an early morning tomorrow. I feel like my gear situation is probably ok, but I’m wishing I had some more time to shoot long range with the hand loads I’ve worked up. Still need to load some extras tonight. I’m bringing several boxes of factory ammo as well and need to spend some time shooting up at elevation Friday. It’s weird, when I started doing this trip a few years back I just threw some stuff in a bag and went, now I’m worried about every little gear detail. My partner is up there already and has seen a lot of cows and does but no bucks or bulls. It’s warmer and drier than usual where we’re hunting, which I don’t mind staying dry, but the snow does seem to help the hunting sometimes.

Did you get drawn or going OTC? 

[Brisketexan 105081]

300 Weatherby. I only was able to shoot 20 rounds of my final load work up, but I was getting over book velocity and ~MOA accuracy. My last 3 shot group was ~2” in spread, just off the bullseye at 300 yards. The 168gr TTSX is an interesting bullet. Looking forward to shooting it more and hopefully ascertaining some terminal performance soon.

Man, I have a WBY .300 mag, but haven’t shot it in years (no available ammo). Preferred to shoot 150 gr over 180, but gotdamn both are fast.

[deadshank 24652]

19 hours ago, Matagorda said:

Picked up a little CZ Sharptail 28 gauge.  Its a fun little gun. 

I inherited on of those shotguns from my old boss when he moved back to South Africa.  Gave me 3 cases of shells to boot.  Have yet to shoot it.
 

Need a reason.
 

Will find one.   

[686 3447]

Did you get drawn or going OTC? 

I put in for first rifle season, but wasn’t drawn, so I am OTC this year. My hunting partner drew a mule deer buck tag, so he’s looking for bucks and I’m looking for bulls.

The neighbors close to his cabin had an aggressive blackbear around earlier this year, so I’ll probably pick up an OTC bear tag as well. Colorado makes you buy a small game license to apply for a tag so I’ve got that and I usually add a furbearer tag as well. I’ve seen coyotes and foxes the last couple years, but I haven’t pulled the trigger on one. I’ll probably do that if I get the opportunity this year.

[686 3447]

Made it up to the cabin, saw tons of mulie does, including several right on the shoulder of the road that make your heart stop for a second wondering if they are going to step out in front of you while you’re doing 70. Saw one bull late. Checking rifles and getting groceries tomorrow. We’re thinking about camping out tomorrow night in a new spot.

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2732]

Double farts.

Made it in late last night and one of the two meatheads shoots a 10 point( good for Mt Vernon)15 minutes after being in the blind.
He’s now smoking cigars and on smoker duty.

[hornmpa96 2618]

Unfortunately, he’s not the deer I’m looking for.

[Herbie Hancock 7345]

Doing what I can to stay warm

[hookemATL 11707]

You must put in the work to reap the benefits of your labors. 

- Dr. Abraham Lincoln, 1972

[tequila 317]

Not a bad day.

[sith_horn 2379]

On 11/9/2023 at 4:45 AM, 686 said:

168gr TTSX and 84 grains of 7828ssc was giving me 3390 feet per second at the range. Filling this box and hitting the hay.

I used to have the RCBS Chargemaster Combo, predecessor to your RCBS Chargemaster. It worked fine but I found I preferred to use my Ohaus made Lyman M5 scale beside the RCBS below. Sold the RCBS since I wasn't using it. Someone got a deal on it, just like I did on the Lyman which I scored unused and mint in the box for cheap on craigslist.

[Herbie Hancock 7345]

Got my big fella with the tall G2's and an added bonus that decided she shouldn't run off

[686 3447]

@Herbie Hancock need to see some pictures of him propped up - nice buck!

[686 3447]

Hiked into a remote area and spike camped tonite. Saw a nice elk herd and tons of mulies all on private land on the way in. Hopefully some filter out in front of our glassing setup in the morning. Don’t have service on the road but have nice 5G up on top of the ridge at 7600’.

[Herbie Hancock 7345]

@Herbie Hancock need to see some pictures of him propped up - nice buck!

[Herbie Hancock 7345]

13" on his right G2, 11.25" on the left

Almost had to go get the tractor to get him in the truck. Big fat bastard. I've watched him for 3 years, and his teeth are pretty ground down and he had that old man low swaying head when walking so I'm guessing he's 6.

[Sam Lin 3551]

Mount idea for y'all:

Spoiler

 

[686 3447]

Under 20 degrees this morning. Hiked a little over 5 miles today. We saw two shooter mulie bucks, but didn’t get a shot opportunity. Packed up the spike camp and headed back to the cabin, watching the Texas game with our feet up now.

[Al Czervik 1229]

Mid day walkabout with the breeze in favorable direction and this guy getting his lust on in between scrapes. He was just as surprised as I was. 

[Gladeite 375]

On 11/8/2023 at 10:45 PM, 686 said:

168gr TTSX and 84 grains of 7828ssc was giving me 3390 feet per second at the range. Filling this box and hitting the hay.

168 grain TTSX at 3400 fps is a young man's game.  That is a lot of bang.  I shoot a 110 grain TTSX at 3500+ fps and it is a lightning bolt without a lot of kick in my '06.  I have shot a lot of whitetail, elk and African plains game culls with this load and have found that speed is the name of the game with the Barnes bullets.  They are unmatched at ultra high velocities.  At middle range velocities, I have a lot better results with lead.  You will not be under gunned in Colorado.  Good luck!

[Kennythetiger 9376]

1 hour ago, Al Czervik said:

Mid day walkabout with the breeze in favorable direction and this guy getting his lust on in between scrapes. He was just as surprised as I was. 

That’s a respectful way to pose the deer. Never seen that before. 

[Al Czervik 1229]

21 minutes ago, Kennythetiger said:

That’s a respectful way to pose the deer. Never seen that before. 

I’d rather not publish blood and wounds. That’s just me don’t mind if others do. 

[Izhmash 562]

Big boy taken yesterday morning on our property in Tally Bottoms, just southeast of Longview, TX. Hoping to get some more photos soon.

[RMac5 1551]

On 11/10/2023 at 8:07 PM, 686 said:

Hiked into a remote area and spike camped tonite. Saw a nice elk herd and tons of mulies all on private land on the way in. Hopefully some filter out in front of our glassing setup in the morning. Don’t have service on the road but have nice 5G up on top of the ridge at 7600’.

What are you using for a sleeping bag?

[deadshank 24652]

17 hours ago, Kennythetiger said:

That’s a respectful way to pose the deer. Never seen that before. 

Always tuck in or cut off the tongue and tuck the legs under. Right the buck up. Kneel behind if you want to get in the frame with it.  
 

All sprawled out with a hanging tongue like the town sot  is a disrespectful look.  
 

The buck looks bad, too. 

[Herbie Hancock 7345]

What are you using for a sleeping bag?

I've found fat girls give off a lot of heat. They also typically have an ample snack selection on hand.

[deadshank 24652]

On 11/9/2023 at 10:51 PM, 686 said:

Made it up to the cabin, saw tons of mulie does, including several right on the shoulder of the road that make your heart stop for a second wondering if they are going to step out in front of you while you’re doing 70. Saw one bull late. Checking rifles and getting groceries tomorrow. We’re thinking about camping out tomorrow night in a new spot.

I wish I wasn’t an old man.   Those were the days.  That picture is making my heart ache.   

1 minute ago, Herbie Hancock said:

I've found fat girls give off a lot of heat. They also typically have an ample snack selection on hand.

Warm in the winter 

Shady in the summer time. 

[686 3447]

What are you using for a sleeping bag?

A ~20 yr old Slumberjack. It has been in a stuff sack for probably 99.99% of the last 10 years, so not optimal, but it worked. It was cold that night, below 20F. I kept some wool thermals, socks, and a sock hat on and I was ok, but woke up a lot with my shoulders or hip bones hurting from not enough padding between me and the ground.

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4975]

A good sleeping pad with a high R value is probably more important than the bag in that situation.

[BabaYaga 15289]

9 minutes ago, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

A good sleeping pad with a high R value is probably more important than the bag in that situation.

That, and not draping something heavy over the bag that compresses the air pockets and essentially renders the bag useless like a big blanket.  Had a guy do that one year and he froze that first night.

Also learned that sleeping in damp clothes inside the bag will dry them overnight vs. setting them out and having them frozen that next morning.  

[686 3447]

Heading up to a different spot today, higher elevation, about 8800’, where we both had this hoss within 30 yards last year. Neither of us had a mulie tag last year, but my partner has one this year. The neighbor at the cabin up here is a part time cowboy that rounds up cattle out of the national forest, he said he saw the buck up there in September, so hopefully he’s still hanging around now that we’ve got a tag.

[Al Czervik 1229]

18 hours ago, RMac5 said:

What are you using for a sleeping bag?

IMG_2698.avifIMG_2698.avif

[Matagorda 118]

21 hours ago, Izhmash said:

Big boy taken yesterday morning on our property in Tally Bottoms, just southeast of Longview, TX. Hoping to get some more photos soon.

Holy smokes dude.  

[Matagorda 118]

My 12 year old got his best buck and a fat oinker in Arkansas.   My lab got her first real tracking job in, which is such a bonus to her duck and dove retrieving skills.  If you have a retriever, Id highly recommend working them on tracking big game.  

[Cajun 11705]

End of my driveway just now…

[RMac5 1551]

He’s looking for love.

[Cajun 11705]

Needs a “ How you doin’ caption”.

[Cajun 11705]

On 11/8/2023 at 7:51 PM, Matagorda said:

Picked up a little CZ Sharptail 28 gauge.  Its a fun little gun. 

 

[686 3447]

Hiked ~5 miles today, but very little elk sign and some deer sign, but no animals to be seen. Several other hunters around, but no shots heard. We really need a cold front. Supposed to come Friday, wish it was sooner.

[686 3447]

God is good. Not a giant, but Very lucky this morning. My partner has the whole thing on video. Huge herd walked in on us. It was incredible.

[CycleTex87 2967]

My current view

 

[CycleTex87 2967]

Can’t afford those shots today. 

[HOOKEM4 5036]

Wife in the school pickup line saw this horny fucker. 5 min later and it could have been disaster if kids were walking that strip like normal.