MT_Sourdough

While I am still just lurn'n myself how to hunt predators, I have not had any problems with my Alpha Dogg. Not loud enough? Are you kidding me, this thing is loud. I have never turned the volume up all the way yet. The range with the remote is longer than I have used it and I have used it out to around 100 yards while it was tucked in bushes. As far as sound quality is concerned, I do not know how it rates to a Fox Pro. It's good, but does sound kinda like it's coming from a tunnel. Foxpro may sound similar I do not know. There is nothing better than sound emanating from a more organic source as in mouth calls. It takes time to practice with those mouth calls. They aint as easy as press'n a button, plus you need a place to practice. One thing that bothered me yesterday, is the Synchronizing. I am not sure if it was because I tried to dowload sounds or if I changed batteries or what, but my Alppha Dogg needed synchronize at my first set yesterday morning. It takes several minutes to synch and because I didn't know what was going on, i kept restarting. I ended up messing that set up, but I had a hawk come in. Lesson learned- test call before I go to the set, if it needs to synch do it before I go to the set.

I went to the range today to pin down my final load for the 22-250. Dialed it in with repatable 3/4" groups for 5 shots measured center to center and shot at 100 yards. That is exactly what I was hoping for. If I wanted better, I would have bought a rifle with a heavier barrel. I wanted to start with an easy to carry rifle that will be good for coyotes out to 300 yards max. I hope to keep shots under 200, but with the right shot opportunity, I'll be willing to stretch it out for pokes at coyotes if it wont come in any closer. So the only pieces of the puzzle, still needed are the 2014 licenses/tags and scent masking things. I am getting excited knowing I am getting close to scoring my first "called" coyote. When I was a kid living on our ranch in Montana, I was able to call in coyotes by imitating their calls/howling. Back then, I never knew anybody that could do that besides myself. My friends from town would come visiting and on a couple of occasions, I'd scare the heck out of them by calling the coyotes down to where we would be standing. The coyotes would come running out of the trees and I would turn around to see my friends making a mad dash for my house. Of course, my voice changed and I was never able to hit those pitches again. I bought a predator call (some sort of rabbit distress) back then, but I never was able to bring one in with it. 30 years later and I am finally about to get serious.

So, before I go again, I gotta go get my 2014 licenses and pick up some de-stink and re-stink stuff. It'll be next week before I'll be able to get at it again. Can't wait.

Thanks for all the responses. They are very helpful and encouraging. Couestracker, I'll try to make the Phoenix Varmint Callers meeting. I know that's about the best thing I can do to shorten the lurn'n curve. As far as the 22-250 goes, I don't doubt that such high velocity is going to be destructive. Of course as a handloader. Max velocities are one end of a velocity spectrum that I can work with. I can match any 22 centerfire velocity when I decide to get serious about the pelts. You guys are right though, the ballistics and bullet that I mentioned above are not going to be friendly to the fur. One of the reasons that I have decided to commit to going after predators is my awareness that I am spending to much time at the shooting/loading bench and not enough in the field. Shooting off a bench can become a crutch that handicaps a person in the field. Plus, I need the time in the field for the physical benefits of getting out and walking Predator hunting is a great way to get the time in the field and field shooting experience that will dramatically improve my deer hunting skills. Oh' I plan to incorporate my other rifles into the equation over time as well. What's better for practice than to shoot with the gun you are gonna hunt with? I made a bullet for my 444 that I named the Chino Valley bullet that weighs 187gr and will have a max velocity around 3000 fps. I made a 125gr bullet for my 30-30 that I named the Tonto bullet. That one will have a max velocity of around 2600fps from my Marlin 30-30. I also have a 110gr Hornady V-max/Nosler 110gr Varmegedon load for my 30-06 that has a max muzzle velocity at around 3400fps. Again thanks for the responses. All responses, advice, suggestions or constructive criticism are appreciated.

I am not planning on stretching the shots past 300, so I have a Howa 22-250 with a 20" lightweight barrel. In the future, after I have a season or two under my belt, I might upgrade the rifle, but for now it should suffice. I'm shooting my handloads with the Hornady's 53gr V-Max bullet over Varget for a chronied 35250-3550fps. My groups are about .75" to 1" for 5 shots at 100 yards. I have a set of safari stix and a set of predator sticks to use for rests. Not sure which I prefer yet. I have the Alpha Dogg E-caller from Primos and a Primos sit n'spin decoy. I've done a little scent management when heading out and used the wind to my favor, but I haven't worked a mask scent yet. I can get a mask scent. What would you recommend? One of my problems I have been repeating is setting up in such a way that the critters can come in unseen and stay hidden while having plenty of time to pick me out. At least that is what I think is happening.

The Lee sizing system is great. A little messy maybe, but it works and very cost effective. I use the Lee system and an RCBS Lubesizer. I like both systems and both have their merits. I load for the 44 mag, 444 Marlin, 22-250, 30-06, 30-30 and 38, but I only use cast in my 44 mag, 444 and 30-30. For 44 cal bullets, I have 7 molds that I am working with. MM 187gr, MM 237gr, RD 432-240, RD 432-265, NOE/RD 432-300, RD 432-350 and MM 417gr. The "RD" bullets are Ranch Dog bullets and the MM bullets are my designs that I created on the program at http://mountainmolds.com/ I size my 44 cal bullets to .432". Before you buy molds or sizers, make sure you are getting the right size for your bore. It is commonly held that you size .002" over bore size. Tomorrow, for Christmas, I am doing some terminal ballistic testing with some 44 cal bullets. Anyways, if there is anything I can do to help, feel free to ask.

Yikes! Zinc is not friendly to a bullet caster. It doesn't sound as if you've wasted too much pb. Some people will not throw it all away, but take the contaminated lead and use a tiny amount at a time mixed with a full pot of good pb. If it is not a bunch of lead, I'd get rid of it and that ingot that it came from. I try not to complicate things much with my casting, so messing with that stuff would just detract from an otherwise enjoyable operation. What caliber are you casting for?

I am a bullet caster. . What you need to know?

Right On! I'm stoked. Thanks for the replies.

So, I can head up to Flagstaff Office on Monday morning and purchase a leftover tag ? Sorry If I seem like I need to have things spelled out for me, but I just learned about this while reading this post a few minutes ago and I am excited about this new opportunity. A HAM hunt in my future or maybe an excuse to finally take up archery. Yippeee!

OK. Help me get this straight. If I already have one tag, I can get a leftover tag for another hunt of the same species?

19a for me. I did the javelina hunt last year in 21, first javelina hunt, and I got skunked. Didn't see a one. Except in my front yard . Last year, I lived on the edge of 21 and had javelina in my yard, but when I went out into the desert I didn't see a one. Now I live in 19A but I do not know this area well yet, but i have over three months to figure it out.

Now, I know some folk talk a tall tale and this may be something of that sort, but I have heard over the years the occasional story of somebody getting/finding a dog that is just a natural hunter. Stories usually claim a dog can be taken upland birding and waterfowling and just seem to instinctively know what to do. Often times the story will add that said dog also trees coons and cats like a natural. I don't know so I can't confirm, but those stories do exist out there.

The only antlers I saw all season was a 4 inch shed I found. I really beat up my boots, my gear, my rifle and my truck. I'm thoroughly exhausted. All I saw were does and not necessarily lots of them. A dozen or so I suppose. These little deer are crazy. I was watching one feeding in the morning. She was on a on a slope about 1000 yards or more away. I was in good camo from head to toe and I was nestled in with vegetation all around me. A rock shifted under my foot and that doe lifted her head up and looked right at me. ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME? More than a thousand yards, that's eery. As a consolation prize, the hunting gods gave me an indian arrowhead. The first arrowhead I ever found.

You read Jack O'connor and I'll read Pondoro Taylor. What's the TKO of your dinky little 25's. My 444 with a 420 gr Hard cast at 1850fps produces a TKO of 48. So if a Coues is standing on the other side of a water buffalo, I'll be in good shape. Sorry, I've gotta have some fun with this. Honestly,a 250-3000 in a 99 is a dandy little rifle indeed. And the 257 Roberts, well, jeez if a guy could have one of every cartridge that interests him, I'd have me a 257 Roberts, but I'd own a friggin 100 rifles. I don't, I have just a few. I first started using a 444 back in Montana where I hunted elk in back country on Grizzes turf. A little different than where your from and here I learned to love shooting a 444 because I became addicted to the physicality of the the shoot. Shooting smaller calibers is just not as fun for me, now. I shoot thousands of cast bullets in my 3 444s and at full gusto. Put's a smile on face every time I pull the trigger. The small groups I can produce with it makes me smile as well. Plus, I choose a 444 for tiny Coues because I am working from the starting point, - what if you had just one gun to do it all? You know, back in the olden dayz, common folk didn't have the option of choosing from a dozen rifles/cartridges for their different quarry. They used what they had and shot well. I'm thinking the 44 Winchester Center Fire as an example. So, with that in mind, I want to do it all with my 444. After hunting season, I'll be working with a new 187gr bullet that I am pushing around 3000 fps from my 444. That one's waiting for load development. I call it the Chino Valley bullet and I made it to be used for coyotes, Coues and Antelope. By the way, though the 444 would turn 50 this next year if Remington hadn't killed it. It's lineage/heritage actually dates back to the 1870's when a very similar cartridge nearly beat out the 45/70 for the Gubberment contract. Uncle Sam liked the heavier bullet for longer ranges and therefor chose the 45 caliber.

Very impressive. Way to go.

Well, so far the Coues are kicking my butt in 21. I just came down for the eight count. Need to regroup and get my bearings. Dang those little deer are tough.

Yep, it's a different universe on 30 minute hunting show. Man, it would be nice to have people carry my gear for me. I do not like many hunting shows that are not filmed in the west. The cows in Arizona are more wild than those "practically hand fed" deer in those East/South/Midwest shows.

I know I have better rifles for the job, but I am using a Marlin 444 for Coues. Understand, I am a die hard 444 fan and I hope to take as many of Arizona's different critters with the cartridge. I designed a 237gr cast bullet that I am pushing to about 2550 fps and should be good to go past 250 yards. Anyways, I was just wondering, how many folk out there go after these little deer with a leveraction?

I'm heading into 21 in about 5 minutes. I will be using two camps. A base camp near the road and a spike camp a couple of miles into roadless area. I do not like racing ATV's to the sweet spots on openning day, So, I get a days head start. This is my first Coues hunt, although this is my third year hunting 21, the previous two years were for Muleys. I know that when I hunted for mule deer the way I did back in Montana, in 21, I kept bumping Coues. It seems to me that Coues around here mimic the behavior and preferences of Muleys back in Montana. Muleys here are a whole 'nuther story. Anyways, good luck on your hunt.

I'll be using one or the other of these two rifles. First is a '65 Marlin 444 and the second is an '07 444SS.

I like all the responses and appreciate knowing that not everybody is packing a super flat shooting long range hunting rifle. Not that there is anything wrong with them. If I were a trophy hunter looking for that one big monster, I'd go for something other than a big bore lever. For me, if I get a Coues buck in my first ever attempt for one and do it with my beloved big bore lever, then that would be quite satisfying enough. I have to pass on that I apparently have a bad scope base on my '65 444. It's a long story that I won't rehash here, but all my load development work never bore repeatable results and it is too late in the game to start load development with my '07 444 SS. I have complete confidence with the repeatable submoa accuracy with Hornady Superperformance 444 265gr FP (from a bench of course). I have enough of the Hornady ammo to do a decent amount of shooting in the field off my sticks and prone over back pack and some off hand practice. It's humbling to have to resort on factory ammo for my hunt, but I took my load testing with my Sage Country II bullet right up unto the deadline. As a result of a bad base, I never accomplished what I needed and it is too late in the game to start a new working up a load. The bottom line, I am so excited that I will soon be toting my 444 and going after some Coues buck. Man, I LOVE THE HUNT!

Wow, great replies. I don't feel so alone. Chef, I have a 444P along with two others. '65 24" micro-groove, '07 Ballard 22" barrel and the Outfitter. I am using the '65 for the Coues hunt. I like the scout set-up on yours along with the custom lever. As far as the gummy tip bullets are concerned, I took 4 whitetail with them back in Montana. All four were bang flops. Some rifles shoot the gum tips well, but many do not. It's a hit and miss with the Micro-groove Marlins. Another problem with the gummy tip bullets is that often times you need to change the follower in the magazine. The older flat faced followers can cause the bullets to get cock-eyed in the magazine and cause feeding problems. I do not use the gummy tips anymore, because I cast my own these days. Last week, I received a new mold in the mail. It's my new "Chino Valley" 44 cal 187gr LNFP GC. In a little look-see, I recorded 2996fps 15 feet in front of the muzzle. That will be my future Coues, Pronghorn, javelina and coyote round. I do not have enough time and enough of the right powder to do proper load development before my October Coues hunt. For Javelina, I'll load the 187gr Chino Valley bullet with Trail Boss to about 1500fps. Anyways, It is great to hear about people using levers for these challenging little deer.

I see you are into levers. Will you use a lever for your Coues? I drew late Oct in 21 myself and this will be my first Coues hunt.

I drew the late October WT in area 21. First ever Coues hunt.