Evan T

I called one a couple days ago. It never came all the way into the caller and was watching the caller from a position I couldn't see. It got up an ran when I went to retrieve the caller. took me to long to figure out what the thing was a first so I didn't shoot. I was calling in a rocky wooded canyon and several times during the stand I heard noise like something was jumping around on rocks. I think it might have been the coati moving around. I was using a mixture of rabbit and fox distress and it was mid day. Years ago I was bow hunting out of a blind and had one come right up to the blind after using a doe estrus bleat call. It appeared to be mostly just curious. Both times they where lone male coatis. I think they seam to respond more out of curiosity than a predator dive. The one I called recently didn't appear to be hunting the caller but just curious about the sound. Biased on the noises I heard I think it had been moving around just out of sight during most of the stand. If you try calling for one I think just about any sound will work but they might not come in like most predators so you might need to think a little outside the box when setting up your stand.

When using an O/U for dove I've always used a Modified choke for the top barrel and an IC for the lower barrel. I usually use the lower IC barrel first then the upper MOD barrel second. The idea being shooting first at closer range then taking a longer follow up shot if you miss or there are two birds. If the birds are mostly flying strait towards me I reverse the order. With a single barrel gun I go with a Modified choke.

Yeah I still have a lot of trouble turning the ears. Fox ears seam to be prone to slipping. I found that putting a fan on them after putting the fur on the stretcher drys them faster and helps keep them from slipping.

I tried my hand at tanning the furs I got this past season. I lost the first few but most of them turned out okay. Far from a professional job but they are good enough to hang on the wall as a trophy. I think I figured out the tanning process but still have some work to do on the finishing process. They’re not as soft as I’d like but they still make cool souvenirs from my hunts. I definitely developed a respect for people who know how to do this well.

Yes I use TASCO/Rittels products. Saftee acid for pickling and EZ100 for tanning. I degrease using dawn dish soap.

I got my 2020 javelina on January 20th during Fort Huachucas archery javelina hunt. I had hunted every weekend and free day all month without seeing any javelina. I had been hunting areas that had produced javelina for me before, usually glassing from dawn to dusk. All the areas I was hunting had javelina sign in them, but I just couldn’t find them. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t fill my tag this year. After glassing all morning in a spot where I had taken a javelina every year for the past three years, and still seeing nothing, I decide to try something different. Two years ago I had been predator calling in a place a few miles away and called in some javelina. I decided to quit what I was doing and go check out that spot. The spot was near a pond in an area that seemed like a good bedding area. I set up on the north side of the pond and started blowing on a predator call. After a few minutes I saw a lone javelina in the brush on the other side of the pond. He kept coming closer and stopped on the far edge of the pond. He stopped just outside of my comfortable range so I decide not to take a shot. He milled around for a little bit and then left. I tried to follow after him but had to give up because the brush was too thick to stalk trough. I headed back to my spot on the north side of the pond. I waited around for a while contemplating my next move feeling disappointed. Just then I spotted something moving in the brush on the other side of the pond. It was a lone javelina coming around the east side of the pond and heading north. When he disappeared from view I nocked an arrow and headed in his direction hoping to intercept him. I hadn’t moved very far when he popped up less than 10 yards in front of me. He froze looking in my direction as I fumbled with my release trying to hook it to my bow string. After what seemed like a long time I hooked my string and drew my bow. Just as he started to leave I put an arrow in him and he dropped a few feet away. I’m pretty sure this was the same javelina I had called in earlier. He weighed 38 lbs dressed and is the first boar javelina I’ve ever taken. I thank God that I was able to take this animal after a long hunt that I didn’t think would work out. When what you usually do isn’t working don’t be afraid to try something new.

Congratulations. Great write up of your hunt.

Filled my 2019 tag yesterday. Glassed him up on a hillside in the afternoon following a doe around. Took him at 350 yards with my 270. To date he's the best buck Ive ever taken. Going to get him mounted for sure. Glad I decided to take Friday off rather than go to work.

Finally got me a bobcat. Ive been trying for a long time to get one. I was walking a wash looking for a place to call, and found this scat. So I set up and called this cat in after about 15 minutes.

FoxPro's Ranting Red Bird.

Yes on post Area H.

Filled my tag on opening day. Found a group after glassing for only about 15 minuets. Blew the stalk and they ran off. I found A good vantage point and stayed put. They came back in less than an hour and I was able to get a shot at this one.

Yes. Not far from there. In the back ground where you can see a little bit of green, there is a large, deep, wide draw that's not very visible. That's where this one was taken.

Took this buck on December 20th during Fort Huachucas second rifle hunt. I glassed this buck mid-morning going down in to a draw. After waiting a while and not seeing him come back out I decided to try a stalk. I walked down a steep slope from my glassing location into a draw that connected to the one I had seen the buck go into. Fortunately I had my shooting tripod in hand, because when I got to the bottom of that draw, I look up ahead and saw the buck standing on top of the ridge looking in my direction through some ocotillo. I ranged him at 290 yards, put the rifle on the tripod and made the necessary scope adjustments, and fired. My shot was a little high but the bullet hit him in the spine and dropped him.

Could be. I know a few Roberts though so I'm not sure.

Took this grey fox this weekend. His tail was completely missing. He must have had a hard life.

Took my first javelina yesterday. Struck out the past two years in a row with 35A HAM tags. Was able to draw a Ft Huachuca archery tag this year and finally get the job done.

So how exactly do you fix them? I figured I could always grind it with pork and make sausage but there's not a lot of information out there on how to cook Javelina.

Yes

For some reason I always miss whenever I hunt on Ft. Huachuca. Finally broke the curse on Saturday and took this fox.

Brought in this fox in saturday evening with a cottontail distress call and a homemade feather decoy. First animal I've taken with this rifle.

The aimpoint is a Comp M4. The magnifier works. Makes it possile to take longer shots. I had to get a longer rail to fit them both on the rifle. I got around the cost by trading for the optics.

You are correct. I was thinking that fmj bullets on non military cartridges might be legal, but if the reg is reffering to the concept of fmj bullets in general than they would not be. Either way I think I'll use something differnt next time to avoid any grey area.

They should rewrite the reg so what they are actually prohibiting is more clear. If the intent is to prohibit all FMJ ammo they could just state that without the "designed for military use" and eliminate all confusion. It would also require less words.

Ive seen some ballistic tests that show FMJ 223 rounds fragmenting after they enter a target. I thought that might explain the large exit wounds.