Shooter McGavin

When I informed the Mrs. the day I was in Discount Tire, the 1001 questions started; Do you really need new tires............yes, the roads are horrible and slick. Do you need to purchase all 4 now..............Yes, I need more aggressive tires to locate these hard to find elk. Why can't you just buy one..........the tread is different on the other 3 and won't wear properly causing further problems down the road. Just this morning, she said you might as well go to the at wash and clean your new tires, they are still dirty. I love my wife, she is so funny. But yes you are right, the elk will definitely taste better not thinking about the purchase.

Wow-za, extremely nice buck and fantastic job.

Actually got to it pretty early this morning, the meat was very cool to touch. Got it back to the truck and dropped it off to WGP. Talked with Johnathan re: our situation and told him to salvage what he could. Fingers crossed for something.

Well it's that time again to share another successful WT Jr. deer hunt with the oldest. Went out yesterday to try and tag a mule deer, unsuccessful but had a great one on one time with the boy. I told him lets go get a WT since the game camera had plenty coming and going. We headed out his afternoon at 3:00, got to our glassing point at 4:15, wind not in are favor so we went to a large shaded bowl. Instantly picked up a buck, we high tailed it around and got within 260 yds. I told him to just breathe and send the lead. He shot a tad high and the buck moved about 10' up. I told him reload and send some more, shot low and he took off. He looked at me and sorry dad, should have practiced some more. I felt bad because I new how he felt and been in his shoes year after year. I told him not to worry but let's look over this ridge and see if we kicked up anything else. As we peer over I notice another bedded buck, this one was 160 yds out. I told him this is your redemption buck. He got set up and squeezed off a round. The buck shot up and stumbled through some trees, I said lets go take a look. We got down and I found some hair and flesh, I turn around the direction he ran off and found some good blood. About 20 yds, the deer jumps up and bolts down hill. Jake rips off another round but misses. The blood trail was good so we followed him down, we bust him again and he keeps running down hill. He runs at least 300 more yds down hill. We finally catch up and about 100 yds out and Jake puts a final round in him. This was about 5:45, we tag him and start dragging him out due to the daylight running out. We get him half way up this nasty hill and it's dark, no where near the truck or any roads. We break out the flash lights and gut him and decide to cut off the head and shove him up under a rock overhand to come back tomorrow. Even with the flash lights Jake was getting nervous how dark it got and I didn't want to take a chance of getting hurt trying to get back safely. It took us 2 hrs to get back to the truck. This is his 3rd WT, and he is only 12. The grin says it all.

2:45 came awfully early this morning, got my 10 yr old daughter up for her very 1st Jr deer. She was drawn for unit 33. We headed out the door at 3:30 and parked just after 4. Started up the mountain, holy smokes was the wind blowing hard. I was not happy with that with the only exception that it would keep the bugs at bay. Half way up my daughter says her feet hurt, I know how that goes but how do you tell a 10 yr old everything will be ok. I tell her lets just get to the top of this hill and sit and wait for the sun to come up. Well 20 min into it she says she is cold, the wind was just obnoxious and slightly cold even for me. Well after just seeing does I give her an ultimatum, lets keep going up and over where the sun is now or sit here and shiver. Bless her heart, even with sore feet she said lets go. We make it to the saddle and boy does the sun feel good but man it was even windier. I tell her that most deer will be out of this wind on the west side of the mountains. As we head south I start to glass and immediately find 4 doe, then 3 bucks. We drop down, I range them at 256. With the wind still blowing hard we can actually talk and get set up with them not hearing us. I extend the bipod and lay both packs on top of each other. She finds them in the binos and then transitions to the rifle scope. Bingo, she has them. The next 20 min go by with "daddy I'm nervous, is the gun going to be loud, will the gun kick hard" I told her to breath and relax, put the deer in between 2 and 3 crosshairs ( it was 254 yds at the time) you probably won't feel the kick and for it being loud here is some TP to put in your ears. Another 10 min go by and she is contemplating which deer with the occasional question "are they bigger than Jake's 1st deer", I said yes whenever you are ready just squeeze the trigger. All of a sudden a 3rd buck appears broadside, same distance, she says I want that one! I told her whenever you're ready I'll be your eyes. Boom, deer drops in his tracks and high fives and hugs for a wonderful 1st experience. We walk down and begin the fun and pictures that will last a lifetime. We drop it off at WGP for burgers and steaks. I'm taking my boy tomorrow, ( same jr hunt) he wants a Mule deer though. So hopefully another story will follow.

If you are not in a hurry, I'll be driving through Anthem on 10/15 on my way up for my cow elk (hopi hunt) and I'll take them off your hands. Let me know?

Had over 2300 pics and at least 8 different bucks ranging from spikes, folkies, 2x and 3x. Showed my daughter and she is oh so ready. The coati's and fawns were really neat to see.

Was there yesterday and today scouting for my cow hunt in Oct, heard 1 bugle, glassed up 2 very nice 6x, 1 ugly dual beam club head and a 4x. Weather was very warm, wondering if that has something to do with it.

With all the rain and seeing how green the mountains have become I had to check my camera again and thank god I did. The grasses were up to my waist making the trek up very nerve racking and painful. Kept walking into shin daggers and was down right scared I wasn't going to step on a buzz worm. I get to my camera and it was absolutely insane how much growth was around this area. I pulled so many weeds making the area more open, then I swapped out SD cards and hurried home. Mind you it was only 3 weeks, but I had 4326 pics. Needless to say I am very happy with the results. Let me know what you think this 1st buck might score?

This morning was a repeat of yesterday only a tad bit warmer. The boy clobbered them again. I swear there were times where there were 2000+ birds flying from these two fields. It was absolutely priceless watching him spin like a merry-go-round trying to focus on 1 bird. Killed one rattlesnake, what was weird he was tailless, somebody or something gnawed off his tail which scared me a little too much. He reared his head about 4' away and was hissing, but not rattling. Needless to say his frontside was a mirrored image of his backside after a 20g took his head off. Gonna do 3 peat tomorrow to end the wonderful weekend.

A friend with an empty freezer

Couldn't find the time to make it out during the work week but headed out this morning with the boy and a good friend. All I can say is, Holy Bejesus their were thousands of birds. Got my limit in under an hour which gave me ample time to watch my boy get his 1st limit of 15. He depleted my 20g stock of shells but it was sure worth it watching him aim, then bang-bang (that's his Antonio Zoli O/U) and then to see the bird buckle and smash to the ground. Couldn't be happier, headed to Walmart to stock up again for second round Sunday. We all limited out.

Matching Kimber Classic 270 wsm, one for each child I'm taking out opening day on Oct 9, unit 33 jr hunt. I have a bad (awfully good) feeling daddy will be very tired dragging 2 WT bucks simultaneously back to the truck.

I currently own a 2014 Toyota Tundra crew max. I have been blessed to get the go ahead on installing some sort of lift. I am not looking to break the bank but I want a nice clean look and bigger tires. I would like some feedback from all CWT members who have a leveling kit or suspension (4" being the max height). I have inquired with Desert Rat regarding the Boss suspension which I guess Toyota uses to level their trucks. I guess it's as smooth as a stock ride, but it only raises it 3" and costs $1200+ labor, the leveling kit is a 4" but a rougher ride and quite a bit cheaper. Any thoughts or pics of your rides would be helpful. Thanks in advance

Did you put the lift on or did it come with the truck? How many miles on it before the steering box? Was it normal driving /hunting conditions, for example see a road and wonder where it went or do did you really 4x with it?

I will surely inquire about this

The 3" lift is $1200, plus $400 in labor. So around $1800. It has some new style beefy coil front springs along with other goodies. The 4" leveling kit has just spacers (front and back) $480ish Both costs include alignment

Thank goodness that wasn't from a proctologists point of view.........................

Definitely cool old photos, but is it just me or do the deer back east just look bad (jacked up). I don't think they compare to the beauty of our Coues and even Muley's in Az. Maybe it's the dry heat that gives our deer a great looking look. Just saying.............

Is it not a 4x4? I think you could definitely do better. Great looking truck though........

Looks like Jared began and ended his career trying to get into smaller pants...................

Congrats to you and your boy............It truly is an awesome feeling, but it doesn't even come close to the reaction/feeling when you both are eyeballing (little guy using the scope and you using your binos) staring down the buck he is about to put a tag on. It only gets better. The memories have just begun................

They are awesome indeed. The amount of money spent on the time, taxidermist bill, the actual house to be able to have the room for all those mounts is mind blowing, I personally think it's a little excessive for my tastes. My trophy room consists of the following: my 1st javelina kill (archery) which is mounted in my garage above the door leading into the house. A decent 3x WT Euro mount in my office at work My 2010 Mt Lion skull in my office at work Another Javi skull in my office And a ton of sawed off antlers from previous kills of WT and Mulie killed during my many years of hunting in a garage cabinet. I'm a simple man..........

270wsm- Magazine full, plus I always carry 3-4 in each front pocket, 10 more in my backpack. Doesn't cost anything to carry more. You never know when you might be slinging lead at a Mt Lion. XD 40- mag full with an extra mag in backpack. (Rattlers, bears and two-legged yotes)

XD40 or any other sidearm of your choice PROS extremely light weight, lasts year round and highly effective. One time purchase and your done. CONS very noisy Alternate: BFR.........Big F...ing Rock