Scooter

I have the late archery tag, I am confident that we'll see elk.

Savage is really putting out a decent factory rifle these days. If it were me I'd pick up a model 11-111 XP hunter package that comes with the Nikon BDC scope in 7mm Rem Mag...

There's dozens of Buffleheads and Scaup (Bluebills) on Parker Canyon Lake every year... whole bunch of Ruddy Ducks too. Can't hunt the lake though, which is a bummer. There's plenty of room on the lake that time of year to safely conduct duck hunts.

I dig what you're saying... But I don't want to have to move my sight pins around between shooting a 3D course and hunting. I have read online and in magazines that the solution to tuning Muzzy's or any fixed blade BH's is to shoot two groups with field points and two with the muzzy's, if the broadhead POI is off move your rest in the direction of the field point group in <1/32" increments until the POI's match. Well, I did that a few times over and never got them to hit the same. Again, it is not the Muzzy's fault- they are a solid head with a fantastic track record. My current set-up just doesn't want to play nice with them. I personally like the ability to go from field points to my mechanicals with very minimal change in POI.

Wigeon are my absolute favorite. Had a beautiful one at my taxidermist in TX and after I paid in full his place burned down. I haven't shot a wigeon since then! Bummer. Nice mounts- I have a gorgeous Bufflehead drake in my man-cave...

Last year was a bust for me too... Shot maybe 10 total during the September season and 4 during the late hunts. This year is gonna be awesome!

I tried over the past two weeks... I mean I tried and tried and tried to get those things to fly. Tuned up everything as best as I and my bow shop could. Just kept hitting high and right of my field points. I REALLY wanted to switch over from mechanicals for my upcoming elk hunt, and reading this post I was pretty sure the Muzzy 100's were the ticket. Bought a 6 pack and just couldn't get them to dial in with my field points. I'm sure they are a fantastic broadhead- proof is right here in the many CWT'ers who are loyal users. I have to keep testing heads- I seriously don't want to rely on a mechanical broadhead in November, even though my NAP Killzones are 1 for 1 in the hit/kill department. I just don't trust the hunt of a lifetime to moving parts on a broadhead and the massive body cavity of a bull elk.

Primers can change between LOT numbers... let alone brand to brand.

Yeah 30B can be pretty confusing. I live in Sierra Vista and usually hunt 35A, but I've done a little exploring in 30B. The access points I've used have always been off of Charleston Rd. east of the San Pedro RNCA. Look for the "State Trust Land" signs on gates along the road. That'll get you into some really good rolling hills mule deer type country. Check this link- the San Pedro RNCA has tons of deer, but it takes a lot of work getting to them: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/ncarea/sprnca/hunting.html here's the AZGFD write up on the area. I really don't know much about access to the Mule Mtns or the Dragoons other than there are a few spots near Tombstone... http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_units_30b.shtml

It's really okay to hunt down here... I've been hunting down here on the border for three years now and haven't had any REAL close run-ins. The hunting is fantastic and you really shouldn't let it keep you away. From Douglas to Nogales we have a large amount of BP assets and they do a great job. I never worry too much about hunting the south side of the hills. Carry a gun and use your bino's everything is okay.

The T/C Triumph Bone Collector is serious deer medicine!!! As far as ballistic data... well, with Black Powder and substitutes it is really tough to get the same kind of consistent ballistic data from shot to shot that you do with a modern smokeless cartridge. You'll be seeing bigger swings in velocity at the muzzle due to the very nature of BP and its subs. You'll also want to "cold bore" that thing when you try to figure it out as BP guns have a tendency to vertically string witha dirty barrel after a few shots. It is possible to get data from the manufacturers in their test barrels- but better to just load up the chrono and hit the range. There are plenty of free apps for smart-phone calculators that show ballistics where you can plug in the muzzle velocity, temperature, elevation, wind, barrel length, scope height, etc... I use a CVA Wolf 209 Magnum and two IMR White Hot pellets behind T/C 240gr XTP Mag Express Sabots. For my "new" older percussion sidelock T/C Tree Hawk I intend to use 65gr Pyrodex P behind a 320gr T/C Maxi Ball. I haven't chrono'd either of those loads yet, I just know from experience that I can "cold bore" center punch a pie plate at 100yds with that CVA Wolf. Good luck and welcome to the addiction of BP hunting!!!

Rifleman, can I ask you politely to please stop trolling my post? I think we've all had our fun...

Not really sure I would make that investment to do a one-time fix on older bows. I'd much rather network a little and find someone with a press that I could borrow or use for the job. If I was planning on doing some work for other people in the future- then yeah I'd probably get one.

I should add that the whole process nowadays stinks...

^^^ That ain't me decribed there good sir, but you sure are entitled to your opinions and sweeping generalizations. I would NEVER pitch a critter in the brush, and I don't mangle up animals with a rifle and then take pictures of them. Heck, I'm not even much of a predator hunter- I only go maybe three or four times a year so I'm not out there decimating the populations of your precious winter fur. Winter time is when I chase big game with a bow and fowl on the wing... I've read your posts before- so I know you're always gonna be right and have the last word, so go on and have it then. Fair is fair.

I clearly see your point, and your passion Rifleman. However, I do see the personal value in skinning it out myself- even if it isn't considered "Prime". I really have no intention of entering the fur trade on any scale. I just want to pelt them out, preserve it, and have the trophy on the wall and a good story for the people who get to see my man-cave. I know full-well that wintertime pelts from AZ bring a pretty penny at auctions. I just like to hunt as often as I can, and if it is legal- I'm gonna hunt (Jackwagon or not). If that upsets some people- then so be it. I also like having abundant populations of Rabbits and Mearns Quail, so killing a few of the dumber foxes that come in after just 30 seconds of my call is helping to balance out things. On a side note- I got a really good look at the animals and they were pretty fat and bushy, albeit light colored and plain-jane except for the jet black tails. I wonder if all of this water has helped stave away mange and has helped them fatten up earlier this year???

I'm not a fan of buying those expensive CR123's after it accidentally turns on in my pack. I carry three or four lights- two of them being small Princeton Tec models that take AA's. The other one is an Energizer headlamp that I found in my duckblind in Texas hanging from my gun hook- somebody (lazy S.O.B. that was using my blind) left it on overnight and the sucker was still lit up when I got back to my blind. It has two white LED's, a bigger bulb and a red LED. I love that thing and I take it on every trip!

You have to adapt to the "new normal" for ammo. The way things are now- YOU have to be the early bird. That means getting in line at 5am or whenever your Wal Mart ammo line starts. Wally World is really the last to keep prices sorta where they were last year. Network with friends and become a supreme opportunist. Every time you see .243 ammo in-stock, whether you "need" it or not- buy a box or two. I guarantee in two months you'll never have to shop again for years! Stockpiling ammo is just the reality now in these politically charged times. Be the early bird and network with friends to search for in-stock ammo. Also, be ready to trade.

M R Coues...

I use my thermacell everywhere when the bugs are out... I got tore apart by no-see-ums last summer and it took about 5 months to fully heal up from their nasty little bites. Now that Thermacell stays in the truck and I keep it well stocked with cartridges. On the 3D range, hiking, scouting, and in the blind. I tend to get sick after a while if I breathe that thermacell air for too long so what I do is run it for 10 minutes or so then turn it off until the bugs start to come back. I also have a set of summer hunting clothes that I treat with Sawyer Permethrin every season. If you are not concerned with smell, the OFF! Botanicals plant-based lotion works good- but sweats off easily. This year, I'm going to try to put a half-strength treatment of Sawyer Permethrin on my shoot-through screens for my blind to see if maybe that will help.

Last time I went out that way Dry Canyon had a big NO SHOOTING sign... Same as Hunter Canyon. I'm 90% sure you have to get past the cattle guard on the dirt road for Dry Canyon which when you get past the fence is National Forest/BLM land.... Otherwise you are on State Land where target shooting is prohibited. Also, watch for cattle out there (make sure you have an adequate backstop). Watched some people doing some shooting out there across a wash and all of a sudden a whole bunch of cattle popped up past their target- scared the wits out of them and they left! Like I said before... I suggest the Sierra Vista shooting range for overall safety and legality. Plus, the fees go to maintain the range which is NRA approved and maintained.

funny how when they are talking to ya, she's talkin about how her day was and you are in a trance thinkin about hope.... hope I got a giant coues on trail cam! LOL! James So true.Lol So my wife tells me she has Friday off and asks me what are we going to do? I tell her I'm going to check cams remember I told you that last weekend? Wife: I don't remember that, you didn't tell me. me: Yes I told you about 3 times I was going on Fri. me: Want to go? She never wants to go and has never been. Wife: Ya i'll go. me: really? Lets see what happens and how long she lasts out there with the bugs flying around, she hates bugs. Lol I would marry my wife twice over again THAT SAME DAY if she said she wanted to come with me on a hunting or a scouting trip... I love her, bless her heart, but she'd never go. She does go fishing and likes to be out on the boat, so I consider that a win.

I have an Eastman Carbon Venture 3D... Got it at Sam's club in 2008. It's huge and I hate carrying it- but VERY comfy and it has the 3D leaves sewn in and plenty of straps for brush to attach. I am in the process of making new shoot through windows on mine. I haven't shot through them- I made a vertical cut down the entire length of them so I had a smaller opening to shoot through. I just can't seem to wrap my head around taking the screens off completely. I'd feel like I was sitting out in the open... I make a lot more brush blinds rather than hunt from the pop-up. It's just part of any scouting trip for me to cut and assemble dead brush and tree limbs where I want to sit. That reminds me... I'd better go check some that I built last year!

Cool Thanks!

I have a dilemma. Drew a December Coues tag and need to make a decision. I handload for my 7.62x54R with 150gr Speer Hot-Cors at ~2610 fps and they can hold a 2MOA group out to 200yds on a good day. It's probably my bad shooting more than it is the ammo/rifle. Anyway, I found out that Winchester had a factory 180gr SP going 2625fps and I bought lots of them... I've tested a few at the range- and they group just as good as my handloads... But high and to the right about 4-5" from where the 150gr's hit. First of all, what's up with that??? Second, which one should I zero the scope with? I'm leaning towards the 180's since I have several boxes of them and I can always use the brass to make more 150's. I want to really get dialed in out to 300yds for this Coues tag. What are your thoughts? 150gr handloads or 180gr factory???