forepaw

Hey Kev, you are more than welcome! I am always glad to help a young person have a positive hunting or fishing experience and enjoyed it like I would my own hunt. I am glad everything came together, as it was far from a guaranteed outcome. You deserve a lot of credit for coaching and judgement, and keeping Enoch's spirits up. And like you mentioned, it was really touch and go. You both had to race up that hill, with light fading fast, wind blowing, spooky deer dancing around, and get set up and make the shot. Enoch stayed calm and made it happen, which I could tell was not that easy to do under those conditions. I am glad he was pleased with his deer and the hunt. His first thought was making sure he had hit the deer solidly, which says his ethics are on the right track. Great job!

Have a way to keep your water thawed. Single digits and below, keep a couple liters in your sleeping bags. Even in cold weather, you have to stay hydrated (clear urine), and it is also nice to have some water to sponge off with. You can easily wash from head to toe with two or three coffee cups full. Use lotion on exposed skin, and powder in socks and skivvies. You may want to set up two tents - one for sleeping, and one for cooking and warming. Also, start your vehicle daily if possible, to keep the battery charged and oil fluid. Another handy trick is to have two each Jone hand warmers and fuel. In bitter cold, it makes a world of difference to have one in your shirt pocket and one in pants pocket. Have a dry pair of socks in your pack at all times, and a dry change of clothes in the tent. Recognize what early hypothermia looks like, and don't let yourself get into that condition. Build a fire, drink something hot, put on extra layers, whatever it takes to avoid uncontrollable shivering. Your menu should include high-calorie, easily digestible food items and snacks. Lots of good comments on this thread re: sleeping warm and portable heaters.

Handsome deer. Neck shot at 175 yds. with lightweight sporting rifle and scope. Good shooting. No ruined meat. What caliber and load?

So what's the deal with the $25 charge. Is it just a placeholder until status confirmed or???

It looks to me like you might be low on calories. If you can lose a pound a day, and still hunt effectively, you might be ok, since it's only 4 days. I agree with the above posts on additional grub. Specifically, consider adding some dried fruit, jerky, nuts, hard cheese, bagels, and some sort of candy like jolly ranchers. Powdered Gatorade doesn't weigh much. Avoid at all costs, "hitting the wall" due to physical effort and low calories resulting in inability to convert calories and protein into energy. I have let that happen a few times, and found I was pretty worthless until I ate something and then waited for everything to stabilize.

You might also try picking up some practice broadheads (or even tips) of 85, 100, and 125 gr. and see which weight groups better. Save you from all that pin adjusting, until you really get ready to dial in.

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Sounds like they are having a rough time with COVID. Sorry to hear. I was through there a couple weeks ago and it looked like they had checkpoints at intersections to screen for locals vs. NR. It will be a struggle until a vaccine is available. Hope they can sort things out. It has been a real blow to the Navajos.

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Nice. That water storage tank on the hill would be tempting (just kiddin). Good shooting right there, and good luck to you guys!

Dialed in is right. Where is that range located?

Never, ever live anyplace you have to haul water.

I will take them. PM sent.

+1 on Rocket Steelheads, at least the old ones. I printed a long article on penetration testing (independent, not a rep. or mfg.) from a few years ago, and these were rated the best of both fixed and mechanicals - at least for that round of testing. No experience with them on bigger animals, but hopefully anyone who has used them on elk will weigh in and tell us how they performed.

What's the difference between the LEO/Govt stamped mags and civilian mags of the same cap.

Hanwag Alaska GTX w/ custom footbed from Lathop & Sons Boot Co. Will cost plenty. Plan on Dahlgren socks, or any similar premium sock. Only 1 pr. needed with these boots. forepaw

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Any reason the Hornady modified case won't serve? Just curious.

PM sent on the Pentax.

Didn't know you had a LH Athens. Which one? Dang. Musta missed that.

Unreal. $1200 for glass of this quality.

Sent you a PM.

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Pretty neat right there, thanks for posting! Looks like an artifact right out of the post - WWII building boom.

Memorial to Tom Mix? 15 - 18 miles south of Florence?