Red Rabbit

Yep, the closer he gets, the better he looks, even has a little sticker. upper 80's? RR

Casey, I have always seen them behind the Elkhorn, but I know your dad's hip won't let him walk too far. Try glassing the foothills from the raod along the base. I have maps you can look at. I did not see any pigs this past November on my hunt. Doug~RR

Amanda and Scott, I enjoyed your pics and daily accounts of your hunts. Can you share with us how you put the text and arrows on your photos? Thanks. Doug~RR

Lots of nice bucks taken this year, these included. Congrats to all the successful hunters this year. I still have a tag with the adhesive backing unused: wonder if anyone would mind if there was a mid January rut-hunt ? RR

If you note the times for best hunting, you may hunt harder during those times, so the tables may be psychologiacally advantageous. RR

270 Winchester (or 25-06 or 7mm-08). The 7-08 is based on the 308 win case, as are the 243 and 260, but uses a 7mm bullet. The 7-08 has enough velocity and energy to be used at 400+ yards. A friend's son and daughter have used a 7mm-08 to take some cow elk. Remington makes a "managed recoil" load in 270 that would be good to practice with or his wife/son to hunt at shorter ranges. Inexpensive rifles=Savage, Weatherby Vanguard, Rem SPS. Light weight rifles are going the opposite direction from lower recoil. Definitely replace the recoil pad with a Pachmeyer Decellerator or Sims SVL Sounds like your friend wants more range and energy than his 243, without more recoil. Pie in the sky. He can reduce the felt recoil with a heavier rifle, good recoil pad, good fitting stock (one that fits him may be too long for wife and/or son), Past shoulder pad, or a muzzlebrake. Sure the brakes reduce recoil substantially, but the increased muzzle blast also induces flinch. Be sure to wear both ear plugs and muffs when shooting at the range, and have plugs handy when hunting. One of my friends shot a braked 300 win mag three times without hearing protection while hunting, and his ears rang for a month (spell that hearing damage). Doug ~RR

I'm pick'n my jaw off the floor. My first thought was that Josh has got to see this one. RR

Jim took the words right out of my mouth. RR

I see on "today's update" that the charge against the owner was dismissed. A neighbors Pit killed one of its littermates after living together for several years. They kept the pit afterward (no, not the dead one). RR

You dawg! I told Casey where I hunted and camped. Turns out I was pert close to where I SHOULDA been hunting. Guess you weren't hunt'n where I was taking Rica for a walk last week. After 4 days of runnning back and forth, she was tuckered and slept for 2 days. Also starting to wear the bluing and gold inlay off the O/U from hiking around with it so much, rather than shootin it at those mearnz birdz. After it rains, Rica and I will be back down there. RR

Cat looks like he's still suffering from New Years eve. As dry as it's been the last 3 months, your dad must have some good dogs. RR

Derek Taylor had the 2 disc CD set called Dead On- Elk n Coues Hunting at his booth at the 2005 BowHunter Happening which I picked up. Is this the same, is it being edited, or does he have a new set coming out? RR

Casey, You gotta see this as an opportunity to get that perfect piggie gun. The closest, the 22-250 and 243, are spoken for. Your 270's will cut em in half like that jack rabbit in 5BN . Really could be time for a new Mathews, Hoyt, AR, or Bowtech and expand the hunting seasons. Bows are legal during rifle seasons too . RR

Jim, Thanks for sharing your hunts with us this season. Sounds like Steve is steadfast in the hills. He can probably attest that hard effort puts many inches on a rack and engrains the memories deeper into the cortex. Doug~RR

Josh, With those pics, you'll get me wanting to hunt closer to home. Looks like there are some nice bucks on the wall behind also. Kinda cropped too close to tell;you should go back and take more with a wider zoom . RR

With those troops, I bet packing out was a cinch also. Congrats to you and your friend on some nice coues. The brow tines on yours are catching. RR

Rich, It's not too often that those venison cuts fall right into the lap of the dutch oven. Glad your dad's doing better. Since you were solo, you probably had a lot of time to reflect on the events of the past year. Best wishes to ya on this new year. Doug

Amanda, Thanks for taking all of us along on your hunt. I appreciate your many words told and the supporting pics. Congrats on your success. Doug

*Merry CHRISTmas from Rica Claus and Red Rabbit*

Terry, Have you done any hunting or scouting where the fire went through. Have the deer moved back in? Quail? Doug~RR

Congrats to your buddy Mark on that big bodied buck with lots of fine tablefare. Not bad wallfare also. I notice his rifle has the Sims SVL DeResonator on the barrel. Did Mark notice if it made a difference in his groups? I tried it on one of my rifles and it made no diff. Doug~RR

Amanda, I'll be waitng for the last picture . Till then, thanks for the updates and good luck. The weather should be good for ya till the year's end, according to weather.com. Did you digiscope the deer pics? Doug~RR

Congrats to you and Craig on such a nice buk. Thanks for sharing the pics and story. Good luck after Christmas-maybe you can find one of Santa's reindeer that is resting after the long flight. Doug~RR

Scott, Keep the story and photos coming. Doesn't look like you'll have to contend with any nasty weather throuh your hunt (but any rain/snow is really needed). PM sent. Doug

I would say around 85", but I would like to see you smiley face behind that 4 point in a photo. Good luck. Doug~RR