peckl1

it is a sako 243. Harvey used it as his go to gun for many years. When he was diagnosed with cancer he gave me the gun. I used it a year after he was gone to kill this deer. thank you Harvey. I will always keep him in mind when I use it.

Yes that rifle was given to me by a good friend just after he found out he had cancer. He passed 6 years ago. this was actually the first time I used it.

Yep and he tastes great. Had a little backstrap tonight.

Sorry been a little busy trying to get my house up for sale.

My brother and I got drawn for the second hunt in 36A. Not sure where we will be camped. Most likely close to the Black Hills. It will be the first time in 5 years for me to hunt there. Been out of state for awhile. I'm sure things have changed a bit since then. Any suggestions or things I should be aware of? Not looking for honey holes. I know several. Just looking for changes that might effect my hunt. Thanks

Did the ownership of the Marly ranch change??

Thanks. I know the landowner and he has given permission to hunt his land. I have hunted there for about 20 years myself. After he caught me fixing fences and water leaks several times he gave me the combinations for the locks. So if he hasn't changed them I'm good. If he has I have his number.

I just got back from my Safari in South Africa. What a great time. I bought the Safari at the SCI banquet in 2012. It was with Southern Cross Safaris. Chris Cawood outfitter/PH. This was my first trip to Africa. He suggested I go to the Reno Convention this year to meet him. I went and he answered a lot questions and made me feel at ease about the trip. Going to Africa for the first time can be pretty intimidating. The package I bought included four animals Springbok, Impala, Fallow Deer and Ostrich. I wanted to include a few more. When you see the pictures you will find out I got some pretty good animals. The day before the start of the hunt Chris and Mel picked me up at the Kelway Hotel in Port Elizabeth. I went a couple of days early to get over the jet lag prior to the hunt. It was a 3 hour drive out to the ranch. I will call it the Manor from now on. The place has been in Chris's family since 1842. His Great Great grandfather started a goat ranch. It operated as that until Chris's father, Mike Cawood decided he wanted to start game ranching. He was the first to do that in South Africa in 1962. Chris took over the operation after his father died. The first thing I have to say is I did more hunting in 8 days than I have done in 8 years of hunting here in the states. Here in the states you can hunt for elk or deer for a week and maybe get 1 to 3 stalks on animals in that time frame. We had 3 to 5 stalks on animals each day. If I wrote about every stalk I did on this hunt in Africa you would stop reading after the second day.Chris hunts hard and is very good at what he does. I on the other hand learned a lot about hunting while I was with him. My hunting here in the states will be much more successful after spending time with Chris. The stalk on the Gemsbuck went like this... We were driving high on a ridge when Bones our tracker spotted some Kudu across the ravine from us. We stopped the truck and started glassing. Also in the ravine I spotted a good Waterbuck bull. The kudu and waterbuck made their way up and over the next ridge. Chris said that we were going to walk down the road and up the ridge and pick up the animals on the other side leaving Bones and the truck to watch from the high ridge. We walked quietly not talking for over a half mile. Then Chris told me to walk quietly and follow right behind him. We went in and around and under brush and trees always keeping something between us and the next ridge. I figured the Kudu had dropped down into the next ravine and we were stalking them. Then Chris stopped, setup the tripod and said get comfortable in the tripod with my rifle. Once I was comfortable he told me to use the scope and find a big tree he described on the opposite ridge. Now he said move about 10 yards to the right see that tree stump? Yes I said . Now move 30 yards to the right and do you see that big rock? Yes I said. Do you see the gemsbuck behind the rock bedded down? No I said. Put the scope on 9 power he said. Now I can see the gemsbuck. Ok he is bedded down quartering towards us. Can you see his chin, he is looking at us? I said yes. Can you see the white spot just below his chin? Yes. Aim at the very bottom of the white and fire. I got steady on that spot and squeezed the trigger. He is down Chris said. It turns out it was a 310 yard shot, and broke the Gemsbuck's back. I'll add more stories over the next few days. I have posted the pictures on photobucket. I hope this link works. http://s1312.photobucket.com/user/peckl1/library/Safaria?sort=3&page=1

I've been out of the state for a year and a half. I will be coming back to hunt from Dec26 to Dec31. I have heard there has been a lot of tags issued the last 2 years. How bad has it hurt the unit?

I think the unit 56 tags are gone. North East part of NM. Call Michael Anthony 214-356-8751 for more info.

A good friend of mine has some tags for sale. I have hunted with him the last 5 years. These are private landowner tags. Self guided hunts. 3 tags in unit 56 $1000 each on 6000 ranch 3 tags in units 41 and 59 $1500 each on 8000 ranch You can contact him at Michael Anthony 214-356-8751

Ok I wasn't sure if you were asking about the scope or the rifle. I believe it is control feed. Here is the picture hoghntr mentioned.

Starting a new restaurant and need to pay some bills. Swarovski 80MM with 20x60 straight eyepiece $2300 Price reduction $2000 SOLD Winchester model 70 300 WSM with Nikon Buckmaster BDC 3x9 scope price reduction $650 RIFLE still for SALE. Scope has never been out of the protective skin but has been used a lot. The rifle has been hunted with and has some scratches but it has been glass beaded, barrel floated, and has a timney trigger at 3#

Not sure of what you are asking.

Scope is back up for sale. $2000

Scope sold pending funds

Yes it is an HD scope.

Price reduction. Scope for $2000 and the rifle for $650.

TTT This is a very good shooting rifle and the scope has saved a lot of boot leather.

Thanks for the comments here are some more pics. I met some great folks on this trip. They scored him for me. 155 gross, 152 net. I'm not much for numbers. I just think it is a great looking buck and lucky to have taken him.

I arrived today for my Illinois whitetail hunt. Met the farmer this afternoon and one of my partners on the lease is meeting me tonight for the hunt in the morning. He has been watching the farm and has seen some really big deer. Can't wait till morning. Lee

A custom built Remington mussel loader. Scott built it.

Scott did a lot of work before I got there. He did a great job.

Yesterday was a great day. We got in a ground blind just off a bean field about 30 minutes before shooting light. At 20 minutes before shooting light I hand my hunting partner my 15X56 swarovski's. Earlier he asked me why I needed them. I said check out how they handle low light. He starts scanning across the field. He says I got a deer, small buck not a shooter. Wait right behind him is a big buck! They are feeding into the field. Time went ridiculously slow. At 5 minutes before light they were at 110 yards right in front of us. I got ready. Then at shooting light they were at 90 yards. I settled the cross hairs just behind the shoulder. Scott says give it 1 more minute. They were calm both heads down. The small buck raised his head and we confirmed which was the big buck. Scott says O BANG K. The big buck never raised his head again.

Only saw does and fawns in 32 for my mule deer hunt. Today we only saw does. Cold in Illinois 2 degrees this morning.