Post by Bullshop on Nov 29, 2020 17:19:41 GMT -7
Our general deer and elk season ended yesterday. I got my tags filled two deer and one elk without leaving home. One was a large mule deer given by our neighbors. They just wanted the trophy so I got the carcass and quite a large one it was.
I filled my deer-A tag and my elk-A tag right from the reapers roost. One with a 280 Ackley and one with a 30-06 Ackley. I like to sit in the roost with a rifle that has some range capability and both are set up for long range. Truth be told most of my opportunities from the roost could have been made with a 30-30 but I have also made 600 yard shots from the roost too. This year both were 200 yard shots but ya never know. After the fact I am always somewhat disappointed in not having used one of my vintage rifles like the 50-70 Trapdoor or 45-90 Sharps but I am always torn between efficiently putting up a meat supply and or having fun with old rifles. The need always seems to prevail.
I still have a deer-B tag for WT doe but I just dont like taking does from home. Elsewhere is fine but does at home is what draws in bucks. For the last couple weeks spending sunsets in the roost I had been watching two very nice large WT bucks and waiting patiently for them to come into easy range. There has also been several lesser bucks a couple of which had been within 50 yards but I passed hoping before the season ended one of the big boys would follow one of the fleeting does to within handy range for recovery.
As the end of season drew nearer I knew I might have to compromise to get my tag filled and a couple nights ago that is just what I did. There had been a pair of WT twins from last year a doe and a spike buck. They have stayed together since birth and I just couldn't separate them at this point. They are always together but he is never chasing her as other bucks are. Nature has a way huh. Anyway she came sprinting over to very near the roost and I could see her brother was ways off so expected momentarily to see another buck in pursuit. Sure enough one of the lesser WT bucks a 3x3 following her exact trail with his nose to the ground for a 200 yard shot . Thinking I was running out of chances for the season I pushed one of our 190gn swaged open tip 30 caliber bullets through the lungs and he kicked up his heels made a couple more leaps and pilled up.
I needlessly had doubt that the heavy match Sierra jacket used to swage these 190gn 30 cal bullets might not expand well at the moderate 2700 fps MV of the 30-06 Ackley but a 2" diameter exit proved my doubt unfounded at the 200 yard range. The rifle with 30" barrel is capable of higher velocity but with a load of 55.5gn of Scott 4351 the load wasts most of the target when shooting groups. Even with the long 30" barrel it is one of the two most accurate rifles I have.
The other is the EAB model 97-D in 6mm BRM. Coincidently I used the 6mm BRM yesterday to kick of the coyote season. I needed a break from orders that have gone crazy with panic buying. I decided to go to a lovely perch overlooking the Lima reservoir. I took my best bud Diesel a border collie heeler cross to go sit on the hill and enjoy a beautiful late afternoon overlooking the lake calling with my rarely used Fox Pro electronic caller. We had a wonderful time sitting on the sun warmed slope trying a myriad of different sounds in our caller. I like to have Diesel with me because when calling I only need to watch him to know when something is about because he is far more acutely tuned to what is going on and he understands exactly what we are doing. When he sees or smells something he lets me know and he moves away from me as a distraction that keeps coyotes looking at him and not me so I can maneuver for a shot. On that stand we had a good time but saw absolutely nothing . We did se a couple mule deer one being a very respectable 3x3 but I had already used my deer-A tag so we just watched them stroll off headed for the lake.
After sitting in the snow for a couple hours Diesels feet started freezing up as I noticed him trying to pull ice from between his toes. I was sitting on the back pack used to carry the call so my butt wasn't freezing but my toes were getting cold . I wanted to stay for about another half hour before starting the mile hike back to the pick up so I took off a Carhart vest I had on and spread it out for Diesel to sit on. That seemed to help with his feet and we stuck it out for a while but never got a shot so we packed up and headed for the PU.
We got back to the PU and back down to the road with still about 20 minutes of sun left so we parked in a spot the we know well to have a good coyote population to sit and watch the sun go down and maybe spot a coyote. We hadn't been there but about ten minutes and panning the open pastures with my 40 year trusted Swarovski binoculars I spotted a very nice pale colored coyote about 500 to 600 yards away trotting away from us. I had to move fast to cross a fence, ditch, RR tracks, nother ditch, nother fence to get into a shooting position. Luckily I had my bino and hand calls on a lanyard around my neck and all I grabbed was my rifle the Brown 97-D . After I was already in motion I wished I had grabbed my shooting sticks but thought too late for that so would take what came. Getting into position at a fence line at the edge of a wide open pasture sitting on the ground I used the intersect of fence wire and post for a rest.
By this time the coyote was at the far end of the opening about to hit the sage line and go out of sight. I gave a couple coyote barks and chirps with one hand call the went right to another with rabbit distress calls and immediately the coyote reversed directions and started straight toward us. It was at that moment that I realized I had also not grabbed the range finder so this would have to be done the old way with an educated guess for the range, We sat and watched as the coyote angled nearly straight at us but not quite straight. It stopped a couple times before I felt it was in range but a couple chirps on the call got his attention again and kept him coming.
I was trying to figure where 300 yards would be because the scope on the 97-D has a BDC reticle and I felt pretty good at that range. Well when he got to what we figured was 300 he stopped for a look around and I touched off the shot and got the quick return of that whump sound of a solid hit. Going right to the bino after the shot I had to wonder for just a few seconds as that coyote took off like a missal for about 20 yards then spun around and went just as fast to where he came from the spun in a circle several times then piled up. My old range guesser must have been up to speed as well as my wind meter because that 100gn spitzer BT angled right through the heart with about a quarter size exit hole that blead out real fast.
So today that is the first of the new season on a stretcher drying for market. Again I had doubts in the ammo that the 100gn 6mm bullet with a moderate 2700 fps MV would expand at the 300 yard range but again my fears were unfounded because as I earlier stated the exit hole was quarter size. I like the little Brown rifle because it is just that little and light weight and easy to pack. It is making an impression as a mid range rifle for shots maybe to 400 yards. For anticipated longer shots I like our 6mm-06 but it is no light weight rifle and is better packed by the PU or 4-wheeler but a rifle you can always count on to 400 yards will cover the bulk of all your shooting and the Brown in a light weight compact package is that.
I filled my deer-A tag and my elk-A tag right from the reapers roost. One with a 280 Ackley and one with a 30-06 Ackley. I like to sit in the roost with a rifle that has some range capability and both are set up for long range. Truth be told most of my opportunities from the roost could have been made with a 30-30 but I have also made 600 yard shots from the roost too. This year both were 200 yard shots but ya never know. After the fact I am always somewhat disappointed in not having used one of my vintage rifles like the 50-70 Trapdoor or 45-90 Sharps but I am always torn between efficiently putting up a meat supply and or having fun with old rifles. The need always seems to prevail.
I still have a deer-B tag for WT doe but I just dont like taking does from home. Elsewhere is fine but does at home is what draws in bucks. For the last couple weeks spending sunsets in the roost I had been watching two very nice large WT bucks and waiting patiently for them to come into easy range. There has also been several lesser bucks a couple of which had been within 50 yards but I passed hoping before the season ended one of the big boys would follow one of the fleeting does to within handy range for recovery.
As the end of season drew nearer I knew I might have to compromise to get my tag filled and a couple nights ago that is just what I did. There had been a pair of WT twins from last year a doe and a spike buck. They have stayed together since birth and I just couldn't separate them at this point. They are always together but he is never chasing her as other bucks are. Nature has a way huh. Anyway she came sprinting over to very near the roost and I could see her brother was ways off so expected momentarily to see another buck in pursuit. Sure enough one of the lesser WT bucks a 3x3 following her exact trail with his nose to the ground for a 200 yard shot . Thinking I was running out of chances for the season I pushed one of our 190gn swaged open tip 30 caliber bullets through the lungs and he kicked up his heels made a couple more leaps and pilled up.
I needlessly had doubt that the heavy match Sierra jacket used to swage these 190gn 30 cal bullets might not expand well at the moderate 2700 fps MV of the 30-06 Ackley but a 2" diameter exit proved my doubt unfounded at the 200 yard range. The rifle with 30" barrel is capable of higher velocity but with a load of 55.5gn of Scott 4351 the load wasts most of the target when shooting groups. Even with the long 30" barrel it is one of the two most accurate rifles I have.
The other is the EAB model 97-D in 6mm BRM. Coincidently I used the 6mm BRM yesterday to kick of the coyote season. I needed a break from orders that have gone crazy with panic buying. I decided to go to a lovely perch overlooking the Lima reservoir. I took my best bud Diesel a border collie heeler cross to go sit on the hill and enjoy a beautiful late afternoon overlooking the lake calling with my rarely used Fox Pro electronic caller. We had a wonderful time sitting on the sun warmed slope trying a myriad of different sounds in our caller. I like to have Diesel with me because when calling I only need to watch him to know when something is about because he is far more acutely tuned to what is going on and he understands exactly what we are doing. When he sees or smells something he lets me know and he moves away from me as a distraction that keeps coyotes looking at him and not me so I can maneuver for a shot. On that stand we had a good time but saw absolutely nothing . We did se a couple mule deer one being a very respectable 3x3 but I had already used my deer-A tag so we just watched them stroll off headed for the lake.
After sitting in the snow for a couple hours Diesels feet started freezing up as I noticed him trying to pull ice from between his toes. I was sitting on the back pack used to carry the call so my butt wasn't freezing but my toes were getting cold . I wanted to stay for about another half hour before starting the mile hike back to the pick up so I took off a Carhart vest I had on and spread it out for Diesel to sit on. That seemed to help with his feet and we stuck it out for a while but never got a shot so we packed up and headed for the PU.
We got back to the PU and back down to the road with still about 20 minutes of sun left so we parked in a spot the we know well to have a good coyote population to sit and watch the sun go down and maybe spot a coyote. We hadn't been there but about ten minutes and panning the open pastures with my 40 year trusted Swarovski binoculars I spotted a very nice pale colored coyote about 500 to 600 yards away trotting away from us. I had to move fast to cross a fence, ditch, RR tracks, nother ditch, nother fence to get into a shooting position. Luckily I had my bino and hand calls on a lanyard around my neck and all I grabbed was my rifle the Brown 97-D . After I was already in motion I wished I had grabbed my shooting sticks but thought too late for that so would take what came. Getting into position at a fence line at the edge of a wide open pasture sitting on the ground I used the intersect of fence wire and post for a rest.
By this time the coyote was at the far end of the opening about to hit the sage line and go out of sight. I gave a couple coyote barks and chirps with one hand call the went right to another with rabbit distress calls and immediately the coyote reversed directions and started straight toward us. It was at that moment that I realized I had also not grabbed the range finder so this would have to be done the old way with an educated guess for the range, We sat and watched as the coyote angled nearly straight at us but not quite straight. It stopped a couple times before I felt it was in range but a couple chirps on the call got his attention again and kept him coming.
I was trying to figure where 300 yards would be because the scope on the 97-D has a BDC reticle and I felt pretty good at that range. Well when he got to what we figured was 300 he stopped for a look around and I touched off the shot and got the quick return of that whump sound of a solid hit. Going right to the bino after the shot I had to wonder for just a few seconds as that coyote took off like a missal for about 20 yards then spun around and went just as fast to where he came from the spun in a circle several times then piled up. My old range guesser must have been up to speed as well as my wind meter because that 100gn spitzer BT angled right through the heart with about a quarter size exit hole that blead out real fast.
So today that is the first of the new season on a stretcher drying for market. Again I had doubts in the ammo that the 100gn 6mm bullet with a moderate 2700 fps MV would expand at the 300 yard range but again my fears were unfounded because as I earlier stated the exit hole was quarter size. I like the little Brown rifle because it is just that little and light weight and easy to pack. It is making an impression as a mid range rifle for shots maybe to 400 yards. For anticipated longer shots I like our 6mm-06 but it is no light weight rifle and is better packed by the PU or 4-wheeler but a rifle you can always count on to 400 yards will cover the bulk of all your shooting and the Brown in a light weight compact package is that.