Category Archives: Big Game Hunting

Articles about Big Game Hunting.

All Whitetail Bucks are Trophies to Remember…But once in a while…

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Whether I have a taxidermist mounted deer or just kept the antlers, the memory of the hunt surfaces and replays itself when I gaze at the antlers or my deer mount. As some know, I had a home fire many years ago which destroyed my deer mounts. I mourn their loss. I have killed NH bucks since but none I deemed mountable. Of those I mounted none were really big, just average size but they were mine and taken by me, making them special trophies and memories in my life.

I am not your classic trophy hunter always looking to shoot a big one, I meat hunt more often than not. On occasion I have been blessed as I said, with nice New Hampshire bucks…but a nicer buck is out there for me and perhaps not in New Hampshire this year or next, I keep at it never the less.

I have placed my chips on the table for a chance at a real wall hanger as part of my Texas Hunt this year so we shall see. The key here for me is “The Hunt” is fair chase and I can select the deer and antlers of my choice as I will see dozens a day so they say.

I have a great passion for symmetrical racks of a typical whitetail and not so much for a non-typical of points going every which way. Symmetrical racks are perhaps part of my DNA make-up as they have balance and beauty. So my goal is to harvest the largest, oldest in size and typical antler configuration. And attempt to rattle and grunt in a buck of a lifetime and take him home. Texas is one of the best places on the Planet to do it. The low fence ranch I will hunt is called Rocky Creek Ranch as I said in my recent article. It is one ranch, of many that are super large, that you can hunt. I chose this one in particular because of its size, (25, 000 acres /40 sq miles) management style and if Mr. Whitetail (Larry Weishuhn) likes it, i’m gonna like it for sure.  I have hunted Africa successfully and have my mounts to spur memories of “The Hunt”  but I just have to try for a big racked whitetail buck! Perhaps you do too or not. I am not getting any younger.

The fire in my gut burns brightly to keep hunting as it is part of my core being. I may bring two rifles so we shall see. They do not recommend rifles below 6mm or .243 caliber. A wounded un-recovered deer counts as your hunt animal.

On Rattling Whitetails I have seen video’s of those who tine tick in late October. That is fine for any buck and that is what usually shows up. But it is my belief that if there is a large racked buck nearby then you must give the rattle sequence with large antlers your very all. I think Larry will say similar. Banging and thrashing and grunting as if death was the outcome of the battle. The message sent is that a doe is nearby in estrous and the battle is life or death. I like to make this real and if I have access to tarsal gland I will use that smell in the battle royal. I took a nice 8 point in Exeter, NH years ago with this sequence but with lesser antlers as I figured there were no monsters lurking nearby and did not want to scare the lesser bucks.

A ground blind can be used here but my druthers is full camo and face mask like a turkey hunter would against a tree and be clean and use the best no-scent spray on the market.

Practice like I hunt will be my best friend.

Listen to the advice of your guide is best…

Good Shooting!

 

Texas Whitetail Hunt with Larry Weishuhn – Booked

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I was reading my e-mail a few days ago and saw a 2018 invitation for a Texas Whitetail Hunt with Larry Weishuhn known as “Mr. Whitetail”. I looked forward to meeting Larry sometime, and here comes this hunt, gift wrapped for me. I just have to open my wallet!

Mr. Whitetail's Trailing the Hunter's Moon: An Adventure Journal

Larry has published several books on whitetail deer is a big proponent of using rattling antlers to call in a buck and in fact so am I, especially during the rut.

I have taken NH bucks with rattling antlers and a grunt call with rifle and muzzleloader in years past.   I harvested a New Hampshire Bull Moose with similar tactics. I used 2 inch dry tree limbs to whack together and shook a small oak sapling with dry leaves and my nasal Moose call for that one. Truth is, I haven’t seen many NH bucks of late. I did see only one last year, but he saw me first. Big racked New Hampshire bucks are few in comparison to Texas so I hope to see enough to be selective. This is my first western hunt and hope it won’t be my last.

My research finds that many Texas Hunts charge a trophy fee for SCI scoring bucks above 150 class, not so here. This hunt is a low fence free range deer hunt and I get to take the buck of my choice (no trophy fee) and two does. We eat our venison and share with family. I booked with Wildlife Systems, Inc. of San Angelo Texas with Greg Simons – Owner and a Wildlife Biologist. Greg has known Larry for years…

https://www.wildlifesystems.com/rocky-creek-ranch.html

I will not hunt directly with Larry but he will be in camp with 7 other hunters and talking about whitetail hunting on the 25000 acres before us in camp. Can you imaging just 8 hunters at a time on 25000 acres of prime deer habitat? And talking around a campfire!

I will be hunting with the Weatherby Vanguard Weatherguard in 6.5 Creedmoor I have been testing and my Leupold VX-6 3 -18×44 scope. Of course, I will load my own cartridges for the trip and shoot a 140 grain class bonded bullet like the Nosler AccuBond or solid copper like the Nosler e-Tip.

I am flying American Airlines and round trip was very cost effective We will take meat back both on the aircraft (up to 70 lbs for $100) and ship some from his meat cutter there.

Good Shooting!

© 2018

 

Rainy Day Turkey Scout with young Grandsons

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It is NH School vacation week. My two grandsons were bored to death at home on this rainy day, so I said, “lets go scout for turkeys”. The older one 13 said “yay” the younger one was not convinced. But both like to ride in my full size pick-up. Are you going to take the big pick-up Grandpa?” the younger one asked. “Yes I am” I said with a grin! Ok, I’ll go too.

I knew a spot where I see and hunt them not far from home. When I arrived to the spot, it was if the turkeys were planted there just for us. We saw more than a dozen and six of them were full grown bearded Tom’s. I had my camera and they had binoculars. We did get close.

Turkey at a Stop Sign…what is that all about?

Time to cross the road…

Betcha can’t see me!

Ok, time to boogy out of here.

I bet if I go around this parked truck they wont see me.

 

My grandkids had a blast seeing these Tom’s. We talked about when I was going to hunt them. “When the season opens”, I said. Soon enough it will be May 3rd. We shall see. “But we can only hunt them in the woods and fields away from homes and roads”, I said. Maybe the turkeys know something we don’t? These turkeys were near roads and houses…

Good Hunting!

© 2018

 

 

IMR 4895 and H4350 Powder Tests 6.5 Creedmoor in Weatherby Vanguard Weatherguard with Nosler AccuBond Long Range bullets

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The very cost effective Weatherby Vanguard Weatherguard in 6.5 Creedmoor is a real hunting rifle designed as an all weather rifle and resists rust and corrosion day to day in the field. I love it for the less than $600 dollar price tag. Wow!

I wrote about the rifle earlier but I wanted to see what powders work best in this Weatherby with the Nosler ABLR 6.5 in 142 grain. The Nosler AccuBond Long Range is a magnificent hunting bullet as the lead core is bonded to the gilding copper jacket for maximum weight retention and penetration at a wide range of velocities.  I know that RL-15 groups well 0.9 moa but at max load it was only traveling 2424 to 2440 fps and calculated to have shot variation at 600 yards at just over an inch and I believe acceptable in a hunt and shoot situation on deer.  Accordingly, I tested IMR 4895 with 36 grains powder. Below is a 100 yard 5 shot group at around 1 moa with velocities of around 2460 in a cold barrel. As the barrel warmed in shots 3,4, and 5, the velocities went up above 2500 fps

Next I shot H4350 with 41 grains powder with initial velocities of  2523 fps in shots 1 and 2. In shots 3, 4,and 5 shot velocities increased just above 2600 fps.

What I learned from this test, which was done in very little wind at about 40 deg. F, is that cold barrel velocities for hunting in the first 2 shots of each powder made an impact difference at 600 yards that was measurable with a trajectory calculation  A velocity spread of 20 fps for say a long range 600 yard shot with a 2 inch drop variation on the target as calculated with JBM Ballistics with H4350 was not acceptable to me for a kill shot. And 11 fps spread from shot one and two with IMR 4895 equating to a one inch drop difference at 600 yards and is acceptable. The best way to see that for real, is to shoot at 600 yards and measure vertical spread. Horizontal spread is more a factor of wind at that distance and perhaps the largest factor of all in a shoot/no shoots situation if the crosswind is say near 90 degrees and 10 mph or greater. The hunter must have done his or her homework to prove the shot by practice at long range and know what works or not. It is better to pass on a marginal shot and wait for a better one or get closer to the game. We owe it to the game we hunt!

Good Shooting!

© 2018

 

 

Cold Bore or Just the Shooter?

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Many of us have experienced the first shot of your rifle prints a little high and the rest settle into a group. Part of it is perhaps a cold shooter too. I have experienced this but I do not believe that I am the cause, all the time. New shooters more than veteran shooters experience lots more variation in shot placement on cold shots. Do you have a flinch? Some do! Do you know on the first shot where your trigger will break? Did you yank the trigger? No!

Some rifle barrels do this high and right thing, again in my 50 years of shooting, particularly thinner barrels. Call it what you want, temperature can change harmonics of a thin barrel more so than a thicker one on the first shot. Further that cleaning and shooting that first shot will go through the barrel faster and differently, hence it is wise to fowl your barrel with a few rounds. An article suggested running a bore snake before shooting or to run an alcohol patch. I don’t think that is necessary and neither do those that depend on the first shot.

Know your rifle on first shots and if necessary and adjust accordingly by adjusting your aim point on that shot. If you are shooting a 600 yard match and you are off by an inch (1 moa) at 100 yards then you are off by 6 inches at 600 yards. adjust the aim point for it without touching your scope. Again, know your rifle and ammo diet. That means putting shots on the target regularly. Every rifle is different…

Dry firing practice helps before shooting for groups! It aids in knowing where your trigger breaks. If your trigger is heavy, think that a new trigger can help!

Good Shooting!

© 2018

The Little 6.5 Creedmoor? A Game Changer! By Ed Hale

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The most famous of recent Internet YouTube video’s below show Wayne van Swoll taking a Bull Elk at 603 yards with the “little” 6.5 Creedmoor (low recoil) and got full penetration and an exit wound visible in the video.

He used a 129 grain Hornady bullet. A look at the Hornady site and found a bonded bullet with a .485 G1 Ballistic Coefficient. Assuming a 24 inch barrel and a hot load he was likely able to achieve a muzzle of around 2900 to 3000 fps with Superformance Powder if he used that. We can guess that he did but don’t know for sure.

A look at the JBM ballistics site of such a round looks like this at 600 yards; This Elk got hit with Deer killing energy of around 1000 ft-lbs and still got an exit wound. Why is that?

The reason there is great penetration is largely due to this bullets sectional density, which is in the .260 class for this bullet. I thought it was .280 but was in error.  The Hornady 143 grain ELD-Xspanding is higher as is the Nosler ABLR 142 grain both of these SD’s are above .290 and would have been perhaps slightly better choices for this game animal. That said; the 129 grain bullet did punch an exit wound as well. The bullets small diameter vs its mass makes it penetrate far better, placing this high in the CXP3 game killing class. And with low recoil this cartridge is easy to shoot, thus increasing accuracy at long range, “less recoil than the .270 Winchester, more accurate, and holds its energy better and longer”!!

A look at a 129 grain Nosler AccuBond Long Range at the same speed arrives at 1200 ft-lbs, 200 more ft-lbs of energy with a G1 BC of .561 traveling at over 2000 fps. But the load data for Nosler max’s out at 2810 fps making each round nearly identical with just over 1000 ft-lbs of delivered energy.

Preferred energy published for Elk size game is around 1500 ft-lbs. But the .264 diameter and sectional density made it a game changer as others are able to do the same with ethical results putting Elk down with one broadside clean killing shot.

In hind sight I would have chosen a heavier 6.5 bullet with high BC and a .290 class sectional density such as the Hornady ELD-X Precision Hunter 143 grain or the Nosler ABLR in 142 grain as they would arrive with a bit more energy and buck the wind a bit better too. I do have to say the 129 grain did its job magnificently regardless.

Taking a Moose with the Creedmoor can be done with heavier bullets in the 140 grain class but the shooter should opt for broadside shots. The Swedish hunters use the 6.5×55 with great success.

Having said all that; The “little” 6.5 Creedmoor is the talk of the gun world in Target as well as Hunting.

© 2018

 

 

New Hampshire Turkey’s are Everywhere… Are you Ready?

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Here is the latest NH Fish and Game Report 2017.

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/documents/2017-harvest-summary.pdf 

 

Just be aware the deer tick has made home in much of New Hampshire and 50% of these ticks carry Lime Disease. Wear boots and spray clothing with permethrin. Ticks hate the stuff. and does not stink. Get it!!

Permethrin Insect Repellent Treatment for Clothing Gear and Tents

Shot size usually #4, #5 or #6 but the NHFG eRegulations below provide specifics

May 3rd 2018 is opening day for Spring Season but more data in eRegulations below.

http://www.eregulations.com/newhampshire/hunting/turkey-hunting/

Sight in your shotgun! Buy a turkey target to see your shot pattern.

Adult Toms are over 20 lbs. Nice!

© 2018 photos.

 

 

The .375 Ruger; just plain fun with Speer 235 grain Hot-Cor and reduced loads!

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Just when I get in a Rifle rut, I pull out my Ruger M77 in .375 Ruger with medium to low power loads that I load myself. This female red deer was taken with a low power load and just crumpled. The .375 Ruger is geared for the largest game on the planet but you can tame it too.

Not any more powerful than my 50 cal muzzleloader shooting 300 grain bullets and 100 grains of Pyrodex and recoil is similar and tolerable too. What is so cool is that with a 235 grain Speer Hot-Cor and reduced power loads you can still shoot accurately and pack a deer and black bear killing wallop with 2200 fps.

Speer Hot-Cor Rifle Bullets .375 cal .375" 235 gr SEMSSP 50/ct

The bullets group well at 150 yards. See below. 1st shot set for 100 yards and low. I raised the crosshairs and the next 3 shots were around a 1.5 inch group.

On a bench rest I had to use a thin neoprene pad to tame the recoil. I wrote this below article about powder a while back in 2014.

http://www.nhrifleman.com/2014/09/05/375-ruger-reduced-loads-and-powder-are-here/

Natchez is offering the 235 grain at a very low price so stock up my 375 shooting friends.

https://www.natchezss.com/speer-hot-cor-rifle-bullets-375-cal-375-235-gr-semssp-50-ct.html

You might like this article below too.

http://www.nhrifleman.com/2014/06/27/the-375-ruger-cartridge-a-handloaders-dream-cartridge/

 

©2018 All Rights Reserved.

 

Coyote Hunting Gear – SIG Echo I Reflex Thermal Scope -by Ed Hale

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Yes Persistence pays but just not yet. I’m tryin’ in daylight.

Night hunting with thermal scopes can be very effective. One such thermal scope on the market that I have seen but not yet tested is the SIG Echo I for around $1150 instead of $3000 to $9000  for other brand models.

Sig Sauer ECHO1 1-2x Thermal Reflex Sight w/Batteries, Graphite, SOE11011

You can see the SIG Echo 1 at the SIG Pro shop in Epping/ Exeter NH.

If I can get one to test I will write an article. See NHFG for requirements for night hunting below.

http://www.eregulations.com/newhampshire/hunting/furbearer-hunting/ 

 

Night or day you can make mistakes!

Here is a website that may help us all.

https://www.realtree.com/predator-hunting/articles/8-mistakes-rookie-coyote-hunters-make

Good Hunting!

 

Alaska Hunt – What Caliber and Cartridge is Best?

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A great digression as a winter storm hits New England! Campfire fodder!

I suggest as do Alaska experts that the 30-06 Springfield is proven in Alaska but I believe it to be an absolute minimum for Bull Moose and Brown Bear.  Like I hunted in Africa, I believe you should be able to shoot it off hand, handle the recoil and know how to cycle your bolt open and closed and place repeat bullets in a pie plate at say 70 to 80 yards. I did that with a .338 Win Mag and 250 grain bullets on my African Safari.

Alaska is a land of potential dangerous game! Use a rifle caliber that is in stock at the local stores in Alaska if possible. I hear .308, 30-06, 12 gauge shotgun and .22 LR are most common, but it might pay to check and take ammo precautions if your baggage is lost, like have a box ordered and waiting at the local Alaska store of your brand and special caliber.

The .308 or 6 mm/.243 Win or the new 6.5 Creedmoor I love is fine for black tail deer however if you are on an island with deer and bear, the .308 or 6mm is a “not so good” choice if a bear wants you and your downed deer. A 30-06 with 180 or 200 grain heads would perhaps be a better choice. Bigger bores and magnums are recommended if you can handle it. “Bears think that your shot is like ringing the dinner bell!”

Shot placement is everything! If you cant handle your rifle recoil then Alaska is perhaps not for you!

In Brown bear open country, a 30-06 or better a  300 Win Mag with an expanding bonded bullet is Ok. I prefer the .375 Ruger with Nosler AccuBonds or Partitions in at least 260 to 300 grain heads. I do like the .338 Win Mag as well.  I shoot these very well in my Ruger M77. Further that you would be wise to have a Mauser style bolt with a claw extractor to ensure guaranteed chamber feed and removal when hunting dangerous game.

In close quarters like in tag alders where shots are less than 25 yards a pump 12 gauge shotgun with slugs. “In a brown bear charge, you must make the first shot, a brain shot count to turn out its lights.” I would not recommend that kind of close quarters hunt, but it can happen with wounded bears say some experts.

Recoil management has come a long way so use recoil pads that can absorb recoil up to  50%. Get some!

Don’t forget a sidearm like the 44 magnum with 240 grain solid semi-jacket bullets and update your Will if you are Brown Bear Hunting or fishing near Brown Bear.

Good  Hunting!

© 2018