If you spend time outdoors in New Hampshire, particularly southern portions of the state, like the upcoming Turkey Season, then you are exposed to deer ticks that carry lyme disease causing bacteria. The deer tick also known as the black legged tick includes Massachusetts and Connecticut and Rhode Island as hotspots. Ticks are carried by Deer and Mice and contribute greatly to the tick population. One autumn I counted a dozen of them on my clothes while deer hunting near my home.

Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus can be transmitted by the bite of the black legged tick (Ixodes scapularus).

In New Hampshire there are over 1300 diagnosed cases of Lyme disease each year (some go undiagnosed), over 100 cases of Anaplasmosis, 40 to 50 cases of Babesiosis. Powassan Virus infections are rare but one case was diagnosed in 2013.  Lyme Disease if untreated will cause complications such as nervous system disorder, heart abnormalities, and episodes of joint swelling and pain. Early diagnosis is essential.

Below is the website of NH Dept. of Health and Human Services on Lyme Disease.

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/lyme/index.htm

The odds of you being bitten by a deer tick are near 100% if you spend a significant amount of time outdoors and do not take precautions which include the use of 20 to 30% DEET on your skin, Clothing sprayed with Permethrin, pant leggings tucked into your socks and the like. 

If you are bitten and the tick has been in you for more than 36 hours you are a candidate for these bacteria and  Lyme Disease. See your doctor right away. The wood tick below also known as a dog tick and is not known to carry Lyme bacteria.

Prevention

Treat your yard with tick killing products that are family and pet friendly. Wear light clothing so you can see the ticks if they are crawling on you. Tuck your pant legs into your socks. As a hunter you need to be highly vigilant. Turkey Season is also tick season. Take your hunting clothes off in your garage and have a pair of alternate clothes nearby. Shower if possible soon after your outing and do a hair and body scan. You can put clothes in a dryer and the ticks will die from the heat.  Check your pets and don’t let pets onto your bed as they can harbor ticks.

Spring is the time for Nymph size ticks

In the spring as it is here, the spring nymph stage is perhaps the most dangerous as these are the smallest of deer ticks and are almost impossible to spot, smaller than the head of a pin and a bite can go unnoticed. Often these little ticks will burrow under your skin leaving a red area where they entered. You may see just the back-end of the tick sticking out. If you can get a sharp-pointed pair of tweezers you may be able to pluck it out. I just purchased a pair of tweezers with a little magnifier attached. Treat the bite area with antiseptic cream and a bandaid to keep the antiseptic on the bite.

These ticks in later stages are just a little larger making it a bit easier to see and grasp with tweezers to pull out. If at all possible grasp the head of the tick and not the body. But when in doubt seek medical attention and keep the tick body for identification. It is common to administer an antibiotic such as doxycycline for Lyme disease, early detection is essential for the antibiotic to kill the bacteria. The most common indicator is the bullseye rash but does not always occur.

The bottom line here is that if you suspect you have been bitten, and symptoms within 30 days include fever, headache, fatigue, stiff neck and  muscle or joint pain feel chills or flu like symptoms, joint pain, or break out in a rash, see your doctor right away to get treated. Don’t wait!

There are those folks who were never seen by a doctor or been diagnosed and many have died or live with tragic disorders of the heart or nervous system. Don’t be one of them!

Stay Safe, Hunt Safe!

See Nashua, NH 2017 High Power Rifle Schedule

http://www.nfga.org/highpower/pdfs/2017/2017_NFGA_Schedule.pdf

Below; the page ends in July but go to the website and see it all.

Both rounds are amazingly accurate. In studying those who shoot 1000 yds in Competition they say that the 6.5×284 (6.5 Super) will beat the 6.5 Creedmoor hands down in speed. Speed is needed to improve crosswind bullseyes. The downside is that the 6.5×284 is a hotter bullet and will burn barrels at a much faster rate than the 6.5 Creedmoor. Not a huge downside if you have the funds for new barrels. Some research finds that Rich DeSimone, holder of the world record 1.564 inch 5 shot group at 1000 yards, says- he gave some opinion and tips. More in the Accurate Shooter article below.

1. “Opinion – Rich suggests use moly-coated bullets to reduce friction and longer barrel life.”
2. “Invest in a Hawkeye bore scope to ensure a really clean barrel and that you understand the throat condition.” says DeSimone
3. Rich reloads and does his own machining.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/guns-of-week/gunweek050/

The upside is that at 1000 yards those that compete say the 6.5×284 is a winner.

Recoil and hunting – The 6.5 Creedmoor is easy on the shoulder, easy on barrels and can kill anything the 6.5×284 can at reasonable ranges.

Below is a chuckhawkes article comparison by Elevation of the 2 cartridges.

http://chuckhawks.com/compared_65-284_65creedmoor_F-Class.htm

Winning 1000 yd competitions requires that you can purchase and have a ready back up barrel.

Where the 6.5 Creedmoor shines is mid range like 600 yards, barrels live longer, less recoil, less powder.

From a Hunting standpoint the 6.5×284 delivers more energy at longer ranges but will always be a CXP3 round like the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Accordingly, if I was a 1000 yd Competitor choosing between the two cartridges, I would choose the 6.5x 284 and have a back up barrel. If a mid range competitor use the 6.5 Creedmoor. For hunting either will do the job but the Creedmoor has less recoil thus accuracy is often better due to less recoil.

Good Shooting!

I am beginning to look at new rifles to test. My main objective is accuracy, reliability and affordability. Along with that is to test scopes, spotting scopes, rangefinders and bullets/cartridges and reloading. I also want to look at backpacks this year for those who want a pack to carry your rifle and meat out of the field and forest. And talk about hunts and bucket lists and cooking in the field. Should be great fun!

It is important to give a rating or report card on my Skinner Bog Hunt

Accommodation Grade: A+

Shower Available? Yes

Bathroom part of my room. A+

Food and Beverage: Full Service: A+

Guide Service by Owner: A+

Animals I desired to hunt: A+

Helpful to the Customer: A+

Would I go again? Yes Absolutely

Game quality? A+

Hunt Value? A+

This is a first rate outfit with Jeremy at the helm!

An Honest Hunt! The Russian boar meat is fabulous!!

Here below these Cabela’s hunter/chef’s are making wild boar camp biscuits and gravy, a hunters breakfast, with these sausage seasoning kits as well as other cures and seasonings to make breakfast sausage patties or links.

https://youtu.be/2otNheSdvd8

Below is breakfast sausage from Elk meat with pork shoulder for the fat from an online vendor. I just received 5 lbs of Elk from close friend to make sausage with so I will mix with my boar meat and  more fatty pork. Wow!

More Elk or Venison Sausage.

For those hunter souls that want to stalk game in the dead of winter long after deer season, it is important to know that smell, sound of footsteps in snow, and movement that has contrast (dark against a light background are still the biggest give-a-ways.

Contrast/Movement

This is a big one that you can equalize by wearing Snow Camo that blends your silhouette with a snowy backdrop. I intend to hunt Russian Boar in February and am giving lots of thought to my preparation.

I just purchase Seclusion 3D winter camo from Cabela’s. It is on Sale. I purchased a jacket that can go over my hunt jacket and a head mask. I expect that it will help to minimize my taller contrast in the snow. I also bought snow camo insulated gloves from eBay. I could have purchased pants or bib overalls but it was too much for my budget to add for now.

Check it out!

Good Hunting!

I wish to thank my world-wide readership for the ever increasing popularity of New Hampshire Rifleman Magazine On-Line. The year 2017 should be even better. More Hunting, more shooting, more articles.

Happy New Year

Ed Hale – Editor-in-Chief