Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Hunting/Trapping 2013-2014

Thanks all. I've taken big elk, mulies, antelope and coues. But this is my first really big whitetail.

A buddy and I are starting to plan a grizzly or brown bear hunt next year. But, I'm not sure I want to shoot a bear. I may back out of that.

What state?

A guy got this one about 30 miles NE of my property.

Black Bear

I don't know how it finally scored.

When this hit the news, people were shocked that we have bear roaming about the woods

I've seen 3 so far on my way to work when I was still at my camper. Maybe 3 years ago.

I'm done deer hunting for the year. I shot a yearling doe with the muzzleloader on Thurs evening, and I took another adult doe this morning with the same gun. I had both the crossbow and ML in the stand just in case a buck walked by (can't shoot one with the ML this season). Late archery I can shoot a buck, but the late antlerless firearms season is going on right now too.

I had a group of 5 does/yearlings walk by at 7:00, and shot the lead doe. Not 3 minutes later 2 more does walk down the same trail, headed in the same direction. 90 yds was too far for the x-bow, and I didn't bother reloading the ML. I aimed a little farther back this time, to miss the shoulder, and even with a double lung hit she went about 120 yds. She even laid down after running around 100 yds, and then got up and moved another 20 yds before dropping over. With the $0.50 sized exit hole, and the blood trail that she left, I was shocked she went that far!

Time to get her skinned before she chills down too much.

My good friend took a large doe on New Year's day with a 50 caliber pistol load (in a rifle) and it went 100 yards, even with a good shot. With my buck, accidental button, and 5 does, that makes 8 deer off the farm this year, and the last one was from a herd of 12. The habitat restoration is paying off! My friend did the butchering the next day to avoid a deep frozen deer! Hopefully I can get he buck to doe ratio up and get some more trophies.

RAH, what was the rifle and load that he used? I had an inquiry if I knew of any rifles chambered in .460 S&W, but I don't.

The way this ML shoots, I can't justify spending the $$ on a indiana legal CF rifle. 2" high at 100, 0 at 200, 9" low at 300 and 27" low at 400. Still has over 1200 foot pounds of energy at 400. 100 yd groups will run 1/2 moa out to out if I do my part (.40 cal bullet). 195g .40 cal Barnes "X" bullet with a MV of 2850 fps.

Jkb, that give ya any second thoughts about a nice evening walk about?

I am not an ammo guy, so I'll need to ask on the 50-cal. I know that he reloads. I shot both my .44 carbine and my 50-cal ML with two pellets at 100 yards and both were less than 1.25 inches low and less than 1/2 inch off on windage. That is good enough for me since I did not shoot over 35 yards this year. I am very very happy with my .44 Ruger 77/44 all-weather. It is just a pleasure to shoot and carry. Its almost like carrying a Ruger 10/22. It does require the Horneday LeverEvolution ammo to shoot well at a distance though, and that is pricey. But I really don't shoot it much except at deer during the season (3 weeks a year).

RAH, what is an all-weather gun?

Stainless steel with synthetic stock. Mine is topped with a Leopold with Butler Creek flip up covers. No worries in the weather and a dream to shoot (and very accurate to 100 yds with Hornaday Leverevolution rounds).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ1V1fOzgjM

Friend's 50 cal deer gun - The gun is an H&R single shot. The load is 36 grains of Reloader 7 over a 375 gr cast bullet.

Rah:

.50 Beowulf or .50 S&W Magnum?

I'll ask

50 S&W Magnum

Thanks!

I'll stick with my .44

Went goose hunting yesterday. We got into the field right after sunup and had the decoys set out and the pit blinds dug in about an hour. Then we waited, and waited, and waited. Here's what I looked at for most of the day:


Blue skies, no birds flying. All that changed around 2:30 p.m. when the first 2 came in. the 5 of us ended up with 17 of the flying toilets, 4 of the 17 were banded. In the picture below, the guys are standing on top of about 2' of snow.....

Went out snow goose hunting yesterday, it was a long day but we managed 40 snows for a whole day hunt. They are difficult to decoy but a fun day in the field.

Couple of victims


Swans anyone?




The end of the day pose



Mighty hunter

Went out snow goose hunting again yesterday. Had a good day with killing 84 but then again it was a slow day. Good with a good number of geese shot but slow in that it was a whole day hunt and only saw 10 groups/single snow geese all day, but everyone gave us shooting opportunities. Some of these were groups up to 50 geese with a couple of singles and groups of 5. Needless to say the singles and groups of 5 (two of them) didn't get away. Here the end of the day pile.

Congrats on a a good hunt! Do you think the main body has gone north already, or it hasn't really kicked into gear yet?

It is all but over. Talked with the guys today and it is slow. Was outside most of the day trimming fruit trees and only saw/heard one flock of snow geese flying over. I made my reservations with the guide service today for next day. Its a fun way to spend a couple of days. Plus it is in my backyard so hard to pass up