Success In The Field

This was not the best of years for this old handgunner.

Turkeys: Saw 4 gobblers 3 days before season. Saw none!!! for the next 5 weeks, then saw 12 at one time in buck season 25 yards from my blind.

Bear: Saw a big boy during deer crop damage permits on the farm that I've killed 6 in the last 11 years. Never saw him during 4 days of youth season (that I'm eligible for), then the corn got cut, so skunked!!

Buck season: Saw the "deer that made me crazy" 4 times before season, but never saw him again.

I did the 8 point at 177 yds. with my .500 Taurus Raging Bull. Never saw a decent one after that. Turned down some 4s & spikes.

Summer deer; Much better here. Got 93 total. #1 gun- .375/.284 XP (44). Got 26 with a 260 AB. Also used ETip, Chaos, BT, 235 Speer, 250 AK, 270 Win. The AB exceeded the others in damage & stopping. #2 gun:.325 WSM XP (20). Did most with a 180 Bal. Silver Tip (all but 2 dropped). Did a few with 210 PT, 200 AB, Etip. #3 gun-6.5/.284 XP (18) Equally split between 120 BT, 120 SB, 125 PT, 130 AB. A few ran. Most dropped. Longest shot only 354.

Grounghos/rockchucks The best action Total:474. 1/3 groundhogs, 2/3 chucks (Lifetime total 16,152). Groundhogs are getting really scarce in WV due to me & coyotes. Rockchucks starting to get that way, too. #2 gun- .22-250 XP (168). Only used 40 BTs. I've used lots of others, but this provides accuracy & extreme damage compared to others. #1 gun- .223 Contender (173) Again, 40 gr. BTs. No sense messing with perfection. #3 SSK suppressed Ruger MK III (105) My short range demon killer, although I did take a witness groundhog at 104 yds. I found several place in ID & a lot in WV where short range shots are only available or close to homes. I use mosltly 38 gr. Rem. HP subsonics. Lifetime total for this gun is now 878!!!!!

All in all, just a so-so year for me, but I guess not so bad when compared to a lot others. Guess I'm now a certified, die hard handgunner.