Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[rarefish383]

Got my second deer, little spike. Took this one with a 1951 Savage 99R in 300 Savage. Sunday was a blast of adrenaline. Saw my first two doe at 7:19 and shot the spike at 9:41, saw 16 deer in between.

 

[svk]

Great work!

 

[nomad_archer]

Just got back from four more days in WV hunting camp. My cousins son brought one of his friends. Young guy is about 30, new to hunting and shooting. He had a brand new Savage 220, 20 gauge bolt action with a Nikon scope. The scope had been bore sighted. First shot at 25 yards was a foot to the right dead on elevation. My cousin grabs the gun and starts to pull the scope caps off, "we have to adjust the scope". I said wait, let him shoot another round, we need to know if he pulled it to the right or if the scope needs to be adjusted. He puts the second shot in the same hole. OK, now start moving the pattern over. After a few adjustments the kid was tearing the bull to pieces. Moved back to 50 yards and was about half an inch high, still tearing the bull to pieces. So for fun, we have an 8' 2X4 with holes drilled in it for golf "T"'s", I set up a bunch of golf balls. He vaporized every one. So when we are done playing my cousin tells him he can only use the 2 3/4 inch shells for practice, He "HAS" to use the 3 inch shells for hunting. He shoots one 3 inch and goes, "darn, that hurts". I said "go back to the 2 3/4's". The other guys are jumping up and down, "you have to use the big ones hunting, you won't even notice the kick when you see a deer." So, I handed him my 250 Savage and he says "you can't even feel it Kick". I said "I know, and if you can shoot a deer in the eye, you don't need to blow it in half with a cannon." It just pee's me off when the guys that can't shoot tell a new guy to go bigger to make up for their sloppy shooting. Shoot one in the butt and it gets away, get a bigger gun, so the next time you shoot it in the butt, you blow both rear legs off and you can run it down hopping on it's front legs. Don't get me wrong, lots of guys need magnums to reach out and get stuff. But, the guys that are shooting 4 and 5 hundred yards, can shoot. You know the old saying, "you pick your friends, you get your relatives." I love my relatives, but I wish they weren't so cheap they would buy a few boxes of shells and put in some bench time, rant over, Joe.

I completely understand where you are coming from. I can't stand that mentality. Bigger isn't always better. I'm not the best shot I admit that but I'm not a shoot them in the butt kinda hunter either. I bought a .300 win mag because I thought one day I would hunt elk out west or something to that effect so I wanted enough gun for all north american game. Turns out that I dunno if I will ever make the elk trip but that gun needs to get used so I use it. I can shoot it and it is accurate. With a glass bedded action it would be even better. My next gun will probably be a 7mm-08, 6.5 creedmor or a .243. My girls will start hunting with a .243. I didnt think the .243 was much of anything until I saw a 9 year old girl take a 100 yard shot and drop that doe in its tracks. That made me a believer. To be honest I like having the big .300 mag when I am at FS's place on the hill and am looking out 350+ on a cut ag field with a slight cross wind. I like having a heavier bullet with plenty of energy if I decide to take that 300+ yard shot. Most of my other hunting situations just about anything else will work.

On a funny side note, the daycare had blow up deer out as decoration. My 16 month old went over said boom knocked the deer over and then picked it up and carried it away. I think she just might be a hunter.

 

[rarefish383]

Just to stay on topic, here's the table I made for the hunting trailer. it was scrounged from big White Pine that went down behind the trailer, Joe.

 

[James Miller]

Just got back from four more days in WV hunting camp. My cousins son brought one of his friends. Young guy is about 30, new to hunting and shooting. He had a brand new Savage 220, 20 gauge bolt action with a Nikon scope. The scope had been bore sighted. First shot at 25 yards was a foot to the right dead on elevation. My cousin grabs the gun and starts to pull the scope caps off, "we have to adjust the scope". I said wait, let him shoot another round, we need to know if he pulled it to the right or if the scope needs to be adjusted. He puts the second shot in the same hole. OK, now start moving the pattern over. After a few adjustments the kid was tearing the bull to pieces. Moved back to 50 yards and was about half an inch high, still tearing the bull to pieces. So for fun, we have an 8' 2X4 with holes drilled in it for golf "T"'s", I set up a bunch of golf balls. He vaporized every one. So when we are done playing my cousin tells him he can only use the 2 3/4 inch shells for practice, He "HAS" to use the 3 inch shells for hunting. He shoots one 3 inch and goes, "darn, that hurts". I said "go back to the 2 3/4's". The other guys are jumping up and down, "you have to use the big ones hunting, you won't even notice the kick when you see a deer." So, I handed him my 250 Savage and he says "you can't even feel it Kick". I said "I know, and if you can shoot a deer in the eye, you don't need to blow it in half with a cannon." It just pee's me off when the guys that can't shoot tell a new guy to go bigger to make up for their sloppy shooting. Shoot one in the butt and it gets away, get a bigger gun, so the next time you shoot it in the butt, you blow both rear legs off and you can run it down hopping on it's front legs. Don't get me wrong, lots of guys need magnums to reach out and get stuff. But, the guys that are shooting 4 and 5 hundred yards, can shoot. You know the old saying, "you pick your friends, you get your relatives." I love my relatives, but I wish they weren't so cheap they would buy a few boxes of shells and put in some bench time, rant over, Joe.

I work with a guy that gets a deer every year with his g21 and a 255g hardcast hand load says he's never had one not exit the other side. Limits himself to 25-30 yards and says the deer doesn't know the difference between 45acp and the latest super ultra magnums if it smashes threw both lungs and exits or hits the brain.

 

[svk]

My brother in law's uncle pays a gunsmith to sight in his gun so he knows it's "dead on". He routinely empties his entire clip on deer without hitting them since he sucks at shooting because he never practices. In his late 60's he still hasn't figured it out. I've known the guy for 17 years and I think he's hit two deer during that time.

My FIL refuses to sight his gun because "it hit the last deer he shot at". I just don't get it...

 

[svk]

I work with a guy that gets a deer every year with his g21 and a 255g hardcast hand load says he's never had one not exit the other side. Limits himself to 25-30 yards and says the deer doesn't know the difference between 45acp and the latest super ultra magnums if it smashes threw both lungs and exits or hits the brain.

Have to respect that!

 

[MustangMike]

Up at my property the Tornado (about 20 years ago) took out the canopy, so the undergrowth is very dense, there are very few clear shots. With a long learning curve, I have learned that the 30 cal bullets are more reliable in this environment than the smaller calibers. If you have clear shots, the smaller calibers are just fine.

 

[nomad_archer]

QUOTE="MustangMike, post: 6407210, member: 120204"]Up at my property the Tornado (about 20 years ago) took out the canopy, so the undergrowth is very dense, there are very few clear shots. With a long learning curve, I have learned that the 30 cal bullets are more reliable in this environment than the smaller calibers. If you have clear shots, the smaller calibers are just fine.[/QUOTE]

Sounds similar to most of the places I hunt... Even when you think you have a clear shot it probably isn't. I dont know how many times I have gone to the point of impact and looked back where I was standing and thought.... I thought it was clear how the heck did I make it through all of these twigs. I have also been burned by a deflection or two along the way. The buck I got this year was in the most open woods I have hunted in 10 years. I just had too hunt it because it had the sign. It still wasnt clear and I had limited shooting with the bow but it was still odd to be able to see so far.

 

[svk]

I've bungled up a few shots trying to sneak through the brush. If that little piece of brush is nearby, it will reach out and grab the bullet.

Missed a nice buck a few years back. We were supposed to cut those shooting lanes earlier in the fall but my hunting partners needed to go drink beer and watch college football so it never got done. That was strike 2 to them getting the boot from my shack.

 

[Conquistador3]

People around here don't for one second consider mullberry as good firewood. Till I show them BTU charts.

I literally burn everything I can get my hand on for free or in return for a favor. Black locust? Check. Downy oak? Check. English Walnut? Check. Sour cherry? Check. Almond? Check. Silver birch? Check... you get the idea.
I am yet to run into some wood here that doesn't make at least decent firewood: the trick is all in cutting and splitting it in the right size for your stove/fireplace and let it age for as long as it's needed. As long as it's free or only a small favor is needed, it's worth the hassle and I won't be too picky. At most I'll just burn some more.

 

[Hinerman]

At 650yds my little 243 has the energy of a 357 at point blank range.

How do you know this? Is there a formula you use? Publication? Ballistic charts? Measuring instruments?

 

[chipper1]

Scrounged some dead Ash a couple of weeks ago. Got about one rick out of it.

Looks good man.
Kinda off topic though .

 

[woodchip rookie]

I didnt think the .243 was much of anything until I saw a 9 year old girl take a 100 yard shot and drop that doe in its tracks.

You can drop deer with a 223 at 500yds. You don't need a 243 for shots out to 200 then even bigger after that.

How do you know this? Is there a formula you use? Publication? Ballistic charts? Measuring instruments?

"Standard" 158gr JHP 357Mag=688lb/ft energy @ point blank range...

http://www.ballistics101.com/357_magnum.php

600yds with my 243 on my ballistics calc which is deadnuts as far as the bullet stays stable (1,100yds on a warm day)

At 750yds my 243 has the same energy as that 357 does at 100yds.

 

[95custmz]

Looks good man.
Kinda off topic though .

Scrounged some firewood AND shot a deer. How's that? [emoji51]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[woodchip rookie]

Looks like the next couple days will be dry. Time to load more wood into the shed

 

[woodchip rookie]

Scrounged some firewood AND shot a deer. How's that?

It's decided. You win the internet.

 

[farmer steve]

to stay "on topic" my 87 yo dad has been scrounging as long as i can remember. haulin wood in old studebaker pickups,army surplus dodge vans and the occasional rambler station wagon. taught me all about wood (and here's where we derail a little ) and hunting. today was the first day of buck season here and dad was in his stand early.he hasn't got a buck in quite a few years and at his age you don't know if there is a next season. SCORE!!!!! yes he threw it in the back of his firewood truck sorry if there is to much blood in the pics.

 

[woodchip rookie]

This whole hunting thing would be alot easier if we could just eat trees.

 

[svk]

Nice buck, he really worked those antlers over on something!

Did you guys see the youtube video where a ram tried to fight a mule deer buck and got his butt kicked?