Chucks In The Lava

[STS]

It has finally warmed up up enough in the higher elevations to get the chucks out on the rocks. This fellow was one that I knew was there last summer but never could get a real good crack at him. He lived in a rock pile out in the middle of a sage flat that the closest shot is 400 on the dot. I finally caught a day when the wind wasn’t howling and made the connection. Also included for your viewing pleasure is another image of what I call the spice of life in Montana. Enjoy.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Nice! I'd like to see a shot of that rock pile out in the sage flat, sounds like a neat setting.

Oh, and love the sign! Signs like that keep the low-riding riffraff far away.

 

[Bill K]

Most of the chucks I go after are also in lava rock outcroppings, some in sage flat area, others in canyons

 

[Lonny in ID]

Great pics!

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Great pics!

Agree! Bill does purty dang well down there.

Most of my rock chuck shooting is close to home on local ranches, so range is limited to around 275 yards. "My chucks" inhabit lava rock piles and berms and feed on the pasture grass or alfalfa on these ranches. Pic taken with a Nikon 300mm tele lens. They never let you get this close.



An older pic from a few years ago:



Stalking these guys in the junipers and sage, trying to keep them from seeing you before you can get a shooting lane or in range is half the fun. Once they see you, it's game over, so it's always a challenge that turns into a game of hide 'n mouse.

 

[snert]

So different than where I hunt. But so similar too...

 

[Lonny in ID]

Agree! Bill does purty dang well down there.

Most of my rock chuck shooting is close to home on local ranches, so range is limited to around 275 yards. "My chucks" inhabit lava rock piles and berms and feed on the pasture grass or alfalfa on these ranches. Pic taken with a Nikon 300mm tele lens. They never let you get this close.



An older pic from a few years ago:



Stalking these guys in the junipers and sage, trying to keep them from seeing you before you can get a shooting lane or in range is half the fun. Once they see you, it's game over, so it's always a challenge that turns into a game of hide 'n mouse.

Dang that 'chuck has done a very good job with its home, landscaping, and flower plantings!

Great pic! The type of pic that would have made the spring edition cover of the now long-gone VHA magazine.

 

[Klong]

What rifle are you shooting?

 

[Bill K]

Rick and his camera have some truly beautiful pictures. Always enjoy seeing any of them.

 

[Bill K]

Not sure who you are addressing, with "What Rifle". But I use mostly the 20SCC and 20 Tac. In between a 20 Valkyrie, 223AI 40degree, 204R and 17FB. Actions vary from Savage, Howa and Reminton. Sometime a 6mmCM.

 

[skeeljc]

Some of the best chuck shooting I ever had was in a closed strip mine in southern Illinois. Lots of rocks in the rows of overburden. This was an un-reclaimed strip mine that a buddy worked for. We just cruised the haul roads and scanned the rocks. I think we killed 32 in two days.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

What rifle are you shooting?

If you are addressing me, the rifle in the pic is my Cooper M38 VR in 20VT wearing a Leupold VX3 6.5-20X LR 40mm w/M1 Elevation turret factory installed. It is one of my favorite "low impact" rifles I use for ground squirrels and rock chucks. Wicked accurate with Nosler 32gr Varmageddon's and RL-7 in Lapua, Nosler or R-P brass. It doesn't seem to care about brass branding.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Dang that 'chuck has done a very good job with its home, landscaping, and flower plantings!

Great pic! The type of pic that would have made the spring edition cover of the now long-gone VHA magazine.

Thanks Larry. These chucks take advantage of their surroundings alright, they make a concave top on rock piles that were 'pointy', and once the excavation is complete, they can bask in the sun without anyone seeing them. Very creative, very sneaky!



And I'm among many here really miss TVHM. The member articles were always fun and entertaining with a few pro's added in for balance. It's a real shame it's gone now, along with Precision Shooting and Small Caliber News. Those were the only magazines I looked forward to. Info is available online, but I sure miss just pulling out one of those mags and just sitting back and reading.