Why procrastinate getting ready for a hunt

[nakneker]

I help a lot of people sort their guns and optics for hunts around here, I do so because I really enjoy helping people with their hunts, no matter their skill level or understanding.

I’ve noticed a lot of people wait until a week or two before a hunt before checking their gear. Case in point is a good friend who has a Trophy Elk hunt on the Fort Apache Reservation that starts this wednesday. She called me Saturday because her 300 PRC was all over the place. I picked the rifle up and a box of the Hornady factory ammo she had and took it home to mess with. The lot of factory ammo she had was pretty hot for her rifle and was about as far out of a node as you could get. Luckily I load ammo for another good friend who has a 300 PRC and rounded up 100 pieces of Lapua brass, ran a ladder, found a wide node that’s a grain under max for her rifle and produces single digit SD and low ES. Took the rifle out yesterday AM and discovered her old NF scope was having issues. I had checked the rings and mounts and action screws before taking it out in the field, so I suspected it wasn’t that. Brought the rifle home, installed a new Mark5 Leupold 3-18x and took it back out this morning. All is well, she was shooting half MOA at 500 and a solid MOA out to 1000. She can shoot if her rifle is dialed in. I’m also sending her with my 7Saum for a back up. So we got it resolved but it would be ideal to have 30 days or more to help get things like that resolved. Not a big deal, just thinking out loud.

The good news is she has a tag on what I consider to be the best elk hunt in the world as far as free range, big bulls, low pressure goes. She had this tag two years ago and filled it opening day with a 377 inch 8x8, I begged her this morning to hold out for something over 390” or bigger. That’s a very real possibility for that hunt. Should be fun.

This morning was misting rain, a bit cooler and I could only imagine how the elk were screaming, full rut is on here. Wish I could go with her but I might get to hunt that hunt next year which would be dreamy for this dude. I have quite a few bulls over 360”, my biggest being just under 385” but I’ve always dreamed of hunting the Fort Apache. Might be my last ”good opportunity” at a big bull. I’m 57 and tags in Arizona don’t come around often.

 

[jds holler]

I've been doing the same stuff for a couple of friends for awhile now. It can be frustrating and time consuming, as well as fun. Usually I'm setting up equipment that is much nicer than my own stuff.

Another thing about it is cooler loads of free elk meat. jd

 

[nakneker]

I've been doing the same stuff for a couple of friends for awhile now. It can be frustrating and time consuming, as well as fun. Usually I'm setting up equipment that is much nicer than my own stuff.

Another thing about it is cooler loads of free elk meat. jd

Free elk meat!

 

[Bc'z]

I help a lot of people sort their guns and optics for hunts around here, I do so because I really enjoy helping people with their hunts, no matter their skill level or understanding.

I’ve noticed a lot of people wait until a week or two before a hunt before checking their gear. Case in point is a good friend who has a Trophy Elk hunt on the Fort Apache Reservation that starts this wednesday. She called me Saturday because her 300 PRC was all over the place. I picked the rifle up and a box of the Hornady factory ammo she had and took it home to mess with. The lot of factory ammo she had was pretty hot for her rifle and was about as far out of a node as you could get. Luckily I load ammo for another good friend who has a 300 PRC and rounded up 100 pieces of Lapua brass, ran a ladder, found a wide node that’s a grain under max for her rifle and produces single digit SD and low ES. Took the rifle out yesterday AM and discovered her old NF scope was having issues. I had checked the rings and mounts and action screws before taking it out in the field, so I suspected it wasn’t that. Brought the rifle home, installed a new Mark5 Leupold 3-18x and took it back out this morning. All is well, she was shooting half MOA at 500 and a solid MOA out to 1000. She can shoot if her rifle is dialed in. I’m also sending her with my 7Saum for a back up. So we got it resolved but it would be ideal to have 30 days or more to help get things like that resolved. Not a big deal, just thinking out loud.

The good news is she has a tag on what I consider to be the best elk hunt in the world as far as free range, big bulls, low pressure goes. She had this tag two years ago and filled it opening day with a 377 inch 8x8, I begged her this morning to hold out for something over 390” or bigger. That’s a very real possibility for that hunt. Should be fun.

This morning was misting rain, a bit cooler and I could only imagine how the elk were screaming, full rut is on here. Wish I could go with her but I might get to hunt that hunt next year which would be dreamy for this dude. I have quite a few bulls over 360”, my biggest being just under 385” but I’ve always dreamed of hunting the Fort Apache. Might be my last ”good opportunity” at a big bull. I’m 57 and tags in Arizona don’t come around often.

Sean I am a procrastination expert, not with gear but with my pre season scouting. Lol
You know we want to see pictures from her hunt, sounds like she has an above average chance for sucess.

 

[nakneker]

Sean I am a procrastination expert, not with gear but with my pre season scouting. Lol
You know we want to see pictures from her hunt, sounds like she has an above average chance for sucess.

Sure thing, that’s her bull from two years ago. It’s certainly a nice bull but the Fort Apache is different, save a bull like that for the last day or two of the hunt.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

A dream hunt for me. Wish I could say bucket list but I'm realistic about the bucket list.

 

[STOMP442]

Dude I do this for tons of people around here and honestly my least favorite service I offer. Each and every person is their own special kind of idiot and know nothing about what it takes to get a rifle in tune and the effort and money it takes to get the components they need for their particular rifle. I charge what I call a retard fee and I tell them that when they bring me a rifle I have worked up for them in the past and and have no components to go along with it. I even tell them when they pick it up the first time. Save your brass, if you buy brass make sure its the same kind we are using. Buy a box of bullets and a pound of powder for next year. Nope they show up a week or two before their hunt and get a stupid look on their face when you tell them they are SOL because I don't have any of the components they need nor can I get them in a timely manner thanks to the political climate. If I do happen to have the stuff the fee is applied right from the get go. They never learn though, they all have more money than sense seems like.

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

I’ve noticed a lot of people wait until a week or two before a hunt before checking their gear.

I think it's pretty simple. A lot of people just don't get into the nuts and bolts possibly. A lot of people want to get an elk, but not have to prepare and make sure everything is in order. I'm just giving them the benefit of the doubt, cause I dive into the nuts and bolts.

The good thing is that your friend knows and has you for a friend. Sounds like a win-win! Maybe she'll part with some of that Elk strap?

 

[JB10]

I got a deer tag for 17A, its next month and i was up there this weekend scouting. While up there i checked my rifles zero since its a different altitude then where i live. Thankfully it was 1/4 off repeatedly. So next month ill check it one more time just in case. I do this every time. Hell i even take my predator rifles out before i start calling for the fall to winter months. I have a coworker also has a deer hunt beginning of November. He admitted he will not take the rifle out before he goes, not even to double check.... his hunting buddies told him anything over 100 yards he is using one of their rifles since they know they are on.

 

[Kevin1990]

Firstly, good for you for helping others. I've done it for my father with his scope last year and it felt good to help him. Honestly though, you described me for deer season for the last 3 years. I check my stuff like a week or two before opening day. I was hunting with a 6.5 Grendel the past couple years and never had a problem though. That being said, if I was ever lucky enough to hunt elk, id be preparing months in advance, and I'd have a back up rifle, and a back up to the back up rifle.

 

[Bc'z]

Sure thing, that’s her bull from two years ago. It’s certainly a nice bull but the Fort Apache is different, save a bull like that for the last day or two of the hunt.

I trust without a doubt you know your area, and the animals that roam there.....

But I'd have killed that stud of a bull too!!

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I trust without a doubt you know your area, and the animals that roam there.....

But I'd have killed that stud of a bull too!!

I would build a new shop just to put the mount in! lol.

 

[nakneker]

I trust without a doubt you know your area, and the animals that roam there.....

But I'd have killed that stud of a bull too!!

Looks bigger mounted, it’s a beautiful bull. it would be a hard one to pass but on that hunt you want to give yourself 4-5 days before you shoot that one, especially now that she has that one on the wall. She sent me a mounted pic last night. I’m hoping she breaks 390 this round, maybe even the magical 400” mark.

I took her rifle out one more time this morning. It was shooting 2 shots well under MOA at 530, 780 and 960. She’s good to go, she won’t shoot past 500 anyways would be my guess, if you wound a bull and don’t recover it your hunt is over. I’m sure she won’t pull the trigger unless she’s very comfortable with the shot.

The young coyote stood broadside at just over 200 this morning on the way out and caught a 50 grain Blitzking from 222 contender this morning. It’s a good omen.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Looks bigger mounted, it’s a beautiful bull. it would be a hard one to pass but on that hunt you want to give yourself 4-5 days before you shoot that one, especially now that she has that one on the wall. She sent me a mounted pic last night. I’m hoping she breaks 390 this round, maybe even the magical 400” mark.

I took her rifle out one more time this morning. It was shooting 2 shots well under MOA at 530, 780 and 960. She’s good to go, she won’t shoot past 500 anyways would be my guess, if you wound a bull and don’t recover it your hunt is over. I’m sure she won’t pull the trigger unless she’s very comfortable with the shot.

The young coyote stood broadside at just over 200 this morning on the way out and caught a 50 grain Blitzking from 222 contender this morning. It’s a good omen.

Wow!

 

[jds holler]

And I'm lookin at the thuty thuty hanging under the bull that's identical to the one I'm about to give to my cousin. Flip-up Marble peep and all. It's our old heirloom rifle that my grandfather was carrying when he was killed in a hunting accident.

What a bull that is. They might come bigger, but they don't come prettier. jd

 

[nakneker]

And I'm lookin at the thuty thuty hanging under the bull that's identical to the one I'm about to give to my cousin. Flip-up Marble peep and all. It's our old heirloom rifle that my grandfather was carrying when he was killed in a hunting accident.

What a bull that is. They might come bigger, but they don't come prettier. jd

Agreed on both accounts!

 

[coldboremiracle]

Another thing about it is cooler loads of free elk meat. jd

I am often suspicious of free meat. I spent hours last night carving a lot of dirt, pine needles, sticks and mold off of some "free meat".

 

[jds holler]

I am often suspicious of free meat. I spent hours last night carving a lot of dirt, pine needles, sticks and mold off of some "free meat".

The meat I get from my friend is generally cows killed on a guided damage control hunt. It is processed by the ranch crew, and is neatly wrapped. But it looks like it's been cut up with hatchets and lots of whiskey. It bears little resemblance to what is written on the packages. Most folks would call it stew meat, but I trim it up an make it look like this. I'll take all he'll give me. jd

 

[nakneker]

The meat I get from my friend is generally cows killed on a guided damage control hunt. It is processed by the ranch crew, and is neatly wrapped. But it looks like it's been cut up with hatchets and lots of whiskey. It bears little resemblance to what is written on the packages. Most folks would call it stew meat, but I trim it up an make it look like this. I'll take all he'll give me. jd

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Looks delicious!