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Hunting, Shooting & Dogging |
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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Posted: September/09/2019 at 07:51 |
Emily and I had a great Vacation in New Zealand. Just over half of our time there we spent on the South island, and I was able to get in 2.5 days of hunting while we were there. This was a private land hunt. It would have been cool to have been dropped off from a chopper and had a 7 day hunt, but it was not a possibility with our time frame. [img]https://i.imgur.com/Tdg5Z2Ll.jpg[/img] The Stag was taken with a 338 Lapua at 624 yards, while the Tahr was right at the 350 yards with a 7 mm Rem Mag. I did so much climbing, my legs hurt for 2 days, and was still sore on the third…But it was worth it. The picture doesn’t show it with the Tahr, but I am exhausted! We get home on July 13th and I have surgery on the 17th. August 22nd: First time out since the knee surgery (July 17th). I’m definitely not used to my Dell trigger, after not using one for quite awhile, as I’ve been using reworked Remington’s. If you watch the video you’ll see me flinch when the gun goes off the first time. https://youtu.be/R8fQcw6sFRY It was still a hit but the winds are blowing around 20 miles an hour. I didn’t hold off as much the second shot and went off the right edge, and the third shot was a hit. 10” target at 265 yards. 20 BR XP-100 with 55 grain Berger bullets. Killed prairie dogs out to 345 yards. On this very lightweight tripod of Dan Ekstrom’s, I had hits on 10” steel at 640 yards. How do you say, “more than a half revolution of wind??!!” Also had a first shot connection at 684 yards, (10”) then I missed the second shot… Did some dogging too with Dan’s old Colt 22lr My foot was swollen that afternoon, evening, and following day. It was the longest my foot had been down, plus the heat outside. Thankfully, I have not had swelling like that since that day.
September 5-6: I am now off crutches, but still have the brace locking my leg out. Thanks to Dan again for taking me out shooting! https://youtu.be/NaSxBs6rwtw The 284 Winchester XP-100 (162 A-Max) with the Burris Eliminator (E-3) with the updated touchpad. It is so much faster than the original design where you have to reach forward and break your shooting foundation to get range and correction. https://youtu.be/V6RkHKbPVZc Also confirmed drops out to 500 yards with the Pachmayr Dominator 6.5 Creed with 142 grain Nosler LR Accubond. Shooting standing with a tripod/PSR top and small field bag.
I also shot the 325 Smith at 50 yards today at 10” steel. Standing with a rest and standing offhand. This little critter shoots great. Very pleased. The 10 of the 12 shots on steel were approximately fist size, with several exceptions: one that went high between the bolts when rested and another one beside it high when shooting offhand. I missed one shot completely when rested, as a guy shooting a large magnum rifle with a brake fired just as I was shooting (Dan got kick out of that flinch!) and I missed once when shooting offhand I was standing for each cylinder. I used the flat part of the PSR (wasn’t using the yoke) with a bag under my hands when shooting rested. The Smith never was touching anything but my hands.
September 6th: This was a quick trip out to Chuck’s, but got some MV numbers with the 26 Nosler XP-100 with 140 grain Accubond, and did drops out 750 yards…Very windy, but it is great getting out and shooting.
Antelope and mule deer season begins October first, but I will not be able to get out until the middle of the month. I should be out of my brace on September 17th, but will be wearing it (It will not be locked out then) whenever I am on uneven terrain…hunting. |
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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Great story, great reporting. Thank you for letting us in on it. Always enjoy hearing about your adventures. Quite a haul from the NZ trip...
I hope your knee heals completely.
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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Dogger
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/02/2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 8904 |
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Congratulations on a great trip Ernie, that is a beautiful stag and Tahr. I absolutely love New Zealand, especially the South Island and those hills will really test your fitness! My daughter and SIL live in Dunedin so I visit as often as I can. I have hunted with my SIL for turkey in the Rock and Pillar range - outstanding natural beauty. The locals don’t class turkey as a game bird and thought we were a bit odd going after them.
Hope your leg heals quickly.
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God save the Empire!
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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What an awesome hunt Ernie! Magnificent stag and tahr! Thank you for sharing the pics and story!!!
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Scrumbag
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: October/22/2013 Location: London, UK Status: Offline Points: 4205 |
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Sounds a great trip! NZ is on the bucket list! Scrummy
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Was sure I had a point when I started this post...
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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Awesome story and cool critters
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Peddler
Optics God Joined: July/04/2012 Location: Oswego,NY Status: Offline Points: 13526 |
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Great pics Ernie.
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When you are dead, you don't know you are dead.It is difficult only for others.
It is the same when you are stupid. |
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bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 11200 |
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Way cool Ernie. Awesome critters!
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If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
Anomymous |
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