Seekers of the Red Mist (SRM) -- Varmint Hunting

Resources

Photo Album

This is always a work in progress
Hate Mail

Hot Tips

from the list Varmint Hunters Assoc's
Landowner Courtesy Sheet

Members pages

Shooting Books

Links

Need Help? havoc@harrisdev.com

Index of all threads

Seekers of the Red Mist (SRM) on Facebook

Seekers of the Red Mist
(Varmint Hunting Discussion)

RE2.5 beta

General Discussion

	1 Classified Ads Coffee Events (7/0/0) (1 folders) Gear (60/0/0) Handloading (537/0/0) (2 folders) Humor Hunting wheels (20/0/0) Long guns (435/0/0) (1 folders) Misc (84/0/0) (3 folders) MostDangerous (29/0/0)	Optics (110/0/0) (2 folders) Photo Album (36/0/0) Politics (229/0/0) Predators (177/0/0) Short guns (72/0/0) species-specific varmints (73/0/0) (2 folders) Technology (13/0/0) Wildcat Rounds (111/0/0) (1 folders) ~FAQ ~Suggestion Box (44/0/0)

Safari

[Print]
Recently got invite to trvl Sou Afr on Safari Details sketchy now and I remain skeptical as I am told the PH's fav cal is .308 Win plus fact that Zimbabwe border was mentioned. A little research reveal that Xerus Erythopus exists there (African BPUTS).

I am not really interested in the Big Five for trophies but my warped senses are tugging at me to trvl to the Dark Continent just to smoke a resident ground squirrel. Hmmm I wonder how much the royalty would be on that mount?

[Print]
I grew up on Jack O'Connor and came to love his warped sense of humor. He once wrote that you can kill the "dik-diks" by throwing rocks. Small, tiny variety of antelope... In fact, he said, that is exactly how the natives kill them for food. Deer? Sheep? goat? Haven't eaten much myself, but why not...

Better find something real small and some fmj bullets if you want much left to "mount." That is one way out. Blow it into red mist and no "mount fees." Of course they may have pollution taxes on the red mist... They learned the white mans' ways welllllll... oh welllll... (ha, ha).

[Print]
Sounds like that would be a blast. I thought I was the only one that had no interest in the big 5, but rather in the smalller varmints. I always wanted to shoot a monkey but am not sure if that's legal over there. It sure isn't here in Pittsburgh. The folks at the zoo frown upon gun-toting visitors.

[Print]
Be thankful u have Big Ben and not like the people from T.O. who have to bear the shame of the Blue Jays and the Argonauts. There was a beer commercial up here in B.C. (Kootenay beer) that "people" from the "Center of the Universe" (T.O.) clamored enough about to force advertisers to take off the airways by threat of civil suit. All the commercial said was that their beer was best when served as cold as the "people from Tahrontah" (even we Western Canadians make fun of the way they speak back there).

Have not heard anymore from my person extending the invite to Africa. The season has opened up north on the fifteenth of this month. A few friends have rolled back into town with early season bulls.

PS: I forgot to include the "Maple Laffs" in the list of the reasons for them to feel shame.

[Print]
My cousin actually played wide receiver in high school with Ben and my uncle coached him in Pee Wee football. Both of them still keep in contact with Big Ben and they even meet up every now and again. I got to meet him at my uncle's 50th b-day, albeit was a few years before his Steelers career.

Getting anxious to leave for Wyoming. Only a month and a half to go before I get to shoot at some PD's. Oh, and those pesky antelope and mule deer as well. I have to get tying some flies for the trip as well as loading up some .260's. I'm going to try the 140gr. SST's this time. The 120gr. B-Tips worked great last year but I want to see how much better the heavier bullets will do in the wind.

[Print]
I've tried SSTs in my 300...not as good as Nos B/Ts (180s). I tried last yr to obtain some TSX without success and was very disappointed in the eTips from Nos that I loaded up for my 7mm Rem. A Doctor I asstd in loading up some TSX 180s for his aught-six may share some of his booty he picked up somewhere southerly.

Although my project .260 is currently on-hold, I was thinking about 140 VLD would be good medicine with about a 1:8 twist. I haven't finalized my choice of bbl contour or length yet but am leaning toward a 24 inch tube. Still having no luck in tracking down stock I want. Some of my associates think I'm loco for even thinking about disassembling the Sav that consistently shoots sub MOA to build rifle that speculatively might be a bit better.

Just read that some kid was lost in the bush for 12 days in vicinity of where I was invited to go on Safari. They found him alive, scared hungry and dehydrated.

[Print]
by wrench
Been to Africa [S. A. and Namibia] four times. Used a 7 mag with 175 gr bullets. Smallest animals were baboon and springbuck and the biggest were kudu, zebra and gemsbuck/oryx. All went down with one shot. Only the zebra went as far a 100 yards and that with a hole in the heart. If you want to shoot one of those really small antelope for a shoulder mount, your PH may just tell you to gut shoot him. They can't take that hit and shouldn't suffer. Vervet monkeys [aka as blue balled monkeys...cause they are]and baboons are considered to be vermin. Shoot all you want but they arn't easy.

[Print]
My friends all said I was crazy for ripping my sub-moa Savage 22-250 apart for my .260 build. They all understand it now. I still have that barrel and it is only an action away from being resurrected. My friend has tried the 140gr. VLDs for target but hasn't hunted with them yet. Very accurate but a little pricey. I will have to give them a try for myself.

[Print]
Once had an old Win M70 in 7Mag that just loved 175 Sie Spbts and would grudgingly accept 160s (only one bull with those tho') Ballistically travelling circa 2900 fps that old Winny was just a belted aught-six due to it's preference for the 175s but what an accurate piece. Some goof broke into my house once when I was on-duty and swiped it along with ALL my long guns. Never did recover any of long arms but when they came back next night to rip house apart looking for hand guns, that led to their eventual capture and for one of them a sudden demise. My new M700 prefers pills in the 150/154 range at more than 3200 fps and is capable of quarter inch groups @ 100M on a calm day. I hate to admit it but it is a toss-up between the Nosl B/T and the Horn flat bases. My preference is the red plastic tipped Nosl.

[Print]
I've been to Namibia for plains game and shot a Ruger .338 Win. Mag. with Barnes 225 gr. 3-shock bullets with great results -- 7 animals with 8 shots. One shot was an insurance shot on an Oryx. My PH's used a .30-06 with 180 gr. bullets and a 7mm Rem. Mag. with 162 gr. bullets. I know a .300 Win. Mag. with 180 gr. bullets would do the job just fine, yet reach out to 300+ yards with ease. Varmints in Namibia are jackels (colorful coyotes) and baboons. Everywhere I hunted there was no limit on these pests and shooting them was encouraged. I am going back to Namibia in March 2010. This time I am taking my coyote calls and will see if I can get some jackels to come in for "shot" treatment.

Update at Shooter's Bookshelf

[Print]
From now on, clicking the "Shooting Books" link over there on the right side of the page will take you to an Amazon.com "astore." I hope you find it more helpful, and I hope more people take advantage of it to buy stuff. Stuff you buy through that Amazon.com portal will help stave off the wolf barking at the door of my server.

If anyone has ideas for things to add to that store, feel free to drop me suggestions.

http://www.shootersbookshelf.com/

GOING TO COLORADO NEXT MONTH-HELP

[Print]
Howdy!
I am driving from Kansas City to Colorado Springs next month. I have been PD shooting about 7 times, I love it! I wonder of any of you would have any suggestions about where I might stop off for a half day shoot (wife will be with me, this is her trip) and help a rancher by making some red mist? The ideal place for me would be around Cheyenne Wells, but I am open for suggestions. Thank you in advance-

[Print]
I envy you TomKat. I wish I could do more PD shooting but there 'aint no PDs here in SW Pennsyvania. I did get a chance to shoot some last Oct. in WY and am anxiously awaiting this years pilgrimage to Casper. Good Luck and shoot one of those varmints for me while you're out there.

[Print]
Are you kidding? You live in KS? In the SW corner there is a national grassland, The Cimmaron National Grassland. Guess what? They have a post on the web site that asks you not shoot the prairie dogs. Numbers down. Request, not order... Awwwww.... Now how do you think the agribusiness types in the area feel? Don't know? You even need a license as a resident. (Not in CO I was told for residents. Non residents, bring money.) I would call a few chambers of commerce this side of the CO line. Might stop at county extension. Sometimes they have lists of ranchers. Saw one for SD once, years ago. I wouldn't even think of paying CO prices to shoot, stay in KS and enjoy... Luck.

scope question from new guy

[Print]
First off, thanks for the website and keep up the good work administrators. I've been here before but never registered so take it easy on the new guy. I would like to ask about scopes, specifically power and range. Some background: I lived in Western Kansas for several years and got into prairie dog shooting while I was there. I liken it to live target practice. Sick, yet exciting....makes me kinda giggle just thinking about the carnage that comes with a good shot. I love it! Anyhow, I've got a tight budget and one rifle that does it all for me, my trusty 30-06 with a 3x9 scope. The caliber is overkill for dogs but great for deer and such. I now live in Eastern Kansas but head out west every once in a while to do some shooting.
What kind of power should I be looking for in a scope? My brother in law shoots a 308 with a 6x24 and likes it. With the way I shoot, my 3x9 just isn't enough for dogs at 300+ yards. Should I be looking at a 6, 8, or even 10x scope so I can really zoom in? I don't want to be able to look at the craters on the moon but it would be nice to actually see details of the target when it's out there farther than 100 yards. Thanks in advance for any tips/advice.

[Print]
I only have groundhogs here in SW PA which are considerably larger than PDs. I have used a 6-18X Burris in the past but upgraded to 8-32Xs since. I just couldn't see out past 300yds. well enough with the 18X. I also learned (though expensive lessons) that it is more important to have top quality glass than to have high power. I have looked through some very "inexpensive" high power garbage and would much rather use my 4-12X Leupold and not be able to see all the details. Image clarity is everything in a hot field with the mirage distorting the targets. I have owned Burris, Bushnell 4200 Elites, Leupold, and Nightforce scopes and I will never "skimp" on optics again. For the money, it is hard to beat the 4200s, in my opinion, only drawbacks are the 1" tube and the turret size(not very good for field adjustments). The Burris Signature Select is also a very good scope but is also a little pricey. Leupold's Mark 4 tactical is a great scope but is definitely at the top-end of the price range as is the Nightforce. Both the Leupold and Nightforce are worth every penny if you are serious in getting the best glass you can get.

[Print]
Optics are often more complicated than one would think. However I have to agree with HoghntrPA for the most part on this one. There’s a lot of cheap optics out there that just don’t cut it. On the other hand in the value for the money category I’ve found the Konus brand to do quite well, considering you don’t have to give up a first-born to afford them. Check out the Konus M30 at http://www.konusscopes.com/product/KON7281. I’ve sold a bunch of these and people love them. Again, not a highest end scope but at 1/3 the price its hard to beat. Note: this is a 30mm tube so get 30mm rings….
Summary:
1. Primary criteria: Get the best glass you can really afford. Its worth some extra $ in the long run.
2. Secondary: Get the highest magnification range you can afford (make sure the low end isn’t so high you can’t find a deer at close range when you need to….)
3. Secondary II: Get a good warranty. Leupold is expensive but they will replace practically anything.
4. Fit and features.
a. Fit: If you have a huge objective requiring tall rings then you may find your cheek weld will suffer and your comfort and accuracy will follow.
b. Features: Focus, external turrets, accurate re-zeroing, side vs front parallax, etc. All these need to be weighed against your own needs accordingly. There are a lot of different things to look at in scopes. Read reviews, scope specs etc and you'll develop a good idea of what features will matter to you. In addition, posting here is a great place to start to you've already hooked up with a bunch of guys with great experience to draw from.
Other:
The 30-06 is going to punish the shoulder after a time. I’d recommend light loads to minimize the shoulder pounding. If you can afford it I would get an additional rifle for varmint hunting. You will appreciate the decision. New cartridges like the 204 Ruger are not bad. Quieter, easier to shoot, fast and flat, cheaper, etc.
PS. I'm not trying to sell you anything, but would be glad to help you anytime.

http://www.konusscopes.com

[Print]
Thank you for all the tips. Sounds like quality over quantity(power) is the key. I just need to get down to cabelas and look through a few.

[Print]
I probably hadn't ought to cloud things up here too much, but I just want to toss in my 2 cents worth.
Yup, take a peek at the Konus or Mueller scopes. But, take a pencil to the numbers. You won't exactly pay for it in a season- but one of the above scopes on .223 does make a lot of sense in the long run. One, you'll save wear and tear on your '06. Two, you'll save wear and tear on you. Three, you'll save on ammo and/or components.
I've never done business with them, but Buds Gun Shop in KY advertises at least a decent sounding lay-a-way program.

http://budsgunshop.com

Wyoming

[Print]
The shooting was good this past weekend. We had to leave early on saturday and sunday because of the rain but I can't complain. We had lots of rats and plenty of shooting. The babies are out and getting fat so they make perfect targets now, happy shooting you all. I'm heading back next weekend for more.

Dogtown bullets

[Print]
Given the cost of things these days I figured I'd try the "Dogtown" bullets from Midway USA. Turns out they are Nosler hollow point bullets. For the price I can't complain at all. I haven't had a chance to try them yet but I'm betting they work fine. Just thought I'd pass it along.

This forum has been mighty quiet lately.... Hope its because everyone is giving the varmints hell. :-)

[Print]
I've used Dogtown bullets in the past with good results. I presently use Ballistic Tips for all my varminting. Varmint Grenades are also great bullets, but are a little pricey for me.

Animal Planet: Weird True & Freaky: Outback Rabbit Invasion

[Print]
Here's a video from Animal Planet: Weird True & Freaky: Outback Rabbit Invasion.

It's like a PETA success story.

Hunting Chizzlers

[Print]
Bounty Hunter 6, my best pal for shooting and hunting is working out of state this summer. CRAP-O-RAMA, I really like to go administer death to chizzlers with someone. I went alone last Wednesday to see if there were any varmints out. Yes, there were and I did my duty. In two hours I sent 70 - 80 of the critters to the big alfalfa field in the sky. Most were at 150 yards or more. I only got to use my .22 L.R. about 15 times. Almost all were dispatched with a heavy barrel .223 Howa topped with a Leupold 4.5 - 14X 50mm VX-3 scope. The rifle is heavy enough that the red particles of exploding chizzler are visable in the scope even under recoil. Have a great summer all. I will continue to do my best to preserve agriculture eventhough I am alone for the summer.

one mound.jpg (274.2 kb)

[no subject]

[Print]

Rosebud Guide

[Print]
I plan on shooting PDs at Rosebud the end of April. I will be shooting by myself and would like a recommendation on a good guide. You can send me a private email at dc at 59925 dot com.
Thanx,
Don

[Print]
I have no current information (sorry)

However, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts and opinions about your experience with a guide on the Rosebud.

Thanks!

[Print]
Don, I don't know about the Rosebud but Montana has a season on prairie dogs on public land. That season doesn't open until 1 Jun. Weather is usually terrible during April. The little dogs aren't out yet. I would wait until June if that would fit into your plans.

[Print]
I live in Mt and shoot them year round on private property. I didn't even know that they had permits

[Print]
Yup, Montana has a season for prairie dogs on public land, not private land. I don't know how it applies to state or school land. Did anyone else mention anything about permits? I didn't. Permits aren't required as far as I know and if anyone knows different, please let everyone know. Reservation land is probably considered private land but I would call the Reservation to find out if there is a season and the quantity of dogs. Just my two cents worth.

[Print]
Hi,
Just curious where you live in MT. Alway happy to trade stories etc. I grew up near GT Falls myself. Shot gophers everywhere. Closest PD town was a protected state park. Bummer. Great rattlesnake hunting though.

lw

[Print]
A little early for myself! Memorial day weekend, I'm there!

I've been to the bud (A Few Times!!!) What's up with Eastern Montana? They have PD's there. That would be a lot closer!

Thank's Jerry

[Print]
As promised the results of my SD experience - albeit a little late. I shot in the Pierre area on 5/13 with a guide. Dogs everywhere but 30-40 mph winds so hitting was not really good. Guide was OK. My only complaint was that he should have suggested shooting on another day. The 14th ended up being calm by comparison. The Guide needs and wife or girlfriend to make decent lunches.

Also shot for 2 days about 1 hour east of Great Falls on private land w/ a guide. Really target rich and a great guide. We came in each night after dark so that means 10pm. Worked my ass off. He would have stayed in the field until dark if I hadn't called UNCLE. He also has a drop camp that he used for elk hunting for multiple day PD hunts that eliminates the 1 hour each way trip back to Great Falls.

[Print]
Hi,
Are you from the Great Falls area or did someone direct you to it? I grew up near there and never really found a good pd town in the area. Anyway, would love to trade stories/tips/etc. Take care.
lw

Get your gun books at the Shooters' Bookshelf

varmint hunting, prairie dogs, coyotes, shooting, rifles, long range shooting

v 2.5.0c