DREAMS OF AFRICA

I am practicing with my .338 Win. Mag. these days.  I try to shoot 6 - 8 rounds at either 2 liter pop bottles filled with water or clay pigeons at variable distances from 100 to 300 yards, sometimes even 400 yards.  I estimate the range and don't know exactly how far I am from the target.  I only take 6 - 8 rounds with me when I go out into the desert so I won't be tempted to shoot more.  I shoot from prone, kneeling, and sitting positions.  I shoot 1 or 2 shots and then let the barrel cool down completely between practice shots.  I want to get used to shooting from various hunting positions and with a rifle that is in the "hunting" mode. 

It is amazing what a 225 grain bullet will do to a 2 liter pop bottle filled with water at even 300 yards.  They sincerely blowup. This photo is of a kudu I took in Namibia in 2007.  Alfred and George, the world's best trackers, are with me.  I am getting excited for this fall when I return to hunt other animals.  The below is a photo of my son and his kudu taken in Nambia in 2010.

LONG DISTANCE CHIZZLER

I went to Beryl this a.m. with Bounty Hunter 6 and we tried to hunt in strong winds.  The alfalfa is growing up to 4" tall so the chizzlers have some cover as they run around and eat up the farmer's profits.  I was on a squirrel-o-matic, shooting table/chair, on the ground and didn't really have a good view of the field.  I did however, take a few dozen varmints .

My best shot of the day was at a large old sow standing on the access roadway in the field.  I shot once and the impact of my .22 LR was about 5 feet low but on center with the chizzler.  I held higher and shot again all the while holding about 10" into the wind.  The bullet impacted again about 2 feet low.  I held still higher and fired.  I couldn't imagine the chizzler was still standing there.  I guess with the wind making so much noise and my shots missing by so much she thought she didn't have anything to worry about -- NOT TRUE.  The third shot hit in the midships and the chizzler was out of the picture.  I later paced off the distance and I stepped 176 paces from my table to the dead varmint.  Even I can get lucky sometimes, I guess.

CHIZZLERS in March and April

March and April have been fun months hunting for chizzlers in Southwestern Utah.  I went to Beryl with some pals and even the youngest of hunters had a great time.  The weather this year has been more mild than in years past so the varmints have been out earlier than ever.  I had a great hunt with Bounty Hunter 6,some of his pals, and one of my former Boy Scout group members. I also got to go hunt with a good friend in the neighborhood and his 9 year old son.  The Jr. hunter shot with the best of us.  He was patient and was able to nail two chizzlers with a pump up BB gun. I was amazed at his ability to stay on task and wait for the vermin to raise its head out of its burrow.  He had to retrieve the critter with his new multiplier knife and show us.  It took him about 1 1/2 hours to get the animals and was much more proud than his father and me at the accomplishment.  I have to say "hats off to you! Little man." I don't know if I would have been patient enough or a good enough shot to pull this one off at age 9.  Hunting chizzlers helps out the farmer, and is lots of fun for us.  The ravens, crows, and surviving chizzlers even get to eat the dead so they all get a good feed.

CHIZZLERS 2012 part 1

I finally got up to Iron County to hunt chizzlers with my 4 year old grandson, Mack. We spent a short time, 2 hours, but scored well taking about 60 total. I only fired 5 rounds with my .223 heavy barrel, the rest of the critters were taken with a .22 rifle at distances of 10 to 125 yards. More to follow, but I haven't posted for some time so I had to get something out in cyberspace.