About Ed Hale

I am an avid hunter with rifle and Bow and have been hunting for more than 50 years. I have taken big game such as whitetail deer, red deer, elk, Moose and African Plains game such as Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok, Blesbok, and Impala and wrote an ebook entitled African Safari -Rifle and Bow and Arrow on how to prepare for a first safari. Ed is a serious cartridge reloader and ballistics student. He has earned two degrees in science and has written hundreds of outdoor article on hunting with both bow and rifle.

Nosler 7mm Bullets on Short Range Maine Black Bear – Update

I have successfully used Nosler Accubond bullets on bull moose and bison out of my .375 Ruger.

But I have not used the AccuBond Long Range (ABLR) bullet on big game yet. I have plenty of 7mm 175g Nosler ABLR’s left from my Newfoundland moose hunt last year. Note: Since, I was staying in Newfoundland for 6 weeks, Canada would not let me enter with my Browning 7mm rifle unless I was headed directly to my hunt.

Hopefully,that will soon to change this fall on my Foggy Mountain Maine bear hunt this September. 

The AccuBond ABLR is designed to expand faster than the AccuBond.  But will the bullet mushroom “too much” in my 7mm Rem Mag 175g ABLR at say 50 to 75 yards? 

UPDATE

Discussion with Nosler says the Nosler Partition will have more weight retention and will mushroom nicely at close range. Accordingly, my Nosler friends are sending some Nosler 160g Partitions for my bear hunt. See the video below. 

 

The biggest complaint from black bear guides is the difficulty of producing a good blood trail, with fat and hair plugging the hole, from smaller diameter bullets. Bears run till death, that may mean hundreds of yards and little blood. I am hoping for a large exit wound for blood trailing.

Fast game recovery means better meat quality!

Good Hunting!

 

Bear Bait Style Hunt Mistakes : Rifle or CrossBow – Decision Time

Photo Courtesy Wikipedia

This fall I am hunting bears that have been hunted before, my research indicates that, in particular,  older larger bears are very reluctant to come to bait in daylight. Sometimes letting smaller bears go first to test the water as it were.

This reluctance is very likely because of mistakes we hunters make year over year. We are in fact teaching older bears how to avoid certain bait stands.

That said; This September, I will hunt with rifle from a further away ground stand or treestand site. 

There are many more shot opportunities with rifle than bow.

And I’m not getting any younger. 

On caliber, my master guide tells me that big bore fast 3000 fps rifle bullets from say 375 H&H exit but with a small hole and lack of mushroom. Many say slower big bore like the 45-70 are better.

Said, my 7mm Rem Mag was a better choice of rifles I own. The bullet will really mushroom and create a larger exit hole for blood trailing. 

Ok! So what are some of our mistakes? 

Not watching the wind. Say, you find the wind blows from your stand to your bait? Skip that bait hunt site till the wind shifts away. Else big bruins wont be coming. 

Not washing yourself and hair (even mouth) or clothes before the hunt. 

Clothes have collected camp scents like campfire smoke or cigarette/cigar smoke. 

Clean Boots – Inside the boot too.

Not Wearing Mosquito netting. 

Break up your facial outline. Use camo and a face mask. 

Hunting too close to your bait. 

Coughing or making noise in your tree or ground stand.  A real no no. Quiet that cough!!

Fast movement of head or hands. Like swatting mosquitoes. 

Big bears circle and wind the site. 

Metal on metal clink sounds.

Eliminate these mistakes and you will greatly increase your chances of bigger bear showing themselves.

I noted earlier, in retrospect that big bears will let little bears enter a bait site first. Another tip off. 

Secondly, smaller bears tend to watch their backtrail often due to a larger bear. That’s a tip off…

Thirdly, Big bears sometimes approach and circle from behind to the tree stand first and give it a good sniff before heading to bait. 

Good Hunting!

 

New Conceal Carry Pistol- Kimber Micro 9 Rapide – Update

I have on occasion worn my pistols as conceal carry locally, but most are too bulky, too heavy for everyday conceal carry.  My big requirements; weight, reliability, safety, and trigger pull/design and accuracy were utmost in my mind. 

I looked at many small conceal carry pistols. Gotta have a safety lever, light in weight, yet sturdy as all get-out. I bought the USA Made Kimber Micro 9 Rapide in 9mm (7shot) pictured below with my computer mouse. It has a 3.15 inch barrel and weighs just under a pound empty. Nice!

It is basically a Micro 1911. It has an ambidextrous butterfly safety on each side. The clips have a finger hook for a firm grip. 

Below is my first 10 yard 115g UMC Remington groups right out of the box.

My right/left group was excellent. I moved the point-of-aim higher and a bit lower as they vertically string . Trigger pull was clean and guess to 6 or 7 pounds.

April 22,2024, below a 4 shot Winchester 147g Hollow Points at 10 yards. Love the night sights. Recoil with 147g JHP was manageable given such a small pocket pistol.

Unfortunately it only comes with one clip. What? Ok, I bought an extra clip. 

Disassembly/reassembly video

 

Basic cost, $909.00.

Yes, that’s a lot, but l think it is worth it. There are a dozen color versions of the Kimber Micro 9. 

So far, it filled all of my requirements and it wears well with a sticky™ pocket holster. There it is, Invisible, in my pocket. The sticky holster holds itself in my pocket when I draw. 

Be Safe Out There!

© Copyright 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wind Industry Forced On Fisherman and America

Liars figure when figures lie.

Biden Administration has a goal of 30GW by Offshore Wind by 2030. That’s just 6 years away!

And as long as Biden is President, nothing will stop him, whales or fish and fishermen be damned. “We The People” have no say?

 He is, in-fact forcing “big government” on “We The People.” 

When Biden says he is saving Democracy, he is lying to you , straight-up.as does CNN, MSNBC, et al. Biden is a Global Socialist. 

Once Biden’s ocean damage is done, it will forever change sealife, and fisherman and even beachgoers forever.

We Outdoor loving Americans must strongly resist this unconstitutional Ocean takeover. 

Thus livelihood of millions of fishermen who have fished in wind farm planned waters for centuries. I’m sure beachgoers will love to watch a sunrise in the midst of dozens of windmills. Not me!

Biden/Obama secret overall goal is to fundamentally change America to a global socialist/marxist state replacing god fearing, constitution loving Americans. 

 

 

Black Bears Sometimes Climb Into Your Tree Stand While Your In It

Years ago I hunted Ontario, Canada for spring black bear with my Cascade recurve bow. I was on a baited stand with a large 8 foot high wood platform with a cheap plastic chair to sit in. A peaceful gurgling stream nearby masked any small sounds I had made.

A huge male boar was entering the bait site to my right.  My guide says, if he’s larger than the barrel, he’s likely a “book” bear.

The huge boar made the 50 gal. barrel look small. 

My 68lb bow, was just out of reach, leaning against a tree branch had an arrow on the string just a few feet from me. The bear walked to the base of my stand.

I leaned over to watch.

The bear stood up, and his whole head popped above the platform, just 3 feet away from my boots. I played possum with my eyes mostly shut.

Again, my bow was two feet away, no gun, no bear spray. He rocked his head back and forth, trying to get my attention,  but did not try to climb.

Finally, he got down, but as his front paws hit the ground, he bounced back up, trying to get me to respond. His huge nose sniffing intently and rocking again. I stayed still, eyes closed except for my tiny eye slits. My heart was flipping out in my chest. Should I grab my bow? Not yet. I hoped he would get down and head for the bait. He got down and bounced once more. I remained still…except for my heart.

Now, he got down and headed to the barrel.

He’s under my platform. I stood and grabbed my bow. I was using Easton XX75 2216 arrows with big Rothaar Snuffers. The bear being underneath me gave me no shot. Finally walking around the barrel I lifted my bow for the shot. The bear caught the movement and stood facing me. I did not want that bear coming back to my stand so I drew and shot him in the chest and struck his huge breast plate. The 700 grain arrow hit him, but never penetrated past his breast plate. My arrow stood out on the bear like an arrow hitting a tree trunk. Holy Crap!

The bear got down and bent the protruding arrow into a U shape. The arrow pried itself out as the bear ran off.

Darkness  fell and I had to walk 200 yards to my vehicle bow at the ready. I crazily drove 20 miles to get my guide. 

We came back that night and found the arrow. The tip of the snuffer was bent as it was pried from breast bone. Dark red blood drops lasted for 10 feet and disappeared. The next day we searched but quickly lost any trace.  I’m sure the bear healed but I never forgot that incident. It’s really not that uncommon. Today, I will hunt again with a backup 10mm pistol or my rifle.

Recently, I read of a similar situation below but with rifle. 

https://www.fieldandstream.com/hunting/bear-climbs-into-hunters-tree-stand/

Can you say adventure!

Good Hunting!

© Copyright 2024 

Biden Admin Poised To Turn US East Coast Ocean into Largest Wind Farms In World

Alarm bells ring loudly in my mind. I hope yours as well! Imagine whales and fisherman navigating this?

World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm: Dogger Bank

In addition to Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts poised for building coastal wind farms in the absence of  permission of “We The People”, the the Virginia Offshore Wind Project is due to begin construction in May.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/whale-lawsuit-threatens-swallow-up-biden-green-energy-agenda

A federal government organization called BOEM, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has approved the Virginia Dominion Wind Project and the New England Wind Project. 

Biden’s government BOEM and Dominion construction concluded they have considers potential impacts to marine wildlife including safety of the right whale.

Do you believe the Biden run Government? 

Or are we in for the largest coastal disaster to marine life and the destruction of millions of fishery livelihoods ever seen since we landed on Plymouth Rock.

Politics are at play, and that 55 whales have washed ashore in other wind farm construction sites along the coast.

I suggest If you want a coastline devoid of skyscraper size windmills is to get involved right now. Today!

Contact legislators and join organizations to fight this leftist destruction of marine life and millions of livelihoods dependent on our east coast fishery. 

I am a member of NEFSA, New England Fisherman Stewardship Association to fight this socialist takeover of our coastline. Please join and sign the Petition. 

https://www.nefishermen.org/petition

 

Fisherman Oppose Massive Off Shore Wind In Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts – Sign the Petition – Update

 

major wind farm projects in the world

If you think this is beautiful I have a bridge to sell you! Future Biden Hampton Beach?

While all of us are sleeping, the federal government (Biden) at the end of the planning phase of a gigantic wind farm just off the New England coast in prime fishing waters. 

 

I have fished for cod and haddock out of Newburyport. Ma and Hampton, NH for 60 years. Cod grounds are under great population restriction and yet our far-left government chose wind power over protection of prime cod fish and haddock habitat. Below is a draft of likely areas to place wind farm.

This draft map produced by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management shows where officials are thinking potential offshore wind development could be located in the Gulf of Maine.

See the pdf report below

Click to access c2fa45_db7a181604024936b677f74a86f437d1.pdf

There is no science here just government fiat.

This is the government forcing itself on “We The People.” 

Please join the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association and sign the Petition.

 

https://www.nefishermen.org/petition

 

Spread the Word! Sign the Petition!

 

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New Glock 20 Gen 5 Repaired And Tested – UPDATE

As my readers know, I purchased this new 10mm Glock 20 Gen 5 from Kittery Trading Post about 6 weeks ago. I intend to use it as my back up for bear hunting over bait.

 The Gen 5 supposedly has a trigger spring enhancement, enabling a smoother trigger and improved trigger reset. But I did not find it very smooth. 

After 40 rounds or so it stopped cycling, after the first trigger pull, the trigger did not reset. 

I shot it with 180g, 200g, and 220g FMJ’s. It didn’t like the 220g and it stopped cycling. Then I could not shoot the 180 or 200g bullets after the first trigger pull.

Accordingly, the pistol was sent back to Glock.

I received it back in a month, and tested it with 180g, 200g and 220g at 10 yards with 5 rounds each of the three bullet weights. All rounds cycled as they should and the trigger pull seemed much smoother. See the 10 yard 5 shot bench groups below.

The 200g ammo I used on the target above was FMJ CCI Blaser’s with aircraft-grade aluminum cases. They cycled well and were cost effective at $29 for 50 rounds vs Brass cases at $40 for 50 rounds. I bought more of these as I may not reload them. Speed is 1050 fps=489 ft-lb

The 220g hard cast coated ammo was Underwood High Performance 1200fps. They certainly kicked more but grouped very well. Cost $30 for 20 rounds. Velocity 1200 fps=700 ft-lb

The 180g hard cast was made by UMC/Remington and recoil was similar to the 200g CCI Blaser’s. Cost $41 per 50 rounds. Velocity 1150 fps= 528 ft-lb.

Note: My 45ACP shoots 230g Blazers at 830fps=351 ft-lbs. Not a great bear back up. But +P Underwood ammo can shoot 255g at 925fps=484 ft-lb. 

The 10mm beats even the +P 45 ammo and 10mm Glock has a 15 round clip

 

UPDATE 25 March 2024

I adjusted the rear sight slightly to move groups to the right from the same 10 yard distance, see below.

Upper left bench groups are 180g Remington UMC loads and 5 tight shots in center are terrific and power is 528 ft-lbs. Lower left 2 shot 220g are great but very expensive and are heavy in recoil. Lower right group is Blazer 200g just left by an inch but not as much energy as the UMC 180g.  So far the 220g seem best with delivered energy but 180g have less recoil. I need to shoot with both speed and accuracy, thus more practice is needed.

End of update

 

The cost effectiveness of the 10mm Glock 20 Gen 5 makes it very attractive as a hunter or hiker/camper side arm for dangerous predators.  Just practice!

Good Hunting!

 

 

New Ruger American Rifles- Gen II – Can You Say Wow!

Can you say Wow!

The Ruger American Next Generation II is here!!

New Hampshire Rifleman Magazine has tested the Ruger American Rifle Generation 1  in 6.5 Creedmoor. It shot sub-MOA out of the box. I expect no less from these gems!

The New Ruger American Next Generation II rifles has best-of-the-best attributes a hunter could ask for at an affordable price. Just $729 and made in the USA!

My wife says “Wow, Cut-it-Out, Seriously?” Yes!!

Models are in Standard, Ranch, and Predator and come in 3 “Splatter Finish” colors.

And all of the best calibers and cartridges you can imagine.

Check Them Out at the website below!

https://www.ruger.com/products/americanRifleGenII/overview.html?n=bolt

Below is the Predator Model. I will ask Ruger to test one for my readers.

Get yours now!

 

 

Unarmed in Todays Woods… You Are Prey!

On the East Coast there are Coyotes and Bobcats. Both have attacked deer, pets and children.

Out west, cougars/lions attack unarmed cyclists. 

They say it is rare, but with growing unregulated populations, is it rare?

If your attacked, it’s not rare is it!

See the lion attack below. 

https://www.themeateater.com/conservation/general/new-details-emerge-in-gruesome-lion-attack-on-cyclists

If you walk in today’s New Hampshire woods with family and kids, I’d carry a sidearm! Bobcats attack the face and neck in less than a second biting the windpipe.

However, biologists want folks to take note that these attacks are rare.

Again, if your attacked, it’s not rare, is it.

I believe Turkey hunters calling are at risk, thinking they are turkeys. Two years ago my turkey hunting friend was attacked in Fremont, NH. May is turkey season.

If you are attacked, don’t run…defend yourself. Predator’s like to attack from behind.

Hunt and Hike Smart.

Be Prepared!