Category Archives: Big Game Hunting

Articles about Big Game Hunting.

6.5 Creedmoor for Gemsbok – The Desert Warrior

Posted on by

The gemsbok aka “The Desert Warrior” is a formidable and feisty elk size African antelope. It is formally known as Oryx Gazella.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemsbok

It has been imported successfully to Texas. In Africa, it has been known to skewer lions, and hunters alike. My African Safari Professional Hunter nearly died from being skewered by a Gemsbok he thought was dead. Remembering this, evoked the words of my PH, “It is the dead ones that will kill you!”

 

The low recoiling 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent choice to harvest gemsbok as it is similar in size to elk size game and I believe the 6.5  is top rated in penetration with a 140 grain class bullet due to it stellar ballistic coefficient and amazing long distance accuracy. With a very high ballistic coefficient it holds its energy at long distances extremely well and flatter shooting as compared to non-magnum 30 calibers.

The minimum striking energy often associated with elk size game is 1500 ft-lbs. The 6.5 CM is capable of this energy with a 2700 fps 143 grain bullet at 350 yards and a Max Point Blank Range (MPBR 6 inch) to 274 yards. At 150 yards this bullet is still traveling over 2400 fps and delivering 1900 ft-lbs.

That said, a gemsbok is can be successfully hunted with most whitetail deer and elk calibers such as the 308 Winchester, 30-06 and .270 Winchester and 6mm calibers provided you do your job in bullet placement with a well constructed bullet.

Here is a Safari from Outdoor Life I found that used the 6.5 Creedmoor to kill all the way up to Eland weighing over 1800 pounds.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2012/02/shooting-65-creedmoor-african-safari/

 

On my own Safari it was a well placed arrow that did the trick some years back.

My African Safari with Rifle and Bow e-book can be found on Amazon.  The e- book has a wealth of knowledge. Just remember that you may encounter dangerous game in some Safari’s where lion and cape buffalo roam so be sure to USE ENOUGH GUN! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004TBEOWQ?tag=sa-b2c-new-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1

Good Hunting!

© 2019 All Rights Reserved.

Ballistic Word of the Day – Obturation

Posted on by

This is a word not often used in the ballistic lexicon where modern rifle bullets are concerned, but where you are shooting a muzzleloader, shotgun or a gas checked lead projectile it has a point of conceptual understanding and its benefits are huge!

Cast Bullet Gas Checks below.

 

https://detroitammoco.com/gas-checks/

 

I came across the word obturation when examining the using soft lead, copper or gas checks where the bullets base (sometimes concave) expands to fully engage the rifling in the barrel thus preventing the escape of gas around the slightly undersized bullet.

In the case of my TC 50 cal muzzle loader, I use PowerBelt™ Bullets with a synthetic concave gas check base which obturates, seals the gas, as the slightly undersized lead bullet exits thus providing maximum power and accuracy as the lead does contact the rifling. And it loads easier than plastic saboted bullets. See the story below.

When the muzzle-loader is fired the synthetic base expands providing the obturation (gas seal) to prevent gas to escape around the slightly smaller diameter bullet and thus increases the muzzle velocity and energy delivered. This the same concept for shooting a shotgun with bird-shot or a rifled slug/wad where the wad or plastic base obturates (seals to prevent gas from escaping around the pellets) upon ignition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obturation

Good Shooting!

 

 

 

.375 Ruger – Reloading Reduced Loads – Update

Posted on by

The .375 Ruger is perhaps one of the most versatile cartridges to reload for hunting game from wild boar, deer, elk, moose, buffalo, and most African game including Elephant with a single rifle and with a myriad of bullets and weights from 200 grains to 300 grains. And can reach out as far or close as you like as well!

My experience with a reduced load I first developed was with Hornady’s 220 grain flat nose, originally designed for the .375 Winchester reintroduced in 1978.   That flat nose bullet is no longer in production. I shot it in my Ruger African M77.  Muzzle velocity was perhaps 1600 fps. and the recoil was much less than my 50 cal muzzleloader. I harvested a big plump red doe below with it at 50 yards and got full penetration. One shot through the heart and she dropped in less than 20 yards with little meat damage. The bullet was not recovered but based on the speed and energy, the bullet likely stayed 100% intact.

Today I load Speer’s 235 grain Hot Core for deer with 38 grains of SR 4759 powder that I worked up based on the 375 H&H cartridge load data. Deer and Black Bear beware… and low recoil with this slower moving bulldozer!

 

Muzzle velocity was measured at around 2135 fps and around an inch at 100 yards, energy at the muzzle is near to 2400 ft-lbs (100 yd energy 1850 ft-lbs) . Expect minimal radial blood shot meat damage with this slow heavy bullet. Because the shape of this bullet is similar to a round nose it is capable of expanding on deer size game at slower velocities. Reloading this powder does not require the use of any fillers to hold the powder to the primer. Ignition appears consistent no matter the angle. The reloader should work up a load starting low and working up to observe that there are no over-pressure signs. Every rifle is different. The point to drive home here is that bullets in reduced loads need to mushroom or be in a quasi-mushroom shape already at speeds less than say 1800 fps on impact or exceed 2000 fps on impact with a pointed bullet such as a spitzer.

In some recent research I have found two websites that have information that is useful to .375 Ruger owners. First is a Chuck Hawks article.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/reduced_big_bore_loads.htm

The second is Hawk, Inc. a maker of custom bullets that include flat and round nose bullets for the .375.  A great find in my book for versatility.

https://hawkbullets.com/

7mm .284 diameter rifle bullets

All that said, there are bullets from many manufacturers from 250 grain to 300 grain in spitzer or round nose to use as full power loads on game larger than deer.   I recently shot a 850 pound moose with Nosler’s 300 grain AccuBond™ because its sectional density was one of the best for penetration on tough animals. On the right is the 300 grain AB below.

It was a one shot kill at 100 yards using RL 15 powder and a MV of 2500 fps. The moose fell within 20 yards of the shot. The bullet was recovered under the skin on the far side and maintained 80% of its original weight.

 

Below is a 750 pound Bison that I took several years back with  Noslers 260 grain AccuBond. One shot kill. Later a nice NH moose.

I met a Texan reading some of my early writings that wanted to hunt really big hogs. He hunts with a Ruger Rifle in .375 Ruger Cartridge.

Barnes still makes a 255 grain copper jacket lead flat point that you can experiment with for reduced loads as well. I found it at MidwayUSA, 50 for $48. On the expensive side! https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101041204

Alternate Image 1

Good Hunting!

© 2019 All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Crossbow Hunting In NH: Tip of the Day

Posted on by

Crossbows for hunting has become very popular across the nation and is growing in New Hampshire. I am new to it myself.

Be Aware: It is unlawful to carry a loaded or cocked crossbow while the crossbow is in any type of motor vehicle while moving.

It is considered loaded even if no arrow/bolt is loaded yet cocked.

I suggest hunters carry a crossbow target to shoot into at the end of the day. So don’t be a dummy and forget your target to shoot into! Very few crossbows have an adequate de-cocking device. That stinks, I know.

Secondly, it is risky to shoulder sling your crossbow as you would a rifle if cocked without an arrow/bolt. Your safety is paramount. I did it once, when new to crossbows without any issues but a word to the wise: A Crossbow that accidentally fires when on your back may break bones or worse.

Yes carry it in front of you cocked, or with an arrow too if you are on a stalk.

Good Hunting!

Do it Yourself Processing New Hampshire Deer at Home

Posted on by

My twin brother and I with 2 nice New Hampshire bucks taken some years back near the 13  mile woods above Berlin, NH. Ok time to get’em home and start processing.

Below, This “Bowhunting 360” website is excellent for field dressing your deer whether shot with gun or bow/crossbow. In CWD free states such as New Hampshire you are not required by law to de-bone your meat, but many do today.

https://bowhunting360.com/2017/03/03/field-dress-deer-10-steps/

Your deer is home and kept cool. Lets assume you nicked the intestines and some fecal material came out. If not, skip this part. First clean the area affected with a towel then wash with cold water or hose the whole cavity depending on the spread of the material says Wisconsin Edu says a 50/ 50 solution of clean cold fresh water and vinegar is very helpful. See below.

https://foodsafety.wisc.edu/assets/pdf_Files/Handling_venison_safely.pdf

 

If you do not have time or the inclination to do the deer cutting, then get a good deer cutter/butcher to do that for you! See NH Fish and Game site below

https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/butchers.html

Lets start processing. I have a lift system and spreader gambrel like this.

Hunters Specialties 006458 Game Hoist Lift System 600# 00645

Now you need to lift your deer so you can skin it. If it is warm out and above 40 degrees then time is of the essence to keep the meat from spoiling.  I lift my deer just enough to start skinning around the bone on the legs being careful to remove the tarsal glands on a buck, as they have a powerful odor. There are tools that you can purchase to aid in gripping and pulling the skin off but I have always used my hands or a good set of pliers to grip and pull the hide off as I cut. If you are trying to save the hide then be careful in your skinning not to cut through the hide. And remove any meat on the hide right away. If you are not keeping the hide then it is a faster process.

Once the hide is cut to the base of the skull I use a knife and a bone saw to cut the head from the carcass. Now you can cut out the two tenderloins from the inside of the deer located along the spine inside the cavity.

These are the most tender and flavorful cuts. Next is to remove the back straps or split your deer in half with a saw and make chops like lamb chops. I sometimes freeze the New Hampshire killed deer spine meat and use a band saw to cut the chops bone-in. Below are chops from a wild boar.

Most folks are taking the back strap meat off and away from the bone these days as it is fast. Take time to cut as much meat carefully, as the back straps are supremely delicious. Ribs are often tossed out but some will cook them slowly to get all the meat off.

Be sure to cut around wound sites and bruised meat below as there may be small quantities of lead lurking in that damaged meat.

 

When in dowbt, cut it out.

I opt for Bonded bullets or all Copper bullets from high power rifles 30-06, 308, .270 etc. to reduce or eliminate the lead question such as the Nosler AccuBond™

where the copper is bonded to the lead and largely stays together or Nosler E-Tip™

a 100% all gilding copper bullet.

There are other companies that make all copper bullets so check them out if you like.

Lead based Shotgun slugs and Muzzleloader slugs are more apt to stay intact as they are slower (around 2000 fps and slower) and heavy (250-300 grains or more) . Today there are all copper bullets and bonded lead/copper bullets for these too.

Back to the deer processing.

Next is to lower your deer carcass to a table where you can remove the hind and front legs with a knife and use the bone saw to cut the feet off. The front legs are good for stew or burger. the rear legs and thigh are great for a multitude of options steak, roasts, venison tips and stew as well as burger.

As you cut, take off as much of the silver skin as possible. There are several muscle groups in the hind legs that can be cut away to make steaks, each will often be sheathed in silver skin.

Most home butchers are deboning this leg meat and tossing the bones.

I have a large LEM grinder for making burger. Bass Pro/Cabela’s has them.

Yes you can mix it with pork fat or a fatty cut of meat in beef or pork to allow the fat to bind or just leave it as it is venison burger. Venison has little fat, is high in protein and delicious when prepared properly.

Vacuum Seal your Meat! It will keep longer and taste better!

Good Hunting!

Photos are the property of the author.

© 2019 All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

No Glow Infrared Trail Cameras for Christmas

Posted on by

Game Cameras are fun and here to stay! It is fun to take photos or video’s of wildlife using Trail Camera’s; just not live action cameras here in New Hampshire.  See Below.

I own a regular game camera but the flash or light emitted appears to spook game. Increasingly, The use of Low or No Glow Cameras apparently, is the way to go.

There are lots of brands and models to choose from. Choose a locking device too, to prevent theft.

Most folks pull their reader cards or chips to see what is on them at home but there are viewers that can read your chip in the field as part of the camera or less costly devices that can be read by your I phone.

Have Fun Out There!

Just be aware per New Hampshire Fish and Game: “It is illegal in New Hampshire to use live-action game cameras while attempting to locate, surveil, aid, or assist in taking or take any game animal or furbearing animal during the same calendar day while the season is open (cameras that send an electronic message or picture to a handheld device or computer when sensors are triggered by wildlife).”

Good Hunting!

 

 

New Hampshire Deer Thoughts

Posted on by

New Hampshire deer harvested, that I have seen, are young, yearlings , 1.5 and 2.5 year old deer and occasional 3.5 year old’s. Normal for New Hampshire. But a few lucky hunters are at the right place at the right time to harvest a mature 4.5 year old or older. Usually those mature deer, bucks, are taken way up in the North Country as they are few and get to be giants topping 250 to 300 lbs. A few get taken down here below Concord, NH.

I am happy to just harvest an adult deer for the freezer but I am, sure you and I are always hopeful that a big boy may show up.

I am afraid the deer know we are hunting them as the hunting vehicles were many on opening day of firearms in my hunting area in southern NH yet not a shot fired all morning. They have gone nocturnal! The best way to get them moving is to still-hunt every nook and cranny until they bust out of hiding. That will happen this weekend, I think.

Good Hunting! Stay Warm!

Northwood’s Law Caught Me On Camera In New Hampshire – Hunting with My Pennsylvania Flintlock

Posted on by

It was yesterday, November 6th when I was deer hunting at dawn, not far from my home in southern New Hampshire.

I had just “still” hunted a hollow and several ridges with very little  sign of scrapes or rubs.  I just arrived at my car when two pickup trucks approached. The lead truck was Fish and Game checking licenses. The officer approached while two men from the other truck, hopped out and began recording video with high end camera’s, bobbing and weaving pointing their cameras at me. “What the….? Ok what’s up with this, I was thinking?”

I smiled and waved for the camera’s though I hadn’t a clue what was happening. “It’s a beautiful morning, isn’t it”, I said…cracking a smile. 

The Conservation Officer was polite and asked to see my license. I showed it to him. All fine, he said now that is a “fine old muzzleloader”, or something like that. Referring to my Pennsylvania Flintlock I laid on the ground.

I said yes, it is, I built it! A camera man In awe of the rifle said, You built it? Yes, I went on. One of the camera men took his video camera and scanned the rifle as a “thing of beauty” I believe. “For Sure, I thought to  myself”, as he video’d the rifle as it lay on the soil emphasizing the daisy flower patch box originally created by German Gunsmith Jacob  Dickert of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania during the American Revolution…

The Conservation Officer gave me some tips as to where he’s seen some of the deer hang out near here! “Thanks”, I said!

The lead camera man said;  “Have you heard of Northwoods Law?” I said yes. He said, they were filming for it and asked permission to use the footage.

Having done nothing wrong, I said yes and asked that I sign a paper giving them permission.  I did so because I want to see what they do with the footage. 

The fact is we New Hampshire Hunter’s are not only,  law abiding. all else being equal,  but we often hunt the hard way with primitive weapons, bow and arrow and Muzzle Loader and are very successful.

Nearly all of us, I believe,  are seen by Fish and Game doing things right! Law Abiding!

But that is boring, isnt it?

It is the few rotten apples or suspected rotten apples that provide the chase scenes aired by Northwoods Law that can create a negative image.

You be the judge!

So we shall see. Below NHFG announces the Northwoods Law Season 3 in New Hampshire. It airs on Animal Planet. 

https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/law-enforcement/tv.html

 

I hear the Governor of Maine was not pleased with Northwoods Law. Below is a follow-up article on why Northwoods Law in Maine was cancelled. 

https://www.mainepublic.org/post/what-ended-north-woods-law-maine

In retrospect, I did not like the way I was way-laid with camera’s running. I was doing a private thing. Hunting is not for everyone. If my hands were blood stained from gutting a deer and Animal Planet shows that footage to a  non-hunter or an anti-hunter my image would be, well not-so-good to an anti- hunter and a target for crazies.

And God knows we have crazy activists who are not law-abiding in this highly politicized atmosphere we live in today. 

Feel free to comment…

© 2019 All Rights Reserved

 

 

Pennsylvania Flintlock Ready for Deer Hunting

Posted on by

The 50 caliber Pennsylvania Flintlock I built, carved and tested is due to see the New Hampshire deer woods in hopes of me harvesting my first deer with it. I named the rifle “Cricket” like my rifle in the photo below.

I love my TC Encore Pro Hunter for its reliability but I must give my Flintlock some time too. I am good off hand to 50 yards with it. With a very steady rest I can go to 100 yards but in New Hampshire it is best to keep it close. I am shooting patch and round ball.

Wish me Good Hunting!

 

Ready? – New Hampshire Opening Day Muzzleloader Nov. 2nd

Posted on by

Are YOU ready? It is the most exciting time of the year for me! Nov. 2, 2019 is opening day for Muzzleloader Deer Season Statewide says the NH Fish and Game below.

The deer are everywhere!

https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/deer-wmu.html 

Got your muzzleloader cleaned and fired, on target, then reloaded? Extra rounds prepared for follow-up? I am.

License. Yup!

Something to write with when you tag your deer. Yup!

Something to hold your tag to the deer. string? Tape? a small baggie. Ok gotta look.

A dragging rope? Yup!

Of course you have a sharp knife to gut, right? Yup!

Do you know when 1/2 hr before sunrise and 1/2 hr after sunset is?

I use my Iphone and ask Siri or your web app, if it knows your location. Yup

I put my phone on airplane, so I don’t spook the deer.

When you enter the woods watch that wind! Try to hunt into the wind or across the wind toward you,  unless you are in a tree stand.

Hunt as if the deer are all around you! They are! When checking in your deer, have your signed hunting license and drivers license ready. Know the Zone and town you hunt in as you will be asked.

Good Hunting!