Hunt plans

What is everyone"s hunt plans for this year, and what will you be packing.

South Carolina - Deer / Hog
New Hampshire - Deer / Bear ?
Florida - Hog's of course

I hit the jackpot here in California. After 14 yrs. of applying and building points, this year I drew not only an antelope tag, but also a Tule elk tag.

Contender platform,
Antelope - 7mm TCU
Elk - 357 Maximum

Well, please don't shun me from the forum, but I'll be going after elk and bears with a flintlock rifle this year. I've decided to take my Springfield XD in 45 ACP as well, and if I get within XD range, I'll use it. Otherwise, it will be backup to the flintlock this year. Didn't draw my deer tag, so may look at getting a leftover if possible come August 2nd.

I've taken big game critters with a bow, rifle, and handgun. I want to try it with a flintlock rifle this year. Next year I'll probably try a flintlock pistol of some sort, but I'm new to this flinter stuff, so wanted to learn with a rifle first. I've never shot a black powder rifle of any sort, so this is completely new to me, and I'm enjoying every moment of it. I've really learned a lot about early American history by researching the flintlock rifles, and the equipment that goes with it. I've made my own leather equipment and powder horn, just need to put it to use when the rifle gets here. I made my leather equipment out of the elk my wife shot two years ago. I'll post pictures for those interested once the rifle gets here.

This whole flintlock kick got started thanks to Dewayne (Briarhopper) and his son last summer. (Two of the best men I've ever met.) Somehow we got to talking about flintlock pistols. I got more and more enthralled with the idea of hunting with a flintlock. One idea quickly led to another, and I finally couldn't handle it anymore. I said, "That's it! I'm gonna hunt with one in 2016!". Well, Dewayne, it's not a pistol, but my Isaac Haines flintlock rifle from Jim Chambers, and built by Jack Hansberry, is due to be here the first week of July. It's all your fault I strayed!!

North Carolina Deer

I will carry my CVA Optima V2 muzzle loading pistol during our muzzle loading season.

I hope to bloody my 223 Contender and maybe my 357 Mag Blackhawk. Then there is my GP 100 and Redhawk to work with also.

I may have a tough time deciding which to carry sometimes this season.

Location: Our property here in Alabama.
Game: Deer and Hog.
Equipment: SBH wearing new glass and using my own loads.

Deer/hogs and maybe a free range exotic or two.

Ruger 5" SRH Toklat .454 Casull
TC Contender Pistol .35 Rem
TC Contender Pistol .223 Rem
TC Encore Pistol .358 Win
CVA Scout Pistol .243 Win
Rem 700 Specialty Pistol in .308 Win
MOA Maximum Pistol in .338-06 A-Square
16" Rossi M92 LA in .45 Colt
Ruger Scout Rifle in .308 Win
Remington 700 rifle in .338 Win Mag

These haven't taken game yet. So, I'll try to field test them some time this year.

Piggies and Deer..... whislepigs. . 308 encore sbhh 44,480 srh , 45 bh, and 41bh .Squirrels with single six or 22/45 hunter.

Mule Deer in New Mexico. Not sure what I'm using, haven't had a chance to think about it yet, but a good mulie is towards the top of my wish list, so I may have to at least carry a rifle. I'm confident out to 600 yards with it and the right conditions, so the trophy hunter may take precedent. The Python will be along, so we will have to wait to see how the opportunity is presented.

Iowa deer, the Python.

OK, I have a hunt planned with NY Tracker at the Wilderness lodge in PA, It"s a boar hunt, all here are welcome, got a Elk hunt planned for October also be hunting deer here in NY.

Wyoming antelope with the SBH 454 is the plan so far. I may try to pick up a left over colorado deer or elk tagas well.

the usual 44 out the back door into the woods.

Raptortrapper you were warned about that black powder stuff. next thing you know youll be sleeping in a canvas wedge tent, have a tricorn on your head and lighting your clay pipe with flint steel & char cloth.

If I get that bad, I believe I'll have finally lived in the right time period!!

Deer and Bear here in NY. Will be using my Savage striker that I just rebarrelled to a 6.5 x 47 lapua. Will be tuning up on woodchucks with during the summer.

South Carolina for deer, hog and turkey.
Florida for hogs.
For deer and hogs ill be carrying my SW 460 or 44mag encore depending on my mood. For turkeys I'll shoot my SBH in 357.
There are also plans brewing for a Texas hunt with a buddy but they are not solid yet. I didnt hunt much last year so I am looking forward to this season.

Won"t be much longer, you"ll be rolling you own smokes.

HAHA!!! I don't smoke. Well, a pipe and / or a cigar maybe once in a blue moon, but don't plan on rolling my own cigars anytime soon.

whats wrong with ryo

Hunting with your flintlock will add a whole new set of rules to your game plan.You can still hunt in light rain and snow but you have to take extra precautions.One drop of rain or clump of snow in the right spot,on an unprepaired gun causes problems.I am not saying stay home in bad weather [I don't]just do your homework and preperations.You hear the term Follow Thru in all sports,it takes on new meaning and signifigance with a new flint lock shooter.Hang in there and ,attend some shoots, ask questions.
Shooters will always help shooters,thats the way we are. A good sharp flint ,clean touch hole priming to the outside of the pan,steady hand ,follow thru= meat on the ground.

Get em raptor!! That sounds like something I'd enjoy very much. I've been kicking around the idea for a while myself actually. Money is always an issue. Those things can get pricey real quick.

Good for you though for sticking to a plan. You will receive great satisfaction from the whole process.

For me, it'll be my 15" encore in 7-08 for deer.

I'll also try to blood my Win. 94 30-30 I got handed down from my dad.

Been a year or so for my 209x50 ML as well, so I'll try to sneak that in too.

Looking forward to the boar hunt racksmasher, had a great time last year. We had a great bunch of guys and alot of fun. Freezer is looking kind of empty at the moment i have a shoulder and ribs and only 2 package's of chops left. Probably will have to shoot 2 this year. How many guys do we have on the trip so far and how many openings do we have left ?

Going to Reeders hunt at the Wilderness in Tenn.for anything that looks good and maybe bobcat and coyote in Jan. up in Maine

Right now we are at 7, always have room, as you know the lodge is pretty big.

As this will be Indiana's first year of high power rifle hunting, I plan on using a Remington M700 BDL .243 and Marlin M336C .30/30. I thought that I would never see the day when real rifles were legal for deer hunting.

My hunting partner drew a big bull tag this year in WA. We'll be heading 8 miles into the wilderness to our favorite little elk haven to fill his tag. Our other partner and his son drew cow tags for the same unit, so we will very likely be heading home with 3-4 elk out of 5 hunters this year. As a side note, the unit we hunt has about a 2% success rate...our group is averaging about 70% over the last 11 years...we go deep and have never seen another hunter:)
We also will be going to Wyoming to try our hand at antelope this year. Also drew some whitetail doe tags, so it should be a fun trip.
I'll be toting a new Ruger Toklat with UltraDot 30...this is my first year truly trying my luck with a handgun. In our elk area the furthest open shot is 137 yards with most shots coming at about 60 yards the last few years, so that should offer some opportunity if a spike pops out.
I'll try for my Wyoming whitetail with the handgun and maybe the antelope if terrain and conditions permit.
Gonna be a fun fall!

Man I'd love to do this someday. If the oilfield ever picks up again, it is at the top of the list.

Raptor its a good time price isn't terrible. Group hunt is fun . Probably closer places for you to hunt piggies. Not sure about group hunts out that way . Im not sure I would go on the hunt on my own its about the comraderi as much as the hunting . Plus them piggies are tasty.

Please keep us posted on the outcome of your hunt!!

Anytime man, your always welcome, the boar hunts are a blast!!

Tracker hit it , spot on!

Yeah that's the whole reason I'd like to go. I could care less about actually scoring a pig. I'd just like to meet some of the other members, and spend some time with some like minded people. I don't get that around here much. Taking a pig would be icing on the cake though.

Well, after 2 long years of building my retirement home, I'm finally finished. Haven't had a vacation in 2 years 4 months and 10 days. I have a new custom handgun that was delivered almost 2 years ago and I just got it sighted in last week. My hunt plan is to wake up every morning step off by deck walk the 150 yards to my deer stand and enjoy the woods. I have coyotes, deer, bobcat, bear and turkey on my farm. Oh and I forgot dove and duck hunting as well. My big plan is for October 2017. Headed to wyo to take an American bison with the new 475 linebaugh. Will be putting in for a moose tag in Maine this fall. But more importantly, I'm looking forward to spending long overdue quality time with friends and family in the woods.

Nothing special in my plans. Head up to camp and hope to see a shooter deer. It's been a while so hopefully this will be the season. Best of luck to all.

Carolina hogs and deer, supplemented with the annual TX trip, and a late season Iowa visit if the tag fairies are kind...

Deep South whitetails with my Encore .260 and Encore 7mm-08. Also hoping for an Indiana whitetail if one of my Hoosier customers comes thru (boy, will he get a big discount...)

Iowa late season ML tag in hand...and yes, revolvers are considered OK. Game on!!

My tentative plans for Texas came through. I got tickets for early December. Gonna take my family and hang out with my childhood friend and his family. hopefully going to hunt his farm for a week. Never hunted there. Cant wait!!! Hope our wifes don't give us to much slack when we disappear into the woods the whole time.

Hopefully, NC WT deer. Last year was the first season since I was 18, that I didn't harvest a deer with one of my handguns. I would love to go back to Salt Creek in Ohio in late winter or early spring for boar or exotics.

Salt Creek........never heard of it.

Salt creek is south of Columbus. Great people there.

Beautiful country between Cincy and Columbus.

My son Joe used up his preference points and drew a coveted bull elk tag for one of the Uncompahgre Units and though I am not walking too well I am going to give it my best to get him on a good bull. He will use his Encore in .308 with my handloads using 165 grain Nosler Partitions.

I drew a bull elk tag and will use my Encore 209X50 with Jim Shockey Gold powder and 295 grain Black Belts. I also drew a left-over cow elk tag I want to fill with my custom .475 Linebaugh or my 209X50.

Did not draw a tag for a western hunt this year but will stay home for whitetails, turkeys, and coyotes.

I'll be doing the usual routine: squirrels in September and October, whitetail in November and December, squirrels again in January and February, and maybe the occasional coyote hunt.

However, I'll be making two changes this year. First, I'll purchase a CVA Optima muzzleloader pistol so I can handgun hunt during muzzleloader season, and second, I'm going to be mentoring another kid alongside my cousin.

Gregg Richter, how much Jim Shockey Gold are you using in your encore? I am using the same powder in my CVA Optima V2.

TN Lone Wolf, have you shot your CVA Optima V2 yet? How do you like it?

I haven't bought one yet, but I plan to soon.

100 grains; 10 less than max. The recoil is a healthy push backwards, not as noticeable as the snappy recoil of my 454.

Anyone going to the Collins Low Country hunt in September?

I will be there. I am looking forward to meeting other handgun hunters, particularly that many in one place at one time.

I'll be going up TN way to try out the Gary Reeder hunt. Should be a blast! Looking forward to meeting all the handgun hunters.

Good Luck Kim! Heading back to Salt Creek in Ohio, March 23, 24, and 25 🔫

What's on the menu at Salt Creek, David? More exotic sheep or something else?

Boar this time for me. So far, there are a couple of guys from the site that are confirmed to be going too. You really need to come Whitworth!

I promise to do my best to attend!

I'll be gun hunting deer in Illinois and x-bow deer hunting North Carolina.
Also going to Cordoba, Argentina for some dove hunting.
I'll be toting the Smith 629 along with my slug gun, I still don't have large enough gonads to leave the slug gun in the truck.
I need some encouragement!
I took 2 decent bucks last year with the slug gun with the Smith at my side.

Curly

Get that confidence level up, you will be fine!

See you there!

Add another for the salt creek hunt in march

This will be the largest forum hunt yet that I've put together. I can't wait yall. 9 so far

Well guys I was fortunate enough to kill a good bull with my Encore! It happened Tuesday in the fog and rain. I will hopefully be posting a photo if I can figure out my current computer mess! I also plan to write a story, it was quite a hunt.

Looking forward to the story Gregg!

That's great! I'll be eagerly awaiting the story.

Good show, Gregg!

Probably starting off whitetail season with the CVA .243 as a primary, and the SRH .454 as the next in line. Then maybe moving to some sort of mil-surp rifle next

Dave, With 9 handgun hunters going this IS the largest forum hunt that you have put together. With all that talent under one roof those critters don`t stand a chance.......

Haha! Hope I can make it ten!