My club has been hit hard by logging over the last 2-3 years. They've probably cut ten 100+ acre plots right down to the ground. Even mulched the cut tree tops. Down south the hunting we have is usually in thick hardwoods over acorns at bow range or hunting over a road hoping you can judge whether or not its a shooter and get your gun on it before he gets into the thick stuff on the other side. I can count on one finger how many times I'd had a shot opportunity beyond 250 yards and it was just because it was at the end of a road.
With all of these clearcuts the game has change, and I built a rifle with Crossroads Precision in TX specifically for them. I'd had plenty of long range rifles but I didn't want to shoot medium sized game with 25lbs 6mm PRS rigs so I built a rifle to be as light as possible in 300 WSM. It is an ARC CDG LW action, 22" Proof CF barrel, HNT 26 chassis, Alaskan 360Ti suppressor, Triggertech diamond, with a Kahles 624i. It feels like a toy it is so light.
I've been learning a lot about shooting big game at long range. Primarily that they don't sit still, they aren't painted white, and they don't usually come out in broad daylight.
Anyway, my confidence skyrocketed after these shots.
This buck was tending a doe at 701 yards. He was quartering away to the left standing on the middle of a road on the other side of a clearcut. Here was my view out of my stand (don't laugh, it blew over in one of the hurricanes). It was at last light. I couldn't tell how big he was until he shook his head like a wet dog. I put it behind the left shoulder and it came out the right side of his chest.
This buck was shot on a foggy morning at 530 yards. He was quartering toward me hard just eating in a clearcut. The round went in his right shoulder and came out in front of his back left leg.
We don't get to shoot this far in the southeast - at least I don't. It's been an absolute blast, and very challenging. Typically I only bow hunt because rifle hunting is too easy. Our rifle season in 3 months long and essentially if I can see it I can kill it. This makes for quite a bit more of a challenge.
With all of these clearcuts the game has change, and I built a rifle with Crossroads Precision in TX specifically for them. I'd had plenty of long range rifles but I didn't want to shoot medium sized game with 25lbs 6mm PRS rigs so I built a rifle to be as light as possible in 300 WSM. It is an ARC CDG LW action, 22" Proof CF barrel, HNT 26 chassis, Alaskan 360Ti suppressor, Triggertech diamond, with a Kahles 624i. It feels like a toy it is so light.
I've been learning a lot about shooting big game at long range. Primarily that they don't sit still, they aren't painted white, and they don't usually come out in broad daylight.
Anyway, my confidence skyrocketed after these shots.
This buck was tending a doe at 701 yards. He was quartering away to the left standing on the middle of a road on the other side of a clearcut. Here was my view out of my stand (don't laugh, it blew over in one of the hurricanes). It was at last light. I couldn't tell how big he was until he shook his head like a wet dog. I put it behind the left shoulder and it came out the right side of his chest.
This buck was shot on a foggy morning at 530 yards. He was quartering toward me hard just eating in a clearcut. The round went in his right shoulder and came out in front of his back left leg.
We don't get to shoot this far in the southeast - at least I don't. It's been an absolute blast, and very challenging. Typically I only bow hunt because rifle hunting is too easy. Our rifle season in 3 months long and essentially if I can see it I can kill it. This makes for quite a bit more of a challenge.
