Well the 'tidbit'payed off quickly.I'd been dieing slowly and painfully.12 sets without popping a cap.Days of frustration.Got up to a gauge reading minus 21 degrees this morning and the frustration almost sent me back to bed with the cold as an excuse.Fortunately I didn't.
First set got in about 1/3 mile(miserable drifted snow-no snowshoes)and then started getting into steaming fresh tracks.Instead of just setting up,I followed the 'tidbit'and pushed on-on about another 1/4 mile.Set up,start calling and here comes 4 fast.All stop by a big clump of grass/dirt in a picked cornfield.They circle it,P on it,and just mill around it-didn't want to come farther.I can't move to range it but figure it at about 225.Bang flop the biggest.Other 3 run about 50 and stop,bang flop the second one.The remaining 2 light out and I hit the call.One stops broadside-a little over 300-then the crap happens.Love my 220 improved but it has the 220 imp problem-the blown out cartridge shoulder will cause a cycling hang up if one isn't careful both loading the magazine(each shell must be slightly farther forward than the underlying one)and/or you get too excited(me at this point today
)and work the bolt too fast.I not only was working it fast,its right handed and I'm shooting left,cycling the bolt over the scope with my left hand.Only way to clear it normally is to unload completely=no triple.Still happy though!!!
At least til 'drag out'time with 2 in deep snow-and you're ancient like me.
Well I survive and head to stand two.One comes fast but I didn't shoot when I should have and it escaped after getting downwind.One of those escapes that show how smart they are and how even a little bit 'off'in your set up location can kill you in hilly country.Went from a 'cinch'to not popping a cap.
Heading to set 3 and spot two walking way off.They don't even see my vehicle.Its a spot I know well(last year when Pilgrim visited for a few days he saw 7 in one bunch there-mating season)and was sure I knew where they were heading.Drifts blocked my normal access so ended up walking farther than planned but almost there when I bump one and it escapes without a decent shot.I decide to set up on the next hill and try call the second one.Just before starting to call I'm looking back toward the road to make sure the one that escaped isn't around and I see a pickup driving by slowly-a mile away at least.Then I see it accelerate and go down a hill,then I hear a true barrage-12-13 shots.Then I see the pickup roaring out of sight,then another 8-9 shots.(find out they both had ARs)Figured worthless but I tried to call anyway but zilch.I head out.I then drive around to see what the pickup was doing and see it out in a wind blown plowed field.By glassing I see 2 guys obviously trailing something.I drive around to the other side=nothing.I drive back and one guy is coming out in the pickup so I wait.Turns out they 'hit'the one,then turned their 'yellow mongrel'lose on the trail and somehow lost them both????LOTS of snow.????I try help about an hour but had to be home at noon so left.Hope they find them.
A great morning!The 'tidbit'?
I forgot-but its in 'Top Dog'.
Good hunting!
I am glad I joined this site, there is so much info. not like any other site I belong to.