Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Share your 2012 Hunting Pics

[AH64ID]

Here are some pics from the first 1/2 of my 2012 season.

I got my first Bear, and my 3 year old was VERY excited! I had to haul it a ways on my back, like a bear backpack with the front legs tied, to get it close to the truck but she ran the winch while I held him off the sharp rocks. Without her I am not sure how I would have gotten him that last 125' up a 60% shale slope. (And no I was not Bear hunting with a 3 year old, it was an incidental kill that she was there for). About a 5. 5' boar weighing about 225-250 lbs.

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I was lucky and bagged my best buck yet, and the best part is the wife was with me (It was her Deer hunt, but that's another story).

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The next morning I took her to a different spot about 5 miles further out the trail and she got her first buck.

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I have 2 other girls, but this year was Bugs' turn for some alone time with Daddy at Camp. The rest of the clan came in a few days later.

Please share your 2012 pics! I know BIG won't have any

 

[AMink]

Wish I had some deer pics, but all I got were scenery shots. No deer this year. But, duck starts Saturday so stay tuned... .

Nice deer, btw.

 

[BIGNASTY]

That's great times right there!!!!!!! I REALLY LIKE THE HORSE PACKING PIC. The one thing that DISTURBES ME we have the same problem here in MT hunting photos also and cant figure out WHY THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURES HAVE TO SHOW OFF THEIR DENTAL WORK. :-laf



The smiles all around is what makes it for me looks good hope you get your other tags filled.



Glad I stopped by on site before we leave this AM to go for my final hunt/camp of the year all of our tags have been filled with the exception of a cow elk that I donate to a bear sanctuary so just a little personal hunting for me left to do.



CONGRATS



BIG



PS that poor Dodge :{ made to do the work of REAL POWER

 

[BIGNASTY]

AH64ID



If you dont pick that little one up AT LEAST 500 times a day and tell her she's loved ,you need your butt kicked. SHE IS GOING TO BE A HART BREAKER FOR SURE.



THE BEAR LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THE GUYS AT THE CLUB THAT'S HAD ONE TO MANY :-laf Should have put a beer can next to him



BIG

 

[HHhuntitall]

:-laf... . looks like that little girl choked him out and kicked him in the cods!!! :-laf



I haven't had time to do much hunting, but have gotten a few coyotes hanging around the cows and some hogs. I'll try to get some pics I've taken off a horse posted when I get time... . Nice mulies!! I'm heading to Farmington, NM next week!! I didn't draw a tag, but still got invited to track and run... . Oh, and I got 6 skunks cutting hay tonight, does that count???!?! I can't really post pics, as there were only pieces left..... And the pic of the last coyote wouldn't go over well here..... all I had was a head shot..... with a 140gr 6. 5mm bullet at 3200fps... . he kinda lost his mind..... all over the pasture





Earlier this year we went in to clean out an old barn on a place I bought a few years back..... I got in there and found some old IH engine blocks, couple turbos, some old rotted fishing tackle, and some rattlebugs..... Here's the first half of the bunch my hiredhand killed.....

 

[AMink]

:-laf... . looks like that little girl choked him out and kicked him in the cods!!! :-laf



I haven't had time to do much hunting, but have gotten a few coyotes hanging around the cows and some hogs. I'll try to get some pics I've taken off a horse posted when I get time... . Nice mulies!! I'm heading to Farmington, NM next week!! I didn't draw a tag, but still got invited to track and run... . Oh, and I got 6 skunks cutting hay tonight, does that count???!?! I can't really post pics, as there were only pieces left..... And the pic of the last coyote wouldn't go over well here..... all I had was a head shot..... with a 140gr 6. 5mm bullet at 3200fps... . he kinda lost his mind..... all over the pasture





Earlier this year we went in to clean out an old barn on a place I bought a few years back..... I got in there and found some old IH engine blocks, couple turbos, some old rotted fishing tackle, and some rattlebugs..... Here's the first half of the bunch my hiredhand killed.....



View attachment 82798

Isn't a Moisin a little overkill on a lil' ol' snake? Do you cook those guys up?

 

[HHhuntitall]

Isn't a Moisin a little overkill on a lil' ol' snake? Do you cook those guys up?

:-laf Ya' think?!?! That's his rifle... . he's 18, owns that rifle and an old Mossberg 12ga shotgun. I had my 17HMR pistol I was dispatching mine with... . He couldn't stand it. That was the first thing he ever killed with it..... Those were wayyyy up under the barn floor(pier and beam), where we couldn't reach with the hook we had, so he took aim with a flashlight and that rifle and took 'em out..... He'd shoot and then wait for the dust to clear, then we'd look for another..... Personally, I thought it was a little overkill, too, but what do I know?? He's 18 and wanted in on the fun... . I'm gonna doze it down when I get time, anyway. There are Africanized bees on the other end of the barn..... they didn't take too well to the concussion from the rifle. NO COOKING of a rat eating poisonous reptile for me!! I'll pass, if at all possible!! That's what cows are for!! And mule deer!!

PS that poor Dodge :{ made to do the work of REAL POWER

Ummm, BIG, you do know they make a thing called a "ROUND BALER????" They can be put out with a tractor, in any weather, from a heated seat?!?!?

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

HH, do you know why farmers are getting away from using round bails?

 

[CBari]

Tramplineman, I don't know about up in Wisconsin, but down here in Arkansas round bales are still king for cattle feed. More and more people are also using good quality bermuda grass round bales for their horses. I use the rounds on the pasture horses for the very reason HH listed that cab sure is nice. I keep mine under roof from the time they are baled till they are feed. I take cattle round bale rings and cut in half so they are about 18 inches tall and the horses eat every last blade of hay.

 

[HHhuntitall]

HH, do you know why farmers are getting away from using round bails?

I'm not sure what you mean..... Here, we just keep getting bigger and bigger balers. We can feed 10 cows for two days with one bale. Now, I do see a lot of farmers baling a lot of square bales to sale. There are a LOT of horses in Aubrey, TX, about 35 miles from me, and they buy a LOT of hay. Many farmers see the opportunity, and try to bale all they can to sale. Last year, I sold several thousand, most of which I brought in from Missouri or Mississippi. I made quite a bit of money, but I spent a lot of time driving. I told them all that I'm not going to do it this year... . Anyway, most of the small squares go to horses, and a few go to people with a few goats and one or two cows. Hobby farmers, my Dad calls 'em. I do see a LOT of wheat straw baled up in Large square bales, which is sold either to mushroom farms or feedlots, where it's ground up with feed and used for filler on packer cattle. Most of the guys around here bale the straw straight out of the back of a combine. The squares are easier to haul and handle for industry. Round bales will stay the staple for many years to come, mostly because the equipment is so readily accessed... .

 

[BIGNASTY]

:-laf Ya' think?!?! That's his rifle... . he's 18, owns that rifle and an old Mossberg 12ga shotgun. I had my 17HMR pistol I was dispatching mine with... . He couldn't stand it. That was the first thing he ever killed with it..... Those were wayyyy up under the barn floor(pier and beam), where we couldn't reach with the hook we had, so he took aim with a flashlight and that rifle and took 'em out..... He'd shoot and then wait for the dust to clear, then we'd look for another..... Personally, I thought it was a little overkill, too, but what do I know?? He's 18 and wanted in on the fun... . I'm gonna doze it down when I get time, anyway. There are Africanized bees on the other end of the barn..... they didn't take too well to the concussion from the rifle. NO COOKING of a rat eating poisonous reptile for me!! I'll pass, if at all possible!! That's what cows are for!! And mule deer!!



Ummm, BIG, you do know they make a thing called a "ROUND BALER????" They can be put out with a tractor, in any weather, from a heated seat?!?!? View attachment 82799

Like this with out the heated seat? We use the round bale for the cattle but for the horses and mules we are required to use Certified Weed Free to stop the spread of weeds into the mountains that shouldn't be there. I dont mind the cost is not that much more when our Son and FIL order for the cattle they add our feed into the mix also throw out for the Elk and Deer that come out of the mountains to eat in our backyard. We kind of like the way the mountains are and want to keep it that way.

Please!!!!!!!!!! dont ask why he's trying to unroll the bale back-ards he's new to MT and is a wiz-bang Fireman/Paramedic but cattle farming is new to him. Im just glad that he likes using the mules HEATED SEAT OR NOT. Getting cold lets ya know YOUR ALIVE!!!!!! Makes the hot soup and drink all that much better.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Whoa, you guys are thinking way too deep into my simple Popsicle stick joke.

 

[BIGNASTY]

In the off season (not going to the mountains for sure) I feed the gang Oat hay to help them out. Alfalfa makes the gang fat fast ,grain is the same way. A mule has the digestive system of the donkey part of the mix. The donkey is made to eat things that are available and alfalfa is not on the diet list. It makes a difference to them off season the oat hay mule crap is a bunch different than with the rich grain and alfalfa diet. They seem to like it. When I put out alfalfa they eat but at a leisurely pace put out oat hay and they rocket to the feed and wont lift their head until its gone. Try to feed the wifes horse oat hay it pulls it out of the feeder throws it on the ground and pees on it.

 

[RScaletti]

Whoa, you guys are thinking way too deep into my simple Popsicle stick joke.

Cows couldn't get a square meal???

 

[HHhuntitall]

In the off season (not going to the mountains for sure) I feed the gang Oat hay to help them out. Alfalfa makes the gang fat fast ,grain is the same way. A mule has the digestive system of the donkey part of the mix. The donkey is made to eat things that are available and alfalfa is not on the diet list. It makes a difference to them off season the oat hay mule crap is a bunch different than with the rich grain and alfalfa diet. They seem to like it. When I put out alfalfa they eat but at a leisurely pace put out oat hay and they rocket to the feed and wont lift their head until its gone. Try to feed the wifes horse oat hay it pulls it out of the feeder throws it on the ground and pees on it.

Yeah, a lot of that has to do with genetics, I'm sure, but it can be a learned trait, I think, too. Most of my horses eat whatever is in front of them..... My friends tell me it's living with me, it makes them appreciate a good meal. If they pull it out of the feeder, they'll eat it off the ground... . If it's left over, it's too tough or too rank for them to eat it!! I've got one horse that'll pee in the hay if it's on the ground, but he'll eat it anyway... . Not sure, but my foreman tells me it's a vitamin/mineral defeciency. NASTY. Most of my string will stay fat on broomstraws. That's from growing up in pastures where the cactus is as thick as the mequite and cedar..... I turn all my colts out after weaning on rough country. They learn where their feet are and usually make a good stick afterwards... . If they never get hurt, you know they ain't worth a durn!!

Cows couldn't get a square meal???

Noooo, they're part of a square meal!!

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Cows couldn't get a square meal???

Yup, my kid tells me that joke whenever we pass a round bale.

 

[HHhuntitall]

After a week of R&R (Run and Run some more, praise God! I DO love to chase these things) I've got a few decent pics to show off... . Forgive me if I brag on my old man a little... . He killed @ 195 class mulie in NM last week(alongside my cousin with a 188), and yesterday he bumped off a 160 class whitetail, the second largest he's ever killed, and 5th largest ever killed on any of our ranches... . This is the way of life we fight to hang on to every day.

And BIG, here's a little less than flat land, just for you!!

 

[AH64ID]

Looks like fun!

 

[BIGNASTY]

HH looks great to me Never have hunted NM but have talked to many of our hunting guests that have and had Great success. Nice looking mulies Pard Congrats all around. Some day im going to have to learn how to score game I go by the WOW factor if you see it and go WOW from 300yards away its ok BUT if you look at it at 600 yards and its still WOW. Then its a bigg-in I like the look on the guy in the Camo's he looks tuff enough to bite the grill off a bulldozer



BIG

 

[HHhuntitall]

HH looks great to me Never have hunted NM but have talked to many of our hunting guests that have and had Great success. Nice looking mulies Pard Congrats all around. Some day im going to have to learn how to score game I go by the WOW factor if you see it and go WOW from 300yards away its ok BUT if you look at it at 600 yards and its still WOW. Then its a bigg-in I like the look on the guy in the Camo's he looks tuff enough to bite the grill off a bulldozer



BIG

We like it. Not too far from home, but far enough we can't be called in at a whim. Thanks for the compliments. Not many real WOW bucks in NM anymore, I fear. That was as nice of one you can expect in that unit. We usually kill the largest ones in the unit, as we work the hardest, I feel... .



The whitetail was WOW at 500 yds... . That's where Dad bumped it off. One shot, just to the front of the shoulder, getting spine, heart and foward lungs..... I'm pretty proud of him, and it shows. Did I mention his bronze medal at the NRA National Championships in F/TR?



And tough is an understatement on that man!! I once saw him get hit by a gate a 2500lb bull kicked... it hit him in the forehead, knocked him off his feet, into a backspin, landing on his face!!! He hit the ground spinning, trying to stay behind the gate and keep the bull from finishing the job!! He has a permanent indention there... . took awhile to get the bleeding stopped. Pretty sure it broke his skull, but he wouldn't go to the hospital... . Just suffered through the headaches for three days..... Can you relate to that? :-laf Only time I ever really worried about him was when he had kidney stones... . he passed out on me and I had to carry him to the truck!! I knew if he passed out he was in a lot of pain!! He did go to the hospital for that one, but only because I was driving(and outweigh him around 100lbs!!)!!!