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use to hunt/fish w/my dad. just small game and birds. lots of quail and dove hunts. deep sea fishing off calif and baja. grew up with guns.
always wanted to go deer / elk hunting with dad. asked him a billion times. always said no. asked him why? "i have seen enough death." but what about the birds / squirrels/fish we have killed? he stated "you'll figure it out someday." " i like seeing things alive." " " plus you have the basics to feed yerself if it ever is needed."
well as i got older and figured things out, fully understood what 5 years straight in the pacific war does to a man. the light bulb went on. new guinea luzon saipan biak was hell on him and his mind. he lost a lot of friends and killed alot of the enemy.
so the ritual doesnt end with me......i have gotten both my sons in to hunter safety classes, and hunted deer/elk/birds/small game/varmints.
18 days to go for my younger sons first bull elk hunt(we got 3 tags). bought him a new marlin 45/70 stainless long barrel with 3 x9 leupold and QD rings. has shot the hell outta gun at range. has shot hell outta .22 ruger for practice, shot hell outta rws .177 w/3 x 9 scope for practice, has shot hell outta rws 5g pistol for practice. practice practice practice. kid is a born elk assassin.
been packing last 3 weekends with him. every gear bag inspected/updated. rifles pistols cleaned and lubed. tow vehicle organized, 18 ft dual axle trailer organized, new tires etc. quads gassed/oiled/lubed. survival bags updated. clothes washed in no scent with juniper branches stuffed in garbage bags. bullets made on press. elk calls honed. im amazed a herd of elk hasnt crashed thru my property and coyotes arent climbing thru my windows for all the calls emitted from my house!
younger son stated " i never realized how much time and effort goes into a elk hunt!" i commented back........."wait til its 330am and its (0) ZERO degrees out and we are heading out of camp to our sniper hides and tell me all about it!"
we brought enough material and tents to build 3 separate sniper hides, and enough howitzer camo netting to hide a HOWITZER, so 4 separate places we will set up 2 days before hunt. walking this unit is akin to baghdad iraq door to door house to house searches. juniper really thick. very little elevation areas except south end of unit. 450 bull tags handed out in lottery and 445 hunters will be in south end of unit. we will be north at our secret spot. hunted this area for literally last 25 years. know it like back of hand.
FOAMING AT THE MOUTH TO LET MY MCMILLIAN WINCHESTER .338(.559 groups) 26" barrel with 4.5 x 14 leupold tactical scope RIP ON SOME UNWARY BULL ELK!
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