dawsonscreek

I wasn't actually hunting last night, but still managed to call in a gray fox. Went out to check on the goose sausage in the smoker and could hear something in the crispy frosty grass near the barn, expecting to see a deer I look up and saw the silhouette of a gray fox I could just make it out with the ambient light and the motion light on the house. Give few lip squeaks and it comes charging straight to me. I let him get to about 40 yards and yelled at him (getting bit didn't sound like a good way to spend the night). I've never seen a critter hit the brakes and turn the other way as fast as he did when I hollered. Might have to make a few sets in my tiny woodlot this winter.

The only yote I ever called in and killed was just at sunset, distress calls. Was using a .204 at the time. Put her down right in her tracks.

Yeah, it has interchangeable barrels, that one is .22lr, it’s a tac driver. For deer I switch over to 7-30 waters

Got out for one of my favorite post-deer season activities today. First time hunting them with a handgun and my first kills with a handgun! Could have easily had my limit but was holding out for the black squirrel I had missed first thing. I’ll be back out a few times, squirrel breakfast sausage on the way!!

I’m not trying to start anything. I have more respect for the older generations than you want to believe. Not once did I claim to know everything or call you a “dumb azz”. I simply tried to respectfully post a reply based on facts that I studied during my time at a highly accredited local conservation based degree program in the Finger Lakes. I’ll leave it at that, I don’t want to argue. Good day, sir

Correct, all false accusations based on opinion and hear-say rather than fact. Fisher are becoming more common, the game Commission isn't releasing them to kill turkeys. Forests are become more mature since the clear cutting of 100+ years past and the habitat that fisher need is returning. Direct correlation.

Definitely a fisher. Fisher are a member of the mustelidae family (weasels) so they have that characteristic for loping gait. The hind feet usually stay right next to each other and the front feet are more or less there for support as they push themselves along with the large hind feet. What you’re seeing is two hind feet directly next to each other and the two front feet at an an angle next each other as he hopped along. A bobcat would have its tracks directly in front of the next, basically walking in a straight line and the distance between the tracks wouldn’t be as far as that. Cats are very aware and careful of where they put their feet, watch your house cat walk around sometime especially if they are stalking a toy. Also cats wouldn’t likely show nail marks in every track. Very cool find!

Congrats! 4.5 hours till my weekend starts!

Is this Conklin gulley?

Finally saw some deer. Bumped three does as I was sneaking in to the woods. Though they were only 30 yards away I couldn’t get them to stop for a shot. Tomorrow is another day!

Probably will be switching to Blackhorn for next year, want to work on distance and grouping this spring and then will hunt with it all during gun season next year.

Gotchya, thanks!

Would removing just the powder and primer be fine if I bring the gun inside, then just load the powder back against the bullet in through the breech end? (can't have a gun in the vehicle where I work)

Another question for you more experienced ML guys: Between hunts if you have not fired a shot, how do you store the gun? Do you just take the primer out and leave the powder and bullet in, or do you completely unload?

6-2:30 is my normal work schedule so I’ve got 5 afternoons and the weekend to get it done. First accumulating snow in my area is falling now so this afternoon should be nice (apart form the wind)

Cold sit this evening. Damn that wind was brutal. Lots of squirrels, no deer. First hunt with my CVA optima

Thank you to everybody who took the time to relpy, I love the hunting section of this forum! Was able to sight in at 60 yards in my side yard after work after a getting the scope mounted. Dead center shot was the last one I took after adjusting, I’ll take it. I think I’ll like this gun. Hang fires were no issue today, switched to cci primers and “popping a cap” after swabbing. 100 grains of 777 pellets, and a 250 TC shockwave. The weather is shaping up nicely and working 6-2:30 doesn’t hurt

Several years ago I bought a used ML off a friend and had the same issues you mentioned. Couldn't get groups to save my life. Got impatient and sold that gun. Well, I got interested again and bought this gun hoping I would have better results. Gonna play with it today after work and see what I can do. All is not lost, if I do not get it dialed in I will hunt either with the bow or my dad's TC that is dead nuts.

I will try this too

I don’t even remember to be honest, they are old, my dad has some CCIs I will yoink. Field of dreams didn’t have Except for their 209 shotgun primers in the reloading section

Tried with 100grns of 777 and a 250 TC shockwave today. For some reason I was experiencing hangfires after the second shot even after cleaning the breech hole out. Was trying to get the open sights dialed in but the shots were all over, back to the drawing board tomorrow. A local Wallyworld is out of black powder stuffs so I’ll have to make a trip back to field of dreams.

Thanks guys. Since my dad gave me a bunch of shockwaves, I’ll try them first, just gotta pick up some primers, powder, and cleaning supplies!

So I just picked up a CVA optima v2 from the local shop for a great price. Wondering if anybody has this gun and what their load/bullet preference is. I’d like to get it sighted in for the late season, but will be bowhunting if I can’t get it shooting nice groups at 100. Any suggestions or tips are appreciated. Thanks!

Tough hunting in the Southern Tier. Not many birds around on my scouting and the majority of them seem to be in spots where permission will not be granted. Hoping for a freeze up for the late season to get the birds on the rivers I hunt!