Tag Archives: hunting

A Junior Mule Deer Pro-Am

October 21, 2025huntingbrothers, Deer, deer hunting, hunting, mule deercoldboremiracle

Preface

Few things are more satisfying than watching your children grow up. As a hunter, the same thing can be said about watching your children grow into successful hunters. Some of you might have followed me long enough to have seen my son grow into a successful hunter. But today’s story is about both his latest and our youngest boy’s first deer hunting experience. Today’s exciting adventure is in jest; a junior Mule Deer pro-am.

The Pro

My Ridley has been hunting since he reached our state’s legal hunting age of 12. His very first year he managed to shoot both a Mule Deer and a cow elk using his little custom Remington 700 that I built for him that year. He must’ve inherited some shooting skill, because this kid has been a dead ringer from the start. His first deer was taken with a clean single shot at 490 yards, and his first elk from a touch further. He has repeatedly made some impressive shots over the years shooting nothing but that short little rifle. Whether it be shooting supported off a backpack at extremely high angles, or shooting an escaping deer bounding off through brush.

His rifle has always craved the same load, a simple one using PRVI 120 grain BTHP match bullets. Nestled over a load of Benchmark powder producing just shy of 2800FPS, this load has put a LOT of deer and elk meat in our freezer.

Junior first elk, ridley, elk, cow elk, — And his first elk 2016

The rifle has always used a small LPVO, which I have found easier for inexperienced marksmen to find targets. It currently has a US Optics 1-8 power scope on it, but it may be time for something with a little more magnification as Junior is inexperienced no longer.

The Amateur

Santiago on the other hand, is in his rookie year of big game hunting. He has shown even more interest in shooting and hunting than his older siblings. Add to that having grown up watching everybody else have success, his excitement and desire to hunt himself are at an all-time high as hunting season began this year.

He’s spent a lot of time behind a riflescope, accompanying me on countless shooting and hunting expeditions. Everything involving outdoors, guns and hunting seem to appeal to this young man. And with his first Mule Deer hunt approaching, he asked for extra opportunities to practice and sharpen his own shooting skills. And to be candid I have been impressed with both his passion and skill when it comes to shooting well.

howa, mini, 22 ARC, lucid optics, MLX, silencerco, omega 36m, suppressor, — hunting varmints has been good practice

For his rookie season, we chose the Browning X-Bolt 2. I typically start young shooters off with something a little lighter on recoil, but Santiago also drew a cow elk tag for later this winter. I wanted him to have and become proficient with a rifle that would do well for both elk and deer. This ruled out using some of the typically smaller caliber rifles we had in inventory. The 308 Winchester X-Bolt uses a Vector Optics 2-12×44 riflescope, tipped with a Banish Backcountry suppressor to keep things tolerable. He had spent a great deal of time learning how to use this combination, hoping to be ready when the time came.

Browning, x-bolt, x-bolt 2, x-bolt speed, 308 win, vector optics, continental, 2-12x44, banish backcountry suppresor, — Earlier this summer hard at practice

Sunrise

With the first signs of light peeking in the east, we found ourselves at the top of a Rocky Mountain ridge near 8500 feet above sea level. It had snowed up here a day or so prior, which still lingers in the high altitude freezing air temps. The hard frozen snow crunched under boots as we endured a strong wind cresting over the ridge.

mule deer, deer hunting, — one of the two bucks we were after

We spotted a group of deer on a distant ridge below us, I was hoping to find something much closer based on historical experience. But after spending more time than I’d of liked looking, there were almost no other deer that were out braving the freezing wind with us. So in perhaps a hasty decision, I told the kids to grab their packs and gear so we could go after them. Besides the two boys, my Daughter Bria also came along. We decided to leave her rifle behind as we’d only seen two bucks in the group, and even if we’d seen more she could shoot one of the boy’s rifles. The rugged and steep pursuit demanded taking as little gear as possible.

The Stalk

Once we were dedicated to the stalk, we moved quickly. I knew we were making a descent that would be unpleasant to return from. But the sooner we got a deer on the ground it would be that much less ground we’d have to ascend on our return. Keeping the ridge between us and the group of deer, we moved fast and into the wind that still blew uphill into our faces.

deer hunting, mule deer, eberlestock, — shameless plug for my **Eberlestock Just One pack**, that made packing out a lot of deer comfortable

We closed the distance to 470 yards, where our cover ran out. Moving closer would have severely compromised our surreptitious approach, and the deer would have easily spotted us moving across the open sagebrush. We picked out a high perch, with room for both boys to setup their rifles. An added benefit to our approach was the sun rising directly behind us, which made it even harder for the deer to see us.

As Ridley looked through his riflescope, I ranged the deer again, trying to see where the buck stood among them. Ridley spotted him first, as I helped Santiago get in place. Ridley pronounced he was ready, and Santiago prepared to back him up should the deer try and escape.

Time to Kill

Ridley initially held 3 MRAD over the buck’s shoulder, who was quartering away to the left. His initial shot went right over the buck, who didn’t react. So he fired a second this time holding 2.5 MRAD, this shot landed perfectly hitting at the back of the buck’s ribcage and traversed the vital zone stopping just under the right shoulder. The buck jumped as he was hit, and bounded a few times before he piled up and slid down the steep hill.

The four of us celebrated in our triumph. But there was still another buck, who stepped out after the commotion of the first deer. The boys both quickly returned to their scopes, as we identified which of the deer was the remaining buck. After Santiago had found the buck, and identified him to both Ridley and I, the rookie was cleared hot for his first real kill shot.

The young buck stood broadside nearly five-hundred yards downhill from us, looking our way. With his rifle doped for the distance, and steady behind the rifle, Santiago announced he was ready and we all watched. The shot broke, and the buck jumped as though he had been hit. He lept uphill running across a flat area, my initial thought was he moved like an uninjured deer. But after about forty or so yards, he slowed and turned, before doing a faceplant into the snow. There he scrambled around for a moment trying to get back up, but he slid into a bed under the brush for one last time. Once again, we cheered and excitedly exchanged hugs and high-fives.

Double Recovery

All four of us found our way down the ridge, where we searched a moment for the second buck. He had fallen in some tall brush which made him harder to find. Once we’d found him, Santiago got to put hands on his first deer. Watching kids soak up the experience is great for a dad too.

We took a few pictures as the boys recounted what had happened, and discussed what they’d each seen as the events unfolded earlier. Santiago’s shot was placed perfectly, the broadside shot had hit the deer just behind his right shoulder, and came through the left shoulder. The 175 Sierra Match King X left an exit wound around three-inches in diameter, with bits of bone fragments coming out. We did some quick forensic analysis, then we hurried over to the edge of the ridge to find the first deer that Ridley had shot.

deer hunting, mule deer, kids, children, browning, x bolt 2, 308 win, vector optics 2-12x44, banish backcountry suppressor, — Santiago was shooting the **X-Bolt 2** chambered in 308 Winchester, shooting **Sierra 175 grain Match King X bullets**. Suppressed by a **Banish Backcountry titanium suppressor**

We had left the first deer for last, mainly because we knew he was dead as could be and had not moved since the shot. As we approached, we let Ridley make first connection. He was a handsome little buck, a 2×3 with some good eye-guards for a small deer. His antlers were heavier than we’d expected, so as you can imagine we were all happy as could be. After the initial inspection Ridley asked for a moment of quiet while we gave the handsome animal the respect he was due.

ridley, mule deer, deer, deer hunting, remington 700, .260 remington, cole tac, suppressed, — another notch in the stock for ‘ol meat-in-the-pot. A .260 Remington cut at 16″ with the **USO 1-8 scope**, and **YHM suppressor** covered by the **Cole-TAC Python suppressor cover**

Again we took a variety of photos, as the rest of the family hiked down to us to help. My brother and his daughter were a great addition, giving both help and praise. It was right about this point that the fun part ended, and the hard part began.

The trip back up the ridge to our vehicle would have been impossible without cutting up the deer. So we quartered them up, and pulled as much meat off of the carcass as possible, leaving it attached to the quarters to avoid contamination. These kids love deer burgers so I wanted to maximize the meat haul. All the kids would help as we cut large portions of meat off, they would lay the meat on clean patches of snow. After which they covered the meat with more snow to quickly cool the meat and keep it clean.

mule deer, deer, deer hunting, butcher, quartering, — my brother giving the boys instruction on field butchering

Everybody pitched in and helped with butchering both deer, as well as packing them back up the mountain. To this dad’s surprise, not a single complaint was heard hiking back up. Of course we were all tired, and everybody hurt, but nobody was whining and asking for someone else to carry their weight.

Conclusion

It’s a beautiful life that we get to share as a hunting family, and its not absent from my thoughts that I once dreamed of having the life I now get to live every day. Sharing great experiences like this one with my children are the crown jewel of my own adventures, and I cannot wait to do it again.

-CBM

deer hunting, mule deer, deer, browning, x bolt 2, — Santiago with his Mom

junior, ridley, mule deer, deer hunting,

Hunting with Magnums: Does a Magnum’s Might Make Right?

September 5, 2025blogdeer hunting, elk hunting, hunting, magnumcoldboremiracle

Introduction

As the old saying goes; might makes right. Meaning that those with power can enforce their will. This doctrine has long been used when it comes to hunting cartridges. With hunting season right around the corner we figured it was worth the discussion to evaluate the premise. Does a magnum’s might make right when it comes to hunting? Does the heavy energy load of magnum cartridges make them the best choice for your hunt? Let’s get to the bottom of it.

I load my own with these **RCBS dies**, this allows me the ability to customize the energy applied

What Makes a Magnum?

Magnum cartridges are simply larger than typical cartridges of comparable bore. For example, the 30-06 Springfield is a common 30-caliber cartridge. The 300 Winchester Magnum is a larger 30-caliber cartridge, with more powder capacity. This allows the 300 to push bullets much faster all else being equal.

the 30-06 Springfield has been and will continue to take nearly any NA big game animal. This **Winchester model 70** is a classic example of an American hunting rifle

The whole premise of magnum cartridges is to bring higher velocities and energy. When you shoot larger bullets and faster velocities the energy imposed on the target goes up. This can be very important when it comes to hunting animals, as energy is key to quickly incapacitating our prey.

Ballistic Performance

Another reason magnum cartridges are popular is because of their ballistic performance. The same attributes that make them effective for hunting, also make them effective for long-range shooting. Being able to shoot bigger bullets at faster velocities, or standard bullets at even faster velocities makes them a better choice for shooting further. Heavier bullets and faster bullets hold onto their energy longer, which pushes out the envelope of their effectiveness. You can imagine how this would be helpful to both a hunter, and a long-range shooter.

Magnums like this 300 PRC do well for long-range shooting and hunting

Newer and better bullets are constantly hitting the market, which is making the ballistic performance grow ever better. The 180 grain bullets your grandpa shot weren’t as efficient as the latest and greatest 180 grain bullets we have today. But does that matter for many of us?

Real World Applications

As I peruse hunting and shooting forums, social media groups, and even the slums of reddit, you can get an idea of most hunting practices. It seems that the majority of hunters typically engage big game like deer at distances between 50 and 400 yards when hunting with firearms. Obviously that depends greatly on location and the animal they are after.

deer sized animals can easily be taken with smaller calibers like this 6mm GT in my **Desert Tech SRSM2**

If you are stalking a fifty-pound Roe deer on the green fields of Great Britain, you will probably use different tackle than a hog hunter in Georgia, or a Stone Sheep hunter in the Yukon. The size of your prey, and the environment you pursue them in has much to do with your cartridge selection.

Even large animals like a Rocky Mountain Elk are easily taken with short action cartridges like a .243 or a 30-30. So why do most people use heavy magnums for hunting them? Mainly because Rocky Mountain Elk live in places you don’t want to take your .243.

The Landscape

Western hunts often take place in big open country, where shots could be much further than average. Furthermore, a wounded animal might go for miles through the steepest miserable country you can imagine. So it makes sense to use a rifle with more power and heavy bullets. In many of these hunts, it is also important to drop the animal right where it stands to avoid strenuous extraction.

when hunting in the deep forest, you often want to secure your prey where it stands to make it easier to get out

Conversely, if you are hunting one of the gulf states you probably aren’t going to be making many 400 yard shots. And your chances of finding an elk down there are likely limited to exotic ranches. Consideration to location could have a lot to do with whether or not you really need a magnum.

in the thick woods where I took this bear, having a smaller rifle with lower recoil was beneficial

Biology

It is also very important to understand the body structure of the animals we intend to hunt. Some animals are tougher than others, and require a little more energy to quickly and cleanly put them down. Using an appropriately proportioned cartridge for the animal not only ensures a clean kill, but also reduces waste. I like to eat what I hunt, so blowing a deer in half with a super magnum is not on my list.

Hitting an animal in the right spot is more important than what you hit them with, read more about that here

Using a magnum on a small animal particularly at short distance is likely to cause more damage than necessary. This could cause meat to be lost and discarded. Shooting a 90-grain bullet from a 6mm Creedmoor might be perfect for hunting a Pronghorn antelope inside 400 yards. You could use a 300 Winchester for the same job, but you might have a few pounds less to take home for the freezer.

Continue Reading Here

when chasing big animals in big country, using a big magnum is always a safe bet

Springfield Armory Waypoint 2020

June 25, 2025Product review, Shooting hardware2020, 308 winchester, bolt-action, hunting, hunting rifle, springfield armory, waypointcoldboremiracle

Preface

In our ever changing world there is some solace in knowing that we are spoiled for choice when it comes to sporting arms. Being a part of the firearm industry certainly offers me additional privileges and access, and today I intend to share with you another one the countless rifles I’ve been able to examine. Today we are taking a close look at the Springfield Armory Waypoint 2020 rifle chambered in 308 Winchester.

Springfield Armory, Waypoint, 2020, 308 winchester, US Optics, TXH 3-18,

The Waypoint 2020 is marketed as a lightweight precision rifle with a definite nod towards the hunting crowd. The Waypoint is a bolt-action rifle patterned after the extremely popular Remington 700 footprint. There is a variety of models but all of them feature a carbon fiber stock, and detachable box-magazines. Different color camo patterns can be selected, as well as other features like carbon-wrapped barrels and radial muzzle brakes. Let’s get into it.

The Springfield Armory Waypoint 2020

2020 Action

The foundation of the Waypoint rifle is the 2020 action, a two-lug ninety-degree bolt action much like the Remington 700 it closely resembles. I say closely because it greatly improves over it’s predecessor. The 2020 action uses a one-piece fluted bolt-body with a removable bolt-handle. At the front of the bolt you’ll find the sliding extractor and spring-plunger ejector. The sear is tripped by a Trigger Tech Field trigger, which in my experience is fantastic.

Springfield Armory, Waypoint, 2020, 308 winchester, US Optics, TXH 3-18, Banish backcountry, suppressor — the **Banish Backcountry suppressor** worked great with the Waypoint

At the back of the action you’ll find the bolt-stop/release. This is the stronger and superior design, making the bolt quick to remove and firmly stopped when it reaches the aft stroke. The Waypoint 2020 action comes with a scope base-rail installed, using both screws and dowel pins for security.

Carbon Fiber Stock

Rigid and lightweight are the first things that come to mind when feeling the Waypoint stock. At the back there is a soft rubber recoil pad as well as some flush mounted QD-cups for attaching a sling. The vertical grip is very modern and comfortable, allowing easy placement of your thumb at the proper angle. The Aluminum trigger-guard is also very well done, and features the mag-release in the front of the trigger area. And using AICS pattern magazines is a sure way to gain points with most shooters.

The front of the stock also features a QD-cup for sling attachment, as well as M-Lok slots on the bottom to attach a bipod. I found the stock to be very comfortable and very serviceable.

Carbon Wrapped Barrel

The twenty-inch barrel is carbon fiber wrapped, for weight reduction. At the muzzle it was threaded 5/8-24 with a radial muzzle brake installed to tame the rifle. Chambered in 308 Winchester the barrel features a 1:10 twist which allows for a great deal of bullet compatibility.

Springfield Armory, Waypoint, 2020, 308 winchester, US Optics, TXH 3-18, carbon fiber barrel

Specifications

Springfield Armory Waypoint 2020 308 Winchester
Weight	6 Pounds 9 Ounces
Length	41.5 Inches
Barrel	20-inch 1:10 twist Carbon Fiber
Trigger Adjustment	2.5-5 Lbs
Muzzle Device	Radial Blast Brake ⅝-24 threads
Magazine	AICS compatible 5-round
Optics Mounting	Picatinny Rail 6-48 Screws
Receiver	Stainless Steel 2020
Color	Evergreen Camo/Green Cerakote
MSRP	$2599

Range Preparations

In order to properly test the Waypoint, I would add a few things and bring along others. First off was a good scope, for that I decided to go with one of my favorites. The US Optics TXH 3-18 is a perfect scope for a precision hunting rifle, with a set of 34mm rings it dropped perfectly into place on the Waypoint. I’d also add a Harris bipod for supported shooting, using the M-Lok slots I attached a pic-rail section to make my bipod easy to install and remove.

For ammunition I brought a nice spread as well. First off were a couple selections from Hornady, the American Whitetail 150 grain ammo, and the Precision Hunter 178 ELDX. I also brought along some Barnes Vor-TX 130 grain ammunition as well as a box of DTM 308 Match 175 grain.

And just for good measure I also threw in my Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor, which would make a perfect lightweight companion to this rifle.

Continue Reading here

My first foray with the Waypoint was at a public range, not something I enjoy but worth the time. It took no time to zero the rifle with just a couple shots after I boresighted it. After which I shot a few different groups to see if the rifle preferred one ammo type over another. It came as no surprise that the DTM 175 match seemed to shoot the best, with a Barnes 130 grain in a very close second place. Velocities from those two were 2560fps and 3020fps respectively. After some accuracy testing, I continued shooting to see how the rifle functioned and fed.

Springfield Armory, Waypoint, 2020, 308 winchester, US Optics, TXH 3-18, Athlon Velocity pro chronograph, — testing **Barnes VOR-TX** **ammo** with the **Athlon Velocity Pro Chronograph**

Springfield Armory, Waypoint, 2020, 308 winchester, US Optics, TXH 3-18, target, accuracy — Some average groups from testing

Silencer Central Banish Meateater Suppressor

January 16, 2025Product review, suppressorsbanish, hunting, meateater, silencer, silencer centralcoldboremiracle

Intro

You could say I’m a bit of a fan of the Meateater show, I do my fair share of hunting and eating. I never would have expected the brand would have made it into my daily use. But that’s the subject for today; I bring you a review of the Banish Meateater Suppressor from Silencer Central.

Banish suppressors have been everywhere lately, and I have been pretty impressed with their lineup. The Meateater Suppressor is a more recent development, and based on the name alone I suspect it is targeting the hunting public.

silencer central Banish Meateater suppressor

The Banish Meateater Suppressor

As I dug into the Banish Meateater, I could see that its hunting focus was more than just in the name. The titanium construction made the suppressor quite lightweight, which is a paramount feature for hunters.

Part of the reason the can is so light is because of its simple design. A traditional baffle stack held in by two threaded end caps. On the breech side you have the industry standard 1.375 x 24 threaded hub, which allows you to change the mount to whatever best fits your needs. The suppressor comes with a 5/8-24 threaded cap, but you could easily swap it out for a different one should you need to. This is a nice feature vs. having to have your barrel re-threaded.

banish meateater suppressor, desert tech srs M2, Apex Optics Rival — the Meateater made my multi-caliber **Desert Tech SRS M2** even more pleasant to shoot

Innovative Design

At the front end of the Meateater is where this can gets interesting. The threaded end cap houses some very cunning features; the muzzle can be interchanged between thirty-caliber and 6.5mm. These two inserts allow users to optimize the suppressor for most every popular hunting caliber thirty or less. Reducing the muzzle cap to 6.5mm will optimize its performance for 22, 6mm, 25 and 6.5mm cartridges. While the thirty-caliber cap keeps it tight for .270, 7mm, and 30 caliber options.

here you can see the two different muzzle ports, the black one for smaller calibers, and the grey one for 30 caliber

Using the optimal muzzle cap in the Meateater is important because there is another innovative feature in the muzzle of this can. The endcap keeps back pressure to help force more of the pressure out through the radial brake that is incorporated to the front of the suppressor. Its purpose is to help reduce recoil felt by the shooter.

silencer central banish meateater — here you can see the on/off feature of the Meateater brake

Specifications

Length	5.85 in
Diameter	1.73 in
Weight	10.3 oz
Construction material	Titanium
Thread Pitch	5/8×24 included
Serviceable	Yes
Caliber	.30 (6.5 muzzle cap also included)
Maximum Caliber	300 RUM
Finish color	Sniper Gray
Finish	Cerakote
Sound Reduction	32dB
Mounting Style	Direct Thread
Full-auto rated	No
Mounting Hub Thread pitch	1.375 x 24
Lifetime Warranty	Yes

Bergara Crest Carbon, banish meateater suppressor — this **Bergara Crest Carbon rifle** greatly benefitted from the Meateater

Continue Reading HERE

PVA Modus 6.5PRC, Banish Meateater suppressor

The Meateater made an excellent companion to my PVA Modus 6.5 PRC

banish meateater suppressor, desert tech srs m2 — The impressive report wasn’t visible through the **Apex Rival 4-32X56 riflescope**

The suppressed report of my rifles sounded very good, not quite as sharp as other suppressors. Almost as if the bleeding off of pressure through the brake vents made it sound better. It was an impressive suppression performance from a can that is neither heavy nor bulky.

Check out more suppressor reviews HERE

two Vets Tripods, non name v2, inverted, tripod, shooting tripod, carbon fiber, tikka t3x, kahles k318i, meateater, banish, suppressor, 25 creedmoor,

Silencer Central Banish Backcountry Suppressor

December 12, 2024Product review, Shooting hardwarebackcountry, banish, hunting, silencer central, suppressorcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Today I once again find myself going down the baffled rabbit hole of suppressors, our subject for today is the Banish Backcountry suppressor by Silencer Central. This rugged and lightweight suppressor is built for backcountry hunters who demand performance with as little weight as possible. My purpose is to put this suppressor to the test so inquiring minds like yours can decide if it fits into your list of needs.

Bergara b14 Crest Carbon, Banish Backcountry suppressor, — this **Bergara Crest Carbon rifle** was a great host for the suppressor

The Banish Backcountry Suppressor

When the Banish Backcountry showed up, I was surprised by few things. As I lifted it from the foam-lined box it became very clear what the engineers had in mind with the Backcountry can. If I had to describe the Backcountry with one word I suppose it would be simplicity.

A look in the breech end of the Backcountry suppressor

The Banish Backcountry uses a traditional baffle design welded together made from titanium. The slight departure from tradition is that the Backcountry uses the Banish line’s industry standard mounting hub. This allows the user to swap out the mounting situation to whatever best suits their needs. The 1.375 x 24 threads are nearly universal even among other manufacturers, allowing incredible variety in how you attach this suppressor to the host firearm.

the mounting hub of the Banish Backcountry

Banish Backcountry Specifications

Length	5.5 in
Diameter	1.6 in
Weight	7.8 oz
Material	Titanium
Thread Pitch	⅝-24 (included)
User Serviceable	No
Caliber	.300
Maximum Caliber	300 RUM
Color Options	Black or OD Green
Finish	Gun Kote
Sound Reduction	30 dB
Mounting Style	Direct thread universal mounting hub
Full-Auto Rated	No
Warranty	Limited Lifetime

The Banish backcountry came to me with a handsome black finish, I am a big fan of the OD Green though. I was extremely impressed at its lightweight, coming in under eight ounces is outstanding. Additionally the under six-inches wouldn’t add much to my hunting rifles.

The lightweight of this suppressor is in part the titanium construction, as well as the simple design. I was curious how well it would do at suppressing the noise with its smaller configuration, it wouldn’t take long to find out.

I would also shoot the Backcountry suppressor on my Bergara Crest Carbon 308 rifle, another lightweight hunting rifle that is optimal for the Banish Backcountry suppressor. And also for some serious testing I would mount the Backcountry to my Desert Tech SRS M2, a rifle I shoot very frequently, which would allow me to evaluate the Banish characteristics based on known performance.

My PVA Modus rifl e worked great using the Backcountry suppressor

my **Desert Tech SRS M2** with the 308 barrel installed, the Backcountry can was a perfect fit

the SRS M2 with the Backcountry suppressor and Apex Rival riflescope

Finish Reading about the Backcountry Suppressor Here…

The End of Hunting as we know it

December 7, 2024blog, huntinghunting, hunting future, hunting practicecoldboremiracle

Preface

Hunting is a way of life for many of us, and for some it is their very existence. Humans have always hunted these lands for survival, even today we feed ourselves with meat taken from the wild. But as our society has matured, practices and attitudes have changed, as have our needs. I see a conundrum before us as our own practices at times seem to bring upon us the end of hunting as we know it.

We didn’t leave much for the birds and coyotes after taking this bull elk

The Need for Hunting

Speaking on the need for hunting in North America, and particularly the US, hunting has become less about survival. While those involved still feel the same passion and excitement as the generations long before them, for many people it has been sterilized of its wild ancestry.

Many reasons for this homogenization of our cherished practice exist. At least in the lower 48, most hunting is still practiced because of tradition, and because it has become a money maker for state game agencies while helping complete their mandate to manage wildlife. Its not only the state profiting either, there are many land owners using their property to make money from hunting.

I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with it, as many game animals have greatly recovered populations because of hunters. Whether it be turkeys or Whitetail deer, the profitability and pleasure of hunting makes them valuable to us and therefor a priority.

A Hunting Conundrum

After many decades of profitability and game management it seems we are reaching a point none of us are going to like; Hunting opportunities are being effected by the popularity of our passion.

Everybody seeing the potential for getting a piece of the action wants to get involved. Whether it be a retailer seeing a new stream of revenue, or a suburban outdoorsman looking to source his own food. Hunting programs on television, printed media and even websites like the one you are reading have increased popularity of hunting, but as popularity goes up, so does the demand.

We all know what happens to costs when demand goes up. And you’re lucky if you haven’t seen it affect your hunting. More money in hunting has created an elite class that has grown exponentially over the past few decades. Both public and private hunting opportunities have been curtailed to favor the higher profit margins of those who can pay for it.

We try and spread our hunting opportunities wide, different species make that possible and more exciting

Additionally, as more and more folks join the rest of us due to popularity, what opportunities there are have to be spread ever thinner for everyone to have a good experience. And the alternative of not growing and recruiting new hunters is having our practice disappear entirely due to social pressure and anti-hunting zealots.

Compounding the Issue

Not only do we face the challenge of sharing our practice with more and more people, we have to do it on smaller and more compressed parcels of land. And technology is also playing a part. It wasn’t very long ago that most hunters wouldn’t even consider shooting a big game animal beyond five-hundred yards. But again, the market has provided us with new and better tools to where shooting animals out to even a thousand yards is quite doable.

To put it simply, there are more and more hunters every year, and we are getting more and more efficient at killing game because of technology and our numbers. Better rifles and other things like thermal and night vision optics as well as sound suppressors have all given us more of an edge. With such a large population and effective tools, it doesn’t take much to upset the balance we’ve had for decades.

In my home state for example, a popular location for hunters and dedicated shooters, we have seen a reduction in numbers of animals and hunting opportunities. There is plenty of blame to go around, especially at the feet of our wildlife agency and their budget aspirations. But one or two bad winters in a row has crushed the populations of game animals, right when so many have found their passion as a hunter. Huge swings in hunting success and experiences have resulted. This conundrum seems like it will only be compounded in years to come.

Resolution

In my mind there must be some kind of balance struck. Hunting opportunities will continue to dwindle as land becomes more restricted, and more people join the fold. And unless you are one of the wealthy who can pay for what hunts there are, you will have to settle for what you can get. I’ve spent the last few decades sharpening my skills in hopes of outshooting my competition on the mountain. But even that practice will soon be eclipsed.

Every season there is a generation of new hunters, and fewer of the older generation. Which means as a group we have to figure it out while balancing our numbers and educating newcomers.

deer hunting — Passing along our hunting practices to children should be cherished

My Conclusion

I believe that like any free market, the hunting market will eventually find some balance. But we as a hunting population may not like where the balance is struck. And for that reason, and on behalf of our children’s generation and those that follow, we need to do some self policing. That might be sacrificing some hunting opportunity for some of us, or changing some rules of engagement.

In my humble opinion, I would always prefer more hunting opportunity over the trophy aspect of hunting. I would rather have the opportunity to take my family hunting every year, even if that means we are only likely to get something less spectacular. Versus going every few years hoping to get something bigger.

Regardless of our opinions, we as a hunting community need to start looking closely at what game agencies and governments are doing more closely. And come together to ensure that our land access and future hunting practice isn’t wiped out.

-CBM

Mule Deer Dualism: A Deer Hunting Experience

October 27, 2024huntingdeer hunting, hunting, mule deercoldboremiracle

Preface

We’ve all experienced feast and famine during deer hunting trips, which usually results in either bounty or bust. But it is almost always a great adventure. In the fall of 2024, my hunting group and I experienced some of both. And today I’ll share the story with you about Mule deer dualism, or the contrast between what is and what can be while hunting them.

Fall 2024

Its been a rough few years hunting here in my home state of Utah, after some very significant winters our deer population has suffered. Utah is an interesting state, filled with natural beauty and wild lands. And every fall it is filled with thousands of excited hunters looking to shoot a Mule deer buck. Even under normal conditions, it can be challenging to hunt these public lands with so many others. But when the deer population dwindles to something like forty-percent of normal, it can be downright depressing for hunting fanatics like me.

I’ve been hunting the same mountains and canyons for my entire adult life, the same mountains my father, grandfather and great-grandfather hunted before me. So I am pretty familiar with the habits of the game animals that share this mountain home. Even so, it isn’t uncommon for them to be always there except for the times you want them to be.

With some optimism, my friends and family started the annual deer hunt hoping for the best. Knowing that the numbers were against us, but also with the knowledge of how quickly things can change.

First Light

As the sun came up the first day of the hunt, two of my kids and I, in a hurried crouch made our way to the edge of a ridge. We’d spotted a pair of bucks feeding on the frosted brush. Later that day I would be astonished with how few deer we would see compared to normal. But at that moment I was too focused to think about anything else.

bergara crest carbon 308 win, mule deer — the first deer taken by my son using the **Bergara Crest Carbon 308Win** with the **Athlon Heras 6-24×50**

We snuck into a shooting position, and my son Leo rested his rifle on my field tripod to keep the line of sight over the brush. We waited for the two bucks to separate enough to shoot, and he cracked a perfect shot through the boiler room. The buck left a blood trail even Stevie Wonder could have followed, leading us to the first prize of the week. We celebrated our success for a while as the warm sunlight brought sensation back to our faces and fingers.

mule deer, cleaning — my kids gutting a deer as a team

More than a day later I returned to the same area with a friend and his sons. Now several days into hunting season, we had all become quite aware of the reduction in deer presence. In fact, it was downright depressing how few deer we were seeing compared to normal years. With little opportunity that morning, I was considering going back home. But things would change quickly for us.

The Developing Duo

We had seen a few scattered groups of does, but nothing promising any bones or trophies. Just as I was about to throw in the towel, a fresh deer was spotted. And a cursory look at it suggested he was worth more investigation. I wasn’t thrilled with his location, as it would surely mean hours of grueling work to extricate him after an equally grueling hike to get close. After closing the distance some, we found that the buck wasn’t alone. And the two of them stood in the open begging for our attention.

We hastily made our way from one point to another, before nearly running down a trail to close the distance to 500 yards. Our pace was required as the two deer were slowly working over the ridge into a deep canyon where we’d never see or find them again. With little time to spare, we approached a rock that would offer and ideal shooting position. The sun had just reached the deer, which gave us an even better view of them. As we all peered through binoculars I suggested the left one was the bigger buck, to which the others confirmed. I again confirmed the distance at right around 500 yards, and dialed the 1.7 MRAD into the scope of my PVA Modus 6.5 PRC rifle.

The two bucks stood a few yards from each other, looking into the morning sun. Perhaps satisfied with having given some other hunters the slip, but not knowing the heat that was currently pointed their way.

Time to Shoot

I ran the bolt in my rifle to chamber a round, my custom handloads using 129 grain PVA Cayuga solid copper bullets. And I settled the crosshair on the distant grey shape, adjusting the scope for perfect clarity.

patriot valley arms modus 6.5 PRC — we’ve already killed quite a few animals with this rifle, suppressed by **Banish Suppressor**

Everything felt just right, so I decided to pull the trigger, sending the sizzle of the 6.5 PRC. The bullet impacted just behind the left shoulder, and exited on the opposite side of the deer. He dropped immediately and sprawled his way uncontrolled down the steep slope. Watching him for a a few seconds it was clear that he was done, my friend Nate pointed out that the second buck simply stood there watching as his partner succumb to the shot. I was surprised as I looked back through the scope and saw the second buck still standing there looking confused.

I slid out from behind the rifle, and motioned one of the boys to get behind it. Carson shouldered the rifle and we chambered another round, as he located the buck through the scope. Once he steadied the rifle on the buck, we all went back to our binoculars. The next shot broke and hit the second buck square behind the shoulder as well, his entire body rippling with the impact. He jumped forward bouncing into thick brush over the hill.

mule deer, Patriot Valley Arms Modus rifle, 6.5 PRC, US Optics TXH 3-18x50

The excitement had consumed us all at this point and we exchanged hugs and shoulder punches. After which we hurried down the mountain towards our prize. As we hiked, we discussed the incredible improbability that with so few deer, and almost nothing of any size, we were profoundly lucky to be there.

mule deer, PVA Modus rifle, 6.5PRC, us optics txh 3-18x50 — the **US Optics TXH 3-18×50** scope made an excellent companion to the **PVA Modus rifle**

Recovery

Our excitement continued to peak as we walked up on the downed bucks. While they might not make the cover of a magazine, they were for sure the best two bucks we had or would see during the hunt.

We gave them the reverence they deserved, and admired their beauty. We of course snapped some photos to save the memory, before starting into the hard work. With a long ways to go back to the road, we decided to bone out the deer. Cutting all the flesh from the bones to save wasted effort, then hanging the meat in the cold breeze to cool it off as quick as possible.

mule deer, wound, 129 Cayuga bullet — The offside exit wound of the **129 Cayuga copper bullet**

It took most of the morning and afternoon to get everything done and make our way back to the vehicle. It was an exhausting effort that felt fantastic once I was sitting in my truck.

The Duality

Every year I am surprised by how mule deer can seem to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. How they can stand out flagrantly at one moment, then shift into the shadows and disappear when they choose.

And yet despite the massive reduction in our deer population, we were still able to have great success. During the week I saw very few hunters besides ourselves, and of the ones I saw nobody seemed to have brought home anything.

The glaring disparity between my expectations and results are as significant as the silence in these mountains. While I am thankful for our success, I am concerned for the future. I hope the reduction in permits helps improve our deer population.

Final Thoughts

There are many contrasting phenomenon when it comes to hunting Mule deer, I think I like most of them. As I rest my weary legs here at home, I am incredibly thankful for our opportunities. Doubling up on a duo like these two as part of a successful week of deer hunting makes it an even sweeter success. I can’t wait for our next hunting adventure.

-CBM

Varmint Hunting Makes Better Hunters and Shooters

July 2, 2024blog, huntinghunting, varmintcoldboremiracle

Preface

Even decades ago, it seemed that varmint hunters had an insatiable taste for accuracy. Very precise and accurate shots are needed when you are after small targets like squirrels and prairie dogs. My old gunsmith used to tell me that when they’d shoot the little sod poodles inside five-hundred yards it had to be a headshot or they wouldn’t count it.

Varmint hunting, Desert Tech MDRX — I’ve smoked quite a few prairie dogs with my MDRX, seen here with the **US Optics FDN17X**

But can the competitive sport of shooting varmints make you a better shooter? In my experience, I think varmint hunting makes better shooters out of all of us. And that alone is good enough reason to engage in the practice.

Shooting Varmints

Varmints are typically small animals mostly of the rodent species or similar. Things like squirrels, ground hogs, and such. These varmints are often pests, and many folks enjoy eradicating them as a pass time. If you have a problem with that, perhaps knitting is a better fit for you.

ruger m77 220 swift — Varmint rifles and precision rifles share many traits, making them excellent marksman rifles. This is my Fathers **Ruger M77**

Personally I enjoy hunting marmots and prairie dogs. Marmots often provide a cunning opposition, requiring some level of stealth and strategy. The country where I hunt them is the exact same territory we hunt deer and elk in, so it doubles as exercise and reconnaissance in addition to a fun hunt. And the size of marmots (typically between 5-10 pounds) requires some degree of accurate shooting. Even deer cartridges have not acutely incapacitated a few of our marmots, so making a good shot is important.

Prairie dogs on the other hand, are much smaller animals. The pound or so they weigh is filled with small bones and lots of flesh. Their smaller size makes them a tougher target, but it also makes it a little more obvious when one is hit. The terrain they thrive in is usually flat, which draws its own challenges when ranging targets, and understanding the lay of the land. Additionally the smaller centerfire cartridges used to shoot them are more affordable to shoot.

desert tech WLVRN 5.56 — This marmot fell to me and my **Desert Tech WLVRN**, thats a **Lucid MLX scope** and **YHM suppressor**

Improving your Skillset

You may have imagined by this point how these hunting practices might make you a better shot. While an escaping prairie dog might not be the end of the world, it adds a competitive angle. As well as an opponent in the cat and mouse game. Simply having an opponent with a mind of its own automatically adds a level of challenge compared to simply shooting targets.

The sportier side of this cat and mouse game is further sharpened by the small target. Your need to make an accurate shot is paramount to your prey not escaping. The level of accuracy required to engage something like a marmot or prairie dog at ranges as far as five or six-hundred yards is demanding. And when you add the complexity of moving targets, measuring the distance to the target, and switchy winds either on the prairie or alpine forest, it gets pretty challenging.

bergara HMR 6.5 creedmoor — Varmint hunting with my deer rifle gets me more practice, this Bergara HMR took a few marmots

While these micro-hunts might not compare to the big Mule Deer hunt you’ve got planned, it is every bit as educational. A typical scenario from one of my marmot hunts might entail spotting a target from as far as half a mile or so away. It takes good spotting practice to pick out a perched chuck laying among a rock-pile. Once you find one, the effort of sneaking into a comfortable shooting distance may require a level of stalking comparable to big game. The sharp eyes of these little critters don’t miss much. And if they see you within their safe-zone, they disappear before you can even get on your scope. Once you’ve closed the distance, and used the land to keep out of sight, its time to dope for the shot and conditions. Long shots often require offsetting for wind, and considering other ambient changes.

prairie dog hunt, — My **Desert Tech SRS M2** has excellent accuracy, making one great shot after another on these PD’s

All this leads up to you taking one shot, a shot you likely wont get to followup on. So it’s with great anticipation and forethought each shot is taken. The beauty of varmint hunting is that typically you’ll get lot of chances to screw up and learn. With a kill zone about the size of a softball, practice is your ally.

Lessons and takeaways

The very things that will make you a better shot and a seasoned hunter are all in the scenario above. Mainly the following:

Honing your spotting skills
Rapidly coming up with a firing solution
Adapting to ambient conditions like wind, altitude and angles
Making every shot count (accuracy)
Keeping out of sight, or at least a minimal profile
Anticipating the moves of your prey

And perhaps the most important thing is the ability to repeat this process over and over, until you excel at it. And once you do, you will find yourself improving. And with any luck, it will make you a much better shooter and hunter all around. If you are proficient at quickly finding, ranging and engaging targets that are no bigger than a squirrel or ground hog, then doing the same on something like a deer or hog will be even easier.

25 creedmoor, 6 ARC, Howa Mini — Both of these rifle have done double duty on varmints and big game. Up front is the **Howa Mini 6ARC**, and in the back is my Tikka T3 in 25 Creedmoor

If you haven’t tried varmint hunting, let this be your invitation. Its a fun way to get better at shooting, and a great introduction to hunting in general if you are new to it. Its also a fun way to nerd out over gear and equipment, which is also becoming popular in the gun community. Let us know your favorite way to hunt varmints in the comments below.