Tag Archives: hunting

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.

-CBM

Hunting with an AK?

June 6, 2024blog, huntingak47, huntingcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Is the AK-47 type rifle any good for hunting purposes? This is perhaps a divisive question for many people. The Kalashnikov rifle was designed to be a fighting rifle for infantrymen, but its flourishing among American gun owners has brought it into civilian service. This has been a common practice since our countries inception, and countless military rifles have become hunting rifles. But today we will look into the subject; can we recommend hunting with an AK?

a good AK and some **American Eagle ammunition**

Hunting Purposes

Most Americans hunt for recreation and sport, chasing after deer, hogs and other animals. From a purely hypothetical perspective, the AK could accomplish many of those tasks easily. If you have adequate accuracy and energy from a given firearm, it can do the job well. That’s the rub though, does your AK have those appropriate characteristics to hunt the animals that you are after? We need to address the cartridges involved for a start.

AK-47 CARTRIDGES

A huge majority of AK-type rifles are chambered in the 7.62×39 cartridge. The short Soviet cartridge shoots .30-caliber bullets of around 120 grains in weight, at a muzzle velocity of around 2,300 FPS. While those numbers are certainly enough to handle many hunting purposes, they can also be somewhat anemic for others.

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Hunting Roots

March 15, 2024blog, huntinghistory, hunting, Rootscoldboremiracle

Hunting Roots

Nearly every day I drive past the home where my Grandparents raised my Father and his Brothers. I was born and raised very close to my father’s childhood home and currently reside just a few miles away.

One of the rivers you often see in my pictures runs through the property where my Great Grandfather lived, and where my Grandpa was born early in the last century.

It too is just a few short miles from where I sit as I write in the comfort of my home. The hills and mountains in who’s shadow I was raised, are the very same ones that my forefathers roamed.

For thirty-plus years I too have wandered through this dry and weathered country, but it has taken most of that term for me to understand what it is that draws me to this land and the roots that hold me here.

A Sense of Home

Surely I am not the first man to feel riveted to the land where I was raised. History is brimming with stories of people and past civilizations past that fought and died for their land, their homes, and their way of life.

But what makes a place home? Is it memories, is it familiarity? I think there is more to it than just that, I believe our hunting rituals can play a very large part in creating that feeling of home.

Part of me sentimentalizes the idea of seeing my young Father standing in that same creek, catching the same little Rainbows voraciously feeding on rock-rollers as I often do. And to think that even two more generations beyond my own Father taught their Sons to fish in these same waters where my Son and Daughter learn with me.

I love hearing old stories told from Dad, Granddad, and my Uncles, that took place right here, stories about monster bucks that got away. Or listening to how good of a shot Grandpa was, as told from the perspective of my Father as a child.

There is indeed more to it than that, there is a familiarity with every step I take in these mountains. The rocks and shrubs, the trees and birds, the sounds of life that go on so beautifully around us. The handsome animals who also call this mountain home, who also push themselves every day to survive and thrive for the generation that follows them. I watch them, year after year as they carry on, probably following the same patterns for generations.

Like most hunters, I have incredible respect for the animals I hunt, and only my human insight of their value in our journey together gives me reconciliation when killing them.

my son trodding through snowy mountain valleys, his great great grandfather might have crossed a hundred years prior

You simply cannot pursue, observe and study these animals without becoming grossly aware of their beauty, resilience, and tenacity. I often wonder if the deer see me coming every fall and think; “this stubborn son of a bitch again…”.

I can only hope they esteem me as worthy an adversary as I do towards them.

Joining the Circle

I feel compelled to dispel what I see as a misrepresentation when it comes to the natural world. Man has long felt these connections to the life and wilderness around us, we are neither the first nor the last.

I am bone-weary of the assertion that modern man is no longer a natural man, detached from his ecosystem. As if modern men only care for industry and gain, with little to no care for the land and life around him.

That’s not to say there aren’t those people among us, but I and many others do not share that view. At an individual level we can be and are part of the landscape and part of the life cycle.

It is insulting to the human spirit to think that only native or indigenous people can feel this connection to the land and wildlife, it can be felt and experienced by anyone. Just because my ancestors have inhabited this land for a few generations and not thousands, does not make them more or less qualified to appreciating every aspect of it.

Anyone who has heard the wind whisper through the trees, or felt the cold mountain night close in around you. Can feel the allure of the natural world. Or perhaps watched as an animal’s life is drawn away from their body, either by a predator, or taken for a particular circumstance. These are some of the many ways for a person to be grafted into the great cycle of life, and I pity those who are sheltered from it.

Looking into the wild as a foreign visitor has a stark dissonance than one who is enveloped in it. It is the detachment that creates the void between us and the land we inhabit.

The spirit of hunting as I see it is almost a devotional experience. It gives purpose, teaches humility, hard work, honor, and respect. While it may mean something a little different to everyone, I’d like to think that most hunters feel a similar reverence for our practice.

father and son outdoors — I’ve always involved my children in my outdoor adventures

Obviously, not everyone feels that way, and there can be bad apples in any group. But anyone who has grown to love and respect wildlife can also cultivate a similar relationship with our fellow forest inhabitants.

The practices and life-changing lessons learned while hunting makes us who we are, and the experience connects us to our surroundings. These are also part of the hunting roots that connect us to a place and make it feel like home.

Pursuing game animals tends to teach you about both the significance, and insignificance of individual creatures both two and four-legged. But we as humans seem to have special stewardship with our quarry.

It’s possible that the wolf and cougar consider the lives they take when hunting, but I don’t think they dwell upon it as we do. Reverently searching the blank gaze of our downed prey, giving thanks for both the opportunity and the bounty gained.

One needn’t be theological to understand and appreciate the sacred etiquette when a life is taken. A primitive man may or may not have done the same thing and he is no better or worse than we are today.

1970's archery hunting — my father (center) with **bow hunting** companions

Closing Thoughts

I guess what I’m saying is, a hundred years ago, these same mountains of which I feel part of and uniquely bound belonged to someone else. And a hundred years before that, they belonged to yet someone else.

Carving a life out of these mountains has made it our home. Learning how to do it from my ancestors has made it hallowed, and teaching it to our children has given me purpose. The hunting roots we put down may only last a few seasons sometimes, and others that can last generations. Do what is right for you, and for the sprouts that will come in the spring after you’re gone.

-CBM

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Great Basin Bucks: Hunting Pronghorn Antelope

September 18, 2023hunting6gt, antelope, hunting, pronghorncoldboremiracle

An Overlooked Hunt

I’ve lived my whole life in the great western state of Utah. When people think of our state they often think of red rocks and scenic desert vistas. For those of us with hunting in our blood other things come to mind. Like the roar of a rutting bull elk are a more common thing to imagine. That or a mythically large monster mule deer slinking through the brush like a grey ghost. But today we are hunting pronghorn antelope.

As a resident I have been lucky to experience plenty of both of Utah’s better known species, but today I bring you a tale of something a little less famous. And a hunt that is not so commonly associated with my home state.

Pronghorn antelope are an extremely unique animal that are far more commonly hunted in Wyoming and Montana than here. But I was finally able to draw a tag for one this year. And today I bring you the adventure I was lucky enough to experience.

The Great Basin

The Great Basin is a massive expanse of land that covers almost all of Nevada. As well as several other surrounding states. The water that falls from western skies into the Great Basin is captured there. Destined to either evaporate or sink into the dry ground.

The Great Salt Lake of Utah is the result of countless centuries of this process. Turning it into a briney inland sea. Surrounded by hundreds of miles of incredibly flat sedimentary valleys and salt flats. That is where today’s story takes place.

The topography is scattered with particularly rugged mountain ranges. Which typically run north and south. Cedar trees and sagebrush are variably scattered across the dry landscape.

The Great Basin is home to the pronghorn antelope, the fastest land animal in the western hemisphere. Despite the dry and hot climate. They thrive in this open desertscape where their eyes and speed are the only defense they need.

The Hunt

the **Desert Tech SRS M2**, I LOVE this thing

Speed goats as they are often called aren’t as plentiful as Utah’s other famous big game species. Permits for them are therefor harder to obtain. This year the state saw fit to issue me one of the buck pronghorn permits, and I was excited to fill it.

I’ve done several of these hunts with others but this time it was my turn. I wanted to make sure it was a good one, so I selected my Desert Tech SRS M2. I installed the 6mm GT barrel for this particular hunt. The lightweight pronghorn couldn’t top 150 pounds, so a 6mm rifle is plenty of power.

Opening Morning

It was very early on a Saturday morning. I stood on top of one of the many rocky ridges that divide the landscape. The cool air of fall felt amazing in my lungs. It was accompanied by the stinging bite of voracious mosquitos eager to feed before the desert heat of day turns them into dust.

a lone doe antelope bedded approx. 400 yds, as seen through my **Nikon Field Scope**

Through my Kilo binoculars I surveyed the sea of dry grass and green tumbleweeds that expanded for twenty or so miles. The terrain is scared with natural drainage formations and the occasional sand dune. Any of which could easily hide the small bands of pronghorn that scrape out a living here.

This year was exceptionally wet compared to our normal precipitation. A lingering winter followed by a rainy summer actually kept some of these valleys green. Instead of the completely parched yellow I am used to.

As I panned across the seemingly endless plain, the occasional raven would glide through the spotting scope. I even laid eyes on several coyotes who were uncommonly comfortable and unaware of me perched in the distance. They sat and watched as the sunlight moved across the valley for twenty minutes or more.

The much wetter than normal year had resulted in widespread greenery. Puddles of standing rainwater in low spots everywhere. This predicament, though a welcome one, had resulted in something I hadn’t anticipated. The antelope were scattered for countless miles due to abundant water and food. They had no reason to congregate as they often do.

Time for Action

As my brother and I sat and watched the sun creep across the valley. I fumbled cartridges into my rifle magazine. Not just any cartridge, these were Alpha Munitions 6GT cases loaded deep with RL-16 and 100 grain Cayuga Solid bullets from Patriot Valley Arms. I’d used them on many occasions with incredible accuracy and devastating impacts.

The cold air kept my fingers from working right. But once loaded the magazine went into the rifle as we continued searching for a buck.

There were antelope scattered and bedded for miles. Despite their bright white color they are easily hidden by terrain and brush when bedded.

we watched this lesser buck follow my buck and his does for miles

We’d seen a couple bucks the night before. Only one of them looked good enough to burn my tag on, and we sifted through miles of desert to find him.

After a couple hours of watching, we found a particularly large group of twenty or so antelope together near a low spot that surely held a puddle. They were so far away that mirage prevented any realistic judging of horns. But we figured that with that many animals together there was surely a buck with them and possibly our guy.

Sneaking Into Place

From our elevated observation perspective, we picked out a drainage that would provide some concealment to get me closer to them. In a stroke of luck they seemed to be working parallel to the drainage which could provide me an opportunity. With all my gear in tow, I hustled down into the ditch. Hunkered over I started working my way towards them. I had to keep low, because if any of the dozens of eyes on that plain spotted me they would likely all run for several miles before stopping.

I’d managed to cut the distance from a mile, down to twelve hundred yards, and then down to only five-hundred yards. And almost exactly as I had planned, I lay there in my position as several animals popped into view through the tall tumbleweeds. As the previously identified buck followed a doe I zoomed in my US Optics FDN25X to have a better look at him. Even at five hundred yards the mirage made it hard to make out his horns, but pretty quickly I decided that he was not the buck I was after. I lay there and shot him in my mind a few times, just in case that was the closest to a trophy I would get.

I called my brother to tell him the deal was off, and he told me to hurry back as he’d spotted another buck a mile or two north of me and moving further away. We hustled to the truck and drove a few miles to the north to see if we could sneak ahead of his path. And with almost no time to spare, we were setting up in front of him as he worked his way up and over a small rise in the valley.

The Shot

The moment I saw him in the rifle scope, I knew he was the buck we’d come for. He was for sure the best buck we’d seen during both the hunt and scouting trips, and now it was time to take him.

When I fired the shot, he was standing quartered to me showing his left side. I watched through the light recoil of the rifle as the bullet flew the 480 yards to him. The bullet struck him centered in his left shoulder, shattering the bone.

It carried through the ribs puncturing one lung and cutting through the top of his heart. The angle of the shot continued through the liver and all the way to the back of his belly coming out just in front of his right hip. He took several backwards steps as his rump dropped to the ground and he toppled over. We gathered our things and moved in to find him.

Hands on

As I neared the downed buck, I was quite impressed with how handsome he was. He looked even better up close than he had in the scope, and he was for sure significantly better than any other buck we’d seen.

The Desert Tech SRS M2 suppressed by **YHM R9** and scoped with a **US Optics FDN25X**

He had decent cutters and deeply hooked horns, he was just a fantastic specimen of his kind. And one I could certainly appreciate for years to come. A good friend of mine and his son had also joined us by this point, and the four of us stood there appreciating this magnificent little buck. The bullet had hung up in the skin just before exiting, which rewarded me with an additional souvenir.

the 100 Grain Cayuga bullet after traveling 24 inches through bone and flesh. For more information on this bullet, and what it looked like read **Bullet Penetration and Tumbling**

After taking a bunch of good pictures, we cleaned him up and filled him with ice to get the meat cooled as soon as possible. Then it was time to head back to camp for food and drinks while we recounted each others perspectives over and over.

Conclusion

I don’t blame people who don’t get excited about antelope hunting, I can understand that the call of a big bull elk or moose might be much higher on their list of dream hunts. But in my opinion hunting pronghorn antelope is an absolute riot of a time.

Make sure you wear your hunter’s orange, but keep it fresh

They are incredibly cunning animals with eyes that will pick you out of the brush, and when they want to get away from you there is almost nothing you can do but stand amazed at their speed.

I typically do all my antelope hunting in the great state of Wyoming, but this hunt here in my home state has been a fantastic adventure. The desolate lands of the Great Basin are some of the most remote in the lower 48, and it feels incredibly romantic if only to find yourself here when the sun dips from view. Watching stars shoot across the silent night sky as coyotes bark in the distance brings a feeling you won’t find other places.

I am incredibly lucky to live like I do, and it is by no mistake that I am surrounded by such good company. I promised my brother I’d give his guide service (unofficial and sure as hell not licensed) a five star google rating, but the five stars go to the great family and friends that love these adventures as much as I do and make it worthwhile.

-CBM

Hunting with kids: more effort with more rewards

July 25, 2023blog, huntingchildren, deer hunting, elk hunting, hunting, kids, youthcoldboremiracle

Kids and Hunting

My son started coming hunting with me as soon as he could walk. He would toddle along behind me always excited for whatever it was we were going to do. I took every opportunity to bring him along, though sometimes the days events were too rough to go hunting with kids. This was a lesson I learned myself as a youngster. But I was determined to make sure I pushed the endeavour as long as it stayed fun for him. My Ridley is a legal adult now, and I often wonder if I could go back in time, would I have done it the same way.

hunting with kids — My Ridley on one of his first deer hunts.

A Father’s Guidance

I grew up under the watchful eye of my father, himself quite a dedicated hunter. I often speak of how my dad was also raised hunting these same dry desert mountains of Utah. So it should come as no surprise that as far back as I can remember I wanted to hunt. So many of my most memorable childhood experiences were related to the times that I was able to tag along with my dad or my grandfathers. You can read more about those Memories right here.

That was a different time I suppose, different rules and more hunting options that were much easier to participate in. My dad is a bowhunter, while he’s shot plenty of animals with a rifle I think in his heart he truly enjoys the thrill of the ancient art of archery.

I’ve been on a few bowhunts in my lifetime, and looking back I can better understand why I never got to go as a child. Sneaking into archery range of a Mule deer is hard enough when you have the wind, concealment and noise working against you. I can’t imagine trying to put the sneak on a deer hunting with kids by your side.

the freedom to roam and explore are the currency of boyhood, let him spend it often

My Experience with Kids

As a young man, I too was bitten by the bug carrying the archery pathogen. And spent countless hours preparing myself for an eventual bowhunting trip. Unfortunately I grew out of it by the time I had reached the age to go. That and the fact that teenage girls existed greatly reduced my dedication to the sport.

child carrying rifle — Ridley packing around his first rifle, the **Cricket EX17hmr**

Many years later I would find myself longing for hunting memories that never were. So when my lifelong dream of becoming a father was finally realized. I made a mindful decision that my own son would never want for the chance to join a hunting adventure. In fact I hoped that conversely he might someday look back, and wish he’d taken the opportunity more often.

A Hunting Opportunity

One of the many adventures hunting with kids involved my son, also happened to involve my dad. It was well over a decade ago, and my father and I were situated along the spine of a steep ridge in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. One side of the ridge was a traditional slope that had a trail we had come in on ATV’s that morning. The opposite side of the ridge was as steep a hill as you can imagine. It was littered with thick brush and deadfall, and dropped for over a mile into a thick wooded forest below.

children with bull elk — I consider my kids lucky, I sure hope they do too

We were after Mule deer bucks that morning. I had learned the pattern of them crossing this ridge spine over the years. Dad and I had spread out several hundred yards across the ridge to better cover potential bucks crossing over. Ridley was probably four or five years old at the time, and he sat near me quietly munching snacks and watching the sunrise. We’d spent the morning softly answering his many questions about trees and squirrels and every other thing that caught his curious eyes.

As we sat there in near silence, I heard a noise that immediately captured my own curiosity. It sounded like sticks breaking and the occasional rustle. I closely paid attention to the sound, and told Ridley to do the same. It would come and go, but I knew that something was moving up the steep drop off below us. As minutes passed, I continued to listen.

Hunting with Kids

After a few minutes I knew action was at hand and I motioned to my dad to come toward me, in anticipation of something stepping out. As dad made his way towards me, my son in a whisper asked me if he could walk over to the fourwheeler to get something. Sensing his pocket-to-snack ratio reaching critical, I told him he could go as long as he stayed quiet and in sight.

Once again I heard noise coming from the drop off, and this time it was much closer. My heart nearly stopped when I heard the familiar chirp of an elk from below. Now, I had said we were deer hunting but it just so happened that my father also carried a cow elk tag in his pocket that was still good. I immediately started making frantic hand motions for him to hurry to me. He had clearly understood the message, all but the frantic and hurry parts.

As he made it to me I told him what had been happening just over the edge of the ridge. We sat there quietly listening to rustling brush, and the occasional elk chirp. Ridley was quietly refilling his pockets with goldfish from the backpack on my fourwheeler as dad and I watched carefully for the sign of an elk coming through the trees.

Like they often do, the elk made their way so close to us under cover that we were quite surprised when they emerged. Barely sixty-yards or so away, two cows came up through some aspen trees. It was quite obvious that they knew nothing of our presence.

The Shot

As dad lifted his rifle I remember thinking to myself; that’s it, we’re gonna have elk for dinner. As the front elk cleared the second one, I knew that dad was probably starting to press the trigger. That’s when things went south…

Perhaps fifty yards away in a different direction, my son continued his supply mission. I was of course looking at the elk. So I can only imagine what it was like from his little guy perspective when he too spotted the elk standing on the edge of the treeline. Forgetting all the counsel I’d given him that morning, he saw the elk and in the most excited voice he shouted out: “Dad there’s two elk!”. I can just imagine his big brown eyes wide open, spitting bits of goldfish as he belted out his discovery.

I’ll spare you the rest of the story, and the rest of that hunt for that matter. As it was uneventful after that morning. Hustling over to the fourwheeler to him, I saw his face lit up with excitement.

I remember a sense of calm that came over me, and despite my internal rage of missing an easy opportunity. Calmly I explained the consequences of him breaking silence. I distinctly remember wanting to make sure not to chastise him, and sour the experience of hunting for him. Dad and me were both a bit sour though, we’d been so close.

No Regrets

I’ve never regretted taking Ridley along, not that day nor any other. He learned his lesson about keeping quiet. That was his very first experience with elk, but it would not be his last.

cow elk — My 12yo Ridley with his first elk, you can **read that story here**

We’ve been on so many hunts together since, and my daughter too has come along with us. She has an elk tag of her own this year. I think back to all the times where I had to carry extra snacks, make fires to keep kids warm. And hold chubby little hands as we descended a sketchy trail. And there is no amount of venison, or bones on the wall that would mean more to me than the adventures we have shared together.

I can guarantee that the elk we didn’t get that day isn’t the only animal lost because I had one of my kids along, but the experience is far more valuable to me. I don’t blame my dad for not taking me hunting more when I was younger. But someday when I’m long gone I hope my kids will remember all the adventures we made, and smile. And more importantly I hope it serves as inspiration for them to raise the next generation of adventure seekers.

-CBM

coyote hunting with children — Kids cant learn and enjoy if they dont come along

Ridley with his buck from last season, read more about it here

For more hunting stories visit our hunting section

Major League Chuckers 9: Chuckageddon

June 28, 2023hunting, Videoschuckin, groundhog, hunting, major league chuckers, marmot, rockchuck, varmint huntingcoldboremiracle

In this latest installment of the Major League Chuckers film franchise, we again take you into the high Rocky Mountains. Both my brothers, my father and myself running the guns.
This incredibly fun hunt is part of my spring hunting regimen, and it helps keep me active as well as sharpening all the shooting senses. Spotting these cunning little creatures takes talent at times, as does hitting them in their low-lying hideouts. Sometimes you go for the direct hit on their tiny pudding pot, and other times you literally bounce the bullet (or splatter it) into the target if it needs so.

Give this one a watch, and share it with your like-minded friends: