Henry347

Got blessed with one of the biggest deer I've ever killed this morning on public land in Scott County. Even got to break the Remington 450 Bushmaster in. Tagged out on bucks for this season,its been a great season on public land. And the freezer is full of meat.

I just got off the phone with the regional office in Crossville and you can for sure kill one antlerless from Nov 21st to Jan 3rd. With the type 094 or Landowner.

If your in Unit B that's my understanding, I know they got certain dates for other regions in TN. So I guess with no dates for Unit B you can take a doe anytime in gun season as long as you got the 094 or a landowner. I can call the regional office in the morning and let you know for sure. But I'm almost certain I'm right but I'll check to be safe.

In Unit B they dont have certain dates for the 1 antlerless tag if I'm not mistaken. Just can't exceed the one tag during gun season with the 094 Permit or Landowner. You're allowed 2 antlerless in Muzzloader for Unit B.

Congrats on the 8 point buddy. I try and be a respectful hunter and fisherman. I wouldn't want somebody to run in on me so I wont run in on somebody else. Way to many other spots a man can hunt. I didn't know he had a stand in there or I wouldn't even picked a spot above him. I've used those XTP bullets for years and like them. I also like the SST for anything over 100yds. I tried the traditions carnivore this year and while they shoot good outta my gun; I dont feel they expand like they should. I shot a doe opening morning and didn't like the results. It was a quartering too chest shot and didn't make a complete passthrough or expand. The bullet was stuck under the skin behind the left shoulder. So I switched back over to the XTP, I've had good luck outta them for years. Great expansion and passthroughs with good blood trails.

I think they all get the powder ring with pellets. After about 5 shots in mine you can tell a difference in loading but it's not horrible to load. About every blackpowder rifle I've owned will not group with a clean bore, the first and second shots will usually be left or right a few inches. Then the 3rd-5th shot is right on the money. I wont even sight one in until the 3rd shot because that's when I'll get my best groupings. But make sure to get that bullet seated all the way; even if it's a struggle. I'll always take note or mark where the bullet is fully seated on a clean bore. Loose powder like blackhorn 209 is alot cleaner burning and you dont get that powder ring. But I like being able to drop the pellets in and go on about my business. Have you tried the power belts bullets? I don't care much for them but they are easier to load than the sabots.

I jumped this guy up Thursday at 1:30 in the afternoon checking out a new spot on some public land. So I picked me out a big oak; overlooking the flat that runs down below the ridge where I seen him and made a plan to be in the woods a hour before daylight the next day. Got all settled in at 6 Friday morning, about 6:30 I heard somebody pull up down the mountain a bit and around 6:45 seen a flashlight shining on the flat I was watching from the ridge above. He must have been hunting that spot for a bit because he done had a ladder stand put up. I didn't want to move in on another hunter so slipped out the area and went up the mountain a bit. I set up in a spot I'd seen coming in Thursday. Knew the deer was using it pretty regularly, had a decent trial coming outta timbercutting into the hard woods. Found a cluster of trees I liked and set up watching the old logging road below me. I always keep some tinks 69 soaked on a certain feminine product in a bag during this time. I hung the soaked feminine product out on a limb above my head and started out with a few contact grunts and then moved on to estrus bleats. Did two sets of calling and about 15 minutes after my last call; he came down wind of me working that road. It was around 9 when he gave me a shot and I pulled the trigger. The trusty Hornady XTP did its job like always. Might have made it 50 yards before piling up. I'm pleased with him and he'll put some meat in the freezer. I've shot bigger but for public land in Scott Co, it's a decent deer. Will say these high mountain bucks have some of the biggest bodies I've seen in East TN. Sure did a number on my back by the time I drug him out to the atv.

I'm certainly enjoying the little gun, it seems like my Ruger Bolt guns is sitting more after I got this one. Its just a blast to shoot and accurate as can be. Still feeds flawlessly and haven't had any ftf or jams. Didn't think I was going to like the red dot but for plinking it's great. I've killed 20 squirrels with it so far but do believe I prefer the AO Bushnell Rimfire scope over the red dot; when it comes to squirrel hunting.

Picked up this little Remington 597 HB the other day for $200. It had never been fired, the guy bought it new and put it in the safe. Put a Cheap Axeon Red Dot on it, installed some sling studs and put a Quake Sling on it so far. I've put around 400 rounds of Mini Mag through it so far without any ftf or jams. The trigger isn't awful but might put a Volquartsen Hammer, Extractor and a spring kit in it later on. But even with the factory setup I can shoot a .625 5 shot group at 25 yards with that red dot and 40gr Mini Mag Solids. Hope to take it out this weekend and put a hurtin on the tree rats.

Yea it sure surprised me with pellets, my wolf wont group like that but it's been a dang good gun. Took it's fair share of deer and hogs but gotta say liking the Optima.

Just picked up a new smoke pole for muzzleloader this year. Was in Jamestown the other day and seen they had the CVA Optima V2 LR. Hadn't seen the model with the veil camo and thumbhole stock so I had to have it. It comes with the KonusPro scope in 3-9X40, very good glass and eye relief for a budget scope. Picked up some 777 pellets, federal primers and some Traditions Smackdown 250gr bullets for sight in. I've always used the Hornady XTP but didn't have no more on hand but got some coming in the mail. So far very pleased with the gun. Here's the first 4 shots outta the gun at 75yds, it grouped those Traditions bullet's pretty good, under 1in at 75yds. All my other CVA guns like the Hornday XTP so I'm going to assume this one will also. But I've never tried the Traditions Smackdown Carnivores before so might give them a try this season.

Picked up another .450 today, it's the Remington 783 W/18in HB barrel and OD Green Stock. For under $400 I'm happy. The stock isnt bad at all for a budget synthetic, seems better than the Ruger American. I know the fitment is for sure, it's free floated straight out the box. The Rugers I've got, I had to open them up a bit on the right side to get a true free floated barrel. Outta the box the trigger ain't bad at all, got a nice clean break. Did adjust it down to the lowest I could get it. It's not as good as the CVA but dang near close. If its anywhere near as accurate as my CVA Scout V2 then I'll be tickled. Wanted a shorter pack gun for the hogs and deer; do believe this one will do the job. Still waiting on the scope and rings but they'll be in Friday I reckon. If anybody is looking to order a gun online grices gun shop is top notch. Placed the order Friday and picked it up today. Their prices ain't bad and the shipping is great. Especially when everyone else says they're behind 10 to 15 days on shipping orders.

5.56 is the most common round used on hogs around here, it plain works. But like with the .22 shot placement is still key, you have more room for error with it but from the middle of the neck up it's a no track job. Dont expect a lung or heart shot to pile one up right then with the 5.56. I've shot hogs with .450 Bushmaster, 50cal Blackpowder, 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmoor and 300 Win Mag that would run 75 yards with behind the shoulder shots. You start getting into hogs 250lb and bigger and you'll see tough. Last year I was walking log roads and a big group came running across the road 50 yards in front of me. I had a 7mm-08 with 5 rounds and unloaded on them. Killed 4 hogs that morning but while tracking one; walked right up on a 250lb boar that I'd hit a little far back and at a angle. The bullet exited about 6in before the hams. That hog still had enough left in him after running 100 yards with his guts hanging out to charge me. The bigger hogs are some tough critters.

Shot placement is key with a .22lr, the only place I'll shoot one is right behind the eye in the soft spot or through the ear with a .22lr. Alot of people say between the eyes and that works if they're in a trap. But out in the open the bullets usually skim the top of the head and dont penetrate. Also prefer the solids over the hp on the hogs, get more penetration with the solids.

Decided I'd take out the Ruger .22lr this evening, like usual 20min at the spot and this was the first to show. Put that 40gr solid through the ear and he took a dirt nap. Its always nice to change it up every once in awhile. But for under 50 yards a .22 will do the job with the right shot placement.

I'm honestly not for sure how he makes the sausage, I'll just call him up and drop them off. But will say that the wild hogs dont have the fat on them like a pig you would raise, they're alot leaner for sure. There's plenty of these things running around up here, at this particular spot I've got 4 groups with 15+ pigs coming into the feeder. I know they do alot of damage on farmland but I dont mind them on the lease. Always got a supply of meat if you want it.

No I let my buddy make the sausage, I'll usually make pork chops and frying meat outta a couple hogs. Then take a couple to my buddy and have the whole thing made in sausage. Then when the meat gets low get back out and kill a few.

Eh we kill so many on my lease it's nothing new, I keep them baited year round. But 50 yard shot outta a blind, with a Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08. I shot the big sow and Trevin got the smaller boar. We had been in the blind 20 minutes before they showed up.

Better than store bought pork! They don't seem to bother people with blood pressure problems as much as store bought pork. They make some of the best sausage I've ate.

Me and little man got us a couple this evening. Pork was getting low so we had to make a meat run.

I like them also, got a few old Uncle Henry's also. But I can remember being a kid and using that Old Timer 25OT my papaw had since he was young. We skinned many a deer, squirrel and rabbit with that knife. Still have it but its seen better days, that's honestly what set me on the Schrade and Old Timers.

The Monarch's is made in Japan but got the good steel. Dont really see many of them much anymore. I really like the old Schrade knife's with the carbon steel. I'll buy any I can get if the price is right.

Picked up the Schrade for $30 and the little Monarch for $8. Also got a 70's Monarch 2212 Folding Hunter that's still new for $20 but it's coming from Canada. Gotta love Ebay for knife buying.

Just picked these two beauty's up today and got them for a great deal. Payed $40 for both, the Buck didn't have a sheath and the Schrade dont have the right one. But for the years both knives is in great shape.

I got a .450 I use at a couple different feeder setups and can tell you that it does work on them. I took my cousin last week and he shot one in the 150lb range right snack dab behind the eye and lets just say they wasn't much left on the other side. Probably my favorite round for under 200 yards. I got plenty of centerfire rifles and a few .22lr, just wanting another gun lol you know how it is. Just not made my mind up on what I want. I like the TCM but the ammo selection is what worries me. It's been out for awhile and nobody other than Armscor is making it. My other option which I'm likely to go with is a .223 bolt gun, I dont have one and the ammo and price is a clear win over the TCM but man that little thing is sweet no doubt. I can always get a TCM later, good thing about guns is you can never have to many