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Shed Hunters Find Massive Rack!

Posted On: February 3, 2012 | By: mike hanback

Kevin "Whitetailer" Schroeder posted this cool photo on Facebook:

Here's the special head my nephew Andy found. What a great find. He was geeked to say the least...

Indiana I believe. Tremendous rack! comment

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Illinois Coyote Hunt: Good Calling and Guns/Loads Advice

Posted On: February 2, 2012 | By: mike hanback

Long-time blogger Scott Guerink made his annual winter pilgrimage to IL to do some coyote (deer/fawn predator) control. He filed this report, which contains great tactical info for setting up and calling yotes. Also, good stuff on their coyote arsenal (guns and loads):   

Weather was pretty good, low 20s at night and mid 30s daytime. Warmer than the 13 below last year! I had my dad, Russ, with us for the first time this year along with buddies John, Ryan and Mike. 

 
On the first morning of our 2-day hunt Mike, Dad and I set out together. Hunting with 3 guys is ideal for this kind of property. When you think of Illinois you think flat ground, but this is anything but. The area we hunt is in the northwestern part of the state along the Mississippi River, and most of it is high ground with steep valleys and ridges (picture above). Two hunters are okay, but a third guy can cover another finger coming up a ridge or keep a eye out for a yote that might try to sneak in behind.

On our fourth set, Mike called with his FoxPro electronic call, starting with a rabbit distress and then into fighting raccoons. Just as he paused the call I saw one trotting toward us from the thick bottom. I lip squeaked to see if I could bring it straight in and not have it circle around us. He heard it and started to angle in. He disappeared for a moment, but popped up about 100 yards away. I mouth barked and it stopped facing me, just long enough for me to put it down with my .223 New England single shot (Black Hills ammo, 52-grain match hollow point). First yote I killed using the new Cabela’s Caliber-Specific Scope I put on the rifle a few weeks ago.

Later that day, just before dark, we made another call. Shortly into the set Dad had one coming up the ridge his way, trying to circle around. He did a couple mouth barks and the yote stopped on a ridge about 100 yards out. He shot it with his Howa .223 with a Remington Premier Accutip V (varmint) load.

On our second call the next morning, Mike did the same routine, calling with rabbit distress and then fighting raccoons. A coyote appeared scaling the hill below me at 60-80 yards. It got in an opening and I gave a bark; it stopped, I shot and it piled up.

Ryan and John called together, and Ryan shot 2 coyotes with his 12-gauge Mossberg using 3 1/2" Dead Coyote loads. They also used Fox Pro calls, but they started with a coyote howl or two and then rolled into rabbit distress.

We ended up killing 5 coyotes, our best year ever, and we missed 3 or 4 others on tough shots. We had a great time and all of us were able to get shots off and have action.

Our friend Mark that runs the place informed us that 2013 may be our last year because half the property was sold and he may be losing the lease he's had for over 25 years. We have been hunting there with him for 10 years and hate to see it come to an end, but hopefully he can get something worked out. It’s just a great place to have some off-season fun and shoot a few critters. —Thanks, Scott from MI

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230-Inch Ohio Bow Giant!

Posted On: February 2, 2012 | By: mike hanback

 

From what I glean from the article, Ryan Dietsch took a picture of this deer with his iPhone one day in 2010 as it walked under his tree stand. He didn't shoot because one side of the buck's rack was busted off. Ryan kept hunting the area, and last Oct. 30 he killed the giant: 24 points and 230 inches!

Most striking are the drops, but all the stickers and kickers are cool too. Hopefully Ryan will contact me and give us the full story. comment

 

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