"FUN OUT WEST"

Just back from the great state of South Dakota our second home, seventeen miles from the Wyoming state line. Charlie and I made the drive in a day and a half, stopping in Mitchell S.D. for a great nights sleep. The next night we were dining in Deadwood at our favorite steakhouse Gems in the downtown area.

The next day I was to meet my friend John in Wyoming. He told me he had built a new game caller. When I got to his place there were a few hellos, then off to the barn to see his new invention. What I saw was something that looked like a pile of earth with a rabbit on its side on top of the pile. The rabbit was gutted and cleaned, then filled with something similar to bubble wrap. Also inside the rabbit was a small battery powered motor (from one of Johns grandson toys) which made it look like it was still breathing. Under this pile of earth was the remote game caller. All this only weighed about seven pounds, which made it easy to transport in a truck bed.

Before we left for the north forty we smoked up as my grandpa would call it. Just so you don't get the wrong idea, smoked up (a fire with pine,oak, etc) is the old fashion way to prepare before hunting to avoid your scent being detected. You smoke your rifle, clothes and boots. No need for scent spray. I must add though that your wife won't be thrilled when you return home, you'll probably have to leave your clothes in the barn.

We headed to the north forty to setup between the treeline and our hideout. We ranged the treeline at 100 yards. I had brought two rifles with me, a Clark Custom 77/22 and a Marlin 1894 CCS in 357mg both of which I have written about in earlier posts. Today I had the Marlin loaded with 130gr Federal personal defense hydra shok. About twenty minutes after John started his new caller, we had a coyote coming in. John told me to take him at what I thought was 60 yards. I held dead on and squeezed, he never took a step, just fell over. The Marlin with the Federal 130gr are a great short range combo. We stayed another two hours and John got two more. The next four days my wife and I used the Clark Custom. We took a lot of pictures (my wife's favorite past time) enjoyed friends and ate at Gems a lot.

Always be safe and know whats behind your target.

More to come.