This was in december of 1998:
Part 1 was sent out prior to the hunt:
Well, Craig and I are about to embark on our quest to terrorize the wildlife around Kingman. The weather has warmed up a little since this weekend, so it should be cool but pleasant.
While mountain lion is the main quarry, we're also going to do our part in reducing the coyotes a bit. Craig is having a problem with packs running on his ranch right now. He's informed me that they're getting
bold enough to come howling around the house now, so it looks like a priority will be to thin them out a bit.
I've got four guns and loads to try out. I've worked up a load in .223 using a 68 grain hollow point that should make good coyote medicine, for my mean, black Colt rifle that gives Sarah Brady the willies. This will be the first time hunting with this rifle. It should be fine out to 300
yards or so, but I want to get closer shots. I also want to try out my new .22 Remington, it should be fine at closer ranges, say 50 yards. Then there's my 12 gauge, I have some #4 buckshot 3 inch magnum loads for it. In thick cover for close shots, out 30 yards or so, it should work well. Last is the 30-06. I've worked up a load with 125 grain
Nosler Ballistic tips for lighter game, such as pronghorn, javelina, mountain lion and coyotes. I've been waiting to try it out, finally we go afield with it.
As a last option, I've decide to leave my Glock at home and switch back to my .357 magnum Ruger for a carry gun. I may never shoot it this weekend, but if things get hairy with a lion up close and personal I
think the .357 will serve better than a 9mm. If the opportunity presents itself, it will also work well on coyotes.
The method of hunting lions consists of hiking in to where they live, then setting up and using mouth-blown predator calls. This is to get the lion to think that there's something good to eat around, which he should get before something else does. We're using ourselves as bait, basically. Our job is to spot any lion coming in before he gets to us. If he's too small, then we need to spook him off. Otherwise, try to get
a shot. Lions have the advantage here. They are highly secretive, stealthy hunters, on their own turf. An adult weighs in at about 175 pounds or so. They eat by huntin' and killin' deer, elk and such. A lion can and does kill adult bull elk, with antlers, weighing 800 to 900 pounds. They are armed with razor-sharp claws and skull-crushing jaws.
The normal method of taking game is to jump on it, biting the neck, which crushes the vertebrae. This makes hunting them a little more dicey than our typical game. Should be fun.
I'm planning on getting up to Craig's ranch Thursday night. This gives us 3 1/2 days to hunt and still leaves me Monday afternoon for the drive home. I haven't been up that way before, so this is all unexplored
country to me. I'll be able to leave early enough to have daylight for part of the drive, but quite a bit won't be seen until the return trip. Lions are secretive and stealthy enough that the odds are against us
even seeing one, much less getting a shot. It certainly should be fun enough just to try. I'll be back next week, with a follow up on the events of the next four days. See ya!
------------------
"When They turn the pages of history,
When these days have passed long ago.
Will they read about us in sorrow,
for the seeds that we let grow?" - RUSH, "A Farewell To Kings"
Part 1 was sent out prior to the hunt:
Well, Craig and I are about to embark on our quest to terrorize the wildlife around Kingman. The weather has warmed up a little since this weekend, so it should be cool but pleasant.
While mountain lion is the main quarry, we're also going to do our part in reducing the coyotes a bit. Craig is having a problem with packs running on his ranch right now. He's informed me that they're getting
bold enough to come howling around the house now, so it looks like a priority will be to thin them out a bit.
I've got four guns and loads to try out. I've worked up a load in .223 using a 68 grain hollow point that should make good coyote medicine, for my mean, black Colt rifle that gives Sarah Brady the willies. This will be the first time hunting with this rifle. It should be fine out to 300
yards or so, but I want to get closer shots. I also want to try out my new .22 Remington, it should be fine at closer ranges, say 50 yards. Then there's my 12 gauge, I have some #4 buckshot 3 inch magnum loads for it. In thick cover for close shots, out 30 yards or so, it should work well. Last is the 30-06. I've worked up a load with 125 grain
Nosler Ballistic tips for lighter game, such as pronghorn, javelina, mountain lion and coyotes. I've been waiting to try it out, finally we go afield with it.
As a last option, I've decide to leave my Glock at home and switch back to my .357 magnum Ruger for a carry gun. I may never shoot it this weekend, but if things get hairy with a lion up close and personal I
think the .357 will serve better than a 9mm. If the opportunity presents itself, it will also work well on coyotes.
The method of hunting lions consists of hiking in to where they live, then setting up and using mouth-blown predator calls. This is to get the lion to think that there's something good to eat around, which he should get before something else does. We're using ourselves as bait, basically. Our job is to spot any lion coming in before he gets to us. If he's too small, then we need to spook him off. Otherwise, try to get
a shot. Lions have the advantage here. They are highly secretive, stealthy hunters, on their own turf. An adult weighs in at about 175 pounds or so. They eat by huntin' and killin' deer, elk and such. A lion can and does kill adult bull elk, with antlers, weighing 800 to 900 pounds. They are armed with razor-sharp claws and skull-crushing jaws.
The normal method of taking game is to jump on it, biting the neck, which crushes the vertebrae. This makes hunting them a little more dicey than our typical game. Should be fun.
I'm planning on getting up to Craig's ranch Thursday night. This gives us 3 1/2 days to hunt and still leaves me Monday afternoon for the drive home. I haven't been up that way before, so this is all unexplored
country to me. I'll be able to leave early enough to have daylight for part of the drive, but quite a bit won't be seen until the return trip. Lions are secretive and stealthy enough that the odds are against us
even seeing one, much less getting a shot. It certainly should be fun enough just to try. I'll be back next week, with a follow up on the events of the next four days. See ya!
------------------
"When They turn the pages of history,
When these days have passed long ago.
Will they read about us in sorrow,
for the seeds that we let grow?" - RUSH, "A Farewell To Kings"