2022 Deer Hunt
"2022 Hunt"
It's all about the Hunt, not the Kill!
Days Hunted - November 21st, 22nd, 30th, December 7th and December 24th
Followup Target shot on December 26th
by Bryan Austin
12-29-2022 (Scope Re-zero for 100 yards)
With the cost and availability of primers and powder, my 200 yard plus target shooting has all but come to a complete stop. Thus, the scope has been zeroed back to 100 yards for hunting. Hunting ranges where I hunt in the mountains is between 25 and 150 yards...but typically less than 50 yards in the woods. Both of my deer harvests this year have been between 30 and 40 yards. I may reset the 6x scope for 50 yards for coyotes and beavers throughout 2023. Check in on the 2023 Hunting Season for more action!!!
12-26-2022 (50 yard target Follow-up shots)
Gun season is over for me, both buck tags are filled and no more doe hunting on gamelands for the rest of the year in this area.
I made a trip down to South Carolina to see family and took the rifle and target with me. I wanted to document a known range (50 yards) and a cold barrel 1st shot as if hunting. The first shot can be even 4" higher with a cold barrel than with a warm barrel.
As you may remember this rifle was zeroed in for 265 yards since the majority of my shooting is/was done on the shooting range and not hunting. Rather than re-zero I wanted to shoot it as it was and figure in elevation adjustments as needed. This can be seen over on the 2022 Target Page. This method was used twice this year and both times the deer was hit around 35 yards. Unfortunately the first deer moved as I shot and I messed up the shot. Please do not confuse my poor marksmanship and blame it on the scope zero range...blame it on the shooter! Making a 12" to 16" elevation correction in this manor is no different or harder than with open sights.
The second deer did not move and the shot found it's mark (see video below). The POI was the result of a "correct" POA, although the windage should have been slightly corrected to the left and lower for a more desired POI. It appears that this current target test shows the actual POI's just to the right of the desired POI thus windage should have been used for the deer shot and the scope needs to be adjusted.
To prove anyone can do this, three people shot this rifle consecutively with this method and here are the results.
From a cold barrel and a rifle rest, the first shot POI was at 16.5" above the POA. Previously documented warm barrels resulted in groups at 12" above the POA for a 50 yard shot. The second and third shots proceeded to get lower, closer to the warm barrel 12" results. The second shooter, 4th shot, the shooter used elevation and windage adjustments (aimed 12" low) and hit inside the bullseye, but slightly high. The third shooter placed the fifth and final shot in the same area as shots 1-3, and at the point of a nicely warmed barrel...placed closer to 12".
For a 30-40 yard shot on the deer mentioned below, POA was just below the belly and using about an 8" corrected elevation. With a cold barrel, the POI was actually higher than desired and slightly right. Review the video below to watch the shot placement.
With the cost of components skyrocketing, target shooting will be non-existent thus the scope will be re-zeroed to 100 yards for future hunting...and thus noted in the Target section and 2023 Hunting section.
12-24-2022 (Spike Harvest)
Probably the coldest I have ever hunted.
Gun season was over for Burke county so the migration north to Wilkes county proceeded. Upon arriving to the public game lands, I discovered I was the only one there...go figure! The morning started out at -1 degrees and warmed to a toasty 13 degrees by noon. I had about a half mile walk in ( I wanted to go 1.5 miles) and I had to cross a partially frozen creek several times so I entered after daylight. I made it to an area I did not expect any big deer but was too cold and tired to proceed any further, really didn't even expect to see anything in this area so close to the trailhead.
As I was about to set the stand up, I saw hope...a small rub! It was cold but there was wildlife activity most of the morning. By 12:00 It maybe 13 degrees with a 10 mph wind at the ridge tops, and was trying to make myself get up and go home....but I was too cold to move. Less than 20 minutes after I took a range finder at 81 yards on video, I noticed movement 100 yards to my far right. A deer was coming down and crossed over a draw into the flat hollow. Eventually it walked right over to the tree that was 81 yards away. Still thinking it was a doe, I just sat back and watched "it" meandered around. When it came out in from of me from behind a small pine thicket, I dropped the scope on it at 33 yards and saw it was a spike and pulled the trigger.
If you remember, I had "missed" an 8-10 point on opening gun day in Buke count and let a doe and 6 point go the following week. It was time to get some meat in the freezer. I thought I missed this one too but it was a good passthrough double lung hit but he ran 120 yards and lay where he stopped trying to get back up the draw from where he descended.
Full Video Below
Desired stand placement was to be a 1.5 mile hike in but I settled for only a half mile hike in the freezing cold. Total was a 2 mile hike (in and out [equipment] and in and out [deer])
Me Freezing
Entrance
Exit
12-7-2022 (No Luck, Rain)
I gave it my best shot in Burke County, NC this year. Hunted on private 350 acres that had not been hunted in 35 years. Did my homework and scouted a 15 acre south southwest facing slope with a great bench and was happy with what I found. Was able to hunt it for four days...Nov 21st, 22nd, 30th and Dec 7th. Saw nothing on the 22nd, screwed up on an eight/ten point at 37 yards (measured it today...thought it was 25) on the 22nd, saw a 6 point chasing a doe at 50 yards and less on the 30th...jumped one on my way in this morning at about 630am, but nothing else.
Went in early this morning but had enough by 10am with the rain...forecast to get heavier from 1pm till 4pm I needed a canopy to stay longer..used a thin poncho and wool blanket!
Off to Little Fork the 24th and 31st in Wilkes County, NC...maybe!
October 2022 (Marlin 1894CB)
At the request of a landowner, I have been ridding of some destructive beavers (5). This has been an ongoing problem for the landowner for the past 35 years. Every few years they need to be extinguished. I don't take pride in this but since I used the Marlin 44-40, I decided to add it to the section.
The First Confirmed Kill
There were four beavers, I shot about 15 of them...lol... with two confirmed floaters and two other unconfirmed kills. I will share the video of the first kill. Unfortunately for him he turned and came right at me. The reason I am posting the photo is to show the part where the bullet passed through and "traveled about another three feet" (red circle) under water. This was at very close range, maybe ten yards. I almost missed....again!
The Second Confirmed Kill
The shot was about 50 yards. I just can't see the open sights any more so I had to install a Red Dot. It really works great
Sept, 2022
(edite 2-25-2022) I will not be hunting this area this year.
South Mountains 2022 pre-season game plans
Nothing serious this year, just getting in the woods and enjoying mother nature. For the south mountains, I found a place back in August that I want to hunt.
