wildcat junkie

Did you happen to measure the "heart girth"? I shot one that went in the 170s in 2003 and she was 42" around her chest.

The Redfield line will have better "features" at a certain price point, but the optics won't be of the same clarity and brightness as a comparably priced Leupold. Yes the Redfield has 1/4 minute click adjustments while the VX-I has friction, but that feature is merely a convenience whilke sighting in. Once the scope is zeroed, the lesser quality optics of the Redfield will be there every time you use it and under the right circumstances, might cost you an opportunity. Sacrificing optical quality for "bells and whistles" is not a wise thing to do in the long run. A simple duplex reticle can be used as a very effective range finder if you know the relative size of your target.

With a budget of $300 what's the problem. A Leupold 3-9x40 VX-II can be had for $299 or less, including shipping, from any of a number of sources . You are not going to beat that for service, reliability, versatility and quality at that price. And it's American made.

When my time comes I can't think of a better way/time to go. My Wife's step father died several weeks back watching the Cubs playing the world series. His passing was similarly peaceful. Perhaps the knowledge that he went doing something he loved will make his passing easier for you.

In New York State, if you have the components to load the percussion revolver in your possession, then a permit is required.

Some of the groups I've seen are more like patterns. Using spit or Moose Milk soaked patches my round ball rifles shooting real GOEX ffg black powder will group consistently from the 1st to the 20th (or more) shot at the range. I clean them only when the ramrod starts letting me know the breech face starts to cake up. When hunting I start with a clean bore, fire 2 caps to clear out the nipple. I use a Crisco lubed patch and I don't unload or clean the bore unless I fire a shot. I avoid bringing the weapon indoors to prevent condensation. I've hunted for weeks W/O any issues W/consistent ignition in either my flintlock or traditional percussion rifles. When hunting squirrels I could get about 5 shots with Crisco lubed patches as long as I reloaded immediately after taking a shot. No inconsistencies with a clean or fouled bore as long as the 2nd-3rd etc shot is loaded immediately.

Yep merganser wasn't the best. We tried eating one when I was a teenager just starting small game hunting. Coot/mudhen wasn't much better.

I didn't see the best part. Best would be quail breast medallions suateed in butter, worst, as before merganser.

if you needed a lighted reticle under those conditions, it would seem that the optics are somewhat lacking.

Merganser!

Since when is a Leupold VX-1 not fog proof? For $300 you can get a VX-2 3-9 X 40 shipped from any of a number of vendors. IMO, the Leupold 3-9X40 is the benchmark for affordable value & versatility, and unlike the Vortex scopes in that price range, it's made in America..

I can see my duplex reticle way past legal or even safe shooting light.

Too much! The deer are hunkered down but they should be all over the place once they decide to move. I expect them to go on the feed this evening. A friend took these PIX yesterday. 1st, the Penthouse. Same angle in October. There are thick cedars just beyond the trail and the deer pour in there to yard up when snow gets over a few inched deep and persists for more than a few days... 250 yd shooting lane at 12:00 position from the tripod. This was the trail that they used for the cradle when hauling out the 30" diameter white pine logs. It bisects the 15 acre area that was logged in the winter of 98-99. By far the most productive shooting lane but the shortest shot has been about 175 yds. Most kills are at 240 yds to 250 yds. These are looking to the 2:00 position. These 2 shooting lanes have been even more productive over the last few years. Each is about 100 yds long.

Leg hit deer that have arterial bleeding should be push HARD to keep the blood flowing. If an artery isn't hit, recovery is doubtful.

4 in the gun and whatever is left in the wallet/shell holder.after those 4 are taken from it. I have 2 folding wallets that hold 14 rounds but usually have 8-10 in them. I also use the red plastic shell holders from Federal boxes that hold 10 rounds. In 16 years hunting deer in NY with a CF rifle and close to 30 whitetails taken, I've only had to use a 2nd round once.

I can remember when the 25-06 was still a "Wildcat" The 1st time I ever saw one was at a shooting range in Irwin, PA in 1967. The guys had a "nutcracker" hand held reloading press & they were doing load development right at the shooting bench. If you're not going to hunt anything larger than deer or antelope, the .25 caliber rounds are very effective.

There's where your problem started. I'll occasionally take a rifle that already has the scope mounted to have a collimater used to get it on paper, but I always mount my own bases, rings & scopes myself. I had a shop owner, that was supposedly a "gunsmith" mound my scope once on a new M700 CDL that I purchased there and I ended up loosening all if the screws & tightening them down incrementally to take the bind off the scope tube. The screws should be tightened down a little at a time alternating from side to side until, as pointed out above there is a small and even gap between the ring halves. I use Loctite on the base screws but not the ring screws. It doesn't hurt to check the ring screws occasionally.

As I was saying......

That's why I now wait until I can at least see to prevent bumping undewtected deer. I used to go through the same thing. On heavily hunted public land you sometimes need to get in early to claim a good spot. Thankfully I don't have to do that any more.

All of the good bucks I have killed on my place have been after 9:00 AM up until just after 11:30 AM. Now I don't go in too early as I don't want to burn out too soon. Then from 2;30 to 3:30 and just before sundown on. In Southern Indiana when I hunted public land, I used to watch my watch as 10:00 AM approached knowing that I would soon see deer. I usually did. I attributed it to hunters vacating the woods around 9:00 as the vast majority did and the deer getting up to browse after the 4:00 AM army with flashlights had made them hunker down. 9:00 AM in NY is about the same "solar" time as 10:00 AM in Indiana. Now, I'm beginning to believe that it's just the natural movement when hunters aren't around.

We used ti hike in a mile or more over logging roads on public land in Southern Indiana just like everyone else. One year, as I studied topo maps, I noticed a natural funnel at the head of a deep draw just 50 yds from the parking area. Long story short, my wife ended up shooting a big doe shortly after daybreak in that spot.

Does that mean that Obama has been your President for the last 7+ years?

On the ground hunt with the wind in my face so my scent is blown away from the deer. When still hunting I prefer a crosswind as deer usually use their sight to watch downwind relying on scent to warn them of approach from behind. When stand hunting on my property, I select whichever stand provides the best wind direction. I do use rubber bottom boots though.

I had one run around the head of a draw as she approached a big oak tree blowdown laying on a saddle. The deer had worn a hole through the branches with constant use of the saddle crossing. I could see her hindquarters bounce into view intermittently as she bounded my way so I was ready when she hit the opening about 5 yds form me and froze. I had the frizzen cocked and I let the rock fall as she pulled her leg up to stomp. I hit her with a .535 round ball at nearly 2000 fps on a downward angle, high, just in front of the shoulder. She flipped onto her back, blatted loudly & kicked for about 3 seconds before she died.