Chuck R.
Member
With the 2020-2021 season winding down what are your projects in prep for this coming year?
I'm still looking for squirrels and coyotes, also a pig hunt towards the end of the month. I'm also prepping for next year.
I'm working on some habitat improvement. My acreage is small at 80 acres and is "multi-functional" due to my range and 2 ponds (one is 9 acres) that get used heavily for retriever training. I'm also surrounded by open ground with neighbors that hunt. Bottom line is while I've taken a couple decent bucks from my back yard, it's not the norm. My land isn't my primary hunting area anyway, but I'm determined to improve what I have in case I lose access to my other areas.
So I'm clearing a small buck bedding area now and prepping to plant more trees (fruit, oaks & chestnuts). I'm growing persimmons and oaks in my basement now from seeds/acorns to plant this spring. I've also got 25 Chinkapin oaks on order from the state of KS and another 4 apple trees for my deer engagement area.
On the equipment side, I'm working towards my goal of creating; "Chuck's version of the ultimate eastern KS stand gun that's sometimes used for still hunting in western KS". At the end of the month I'm sending my Rem M7 in .260 Rem off to Pac-Nor to have it re-barreled in either .260Rem (again) or .260AI. I'm sticking with the 20" length, but a heavier barrel and having it fluted to hopefully keep the package at approximately the same weight. The rifle is shooting well accuracy wise, but it fouls so badly it's a PITA to clean, which means I don't shoot it as often as I should. Once it's back (16weeks) I'll look at replacing the HS Prec stock with either a McMillon or a Manners. The HS is fine for the Ultimate Eastern Stand Gun, but a little weighty for the still hunting in western KS task.
Also for 2021-TBD I've been invited by an old work friend that retired to join him in hunting a 500 acre spread that he's hunted for years and taken some very, very, nice 10pt or better bucks from. The cost is going to be helping to build a small bridge and a couple more box blinds.
So, what's your upcoming preps?
I'm still looking for squirrels and coyotes, also a pig hunt towards the end of the month. I'm also prepping for next year.
I'm working on some habitat improvement. My acreage is small at 80 acres and is "multi-functional" due to my range and 2 ponds (one is 9 acres) that get used heavily for retriever training. I'm also surrounded by open ground with neighbors that hunt. Bottom line is while I've taken a couple decent bucks from my back yard, it's not the norm. My land isn't my primary hunting area anyway, but I'm determined to improve what I have in case I lose access to my other areas.
So I'm clearing a small buck bedding area now and prepping to plant more trees (fruit, oaks & chestnuts). I'm growing persimmons and oaks in my basement now from seeds/acorns to plant this spring. I've also got 25 Chinkapin oaks on order from the state of KS and another 4 apple trees for my deer engagement area.
On the equipment side, I'm working towards my goal of creating; "Chuck's version of the ultimate eastern KS stand gun that's sometimes used for still hunting in western KS". At the end of the month I'm sending my Rem M7 in .260 Rem off to Pac-Nor to have it re-barreled in either .260Rem (again) or .260AI. I'm sticking with the 20" length, but a heavier barrel and having it fluted to hopefully keep the package at approximately the same weight. The rifle is shooting well accuracy wise, but it fouls so badly it's a PITA to clean, which means I don't shoot it as often as I should. Once it's back (16weeks) I'll look at replacing the HS Prec stock with either a McMillon or a Manners. The HS is fine for the Ultimate Eastern Stand Gun, but a little weighty for the still hunting in western KS task.
Also for 2021-TBD I've been invited by an old work friend that retired to join him in hunting a 500 acre spread that he's hunted for years and taken some very, very, nice 10pt or better bucks from. The cost is going to be helping to build a small bridge and a couple more box blinds.
So, what's your upcoming preps?