It's official!

[petey]

Heading for Montana on the 29th for a pack in hunt 8 miles from the Yellowstone border. I hope the weather and elk/deer are cooperative.

Hopefully I have pictures to share in a couple weeks. If nothing else, some awesome scenary. I'm a very optimistic gent though, so I'm sure some kind of bone will be in those pictures

[skeet]

Deer should be a shoo in..elk have been very spooky. Wolfies keep 'em quieted down on the bugling... Have fun and keep yer eye peeled for the grizz. Lot of 'em out there. Where you going to be hunting??

[grayghost]

Good hunting petey. Hope you nail a great bull & buck.

[petey]

The ranch is somewheres between Gardiner and Big Sky. Hunting Absaroka-Beartooth Mountain ranges. I have a fellow hunting partner from Lander picking me up at Bozeman, then we'll meet at the trailhead for a , and I quote

"for the scenic ride to elk camp located just 8 miles from the Yellowstone National Park boundary. Camp offers wall tents with carpeted floors, wood stoves, foam-padded cots, gaslights and a separate dining tent with a full-time chef that will keep you well-fed."

I gotta admit, always hunted the critters on my own accord. This will be the first time I'd be hunting west where I haven't planned the whole trip. It was a pretty good opportunity for me, one that I could not pass on. Since it's been a few years, and the Mrs. gave the green light, I did not hesitate to accept.

We may even take a ride on horseback (after the hunt) into or around the park, if time alows us to do so.

I usually don't fly on these types of hunting trips, but it just so happens that Ol_spark is heading to NW Colorado the week I'm hunting. His crew should be able to bring home any meat, hides and horns I may collect.

Any issues with checking guns at the airports or any one airline I need to stear clear of? Other than the obvious of locking gun cases and having the ammo in the same case....etc.. grayghost, I know you fly a bit, any concerns I need to worry about when getting from Pittsburgh to Bozeman?

Skeet...who knows. May be able to run into you again here

[skeet]

Petey..they see guns all the time at Bozeman..Pittsburgh is a different story. Last I heard Northwest is an ok airline to travel with. Lock that case good. Keep the keys. No firearm tags on the outside..Hope you have a great time. Good boots..them hills up there are kinda pointy.. Saddles seem to get kinda pointy after a few miles too

[M.T. Pockets]

You might want to pick up some bear spray when you get there. Don't fly with it.

I'd suggest that you put some type of marker on your gun case so it is easier to identify when you pick it up. I flew to Anchorage a few years ago and there were at least a dozen other cases identical to mine. I had Green packing tape around each end of my case and I could pick it out of the crowd much easier.

I don't know regulations about flying with lighters, matches. etc....

Hope you have a great time

[skeet]

Yeah..get some bear spray..and little bells to wear. Thats how ya tell the difference tween black bear and grizzly droppings.. Grizz smells like bear spray and has little bells in it. If ya need a real bear spray..I'll lend ya my 500 smith..LOL or a 44 or a 41

[M.T. Pockets]

I know what you mean Skeet, but an outfitter told me it looks better to the judge (if you had to shoot a grizz in self defense) if you're at least carrying the stuff. There's no way I'd take the .300 WM out of my hands to grab a can of spray.......

[petey]

Wow, it's getting better. There were two types on hunts and apparently we're hunting 10,000 acres of private land from the comforts of cabins, instead of the wilderness drop. Horse riding, mule packing..critter killin.

I'm not used to those amenities!

[Dan Morris]

Originally Posted by petey

Wow, it's getting better. There were two types on hunts and apparently we're hunting 10,000 acres of private land from the comforts of cabins, instead of the wilderness drop. Horse riding, mule packing..critter killin.

I'm not used to those amenities!

Sounds like ur gettin soft in ur ole age...LOL Have a great and safe hunt!
Dan

[grayghost]

petey, TSA recently changed their rules. Now they want ammo inside your gun case. This is opposite for Africa (and that changes with the wind) where you must have ammo in a locked box inside your checked luggage. I would keep the ammo in the original boxes or in approved plastic ammo boxes that are correctly labeled. Best bet is to call your exiting airport and ask to speak with a TSA officer. Ask them what they currently requiring. Should be no problem flying within the US. However, even if you bring a copy of the "current" requirements to the airport, they may disagree. Call your local TSA office and ask. Make note of who you spoke with; the time and day, just to cover yourself. Some airlines want the bolt out of the rifle (still in the gun case but out). They will give you a red firearms tag; you sign and put inside the case. I wouldn't put anything outside the case to draw attention to it being a firearm. Too many baggage handlers will take the opportunity to throw it (anti jackass types, plus gun thieves). I've hunted in Gardiner, up to Emmigrant. Good area if you get some snow especially.
Good hunting!

[petey]

Thanks all.

Was able to fire about 20 rounds from the 300 RUM today to check zero and make sure my mildots are still calculated correctly. Was able to get out to 409 yards today. Fired about 8 or 10 rounds into a 4" bull at that range, so my first and second mil are still good. Not expecting anything too long range, but my rig is ready and so am I, if I have to.

Last elk I shot with this gun was with 168gr A-Max's, but am now loaded up with 200gr Accubounds. As with that hunt, I was tuned for a tad over 700 and killed my bull at 30 yards! I hope I'm as lucky again, this go around. Just packing up here the next few days and I'll be ready. I'm sure I'll be worthless at work this week, just chomping at the bit to get out there.

[grayghost]

How did your hunt turn out?

[fabsroman]

Originally Posted by grayghost

How did your hunt turn out?

I read this entire thread and was asking the same question when I came to your post. Maybe Petey posted another thread about it.