Guys,

Am new to varmint hunting and want to give 'Yotes and other things a try. Want to do that for practice before trying Mountain Lion in Texas.

Have an accurate AR flat top 1:9 in .223. Has a tubular forend and is fitted with a 6.5-20x Leupold AO scope with target turrets. (Would use a bigger rifle for the ML in Texas.)

Sighted it in yesterday with 55 gr NBTs. Load is maybe 15 years old and I'll have to break one down to understand what it is.

Haven't shot the rifle in a long time or shot for high precision groups for an equally long time, but was able to generate a 0.6" group. I suspect that will improve as I remember how to do it.

Parts have arrived for a home-built e-caller. This is one of those with the Speco SPC-5 outdoor speaker and Radio Shack amplifier. Found the design and construction on the NODAK Outdoors Fishing and Hunting forum. Using the idea of putting it in a $3.59 IGLOO 1/2 gallon water cooler I picked up on the Texaspredatorposse board. Parts have been test-stand assembled and it works fine (after I found the poor battery contact in the NADY radio link). Max distance tested so far is abt 100 yards. Gave nice clear sound with lots of available volume. Was able to find over 100 downloadable sound files on the Internet. Was able to call in crows in the side yard during the test. Didn't run it too long as I did not want to make anyone "caller shy."

Need to finish putting a single battery supply in the case, installing a pilot light and external switch, and doing the camo.

Am using an expensive iPod for the testing but will replace it with a cheap MP3 player that I wouldn't mind destroying in the field.

Have all the camo I need (boonie hat, balaclava, pants, and gloves) except a summer weight shirt. Will look for that in the next few days.

With the stand-off allowed by a radio link, how much scent killing is desirable?

You experienced guys have any additional suggestions?

Sounds to me like you are on the right track. The only thing I would watch is your firearm. Make sure it is legal in the state you are hunting in. I am in Morgantown. I do a lot of Ground Hog hunting in Ohio, and PA. Last year I was hunting with my RR Varminter in PA. I had a State Trooper stop and talk hunting with me for about 15 minutes. When he was leaving he reminded me that my choice of rifle was illegal to hunt with in PA, and if I had not been such a nice guy(gave him a cold Pepsi) he would have arrested me!!! Tom.

Sounds as if you are good to go.

quote:

Have an accurate AR flat top 1:9 in .223. Has a tubular forend and is fitted with a 6.5-20x Leupold AO scope with target turrets.

One suggestion would be to put that scope on 6.5 power right off the starting blocks. You really don't need that much scope on a predator rifle; makes those close up shots quite difficult. 3-9 or 4-14 is my preference and I seldom crank power off minimum but if one hangs up way out there, you always have time to increase magnification but there is never time to crank 'er down on a close in runner.

As far as scent control you might as well not. Can't fool a coyote's nose, just pay close attention to setup and keep the sun to your back. Make the coyote pay for a downwind approach. They will try to circle downwind on you so place your call to where they will not wind you when approaching it from downwind if possible because most will try that approach.

Regards,
hm

Tom,

Good reminder ... are all semi-autos not legal for hunting in PA?

I use mesh camo over shorts and T shirts in the summer here. It's a lot cooler. When you're setting up try to pick an area with a wide field of view in broken country. Also try to sit with something behind you to break up your outline. A camo cushion helps a lot.

I do not realy know what rifles are legal or not legal. All I know is that a State Trooper told me what I was using was illegal, but he did not arrest me. So I did not ask any questions. If I remember correctly all I said was THANK YOU. Tom.

Tom,

I checked the PA law. Is NOT legal to hunt with semi or full auto handguns or rifles in PA according the game laws. Amazing!

The only thing that popped out at me was your scope. It's way too big for calling coyotes. It would be good for prarie dogs or ground hogs, but not coyotes. Way too narrow a field of view. A 2-7 or a 3-9 are all you really need if you're calling them to you. Save the big scope for the long range rats.

Check with your state's game and fish dept for what's legal in varmint rifles. I use bolt actions, so no worries there.

A 6.5-20 is too much scope, I like the Leupold 3.5-10 and it looks like the Kahles 3-9 I picked up will be perfect.

The scopes almost never leave the lowest power setting and the rifle is on a swiveling bipod.

Practice shooting from sitting and rising from sitting.

I made bobcat and gray fox sized steel silhouettes that swing from racks and set them at various distances, uphill, downhill, partially obscured, etc.

And then practice shooting from different positions, odd angles from twisting your body to get a shot with minimal movement, aquiring the target and shooting fast, etc.

It'll improve all of your rifle shooting on game.

The .223 will kill a mountain lion just fine.

your rifle is ok in tex,i would turn down the power and go for it

Most varmints I call in I shoot at 50 yds or less. Use 2.5 x 8 scope, usually at 3 to 4 power. 223 w/ 55gr bullets at this distance do to much damage to pelts. 17 hmr, 17 ackley hornet, or 22 rimfire or shotgun on small varmints does not do as much pelt damage. Coyotes will try to circle around you to try to get your wind so set up accordingly. A motion type decoy does much to draw the animals attention away from you.
gwb

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
Tom,

Good reminder ... are all semi-autos not legal for hunting in PA?

Semi auto Rifles and handguns are not legal for hunting in PA. Revolvers, lever actions, bolt actions, slide actions - anything that is "manually operated" is legal.

Semi-auto shotguns are allowed for some game, but, like all other shotguns, are limited to 2 in the magazine, one in the chamber.

Fitch

Just get up with an outfitter, let him turn some dogs loose then shoot the ML out of the tree with a handgun,(357,44 45LC or a 410 with slugs!!) Real hunting! The pictures you get with the "cat in the tree" will be rewarding for years to come!! They physical shape you are in will predicate just how much enjoyment in the hunt for you! This post was for humor folks!! Before you slam my butt!! GHD

...........oh!! And it's illegal to hunt GROUNDHOGS in PA without wearing blaze orange!! BUT you can shoot ACROSS A STATE ROAD in that state if you "think" your bullet is above the line of traffic!! I went into one of their offices and asked them for clarification on these two points!! The wardens are employees of the state and therefore are guaranteed so many days off/year and guaranteed health care benefits and guaranteed........whatever else comes with a government job, regardless of having any COMMON SENSE!! Just give them a badge, a state owned vehicle and a brown suit of clothes!! They rule the world!! GHD