PotatoJudge
Member
My wife and family-inlaws included, went in together and planned an axis hunt as my graduation gift. It looks like the hunt is on a 4,000 acre ranch and the guide assured my wife it would be sporting (I don't want to shoot a pet anymore than the next hunter). The hunt is this Friday to Sunday so I've got little time to prepare. I'm really only used to winter deer hunting and summer birds, not June deer. The hunt is in San Angelo and I've never hunted the area (unsure of terrain, what to wear in terms of protecting the legs or camo). I'm unsure of how to transport the quartered animal 5 hours away for processing. I can cape an animal, but haven't had to transport the thing any real distance for freezing/taxidermy while avoiding decomposition. I don't have a freezer that will hold a decent axis rack. The family taxidermist should run about $400 and does a great job in just a few months. Should I go to him or keep it local to the ranch? Any suggestions how axis is best processed (steaks, sausage, ground, fat added)?
Things that are simple hunting close to home become a bit harder when so far away and with a new species and I would appreciate some advice on how to deal with all this.
Now for the fun stuff: picking the gun. I have it narrowed down to four, two of which are going with one as backup.
1. Ruger 77 in 7mm Mauser shooting 160 grain Accubonds with Leupold VXII 2-7 scope. My dad and I both shot our first deer with this gun and my grandfather used it to take his blackbuck as well as tons of deer. I shoot the gun reasonably well but haven't shot it in a few months. Tang safety, decent trigger. Fast, slick action.
2. Ruger No 1 in 257 Roberts shooting 110 grain Accubonds or 117 grain GameKings with a Nikon Monarch 3x9 scope. We gave this gun to my dad a couple years ago for his 50th birthday and I think he'd like me to take it. Tang safety, great trigger. The only problem is that the gun needs offset rings to really make it comfortable for me. I have a couple of decent scopes with better eye relief, but nothing as nice as the Monarch. Swapping scopes is an option. Also, Axis deer range in size up to pretty big. I don't know how big an animal I'll be taking on, but at the upper size limit there may be some debate on adequacy of the caliber.
3. Remington 700 ADL in 30-06, 165 grain Accubonds or Ballistic Tips, Nikon Monarch 1.5x4 scope. Side safety, okay trigger. This is the gun my dad hunted with for decades, and was until recently his only rifle. The stock fit is a little off for me, but I still shoot it well. I'm not sure if the low power scope will be a handicap (for me, I know most of you guys only need irons out to 1000 yards for sub MOA work, but I'm a mere mortal
).
4. Remington 710 in 30-06, same loads, Nikon Monarch 3x9. This was a gift when I turned 16. Side safety, very good trigger. The gun shoots very well, and the package has been my go-to gun. The action works slow and heavy, but feeds reliably. I shoot this gun often, well, and it fits me like a glove. With a bipod and my hunting backpack I'm comfortable to 350 yards.
Things that are simple hunting close to home become a bit harder when so far away and with a new species and I would appreciate some advice on how to deal with all this.
Now for the fun stuff: picking the gun. I have it narrowed down to four, two of which are going with one as backup.
1. Ruger 77 in 7mm Mauser shooting 160 grain Accubonds with Leupold VXII 2-7 scope. My dad and I both shot our first deer with this gun and my grandfather used it to take his blackbuck as well as tons of deer. I shoot the gun reasonably well but haven't shot it in a few months. Tang safety, decent trigger. Fast, slick action.
2. Ruger No 1 in 257 Roberts shooting 110 grain Accubonds or 117 grain GameKings with a Nikon Monarch 3x9 scope. We gave this gun to my dad a couple years ago for his 50th birthday and I think he'd like me to take it. Tang safety, great trigger. The only problem is that the gun needs offset rings to really make it comfortable for me. I have a couple of decent scopes with better eye relief, but nothing as nice as the Monarch. Swapping scopes is an option. Also, Axis deer range in size up to pretty big. I don't know how big an animal I'll be taking on, but at the upper size limit there may be some debate on adequacy of the caliber.
3. Remington 700 ADL in 30-06, 165 grain Accubonds or Ballistic Tips, Nikon Monarch 1.5x4 scope. Side safety, okay trigger. This is the gun my dad hunted with for decades, and was until recently his only rifle. The stock fit is a little off for me, but I still shoot it well. I'm not sure if the low power scope will be a handicap (for me, I know most of you guys only need irons out to 1000 yards for sub MOA work, but I'm a mere mortal
).4. Remington 710 in 30-06, same loads, Nikon Monarch 3x9. This was a gift when I turned 16. Side safety, very good trigger. The gun shoots very well, and the package has been my go-to gun. The action works slow and heavy, but feeds reliably. I shoot this gun often, well, and it fits me like a glove. With a bipod and my hunting backpack I'm comfortable to 350 yards.
