Well, I thought I was going on my first elk hunt next year. A nephew has access to 1,500 private acres in northeast New Mexico, somewhere near Brazos Peak. We had discussed me going next year when he would have a cow tag available. I had a high stress job and let my physical condition really go to pot. A few months ago, I weighed 280+ and 1.5 miles was all I could walk in a day. Thinking I had plenty of time, I had already started prepping by upping my walking substantially. I'm now up to 5 miles a day with some sporadic days of up to 8 miles. The plan was to get to 8 miles a day, get my weight down to 200 lbs and maybe add some light weightlifting or stair climbing. Regarding a firearm, my nephew had told me that my 30-30 would be enough gun, a little short but it would be enough. I shoot the Hornaday LeverRevolution ammo and can reliably make 200 yard shots on deer. I thought I had plenty of time to figure out if my old Mauser could be scoped and made to work.
As you can probably guess, plans took a substantial change this week. One of this year's bull tag holders backed out. My nephew offered it to me and I committed. The second week of October this year, I'll be spending 5 and a half to 6 days in a 10,000 foot elevation base camp. The cabin is off-grid but does have solar power for lighting. Wood stove for heat. We have to truck in water. We'll return to the cabin each night for sleeping, I think. (I need to confirm that.) They have been hunting this ground for at least 10 years. My nephew claims a 90% success rate and judging from his pictures he isn't exaggerating.
So pressure is now on. I'm really excited and looking forward to this but I now have only three months to prep. My biggest concern is conditioning. I haven't weighed myself in several weeks but the last time I did, I was down to 259.5 lbs. I don't think I can make 200 in three months but I'll feel pretty good if I'm walking 8 miles a day with three time a week weightlifting and stair climbing by then. My next biggest concern is my rifle. I love my 30-30 and shoot well with it but realistically it is barely enough gun. With the LeverRolution ammo, 200 yards is the longest shot I think it is capable of. I am basing that off the Hornaday claims of 1,300 ft lbs of force at 200 yards. The third biggest concern is footwear. I'm due for a new pair of boots this year. My current boots will do in dry weather but snow or rain means wet feet in them.
So, the immediate pressure is to begin upping the walking distance and adding the weightlifting and stair climbing. (I already have equipment for both and years ago was in very good shape.) I will get this done.
The rifle is my next immediate concern. I'll be practicing weekly with my 30-30. I'll start with stationary practice and in a couple of weeks start tromping over my ground with targets at 200 yds so I can practice shooting while tired from hiking. I'm sure it won't be like the hunt but it will be better than nothing. And if all I have is my 30-30, I'll be ready to use it to the best of my ability.
So, any recommendations on scoping my old Mauser. It has been highly sportsterized (I don't have the original wood.) so I won't mind having it drilled and tapped. I'm open to a scout scope, especially if I can save the time of having it at a gunsmith for drilling and tapping. It is in 6.5x55 caliber. The tables I've seen have been claiming 1,200 foot lbs or more at 500 yards which is at least 100 more yards than I would be willing to try. My nephew says most of the shots are in the 100 to 300 yard range so if I can cover that 300 yard mark I'll feel adequately armed. A third option would be to borrow another nephew's 7mm Mag. I'm waiting to hear on that but I would prefer to carry my own rifle. But if all I've got is my 30-30, I'll make do.
I'll be picking up a good pair of boots in a couple of weeks so I can have them completely broken in before the hunt.
Obviously there are other things that I need to prep, clothing, camp gear, etc. but for right now I need to work on the first three. Thanks for any help you can give me.
As you can probably guess, plans took a substantial change this week. One of this year's bull tag holders backed out. My nephew offered it to me and I committed. The second week of October this year, I'll be spending 5 and a half to 6 days in a 10,000 foot elevation base camp. The cabin is off-grid but does have solar power for lighting. Wood stove for heat. We have to truck in water. We'll return to the cabin each night for sleeping, I think. (I need to confirm that.) They have been hunting this ground for at least 10 years. My nephew claims a 90% success rate and judging from his pictures he isn't exaggerating.
So pressure is now on. I'm really excited and looking forward to this but I now have only three months to prep. My biggest concern is conditioning. I haven't weighed myself in several weeks but the last time I did, I was down to 259.5 lbs. I don't think I can make 200 in three months but I'll feel pretty good if I'm walking 8 miles a day with three time a week weightlifting and stair climbing by then. My next biggest concern is my rifle. I love my 30-30 and shoot well with it but realistically it is barely enough gun. With the LeverRolution ammo, 200 yards is the longest shot I think it is capable of. I am basing that off the Hornaday claims of 1,300 ft lbs of force at 200 yards. The third biggest concern is footwear. I'm due for a new pair of boots this year. My current boots will do in dry weather but snow or rain means wet feet in them.
So, the immediate pressure is to begin upping the walking distance and adding the weightlifting and stair climbing. (I already have equipment for both and years ago was in very good shape.) I will get this done.
The rifle is my next immediate concern. I'll be practicing weekly with my 30-30. I'll start with stationary practice and in a couple of weeks start tromping over my ground with targets at 200 yds so I can practice shooting while tired from hiking. I'm sure it won't be like the hunt but it will be better than nothing. And if all I have is my 30-30, I'll be ready to use it to the best of my ability.
So, any recommendations on scoping my old Mauser. It has been highly sportsterized (I don't have the original wood.) so I won't mind having it drilled and tapped. I'm open to a scout scope, especially if I can save the time of having it at a gunsmith for drilling and tapping. It is in 6.5x55 caliber. The tables I've seen have been claiming 1,200 foot lbs or more at 500 yards which is at least 100 more yards than I would be willing to try. My nephew says most of the shots are in the 100 to 300 yard range so if I can cover that 300 yard mark I'll feel adequately armed. A third option would be to borrow another nephew's 7mm Mag. I'm waiting to hear on that but I would prefer to carry my own rifle. But if all I've got is my 30-30, I'll make do.
I'll be picking up a good pair of boots in a couple of weeks so I can have them completely broken in before the hunt.
Obviously there are other things that I need to prep, clothing, camp gear, etc. but for right now I need to work on the first three. Thanks for any help you can give me.