Just got back this morning from a three day Caribou hunting trip. Norm and I brought back two Caribou, one apiece. Handi accounted for both.
First day season was not open, but we saw maybe fifty Caribou moving around just below our camp. Opening morning We were sitting just below the top of a hill watching the saddle below us. The sun was warm and Norm fell asleep. I got up to go to my 4-wheeler to get some water, leaving my Handi lying on the ground next to Norms rifle. Norm woke up, raised up and there stood a Caribou 100 yards away looking straight at him. Without taking his eyes off the Caribou he reached for his rifle. He accidentally hit it with his hand before he got a grip on it and it slid down the bank out of reach. He glanced to the side and saw mine lying there so he grabbed it instead. By now the Caribou was running, so he shouldered the Handi and took the shot. One Caribou down. Five hours later I saw antlers over the bank and watched them for what seemed a long time. Finally they came up and I could see they were attached to a nice Bull. I waited till it got to an area I could reach with the 4-wheeler and shot it just behind the ear. Norm hates it when I do that, screws up the antlers for a mount by blowing out the top of the skull. But it puts them on the ground to stay. I was using a 180gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.
While we were dressing them out guys walking the area would stop to check them out, and seeing the Handi lying on the ground within reach they would ask "What kind of gun is that"? I would tell them it is an old H&R, they would not understand NEF. Then they would ask about the short barrel, guessing it to be 18", its a full 22". Those guys just can't comprehend a gun with no action for a bolt.
No bears this time, DARN. kept hoping one would try and come in. Did have a Crossfox pay us a visit. Brave little sucker, ran up and grabbed a piece of fat I had thrown aside, then ran off. When Norm shot his Caribou he shot it in the side, damaging a lot of the rib area. We had cut the good meat off the ribs and left the bloodshot meat there. While we were cleaning mine, we watched three Bald Eagles picking the ribs clean, and fighting over it. That's why the fox came to the site we were working at. The Eagles would not let it close to the carcuss they had claimed.
