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Author Topic: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou  (Read 2536 times)

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Offline Sourdough

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4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« on: August 13, 2009, 08:10:17 AM »
Just got back this morning from a Caribou hunt.  4 of us went and we all got Caribou.  KP will have to load up the pictures, since I could not find my camera. 

First day sun and rain, back and forth, but a lot of wind. 

Second day miserable, cold rain and snow, fog so heavy could only see 50ft at times.  My partner Norm shot a small bull that wondered into camp. Fish and Game put a notice on my truck that the season was being closed on Wednesday at midnight.

Third day started just like day two.  But after a few hours it started to break up.  KP and his son broke camp and came by our camp ready to go somewhere different.  Norm suggested they go over the hill next to our camp, and they did.  KP will have to tell that part.  As for me, I got a real nice Caribou later in the day.  I was chasing wolves that I had seen heading up to KPs location.  I was tired and sore, totally wore out so to speak.  Ended up close to where I had left my 4-wheeler.  Got on wheeler and was heading down to KPs location when I spotted a small Caribou.  Right behind it was a monster sized Bull.  Got off the wheeler, got my rifle out of the case, chambered a round and used the wheeler as a rest.  Ranged it out to 320 yards.  Put the cross hairs on the shoulder but it started to run.  Since it was running directly toward KP knew I had to take a shot or loose the opportunity.  Held a good lead and fired.  Caribou went down, got back up and ran back the way it had came.  Realized my lead had not been enough with the cross wind I had.  Was getting ready for a second shot when it stopped and laid down.  Mean time the other Caribou continued to graze towards KP.  Suddenly they saw KP and came running back.  In the excitement the big guy got up and started running with them.  This time I held a greater lead and took the shot.  Hit the left shoulder and Caribou went down for good.  Broke the shoulder, and went through both lungs.  First shot had been high and too far back, just below the spine.  Not a good location.  I will say 4 happy hunters.  Now for KP to tell the rest of the story. 
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Offline Wyo. Coyote Hunter

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2009, 02:54:54 PM »
Sourdough >:( what rifle did you use on your caribou??????? Congradulations... :D
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2009, 04:13:01 PM »
Ruger M-77 MK-II Stainless .338 Win Mag.  I have it sighted in for 300 yards, with a .225gr Nosler Partition bullet.
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What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline Oldshooter

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2009, 04:25:00 PM »
Nice hunt and very nice shots both of em!

Quote
Ruger M-77 MK-II Stainless .338 Win Mag.

I know you dont feel it that much in the field but just the thought of bench shooting that makes my shoulder hurt.
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2009, 05:17:43 PM »
This gun has one of those ugly boat paddle stocks.  It sure is not the gun to shoot from the bench.  But I will have to say it is rugged, and durable.  It also shoots well, I can really reach out and touch things with it.
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Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline Sourdough

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2009, 06:04:37 AM »
KP is busy and has not had the time to post his part of this story.  Here are some of the photos.  Rog

Kyle, KPs son, this Caribou was shot with a 30-30

  KP and his caribou, same 30-30 used

  My Caribou, running shot at 320 yards.
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Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline Wyo. Coyote Hunter

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2009, 09:34:57 AM »
 :D ;D ;) Very Nice bulls!!!!!! :o
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Offline Oldshooter

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #7 on: August 14, 2009, 11:46:50 AM »
Well that's a fine howdoyado! There wont be 8 tiny reindeer this year and we have Sourdough to blame for that!  >:(


Beautiful bulls Pardner! next year can I help?  ;D
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“Owning a handgun doesn’t make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician.”

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Offline KP

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #8 on: August 14, 2009, 10:56:43 PM »
Yeah, Sourdough, I've been busy. I processed all but 78 lbs of my caribou meat. I took the rest to Tanana Valley Meat along with the racks, like you did. You pretty much summed up the story. Rain, wind, and fog for two days, then it all cleared up and we shot three big bulls to go with Norm's bull.

The plan wasn't to shoot my bull with a 30-30. We had two double shovel bulls at 130 yards, two tags in our pockets, so we let the lead fly. The reason we only had the 30-30 with us was because I left my 300 WM next to a tree to make the final move for the shot. Well that turned into 10 more yards, then 10 more, then 10 more, etc... Now we were only 130 yards from a nice bull and the fog was lifting fast. Kyle pulled the trigger, dropped his bull and the other monster jumped up from his bedding area. That one was less than 150 yards, so I grabbed Kyle's rifle and put him down too.

Marlin 336 in 30-30 Win + Nikon 2-7 X 32 + Hornady Leverlution 160 grains bullets = 2 dead caribou bulls

BTW, we recovered two bullets and the weight retention was excellent. I'll try to post pictures of those later. I felt confident that the gun and bullet would do good out to 200 yards, but limited ourselves to 150 yards. 
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Offline williamlayton

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2009, 01:29:56 AM »
The 30/30 still can do the job.
Thanks too all for a fun read---I look forward to the rest of the story.
Blessings
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Offline KP

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2010, 08:43:40 PM »
Ok, so here are the bullets.

The one on the left is from my son's caribou and the one on the right came from my caribou.
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Offline Dand

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2010, 10:52:45 PM »
Sure wish the Mulchatna caribou herd would come back. I really love hunting and eating them. Like the open tundra much better than the moose swamps. I never got back to see the photos - those are fine animals. Good shooting too.
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Offline Oldshooter

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2010, 01:05:56 AM »
Quote from: KP on March 16, 2010, 08:43:40 PM
Ok, so here are the bullets.

The one on the left is from my son's caribou and the one on the right came from my caribou.

Question about the penetration. Where did ya find the bullets?
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Offline KP

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2010, 09:20:15 AM »
The left bullet (my son's) was a steep quartering away shot. He clipped the right hind quarter and then the bullet traveled through the abdominal area and finally slipped between the last two ribs on the off side. You can actually see it bulging out in the picture. And yes, first big game animal, all guts!

The right bullet (mine) was actually the 3rd shot. We never saw that caribou until after my son shot his. After the shot he was moving out pretty quickly, not full speed though. The first hit was behind the shoulders, breaking only ribs and completely passing through. The second hit high and behind the shoulder (above the spinal cord). The third shot (the bullet you see on the right) hit and broke one shoulder and was recovered. I don't remember if it broke the near or far side shoulder, but that's the shot that slammed the caribou to the ground.

The funny thing is... with all that shooting, my son's caribou stood up and tried to walk off. The problem was that we were out of bullets in the gun! The only rounds we had left were deep in my son's pockets, under his rain suit! He wasn't going anywhere, but we sure went crazy trying get those bullets out of his pant's pocket. When we finally got the gun reloaded the caribou was down and laying over.

Absolutely great hunt, thanks Rog.   
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Offline Oldshooter

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2010, 10:25:20 AM »
Sounds like it was, Was curious about the leverevolution bullets, I shoot em in my 35 Rem. They have done well on axis, hogs and whitetail. I was curious about the bigger animals. thanks
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“Owning a handgun doesn’t make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician.”

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."

Offline Sourdough

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #15 on: March 17, 2010, 05:06:52 PM »
Kirk:  So glad to see you and your son tag nice Caribou.  Yea, the wind, rain, snow, and fog was bad, but look at the final outcome.  Rog
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Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline streak

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #16 on: March 17, 2010, 07:03:40 PM »
Sourdough,
Nice looking bulls!
That Ruger 77 is one fine rifle, several years ago I bought my oldest son one for Christmas also in the .338 Mag. He lives in Anchorage and has killed a truckload of caribou with it. Longest shot I believe ranged was 264 yards. He also has put a few moose down with it. I really enjoy the hunts that I get go on with him in Alaska!
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: 4 Caribou Hunters, 4 Caribou
« Reply #17 on: March 24, 2010, 09:20:28 PM »
Got a call from KP last night.  The taxidermist wants to use his and his son's racks for demonstration during the Outdoor Show this spring.  They were both double shovels, and very symmetrical.
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Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.
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