Well I was hoping to sneak out of work early to go deer hunting tonight. We have a huge storm sitting on us right now and the deer should be moving.

Unfortunately It was 5:15 before I could leave work which left me exactly 25 minutes until the end of shooting light. Not enough time for deer hunting but just enough to get into my favorite predator spot for a quick call.

I settled in behind my rifle and let out a series of cottontail distress aimed at the swamp in from of me. I called on and off for 5 minutes before I saw a coyote heading away from me 40 yards away in the thick swamp brush. It was the big dog I’ve been after for a while and damned if he didn’t beat me again.

I continued my calling sequence and after 5 more minutes a second coyote showed itself and came trotting out of the swamp 30 yards to my left stopping behind a big maple tree.

Some patience and gentle coaxing lured the coyote to 20 yards where she presented a clean head shot. I settled the crosshairs between her eyes and I watched as she dropped like a bag of rocks.

Less than 20 minutes on stand and I had 2 coyotes show up within 50 yards and had one over my shoulder on my way to the car. Goes to show that keeping your gear in your car and taking advantage of every calling opportunity can sure pay off.

Looking forward to really getting into the swing of predators soon.

Shoot straight.

Opie

Yesterday was one of the most incredible days I have ever experienced in the woods in my entire life. The emotional highs and lows of the day were akin to riding a roller coaster like none other. I am continually blessed in my life for reasons that are beyond me and yesterday was just another example of that.

The day started at 4:30 am as I threw my gear in the car and drove an hour to meet Tex for a morning hunt that I was filming. We had an incredible morning in the woods with so many laughs and memories made, some great footage and deer in the truck. I will let Tex chronicle the stories from the morning in his own words in a forthcoming blog post. What I narrate below is the story of our afternoon hunt, about unexpected surprises and our encounter with a Michigan giant.

For the afternoon hunt Tex decided to get behind the camera and I was going to do my best to put an arrow through doe as my venison supply is currently at zero. We headed north to a property that for the past few years hasn’t produced very much for us even though it looks like a great piece of property. We left the truck at 4 pm and made the short walk to were we wanted to sit and by 4:30 we were sitting in our Lone Wolf hang ons overlooking a transition area surrounded by overgrown CRP fields.

Within 20 minutes we had two button bucks working towards us and the night was looking promising. Over the next half hour the button bucks moved increasing closer until they were directly underneath of us (which is fun but also pretty annoying). While watching the button buck under my stand I saw him increasingly focus on the CRP field at my 4 O’clock and directly behind Tex. I strained to see what he was looking at and eventually he started working that way. That’s when I saw movement on the field edge and a very large buck making a scrape. He was absolutely shredding the poor russian olive above his scrape and I was having trouble discerning exactly how big he was…and then he looked up!

I have seen a lot of bucks in my lifetime and been blessed to be there to recover some giants but this buck blew my mind. I have never seen a buck quite as wide as this buck and the MASS of his antlers is a sight to behold. It took me a moment to gain enough composure to be able to relay to Tex exactly the magnitude of the situation. The giant slowly walked into the woods and looked at the two button bucks and a basket 4 point that had showed up on the scene and you could tell he was agitated. He was definitely Goliath and was not pleased that other bucks were on his stomping grounds no matter how small they were. With hackles raised and a small charge he was successful in scattering the young bucks and began milling about. I slowly grabbed my bow, stood up and turned around to be able to potentially make a shot. Tex was trying his best to get the camera on him filming directly over his shoulder and right into the sun.

After what seemed like an eternity the giant started to move down a trail that ran parallel to us and at it’s closest point was a clear spot in brush 40 yards away. As he neared the first opening I tried to draw but my safety harness rope obstructed my elbow. I quickly remedied that obstacle and pulled my bow to full draw. As he reached the clear spot on the trail I bleated, bringing him to a stop and looking right at me. I guessed the yardage at 40 yards and settled my 40 yard pin right behind his shoulder at center mass. As I released the arrow time seemed to stop and I watched as my arrow flew towards the giant as he stood there on high alert. I watched in slow motion as his back ducked as he prepared to run and my arrow sail less than an inch over his back. As he bounded off I knew immediately all of the rookie offenses I had just committed and my heart sank if that was possible considering it was practically beating out of my chest. I watched as the giant ran out into the field as I sat down to grab another arrow and then something magical happened…after 100 yards he stopped. He was just standing there in all his glory still hackled up and angry just looking my way. I slowly reached down and grabbed my rattling antlers in an act of desperation and hope.

I rattled my heart out for 30 seconds as I watched him standing there before something miraculous happened he started coming back. I quickly put down the antlers and the giant picked up his pace. He came running into the woods belidgerantly sliding and looking for the fight. He came at a trot right to us and passed behind us at 30 yards, sliding to a stop in the same row of trees as us a mere 40 yards away. I couldn’t see him I could only hear as he walked towards us thinking that maybe I was going to get a chance at redemption. With my heart racing I kept peering over my shoulder looking for him and then felt the soft breeze on my face as the wind shifted and blew right at him.

I never saw him again but Tex said he stood there for a bit and then took a couple bounds into the CRP and mozied off.

I really hope that I get another glimpse or opportunity this season at “Goliath” and am definitely looking forward to chasing him for the rest of the season.

Since the encounter I have been consumed by it and I got to thinking about why i hunt and why we hunt and the experiences we have hunting, the people we hunt with and what makes a hunt successful. That indescribable feeling that you get when you have an encounter with a shooter buck is amazing. I’m not just talking about 170″ monsters either. It could be a 110″ 8 point that takes your breath away. It’s that moment that borders on spiritual and makes you feel so alive.

To make it even better, being able to share that experience with a friend adds a whole other level. To be with a friend in that moment when nature throws you a curveball or an amazing encounter with an animal is something altogether it’s own. That is my favorite part of filming and being filmed. It is great to have the video so you can share the experience but it will never be the same as being there. But when you are filming for someone or being filmed you get to share that experience with someone as it happens. No video or social media is ever going to replace that common bond that ties us together as hunters and the experience of being there for the shot. No fireside story can relay the emotions of missing the buck of a lifetime. No tweet of condolence can remedy the heartbreak of loosing a buck after tracking him a mile. No celebratory bourbon tastes as good as the one with your hunting partner after a successful hunt.

And that is what makes a successful hunt in my eyes. The camaraderie of shared experiences with some of mother natures most pristine landscapes and majestic animals. The highs and lows, the misses and the kills, the all day sits and the exhaustion. The feeling that you are alive and part of something far more vast than yourself. A whole chain of living organisms that interact with each other and depend on one another. And in this chain of life you are not just a man; you are a hunter.

Opie

Well this morning I went after them and called in a double on my first and only set of the day. As the first coyote was coming in from directly in front of me (see pic above) the second coyote came from the ditch to the right and damn near ran over top of me. I stayed on the first coyote and was able to make a running shot on him at 45-50yds.

It was a younger male dog with beautiful coloring. The fur isn’t as primed up as I like so I will probably hold off a few weeks before I really start after them. All in all though it was an amazing morning.

Opie

Well it that time of year when the leaves start falling and that action heats up. I’ve already seen some great rut activity and am looking forward to prime time.

Got some pretty nice things planned for this season so stay tuned!

Currently finishing up 30 hours in the truck heading to southwest Colorado to chase the great wapiti.

Look forward to some great updates.

Opie

Sunday mornings in August mean its time to head to the range to have some fun with the boys.

Tex and I met up with a good hunting buddy of ours the morning for 3D archery league at the Potawatomi Bowmen course.

Shooting a challenging course is always a great way to get into shape for whitetail season. I also wore some of the gear ill be taking out west on my elk hunt including a 15 pound pack to help me prepare for a showdown with a great wapiti. Definitely added another element to the shoot.

As always we had a blast and questioned ourselves on why we don’t shoot 3D more often. And of course Tex being the deadeye that he is had to outshoot me again.

Shoot Straight,

Opie

Been working really hard over the past few weeks to get all of my mowing done on my clover plots.

The farm got hit really hard last summer with EHD and the deer population is really down. But whether it is force of habit or just plain old curiosity I decided to put out some trail cams to see what’s hanging around.

Decided to try out some Big & J minerals to see how they work at the recommendation from the boys over at Dream Chasers.

This farm is usually great at producing nice deer so it will be interesting to see who made it past the EHD.

Opie

Just wrapped up building the new target for my 600 yard shooting range. Turned out really well with the steel swinging target for farther shots.

Really looking forward to breaking her in this weekend with Rocket and his sniper buddy from the army.

With the corn in the field it almost creates a tunnel to shoot in which is going to be really nice for testing out my new predator loads on my 17 and 223.

Going to be really nice to get the gunpowder level up a bit.

Opie

I had the pleasure of trying a Hawke Optics Varmint SF scope in the 4-16X44 model. After a long career of predator hunting I have been through a lot of different scopes and I was looking forward to seeing how the Hawke Optics performed.

Since I was planning to put the scope through some serious testing I mounted the varmint 4-16×44 on my 220 Swift because I already knew the rifle was accurate and knew exactly how my hand loads performed through it. With an accurate base gun to go off I knew that the tests I would perform would be all about the optic.

Glass Clarity and Focus
For my initial test I put a predator magazine at 50yards and got behind the scope. Reading the print on the front cover was no problem at all, i could see it all nice and clear from the biggest print to the smallest. The glass is very clear and looking side by side with some of my more expensive scopes i considered the Hawke very close if not equal with most on glass clarity and focus. One of the things I really like is that the magnification ring turned nice and smooth without much force.

½ Mil-Dot Reticle Performance
Adjustments on the scope are easy to hear and the clicks are also easily felt, although there is a little slop in the adjustment knob. At 100 yards the scope tracked excellent and accurately. For my tracking test I adjusted the windage and elevation and between shots and then reverted back to original adjustments. The Varmint SF tracked perfectly, 8 clicks left moved the shot 2 inches, 8 clicks right moved it back to where the first shot was, 12 clicks up moved shot placement 3 inches up and 12 clicks down put it back to starting hole. The ability for a scope to accurately and reliably track through reticle adjustments is key and the Hawke reticle certainly surpassed my expectations. It has the 1/2 mil reticle which may be a little thin for some people but I found it nice to hold exactly on aiming point with it.

Conclusion
I am no master of optics but I have a lot of scopes and like when I can save some money. With the Hawke scope I feel you get more quality than you pay for. The clarity of the glass used by Hawke Optics is fantastic and at $219.99 the Varmint SF is holding its own with it’s competetors in the $450.00 – $500.00 price range. Overall the Hawke Varmint SF is a high quality scope that performs way above its price point and delivers a great value to the customer.

View This Product at Hawke Optics by Clicking Here.

Ed “Yotehead”
FLG Pro Staff

I have been hearing about Hawke Optics for the last year and I have been looking forward to the opportunity to get my hands on a Hawke Riflescope and see what they are all about. The opportunity came at the perfect time when I picked up a .17 Remington in January that needed optics.

I had decided already that I wanted to try a Hawke riflescope but had a hard time settling on the best option. The gun will be primarily used for coyote hunting mostly in Michigan so there are a lot of requirements for my optics. After speaking with a Hawke representative I ordered the Panorama EV in 4-12×40. This scope has a very reasonable price point of $239.99 and I was looking forward to testing it on the points that matter most to me as a predator caller; low light performance, field of view, reticle performance and durability.

Looking through the scope for the first time I was immediately impressed with the clarity of the glass and really liked the new reticle system. Although I had been previously unimpressed with illuminated reticles on other scopes, the dual color illumination of the ½ mil-dot reticle on the Panorama EV was something I could see myself really enjoying. The scope is built extremely solid and the construction is quality.

Low Light Performance
As a predator hunter I spend a lot of time hunting in the dawn and dusk hours and need an optic that provides clarity and light gathering capability and exceeds in these conditions. The Panorama EV did not let me down in this test. The scope captures more than enough light to provide a clear picture from well before to well after legal shooting light. Even after I was unable to see clearly with the naked eye I could look through the scope and still see a clear picture with an exceptional amount of detail. Add in the variable settings for the illuminated reticle and this scope is a force to be reckoned with during low light conditions. I also tested this scope after dark with snow on the ground to see how it would perform for night hunting applications and was once again impressed. With a full moon on snow cover the Panorama performed just as well as during daylight hours and would make a great scope for night hunters.

Field of View / Target Acquisition
Here in Michigan predator hunting means that you are often hunting thick swamps and wood lots instead of open expanses. This is where FOV is most important as it allows you to quickly acquire the target. The Panorama EV on the base magnification has a field of view of 33ft at 100yds and provides one of the widest fields of view on the market for similar power scopes. This large viewing area combined with the clean ½ mil-dot reticle makes target acquisition quick and easy which is imperative when hunting predators.

Reticle Performance / Magnification
The reticle on the Panorama EV is really responsive and made sighting in a breeze. Reticle adjustments for windage and elevation were immediate and accurate every time and allowed me to “walk” the bullets right into the bullseye. The adjustments are high quality and it is easy to feel and hear the clicks when adjusting. While hunting I found that the 4-12×40 magnification was more than ample to suit my needs. The scope maintained its focus and clarity even when dialed up to 12 power and is about perfect for hunting applications. I do wish they offered the Panorama in a 4-16×40 model for longer range shooting and target shooting but that is just personal preference.

Durability
When i’m predator hunting my rifle and optics go through a lot of abuse. Driving and walking through tough terrain means they are bounced around a lot and it’s paramount that the rifles accuracy is not compromised. To test the durability of the scope I brought it along on my spring turkey hunt to Wyoming. I was very pleased when after the 4 flights and over 2 hours in the bed of a truck on washboard gravel roads that the rifle was still on zero. I shot the rifle in Wyoming and again when I returned home and the scope and reticle where exactly where they were after sighting in. This is exactly what i’m looking for in quality and durability.

Conclusion
I am a huge proponent of the rule that you get what you pay for in terms of quality, especially when it comes to optics. The Hawke Panorama EV 4-12×40 blows this theory out of the water and delivers a stellar riflescope that performs well above its price point. Hawke delivers above and beyond my expectations with the Panorama EV and is poised to revolutionize the scope market with high quality riflescopes at reasonable prices. Next time you need a quality riflescope that performs at a higher standard without breaking the bank give Hawke a call and see what all the buzz is about.

View This Product at Hawke Optics by Clicking Here

Adam “Opie” Kujacznski
FLG Pro Staff