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  1. hjcruger

    Ineffective Mule Deer Scouting?

    I was starting to worry that that might be the case. Thanks. You as well.
  2. hjcruger

    Ineffective Mule Deer Scouting?

    No traffic. I have a bad habit of drawing lines between roads and going into the middle of them all. Very light traffic at most no closer than 3-4 miles. I was as high as I could go (9,300 feet) all the way down to 7,000. My budget doesn’t have a decent Tripp’s in it, but I loop the straps of my...
  3. hjcruger

    Ineffective Mule Deer Scouting?

    Thanks, Mr. Denning. When I head back in I’ll be sure to look for tracks. I’m from Vermont, so I’m pretty familiar with tracking in thick stuff. You mentioned the morning, but not the evening. Do you favor morning glassing? If so, why?
  4. hjcruger

    Ineffective Mule Deer Scouting?

    Hi, folks. I moved to Boise for grad school this summer, so I'll be doing plenty of hunting over the next few falls. I recently got back from a 4 day solo scouting trip in an Idaho mountain range that shall remain nameless. I found over 100 individual elk by my count, but mule deer were few...
  5. hjcruger

    Bear Calling in the Brush?

    Thanks for the advice, everyone. Looks like I'll have to give predator calling a whirl!
  6. hjcruger

    Bear Calling in the Brush?

    Hi, all. I'm all about exploring the "big woods" of Vermont, and am trying to come up with an excuse to go back to a spot I scouted this fall a few miles into the Breadloaf Wilderness. A 2-3 day bear hunt would likely fit into my schedule because it is so early in the fall. Here's my...
  7. hjcruger

    Danner Mt. Adams Reviews?

    Hi, folks. This summer I'll be a biotech for a research project which will have me running around the Pioneer Mountains of Idaho for a couple months. During the school year I work at a sporting goods shop, and as an employee I get Danner and Vasque footwear at cost. While I know one shouldn't...
  8. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    I hear you, and acknowledge that a fixed 6x may not be too much of a problem at close range most of the time, but as I said, I've done enough hunting in the thick stuff to know that I want something capable of lower magnification when needed. It's just a personal preference. Some like Ford, and...
  9. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    I appreciate everyone's feedback. While my choice of scope cannot possibly please everyone, I'll try my best to make a good choice within my constraints. For those who may be questioning my choice to go with a cheaper scope, I hear where you're coming from, but I'm a college student that is very...
  10. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    Also, to those talking about the fixed 6x, when I say I think that may be to much magnification for many of the situations I find myself in, both in the west and here in Vermont, I'm speaking from experience, not what I've heard on the internet or what I think would make sense. Both in Wyoming...
  11. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    I've never used a fixed 6x, but for years when I was younger I hunted on 4x because my dad had an old fixed 4x Leupold. Once I started turning mine down to 2x, I realized how much easier target acquisition and tracking was compared to 6x. I'm sure close shots can be done with 6x, but I can see...
  12. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    The type of hunting that I do would be pretty handicapped by a fixed 6x. My closest shot so far was 15 yards on a moving buck. 6x would makes shots like that near impossible, in my opinion. I'll keep that scope in mind, however, should I be in need of a strictly open area rifle. Thanks.
  13. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    While I wasn't thinking about weight before, I think what I'm going to end up choosing will be lighter. Perhaps it's because I'm young and dumb operating on a college student budget, or maybe it's because I was brought up in a more redneck than high tech New England hunting community, but I've...
  14. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    My buddy once told me that he keeps his scope on the lowest magnification, and cranks it up if need be. The rationale behind this was, if he was far enough away that he had to turn the magnification up, he probably had enough time and cover to do so. I've lived by that rationale since, and, like...
  15. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    What exactly do you mean when you say you size them up? Also, that's a nice scope that you mentioned you are getting. Leupold has kind of been in a class of their own, selling great optics with a lifetime warranty at middle of the road prices. Vortex seems to be butting in on their business...
  16. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    I definitely have experience on the low end, and I'm glad to hear that folks concur with what I'm thinking for longer shots as well. Thanks.
  17. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    Thanks. I work at a small sporting goods store in Middlebury, VT once a week after class, and can play around with the scopes we have there a bit. Unfortunately, we don't have a huge selection of scopes, and I may have to draw mostly from past experiences with scopes. While I haven't shot...
  18. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    Thanks. Those are some very nice scopes you mentioned. Unfortunately, I likely won't be able to buy any of those without sacrificing some essentially gear I am working toward getting before I head west for my master's degree. I am currently looking at the Nikon Prostaff 5 series. I think...
  19. hjcruger

    2.5-10x40 or 3.5-14x40?

    Hi, folks. I'm in the market for a scope to throw on my "big sky" rifle. Here in Vermont, things are generally up close and personal, and the power of one's scope isn't very important, so long as the lowest level of magnification isn't too high. In the last couple of years, however, I have...
  20. hjcruger

    Vermonters? New Englanders?

    Hi, folks. I just created a northeast US rokslide group. Feel free to join so we can discuss possible rendezvous and trips. I think the easiest way to join would be going to your personal page, looking at your groups, hitting join groups, and then clicking on the Northeast one.

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