A's Sweden hunt

[SJB358]

A asked me to post this over here. Seems like a cool hunt. The birds are certainly very cool too..


We just finished our family hunt in Sweden and three of our four daughters were able to join us plus an old friend. Jerry and I did not hunt, as we had hunted these animals before and was content to host family and friends. Each of our hunters were able to harvest a Black Grouse and a Capercaillie. this is a stalk hunt on skies with shooting distances from 100 to 200 meters.

Equipment used

22-250 Model 12 Mauser wearing a Zeiss and using a 55 gr Norma
220 swift pre - 64 Winchester wearing a Kahles and using a 40 Sierra
204 Ruger wearing a Leupold and shooting a 39gr Sierra
224 Weatherby wearing a Leupold and a 55 gr Hornady

The daughter that was unable to attend lives in New Zealand and I am on my way to visit her at this time. I have been invited to hunt with a friend when I am there and may just do so, if time permits. The Red Stags are magnificent animals but we have hunted them in the past and so if we are able to find the time, I will hunt the Tahr while I am there this time around. Jerry is headed straight back to work but later this year if we can find the time he wants to go on another muzzleloader lion hunt, since he failed miserably at it last year (-;

 

[JD338]

A,

Awesome family and friends hunt.
Glad to see that both you and J can tame a break and get a hunt in.
Hope you can hunt Tahr and J can hunt lion with a muzzle loader.
Are you going to back him up?

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Good show, Aleena. Trust you are able to bag a Tahr in NZ. Black grouse/capercaillie would be a delightful hunt. I built a load for a fellow hunting capercaillie in Sweden. He was using a 120 g. FMJ in a .260; I was told he was quite successful in his hunt.

 

[SJB358]

I haven't had a chance to ask A about the actual hunt, but she mentioned hunting on skis. Does anybody know the usual method for hunting them?

How do you eat them? Like a turkey, and breast them out?

 

[gerry]

Never heard of black grouse so had to look them up, very cool. Not too much different than our blue grouse here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Grouse

Would love to hunt capercaillie, what a neat bird, looks like there are a few variations of them and they average 9 lbs :shock: would get quite a few good meals from one

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Capercaillie

 

[Dwh7271]

Neat birds.
That would be fun.
That capercaillie looks a little like a pheasant but a 9 lb pheasant would be something to see.
Dewey

 

[alaska100]

Scotty, I also have not spoken with her, but my mother, who is an avid bird hunter, was so intrigued by her hunt that she has done some research on it. I guess you glass the tree tops as they set on the very top limbs and then ski up to within 200 yards or less if possible and shoot them out of the trees. You wear a white outfit from head to foot. She ( my mother ) also found out that you can hunt them in the spring with dogs and since she is to old to ski, she is looking into that hunt and would take our daughter with her. I guess on the spring/summer hunt you use a shotgun or perhaps a drilling or combo. My mother had just finished researching the Capercaillie and then April mentioned hunting Capercailzie in Europe. Those two women ( Aleena and April ) are going to cost me a fortune if my mother decides to go--- lol

 

[Guy Miner]

Sounds like a very cool hunt.

Years back I hunted coyotes from my cross-country skis, but we haven't had enough snow in recent years to bother with that.

Congrats on a GREAT family hunt Aleena!

Guy

 

[gerry]

Scotty, I also have not spoken with her, but my mother, who is an avid bird hunter, was so intrigued by her hunt that she has done some research on it. I guess you glass the tree tops as they set on the very top limbs and then ski up to within 200 yards or less if possible and shoot them out of the trees. You wear a white outfit from head to foot. She ( my mother ) also found out that you can hunt them in the spring with dogs and since she is to old to ski, she is looking into that hunt and would take our daughter with her. I guess on the spring/summer hunt you use a shotgun or perhaps a drilling or combo. My mother had just finished researching the Capercaillie and then April mentioned hunting Capercailzie in Europe. Those two women ( Aleena and April ) are going to cost me a fortune if my mother decides to go--- lol

Yep, women are expensive :lol: but worth it. That would be a lot of fun to hunt them.

Guy, I hope to do a bit of wolf hunting on my skis this winter, you could call it redneck biathlon

 

[Vince]

Sounds like Aleena had a good time with family and friends while enjoying nature.
For me that's what it's about. I'm glad she had a good time and I look forward to hearing about her New Zealand hunt.

Vince

 

[alaska100]

Dr. Mike

Looking ahead at the possible hunt of these birds by my mother and daughter. The 120 gr in a 260 would certainly be enough gun. When my mother called she was told anything between a 204 and a 6.5 would be fine. We were thinking more of a combo gun since she would go in the summer and hunt over dogs. something over 20 gauge

what would you take for a winter and summer hunt ?

Gerry

redneck biathlon --I like it also quoting you

yep women are expensive but worth it. that would be a lot of fun to hunt them

Gerry, I showed your post to my wife and she laughed and said, for bait just use lots of money LOL

 

[DrMike]

Dr. Mike

Looking ahead at the possible hunt of these birds by my mother and daughter. The 120 gr in a 260 would certainly be enough gun. When my mother called she was told anything between a 204 and a 6.5 would be fine. We were thinking more of a combo gun since she would go in the summer and hunt over dogs. something over 20 gauge

what would you take for a winter and summer hunt ?

I would think about any flat shooting cartridge will work. As I recall, the requirement was that a FMJ bullet had to be used on that particular hunt. Whether that was the requirement for licensure or whether it was a guide requirement, I don't know. Since I don't currently have a fast stepping .224 cartridge, I'd possibly look to a 22-250 or a 220 Swift. I already have a .257 Roberts, and that would work quite well, as would the 6.5 Creedmoor that I have lurking in the dark confines of a safe.

 

[sask boy]

Mike there are not many calibres you don't have lurking in one of your safes :mrgreen:.
I am enjoying the ready!!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Oldtrader3]

DrMike, you don't have a .22 Hornet of something in you cabinet for head shots. I don't use it much but have a .204 CZ 527 that is a 1/2 MOA gun. I believe in Scotland, they hunt Capercaille with a shotgun on the moors. Great hunt that would be fun. Plus I have always wanted to hunt Red Deer with my BIL in Scotland (he lives in England).

Aleena, good luck with your hunt. Plus, I hope that Jerry is successful on his lion hunt this time. That lion hunt must be an adrenaline rush with a bow!!

 

[Africa Huntress]

Jim-- yes (-:
Charlie--it definitely is but don't forget I will be there with my trusty old double --just in case
Dr. Mike-- the FMJ is the bullet construction of choice
Guy--hunting while skiing is fun and a great family event, at least for us
Gerry--your a man after my own heart ( women are expensive, but worth it )
Dwh7271, Vince, sask boy, Sean, thank you
Scotty, thank you---on a separate subject did you get the updated review ?, if not I will nudge her a bit to get it to you

 

[gerry]

I should qualify that, the right one is worth it thankfully I have the right woman.

 

[DrMike]

A good lady is worth the investment of my life to please her. God blessed me with an understanding wife who has made me stronger in many ways. Fortunately, she doesn't oppose my predilection to accumulate firearms. Couldn't get much better than that. :grin: