5 mistakes commonly made calling predators
- Thread starter Predator Hunts
- Start date
nightcaller
Active member
i'll admit that i was pretty incredulous at first and i hope this thread doesnt get nasty cause i would really like to know what this guy is doing. i'm not sure i'm about to spend $15k on some night vision but i may want to look into this style of hunting. my style has had some good results but if you can drastically improve success i'd like to apply what i can.
i'd love to see your equipment set up if you wouldnt mind taking some pics and explaining how its done. i dont know if its realistic to get pics of the animals through the night vision but that would be awesome too.
and to all of those that want to trash this guy because he doesnt have any post #s on here i think you should keep you d**n mouths shut. there are a number of extremely ignorant people on here that have hundreds or even thousands of posts that are borderline clueless. the number of posts you make on this site does not correlate to how well you hunt.
the best predator hunters i know personally dont post on this site at all.
i'd love to see your equipment set up if you wouldnt mind taking some pics and explaining how its done. i dont know if its realistic to get pics of the animals through the night vision but that would be awesome too.
and to all of those that want to trash this guy because he doesnt have any post #s on here i think you should keep you d**n mouths shut. there are a number of extremely ignorant people on here that have hundreds or even thousands of posts that are borderline clueless. the number of posts you make on this site does not correlate to how well you hunt.
the best predator hunters i know personally dont post on this site at all.
Boomy
New member
Point was to buy us dinner first.
This would have been a better into.
"Joey Parks here, I am the owner and operator of Cowboy Predator Hunts and have forty-five plus years calling and predator hunting experience. I am a fourth generation Texan and have been calling coyotes and predator since I was ten years old. Hunting all over the world, I call predators wherever I hunt, making Cowboy Predator Hunts the go to provider of world class predator hunts. From Wolf hunts in Canada to the predator hunts right here in Texas."
Oh! Ok Joey, nice to meet you. Please share yor knowledge with the group.
This would have been a better into.
"Joey Parks here, I am the owner and operator of Cowboy Predator Hunts and have forty-five plus years calling and predator hunting experience. I am a fourth generation Texan and have been calling coyotes and predator since I was ten years old. Hunting all over the world, I call predators wherever I hunt, making Cowboy Predator Hunts the go to provider of world class predator hunts. From Wolf hunts in Canada to the predator hunts right here in Texas."
Oh! Ok Joey, nice to meet you. Please share yor knowledge with the group.
Kizmo
New member
Originally Posted By: nightcallerand to all of those that want to trash this guy because he doesnt have any post #s on here i think you should keep you d**n mouths shut. there are a number of extremely ignorant people on here that have hundreds or even thousands of posts that are borderline clueless. the number of posts you make on this site does not correlate to how well you hunt.
the best predator hunters i know personally dont post on this site at all.
I haven't noticed anyone trashing him for a lack of post counts, and I hope that was not aimed at me. However, my bu*****t meter is breaking the needle when a guy shows up and tries to undercut legitimate sponsors, making claims of an outrageous number of kills, and comparing a freaking recreational sport to the [beeep] our brave soldiers are having to endure overseas. And the key to this unprecedented success...? Night vision equipment and a small light. WOW! THAT'S never been done before.
Got news for ya, there ain't no magic in this sport. Just hard work and a steep learning curve that everyone has to endure. If you believe otherwise, their hunts start at around $1,000 per night (I misread their website earlier).
"A fool and his money are soon parted."
the best predator hunters i know personally dont post on this site at all.
I haven't noticed anyone trashing him for a lack of post counts, and I hope that was not aimed at me. However, my bu*****t meter is breaking the needle when a guy shows up and tries to undercut legitimate sponsors, making claims of an outrageous number of kills, and comparing a freaking recreational sport to the [beeep] our brave soldiers are having to endure overseas. And the key to this unprecedented success...? Night vision equipment and a small light. WOW! THAT'S never been done before.
Got news for ya, there ain't no magic in this sport. Just hard work and a steep learning curve that everyone has to endure. If you believe otherwise, their hunts start at around $1,000 per night (I misread their website earlier).
"A fool and his money are soon parted."
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tawnoper
Active member
Originally Posted By: nightcaller
i hope this thread doesnt get nasty
and to all of those that want to trash this guy because he doesnt have any post #s on here i think you should keep you d**n mouths shut. there are a number of extremely ignorant people on here that have hundreds or even thousands of posts that are borderline clueless.
i hope this thread doesnt get nasty
and to all of those that want to trash this guy because he doesnt have any post #s on here i think you should keep you d**n mouths shut. there are a number of extremely ignorant people on here that have hundreds or even thousands of posts that are borderline clueless.
Predator Hunts
New member
Hey guys,
Boy people are getting pretty pissy in here about different subjects. Its funny to see what the people have to say that have thousands of posts compared to the people that have a few hundred and under. Mods and admins are always great to hear from too.
As for the introduction, forums normally have a section for new members and that is what I looked for when I first joined, but did not find a section like this. All that information is on my site and I did not feel I needed to reinvent the wheel twice.
When I had my first few posts, I had my site in my signature so people could read about me and my service, but since then the mods have taken all that down saying I need to pay. Seems you cant have outgoing links without paying a yearly fee. That is great, if that is how this forum works.
Other than that I am just here to share my two cents about the experiences I have had predator hunting. That is what a forum is all about. Sharing useful information and getting to know people that have the same interests as you. I dont really care if some people think I am full of it or whatever. I am just trying to help some of those people that are looking for the information I provided and are interested in.
I think it is funny when people bash what I say and the pics of the animals they have in there avatar/site/signature are half the size and are not anywhere close to the animals in my hunts. =) Its good stuff.
With that said, I am not here to lie or ruffle any feathers. My goal was to meet new people, share some information that I thought people may like, shows some pics of some of the predators I have taken, and share my service for interested people.
As for the prices, I am free to negotiate with anyone. I have explained in other posts the service and equipment you are getting with those prices. I do not know how much research some of you have done, but my prices are right around some of my competitors that offer a similar service.
Please get in contact with me if I can help in anyway or if you have any questions.
@Kizmo - If you have hate in your heart, just let it out.
Boy people are getting pretty pissy in here about different subjects. Its funny to see what the people have to say that have thousands of posts compared to the people that have a few hundred and under. Mods and admins are always great to hear from too.
As for the introduction, forums normally have a section for new members and that is what I looked for when I first joined, but did not find a section like this. All that information is on my site and I did not feel I needed to reinvent the wheel twice.
When I had my first few posts, I had my site in my signature so people could read about me and my service, but since then the mods have taken all that down saying I need to pay. Seems you cant have outgoing links without paying a yearly fee. That is great, if that is how this forum works.
Other than that I am just here to share my two cents about the experiences I have had predator hunting. That is what a forum is all about. Sharing useful information and getting to know people that have the same interests as you. I dont really care if some people think I am full of it or whatever. I am just trying to help some of those people that are looking for the information I provided and are interested in.
I think it is funny when people bash what I say and the pics of the animals they have in there avatar/site/signature are half the size and are not anywhere close to the animals in my hunts. =) Its good stuff.
With that said, I am not here to lie or ruffle any feathers. My goal was to meet new people, share some information that I thought people may like, shows some pics of some of the predators I have taken, and share my service for interested people.
As for the prices, I am free to negotiate with anyone. I have explained in other posts the service and equipment you are getting with those prices. I do not know how much research some of you have done, but my prices are right around some of my competitors that offer a similar service.
Please get in contact with me if I can help in anyway or if you have any questions.
@Kizmo - If you have hate in your heart, just let it out.
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Kizmo
New member
Originally Posted By: Predator Hunts
I think it is funny when people bash what I say and the pics of the animals they have in there avatar/site/signature are half the size and are not anywhere close to the animals in my hunts. =) Its good stuff.
@Kizmo - If you have hate in your heart, just let it out.
& I think it's funny when an outfitter has to post double pics of the same cats to pad their numbers.
No hate here. Feelin' fine.
I think it is funny when people bash what I say and the pics of the animals they have in there avatar/site/signature are half the size and are not anywhere close to the animals in my hunts. =) Its good stuff.
@Kizmo - If you have hate in your heart, just let it out.
& I think it's funny when an outfitter has to post double pics of the same cats to pad their numbers.
No hate here. Feelin' fine.
Predator Hunts
New member
Originally Posted By: KizmoOriginally Posted By: Predator Hunts
I think it is funny when people bash what I say and the pics of the animals they have in there avatar/site/signature are half the size and are not anywhere close to the animals in my hunts. =) Its good stuff.
@Kizmo - If you have hate in your heart, just let it out.
& I think it's funny when an outfitter has to post double pics of the same cats to pad their numbers.
No hate here. Feelin' fine.
Double posts? Why are you coming at me?
I can send you pics of all the furs I have and tons more cat pics if that is what you want.
I am not going to be the guy who fights with someone in a forum, I am a bigger person than that. Just let me know what you need and I will post it or email it to u.
I think it is funny when people bash what I say and the pics of the animals they have in there avatar/site/signature are half the size and are not anywhere close to the animals in my hunts. =) Its good stuff.
@Kizmo - If you have hate in your heart, just let it out.
& I think it's funny when an outfitter has to post double pics of the same cats to pad their numbers.
No hate here. Feelin' fine.
Double posts? Why are you coming at me?
I can send you pics of all the furs I have and tons more cat pics if that is what you want.
I am not going to be the guy who fights with someone in a forum, I am a bigger person than that. Just let me know what you need and I will post it or email it to u.
AZ~Red
New member
Checked out your site. Looks pretty cool. Those wolves are huge man. I'd run the other way. Good lookin' javis too. I like the scruffy ones. Looks like a good time but unfortunately I'll never be able to do anything like that on my $12 an hour salary. If populations get out of hand and you need a hired hand I'm in
.
Predator Hunts
New member
Originally Posted By: AzRednekRabbitChecked out your site. Looks pretty cool. Those wolves are huge man. I'd run the other way. Good lookin' javis too. I like the scruffy ones. Looks like a good time but unfortunately I'll never be able to do anything like that on my $12 an hour salary. If populations get out of hand and you need a hired hand I'm in
.
Hahaha
thanks for the great feedback. I will keep you in mind if things ever get out of hand.
Hahaha
Kizmo
New member
Originally Posted By: Predator HuntsDouble posts? Why are you coming at me?
I can send you pics of all the furs I have and tons more cat pics if that is what you want.
I am not going to be the guy who fights with someone in a forum, I am a bigger person than that. Just let me know what you need and I will post it or email it to u.
"bobcat-face-1.png" and "bobcat-gun-1.png" are the same cat. You know it and I know it.
You are the one who first flung the 'mine is bigger than yours' rermark. I am a "small" enough person to call you on it. There are not enough dead critters in your pics to back up the number of kills you claim, and certainly not enough to justify the exorbitant prices you charge.
I can send you pics of all the furs I have and tons more cat pics if that is what you want.
I am not going to be the guy who fights with someone in a forum, I am a bigger person than that. Just let me know what you need and I will post it or email it to u.
"bobcat-face-1.png" and "bobcat-gun-1.png" are the same cat. You know it and I know it.
You are the one who first flung the 'mine is bigger than yours' rermark. I am a "small" enough person to call you on it. There are not enough dead critters in your pics to back up the number of kills you claim, and certainly not enough to justify the exorbitant prices you charge.
Predator Hunts
New member
Originally Posted By: KizmoOriginally Posted By: Predator HuntsDouble posts? Why are you coming at me?
I can send you pics of all the furs I have and tons more cat pics if that is what you want.
I am not going to be the guy who fights with someone in a forum, I am a bigger person than that. Just let me know what you need and I will post it or email it to u.
"bobcat-face-1.png" and "bobcat-gun-1.png" are the same cat. You know it and I know it.
You are the one who first flung the 'mine is bigger than yours' rermark. I am a "small" enough person to call you on it. There are not enough dead critters in your pics to back up the number of kills you claim, and certainly not enough to justify the exorbitant prices you charge.
Ok and that is the same person in the picture too.. Is it bad to show a picture of the face and then a full body picture? Just different perspectives.. I also have a picture on my homepage that I use in my gallery. Sorry my web designer did not want to spend a life time editing and adding hundreds of pictures. I will get more up though for you.
and no where and I playing the 'my animals are bigger card.' I may have said I take big animals, but nowhere and I saying 'your animals are small and I am better..' That is not me.
Again, I am here to share my success in predator hunting and give some helpful hints and tips that I have learned over the period of time I have been hunting. You can read what I write and use it, or you can just forget it and do what you normally do while hunting. Its all about the experience and having fun!
I can send you pics of all the furs I have and tons more cat pics if that is what you want.
I am not going to be the guy who fights with someone in a forum, I am a bigger person than that. Just let me know what you need and I will post it or email it to u.
"bobcat-face-1.png" and "bobcat-gun-1.png" are the same cat. You know it and I know it.
You are the one who first flung the 'mine is bigger than yours' rermark. I am a "small" enough person to call you on it. There are not enough dead critters in your pics to back up the number of kills you claim, and certainly not enough to justify the exorbitant prices you charge.
Ok and that is the same person in the picture too.. Is it bad to show a picture of the face and then a full body picture? Just different perspectives.. I also have a picture on my homepage that I use in my gallery. Sorry my web designer did not want to spend a life time editing and adding hundreds of pictures. I will get more up though for you.
and no where and I playing the 'my animals are bigger card.' I may have said I take big animals, but nowhere and I saying 'your animals are small and I am better..' That is not me.
Again, I am here to share my success in predator hunting and give some helpful hints and tips that I have learned over the period of time I have been hunting. You can read what I write and use it, or you can just forget it and do what you normally do while hunting. Its all about the experience and having fun!
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Ursus21
Active member
Okay I'm willing to go on the benefit of the doubt. So how about telling us about your night rifle set up in detail? I would like to know a little more about it. I mean I know you have an AR and that it has night vision, but that doesn't tell me much. What brand and model of scope, rifle, accessories???
Kizmo
New member
Originally Posted By: Predator Hunts
Ok and that is the same person in the picture too.. Is it bad to show a picture of the face and then a full body picture? Just different perspectives.. I also have a picture on my homepage that I use in my gallery. Sorry my web designer did not want to spend a life time editing and adding hundreds of pictures. I will get more up though for you.
and no where and I playing the 'my animals are bigger card.' I may have said I take big animals, but nowhere and I saying 'your animals are small and I am better..' That is not me.
Again, I am here to share my success in predator hunting and give some helpful hints and tips that I have learned over the period of time I have been hunting. You can read what I write and use it, or you can just forget it and do what you normally do while hunting. Its all about the experience and having fun!
Actually you said it here:
"and the pics of the animals they have in there avatar/site/signature are half the size and are not anywhere close to the animals in my hunts. =) Its good stuff" (emphasis added)
By the way, "bobcat-hunt10.png" and "bobcat-hunt9.png" are the same cat too.
Here's what I think. You have probably hunted for awhile, but not as an outfitter. You decided to cash in on the Current Coyote Craze (CCC), so you started up your outfitting business & website this year (website copyright 2010). You don't know enough about the outfitting business to know what everyone generally charges, so you came up with these rates based on what deer outfitters and elk outfitters charge, and because you want to make a lot of money. You concoct kill #'s that would Byron South and Randy Anderson green with envy, come on here trying to get free advertising (on the sly or out of ignorance), and try to insert yourself as an expert among a group of real, honest-to-God experts (myself not included) who see through you like Saran Wrap (myself included). We ain't impressed with NV, "new techniques", black guns, etc. It's all been done before, and we know it because we have done it.
Had you, on the other hand, come on here, paid your dues like all the other sponsors and said something like "I've just started an outfitting business, and I would like to have you guys as customers", I, and probably others, would have already booked a hunt with you. I am not nearly the a**-hole you surely think I am (& I don't blame you for THAT). I just don't like seeing people being ripped off. For what you charge, all of your pictures for each hunt should be a hunter standing on a step ladder peeking over a pile of carcasses. I haven't seen one like that yet.
Ok and that is the same person in the picture too.. Is it bad to show a picture of the face and then a full body picture? Just different perspectives.. I also have a picture on my homepage that I use in my gallery. Sorry my web designer did not want to spend a life time editing and adding hundreds of pictures. I will get more up though for you.
and no where and I playing the 'my animals are bigger card.' I may have said I take big animals, but nowhere and I saying 'your animals are small and I am better..' That is not me.
Again, I am here to share my success in predator hunting and give some helpful hints and tips that I have learned over the period of time I have been hunting. You can read what I write and use it, or you can just forget it and do what you normally do while hunting. Its all about the experience and having fun!
Actually you said it here:
"and the pics of the animals they have in there avatar/site/signature are half the size and are not anywhere close to the animals in my hunts. =) Its good stuff" (emphasis added)
By the way, "bobcat-hunt10.png" and "bobcat-hunt9.png" are the same cat too.
Here's what I think. You have probably hunted for awhile, but not as an outfitter. You decided to cash in on the Current Coyote Craze (CCC), so you started up your outfitting business & website this year (website copyright 2010). You don't know enough about the outfitting business to know what everyone generally charges, so you came up with these rates based on what deer outfitters and elk outfitters charge, and because you want to make a lot of money. You concoct kill #'s that would Byron South and Randy Anderson green with envy, come on here trying to get free advertising (on the sly or out of ignorance), and try to insert yourself as an expert among a group of real, honest-to-God experts (myself not included) who see through you like Saran Wrap (myself included). We ain't impressed with NV, "new techniques", black guns, etc. It's all been done before, and we know it because we have done it.
Had you, on the other hand, come on here, paid your dues like all the other sponsors and said something like "I've just started an outfitting business, and I would like to have you guys as customers", I, and probably others, would have already booked a hunt with you. I am not nearly the a**-hole you surely think I am (& I don't blame you for THAT). I just don't like seeing people being ripped off. For what you charge, all of your pictures for each hunt should be a hunter standing on a step ladder peeking over a pile of carcasses. I haven't seen one like that yet.
Predator Hunts
New member
Originally Posted By: KizmoOriginally Posted By: Predator Hunts
Ok and that is the same person in the picture too.. Is it bad to show a picture of the face and then a full body picture? Just different perspectives.. I also have a picture on my homepage that I use in my gallery. Sorry my web designer did not want to spend a life time editing and adding hundreds of pictures. I will get more up though for you.
and no where and I playing the 'my animals are bigger card.' I may have said I take big animals, but nowhere and I saying 'your animals are small and I am better..' That is not me.
Again, I am here to share my success in predator hunting and give some helpful hints and tips that I have learned over the period of time I have been hunting. You can read what I write and use it, or you can just forget it and do what you normally do while hunting. Its all about the experience and having fun!
Actually you said it here:
"and the pics of the animals they have in there avatar/site/signature are half the size and are not anywhere close to the animals in my hunts. =) Its good stuff" (emphasis added)
By the way, "bobcat-hunt10.png" and "bobcat-hunt9.png" are the same cat too.
Here's what I think. You have probably hunted for awhile, but not as an outfitter. You decided to cash in on the Current Coyote Craze (CCC), so you started up your outfitting business & website this year (website copyright 2010). You don't know enough about the outfitting business to know what everyone generally charges, so you came up with these rates based on what deer outfitters and elk outfitters charge, and because you want to make a lot of money. You concoct kill #'s that would Byron South and Randy Anderson green with envy, come on here trying to get free advertising (on the sly or out of ignorance), and try to insert yourself as an expert among a group of real, honest-to-God experts (myself not included) who see through you like Saran Wrap (myself included). We ain't impressed with NV, "new techniques", black guns, etc. It's all been done before, and we know it because we have done it.
Had you, on the other hand, come on here, paid your dues like all the other sponsors and said something like "I've just started an outfitting business, and I would like to have you guys as customers", I, and probably others, would have already booked a hunt with you. I am not nearly the a**-hole you surely think I am (& I don't blame you for THAT). I just don't like seeing people being ripped off. For what you charge, all of your pictures for each hunt should be a hunter standing on a step ladder peeking over a pile of carcasses. I haven't seen one like that yet.
You are wrong in every subject except my website. I did indeed just have that built. Thanks for the nice comments on it.
I already stated my web developers did not want to edit a ton of pictures.
This week I will get some more pictures together from all my hunts over the years and I will show you my 'pile of carcasses'
If you look at say bossranch.. you will see similar prices. I can give you some other outfitters that have around the same prices as well.
I never said I was an expert. Just have had 45+ years of experience. If i would have come in here and said' i just started my outfitters business' then that would have been a lie.
Give me a little time and you will more than likely eat your words.
Ok and that is the same person in the picture too.. Is it bad to show a picture of the face and then a full body picture? Just different perspectives.. I also have a picture on my homepage that I use in my gallery. Sorry my web designer did not want to spend a life time editing and adding hundreds of pictures. I will get more up though for you.
and no where and I playing the 'my animals are bigger card.' I may have said I take big animals, but nowhere and I saying 'your animals are small and I am better..' That is not me.
Again, I am here to share my success in predator hunting and give some helpful hints and tips that I have learned over the period of time I have been hunting. You can read what I write and use it, or you can just forget it and do what you normally do while hunting. Its all about the experience and having fun!
Actually you said it here:
"and the pics of the animals they have in there avatar/site/signature are half the size and are not anywhere close to the animals in my hunts. =) Its good stuff" (emphasis added)
By the way, "bobcat-hunt10.png" and "bobcat-hunt9.png" are the same cat too.
Here's what I think. You have probably hunted for awhile, but not as an outfitter. You decided to cash in on the Current Coyote Craze (CCC), so you started up your outfitting business & website this year (website copyright 2010). You don't know enough about the outfitting business to know what everyone generally charges, so you came up with these rates based on what deer outfitters and elk outfitters charge, and because you want to make a lot of money. You concoct kill #'s that would Byron South and Randy Anderson green with envy, come on here trying to get free advertising (on the sly or out of ignorance), and try to insert yourself as an expert among a group of real, honest-to-God experts (myself not included) who see through you like Saran Wrap (myself included). We ain't impressed with NV, "new techniques", black guns, etc. It's all been done before, and we know it because we have done it.
Had you, on the other hand, come on here, paid your dues like all the other sponsors and said something like "I've just started an outfitting business, and I would like to have you guys as customers", I, and probably others, would have already booked a hunt with you. I am not nearly the a**-hole you surely think I am (& I don't blame you for THAT). I just don't like seeing people being ripped off. For what you charge, all of your pictures for each hunt should be a hunter standing on a step ladder peeking over a pile of carcasses. I haven't seen one like that yet.
You are wrong in every subject except my website. I did indeed just have that built. Thanks for the nice comments on it.
I already stated my web developers did not want to edit a ton of pictures.
This week I will get some more pictures together from all my hunts over the years and I will show you my 'pile of carcasses'
If you look at say bossranch.. you will see similar prices. I can give you some other outfitters that have around the same prices as well.
I never said I was an expert. Just have had 45+ years of experience. If i would have come in here and said' i just started my outfitters business' then that would have been a lie.
Give me a little time and you will more than likely eat your words.
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Predator Hunts
New member
Thought some of you might like to read this from one of my recent hunts. maybe give myself a little creditability until i get some more pics of 'my carcasses'
A new Experience, with Cowboy Predator Hunts
Growing up for the most part in Kentucky I have hunted most every critter that roams our land, to include predators. Predator hunting to me was setting up and waiting on them to make another raid on the hen house that is until I meet Joey, a Texas Cowboy with a passion for hunting like my own. I started hunting with Joey six years ago when a mutual friend, Jim, from Florida took me on a predator and javelina hunt with him in Texas. Jim and Joey have hunted in Africa and all over the US together for over twenty years. I had no idea of what I was in for. Well to say the least we became fast friends. I told Joey that I wanted to do one good Texas hunt before I deployed for the third tour to Afghanistan. In fact I am in country now at a fire base as I write this article for Varmint Hunter. It is not all fighting all the time, every now and then there is some down time.
Joey and I meet up last November for a West Texas predator hunt. This was not to be one of those 5 star hotel, restaurant of your choice lavish hunts that cost thousands of dollars where your lead around by the nose and told where to point and shoot. West Texas is very large arid to semi arid region west of the Brazos River that extends well into the Pecos River region and as far as the Chihuahua Desert, Conrad Hilton did not build any hotels there.
Joey knows about everybody out that way having great rapport with the local ranchers, being a cowboy they trust him and in some cases rely on him to help deal with predator raids on their young livestock. Some of the ranches we hunted on are still family owned as far back at the 1800’s consisting of 300 to 400 thousand acres.
We hunt by night and scout by day and sleep somewhere in between, sort of like what we do here in Afghanistan on the Light Infantry and Special Operations side. These are night hunts, quick short range shots, say out to about 40- yards and you never know what you might get on a call, coyote, cat, fox, or long tailed cat, each critter presenting their own challenge. This may sound easy, it’s not, this is not one of those well if you miss the first shot you will have plenty of time to take another, nope, if you miss the first shot you have done missed. You’re hunting in the dark, with a very limited light source that greatly narrows your field of vision, somewhat like moving thru a village at night with Night Optics (NODs). This is not spot lighting; they are not mesmerized by the light as deer sometimes are. They move back and forth, stop for only a second or two and move on. Within a handful of seconds you will struggle to acquire a sight picture and hope that the second and a half you have to pull the trigger is enough. You could compare it to close quarters combat (CQC) you need to be alert, quick and on target. But then out of the blue, Joey will make some animal sound and they will stop and give that great side on shot or maybe the cat will sit down and try to figure out what made that sound and then you have that straight on frontal shot. I really am amazed at his ability to make the shot presentation good for the shooter. He says that with the conventional spotlight, the caller is just watching the eyes of the animals, with him wearing night vision, he can watch the animal come in and then tell the shooter when the animal is in the open and in range. Also the shooter is on the animal watching via the night vision mounted on the scope.
Initially, and without really thinking it thru I chose to take a standard bold action rifle, effective but not the best choice. Joey supplies the rifles for the hunt and has a Kimber stainless bull barrel in 223 and a Remington Sendero in 220 Swift for those that prefer bolt guns. I now much prefer the same weapon that I have carried for years in the military and still do with not much difference, the AR-15/M-4 platform is tailor made. Joey has several set up especially for night hunts. He uses two AR’s in the 223 caliber, he has two in 6.8 Remington calibers and one I love and made Joey promise to put my name on it in his will is the little AR-57, this is the new upper using the 5.7x28 military rounds developed by FN.
This little round is just under the 22 Hornet in ballistics, and devastating on the predators under a hundred yards. He uses a rail system, Leopold scope with nigh vision attachment and a variety of special calls. I parked my bolt gun in the trunk and used his AR-57 one night, it did not take long for a fox to show, dropped him and much to my surprise a second came right up behind him, dropped him and within a second and a half a third appeared, never would have expected that, seems the shots did not phase them a bit. All three appeared within just a few seconds out of the darkness, and after the smoke cleared they were only inches apart as they fell. That little AR-57 made all the difference in the world with target acquisition and rapid follow-up shots with small exit wounds. But it does not stop there. He has a custom van conversion in four wheel drive. The roof has a 2’x5’ hatch and built-in rifle rack. Yes, you guessed it, it becomes a mobile elevated foxhole, and it’s great, right out of The Road Warrior! Just as we do over here, less the heavy armor plating and a few other special niceties’. The top is Rhino Lined and you are standing up and shooting off a solid bench rest on incoming animals.
Now just think back for a moment to the size of the ranch’s we hunted on, thousands of acres. So when we were satisfied that we had worn out our welcome in one area we just drive a couple miles to another and started the ball rolling all over again, yes your own private predator game preserve. When you are with Joey there are no other hunters there to bump up against, or narrow shooting lanes to stay within, you have as much of the big outdoors as you will ever need all to yourself. And it is because of that I was able to relocate a few miles away on the same ranch and down three cats, not all at once but within about a 90 minute span, and once again that AR-57 was the weapon of choice.
Joey has been the luckiest man in the world. He has killed predators all over the world. He has hunted the big five in Tanzania Africa, leopards in Namibia, and taken a Boone and Crockett Kodiak brown bear on Kodiak Island. He has extensively called the plains predators of Namibia and South Africa. The species taken there are black back jackal, African wild cat, caracal, hyena, civet cats and serval, all native to the lower countries of East, South and West Africa. He has his calls where ever he goes. I have even been on a wolf hunt that he does in Ontario Canada with his wolf hunting partner Peter. There were four in the group and we took four wolves. He does three wolf hunts in the fall calling and howling them in with Peter. I guess if an animal will come to a call in North America, Joey has tried to call it!!
I’ll tell you it hooked me, I love this style of predator hunting, its challenging, affordable and great fun. If you have never done it, then you should at least do it once, if you think you’re up to it, giving it a try. Joey will get you there the rest is up to you!
Steve
LTC, SF, USA
Currently Serving 3rd tour in Afghanistan with the US Army
What would the board like me to go into further detail about?
A new Experience, with Cowboy Predator Hunts
Growing up for the most part in Kentucky I have hunted most every critter that roams our land, to include predators. Predator hunting to me was setting up and waiting on them to make another raid on the hen house that is until I meet Joey, a Texas Cowboy with a passion for hunting like my own. I started hunting with Joey six years ago when a mutual friend, Jim, from Florida took me on a predator and javelina hunt with him in Texas. Jim and Joey have hunted in Africa and all over the US together for over twenty years. I had no idea of what I was in for. Well to say the least we became fast friends. I told Joey that I wanted to do one good Texas hunt before I deployed for the third tour to Afghanistan. In fact I am in country now at a fire base as I write this article for Varmint Hunter. It is not all fighting all the time, every now and then there is some down time.
Joey and I meet up last November for a West Texas predator hunt. This was not to be one of those 5 star hotel, restaurant of your choice lavish hunts that cost thousands of dollars where your lead around by the nose and told where to point and shoot. West Texas is very large arid to semi arid region west of the Brazos River that extends well into the Pecos River region and as far as the Chihuahua Desert, Conrad Hilton did not build any hotels there.
Joey knows about everybody out that way having great rapport with the local ranchers, being a cowboy they trust him and in some cases rely on him to help deal with predator raids on their young livestock. Some of the ranches we hunted on are still family owned as far back at the 1800’s consisting of 300 to 400 thousand acres.
We hunt by night and scout by day and sleep somewhere in between, sort of like what we do here in Afghanistan on the Light Infantry and Special Operations side. These are night hunts, quick short range shots, say out to about 40- yards and you never know what you might get on a call, coyote, cat, fox, or long tailed cat, each critter presenting their own challenge. This may sound easy, it’s not, this is not one of those well if you miss the first shot you will have plenty of time to take another, nope, if you miss the first shot you have done missed. You’re hunting in the dark, with a very limited light source that greatly narrows your field of vision, somewhat like moving thru a village at night with Night Optics (NODs). This is not spot lighting; they are not mesmerized by the light as deer sometimes are. They move back and forth, stop for only a second or two and move on. Within a handful of seconds you will struggle to acquire a sight picture and hope that the second and a half you have to pull the trigger is enough. You could compare it to close quarters combat (CQC) you need to be alert, quick and on target. But then out of the blue, Joey will make some animal sound and they will stop and give that great side on shot or maybe the cat will sit down and try to figure out what made that sound and then you have that straight on frontal shot. I really am amazed at his ability to make the shot presentation good for the shooter. He says that with the conventional spotlight, the caller is just watching the eyes of the animals, with him wearing night vision, he can watch the animal come in and then tell the shooter when the animal is in the open and in range. Also the shooter is on the animal watching via the night vision mounted on the scope.
Initially, and without really thinking it thru I chose to take a standard bold action rifle, effective but not the best choice. Joey supplies the rifles for the hunt and has a Kimber stainless bull barrel in 223 and a Remington Sendero in 220 Swift for those that prefer bolt guns. I now much prefer the same weapon that I have carried for years in the military and still do with not much difference, the AR-15/M-4 platform is tailor made. Joey has several set up especially for night hunts. He uses two AR’s in the 223 caliber, he has two in 6.8 Remington calibers and one I love and made Joey promise to put my name on it in his will is the little AR-57, this is the new upper using the 5.7x28 military rounds developed by FN.
This little round is just under the 22 Hornet in ballistics, and devastating on the predators under a hundred yards. He uses a rail system, Leopold scope with nigh vision attachment and a variety of special calls. I parked my bolt gun in the trunk and used his AR-57 one night, it did not take long for a fox to show, dropped him and much to my surprise a second came right up behind him, dropped him and within a second and a half a third appeared, never would have expected that, seems the shots did not phase them a bit. All three appeared within just a few seconds out of the darkness, and after the smoke cleared they were only inches apart as they fell. That little AR-57 made all the difference in the world with target acquisition and rapid follow-up shots with small exit wounds. But it does not stop there. He has a custom van conversion in four wheel drive. The roof has a 2’x5’ hatch and built-in rifle rack. Yes, you guessed it, it becomes a mobile elevated foxhole, and it’s great, right out of The Road Warrior! Just as we do over here, less the heavy armor plating and a few other special niceties’. The top is Rhino Lined and you are standing up and shooting off a solid bench rest on incoming animals.
Now just think back for a moment to the size of the ranch’s we hunted on, thousands of acres. So when we were satisfied that we had worn out our welcome in one area we just drive a couple miles to another and started the ball rolling all over again, yes your own private predator game preserve. When you are with Joey there are no other hunters there to bump up against, or narrow shooting lanes to stay within, you have as much of the big outdoors as you will ever need all to yourself. And it is because of that I was able to relocate a few miles away on the same ranch and down three cats, not all at once but within about a 90 minute span, and once again that AR-57 was the weapon of choice.
Joey has been the luckiest man in the world. He has killed predators all over the world. He has hunted the big five in Tanzania Africa, leopards in Namibia, and taken a Boone and Crockett Kodiak brown bear on Kodiak Island. He has extensively called the plains predators of Namibia and South Africa. The species taken there are black back jackal, African wild cat, caracal, hyena, civet cats and serval, all native to the lower countries of East, South and West Africa. He has his calls where ever he goes. I have even been on a wolf hunt that he does in Ontario Canada with his wolf hunting partner Peter. There were four in the group and we took four wolves. He does three wolf hunts in the fall calling and howling them in with Peter. I guess if an animal will come to a call in North America, Joey has tried to call it!!
I’ll tell you it hooked me, I love this style of predator hunting, its challenging, affordable and great fun. If you have never done it, then you should at least do it once, if you think you’re up to it, giving it a try. Joey will get you there the rest is up to you!
Steve
LTC, SF, USA
Currently Serving 3rd tour in Afghanistan with the US Army
What would the board like me to go into further detail about?
Last edited:
Super White Hunter
New member
Originally Posted By: Ursus21Okay I'm willing to go on the benefit of the doubt. So how about telling us about your night rifle set up in detail? I would like to know a little more about it. I mean I know you have an AR and that it has night vision, but that doesn't tell me much. What brand and model of scope, rifle, accessories???
+1
how much are you selling your night vision for?
+1
how much are you selling your night vision for?