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  1. Hilltop

    Summer time fun!

    My boy caught this on rod and reel. 30lb braid on a medium action bass rod. The fish was 45" and 41 pounds... fun night!
  2. Hilltop

    Help with 243

    Like others have said, most factory ammo will kill a deer and likely shoot good enough out to 250. I personally like the Hornady 95 grain loads out our youth 243. The terminal performance out of those has been the best we have used.
  3. Hilltop

    Blood Trailing...Have You Ever Had A Trail Run Dry?

    It has happened to me several times through the years. Before GPS, we used orange marking tape on tree limbs and maps to keep tabs on general direction. Now, like others have mentioned we use GPS. One of the notable ones from the past was a small buck I shot as a teenager. I hit the deer...
  4. Hilltop

    Franchi Affinity 3 versus 3.5"

    I have owned 2 different gun capable of 3.5. I shot a couple of boxes but never really felt they gave me any advantage- likely due to my style of hunting. I like to decoy birds so 3" with BB is about the largest I shoot. I do love the feel of the Franchi and plan to own one in the near...
  5. Hilltop

    Elk Decoy

    Decoys work. Whether it's worth it for someone to pack them is a personal decision. We have had elk come on a string ignoring wind at times but it doesn't always work that way. Like anything, there are other factors. I can say I have seen guys pack them for miles and never even try to use...
  6. Hilltop

    space between camps

    Keep in mind, many satellite images are several years old. No way to know if a camp is there or not until you get in there. If it is a spot that really grabs your attention from those images, there is a very good chance other hunters are looking at it too. Hike in with a plan, A, B, C, etc...
  7. Hilltop

    What Makes A Big Mule Deer?????

    First thing that comes to mind when I think big is that distinctive body on an old mule deer. They just look like a pig. Big mule deer have all kinds of different racks- I like them all. If i had my pick in a group, I want the giant typical with 30+" of width. That has changed through the...
  8. Hilltop

    Doe in heat ?

    It's possible but very unusual. In southern states the earliest does come into their cycle in July. Typically in Northern states they don't breed until late September. Any doe bred that far North would give birth in the dead of winter- not likely to be successful. Guessing it was a pretty...
  9. Hilltop

    Summer time fun!

    Fishing with the kids, honey-do's, and coaching baseball take up the majority of my summer when I'm not working.
  10. Hilltop

    Archery Muley's Nebraska

    The mule deer in Nebraska are very sought after and we have very little public ground to hunt them. There are some deer and occasionally some good deer but finding decent numbers on public is challenging. Those that may know of good areas typically keep them quiet because once the cats out of...
  11. Hilltop

    On or Off Nat Forest

    Saying valid off national forest is much easier than saying valid only for BLM, state, private, HMA, WIA, etc... Pretty easy- hunt anywhere off of National Forest designated land.
  12. Hilltop

    Major Forum Updates Coming!

    Getting used to it- just wish there was a way to change background color on individual settings.
  13. Hilltop

    Major Forum Updates Coming!

    I'm not a fan of the dark background... I get it change was necessary to stay with the times but don't care for the look.
  14. Hilltop

    Fairbury Nebraska Turkey

    We got into a gob of geese but they were only here for a week or so. These were the last two for the year. My little guy is addicted. Small floater spreads worked well at the end. Hope you can make it out next spring.
  15. Hilltop

    ...

    To me there are several factors. 1- Don't shoot an antelope that has been run hard. I love to shoot mine first thing in the morning or later in the day when bedded or relaxed grazing. 2- Take care when field dressing and then cool them down immediately. 3- Wrap meat properly when processing...
  16. Hilltop

    Rabbit wild version farm raised

    Wild rabbit is great but is typically a little tougher than farm raised. I like to slow cook my wild rabbit in cream of mushroom soup until the meat falls off the bone. Serve it over rice or noodles. Good hearty meal for a cold winter day! We just had a some fresh rabbit Saturday. It's fun...
  17. Hilltop

    Former Cabela's Employees Start Outdoor Company

    I thought some of you would find this interesting; https://www.highbyoutdoors.com/ It is run by all former Cabela's employees and based in Sydney NE.
  18. Hilltop

    Oklahoma Hog Hunt

    I have a group of 6 guys that want to do a weekend hog hunt. We prefer Oklahoma due to drive times but would consider North Texas if it was an amazing deal. Half the guys are coming from Laramie Wyoming and the others from Central Nebraska. Anyone have any recommended ranches/hunts? I have...
  19. Hilltop

    Youth only big game seasons

    My home state of Nebraska doesn't currently have any youth only big game seasons or hunts. In researching other states, I was able to find that Nebraska and Nevada are the only two states that do not offer some form of a youth only big game hunt. Some states offer state wide options for a...
  20. Hilltop

    Son's first deer!

    My son Terin loves to hunt more than any other activity. He recently told me he would toss all of his games, toys, and whatever else if he could go on a deer hunt. So of course Santa delivered a new pair of binoculars, some other hunting gear, and his first ever deer permit. He was very...