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Author
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Topic: Calling in precip and scope???
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scruffy
Knows what it's all about
Member # 725
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posted January 29, 2006 03:03 PM
So what do you guys do when calling in precip like rain or drizzle in regards to your scopes? Do you just let the lenses get covered and look through the haze or do you leave the scope covers on and pull them off when the coyote approaches?
Yesterday after the rains went through I went out and sat up with my downwind side being a picked corn field, wind at my back, coyotes likely at my side (crosswind). It was still drizzling and occasionally sprinkling so I left the scope covers on to keep the lenses dry. When a coyote came in he came from the opposide side I anticipated moving at mach 2 circling downwind and was downwind before I could get the scope covers off...
I know a coyote not coming in on the run would have helped the situation, also having the coyote come in on the side I was expecting (as other coyotes had in years past...) but it got me wondering if I was going about this right.
So how do you guys do it? Scope covers or no scope covers in precip? Or are there other tricks to keeping the lenses dry?
later,
scruffy
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Git R Done
Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted January 29, 2006 03:22 PM
I don't find the objective to be that critical, but you have to do whatever you can to protect the ocular lens, because if that gets rain drops all over it, you can't see a darn thing.
I hate to admit it, but I am not a big fan of scope caps, in general. Why? Because they have caused me to miss a few animals. I'll take my chances with the elements, rather than sitting a stand with scope caps.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32365 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Az-Hunter
Hi, I'm Vic WELCOME TO THE U.S. Free baloney sandwiches here
Member # 17
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posted January 29, 2006 04:45 PM
Ive only had that problem twice. both times, I made the mistake of going out calling during a rain:) If I wake up to go calling, and it's either raining or windy......I crawl back in bed with momma, thats the luxury of living in Arizona, tomorrow is bound to be a better day:)
Posts: 1670 | From: 5 miles west of Tim | Registered: Jan 2003
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted January 29, 2006 05:54 PM
Amen Az Hunter!
That was my first thought.
If you get up and it's raining, why do you even go outside?
I've got a couple of pairs of lens covers, but I sure couldn't tell you where they are.
If I do get caught out in a rain, I tip the muzzle down, and place my left hand over the back of the scope.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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Rich Higgins
unknown comic
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posted January 29, 2006 06:15 PM
Scruffy, 101 days without rain here. It's just not the same problem with these guys as it is with you.
I called during a storm with Brent Saxton in Ohio last year and he had a pair of lens covers that I believe were made by Stoney Point. He would shoulder his rifle and pull a little trigger which would flip both covers up and he would aquire his target . Very quick, very cool, very dry.
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted January 29, 2006 09:12 PM
christ, while you guys are in bed "cuddling" with momma, you are missing some of the best coyote hunting that Arizona has to offer. Hunting in the rain ROCKS!
Good hunting. LB
BTW, I do just like Tim described, tip the front end down and shield the back with my hand.
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32365 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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scruffy
Knows what it's all about
Member # 725
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posted January 30, 2006 04:52 PM
I can see how the muzzle down and hand over the eye piece would protect the scope. So what do you do when your on stand with shooting sticks? I usually have the rifle in the "up and ready" position on the shooting sticks, or occasionally with the barrel pointing at the sky if the ground is very rolling and I know I'll have and instant to shoulder the rifle. Would I keep the rifle in the "up and ready" horizontal position and have my hand over the eye piece???
In the past I used a flip up set of scope covers, and that worked really well, on my right handed rifles... Now that I'm using a left handed rifle the bolt comes back into the "trigger" for the back lens cover and the front lens cover hits the rear sight. I'm debating taking the rear sight off (I'll likely never use it anyway...) so my objective cover works and buy an objective lens cover the right size for the eye peice so there is no "trigger" for the bolt to hit.
I usually only hunt a couple times a year in the rain, usually I wait until just after the rain like on last Saturday when it was just drizzling.
I've gotten in the habit of going out whenever I can. I'm couped up in an office job, don't get to go calling maybe one or two stands a week at most. So I've spent most of my winter calling in 15-25 mph winds, drizzle, etc. And I've called in coyotes, so my efforts have not been fruitless.
However, I spent Thursday and Friday taking care of my wife who was really sick with possibly food poisoning (bad salad maybe?) as well as our 8 month old daughter who was also under the weather. I had to run to town late Saturday afternoon for "supplies", the wife and baby were both sleeping, so I made my one stand of the week in the drizzle. The bad part is I've had a nagging sore throat the last two weeks, and sitting and walking in the 40 degree drizzle, and not hardly sleeping for nearly 48 hours taking care of my "girls", turned my nagging sore throat into full blown bronchitis. Now I'm sicker than a dog...
Oh well, live and learn I guess. I typically enjoy hunting in the rain. Most game can't see worth a lick in the rain giving me an uncommon advantage. Also, I have to imagine the rain knocks down some of my scent, probably not enough to keep the coyote who got downwind of me from smelling me, but it seemed he didn't pick up my scent until he was directly straight line downwind.
later,
scruffy
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Git R Done
Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted January 30, 2006 05:59 PM
Yeah, I think that's true. Most of the time, a coyote doesn't bother going downwind when it's raining. I think the scent is dead?
I like the innertube type of covers rather than something with flip ups and springs. The best set of scope caps I ever owned were sewn and waxed leather. That's one thing about Euro scopes, a lot of them come with scope caps. On one, I was half asleep and trying to pick up an animal for a long time. The caps were clear plastic and I didn't notice they were in place? I fixed that with Magic Marker. I don't ever want to miss an animal because of scope caps, but they are fine for driving on dusty roads.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32365 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Krustyklimber
prefers the bunny hugger pronunciation: ky o tee
Member # 72
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posted January 30, 2006 07:13 PM
I carry a small cotton (t-shirt) rag, in a ziploc baggie, if I know it's going to be raining (and all the rest of the time, for my glasses).
It's not a perfect lense cleaner, but it helps (and will get it dry enough to use Red's lense pen).
At the Sportsmen's Show, the other day, I saw a scope booney... it looked like a really big fleece booney hat, that fit over your scope.
It could be discarded at the beginning of a stand, and one end of your scope protected by a hand as others suggest (or have your rifle mounted, and level, in your shooting sticks).
Krusty 
P.S. I don't have a scope, unless I am trading firearms/jobs with Red for a stand.
I'm still shotgunning.
[ January 30, 2006, 07:16 PM: Message edited by: Krustyklimber ]
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Think about how stupid the average person is, then realize that half of them are stupider than that!
Posts: 1912 | From: Deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia | Registered: Jan 2003
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scruffy
Knows what it's all about
Member # 725
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posted January 31, 2006 12:34 PM
quote:
(or have your rifle mounted, and level, in your shooting sticks).
yea, that was my original plan. But the drizzle wasn't coming straigth down because of the slight wind at my back. From what I've learned on this thread, next time I'll have the rifle level on the sticks with the eye piece cover on. The drizzle would be blowing away from the objective lens so it would stay dry, or dry enough. And when the coyote showed it would be alot less movement pulling the back cap off with the rifle already up and ready for the shot.
Thanks for all the help!!!
My fever from the bronchitis is finally broke and I'm feeling a bit better. I've gone from hacking up fresh green gunk to older brown gunk so I think I'm over the hump and after I get all the brown gunk hacked up I'll be doing much better. Hopefully in time for this weekend's all day hunt with a friend that is coming down. And no precip in the forecast!!! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
later,
scruffy
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Git R Done
Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005
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Sue and Mark Nami
Knows what it's all about
Member # 685
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posted January 31, 2006 12:41 PM
If it's raining I use a shotgun or handgun.
I would imagine sun shades wouls help if you must use a scope.
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All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough
good men to do nothing. - Edmund Burke..1729-1797
Posts: 44 | From: east coast | Registered: Jul 2005
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Krustyklimber
prefers the bunny hugger pronunciation: ky o tee
Member # 72
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posted January 31, 2006 06:28 PM
"...the drizzle wasn't coming straight down..."
Been there, done that. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Krusty
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Think about how stupid the average person is, then realize that half of them are stupider than that!
Posts: 1912 | From: Deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia | Registered: Jan 2003
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted January 31, 2006 06:52 PM
Scruffy,
Go get yourself some Antibiotics. Greens and browns are good things, you can take drugs and whip on them.
It's that foamy white gunk that really kicks your ass and there is nothing that you can do about it but wait it out.
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted January 31, 2006 08:02 PM
All well and good, but consider my reaction, when reading: quote:
"I've gone from hacking up fresh green gunk to older brown gunk"
I was having lunch, at the time. A nice roast beef and cheese sandwich. Unfortunately, it was made with a lot more mayonnaise than I like, and I just about gagged. Thanks, scruff.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32365 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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scruffy
Knows what it's all about
Member # 725
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posted February 01, 2006 11:13 AM
Tim, the doctor gave me a perscription for the antibiotics but said she thought, since I was a non smoker and I guess what she saw in my throat and heard in my lungs that it was likely viral and that antibiotics won't help. But she gave me the perscription and told me if I'm not better by Friday to fill it. I'll probably fill it later today.
Leonard, sorry about that!!! Making you gag wasn't my intention with my comment, roast beef with a ton of mayo is one of my favorite sandwhiches.
later,
scruffy
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Git R Done
Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted February 01, 2006 04:42 PM
Don't look Leonard!
Scruffy,
Virus' cause clear or white lugies. Bacteria causes browns, greens and most yellows.
You can kick a bacteria's ass with drugs. Virus' will kick your ass until they decided they are done.
I'm a firm believer in better living though modern chemistry!
If you are hawking up the browns and greens, go fill the 'script and you can be hunting this weekend!
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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scruffy
Knows what it's all about
Member # 725
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posted February 01, 2006 06:42 PM
The script is filled!!! Heck Tim, you know more than my doctor! I told her it was green and brown junk. Maybe she wasn't listening?
I did have some red flags go up at the end of the office visit and she asked "Do you want any cough medicine?" I said no, cough drops and over the counter cough suryp was working fine. Then she asked "Do you want antibiotics?" I said "Eh???" ![[Confused]](confused.gif) "I'm not the doctor, you tell me." and that's when she told me the story of non smoker = virus...
The pack she ordered for me is the 5 day, I took the day 1 double pill dose tonight. If I would have filled it on Monday when I went I would have day 5's pills down on Friday before the all day hunt on Saturday I have planned. Oh well... live and learn...
Again, THANKS TIM!!! ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
later,
scruffy
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Git R Done
Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted February 01, 2006 08:07 PM
Sounds like Zithromax? LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32365 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted February 02, 2006 04:06 AM
I never have much cared for people who expected me to sit in a chair for an hour and wait for five minutes of their time.
In fact a few weeks ago, when my Drs Receptionist told me she was in charge of the scheduling, I told her it was a piss poor way to run a business, demanded my co-pay back and walked out.
That Zithromax is some great stuff! I keep a bottle of the Mexican version on top of my fridge.
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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Rich Higgins
unknown comic
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posted February 02, 2006 05:56 AM
I guess I should order Zithromax from the Mexican pharmacy. I dislike visits to the Dr.s office as much as Tim. Maybe a half dozen trips in the last 35 years, mostly to set broken bones that I can't. A few years ago blood and pus were dripping from my nose for a few days. I went to the Dr. for that and he shot me full of antibiotics which solved the problem. So now I buy an 18 ga. needle and Pen-Aqueous livestock pennicilin from the tack shop and shoot myself in the fanny. Works so far. No co-pay Tim. Just 12 bucks over the counter with no hour long wait in reception.
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scruffy
Knows what it's all about
Member # 725
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posted February 03, 2006 07:21 AM
That's some pretty hard core stuff! ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Well, i don't know the name of the antibotics, I looked at it on the package when I opened it but don't remember what it is. But it seems to be working. I'm not coughing up hardly any gunk, I have a dry cough now, everything is returning to normal.
I'll bundle up good for calling tomorrow and will likely take a nap midday in the truck out of the wind while the other two do a stand or two without me.
Oh, and I'll be packing alot of cough drops in my calling bag! I think I'll have this dry hack for awhile... But it's much better than what I had before the antibiotics. Thanks guys!!!
later,
scruffy
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Git R Done
Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005
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