frozenoak

I live in Lake Elsinore and work in Irvine. My daily commute is Ortega Highway, so my life is pretty much in the heart of D15. I am an avid hiker and amateur photographer. I frequently stop on my way home and do a quick hike off of Ortega, usually starting at the candy store. I've been to most summits in the area and all but Clarks Trail in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness. I had a pretty nasty ancle sprain early 2022 and have only recently recovered so I will be out there a lot this summer regaining strength and fitness. In addition to my camera, I will be bringing my bino's.

I was a Marine, and in bootcamp, I was introduced to marksmanship. I fell in love. Since then, I have become a fairly good shot. With my 300WM, I can hit a 48" square target at 1 mile 7-8 out of 10 times. Not competition class shooting but it's pretty good in my book, and I don't anticipate taking a deer at a mile.

If you don't count shooting prairie dogs in Wyoming, I've never been hunting. I will defiantly need some advice. Most of my major questions have already been answered reading through these forums. That's why I've decided to become a member. I'm finding out that I don't have any friends that are hunters. I guess all the gun owners are just shooters, like I am/was. I am interested in making new friends, that are hunters, and hanging out at a range or doing weekend backpacking trips, or maybe just having a drink at a bar. This is going to be an interesting year because I actually have a reason to be out in the bush.


My Equipment:


Rifles:
Howa Model 1500 in .223 Rem with a BSA Sweet 17 3-12 X 40 scope. (I plan to upgrade this scope someday)
Savage Axis in .270 Win with an Arken Optics SH-4 GENII 4-16 X 50 scope. (Probably this year's gun)
Savage Model 111 in .300 Win Mag with an Arken Optics SH-4 GEMII 6-24 X 50 scope. (My 1-mile gun)
Savage Model 110 in .338 Lapua Mag. with an Arken Optics EP-5 5-25 X 56 scope. (Hopefully my 2+ mile gun)


Hand Guns:
Smith & Wesson Model 36 in 38Spl. (Needs some gunsmith love)
Colt King Cobra in 357Mag (Brand spanking new)
Sig Saur P239 in .40S&W (My future EDC, need my ccw first)
Springfield Armory Model 1911-A1 in 45ACP (Locked and Loaded)


Air guns:
Barra Schofield No.3 in .177 Cal (CO2 BB or Pellet Revolver Replica)
Daisy Adult Red Rider in .177 Cal (BB gun, I don't really know if this is an air gun)
Senica Dragonfly in .22Cal with Buckhorn sights. (A pump action single shot pellet rifle)
Air Venturi Avenger in .25Cal with an Accushot EX Tap 4-16 X48 scope. (A PCP lever action slug rifle)


Packs:
Eberlestock Warhammer with Super Spike Duffle. (I need to add a Scabbard to this pack.)
Eberlestock Little Brother (Can replace the Super Spike Duffle)
Ogio backpack (I don't know the model, but this is my EDC backpack)


Knifes:
Bear and Son 3' folder (EDC)
Opinel No.8, 3.25" folder (sharp enough to shave with.)
No Name 3" hunting knife, fixed blade.
USMC KA-BAR, 7" fixed blade.


Other:
Nikon D3500 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm zoom lenses.
Bushnell Power View 10 X 50. (Currently shopping for an upgrade)
GOGOGO Sport Vpro range finder
REI Quarter Dome Ultralight 3-Season tent.
Standard Coleman sleeping bag.
3/4 length self-inflating seeping mat.
Jetboil Flash cooking system.
Sawyer Mini with 0.1-micron filter.
First Aid Kit.
BV500-Journey Bear Vault
2 3-liter Eberlestock Hydration Systems.
Alinco DJ-G7t and DG-G29t handheld radios. (I am also a ham radio operator, license NM6M)
Pelican 2760 Gen 3 LED Headlamp.
Vortex Ridgeview Carbon tripod

Shopping list;
Browning BAR in 243.
Henry Big Boy in 357.
Vortex 15x56 Diamondback HD Binoculars.
Dual purpose Tripod for binos and rifle.
Vortex Optics 7x25 Razor HD 4000 Laser Rangefinder.
Three Leg Stool.
Hunting Appropriate Clothing.

P.S. I think this might be my midlife crises.

Embrace the suck.