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October 4, 2026

treasure hunt book — The Thrill of the Chase book (with treasure poem inside)

Where Warm Waters Halt

By Del Shannon

(The following is written in a manner of ‘in my humble opinion’)

Where warm waters halt…

This is the now iconic first clue written by eccentric millionaire Forrest Fenn. He’s earned the “eccentric” title in spades because of a single act: About 7 years ago – nobody is exactly sure except Fenn himself – he stole into the mountains north of Santa Fe, New Mexico and hid a treasure chest filled with $2 million of gold, gems and other valuables. And in an act that can only be called defiant, he wrote a book and a poem that describes the route to get to the treasure and dared anyone to try and unlock the riddle and claim his cache.

Since publication of Fenn’s The Thrill of the Chase in 2010, thousands of theories have been offered up as the location of this first clue. The location of the starting point of the hunt for Fenn’s treasure puts into context every other clue. Fenn has said you’re wasting your time if you’re searching without knowing where to start.

So where do warm waters halt? Not far from Questa, New Mexico.

I first heard about Forrest Fenn and his treasure chest while sitting in the breakfast area of the Taos Hampton Inn eating a self-made waffle and sipping coffee. I was there working on the reconstruction of the Cabresto Dam, just east of Questa. The Today show was on in the background and this is when I first saw Fenn, his piercing eyes revealing more intelligence than his carefully selected words. He was explaining that all you had to do was follow the nine clues spelled out in a simple poem and you were rich. Just like that, my curiosity was piqued.

Buying Fenn’s book and starting my search around Questa and Taos was obvious and easy. The land seemingly disappears into oblivion at the Rio Grande Gorge and thrusts to the heavens just steps away at the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, creating billions of hiding spots. Working in the area revealed that the landscape and its population are one and the same. The people of Questa and Taos stand out as easily as the canyons and peaks that surround them, none is even remotely like another.

Very little in the The Thrill of the Chase pointed me to anything that resembled the area around Questa and Taos. Fenn waxes Quixotic about his youth spent doing anything but focusing on school, holding a special place in his heart for Yellowstone.

One story in particular gnawed at me like an obsessive-compulsive beaver. In an early chapter titled “First Grade,” Fenn recounts being bullied by a boy named John Charles Whatever who often threatens to beat up Fenn, while at other times waves around a jar of olives in his face. The more I read and reread this passage the more it began to look like a ham at Chanukah – bizarrely out of place.

All I had to go on was the name “John Charles” and his olives, so I started there. After internet searches with dozens of permutations, I finally got lucky. After reading a history of Questa, once known as Rio Colorado, I learned that the great explorer, John Charles Fremont, once spent a few months during the winter of 1849 in Questa.

Fremont had tried to cross the southern Rocky Mountains in Colorado during the winter of 1848-49 and convinced 32 gullible men into joining his folly. Fremont was from an era where braggadocio was a suitable proxy for intelligence and thrived in an environment of delusional arrogance. By December 1848 eleven of his party had frozen to death and most others had started eating their belts. The party finally gave up and began limping their way south to New Mexico.

The surviving members stumbled into Questa in January 1849, but Fremont, sensing his men would be in an extended sour mood once they could again feel their feet and hands, headed for Taos. He was off to California a few weeks later

A tragic story, but this new knowledge didn’t appear to put me any closer to the Fenn’s treasure. John Charles Whatever’s olives did.

Besides being a lover of history, Fenn is a fly fisherman. The Red River fights its way out of the mountains near Questa, its last gauntlet is a maze of basalt boulders below a fish hatchery. Fed by springs, the water stays a consistent 48 degrees in the winter. In this same stretch of water there is a mid-winter (January through March) hatch of blue winged olive flies, which, along with the warmer water, coax brown trout out of the colder waters of the Rio Grande…along with the fishermen.

Fremont and his olives were pointing to Questa.

Thrill of the Chase book (opened to chapter ‘In Love with Yellowstone’

Still, more detail was needed, which came from another of Fenn’s stories. One evening, while re-reading the In Love With Yellowstone chapter I stopped after Forrest described his dismay after his father sold the families ’36 Chevy for a ’41 Plymouth. Why on earth was this such an important part of his life? And why didn’t he use the numbers ‘19’ in front of these dates. Every other reference to a year in The Thrill of the Chase uses all four digits – 1926 for example, the year his parents were married.

Forrest’s attempt at alarm over this car sale seemed insincere. After chewing on ’36 and ’41, which were details that seemed misplaced, and while using Google Earth to snoop around the Questa area, I noticed the latitude in the lower right hand corner. If I hovered the little electronic hand directly over the center of the village and it read 36 degrees, 42 minutes north. Hmmm… Then I moved it to the fish hatchery and it read – exactly – 36 degrees, 41 minutes, 0 seconds north. Holy crap!

Two hints at the starting place are compelling. If I could find a third it would concrete the location of “where warm water halt.” A local fly fisherman supplied my requested last hint.

Van Beacham is well known in Taos as the owner of the Solidary Angler, a local fly fishing shop and guide business. He’s also the author of A Flyfisher’s Guide to New Mexico, and this is how Van describes the Red River from the fish hatchery to its confluence with the Rio Grande in his book. “The lifeblood of the Rio Grande Gorge, the spring-fed section of the Red River extending from the hatchery downstream about 4 miles to the confluence with the Rio Grande is the main spawning tributary for browns and cutbows in the bigger river. It also provides major holding water for big cutbows and browns since the water stays about 48 degrees all winter long. Due to the warmer water temperatures, the Red River is the premier natural winter fishery in northern New Mexico.”

The Red River provides “holding water” for cutbow and brown trout because of its “warm water.”

It takes very little effort to connect the words “halt” and “hold.” In fact, they essentially mean the same thing. The word “hold” takes its origin, its etymology, from the Germanic word “halten,” which means “to hold.”

Bingo.

Warm waters halt in the Red River between the fish hatchery and its confluence with the Rio Grande. This is where anyone seriously searching for Fenn’s treasure must start.

Where to from there? Down river. Rio arriba.

In Fenn’s opening chapter titled “Important Literature” one of the books he talks about is For Whom the Bell Tolls. As with John Charles Whatever and his olives, if you look only at the surface you immediately reach a dead end, but when you dig a bit you realize there’s more to learn. Before Hemingway used the title for one of his books, For Whom the Bell Tolls was a line in a poem written by John Donne, a 16th century metaphysical poet. Donne begins with the famous first line of his poem, “No man is an island…” and ends with “…and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.”

Follow the Rio Grande downstream from its confluence with the Red River and you eventually reach the John Dunn Bridge, named for the famous Taos gambler and entrepreneur Long John Dunn, an escaped convict from Texas who built the first bridge and toll road across the Rio Grande at this location. The splinters of Dunn’s original timber bridge are somewhere near El Paso, carried there by numerous spring floods, and in its place stands a steel truss bridge built by Taos County. Connecting John Donne and John Dunn was easy and obvious, especially after learning that both Dunn and Donne are different spellings of the Gaelic word for “brown.” And because Dunn and Donne are proper nouns, capitalize the ‘B’ and you have Brown. Voila.

But John Dunn’s home wasn’t at the bridge, it was in Taos just north of the plaza in the area now occupied by the John Dunn House Shops. How could the home of Brown be at the Dunn bridge if Dunn never lived there?

This problem was resolved by the author Max Evans and his book Long John Dunn of Taos. This homage to Dunn describes, among other things, his early 1900’s transportation company – really just several horses and a stagecoach – and how he met Taos visitors and artists at the nearest train depot in Servilleta, then the only way in or out of Taos. He piled them into his stage, headed east in a cloud of dust across the Taos plateau, and then snaked them into the Rio Grande Gorge via a harrowing and ridiculously steep switchback road.

Dunn built a stone hotel at the bottom of the gorge and on the edge of the Rio Grande where travelers were forced to spend the night, most of whom were grateful for the stop and for surviving the tormenting trip into the gorge, before delivering them to Taos the next morning. Dunn’s hotel was run by his mother, Susan Jane Dunn, who also lived at the site. A short rock wall on the east side of the river is all that’s left of Mrs. Dunn’s home, the home of Brown.

All of that is pretty convenient, but I still wanted more on Dunn. It turns out The Thrill of the Chase is almost overflowing with references to John Dunn. In the chapter “Looking for Lewis and Clark” Fenn talks about taking Babe Ruth candy bars with him when he and Donnie went into the mountains outside of Yellowstone for several days. The problem is the candy is actually called “Baby” Ruth bars. If you look into Babe Ruth you learn that a man named John Dunn (everyone called him Jack) signed Ruth to his first major league baseball contact. Hmm…

Or look at Fenn’s odd reference to Robert Redford in the “Important Literature” chapter. One of Redford’s most famous movie characters was The Sundance Kid (aka Harry Alonzo Longabaugh). In 1897, Longabaugh was arrested by Carbon County Montana Sheriff John Dunn after he and others from his gang robbed a bank in Red Lodge, MT. Wow!

Three separate John Dunn references in The Thrill of the Chase aren’t a coincidence.

The second clue – Put in below the home of Brown – points to the John Dunn Bridge. It’s too far to walk from where warm waters halt at the confluence of the Rio Grande and Red River; about 14 miles if you drive or eight-ish miles if you fight your way on foot down the Rio Grande. All these hints point to these locations as the first two clues.

But be wary from here. ‘Putting in’ could mean crossing the river or heading either up or down the canyon. And if you cross the river, which direction do you cross from? Do you head west or do you head east? You could go in three directions from the Dunn Bridge. I have my own ideas of where to head next, but not the chest, so they remain only ideas.

An obvious question remains: Why am I sharing this? It’s not as if I haven’t tried to find Fenn’s treasure on my own. I’ve made many trips to areas I felt certain that, when I walked out, I would be struggling to carry over 40 pounds of gold, jewelry and artifacts back to my car. But I’ve learned that the search isn’t as simple as my romantic visions make it out to be. It took a couple of years to unlock these first two clues and it may take much longer to unlock the rest.

And if I’m completely honest with myself, I’ll admit that I’d like the treasure found, in direct contrast to Fenn’s wishes that it be discovered 1,000 years from now. I’m a sucker for a good challenge wrapped in a mystery. So far I’ve done this alone, but I could be persuaded to work with someone else or as part of a larger group in the right circumstance. It’s always more fun to work with a team.

lost treasure For the record, I didn’t contact Fenn for this story. What would he have said to me anyway? At best he would have complemented my sleuthing. More likely he would have just silently shrugged, smiled at me with his quick eyes, and walked away. I figure he’s done what he wanted to do and, whether or not he enjoys the attention he’s created, I’d make my own choice and leave him alone.

A final thought. To me, Fenn’s poem is a love letter to an area he unquestionably adores and which also helped him heal from his time in Vietnam. When you dig into the history of the Vietnam war, you learn that there is a Red River there too and pilots who flew into this maelstrom found some of the most dangerous air over this river.

I like to think that what Fenn found in New Mexico’s Red River was the thorough opposite of Vietnam’s. The paradox was not lost on him. In my mind I can see him casting for brown’s while marveling that one Red River could be filled to overflowing with death while the other held out its hand and reminded him there were still places where he could gently ease the visions of war from his head, replacing them with the rediscovered memories of the trout he chased in his youth as they led him, once again, to peace.

~by Del Shannon

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If you would like to share your story or thoughts on MW, please send your submission to [email protected]!

Always Treasure the Adventure!

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1200 fps Air Rifle

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October 4, 2026

Introducing the Game-Changing 1200 fps Air Rifle: Precision and Power Combined! Discover an elite firearm designed to elevate your shooting experience with unparalleled velocity. With a remarkable firing speed of 1200 feet per second, this air rifle is engineered to deliver exceptional accuracy and strength. Whether you’re a seasoned marksman or a passionate hunter, prepare to revolutionize your shooting prowess with the ultimate tool for speed and precision.

1200 fps air rifle

A 1200 fps air rifle is a high-velocity weapon that offers an exceptional shooting experience. With its impressive muzzle velocity of 1200 feet per second, this air rifle delivers outstanding power and accuracy. Whether you are using it for hunting or target shooting, this firearm ensures a reliable and effective performance.

The high FPS (feet per second) rating of the 1200 fps air rifle provides several advantages. Firstly, it enables the shooter to achieve greater range and trajectory control, making it suitable for long-distance shooting. Additionally, the higher velocity increases the likelihood of hitting targets swiftly and more accurately, resulting in cleaner kills during hunting activities.

Furthermore, a 1200 fps air rifle often incorporates advanced features such as adjustable triggers, ergonomic grips, and superior optics to enhance user comfort and overall shooting experience. These rifles are typically designed for experienced shooters who demand precision and power in their firearms. Whether you are a seasoned hunter or a competitive shooter, the 1200 fps air rifle is sure to meet your expectations with its exceptional performance capabilities.

In conclusion, the 1200 fps air rifle offers a powerful and accurate shooting experience. Its high velocity allows for greater precision and longer range, making it an ideal choice for target shooting or small game hunting. With its advanced features and reliable performance, this air rifle is a top choice for enthusiasts looking to enhance their shooting skills.

Air Rifle Scope vs. Rifle Scope – Which One Fits Your Shooting Needs?

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October 4, 2026

When it comes to shooting sports and hunting, having a reliable and accurate scope is essential. However, there are different types of scopes available in the market, specifically designed for air rifles or traditional firearms. Understanding the differences between an air rifle scope and a rifle scope can help you make an informed decision based on your specific shooting needs.

Air rifle scope vs rifle scope

An air rifle scope is specifically designed to withstand the unique recoil generated by air rifles. Air rifles typically produce a forward recoil, also known as a reverse recoil, which is different from the backward recoil generated by firearms. As a result, air rifle scopes are built with reinforced internal components to handle this unique recoil mechanism. These scopes often have shorter eye relief distance and greater durability to ensure they can endure the double recoil produced by air rifles.

On the other hand, a rifle scope is designed for use with conventional firearms such as shotguns, pistols, or rifles that use gunpowder-based ammunition. These scopes are typically built with longer eye relief distances to accommodate the backward recoil generated by these firearms. Rifle scopes also come with various magnification options tailored for long-range shooting or close quarters combat. Additionally, they often feature adjustable turrets for windage and elevation adjustments.

In conclusion, while both air rifle scopes and rifle scopes serve the purpose of improving accuracy in shooting sports or hunting activities, their designs are tailored to meet the specific demands of their respective firearm types. Understanding these differences will allow you to choose the right scope that suits your shooting needs and ensures optimal performance on the range or in the field.

In conclusion, while both air rifle scopes and rifle scopes serve the same purpose of enhancing accuracy and precision, they are designed for different types of firearms. Air rifle scopes are specifically tailored to withstand the unique recoil and vibration of air rifles, whereas rifle scopes are better suited for traditional firearms. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the appropriate scope that matches the specific firearm to optimize shooting performance

Correcting and Adjusting Rifle Scope Parallax

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October 4, 2026

Parallax correction is a feature available in nearly all modern rifle scopes. The effect of parallax is presented when your reticle appears out of focus with respect to your target, and to the focal plane of the scope. Although generally not an issue at ranges of less than 150 yards, this optical effect can greatly alter your point of impact at longer ranges.

The overall goal of parallax correction is to get your rifle scope reticle on the same focal plane as your target image. If these images are not in the same focal plane, either one can appear soft or out of focus when you look at the other through your scope. This causes eye strain and can lead to inaccurate shots or even target confusion for inexperienced shooters.

The Parallax Effect – what you’ll see:

The image of your target is clear but your reticle appears out of focus.

The image is clear when looking head-on, but the reticle shifts left or right when you move your head or look through the scope at an angle.

How It Works

Light enters a rifle scope through the objective lens, is projected onto a prism, and is then flipped, reflected several times, and presented via the ocular lens. Your reticle typically lies between your eye and that projected image, regardless of the “focal plane” (FFP or SFP) of your scope.

When shooting at longer (>150 yards) distances, the focal length of your vision is adjusted by your brain to compensate for the distance to the target. This means that your reticle will appear slightly blurry or move when you adjust your viewing angle. It goes without saying, but if your reticle moves laterally and off-target when you move your head behind the scope, your point of impact will follow!

rifle scope parallax

Focusing Your Reticle

Before attempting to adjust for parallax, ensure that your reticle is in focus. An easy way to do this is to look through your scope at a plain, ideally bright background that’s at least five yards away. Your scope likely has a reticle focus ring on the ocular lens – the one that you put your eye to. Adjust that ring as you would a binocular or camera focus until your reticle is sharp and clear to your eye.

This adjustment will ensure that your parallax correction is valid. This adjustment may vary from shooter to shooter, but as long as the current shooter has the reticle in focus, the parallax adjustment should remain constant.

Correcting Rifle Scope Parallax

Correcting Parallax

Most modern rifle scopes have a parallax correction system that involves a dial on the side of the main tube, often referred to as a “side focus.” These systems allow a shooter to adjust the image of the target backward or forward to match the focal plane of the reticle. Many of these dial systems are marked with yardage in increments of 50 or 100 yards to aid in correction.

A simple way to find the correct position of the dial is to set up a clear target that stands out well from the background, get your rifle in a secure rest position, and with the magnification at its highest level, look through the scope and begin to shift your head (and therefore your viewing angle) back and forth.

If your reticle appears to move or shift with your head movement, you have a parallax issue. The yardage indicators on your parallax adjustment will be a helpful starting point for corrections. Depending on your range and magnification level, the correction may be extremely fine or up to a full revolution of the dial.

Adjust until your reticle is sharp against your target and appears to lock on to your aiming point. You should be able to view both the reticle and the target without shifting focus. If you have made an adjustment and still have some play, continue making very fine corrections until you can move your angle as far as possible while maintaining a full image through the scope. The same process applies to an objective lens ring-style system, but it is not as precise as the dial type with yardage indicators.

Once you are satisfied with your adjustment at maximum magnification, LEAVE IT. You generally will not have to adjust it again unless the circumstances or shot range are extreme. These adjustments and changes are very slight, so keep that in mind when working to correct this issue.

When buying a rifle scope, be sure to consider the distances you plan to shoot and the ergonomics of its adjustment systems. The best way to familiarize yourself with a rifle scope is to physically hold one in your hands. The style of adjustment is not critical, but the adjustment itself will eliminate a lot of headaches when working to zero your rifle or make those critical shots.

Rifle scope parallax

“Half Dollar Size Expansion, 82% Weight Retention, Flatter Trajectory, FROM YOUR 20 GA, with 12ga Performance Down Range”.

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October 4, 2026

NEW: “OUT OF THE BOX THINKING” – “INDUSTRY TREND SETTING IDEA”!

“The first, RIFLE DESIGN, 20ga slug ammo”! “Schrifle 365gr Copper 2.1” case length ammo available now!

“Watch for second series of bore size slugs”: The “NeoTec 365gr Copper” slugs, in both 20 & 12 gauge in 2 3/4″ and 3″ slugs for factory chamber. Fall 2020

After 30+ years: NOW- 12ga Performance From Your 20 Gauge Slug Gun! Designed for use in any make SLUG GUN with a 20ga Rifled Barrel only.

“No longer just a slug gun, but not quite a rifle, it’s a Schrifle”

OUTDOOR LIFE MAGAZINE REVIEW: by COLIN MOORE https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/game-changers/shotgun-season-how…

TarHunt-Premier “NeoTec” Copper 365gr (green) slug round is the High Performance 20ga Schrifle™ series slug; loaded in both the 2 3/4″ and 3″ standard shot gun hulls. For use in rifled barrels with standard chamber lengths. Order these round by the “length of you slug guns chamber”, period. Performance will be close to equal from one length hull to the other.

Introducing the newest 20ga Schrifle series: “NeoTec Copper 365gr” bore size slug. The facts speak for themselves as seen in the accompanying photos below. Look at the real differences between the new the bore size 20ga NeoTec Copper 365gr (62 caliber diameter slug, before it enters the game) and the industry standard 45 caliber sabot projectile. The picture shows the actual REAL difference between a 62 caliber and the 45 caliber slug. The 26% overall larger diameter of the NeoTec Copper 62 caliber slug vs. a 45 caliber slug is easy to see. The ratio of one to the other remains the same at any magnification.

For comparison purposes this photo shows a 1974 Kennedy .50 cent piece; next to a NeoTec Copper 365gr expanded slug that was fire into a ballistic gelatin block from between 45 and 50 yards away. That range duplicates about 70% of most deer taken with a slug gun. This NeoTec Copper 365gr expanded slug weights 302gr (an 83% weight retention) and it expanded to just over the size of a half a dollar! An expanded slug like the one shown, @1800 fps, and spinning at 54,000 rpm’s (when fired thru a 1-24 twist rate barrel), and weighting over 30 grains, acts just like a hole saw!

“The technology behind the NeoTec Copper 365gr slug”.

The NeoTec 365gr Copper series design is a example of “out of the box thinking .” The “Hollow Bullet with Internal Structure”, patent number US 9,372,05 B2, uses a pressurized elastomer truss that is flexible enough to alow the thin side walls of the hollow copper slug to upset in size, to better fit your barrel diameter. After firing and the upset to the bore has taken place by the bullet side walls, the pressurized elastomer truss remains strong enough to support the thin copper side walls from collapsing inward while the slug is being forced thru the barrel. Correct implementation of these two events, in that order, is critical to insure proper flight requirements and the elimination of flyers. With this new “hollow bullet” design, a full bore size diameter bullet can be maintained, while greatly reducing its overall weight. Making it possible to load the same physical size bullet at higher velocities than its original full density configuration. [A solid copper bullet of the same size & shape could weigh over 750 grains]. Upon impact, the pressurized elastomer truss it allowed to rapidly expand outward thus aiding in the initial amount of fracturing of the o-jive (pointed part of the slug). The area in the nose section where the wall is the thinnest.

The “hollow bullet” design shown here uses an full cavity elastomer truss. This design helps generate real expansion of a 99.9% pure copper bullet that will expand and not just shoot thru or implode on impact projectile! [Sometime, in the near future, we will be hunting with “HOLLOW Bullets” supported entirely by internal metal alloy truss. These projectiles will be made on a 3-D metal printer] at even faster velocities.

The “NeoTec Copper 365gr” Premier Slug

The 365gr NeoTec Copper slug is the newest slug in the TarHunt 20ga Schrifle series. It is a high performance, full expanding, copper slug at 1800fps. It is flying at or near the same velocity as other popular sabot rounds, but it weights a full 100+ grains more!

The all new 20ga Schrifle NeoTec Copper 365 grains at 1800fps will be stable thru all known 20 gauge twist rates. The TarHunt NeoTec Copper slug is a premium full performance, bore size slug, and is on track to be largest diameter, heaviest, fastest, full expanding of all the copper slugs in the industry. While retaining as much as 85% of its original weight when used on thin skin big game. The bore size NeoTec Copper 365gr slug has a unique felt recoil. The slug generates a clock wise torque on the gun and requires two handed gun control, when testing off of a bench rest.

The 20ga NeoTec Copper slug will also qualify as a “Green” non-toxic projectile for the areas that require a non-toxic slug. The current trajectory data for the 20ga Schrifle series NeoTec Copper 365gr slug has been added below, next to the Raptor Alv 270gr data, so a side by side comparison can be made. You may be surprised by the heavier slug. Only a 2″ trajectory arc, either above or below, your aiming point, thru 150 yards when zero at the proper yardage.

Thank You

Thank you for your interest in the 20ga.”Schrifle”series NeoTec 365gr Copper non-sabot slug round. All orders until further notice will be shipped directly from TarHunt. The webmaster has installed a “blue buy now” tab on the opening home page as well as a normal ordering format under the ammo tab and under the hunting ammo drop down.

Accuracy Detail

The new 20ga Schrifle series: NeoTec Copper 365gr @1800fps and the Raptor Alv/Lead 270gr @1975fps slug will work thru all known 20ga twist rates. I feel the NeoTec Copper 365gr is by far the best choice for deer hunting with the 20ga Schrifle series of slugs. It is a very accurate slug, when fired in a SAAMI diameter barrel. A non-lead (a green, non-toxic) maximum expansion slug with a high percentage of weigh retention.

Calculated trajectory: Current indications show the 270gr Raptor Alv/Lead high performance slugs @ 19oo+fps may be the heaviest weight slug usable at those velocities.. Note: the Raptor Alv/Lead 270gr data uses a 150yds zero and the drop looks much better than the 365gr Copper slug at 200yds. But look how high the mid-range trajectory is, using the 270gr**, at 100 yards and it has 15% less energy at 100yds and 17% at 200 yards.

Raptor Alv-lead core 270gr.**

Range-yards

Velocity-fps

Energy-ft/lbs

Trajectory-inches

0 1900+

2338

-1.45 (12% less energy @ muzzle)

50 1730

1794

+2.26

100 1509

1365

3.07 ** (15% less energy @ 100yds)

125 1410

1191

+2.09

150 ZERO

1325

1044

0.0

175 1238

919 -3.31 (what is your aiming point?)

200 1168

818 -8.07 (what is your aiming point; and 17% less energy)

Calculated trajectory: In comparing, the 365gr NeoTec Copper @1800fps to 270gr Raptor Alv slug @1975 fps. Notice that the NeoTec 365gr Copper shoots flatter and has more energy at 150yds.. The increased weigh makes it a much better choice for hunting thin skinned big game in the 150 thru the 200 yard range!

“Why does the 365gr NeoTec Copper slug use a 130yd zero while the 270gr Raptor Alv slug and all brands of sabot ammo, uses a 150 yard zero”? Notice the trajectory’s number highlighted at 50, 100, 150, and 200 yards. When using the NeoTec Copper 365gr it means that for the first 150 yards you have a total of a 4 inch maximum variation in your trajectory curve. In the heat of the battle that means hold center and shoot, no guessing. But look (how low) it is at 200yd. Exactly my point, at 200yds all you have to do it to lay your horizontal cross hair right on top the back bone a squeeze the trigger. The 12″ of drop will place your shot in the heart/lung area.

“No guessing”, EVEN using a scope that has just a standard cross hair. It’s a quick way of accurately taken shots from 50 thru 200 yards when your using the Premier “Schrifle – NeoTec” slug. No confusion trying to remember which cross hair to use. Along with a slug that has the energy to get the job done at 200yds.

NeoTec Copper 365gr.

Range-yards Velocity-fps Energy-ft/lbs Trajectory-inches 0 1800 2650 -1.45 50 1618 2121 +2.10 100

1410

1612

+2.14

130 ZERO 1304 1377 0.0

150

1239

1244

-2.40

175 1169

1107

-6.54 (17% more energy @ 175yds)

200 1110

980 -12.10 (back bone hold) – hit the heart at 200yds

From May-1, 2018 thru how ever long they last— TarHunt will release a 6-ROUND SAMPLE BOX, your choice of a of the 20ga Schrifle series: The 270gr Raptor Alv or the NeoTec Copper 365gr slug rounds in a generic 6-round box. The price is $28.50 for the 270gr Raptor Alv and $32.50 for the 365gr NeoTec Copper, in a sample 6- round box +ups.

Note: The Raptor Alv/Lead in 240 grain and the Raptor Alv 260/265 grain has been discontinued. There are a few boxes of 260 grain for as long as the last.

TarHunt can be reached at: 570-784-6368 (9am-4pm)

Gel-block video

Look at this you tube video of a 8 inch square, 18 inch long, 21 pound gelatin block, (normally used to test rifle bullets). It was hit with the new, reduced load, 20ga Schrifle slug. The slug is a full bore size 62cal, 260gr. slug fired from a full 40 yards away using a 1-23tr. The lower your twist rate number (1-23tr) the more RPM”S the slug has to aid in cutting a bigger wound channel.

The gel block reacts to the impact of the 20ga “Schrifle” by producing 9-10 different severe shock waves patterns as the slug moves thru the 17 inches of the gel block! If you look closely you can see the Raptor HP design separating into 3 peddles, about 120 degrees apart. The peddles then penetrated out ward for Approximately 7 inches. At the end of the video the 21 pound block is stood up on end and is flipped off the table. The multi-shock waves, seen here in this video, of a 20ga “Schrifle” moving thru this gel block is a good representation of the wound channel trauma produced by a 20ga “Schrifle” slug going thru a 16″ thick Deer size animal!

How to Hunt Geese on a Budget

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October 4, 2026

Most of us that read waterfowl articles in magazines dream of the wild hunts on massive grain fields teeming with thousands of geese and ducks. But what about the guy or gal that does not have a trailer full of high-end decoys, access to thousand-acre fields, and cannot afford expensive calls? There are plenty of hunters out there itching to call in their own birds, and see wobbling gray and black bombers with feet down, and hear the grunt of the honkers as they cruise within range with cupped wings. All of us want to yell, “Take em!” as we bust out of our layouts, dropping geese.

The good news is that any of us can live that dream with some planning and effort, even without access to big feeds and hundreds of decoys. In fact, fields less than 100 acres that are located in a daily flight pattern near water are killer locations, particularly later in the season. Throw in two-dozen decoys, a flag and a few layouts and you are in business.

Lighting the Flame

A few seasons ago my daughter and I were trying to do a little duck hunting on a tributary of our local river in Virginia. A farmer granted us access to a makeshift boat ramp at the end of the fields. Our duck hunting was a bust due to lack of birds, but we noticed a few small flocks of geese regularly passing over the scattered 50-acre grain fields that we dragged our boat through each morning going to and from the water.

When we stopped to pay the boat ramp access fee to the farmer, I left a “thank you” note commenting about how we noticed Canada geese flying over the fields, and how none of those birds came near our blind or the part of the creek we hunted.

A week later when we were leaving the same property the farmer stopped us and asked if we wanted to try to put a dent in the flock of geese to help save the crops. We could hardly contain our excitement, and promised to not tear up the fields—and insisted on continuing to pay the access fee.

Location Is Paramount

Since we lucked into that field to hunt, we have since started gaining access to other small, but similar fields. When looking for productive fields, we start scouting in the fall when geese filter in from the north. We use an online topo/satellite map and our online GIS maps for our local counties to locate farm fields near water sources around the Chesapeake Bay watersheds. These can be large swamps, ponds, large creeks, rivers or small bays. Smart hunters know Canada geese will roost on the water and then feed after the sun gets up.

Once we locate potential properties near where we live, we try to scout them before approaching the farmer. Binoculars are helpful. We watch for flight patterns to determine which properties the birds tend to fly over on a regular basis when going to feed and roost. Again, we focus on small fields under 100 acres that geese have flown over on a regular basis. They don’t necessarily have to feed in the small fields, but there should be some beans or grain of some sort for them to eat if they did land in the field.

While other hunters are hitting the large fields and putting in a lot of effort and time with dozens, or even hundreds of decoys, we are going light with two-dozen or less decoys and pulling down our limits right along with the big shots with all their equipment.

Hiding Is Everything

Since we are on a budget, we carefully select two-dozen field decoys of various poses, a few layout blinds from a box store retailer and a flag for motion. While it would be nice to get the top-of-the-line gear, we make do with what we can afford and make a point to take care of it to make it last. One of the things we do with our layouts is gather up stubble from the fields we are hunting a few days before and very thoroughly brush our layouts. We also take a few trashbags and rake up stubble from the ends of the fields and use it the day of our hunt to “feather out” the profile of our blinds and our dog blind too. It is critical to blend the blinds in as much as possible.

Steve Purks, a friend and self-taught goose hunter, explained how critical this was to us.

Geese that arrive in Virginia or Maryland after Thanksgiving when our season opens are wary and have been called to and shot at.

When we place our decoys in the field, we face a majority of them into the wind while leaving a hole for the birds to land in our kill zone; another trick we learned from Purks. We watch how the birds react to our set up and make changes as necessary. Sometimes we need to open the hole if the birds seem hesitant or sometimes we change the direction the decoys are facing if the wind shifts. Purks is always checking conditions and analyzing his spreads when we hunt with him and I keep a close eye on what he is doing and ask a lot of questions to learn as much as I can.

Next, we use the terrain to our advantage. A few rows of corn were left standing in one of the fields we hunted last season. We backed our blinds up to that hard edge and made them all but disappear. While the geese did not want to land right on our blinds, they did come in close enough for us to get our shots. We have also placed our blinds in spots that were slightly lower than the rest of the field. Doing so helps the layouts disappear and we have our decoys all around the layouts to blend in. Fencerows or hedgerows are great for this if the wind is correct for the setup of decoys. Birds won’t land if the wind is blowing towards the hedgerow; it leaves too little time for the birds to get down in the decoys. Hunters need the wind blowing away from the hedgerow for a good setup.

Last, we use inexpensive calls, but they work. We use them sparingly, mostly for getting the attention of the geese from a distance and a little grunting as they pass over. We flag the birds when they are coming off the water and heading to the bigger fields nearby. By being in the flight path, we get their first looks and then work hard to peel off birds and get them curious before they even make it to the larger fields. All it takes is a few to commit and come on down for us to get our shots and watch the dog work!

One last tip is to be in place early whether it is a morning or afternoon hunt. When the birds go to feed you want to be in place when they start flying or they will see birds landing a half-mile away and keep following them. Be at the front of the flock when they come over and work those birds.

Small Investment, Big Rewards

Hunting small fields on a shoestring works for several reasons. First, the geese sometimes get wary of the larger fields and large spreads of decoys and they begin to look for something different, something a bit more secure. Sometimes the group of birds will peel off the big flock looking for food. Being in the flight path, carefully positioning our decoys and layouts by using and considering the terrain in the field, and calling sparingly but using a flag to attract their attention, really makes a difference for us. We don’t need to purchase a trailer load of high-end decoys or spend hundreds of dollars on a lease and expensive calls to get our limits. It works, and we spend far less money and time setting up to have our fun.

Airsoft Guns Vs Airguns – What Is the Difference?

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October 4, 2026

(For more on the best air rifle for hunting medium games, see this post)

When you think of airsoft guns, the first thing that may come to mind is the movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation” where Chevy Chase and his family are terrorized by a group of thugs armed with airsoft guns. Airsoft guns have certainly come a long way since then and are now used for recreational activities by many people. But what exactly is the difference between an airsoft gun and an airgun? Let’s take a closer look.

Overview of Airsoft Guns:

Airsoft guns are types of simulated firearms that are powered by batteries or compressed air. They fire spherical plastic BBs using a spring-fed mechanism called the “blowback” system.

Unlike actual guns, they have been designed specifically for use as target practice and simulation training tools, especially for law enforcement officers and military personnel.

Airsoft guns come in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors to suit the needs of different users. Many models also feature tactical upgrades such as scopes, lasers, lights, grenade launchers, adjustable stocks, rails for mounting accessories like flashlights or bipods, etc.

Overview of Airguns:

Airguns are a type of shooting equipment that uses compressed air or spring pistons to propel projectiles. Unlike conventional firearms, which typically rely on combustible propellants such as gunpowder for their power source, airguns use pressurized air or springs instead.

There are several different types of airguns, ranging from small handguns and rifles to powerful pellet guns and BB guns. Some models feature single-shot mechanisms while others have magazines capable of holding multiple rounds. Most airgun designs also feature mechanisms such as break barrels or underlever cocking systems that make them easier to reload and shoot.

Airsoft Guns Vs Air Guns – Differences Between These Two Guns

Materials and Barrels:

– Airsoft Guns:

Airsoft guns are made of tough, lightweight plastic materials that can withstand high impact and provide good resistance to scratches and dings. They also feature precision barrels made from metal alloys such as steel or aluminum for enhanced accuracy and range.

– Air Guns:

Air guns are typically made of wood, metal, or other durable materials that can withstand repeated use. The stock can be made of wood or synthetic materials. The barrels may be constructed from steel, aluminum, or other robust materials to ensure precision performance at a range of distances.

Power Sources:

– Airsoft Guns:

Airsoft guns typically rely on gas pressure or spring-powered mechanisms to propel the projectiles they fire, although some models may incorporate electric motors instead. These power sources allow airsoft guns to deliver consistent muzzle velocities across different shooting conditions.

– Air Guns:

Air guns are typically powered by compressed air or springs, although some models may also incorporate gas piston systems or precharged pneumatics (PCPs) instead. This allows users to precisely adjust the firing velocity of their airgun based on shooting conditions, target type, and range.

Power and Range

– Airsoft Guns:

Airsoft guns are commonly designed to deliver muzzle velocities of between 300 and 600 feet per second, which is sufficient for short-range target practice and simulation training. Some models can reach much higher velocities, up to 800 or even 1000 FPS.

– Air Guns:

Air guns typically have a muzzle velocity ranging from 500 to 900 FPS, which is enough for both hunting and recreational shooting at targets or small game animals. Some .177 pellet guns can reach velocities of over 1200 FPS, the Gamo Magnum. Air guns have multiple calibers to choose from: .177, .22, .25, .30, .357, all the way up to .50. The bigger the caliber, the more powerful an air gun is, some can take down large games like deers or elks.

Accuracy:

– Airsoft Guns:

Airsoft guns are typically designed to provide good accuracy at close to medium ranges, with some models also capable of hitting targets at longer distances. Their barrels and sights are often precisely calibrated to ensure accurate shooting results.

– Air Guns:

Air guns can also deliver excellent accuracy over both short and long ranges, due to the precision construction of their barrels and sighting systems. These guns may be equipped with scopes or other types of optical sights that enhance the shooter’s ability to zero in on targets from a distance.

Ammunition:

– Airsoft Guns: use BBs as their primary ammunition type, although some models may also use metal or plastic pellets. These projectiles are typically small in size and lightweight, allowing airsoft guns to deliver large volumes of fire for short periods of time.

– Air Guns:

Air guns rely on a variety of different types of ammunition that can range from wooden pellets to lead airgun bullets or arrows. Most air gun cartridges are sized to fit into the chamber of the gun without modification, while others require specific chambering adapters. The choice of the projectile will determine how powerful an air gun is, with heavier ammo delivering more recoil and greater impact force on targets.

Purpose:

– Airsoft Guns: for sport and target practice, airsoft guns are used by recreational shooters and enthusiasts to practice shooting skills. They can also be used in military and law enforcement training simulations as well.

– Air Guns:

Air guns are commonly used for hunting small/medium/large game animals, pest control, target practice, or competitive shooting. Many air gun enthusiasts also enjoy participating in air gun competitions such as field target shooting, bullseye target shooting, or plinking.

Why You Should Try a Glass Turkey Call

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October 4, 2026

Are you an old dog that can’t learn new tricks? Some seasoned turkey hunters get hooked on specific turkey calls and will often neglect the vast majority of other great options that come out. While it’s tough to argue with their experience, trying new calls can be a huge advantage. This is especially true with someone who has decades of hunting and calling turkeys under their belt. So why not try something new and maybe find your new best turkey call? While a glass turkey call isn’t by any means new to the market, some people seem hesitant to use it. In the video below, Michael walks you through a few reasons why you should really consider adding a glass turkey call to your turkey vest this spring.

Glass vs. Slate Debate

If you already use pot calls, there’s a good chance you have a slate call or two. And while slate turkey calls do produce deep and realistic tones that work great on turkeys (have we mentioned the Lights Out slate call?), they have some disadvantages in certain situations. For example, they usually lose their effectiveness when they get wet. A surprise rain event, high humidity, or dropping it in the dewy morning grass can all spell disaster for your turkey hunt if that’s the only turkey call you have with you.

Glass turkey calls, on the other hand, don’t lose their ability to make turkey sounds when they get wet. If they get soaked by the rain, you probably won’t be thrilled to keep hunting, but the striker will keep making realistic sounds as if nothing happened.

Michael comments “Typically glass calls run better when it comes to moisture in the spring, when you get a thunderstorm that pops up obviously being soaking wet causes a problem but glass calls typically run better in moisture..where a slate call has a deeper, richer tone, but water can completely clam the call up”.

Another benefit of a glass turkey call is that it can easily produce a hen’s raspy notes while also having a high pitch. So when you first start dragging the striker across the surface, it starts out very high pitched and shifts to lower raspy tones. This is a big advantage for cutting through the woods and reaching out to distant toms. The Sweet April glass call is a great choice for this. The tuned mahogany cup has glass over glass, and comes with a durable hardwood striker.

Best Uses for a Glass Turkey Call

As you can see, both kinds of turkey calls work great in different scenarios. And there are other types too (e.g., crystal, aluminum, ceramic, etc.) that work well – we’re not here to slam any of them. But with the benefits of glass calls discussed above, there are a few scenarios where a glass turkey call has the upper hand.

First, if you hunt in areas where high humidity is a constant companion during turkey season (i.e., the South) or you expect occasional spring showers, a glass turkey call is probably a better choice to take with you. Turkeys can be a little more predictable in the rain, so if you can stick it out and keep hunting, a glass call will help you much more than a slate call.

Second, we mentioned that glass calls have the advantage of being high-pitched. You don’t always want a super loud call, as it might spook toms or make them hang up and wait for a hen to come to them. But this high pitch can cut through the woods better than lower tones without being at a high volume. For this reason, a glass call can reach out and strike a turkey from afar very well. As an interested tom closes the distance, you can switch to a mouth call for the close range action, which eliminates the extra movement. But for that first contact at distant turkeys, a glass call is tough to beat.

“If I had one friction call in my turkey bag it would be a glass call…it has a higher pitch, and a higher tone typically than a slate call…its sharp, precise, cuts through the wind, so it makes for a great call to strike a turkey..some of those sweeter, more subtle calls are not as good at striking a turkey” Michael explains.

As we said, we’re not here to knock other turkey calls – they all have their place. But if you’re not already using a glass turkey call, you could be missing out! Michael is demonstrating the sweet april call in this video, take a look by clicking the link below!

Best 7mm PRC Rifles for Hunting – Ultimate Guide

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October 4, 2026