Here's a view of the sun coming up over the hills, and of the cabin we stayed in.
![Image](http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/Vartarg/SouthDakota/013ee950.jpg)
![Image](http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/Vartarg/SouthDakota/a17c5078.jpg)
The first day, Monday, we were at the same spot from 9am until about 5pm...and had steady shooting all day. I counted 130 pcs of brass, but may have lost a few. There were only a couple of shots under 100 yards, and most were out 200 yards plus, to a max of about 400. I'd made the "rookie" mistake of not bringing a range finder, but was able to use Mitch's periodically, since Tom had one also. I will NOT make that mistake again.
Since I was shooting a Cooper .17FB and my Rem700 in 20 VT along with my Ruger .204, it was really difficult connecting with the smaller cartridges, until I started using the range finder. The only shot I troubled to range that day was 260 yards with the 20VT. Tom was shooting a bolt 22-250 and .204, while Mitch was working them over with one of his 6.5 Grendels.
This is the field we shot in Monday, a pic of Mitchell shooting next to his truck, my Cooper set up on the bench, and a photo of the three of us: left to right Mitch, Tom and me. I had my hat off when it was taken, but believe me, I had a hat on pretty much all the time, and used plenty of sunscreen.
![Image](http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/Vartarg/SouthDakota/0f9ddcd0.jpg)
![Image](http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/Vartarg/SouthDakota/1d1ba4fd.jpg)
![Image](http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/Vartarg/SouthDakota/f61af45e.jpg)
![Image](http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/Vartarg/SouthDakota/d4f4752e.jpg)
The second day started out overcast, cool and breezy and stayed that way all morning. When the sun came out around noon, things picked up a bit, and we shot several in the next hour or so. We moved to another field and killed a dozen or so, along with chasing a bunch of others back in their holes, until we quit about 5pm. The only kill I laser measured on Tuesday was one at 310 yards with my Ruger .204, shooting 32gr Nosler BT's over RL10X. It opened him up pretty good. As a matter of fact, I used the .204 almost exclusively this day, since all the shots were on the long side...at least for me.
The Ruger .204 where the 310 yard shot was taken:
![Image](http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/Vartarg/SouthDakota/13b2ffaf.jpg)
Here's a pic of Tom shooting next to Mitch's truck, at the last place of the day.
![Image](http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/Vartarg/SouthDakota/d8f8597e.jpg)
Mitch walked up on a prairie rattle snake, and killed it with a "shot shell" shot from his 1911. It had 9 rattles and a button....not a huge snake by LA standards, but just as dangerous. Nest to him in the photo is Aaron, the guide who took us to the various spots.
![Image](http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/Vartarg/SouthDakota/99411374.jpg)
I also stopped at the Cabelas store in Sidney NE on the way south....quite a place. I drove from SD down here to Santa Fe to visit our youngest daughter and family, and my wife had flown out a couple of days ago....
![Image](http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/Vartarg/SouthDakota/2b281c35.jpg)
I'll post more photos, after receiving some taken by Mitch and Tom.
Thanks for looking! I learned at least TWO lessons: 1) take a range finder; 2) take more gun......next year I'll have my other .204 and my Savage 6BR with some 105gr AMax's......
George