Day in the desert with the EVOL MINI .22

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Last week Marley and I headed several hours stopping along the way to pick up Tom from American Air Arms. We had planned to spend some time hunting and filming with the EVOL Mini .22 caliber as well as the .30 and HP .22 models. Tom, Marley and I traveled deep into the Mojave desert to a familiar location that I had not visited for several years. 





This area has an abundance of rock outcroppings, rolling hills and miles of open desert to roam. By 8:00am the temperature was already well into the high 90's making heat exhaustion a huge reality.



When traveling into these areas I always bring a ton of water for not only myself but Marley, this is a dangerous place and without preparation can kill. I did a ton of filming throughout the day for a video that's in the works. As hot and unforgiving as this place is I will say it's one of the most picturesque areas to film and photograph.



With the .30 EVOL in hand I hiked several miles from the Jeep hoping to spot some rabbit activity up and around the many rock outcroppings, I spotted several that left me with no clear shots. Marley and I took a break in the shade of a large rock that gave a nice panoramic view below us, I spotted several chipmunks at 248 yards.







The temperature was now peaking up to 105 so Marley and I made way back to the Jeep where we encountered a 6' long Mojave Green Rattlesnake, the largest I've ever seen. 



On the way back Tom was able to connect with a good size Jackrabbit at 175 yards, pretty awesome shot at that range using his 60fpe HP EVOL.







Marley supervising Toms field dressing

After taking a break at the Jeep Tom brought out the Mini EVOL .22 



The mini is a rifle that's been in the works for a long time and gone under some major refinements to make it beyond field worthy. This rifle was configured with a 10″ barrel and tuned for just over 32 fpe, perfect gun for the backpack.





Tom and I spent some time shooting at various ranges and doing some film and photography work with it.



After several hours of shooting and having fun we had lunch and headed on down the long sandy desert trail. Even though I had no luck hunting it was just fun to be out with my friends doing what I love. Hope to have more to share soon along with the video of our trip.😊


 
Is that blue anodizing or cerakote? & do you know if it’s a option? I would love that color for my .22hp! Will have to call Tom next wk.
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The blue is anodized. Anodizing is typically only done pre-production. Cerakoting can be done after production. To do any coating properly the surface must be completely stripped (usually media blasted). Air cure products are typically the easiest. Heat cure products require a complete tear down because as soon as heat is introduced oils and grease will find its way out & compromise how the coating adheres to the product. 
 
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Shooting that EVOL mini must’ve really made up for the bad luck hunting. Awesome looking backpack gun. Is that a just concept or will it be brought to market?
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It's really no different than the big brother other than tube, lower rail and barrel. I'm sure they will be available but I think the focus is on the standard models first. 
 
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Is that blue anodizing or cerakote? & do you know if it’s a option? I would love that color for my .22hp! Will have to call Tom next wk.
Click to expand...

The blue is anodized. Anodizing is typically only done pre-production. Cerakoting can be done after production. To do any coating properly the surface must be completely stripped (usually media blasted). Air cure products are typically the easiest. Heat cure products require a complete tear down because as soon as heat is introduced oils and grease will find its way out & compromise how the coating adheres to the product.
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Exactly correct Michael, these are anodized after the parts get bead blasted. Clean parts are critical otherwise the color can look blotchy. Doing one color is much easier, the blue was just a one off. 
 
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Great write up for a great day Dana! This is a great place to hunt; I think it is one of my favorites. The reason this place is so special is it makes you work so hard to be successful and the pure emotion evoked by the sheer vastness and the desolate beauty can be overwhelming. 

I'm sure there are many more rabbits than we see, the vastness and the number of hiding places are immense, but at the same time, cover for the hunter seems limited. When hunting in a place like this, I like to walk the high ground looking down into the small depressions, water runs and valleys attempting to recognize the form of a rabbit hiding in the shadows of a rock outcropping or bush. If I'm lucky and not seen, and the distance allows some maneuvering space, the goal is to get to a good position to make the shot. Hopefully this means a spot with cover and support; breathe, range, chill and shoot.

Many times when working the high ground or simple transiting from one place to another I will bump the unseen rabbit and it will take off running. This is where offhand skill and speed come into play. Many missed opportunities have taught me the moment before raising the rifle is the most important. Take a good look at the terrain so you can recognize it in the scope, make a range estimation, and most importantly think about the lead. The hardest decision for me is to decide to take the running shot immediately or follow and wait for the rabbit to stop. Most Jacks will run full out for a distance and just stop assuming they have outrun the danger and many times they will just run over a hill or into heavy brush never to be seem again. 

Hunting Jacks in the Mojave is about the challenge of the hunt and pure adrenaline of the moment, and may times being defeated by the environment where the game are the masters and we are the students.



Tom 
 
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Dana I enjoy and appreciate your hunting stories and videos. That image of the Mojave green again made me worry about Marley. Did you get him trained to avoid snakes? He is little, close to the ground, and if he got tagged even by a pacific rattler he would likely die. With a Mojave green, he would never make it.

I know it isn't that likely. But he is depending on your judgement for his safety.

Kim

PS a friend is developing a pacific rattlesnake venom vaccine for pets. There is a patent but it isn't on the market yet (there is one for diamond backs but they don't live in so cal). I think the best defense is avoidance training and avoiding rattlesnake terrain. When we have our granddog, she is on-leash and not allowed to nose blindly into shrubs around the rancho
 
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