Gearing up for gun season

[Jaz]

Took a friend up to the public range on SGL 242 yesterday. Met a bunch of nice guys. An old ex-marine had quite a collection of vintage US firepower. He was shooing a Garand, an M-14, and an M1903. I was waiting for him to pull out a BAR but he must have left that one home.

One guy was helping us out with a spotting scope showed us a pheasant he bagged earlier that morning right across the street from the range. Talk about a bad place for a game bird to hang out.

I was shooting my old Enfield, I've had it for fifteen years. Its still as accurate as ever with the iron sites. Not sure if I will use it for gun season or just stick with the rifled slugs. I won't have to travel as far if I use the shotgun.

[mlatoman]

Originally Posted by Jaz

Took a friend up to the public range on SGL 242 yesterday. Met a bunch of nice guys. An old ex-marine had quite a collection of vintage US firepower. He was shooing a Garand, an M-14, and an M1903. I was waiting for him to pull out a BAR but he must have left that one home.

One guy was helping us out with a spotting scope showed us a pheasant he bagged earlier that morning right across the street from the range. Talk about a bad place for a game bird to hang out.

I was shooting my old Enfield, I've had it for fifteen years. Its still as accurate as ever with the iron sites. Not sure if I will use it for gun season or just stick with the rifled slugs. I won't have to travel as far if I use the shotgun.

I was thinking about taking out my Winchester 94 .30-30 with receiver peep sight, but man, I have really noticed my long-range focusing taking a crap. I may have to take the ol' trusty Model 70 .30-06 with 3x9x40.

Or....stay with the bow.

[BS21213]

gun season? Is that what y'all call it? Sheesh.

[microg]

Originally Posted by BS21213

gun season? Is that what y'all call it? Sheesh.

I think the poster was referring to the portion of the deer hunting season where firearms (not just muzzleloaders) would be permitted.

[Jaz]

Yep, some of us just aren't into bows. Although now that xbows are legal statewide for bow season I might give it a go next year. Those bows with the red dot sight look fun.

I just got a new synthetic stock and scope from midsouth shooters supply. I can't wait to get it put together and sighted in.

[jonsensback]

Originally Posted by mlatoman

I was thinking about taking out my Winchester 94 .30-30 with receiver peep sight, but man, I have really noticed my long-range focusing taking a crap. I may have to take the ol' trusty Model 70 .30-06 with 3x9x40.

Or....stay with the bow.

Still use my Dads old win 94 .30-.30 at the farm in Cecil with iron sights instead of the scoped 742 Remington 30.06.

The .06 is too much gun for 50 yd quick brush shots while the 94 was made for that.

My far vision is just fine, but I can't tie a lure without my glasses to save my life

[Woodbuchr]

I've been geared up for gun season since my October antelope hunt. I'll still be using the trusty Model 700 .30-'06 that I've been using for the last 40 years. I have other "deer guns" and have used them for a morning or two occasionally but I always fall back on the old '06.

On my way to my WV cabin last week the lady in front of us couldn't wait for gun season. She got a "big ol buck" with her Mercury! It was dark and we only saw her swerve but it sure made a mess of that car.

I hope to get one with a gun instead of my pick-up. That is why it's called gun season not pickup season.

[jonsensback]

Originally Posted by Woodbuchr

I've been geared up for gun season since my October antelope hunt. I'll still be using the trusty Model 700 .30-'06 that I've been using for the last 40 years. I have other "deer guns" and have used them for a morning or two occasionally but I always fall back on the old '06.

On my way to my WV cabin last week the lady in front of us couldn't wait for gun season. She got a "big ol buck" with her Mercury! It was dark and we only saw her swerve but it sure made a mess of that car.

I hope to get one with a gun instead of my pick-up. That is why it's called gun season not pickup season.

Almost got my second deer of the season this morning at work.

I would made this months safety handout for sure,lol.

[mlatoman]

Originally Posted by jonsensback

Still use my Dads old win 94 .30-.30 at the farm in Cecil with iron sights instead of the scoped 742 Remington 30.06.

The .06 is too much gun for 50 yd quick brush shots while the 94 was made for that.

My far vision is just fine, but I can't tie a lure without my glasses to save my life

No doubt about that, but I think my soon-to-be 50 year old eyes are really begging for help.

[Jaz]

Well my rifle is all set up now with some new hardware. I'm looking to put a scope on my mossberg slug barrel. Anyone have any experience with the red dot scopes? Are they okay for a slug gun? I don't think I want to put a rifle scope on it, seems like over kill.

[IndispensableDestiny]

I put a red dot on smoothie. To tell the truth, it didn't offer any advantage over the fiber sights that clamp onto the rib. Perhaps for turkey.

My rifled slug barrel has a Nikon Slug scope on it. Dead on at 50 yds, about 4 inch groups at 100 yds. That's good enough. Lightfield Hybred EXP sabots.

My lever action in .308 is dead on at 100 yds. I haven't tried it at 200. 3-9x40 Leupold Scope. Federal 165 gr Nosler partitions.

For short rifle work, my Marlin 1894C is dead on at 50 yds. 1-4x Leupold. The Buffalo Bore heavy .357 158 grain ammo has more energy out of that gun than a .30-30.

[Jaz]

My mossberg only has a smoothbore slug barrel. I use the rifled slugs and can hit a pie plate at 50 yards. I got a b square saddle mount for it at bass pro and am going to see how that works with a red dot. If it can't hold zero I will try something else. Will see later today if I can get to the range.

[NOTAGUNNUT]

I've taken deer with both rifle, and bow, and one week apart.

A bow kill is far more exciting, so when rifle season opens I'll likely be on public, bow only land with my trusty Hoyt Trykon XL.
Then again... I don't have any meat in the freezer yet.

[mlatoman]

Originally Posted by NOTAGUNNUT

I've taken deer with both rifle, and bow, and one week apart.

A bow kill is far more exciting, so when rifle season opens I'll likely be on public, bow only land with my trusty Hoyt Trykon XL.
Then again... I don't have any meat in the freezer yet.

After arrowing yesterday's 5 or 6 point (depending on how one judge's points) with a blaze orange hat on, I may just have to stick with the bow from now on.

Nine yard shot and he tore a cornfield up on his 45-50 yard death run. I love guns, but no gun hunt will ever match that!

[jonsensback]

Originally Posted by mlatoman

After arrowing yesterday's 5 or 6 point (depending on how one judge's points) with a blaze orange hat on, I may just have to stick with the bow from now on.

Nine yard shot and he tore a cornfield up on his 45-50 yard death run. I love guns, but no gun hunt will ever match that!

No doubt there is alot to be said about the rush of using a bow.

We have talked about this before that I don't bow hunt only because I haven't spent the time to feel proficient enough with a bow to dispatch a deer as well and quickly as it deserves, but I respect those that do.

Should get into using a bow because I have to say the fire I use to have for gun hunting is beginning to flame out.

It's just too easy anymore to take a deer or even two deer at time is come cases, which I have more than once the past five years, which makes me a meat hunter.

I guess that ain't all bad, hunting just for the meat even if I don't need it. But do miss that stir in the gut I use to get this time of year. Now it's just another chore, almost like power washing the deck,

[mlatoman]

Originally Posted by jonsensback

No doubt there is alot to be said about the rush of using a bow.

We have talked about this before that I don't bow hunt only because I haven't spent the time to feel proficient enough with a bow to dispatch a deer as well and quickly as it deserves, but I respect those that do.

Should get into using a bow because I have to say the fire I use to have for gun hunting is beginning to flame out.

It's just too easy anymore to take a deer or even two deer at time is come cases, which I have more than once the past five years, which makes me a meat hunter.

I guess that ain't all bad, hunting just for the meat even if I don't need it. But do miss that stir in the gut I use to get this time of year. Now it's just another chore, almost like power washing the deck,

We live close. You should go out shooting bows with me once or we can go up to Autumn Sky or something.

I remember leafing past all the bowhunting articles in hunting mags as I didn't bowhunt, and I also thought that it would take too long and be too much work to become a good shot with a bow. One still needs to practice, but with today's bows you can buy one in June or July and be more than ready come 9/15. Trust me, I could have killed this buck when I first saw him with either my .30-06, my 12 gauge or my .50 caliber muzzleloader. But getting him to within nine yards and blowing through both lungs and the top of the aorta with an arrow is un-freaking-real.

[jonsensback]

Originally Posted by mlatoman

We live close. You should go out shooting bows with me once or we can go up to Autumn Sky or something.

I remember leafing past all the bowhunting articles in hunting mags as I didn't bowhunt, and I also thought that it would take too long and be too much work to become a good shot with a bow. One still needs to practice, but with today's bows you can buy one in June or July and be more than ready come 9/15. Trust me, I could have killed this buck when I first saw him with either my .30-06, my 12 gauge or my .50 caliber muzzleloader. But getting him to within nine yards and blowing through both lungs and the top of the aorta with an arrow is un-freaking-real.

Thats' just it Mman, I don't take the time and I have ample opportunities to do so since I have several friends and relatives who bow hunt. Hell, I even have a friend who has a stand in his backyard with several differently placed targets to practice with. But if I am to continue to deer hunt I need to to it and by next year I may just hook up with you at Autumn Sky.

[NOTAGUNNUT]

Originally Posted by mlatoman

We live close. You should go out shooting bows with me once or we can go up to Autumn Sky or something.

I remember leafing past all the bowhunting articles in hunting mags as I didn't bowhunt, and I also thought that it would take too long and be too much work to become a good shot with a bow. One still needs to practice, but with today's bows you can buy one in June or July and be more than ready come 9/15. Trust me, I could have killed this buck when I first saw him with either my .30-06, my 12 gauge or my .50 caliber muzzleloader. But getting him to within nine yards and blowing through both lungs and the top of the aorta with an arrow is un-freaking-real.

wow! Is that THREE down now? Nice!

I was out every day this past week, and with the lousy weather I saw a total of two deer all week. niether very close. I will be out early tomorrow(lousy weather again, too warm), and then it's back to work on tuesday.

Jonesenback - I killed my first deer ever with my 30-30 about ten years ago. It was an awesome rush. Nice seven point. I killed quite a few afterward. I finally got to the point where I was tired of waiting all year for a two week hunting season knowing that the archery season is 4 months long. I drove up to Lancaster Archery Supply in March of 2005, walked up to the counter, and told the guy there that I wanted to go bowhunting in september, so set me up. I blanked that first season with the bow, but took my first archery deer on Nov. 11 2006... a decent four point. I gotta tell you that the first archery deer was far more exciting than that first rifle deer. I went out opening day of rifle season a week later and took another deer with the rifle, and ... well ... it just didn't compare at all. Very anticlimactic. I think I've been in the woods with the rifle once since, and a muzzle loader twice. I'd rather take the bow even during the firearms seasons. Mlato and I have walked into the same woods at the same time, him with his muzzle loader, and me with my bow.
He's right... we should all get together, and fling some arrows at a good pro shop like Autumn Sky, and show you that while it's nothing like shooting a rifle, it's not difficult for a disciplined person to shoot a bow.
Something else... when you shoot a deer with a rifle the energy comes from the powder charge. With a bow the energy comes from the arms of the shooter, and it all happens inside 30 yards. My first deer was arrowed at 9 yards. There's alot more challenge to bow hunting. Knowing just the right time to draw. Too soon, and you have to hold too long. too late, and you're busted. When it's that close a shot can be tough to get, but when it all works, and you get that first archery deer it's that old awesome feeling... again.

[mlatoman]

Originally Posted by NOTAGUNNUT

wow! Is that THREE down now? Nice!

I was out every day this past week, and with the lousy weather I saw a total of two deer all week. niether very close. I will be out early tomorrow(lousy weather again, too warm), and then it's back to work on tuesday.

Jonesenback - I killed my first deer ever with my 30-30 about ten years ago. It was an awesome rush. Nice seven point. I killed quite a few afterward. I finally got to the point where I was tired of waiting all year for a two week hunting season knowing that the archery season is 4 months long. I drove up to Lancaster Archery Supply in March of 2005, walked up to the counter, and told the guy there that I wanted to go bowhunting in september, so set me up. I blanked that first season with the bow, but took my first archery deer on Nov. 11 2006... a decent four point. I gotta tell you that the first archery deer was far more exciting than that first rifle deer. I went out opening day of rifle season a week later and took another deer with the rifle, and ... well ... it just didn't compare at all. Very anticlimactic. I think I've been in the woods with the rifle once since, and a muzzle loader twice. I'd rather take the bow even during the firearms seasons. Mlato and I have walked into the same woods at the same time, him with his muzzle loader, and me with my bow.
He's right... we should all get together, and fling some arrows at a good pro shop like Autumn Sky, and show you that while it's nothing like shooting a rifle, it's not difficult for a disciplined person to shoot a bow.
Something else... when you shoot a deer with a rifle the energy comes from the powder charge. With a bow the energy comes from the arms of the shooter, and it all happens inside 30 yards. My first deer was arrowed at 9 yards. There's alot more challenge to bow hunting. Knowing just the right time to draw. Too soon, and you have to hold too long. too late, and you're busted. When it's that close a shot can be tough to get, but when it all works, and you get that first archery deer it's that old awesome feeling... again.

NOTA, I was the exact same way. I waited all year for two weeks of firearms season, until I bought a muzzleloader and could hunt in October. One day my wife asked me why I didn't bowhunt and I said because it's probably too hard and I don't have the time to practice enough to get good at it. But I got tired of reading all these stories about the rut and never seeing it, so one day I saw an Ad in the Pennysaver and I wound up buying an old Hoyt Raider wheelie bow that was not really a good match for me, but it got me in the game. I later bought a new Buckmasters 2000 single cam bow that was set up just right for me, and I killed several deer with it, but truth be told, it was merely a way to extend my hunting seasons. When BP and firearms seasons rolled around, I was in a tree with my muzzleloader or rifle.

But things have changed. Killing a deer is no longer as important as how I kill it (if I do). I could kill many a deer with blackpowder or cartridge rifles that would never give me that rush of having to get that deer within 30 yards or less (hopefuly much less) and having to come to full draw, aim and release the arrow without the deer seeing my movement. It's almost completely silent yet so deadly.

And...that big plus (which I know by now my wife probably regrets ever opening her mouth about it) is that my deer hunting season starts 9/15 and doesn't end until 1/31. So if there's a week or two of lousy weather, it doesn't ruin an entire year of hunting for me.

I still love a fine rifle, but I think I may be at the end of my gun hunting life.

[RavensDomination]

Originally Posted by Jaz

Took a friend up to the public range on SGL 242 yesterday. Met a bunch of nice guys. An old ex-marine had quite a collection of vintage US firepower. He was shooing a Garand, an M-14, and an M1903. I was waiting for him to pull out a BAR but he must have left that one home.

One guy was helping us out with a spotting scope showed us a pheasant he bagged earlier that morning right across the street from the range. Talk about a bad place for a game bird to hang out.

I was shooting my old Enfield, I've had it for fifteen years. Its still as accurate as ever with the iron sites. Not sure if I will use it for gun season or just stick with the rifled slugs. I won't have to travel as far if I use the shotgun.

Nothing like a good old military rifle. I have an M39 en route now to add to my collection, just need to pick up some surplus 7.62x54R ammo and I'll be good to go!