Going Hunting?

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Thomen

@Red October
I do have a 30-06 in addition to the old Mauser that I posted about sometime ago, but around here they prefer you use a shotgun with deer slugs for going after deer. I do love shooting my muzzle-loader, though. It makes you work for every single shot, and the smell (or stench depending who you asked) and smoke are just awesome. Black powder might not be good for hunting, but it does make a lasting impression.

Black powder is great for hunting if you're a good shot and the animal presents you with a satisfactory target. With a rifle, I'd probably take a shot at a deer walking toward me...but with a muzzleloader I'd definitely wait until it's turned broadside.

One year I nailed two small does at 100 yards...with a semiautomatic rifle. Can't do that with a muzzleloader. I respect black powder guys for that. So much more goes behind every shot. It's not as simple as filling the magazine with prepared ammo. Not as simple as aiming slightly high at 140 yards.

I want to hunt with one. Soon.

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

"Whaaat? WHAAAAT?!"

.17 has no power at all. I tried to hunt squirrels with it once. Saw a squirrel running away from me....6 shots later it was dead. A .22 hollow point would've killed it in one or two.

Originally Posted by Rockstar

For deer I use fillet knives to cut out the anus and then the esophagus as close to the head as possible, using a several bread ties to close each end off to prevent the stomach contents from leaking into the meat.

I have seen tools you can get that

 

you stick up the deer's anus, twist and pull out so you can easily cut it off and slide the rest out from the inside.

To evisorate the beast a good skinning knife is indispensable. Becareful to not ever ever cut or puncture the internal organs. Learn too the cuts of meat to make sure you let nothing go to waste thereby getting the most out your kill. Or just dress it and bring it to the butcher.

Usually we take our deer to the butcher. Ground deer meat is very cheap.

Have you ever gutted a deer in the pitch black night by feel? That was quite the experience. I was still learning how....having done it once before in perfectly good daylight. Dad handed me the knife and said "You've watched me enough."

Know your target inside and out!

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

This might be a good moment to reflect on how this all does point up cultural differences between us over here (and maybe that includes most other Europeans, I don't know) and you guys in the US.

There is a Frenchman who comes to my town every year specifically for deer season. He comes out and stays with a family in the community he's friends with for two weeks.

I love taking out new hunters and showing them how. Keeps old traditions going. It's a shame a lot of the wildlife is dead over there.

Hunting is much more than just killing and lying about size.

[Eichhörnchen]

Although we don't live that life anymore in the UK, I get the feeling that hunting and preparing the kill maybe goes on in a similar way in Russia and the Balkans.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

Black powder is great for hunting if you're a good shot and the animal presents you with a satisfactory target. With a rifle, I'd probably take a shot at a deer walking toward me...but with a muzzleloader I'd definitely wait until it's turned broadside.

I love black powder and have no problem taking a front shot, IMO, one of the best shots for a kill if LOS is good.

[Rockstar]

Just an FYI, if you're up for a trip to do some bow hunting consider Assateague Island National Seashore. Small white tail and asian elk roam about on the Maryland side. We get around 2 million visitors a year so they are used to noise and people, most just stand there land look at you when come up on one.

Last time I looked at the regulations deer taken on the National Seashore do not count towards state bag limits either.

[Tango589]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Just an FYI, if you're up for a trip to do some bow hunting consider Assateague Island National Seashore. Small white tail and asian elk roam about...most just stand there land look at you when come up on one.

They sound like the perfect candidates for:

Originally Posted by Tango589

I prefer to venture out with a rolled up newspaper.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

Although we don't live that life anymore in the UK, I get the feeling that hunting and preparing the kill maybe goes on in a similar way in Russia and the Balkans.

Only if you're a member of a ''hunting family'' or a poacher.
Hunting is a closed privilege here. For a good reason though. The wildlife population couldn't survive one half of an open hunting season without everything going extinct.

[Aktungbby]

[QUOTE=Armistead;2258347]I love black powder and have no problem taking a front shot, IMO, one of the best shots for a kill if LOS is good.[/QUOTE]
Vat do U mean! IF der LOS iss good!

ROCKSTAR:consider Assateague Island National Seashore. Small white tail and asian elk roam about

Just don't shoot the world famous feral ponies by accident!

[Eichhörnchen]

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Armistead

I love black powder and have no problem taking a front shot, IMO, one of the best shots for a kill if LOS is good.

The only reason I'm hesitant about a front shot is that it seems to be the shot that always misses in my experience. Every couple of years I get a deer walking straight at me with its head down. I've missed that shot 3 times when I was younger. I'd rather wait for a better shot if possible. If it's a doe, i've gone for a headshot. Made a mess of a deer one year doing that.

Wasn't clean....but it was quick and it got the job done.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

The only reason I'm hesitant about a front shot is that it seems to be the shot that always misses in my experience. Every couple of years I get a deer walking straight at me with its head down. I've missed that shot 3 times when I was younger. I'd rather wait for a better shot if possible. If it's a doe, i've gone for a headshot. Made a mess of a deer one year doing that.

Wasn't clean....but it was quick and it got the job done.

Well, certainly never take a shot you're not comfortable with and much depends on how clear the shot is, thickness of brush, etc.

The biggest buck I ever killed with a bow was the first day of bow season. It was actually a hot day and my friend and I just went to get our stands up, but decided to hunt the afternoon. I bet I hadn't sat in my stand a minute, covered in sweat and smoking a cig {did then} when I heard it behind me eating acorns. I was up fairly high, but with cig in lip I stood up, got turned and pulled...but the shot wasn't right. I thought he would step out into a clearing, but he stopped. I got caught in the pull, but hung on. Seemed a few minutes, he finally stepped out and I shot. He was 10 points.

[Tango589]

Originally Posted by Armistead

he finally stepped out and I shot. He was 10 points.

Do you get awarded points for bagging these? What's your high score?

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Tango589

Do you get awarded points for bagging these? What's your high score?

haha, well, there is a typical scoring method used by hunters known as Boone and Crockett.

http://www.boone-crockett.org/bgReco...Whitetail+Deer

[ikalugin]

Does anyone else use thermals?

[Tango589]

Only when it's cold enough to freeze the tits off a witch.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

Does anyone else use thermals?

Absolutely!