Deer Hunting Discussion

[wayacoyote]

Thought it was time to start a thread on deer hunting.

For starters, I'm walking out to a tree stand, so can deer see the red light from my flashlight?

What gun would you recommend for my wife? She Can shoot the 30.06 but doesn't like the kick. I don't want something too off of the main stream.

[iddee]

My 13 y/o grandson uses a .17. a .222 and a .223. All fit him comfortably.

[BjornBee]

I find a good overall bush gun which is a step below a 30.06 is the 30-30 win. For anything inside 100 yards, and thats normal around here, it works well. I have two marlins mounted with 3.9x40 tasco scopes. Nothing fancy or extreme.

I think if close enough, then yes, deer would be able to see it. We used to run with red lights in the field on war games. I can tell you that a red light at half mile is hard to see through the bush as it reflects little. But a white light beams out, reflects, and can be seen for miles.

[power napper]

Archery season and I missed a doe this evening, came back to house and sat down on glider and looked at the beautiful leaves, then a bear came down to within 35 feet of hives--looked and left--memorable.

[phil c]

Let the wife try out a .243, they work pretty well.
I wish I could use a rifle in Iowa, we are limited to slugs,muzzleloaders or handguns.

[Sundance]

Man a 30-30 is a classic and hard to beat for ladies,
younger hunter, or heck............ anyone.

I shoot a .270 and really like that caliber. I've tried
scopes, but always end up tearing them off in favor
of open sights. I can shoot faster without a scope.

[Hambone]

I use a 30.06. I could use a .270, 30-30, even a 22.50. The 30.06 was on sale 10 years ago when I bought it. My next will be a .270 or .243. Flatter shooting at longer range.

The deer will either smell or hear you before they see the red light.

[Ravenseye]

Deer aren't spooked by red as they are by "white" light. I swear by a .308. Easy on the shoulder but can be lethal on bigger game as well. I've taken deer, bear and other game. I love it.

[J-Bees]

I find a good overall bush gun which is a step below a 30.06 is the 30-30 win. For anything inside 100 yards, and thats normal around here, it works well. I have two marlins mounted with 3.9x40 tasco scopes. Nothing fancy or extreme.

I think if close enough, then yes, deer would be able to see it. We used to run with red lights in the field on war games. I can tell you that a red light at half mile is hard to see through the bush as it reflects little. But a white light beams out, reflects, and can be seen for miles.

Have ya ever smoked in a war ZONE??

[dragonfly]

What gun would you recommend for my wife? She Can shoot the 30.06 but doesn't like the kick. I don't want something too off of the main stream.

I have a female friend who hunts deer with a .243 and she loves it.

[Scrapfe]

What gun would you recommend for my wife? She Can shoot the 30.06 but doesn't like the kick.

I will have to second what BBl said about getting arrested. Some of the calibers mentioned will land you in the county jail if you use them for deer in Alabama, proberly the same in Kentucky. The .243 would be my pick, it only kills at the front end, the 30-06 Springfield feels like it kills at both ends if you are gun shy. I know of a local man who can really shoot. He uses a scoped .243 with hand loads. Says he only shoots for the head/neck area.

Where he hunts a long shot is 100 yards. If you shoot at the head and miss you don't have a wounded deer to follow up. You score a hit you don't have to follow a blood trail either, he'll be laying where he was standing when you squeezed off the shot. It is often extremely difficult to follow a fresh blood trail in wet fallen, oak, hickory, sweetgum, and maple leaves. Also Alabama and Kentucky deer usually have little meat on a their antlers. This modern day Daniel Boone claims there is not a set of antlers big enough to get him to shoot for the boiler room.

[standman]

I too would recommend the .243, but Remington offers a Managed Recoil load in some calibers that might allow you to use a gun you already have. Also, you might favor a heavier gun if she is hunting from a blind and doesn't have to carry it very far. The heavier weight produces less felt recoil. Oh, and make sure that you replace any older metal/wood butt plate with a softer/more cushioning one to pad that shoulder. Good luck and happy hunting.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Another caliber that does not get enough attention is the 7mm-08. Check out the youth model on this page, it can be had for about $500. Second line up from the bottom.

http://www.remington.com/products/fi...el_700_SPS.asp

[Keith Jarrett]

I like to shoot a colt/saur, 300 weatherby mag round.

That way if the game warden catches me with a doe, I can tell him that the bullet hit him so hard it blew his horns & balls off.

[Hambone]

I like to shoot a colt/saur, 300 weatherby mag round.

That way if the game warden cacthes me with a doe, I can tell him that the bullet hit him so hard it blew his horns & balls off.

LOL