First deer hunt, looking for advice

[bigbossman]

Originally Posted by cptorrez

I also ordered a mystery ranch pop up 38 for day use. Wasn't sure if I should do the 28 bit it was $10 more for the 38 soooo ya

Originally Posted by NapalmCheese

As for the 28 vs. the 38... You're just going to carry more crap you don't need!

Thoughts on a pack....

I (think?) I agree with Napalm... that is, keep your pack as small and light as possible. If I'm hunting an area where I know I can drag the carcass out or be able to go back and get the car, ATV, or game cart, I will use a small pack with just the essentials - ammo, water, TP, snacks, etc. If I'm hiking cross country and will have to break down the animal where it sits and pack it out, I use a larger pack with a meat shelf, mostly empty but still carrying the essentials same as the small pack but with the addition of mesh game bags.

So yeah - two packs for two different types of hunting.

Actually, I have a 3rd pack that I use for birds, rabbit, and waterfowl...... I hate transferring stuff from pack to pack all the time, the hunting "essentials" are different and I usually forget something I need.

[180ls1]

Originally Posted by bigbossman

Thoughts on a pack....

I (think?) I agree with Napalm... that is, keep your pack as small and light as possible. If I'm hunting an area where I know I can drag the carcass out or be able to go back and get the car, ATV, or game cart, I will use a small pack with just the essentials - ammo, water, TP, snacks, etc. If I'm hiking cross country and will have to break down the animal where it sits and pack it out, I use a larger pack with a meat shelf, mostly empty but still carrying the essentials same as the small pack.

So yeah - two packs for two different types of hunting.

Actually, I have a 3rd pack that I use for birds, rabbit, and waterfowl...... I hate transferring stuff from pack to pack all the time, the hunting "essentials" are different and I usually forget something I need.

For the sake of discussion, or just different perspective. Sometimes that small walk leads you to put an animal down several miles from the truck. Happened to me one time with a bull elk.

I really like my Kuiu 4000lt. It is 3.8lb, packs down to nothing for day use but also has room for multi day hunts. Having the meat shelf on you 24/7 is really nice.

[RNE228]

I do basically the same; multiple packs with gear for specific hunting.

One thing I look at for packs and rifle/shotgun slings is how they work together. I usually don't have an issue with my rifle stuff, but I had a pack I used for waterfowl for a while that made it difficult to sling my shotgun; it was always slipping off my shoulder because of the shape of the pack and the placement of the pack shoulder straps. It was even worse on the occasions I used carried a decoy bag too.

Originally Posted by bigbossman

Thoughts on a pack....

So yeah - two packs for two different types of hunting.

Actually, I have a 3rd pack that I use for birds, rabbit, and waterfowl...... I hate transferring stuff from pack to pack all the time, the hunting "essentials" are different and I usually forget something I need.

[bigbossman]

Originally Posted by 180ls1

For the sake of discussion, or just different perspective. Sometimes that small walk leads you to put an animal down several miles from the truck. Happened to me one time with a bull elk.

I really like my Kuiu 4000lt. It is 3.8lb, packs down to nothing for day use but also has room for multi day hunts. Having the meat shelf on you 24/7 is really nice.

You do make a good point. I've never hunted elk, but I bet it would be a bitch to drop one out in the sticks without a means to pack at least some of it out. The only nit being that you're not gonna carry a broken down bull out all at once in a single pack load, anyway.

Also - Twice now over the course of my hunting career, I've gone for a recon hike in the middle of the day with only a small pack and my rifle, only to be presented with an animal that was out and about for one reason or another. Both times resulted in a harvested animal (one pig, one Mule Deer) and a ton of extra work getting the meat to the cooler. (What the hell is a boar doing in the middle of a grass field at 3pm in 104 degree weather?)

Be Prepared - I don't even take a leak out of the truck without a rifle/shotgun with me.

[NapalmCheese]

Originally Posted by bigbossman

Thoughts on a pack....

I (think?) I agree with Napalm... that is, keep your pack as small and light as possible.[/B].

Yup, small and light.

I used to be an alpine climber. I might be again (my friends think it's a good idea to get back into it, and my gut says they're right). Light is right.

These days if I'm hunting within a couple miles from the truck I've got a chest rig with binos, range finder, tags, and a knife. If I want more I carry a fanny pack with some food bars, bottle of water, gloves, and a drag rope. If I've got even a small backpack I can lash meat to it or figure out some other way to carry some back on the first trip.

I'm not opposed to carrying a big bag if you plan on packing the animal out on your back; but if I have any support at all, I'd just as soon send someone back to the truck for the game cart while I start gutting. That said, I think carrying dead meat is easier than dragging or even carting dead meat in the long run. I'm not saying I shoot small deer but, I've had good luck just tying the legs together and throwing them over my shoulder.

[AGGRO]

Originally Posted by MJB

Go to Rokslide you'll find more hunters and less bunny huggers than here!

That's "bunny humpers" sir.

[cptorrez]

All great info. Love calguns

[CVShooter]

If you're newer to hunting and most concerned about whether or not your perfectly fine rifle will be adequate, then you're making the biggest newbie mistake. Assuming the rifle is capable of making 200 yard shots, it's fine. The caliber is great, .308 being my personal choice as well. But you're worrying about the least important thing.

Get out this year wherever you can and learn to find deer. Ideally, go out on the weekends and try to find them in terrain that is similar to where you'll be hunting. So if you're in open terrain, see if you can spot deer in open terrain. If you're in deep woods or tight cover, then try to find them in tight cover. Focus on the HUNT, not the SHOT. The hunt is the hardest part. The shot should be a given -- pretty much an after-thought & the least of your worries. It's what ends the hunt and begins the making of meat.

Open sights are fine if you are practiced with them, know their limits and stay within those limits. Scopes are great but I wouldn't ever let having a scope or not hold me back. Just have to be closer and being closer is part of the fun.

Some of my favorite pieces of advice that I've ever gotten about big game hunting are:

"Get as close as you can. Then get 6 feet closer."
"The goal is powder burns on the hide."
"It's called hunting, not shooting, for a reason."

Good luck. A new rifle might be in the cards for you and kuddos for you if you do splurge. I love getting new guns and learning their quirks. Just know that it's probably not necessary & that there are far more important things to worry about.

[MJB]

Talk to your family that's hunted it for years...... they know more than we do....gear & experience will be told if you're in the fold!

+1 on the X-bolt LR MAX 6.8W....to take it to the limit!


Good luck

[taperxz]

Save your money and go to the store and buy Broccoli.

[cptorrez]

Ok guys here we are. I have narrowed the gun down to a tikka t3x or the roughteck version...or do I spend more to make it pretty and get the wideland version ( painted stock and cerecoated barrel?)

I'm also considering the savage 110 ultralight. I'm sure I'll get push back from some but the barrel sure seems nice.

Everything just keep going back to tikka and that says something

[taperxz]

Originally Posted by cptorrez

Ok guys here we are. I have narrowed the gun down to a tikka t3x or the roughteck version...or do I spend more to make it pretty and get the wideland version ( painted stock and cerecoated barrel?)

I'm also considering the savage 110 ultralight. I'm sure I'll get push back from some but the barrel sure seems nice.

Everything just keep going back to tikka and that says something

Bergara

[deckhandmike]

I really like the savage ultralight. Might be my next gun. It’s lightweight and very user friendly. Swapping stuff around is easy.

[cptorrez]

Originally Posted by taperxz

Bergara

I didn't see much benefit at first site. Seem a little heavier than the tikka. I did like the stock much better though

[cptorrez]

Originally Posted by deckhandmike

I really like the savage ultralight. Might be my next gun. It?s lightweight and very user friendly. Swapping stuff around is easy.

Lol. I'm just going to have to choose and say f it. To me the ultralight gives you more for the $ and I do have a savage 11 in 22-250 and I like it

[180ls1]

Originally Posted by cptorrez

Lol. I'm just going to have to choose and say f it. To me the ultralight gives you more for the $ and I do have a savage 11 in 22-250 and I like it

Then buy another Savage. Having two identical setup rifles (fit, finish, feel, trigger, safety, stock, and so on...) is a huge plus.

[RNE228]

I have 99 in 300 Sav; one of my long term goals is to add a 250-3000 to the fold. The 22-250 is excellent, but I'd like to have that classic 250-3000. In a lever

It's funny, as a mdl 99 fan, I never really think about Savage having bolt actions even though they have had them for decades. And, even though the mdl 99 was discontinued!

Originally Posted by cptorrez

Lol. I'm just going to have to choose and say f it. To me the ultralight gives you more for the $ and I do have a savage 11 in 22-250 and I like it

[cptorrez]

Originally Posted by 180ls1

Then buy another Savage. Having two identical setup rifles (fit, finish, feel, trigger, safety, stock, and so on...) is a huge plus.

I didn't take that into consideration

[cptorrez]

Ok last question...I think.

I have 2 rifles in 308. Is it best to stay with 308? Can get a deal on a 6.5 creedmoor but think it is a silly switch to make. If I switch it should be for 7mm or something like that.


Thoughts?

Thanls again guys

[cptorrez]

Originally Posted by 180ls1

Then buy another Savage. Having two identical setup rifles (fit, finish, feel, trigger, safety, stock, and so on...) is a huge plus.

I didn't even take that into consideration

[cptorrez]

Last question...I hope but doubt it.

Would switching to 6.5 creedmoor to save a few bucks on a used rifle be dumb. I feel like it is since I already have 2 rifles in .308

[bigbossman]

Originally Posted by cptorrez

Last question...I hope but doubt it.

Would switching to 6.5 creedmoor to save a few bucks on a used rifle be dumb. I feel like it is since I already have 2 rifles in .308

My opinion would be to stick with one caliber. 6.5CM doesn't gain you any extra advantage over .308, and now you will have another mouth to feed.

But - it might depend on the 6.5 rifle in question and how much you'll be saving.

[180ls1]

Originally Posted by bigbossman

My opinion would be to stick with one caliber. 6.5CM doesn't gain you any extra advantage over .308, and now you will have another mouth to feed.

But - it might depend on the 6.5 rifle in question and how much you'll be saving.

Yeah, the 308 is a better killer at most hunting distances (400 yards or less). I would stick with that as well.

[cptorrez]

Originally Posted by 180ls1

Yeah, the 308 is a better killer at most hunting distances (400 yards or less). I would stick with that as well.

Agreed, sometimes it's best to read it rather than think it 😄

[taperxz]

Originally Posted by cptorrez

I didn't see much benefit at first site. Seem a little heavier than the tikka. I did like the stock much better though

It?s a better quality rifle. Hands down

[lewdogg21]

A pretty rifle is nice looking but when I was crawling/pushing through head high brush this weekend and dropped my tikka (sling caught on a branch and as I pushed forward it yanked right off my shoulder I guess) and it hit the ground I picked it up more worried about my scope was still on versus any marks on the gun or scope. To each their own.

[bigbossman]

Originally Posted by lewdogg21

A pretty rifle is nice looking but when I was crawling/pushing through head high brush this weekend and dropped my tikka (sling caught on a branch and as I pushed forward it yanked right off my shoulder I guess) and it hit the ground I picked it up more worried about my scope was still on versus any marks on the gun or scope. To each their own.

Yeah. All my hunting rifles are bedded into synthetic stocks. Pretty rifles and I don't get along in the bush.....

[taperxz]

Originally Posted by lewdogg21

A pretty rifle is nice looking but when I was crawling/pushing through head high brush this weekend and dropped my tikka (sling caught on a branch and as I pushed forward it yanked right off my shoulder I guess) and it hit the ground I picked it up more worried about my scope was still on versus any marks on the gun or scope. To each their own.

Bergara's have synthetic stocks that will withstand a lot more than those hallowed out cheap Tikka plastic stocks.

[Hunt]

There is a super good deal on a LEUPOLD FX3 6x scope in the marketplace here at CG. It?s the perfect deer scope it?s in the accessories heading. If you can hit a 6? circle at 300 yards with the savage 99 you are good to go.

[FatCity67]

Don't be so passive aggressive.

Just put the link to your ad in your sigline.

That is a real good scope at a real good price for a starter rig.

Originally Posted by Hunt

There is a super good deal on a LEUPOLD FX3 6x scope in the marketplace here at CG. It?s the perfect deer scope it?s in the accessories heading. If you can hit a 6? circle at 300 yards with the savage 99 you are good to go.

[edgerly779]

There is a sow with cubs up on my property. She comes down and goes in the pool. I planted ma couple acres of deer silage on back of propery. I am going to plant some vetch and barley as well.

[CartridgeCalls]

Originally Posted by cptorrez

I agree on the prone shooting, but I see hatch makes a bipod that is great for the sitting position as well. It's just 389 bucks.

I highly recommend BOG shotting sticks.

[stonefly-2]

I killed my first deer with a mod. 1899 Savage in .300 Sav.
(about the same thing as a .308)

It wasn't passed down from any relative.....I bought it from a couple of guys trying to settle an estate thinking a gun store would pay them value.

I took the buck at 185 paces.

With the peep sight I put on it anything inside of that is in play and faster than it would be if there was a scope on it.

Point being the gun has attributes just as it is over any scoped,
bolt action rifle.

The terrain you expect to hunt has more to do with the answer to your question than any fevered conversation about buying guns.

If you jump a buck close at hand it's the difference between finding a vital spot on a screen of fur flashing in and out of view and pin the tail on the donkey with no blindfold.