The first ‘Stop The Consumerism’ ended up being about Militia arms and gear. Well this one’s going to be about hunting arms and gear.
Every year, we get inundated, by a new rifle/shotgun, a new cartridge/new duck load or turkey load, new gizmos, new gear, new, new new. But again, can you use what you already have, effectively?
I personally have hunted with people who’ve gotten a new rifle, or a new shotgun, and we go out, and they have to fiddle with the controls, cause they can’t remember how it works. Now that’s not to say they were dangerous, they knew how to keep the muzzle in a safe direction, finger off the trigger, etc. But, I’ve seen this it seems most often with new semi auto shot guns. Guys don’t seem to practice with them BEFORE hunting season.
I get it, shooting your big game rifle, or bird gun isn’t necessarily fun. But, if you don’t practice periodically through out the year, you’ll have a hard time filling your tags or coming home with you limit.
We now see advertisements about Federal’s 7mm Backcountry, and how great it is. People are talking it up. They say how wonderful it is, that you can have magnum performance from a 20″ barrel and mounting a suppressor. But how good are you with the .308, 30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, or 300 Win Mag you already have? If you don’t shoot your current rifle periodically for practice, will you shoot the new one, anymore than to simply sight it in? And can you afford to shoot it? Those steel cased cartridges won’t be cheap. And what if the new cartridge isn’t a success? Unless you hand load, in 10 years you’ll be screwed. Then that brings up another question, can you hand load a steel case that takes 80,000psi?
That’s not to pick on the 7mm Backcountry. It’s just the latest new thing. As a side note, I don’t get the emphasis so many have with a suppressor on a big game rifle. How many shots are you going to take at a buck? Or an elk? Or a moose? Or a bear? When I shoot my rifle deer hunting, I never hear it, or even feel the recoil. A shot, or two or three, un-suppressed and without ear plugs, isn’t going to kill you. Now, prairie dog shooting, or hog shooting, or even shooting a pack of coyotes, now that I can see a suppressor being worth the extra length, as it will slow the speed the other vermin spook. But again, how many shots are you taking at that buck?
Like the first ‘Stop The Consumerism’ post, this is very much the same. Get the rifle(s), shot gun(s), whatever you need for what game you hunt in the appropriate caliber(s), and gauge(s), along with the basic gear, like clothing, a pack or vest, decoys, binoculars, etc. Don’t forget duct tape, para cord and toilet paper… You never know what’ll happen.
And practice! Don’t just leave your deer rifle in the safe till fall to shoot one group to check your scope. Get the rifle dirty a few times a year, stay good with it. Don’t just shoot from a bench. Shoot off hand, prone, kneeling, and leaning against a tree.
The same goes for bird hunters. Go to a trap range, bust some clay’s, once in awhile. And if you turkey hunt, then take your turkey gun and turkey shells out once in a while, and shoot a few at cardboard at varying ranges. Check the pattern, make sure you’re remembering to aim, not merely point. Adjust the sights if need be. Know your range, turkey chokes and turkey shells are not all equal, far from it. If your shells don’t pattern how you’d like at the ranges you want, change the choke, or change the brand/type of shells. Find out you have a problem BEFORE hunting season, so you don’t miss your chance.
Once again, practice, practice, practice. Along with a little exercise. Don’t let your gear collect dust. Don’t miss that trophy because you didn’t practice, or were too winded.
Practice with your gear, and exercise.
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