Who shoots and/or hunts?

[El Exorcisto]

With the archery topic coming up I started wondering who on here likes punching neat little holes through paper and game? I just got my carry permit about a month ago, and the chill in the air is reminding me that soon enough I'll be putting up some winter meat.

 

So who else packs, and who else is looking forward to waking up at the ass crack of dawn and freezing while you sit in the woods for hours and hours hoping for a shot?

[VallenJoker]

I haven't started hunting yet, but every time  Igo home I spend about 60% of my time at the range

[El Exorcisto]

Why haven't you started hunting?

[j-squared]

I hunt birds with my dog. 

I also used to shoot on a few different leagues, combat, target and cowboy action.

[Nytebane]

I have a nice collection of firearms and my concealed carry permit.  Kind of a requirement nowadays, especially here where I live in Philadelphia.  I've always wanted to hunt and actually just baught my first .308.  I got an entry level .308 in the Ruger American with a Redfield 4x12 scope with ballistic reticle (I like all my guns 100% American).  Haven't sighted it in yet but will do so very soon so I can have my first hunting trip up in the mountains =).  Also want to learn to cut my own meat. 

[VallenJoker]

I'm always at sea or at school during hunting season, I plan on doing it more once I graduate, but first I want to get my CCW (21 in December), and have some time to actually set up a good trip

[El Exorcisto]

Nytebane, I'm the same way. My only exception is a custom .243 that my grandfather gave me. It's built on a non-import, pre-WW2 Nazi Mauser action. I'll make an exception for such an exceptional rifle. My go-to is a Savage 110 I built in .243 with a fixed 2.5x Leupold. My carry piece is a Ruger SR-9 in OD, and my woods carry piece is a 5" S&W model 60 in 357.

 

Butchering is a skill that everyone, and I mean everyone should learn, not just hunters. The ability to get cuts of meat from a large primal or whole animal makes buying large pieces of cheap meat economical. Good luck on your first hunt. Make sure to keep the liver and heart when you field dress. There is more nutrition in a deer's liver than you'll find in most well stocked supplement aisles.

[LessJos]

I want to learn how to shoot. I think it is an essential skill especially out where we are at the ranch. While I am really interested and wanting to learn, I am also really scared. I can't even explain why but I am scared!

 

How did you get started?

 

I got the butchering down though! I never buy cut meat. Apart from ground beef and pork which we get from local ranchers.

[superjenni]

I mostly skeet shoot.  

 

As far as getting started I -

 

Took an NRA safety course and introduction to indoor shooting.

Took a separate lesson for rifles at one point.

Took a few skeet shooting lessons.

 

Every range should have some sort of introduction course.  It's really not that scary and being a girl is not a big deal at all (assuming you are also female from your avatar).

[Caution]

I go hunting every year with my FIL. Hoping to bag a big one this year, I didn't last year and it made me sad. 

[LessJos]

I mostly skeet shoot.  

 

As far as getting started I -

 

Took an NRA safety course and introduction to indoor shooting.

Took a separate lesson for rifles at one point.

Took a few skeet shooting lessons.

 

Every range should have some sort of introduction course.  It's really not that scary and being a girl is not a big deal at all (assuming you are also female from your avatar).

 

Yup, female. Thanks. I guess I have to find out who is giving courses etc. here. As far as I know NRA is only in USA. I am sure I need to do a course for a PAL anyways, so that might be a good start.

[El Exorcisto]

LessJos, I grew up in a gun-toting house with a father that hunted, trapped, and shot trap. My mom shot trap, too. The only formal training I've had has been in my hunter's safety course and my state-mandated handgun safety course. If you don't have anyone close that can show you the ropes then absolutely get some formal training. Never be afraid of a gun, and never point it at anything that doesn't need to die.

[hawgsquatch]

El,

 

I am new here , but I will throw my hat in. I live in a hunters paradise. I hunt black-tailed deer, black bear, grouse, mountain and valley quail, waterfowl, squirrels, rabbits, turkey and the occasional Elk when I can get a tag.  We fish a bunch too.

 

I carry a weapon at work so subsequently I carry off duty as well. For the most part it is habit. I think if I need a gun to take a girl to a movie I should probably pick a different theater.

 

I used to shoot competitive skeet and sporting clays. I am a Bennelli aficionado.

[AlexCold]

Count me in as gun-toting American. Love shooting paper and steel. If I didn't have so many other hobbies and a newborn son, I'd be competing in 3-gun competitions. 

 

I would like to start hunting in a few years. Never went with my dad because he was working so much, but he used to when I was too young to go. 

[Nytebane]

El,

 

I am new here , but I will throw my hat in. I live in a hunters paradise. I hunt black-tailed deer, black bear, grouse, mountain and valley quail, waterfowl, squirrels, rabbits, turkey and the occasional Elk when I can get a tag.  We fish a bunch too.

 

I carry a weapon at work so subsequently I carry off duty as well. For the most part it is habit. I think if I need a gun to take a girl to a movie I should probably pick a different theater.

 

Sounds fun, I'd love to be where you are hunting all that.

 

As for picking a different theater, how would you ever know when someone is going to go apeshit in a theater?  Remember that guy that went apeshit on the batman movie?  That theater was in the suburbs.  Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.  Point is regardless of where you are, ghetto or suburbs or wherever, you never know when SHTF.

[Nytebane]

Nytebane, I'm the same way. My only exception is a custom .243 that my grandfather gave me. It's built on a non-import, pre-WW2 Nazi Mauser action. I'll make an exception for such an exceptional rifle. My go-to is a Savage 110 I built in .243 with a fixed 2.5x Leupold. My carry piece is a Ruger SR-9 in OD, and my woods carry piece is a 5" S&W model 60 in 357.

 

Butchering is a skill that everyone, and I mean everyone should learn, not just hunters. The ability to get cuts of meat from a large primal or whole animal makes buying large pieces of cheap meat economical. Good luck on your first hunt. Make sure to keep the liver and heart when you field dress. There is more nutrition in a deer's liver than you'll find in most well stocked supplement aisles.

 

Those are some great guns you got there.  Would you be able to post a pic of the Mauser?!  Would love to see that badboy.  Also, great choice in that .357!!  I also love the SR-9 as a carry.  My sister carries a Ruger LC9 which is smaller and good for her small hands.  My conceal carry is a S&W Shield in 9mm.  Just molded on talon grips for it.

[El Exorcisto]

The Mauser is stashed at my parents' house at the moment, so no pics in the near future. My Dad is going to be using it this season.

[Nytebane]

You know, I thought about revamping a Mouser, a Russian Mosin Nagant, or an SKS.  I ended up just buying an entry level .308 instead of doing all the work to build one up.  Sounded fun but time consuming.  They are always selling Mosins in the gun shows around here.

[Minty Keen]

My dad is an avid hunter and traditional archer.

 

So, I grew up shooting long/recurve bows, and I've been on a few hunting trips. I've tracked game and but I've never shot anything myself.

 

Now I live in the city, and my bows are at my parent's place. I really miss shooting. It's therapeutic. I always shoot when I visit my parents... which isn't often enough. Just major holidays.

 

I'm not a terrible shot either; really good groups and always pretty close to target (bulls eye).

 

I'm a better shot with guns (naturally). Pretty well spot-on every time. I once shot a flying wasp out of the air with a BB Gun. My dad was with me and saw. That's my most bad-ass gun story.

I was like. 12 or 13 years old.

 

Far more familiar with archery than firearms though.

 

Too bad I'm not practicing regularly anymore. I really miss shooting. I'd of made a good ranger.

[KAllen]

For deer, I use my Remington Model 7 in .243.  I don't have any shots over 100 yards on my property, so I don't need the "Redneck machismo of a 7mm Mag to shoot a deer @ 68 yards"

 

I'm a cop, so I'm always packing.  My duty weapon is a Smith & Wesson M&P .40 and I carry about 4 extra mags.  My other handguns are my Springfield M1911 .45ACP and my Colt 1911 .45ACP(which was my Grandfathers in WW2).

 

I also have various other guns that I like to have multitudes of fun with. 

[Caution]

For deer, I use my Remington Model 7 in .243.  I don't have any shots over 100 yards on my property, so I don't need the "Redneck machismo of a 7mm Mag to shoot a deer @ 68 yards"

 

I'm a cop, so I'm always packing.  My duty weapon is a Smith & Wesson M&P .40 and I carry about 4 extra mags.  My other handguns are my Springfield M1911 .45ACP and my Colt 1911 .45ACP(which was my Grandfathers in WW2).

 

I also have various other guns that I like to have multitudes of fun with. 

 

I also use a Remington Model 700 CDL .243 WIN and it is my favorite by far. I hunt in a very pine rich area so shots over 70 yards would be impossible and it is very accurate. I also hunted with a .308 and a .30-06 but the .243 has just been more enjoyable for me.

[AlexCold]

You know, I thought about revamping a Mouser, a Russian Mosin Nagant, or an SKS.  I ended up just buying an entry level .308 instead of doing all the work to build one up.  Sounded fun but time consuming.  They are always selling Mosins in the gun shows around here.

 

My dad picked up a sporterized Remington Mosin a couple of months ago. It's not bad and 100% made in the USA. Apparently, Russia contracted out Remington to make 100,000 rifles (not 100% sure of the quantity) but Russia was unable to pay so the US govt bought some and Remington kept the rest. Some were converted to .30-06, and used for training. Either way it's a cool rifle that shoots cheap ammo. 

 

It once had an ATI scope kit, but the base is missing. I've ordered one but don't know what type of scope to get. Does anyone have an affordable optic to pick up? 

[Broba Fett]

I'm a bit of a gun nut.  Have a couple rifles, a 12ga and a pistol.

 

Can't carry here yet (IL) but I'm planning on getting my permit next year when its legal.  I keep telling myself I'm going to start shooting USPSA but I just haven't savedd up the cash to get a belt/extra mags/ammo.

 

I hunt but not very often and not very well.  Haven't killed anything since I was 10.

[KAllen]

I also use a Remington Model 700 CDL .243 WIN and it is my favorite by far. I hunt in a very pine rich area so shots over 70 yards would be impossible and it is very accurate. I also hunted with a .308 and a .30-06 but the .243 has just been more enjoyable for me.

My wife is looking to get that new Ruger American Rifle in the shorter version.  Most likely in 7mm-08.  I've heard lots of good things about that rifle and it's WAY cheaper than Remington.   Whitetails beware...your future is about to get "freezer cold"!!!

[Caution]

My wife is looking to get that new Ruger American Rifle in the shorter version.  Most likely in 7mm-08.  I've heard lots of good things about that rifle and it's WAY cheaper than Remington.   Whitetails beware...your future is about to get "freezer cold"!!!

Holy hell, I just looked that up on Cabelas. That thing is like $1000 bucks cheaper than what I payed for mine, even the .308 and .30-06 are on sale for 380 bucks.