Out of State hunters.

[Wayne02]

Yep, this is the most dangerous time of year at our gun club by a long shot. Hunter sight-in is a scary time to be on the rifle range, and it's almost always the, 'I've been hunting all my life' older guys that are the worst. Not only in terms of marksmenship but safe gun handling as well. Funny thing about these chaps, they know everything and have absolutely no room for improvement. They are that good, just ask them.

Conversely, the WA hunter Ed classes are first rate, and I would much rather shoot alongside a graduate (young or old) from these classes than one of the aforementioned 'seasoned hunters'.

 

[semperfi71]

I have previously posted this on another thread but I think it bears witness here.

These were "local" hunters.

I went to the range and there was two guys shooting a Marlin .30-30 at a target that had over 200 bullet holes in it, unpasted. Most of them .30 caliber as well.

They were shooting at a Coca-Cola can they hung on the target with a stick.

After shooting about a half a box of shells (they had to save the rest of the ammo for their hunt) they walked down range, I did to. They pointed at a tight group of three shots just below the Coke can and said, "There's our group, we're sighted in and ready."

They never hit the can. The group was either their's or one of the original 200.

Then one of them said, "I've killed elk with this rifle at 300 yards."

I am not so sure that in the past hunters were all that "ethical" I just think it was not reported as much, or found out about as much. Or in the case of law enforcement...captured as much.

But I do believe that "trophy hunting" HAS brought out a lot of "hunting-immorality."

I do believe that the probably still repeated fallacy for out of state hunters in the western states is; "Shots will be long, bring a lot of gun."

I have killed a fair amount of deer in New Mexico, two elk, one antelope, and one javelina.

The fartherest shot on deer was at about 200 yards. The closest was ten feet.

On my elk it was fifteen feet and ten feet.

I used a .30-30, .54 muzzleloader, .25-06, .7mm Magnum, .45-70, and .30-06.

The javelina was at about eight feet with a M29-2 and the 180 grain Sierra hollowpoint.

 

[paplinker]

I live in NJ and hunt PA. 4hrs on Rt 80, even though I know exactly where poi was before the trip I will always verify before the hunt with at least 3 rds. Now in the case of a trip for a paid hunt, you'd be stupid not to. A box of ammo is much cheaper than paying for a hunt with a missed shot because your scope is off.

four hours on 80 sounds familiar.you in clearfield county? My camps right by punksatauny phil area

 

[mwtdvm]

You don't have to travel far

I have a rem 700 ADL 22-250 "stock" It shot 1-1.5" at 100 yds with factory 55 gr sp. I missed an easy shot at a fox at about 150 yds. Went to the range and the gun was shooting 6" to the right an 4" high at 100 yds. Now this gun was cased, not dropped, and had no adverse events. The only change that I could think of was the weather- real high humidity. I re-zeroed it and did not have any more problems. I later free floated the barrel and bedded the action. It now shoots about 3/4 " at 100 yds. I decided I was over-gunned with the 22-250 and got a Win M70 "light varmint" in 223. About that time Nosler came out with ballistic tips. The BT's in the 223 blew the 'chucks to chunks. Much more dramatic than the sp's which just blew big holes in them.

Any excuse to buy a new gun is a good excuse!

So I certainly would check my "zero" whenever I traveled or hadn't shot it for a while. Ammo is relatively cheap

 

[gregintenn]

They don't have to be out of state hunters. We have a large collection of local boys here who'll blow the foot off a deer, only to go trade their rifle in on "one with more power". Those 100 pound whitetails are tough and mean don't you know?

 

[thndrchiken]

four hours on 80 sounds familiar.you in clearfield county? My camps right by punksatauny phil area

Very close, western edge of Center Cty, usually hunt Black Moshannon, out near the airport and Sandy Ridge. Also have access to a few pieces of private land. How things have changed in that area over the past 10 years. But I guess every one says that.