The three types of firearms for whitetail deer hunting are the rifle, the shotgun and the pistol. Each of these weapons is great for dropping the big boy but there are some advantages and disadvantages to using them.
First, let’s talk about the rifle.
Rifles have long been the weapons of choice for firearm hunters, and they remain that way today. They are accurate from as far as 100 to 250 yards or more and they offer an average of five shots without reloading.
Because of the distance involved, a scope is a very popular addition to a rifle. Also due to the distance, the hunter has more room for error in terms of scent and detection.
Now let’s talk about the shotgun.
Unlike the single bullet attack of a rifle, a shotgun fires a spray of pellets. This gives the shooter a little more leeway in terms of accuracy, which makes it a great starter weapon for new or young hunters still honing their skills.
Most shotguns are accurate to 55 or 60 yards. Many hold up to five shells, but several states have laws against loading more than three shells at once for deer hunting.
The third weapon is the pistol.
Boasting a relatively short range of just 20-30 yards, pistols operate at pretty much the same distance as bow hunting allows. Although they are small in size, pistols are particularly good for hunting in heavy brush where maneuverability can become an issue.
One disadvantage of hunting with firearms is the tracking of the deer. The long firing distance that your weapon produces means a long walk to find your game and in the cold frigid weather we all know how sucky that can be.
You could be walking and tracking for hours and, in some cases, you still will never find your deer.
Another disadvantage of hunting with firearms is accidental shootings. More hunters are killed by their modern firearms than by any other weapon. Could it possibly be due to their popularity in the field?
Anyway, I don’t want to harp on the negative, I just wanted to show that there is good and bad when it comes to using firearms so whatever firearm you choose, please, please use it with caution.
One advantage to hunting with a firearm is range. A rifle with a scope and a skilled triggerman can drop a buck from as far away as 500 yards – maybe more.
Another advantage to hunting with firearms is that you have repeat action. That means that you can take second or third shots without reloading.
Being easy to use is another huge advantage of hunting with firearms. Most hunters have a decent shot at the deer with basic skills.
A large choice of ammo is also a good advantage to hunting with firearms. The options are too many to talk about here, but you need to make sure that the caliber you use is legal in your locality.
Choosing the right weapon is obviously a very important part of your hunt because if you’re not equipped with the right weapon then you can’t land that trophy buck.
You’ve got three primary weapon choices when it comes to tagging a deer.
Those three choices are:
1. Firearms
2. Muzzleloaders
3. Bow
Now, a fourth option is to hit one with your truck but I believe that the morning commuter’s heading to work have that market pretty much locked up.
Some hunters choose to focus on one hunting weapon and one hunting style while others take advantage of the longer hunting season that comes with the variety of different seasons to choose from.
Check the hunting regulations for your state to see which laws apply in your neck of the woods, but in many localities the season kicks off first for bow hunters and is then followed by a smaller window for muzzleloaders.
Finally, the firearm season opens for the bulk of the hunting season.
Everything you ever learned about preventing scent and noise for stand or blind hunting is twice as important when you’re stalking bucks. You’re not in one spot, and that can be a major problem when it comes to preparation.
In fact, when you venture into their territory to find them, you’re at a disadvantage in several ways. You should already be well aware of the following tips, but they deserve another round of attention when you’re stalking instead of sitting.
- Take scent seriously. If you go out there reeking of coffee, bacon, or venison burgers, you can absolutely forget walking up on your trophy buck. To make matters worse, your soap, aftershave, deodorant, shampoo, and other items that make it bearable for humans to be around you on a day-to-day basis spell total disaster for stalking. While you’ll never completely outsmart a deer’s sense of smell, you’ll go a long way toward leveling the playing field by using scent free toiletries and detergents. It’s much more important when you’re stalking than it is when you’re hanging out in a tree.
- Plan your cover scent carefully. If it’s not natural to your hunting grounds, you won’t get near a buck. You should also be mindful of which cover scents you use in the field. It’s one thing to spike the area around your tree stand with estrus scent, and quite another to lure a crowd of rut-drunk bucks to the ground beneath your feet. The same goes with a buck scent. As outrageous as it sounds, more than one hunter has been attacked by a buck. (His buddies probably didn’t waste any time getting that video online, either, so a quick search may turn up some proof.)
- Silence is golden. Obviously you’re not going to be able to move silently through the woods most of the time, so play your “noise” smart. If you make a loud “natural” sound – tripping over a log counts, but the profanity to follow does not – just stay put for moment. Deer and other animals will look around for the source of the noise and if nothing seems amiss they will go right back to what they were doing.
- Work the wind. When you’re on the move, playing the wind can be really tough. A deer’s sense of smell is the hardest to get around, and you can forget it when you’re upwind and playing the field. Make sure you’re as scent free as possible before adding a cover scent, and even then stay downwind of where you expect to see deer. It’s not always possible, but you’ll increase your success rate if you pull it off.
- Dress so you won’t be seen or heard. Before you go into the field, find a pair of boots with moderate tread – just enough for grip, but keep in mind that less tread makes less noise. Don’t forget to cover your hands, as they’re one of your biggest giveaways. Rather than shooting bare-handed, find thin gloves and practice shooting with them at home. Finally, keep in mind that faded hunting clothes – even those with a mere season or two of wear – will look particularly bright. The camouflage pattern isn’t enough when you’re sporting a day-glo vibe. (For more on this, check out Lesson 4 on Avoiding Detection).
Take the time to review – and adhere to – these important points, and you’ll have a better shot at a successful stalk!
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