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Post by contender on Oct 27, 2017 20:08:12 GMT -5
Handgun hunting as stated above,,,is a bit like bowhunting. In the fact you should try & get close to the game. And it requires dedication & patience. Add in practice & knowing your limits. But to me,, it was a way to challenge myself when I started dedicated handgun hunting for big game back in the 1980's. I used to use a rifle,,, but with the thickets & mountains I have here,,, it really wasn't needed. Now,,, I have taken a rifle when hunting big narrow gas line cut overs in SC a few years back. I also took my Contender. Well, the 270 stayed leaning up in the stand, as I killed 3 deer that day. None were over 75 yds away. BUT,,,, I was watching a lane that stretched about 400 yds in both directions. I was a guest,, and the guy wanted some of the deer thinned out. I saw 3 & killed 3. He was SURE I'd used my rifle,,, until I showed him my empty shells, and still had all my 270 ammo. When I told him how a doe had come out in such a place to where I'd had to swing 180 degrees, AND shoot the rifle left handed,,, that the Contender made the shot MUCH easier, he understood me.
As noted above,, many hunters who are not handgunners seem to feel we are undergunned. But,,, there is way too much evidence to prove otherwise,, if the person is open minded. So,, challenge yourself,,, go handgun hunting & discover the excitement!
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Post by lshines on Oct 27, 2017 22:19:15 GMT -5
I've just very recently become stoked the idea and practicality of handguns for deer and turkey and small game. Having only hunted with a longbow for longer than I can remember now, what I've learned with short range now hunting will instinctively be used for my new venture with the wheel gun - getting darn close and shot placement. Starting at age 67, I have lots to learn about shooting, but the basics remain almost religion.
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Post by tinkerpearce on Oct 28, 2017 1:07:09 GMT -5
No joy on hunting today. We walked the property and the perimeter- there is zero sign of deer activity. Nothing. I'm pretty sure there are no deer present this year. I suppose it happens, but it's pretty disappointing. We still came home with a cooler full of meat. We bought a goat that Joanne wanted to get rid of ("Shoot that one- he's an asshole") With light fading we got the critter processed in record time- one hour from on the hoof to in the cooler. Then we went out to dinner, dropped Joanne off and headed home. Looking into private properties locally that allow hunting, but with the season ending tuesday I may have to wait until late season later in the month.
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Post by bula on Oct 28, 2017 6:44:40 GMT -5
Key on food, if there were deer, and now not, they've moved to a different food source. Here, deer movement just picked up a tick, rut starting. Here, in far N.E. Ohio it will peak in the 2nd week of Nov.. Farmers here starting to pull their field corn and soy beans. If field adjacent to your hunting grounds get pulled between now and your hunt, deer disappear down to a local little click of does and their get. . There is a secondary rut a month later, and a smaller yet one a month later, Jan.., see spotting in snow. Luck.
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Post by azshaun on Oct 28, 2017 9:18:59 GMT -5
No joy on hunting today. We walked the property and the perimeter- there is zero sign of deer activity. Nothing. I'm pretty sure there are no deer present this year. I suppose it happens, but it's pretty disappointing. We still came home with a cooler full of meat. We bought a goat that Joanne wanted to get rid of ("Shoot that one- he's an asshole") With light fading we got the critter processed in record time- one hour from on the hoof to in the cooler. Then we went out to dinner, dropped Joanne off and headed home. Looking into private properties locally that allow hunting, but with the season ending tuesday I may have to wait until late season later in the month. I keep getting told though I believe the Fish and Game department are LYING to us about rabbits in the desert: "The secret of hunting is .. Go Where The Animal Are." and "That's why they call it "hunting" instead of calling it "finding"." and "Any day spent in the wilds does not count against your lifetime allotment."
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Post by tinkerpearce on Oct 28, 2017 11:11:55 GMT -5
No joy on hunting today. We walked the property and the perimeter- there is zero sign of deer activity. Nothing. I'm pretty sure there are no deer present this year. I suppose it happens, but it's pretty disappointing. We still came home with a cooler full of meat. We bought a goat that Joanne wanted to get rid of ("Shoot that one- he's an asshole") With light fading we got the critter processed in record time- one hour from on the hoof to in the cooler. Then we went out to dinner, dropped Joanne off and headed home. Looking into private properties locally that allow hunting, but with the season ending tuesday I may have to wait until late season later in the month. I keep getting told though I believe the Fish and Game department are LYING to us about rabbits in the desert: "The secret of hunting is .. Go Where The Animal Are." and "That's why they call it "hunting" instead of calling it "finding"." and "Any day spent in the wilds does not count against your lifetime allotment." Oh, it was a great day- beautiful weather, good company, nice dinner and Joanne sent us home with a goat-meat pie and desert. Plus about 30lbs. of goat-meat in the cooler. As I write this there's a gorgeous haunch brineing in the fridge and going into the oven to slow-roast all day. Just would have liked to fill my tag for once!
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Post by clintsfolly on Oct 28, 2017 19:04:09 GMT -5
Well today i made another step in becoming a handgun hunter. So far I have killed a pig on a game ranch,a small whitetail buck and today a 1000lbs Texas Longhorn. Many here have stated the best way to become a handgun hunter is to leave the rifle home. This is the biggest truth as this afternoon I would or could have shot my bovine 3-4 times had I been carrying me rifle but I was forced to wait! Wow what a add thrill.
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Post by dougader on Oct 28, 2017 19:30:23 GMT -5
Here's Clint's pic of the monster Longhorn. What gun, load, etc, did you use?
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Post by clintsfolly on Oct 28, 2017 19:40:20 GMT -5
Thanks Doug the load was NOE454-265 WFN /11gr/HS6. The story is posted in my mini bovine bash thread.
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Post by sixshot on Oct 28, 2017 23:14:55 GMT -5
Nice photo & great job! Glad you broke the ice & got started whacking some game with your handgun!
Dick
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