Monday, November 30, 2020

What deer rifle for an old hunter?

 Friend of the Blog Tim Wholer is getting into deer hunting now that he is retired.  He has been borrowing a rifle which is obviously less than ideal.  He is looking for advice on what to look for in a deer rifle and I expect that more than a couple of you will have some good advice.  

His post has a picture of the terrain from his tree stand.  It looks wooded, with a fair amount of brush (i.e. no 300 yard shots).

He also has a very interesting question that some of you might have grappled with as well:

It's my hearing that is the problem.

My sons tell me that they generally hear the critters before they see them.  Well, other than the deer that must have nearly crashed into my tree ten minutes before shooting hours started on the Opener (and Lordy that musta been one big, clumsy deer) I pretty much never heard the deer coming.

Now, I do have hearing aides.  These were grudgingly accepted a couple of years back when my Better Half put forth the unanswerable argument that I did not want to miss anything the grand children said.  They are really sophisticated, I can adjust setting from my phone for instance.  But they are also:  A: expensive and B: designed to pick up higher frequency sounds.  Small, delightful child's voices.  Also spousal voices, as it's best not to wait until things are repeated at a volume or in a tone of voice that cannot be missed.

I tried hunting without them, worried that anything lost in the woods would never be found.  I tried hunting with them.  I even tweaked the settings.  There's an outdoor mode.  There are options for volume...crank that up.  And for speech discrimination....crank that down.  But I still can't say I reliably heard the deer. Oh, one or two times I had a dim perception of "something", but that was usually about two seconds before I saw the insolent white tail flashing as the deer ran off.  Really, it's like a stylish middle finger.  

Mostly I heard everything else.  Leaves rustling.  Squirrels and small mice cavorting.  A scratchy noise every time my jacket moved against the tree bark.  And at my age every pivot of my neck beyond about 30 degrees causes a crackling noise that sounds like several large deer rolling around in a pile of dry sticks.

If you have any advice or experiences to share, drop by his blog and leave a comment.

17 comments:

Rib said...

Here’s what I use for hog hunting:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T7QJ9O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They provide hearing protection as well as amplify ambient sounds. Usually I hear the oikers before I see them.

Can’t wear a cowboy hat with ‘em, though!

Tacitus said...

All comments and advice welcome. Here's the rough specs for an ideal Wisconsin Old Guy gun.*

- No need for shots over 300 yards. Really, 200 would suffice.
- A caliber that will dispatch a white tail humanely.
- Safe. One gripe I had with the semi auto I was carrying is that you can't visually see that it is unloaded. We have non hunters and grandkids around.
- Either simple optics or - given range considerations - iron sights.
- Light and short is helpful. If it increases recoil, so be it.
- I can afford a better rifle/optics set up but am frugal. Keep it under $900.

Thanks

T. Wolter

* Of course the most straightforward answer from enthusiasts is that I need more than one gun! An accurate bolt action for longer range stand work and something more nimble for drives. Questionable whether this would clear the Financial Oversight Committee but it is a valid perspective...

Gorges Smythe said...

As for rifles, nothing beats the old 30-30 for shots at reasonable distances; ballistic tips will add another 50 yards or so. However, in the eastern US, if you need anything more than a slug gun, you ain't a hunter, you're a shooter.

Howard Brewi said...

I had a lever 243 when I was hunting deer back in New York. It did fine up to 200 yards. I traded it off for something heavier when I moved back to Alaska. That noisy buck might have been another hunter who wasn’t where he belonged!

Daddy Hawk said...

On the gun, my first recommendation would be the AR platform. There are so many caliber options there now, you can pretty much tailor your gun to your specific needs. For the hunting terrain mentioned, I’d look hard at 6.5Grendel, .350 Legend and .300Ham’r. If you really don’t want an AR, you can’t argue with a good lever gun in .30-30.

ASM826 said...

.243, .270, 25.06, .30-.30 are all good choices. Whatever you choose, get a bright clear scope.

Old NFO said...

Concur with ASM, .243 or .270 with a 3x9 scope and Pelitor electronic muffs, leave the hearing aids in the truck! That's what I do.

Unknown said...

Here's what I'd do, with the caveat that the average whitetail in Wisconsin should be heavier than the average Texas whitetail. That and ammunition availability will dictate your choice.

I'd go with either a bolt action (Ruger American, Savage, Thompson Center, etc.) or a Henry single shot rifle, in either .308 or 30-30. The Henry's retail for around $450, the bolt actions around $350-400. You can sink whatever funds you have left in a 3x9 scope if your eyesight dictates that.

I'd also go with electronic muffs from Walker or Howard Leight like others have suggested.

Pinky

Pigpen51 said...

I am an anomaly, in that I didn't hunt from about the age of 30, until just 2-3 years ago, and now I am 60. I borrowed my daughter's Remington bolt action, in .243, with 100 grain bullets. It was pleasant to shoot, and very accurate.
This year, I chose to use my home defense shotgun, with an 18 inch barrel, and no choke. I shot 1oz slugs, and actually killed a buck at about 50 or so yards, and he went down like a rock.
My hearing is very bad, with tones ringing at 3 different frequencies, due to too many years working in a foundry, with half of the 35 years done with no hearing protection. So nothing is ever silent. So as for hearing deer in the woods, I actually am able to hear deer often before I see them, depending on the weather conditions. Dry, windless days are the best. Rainy windy days, and while I cannot hear the deer, they also are less able to hear me.
If buying a gun, you can't do much better than the reliable lever action 30/30, in any of the name brand models being made today. Based on your eyesight you might like an iron sight or maybe a ghost ring, or pick a gun that you can easily install a scope on. And instead of the 3x9, perhaps consider something like a 1.75 x 5, as that is what I have on my rifle, that I don't use, but it is just the right level of scope for as far as the round is useful for. And of course, buy enough ammo that allows you to practice. I have seen guys buy a box of 20 rounds of ammo at the beginning of deer season, go out and " sight in" their gun, by shooting 2 rounds, and then they have 18 rounds left to hunt with. Their money and time would have been better spent if they practiced with the 18 rounds and hunted with the 2 rounds. That is why I felt comfortable with my shotgun and slugs this year. In most of the years of deer hunting that I did, in my youth, until the age of around 30, I used a shotgun, and I am quite proficient with it. I did kill a deer with my dad's 30/40 Krag, which is as butter smooth as they say. But my eyes got too bad, and my youngest son now has it.
Best of luck, in your search, have a great time in God's outdoors, be safe, and have a great 2021.

pigpen51

McChuck said...

And of the budget-conscious guns by the majors (Ruger, Thompson, etc.) in a comfortable rifle caliber will work. .243 is an excellent deer and varmint gun, and quite soft shooting. Top it with a fixed 4 power scope. You don't need more than that for the conditions.

tsquared said...

A 30-30, .270, or 6.8SPC would fit the bill nicely. Look at the used market a good deals can be found with the complete setup.

For example; I have my dad's Remington 7600 pump action, .270 with a 3x9 scope, sling, and almost 2 boxes of ammo that I have been thinking about selling. Less than 15 rounds have been through it. It is a rifle that I don't need as I hunt deer with a 30-06 and hogs with a 6.8SPC. I am still in NE ATL.

JaimeInTexas said...

I have not hunted in many years. Given the terrain described, like my old stomping grounds, I love open sight, lever action 30-30. Easy to handle when tracking/stalking and puts down a white tail dear.
BTW, some of the best deep naps I have had were on a deer stand. Several times waking up starting into the eyes of a squirrel.
Glad your friend is getting to hunt. Maybe my life will let me start hunting again.

MattB said...

Gunbroker has Weatherby Vanguard 25-06 rifles for around 450$. Add a good Leupold scope for 300 to 400$ or your choice maybe a Nikon 3x9 and you are all set!!

Glen Filthie said...

I have the best deer/antelope and possibly sheep/moose and elk gun: a Ruger No.1 with a bull varmint barrel chambered in 25-06. I have seen deer shot by .303s, .308s, 300 magnums, 7-08, 243s, 30-30s, 7mm magnums etc etc. One shot from my faithful Ruger always put them down in one, and none of the 7 animals I shot with it took another step. I am convinced the key to success with the quarter bores is a well made 24" pipe. One of my old hunting buddies took several short range moose and elk with it too.

On the range it is a cream puff to shoot and you can go all day with it or as long as your ammo holds out.

Unfortunately I burned the barrel out after thousands upon thousands of rounds... and now I have to rebarrel it. This is a tragedy that brings tears to my eyes, but a guy has to do what a guy has to do! I am looking at the 243 in a 26 inch pipe with a one in 7.5 twist... but rebarrelling is no guarantee of accuracy either.

Decisions, decisions...

Tacitus said...

Glen
That's Old, Old School!
T. Wolter

Pete said...

Hard to ever go wrong with a good quality bolt action 30-06. I like the Remington Model 700. It can be used to hunt anything in North America, and ammunition is available everywhere.

Jimmythetriger said...

The nikon would be great if the company had decided to remain in the "as they call it ,the blood sport". Makes me want to sell my camera.