Best Deer gun for "Pushing the Bush"

Best deer hunting gun for "pushing the bush"

  • Lever action 30-30

    Votes: 246 48.7%

  • Shotgun with buckshot or slugs

    Votes: 55 10.9%

  • Remington or Browning Semi in .243,.270,.308,30/06,etc

    Votes: 33 6.5%

  • Ruger Mini-30

    Votes: 18 3.6%

  • Bolt Action Rifle in .243,270,.308,30/06,etc

    Votes: 78 15.4%

  • SKS

    Votes: 28 5.5%

  • None of the obove (explain)

    Votes: 47 9.3%
  • Total voters
    505
  • Poll closed .
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What would the majority vote here on what would make the best gun for pushing the bush in Central Ontario (were rifles are legal to shoot). It is quite thick, forested area, with the occasional grassy open spot, were the average Deer is shot from between 75-150 yards.
 
Remington pumps in 30-06 are a huge favorite at my camp. An assortment of lever actions in 30-30, 32 special, and occasionally 44mag usually attend as well. We run dogs so quick shots are a must. A bolt action with a red dot works great if you dont have to hit them while they're running
 
Our deer camp pretty much consists of levers (marlins & winchesters), browning BARs and some remmy 7600s. Can't go wrong with any of these. Being able to get a second round off quickly and compact size are the key attributes in a bush rifle for me, also light in weight if you're pushing.

Our camp is in the Pembroke area and shots are usually within 50 yards. I shot my first deer with my marlin 1894 last year and bought a ruger 44 carbine this summer for pushing, can't wait to take it hunting this year.

Good luck!
 
The majority of guys at our huntcamp use Ruger Mini-30's. They are light small, and semi auto. I think that one guy a few years ago bought one, and then started a trend, because now 6 out of 10 guys up there use the Mini-30 for pushing the bush. The rest of the guys use a Lever action.

I am currently using a Marlin 336 in 30-30, but I have thought about getting a Ruger Mini-30 also, or maybe even getting a SKS, just so the guys have something to talk about.
 
If you wanna give them something to talk about buy a CZ-858! :D

OR

Like me find a ruger carbine or deerfield, much better gun :D
 
Hard to beat a lever-action in .30-30 for the thick stuff! Terrible over the open fields, but nothing better in flesh-ripping brambles! :)

-M
 
Mount Sweetness said:
A bolt is not too slow...they are just not as fast.
Click to expand...

That's common knowledge for sure. And with all respect BS.

Put up a target at 40 yards, say the size of a clay pigeon. Starting with an empty mag, take your favourite lever or pump and see how quickly you can put 4 rounds in it. Less than five seconds probably. And if you practice you can do it within a second of that time with a good bolt.

I'll take the balance, low mounted scope and great trigger of a bolt every time. How many times are you planning on missing that deer in the bush anyway! ;)
 
It can be like rabbit hunting at times, when I rabbit hunt I use a semi or a pump shotgun...wouldn't even think of a bolt shotgun. The Ontario camps are unique as it is very common to shoot multiple times at running deer in thick bush.

Love my bolt, huge bolt fan, but if I push bush with or without hounds....I'd rather not use a bolt and I'd rather not use a scope.
 
When we push here I don't expect to get a shot. I am only the dog & still hunters at the end of the line are the ones to do the shooting. Sometimes we do get a shot, I have a 94 trapper 30-30 and a Ruger #3 45-70. Auto are a hard sell around here & pump rifles are worse. YMMV
 
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