Wondering how many of us dust off the deer / moose rifle ahead of the season and get out for some shooting to re-familiarize ourselves with it? I think we all know of someone who doesn't. And if someone doesn't is it fair to the rest of the group. We have one in our group. In fairness to him his work schedule doesn't allow for much if any opportunity to get out ahead of time. I mean literally... he continuously travels internationally and is lucky to get a day at home every week or so. Unfortunately he misses a lot - his shooting is usually identifiable with 3, 4 or maybe 5 shots and you just know he missed again.
Do You Do A Rifle Pre-Season Dust Off?
- Thread starter ronecol
- Start date
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
I shoot a fair bit but not with all my hunting rigs, so before I go out I will decide which rifles I'm taking out based on what I'm hunting, check my ammo supply and load data, load up enough rounds for the season and confirm zero.
I know that they are all sighted in for the ammo that is loaded up but I like to confirm it.
I know that they are all sighted in for the ammo that is loaded up but I like to confirm it.
I try to keep things zeroed at 100m-200m, test when things are changed or re-zero as needed. If I don't shoot in months due to whatever I go out or to the range and double check things. If I can I go to the farm and try to bag a groundhog to ensure all is well with what I'm shooting or just have a fun day shooting targets.
Personally if I was joining someone on a hunt or inviting them to join me I'd ask what was expected before we go. If buddy wants to zero first it's not a problem at the farm but probably would be in the bush. If buddy is big on camo, I'm not but have some if needed. I think of it as a camping trip. Know where you're going. Dress and pack accordingly. Make sure your equipment works as it should before you leave. And double check what your partner(s) are doing so no ones forgotten something or pissed-off. (It's not a dinner invitation but it's still polite.)
Personally if I was joining someone on a hunt or inviting them to join me I'd ask what was expected before we go. If buddy wants to zero first it's not a problem at the farm but probably would be in the bush. If buddy is big on camo, I'm not but have some if needed. I think of it as a camping trip. Know where you're going. Dress and pack accordingly. Make sure your equipment works as it should before you leave. And double check what your partner(s) are doing so no ones forgotten something or pissed-off. (It's not a dinner invitation but it's still polite.)
If you can't hit your target 99% of the time you are shooting at something that's too far away.
Hunting is supposed to be humane. 5 shots on a deer is far from that.
If your friend cannot find the time to practice then he needs to take shorter shots. If he can't do that he needs to quit hunting.
If he can find time to go hunting he should be able to find time to target practice occasionally. If he can't then he needs to rethink his priorities.
Hunting is supposed to be humane. 5 shots on a deer is far from that.
If your friend cannot find the time to practice then he needs to take shorter shots. If he can't do that he needs to quit hunting.
If he can find time to go hunting he should be able to find time to target practice occasionally. If he can't then he needs to rethink his priorities.
POCO range was packed yest (Wed) at noon full of hunters sighting in their rifles.
Extremely inhuman for a hunter to need upwards of 5 shots in 1-2 shot conditions. If you are too busy to even familiarize yourself best to stay home to be fair and respectful to the animals.
Extremely inhuman for a hunter to need upwards of 5 shots in 1-2 shot conditions. If you are too busy to even familiarize yourself best to stay home to be fair and respectful to the animals.
I shoot all year, but not necessarily with my primary hunting rifle, so I make a point to go and fire a couple boxes of ammo. Also since I like to 'jump hunt' (aka-walk around and hope to shoot something
)I do some off-hand practice at 100 yrds.
)I do some off-hand practice at 100 yrds.
Yeah, I try to go in June or July to avoid the crowd at the range at the beginning of the season.
But I do some shooting in March or April prior to spring bear too so unless I'm changing scopes or trying new ammo, it doesn't take too much time to take my two or three best hunting rifles to the range for a confirmation session.
But I do some shooting in March or April prior to spring bear too so unless I'm changing scopes or trying new ammo, it doesn't take too much time to take my two or three best hunting rifles to the range for a confirmation session.
I usually go out and test hand loaded hunting ammo based on the current and forecasted weather conditions. Not all of the powders I use are super temperature stable, so I like to know that if it's forecasted to be warmer or colder during my hunting time, then I'll know how my ammo will perform. My hunting rigs only make it out 2 or 3 times per year aside from the hunting season, so a few quick shots to confirm my zero, then some more to practice some position shooting and I'm away to the races. For the most part, my target rifles get played with a lot more consistently throughout the year.
I would rather sacrifice opening morning by taking a trip with "someone" to the gravel pit to plink pie plates, than to risk having to track a guy shot or face-blowed-off deer.
Not cool. We're taking an animal's life. It should be done carefully and with respect.
I shoot year 'round. But I don't get out to shoot as much as I'd like to. I did a lot more shooting when I lived in the city and had to drive out to the range, a 1 hour trip each way.
I was just mucking around with my moose hunting rifle the other day, and noticed the rear sight was loose. I'd gone through most of my loaded hunting ammo trying to get a zero before I noticed this. The good thing with being a reloader is that it's not a problem for me to load up more ammo.
The really good thing is that I'm lucky enough to have a range right off my deck. I can shoot in my bedroom slippers, shuffle back to the house and load 5 more rounds with a different powder charge if I really want to. (I'll put on boots to go downrange and check targets)
I don't have to fight with crowds to shoot my rifles, and I can shoot anytime I want to. I'm considerate when I shoot because one neighbour works shiftwork, and another is trying to train some horses and neither needs the loud noises interfering with their lives.
I was just mucking around with my moose hunting rifle the other day, and noticed the rear sight was loose. I'd gone through most of my loaded hunting ammo trying to get a zero before I noticed this. The good thing with being a reloader is that it's not a problem for me to load up more ammo.
The really good thing is that I'm lucky enough to have a range right off my deck. I can shoot in my bedroom slippers, shuffle back to the house and load 5 more rounds with a different powder charge if I really want to. (I'll put on boots to go downrange and check targets)
I don't have to fight with crowds to shoot my rifles, and I can shoot anytime I want to. I'm considerate when I shoot because one neighbour works shiftwork, and another is trying to train some horses and neither needs the loud noises interfering with their lives.
Or...
Go out ahead of the season and find a tight spot where you can't see beyond 30 or 40 yards, then make a ton of fake scrapes and game trails all over it. Tell him you found the best spot ever, and you'll let him hunt there all week. That way if some poor sob buck comes wandering by him, he'll be close enough to make a clean kill.
Go out ahead of the season and find a tight spot where you can't see beyond 30 or 40 yards, then make a ton of fake scrapes and game trails all over it. Tell him you found the best spot ever, and you'll let him hunt there all week. That way if some poor sob buck comes wandering by him, he'll be close enough to make a clean kill.
Budweiser2
CGN frequent flyer
I go to the range all year long. This time of the year I"m usually changing a scope or two for my boys. Then go to the range and make sure they are dialed in. My boys have busy work schedules. So this is why I do it for them. They then come to the range a few times to make sure, they do their part.
I do pretty much the same with perhaps the biggest difference being that I usually have a hundred or so pet hunting loads ready at all times.
- Location
- Cold Lake, Alberta
I shoot my hunting rifle year round but pre season I will buy a couple of boxes of wahat ever ammo I'm going to be using and make sure things are good to go.
