HUNTING HOW DO I

Boresight a Scope on a Bolt-Action Gun

When mounting a scope on a gun, it's recommended you boresight it, or align the crosshairs with the barrel, before attempting to sight it in. This saves both time and ammo! Here's a method which works on most bolt-action rifles & handguns.

Here's How:

  1. Check if the gun is loaded; if so, unload it.
  2. Mount the scope on the gun if it's not already mounted. Make sure the scope and mounts do not
  3. interfere with the operation of the gun (by conflicting with the throw of the bolt handle, for example).
  4. Remove the bolt from the gun. This is usually very easy and only requires holding the trigger back or engaging another type of release while pulling back on the bolt.
  5. Place the gun on a solid rest of some type that won't mar its finish. On cushions on the hood of your truck, across the back of a sofa, or in a solid shooting rest are all choices that will work.
  6. While looking through the bore (barrel), carefully align the barrel with an easily identifiable distant object. It can be as close as 40 feet, or as far away as you like.
  7. Without moving the gun, take a look through the scope and note how far, and in which direction(s), the crosshairs are from the object in the previous step.
  8. Using the crosshair adjustment screws on the scope, adjust it (see Tip 2 below).
  9. Eyeball through the bore again. If the gun has moved, re-align the bore with the object.
  10. Check the scope again and re-adjust as needed.

Repeat steps 8 and 9 until the bore and scope point at the same spot.

After boresighting, head to the shooting range to sight it in and start shooting at close range (I recommend starting at 25 yards, no farther than 50 yards).

Congratulate yourself on a job well done and a saving of ammunition and range time!

Tips:

Always keep guns pointed in a safe direction.

When adjusting a scope in this manner, you must go the opposite direction stated on the scope. Example: The bore is aligned with a target, but the crosshairs are right of it. You must turn the windage adjustment screw "right" to correct this.

Similar results can be had for guns other than bolt-actions through the use of a boresighting tool. These are expensive to buy, but most gun shops own one and will boresight your gun for a small fee.

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Defend Hunting

Although it's a sad state of affairs when one has to defend something as basic and wholesome as hunting, from time to time the need will arise. Here's how to best present our side of the story.

Here's How:

  1. Be sincere. If you don't act like you believe what you're saying, why should anyone else? Put your heart into it, the same way you do when you're hunting.
  2. Be polite. I can't stress this enough, especially in forums and all public places. If you let one blowhard get to you and you lose your cool, you've just slammed the door in the face of any others who might have been reading/listening.
  3. Let your love for animals show. One thing that non-hunters always have a hard time with is that hunters actually love the game we pursue. Tell them about the time you've spent in a tree stand watching fawns play, etc.
  4. Keep it simple. Remember, although you might have grown up around hunting and/or guns, the folks you're talking to probably did not. You're usually starting from scratch when you start explaining that hunters do a whole lot more than kill.
  5. Be ready to answer their comebacks. Many non-hunters have been spoon-fed lies about hunting for years. For example, many believe that "trophy hunters" do not use the meat from their kills, which is untrue. Set the record straight.
  6. Never concede on an important point. Some things can be agreed with without compromising our position, others cannot. Yes, hunting is barbaric and sometimes brutal. No, hunting is not wrong, and is not murder.
  7. Tell them what hunters have done for wildlife. Within the past 100 years, wildlife populations have increased across the USA. This is largely due to hunters footing the bill via Pittman-Robertson and other hunting funds.
  8. Don't talk down to them. So they haven't ever sat in the chill of dawn awaiting a flock of ducks or a big buck... that's no reason to belittle anyone. Ignorance is usually defensible, but arrogance rarely is.
  9. Be positive. Wear a smile; folks will almost always be more willing to listen to what you have to say.
  10. Know when to quit. Sometimes you'll find you're dealing with tightly closed minds that can't or won't concede that they could be wrong. In that case, you're sometimes better off agreeing to disagree.

Tips:

  1. Don't pick fights. If you see or hear someone defaming hunting and/or hunters, then by all means, jump in and set them straight. But don't go starting a debate for its own sake; it's always harder to reach people when they're on the defensive.
  2. Take your time. You don't have to immediately convince anyone that hunting is wonderful. Your goal is to demonstrate that it isn't wrong, and to plant a seed of respect for hunters and hunting.
  3. Don't discuss killing any more than necessary. Lots of folks are super-sensitive when it comes to killing animals, and they don't want to hear much about it. Right or wrong, you're ahead if you can learn to respect their wishes

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Hunt Responsibly

As hunters, we are rightfully expected to do so in a responsible way. Here's how to make sure you don't hurt hunting by setting a poor example.

Here's How:

  1. Use care and common sense with guns. Don't wave your gun around, point it at anyone or prop your chin on the upturned muzzle. Don't shoot at any target without a safe backstop. Don't take wild shots at game.
  2. Follow up on all shots, even if you think you missed. If you cared enough to fire a shot, you'd better be prepared to track and retrieve the game.
  3. Don't flaunt your kill. Sometimes it makes more sense to transport game in view of others, and sometimes it doesn't. Use good judgment, because your decision could negatively affect how non-hunters view hunting.
  4. Respect other hunters. We'd all love to have the woods all to ourselves, but that's not possible for most of us. If you find you've set up next to another hunter or walked into an area he's hunting, the thing to do is leave quietly.
  5. Keep the woods clean. This can't be stressed enough, although I shouldn't have to mention it at all. Leave any hunting or camping area cleaner than it was when you arrived. Carry out all of your trash and any other you may find.
  6. Be respectful of non-hunters in the woods. I know it's tough to be patient when a group of idiots on mountain bikes barrel past your stand in the middle of deer season, but there's no sense in acting like a jerk about it.
  7. Respect the belongings of others. Most hunters won't mind finding someone sitting in their stand, as long as it hasn't been abused. Leave cushions, straps, ropes, etc, alone and don't leave a mess. Should you find hunting gear, leave it.
  8. Show your respect for animals by taking only the best shots. It the game can't be hit in such a way as to put it down immediately, then you shouldn't take the shot. Quick, clean kills are the kind to strive for.
  9. Know the law where you hunt. There is no reason to go hunting without knowing what's legal and what's not. Take a little time to learn before you hit the woods.
  10. Obey rules and regulations. If the regs tell you not to drive objects into trees, don't drive nails or screws into trees! Whether it makes sense to you or not, obey the rules.

Tips:

If you should run into non-hunters while hunting, politely tell them that there are hunters out there and ask them to hike/bike/ride their horses some other time or place. Tell them that hunters pay for most public areas, not general taxes.

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Keep Venison Fresh For the Butcher

There's absolutely no reason to let your deer go to waste. Here are some pointers on keeping your venison fresh until it can be processed.

Here's How:

Place a layer of ice in a cooler (a forty-eight-quart cooler will hold a deer of up to 140 pounds or so, live weight).

After dressing and skinning your deer, quarter it (see Tips for more on quartering).

Immediately after removing each portion, bag it (kitchen garbage bags work great for this) and place it in a cooler over the initial layer of ice.

Place a layer of ice, then more meat, until you're done.

If you'll be camping for several days before butchering or processing the meat, check the ice and replenish as necessary.

Tips:

When quartering, separate each leg, the neck, and the ribs from the spine. Then trim out the backstraps and tenderloins from the spine. On many deer, this leaves nothing useful on the spine, which can then be discarded.

Place larger portions in one bag; smaller portions may share a bag.

Keep the drain plug on your cooler(s) open. This allows melted ice to drain, preventing it from damaging the meat.

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Remove Rust From a Gun

Removing surface rust from a gun without damaging the finish can be tricky if you don't know how, but there's really nothing to it. Keeping your gun free of rust helps preserve your gun's beauty and value.

Here's How:

Find some light oil, fine steel wool, and a suitable work surface that won't scratch up your gun.

Check if the gun is loaded; if so, unload it.

Apply some oil on and around any rust spots.

Making sure to keep oil present at all times (add some if you need to), gently rub rusty area with steel wool.

Wipe with an old rag or paper towel occasionally to remove rusty oil and to inspect the surface.

Repeat as necessary until no rust is left.

Apply a light, even coat of oil to all steel surfaces.

Tips:

Always keep guns pointed in a safe direction.

Never use abrasives, like sandpaper or emery cloth, on your gun.

After removing rust, keep that spot oiled and keep your eye on it. It will often be the first spot to rust in the future.

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Shoot More Accurately

Accurate shooting is not only a necessary skill for hunting, it makes target shooting a lot more fun!

Here's How:

Know your guns. Learn how they work, what ammo they shoot best, how to maintain them, etc.

When you're getting ready to fire, hold your breath. Either take a deep breath and let about half of it out, or just take half a breath and hold it. This will reduce wobbling on your part.

Squeeze the trigger. Don't pull it or jerk it.

If you flinch, learn to control this. That gun you're shooting isn't going to hurt you; you're on the safe end. The quicker you convince yourself of this, the sooner your accuracy will increase.

Be surprised at the shot. Properly fired, a rifle or handgun should surprise you when it discharges. Obviously you know the gun's going to fire, but the exact instant when it does should not be anticipated, since this leads to flinching.

Use a solid rest. Accuracy will usually increase dramatically as you learn to shoot with a rest.

Use a sling. If no rest is available, a sling is a fine shooting aid. Wrap it around your left arm (for right-handed shooters) to pull the gun into your shoulder. Even grabbing the sling near the forend and pulling it to the shoulder helps.

Take care of your guns. All guns need love and proper care, so learn how to clean and maintain your guns, and do it! (OK, maybe they don't need love... but they like it!)

Tips:

Always keep guns pointed in a safe direction.

As a beginner, ignore teasing or ribbing from others about your shooting. As long as you continue to improve your shooting skills, you should be happy. After all, those other guys used to be beginners, too.

When the day comes when you can pick up your buddy's gun and outshoot him with it, don't gloat too much.

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Sight in a Gun

This most basic of shooting skills is also one of the easiest, once you know how. Here's how to get on target without burning up a pile of ammo.

Here's how:

  1. Check your gun to make sure it's in good, safe working order.
  2. Make sure the ammunition you have is the correct cartridge for your gun. Use only the ammo your gun is marked for!
  3. Find a safe place to shoot, such as a public shooting range or other location with a sufficient backstop and a guarantee that no one will cross your line of fire.
  4. If you plan to do your shooting on private land, get permission. If on public land, check the laws governing it. Trespass with a firearm is a felony!
  5. Start out at close range; around 25 yards for a rifle, 15 yards with a handgun.
  6. Use a solid rest, and take your time. Before each shot, take a deep breath, let half of it out, then hold it.
  7. Fire two or three shots and note their location on the target. If they are fairly close together, you're ready to adjust your sights. If they're not, then you're probably not resting steadily or are flinching.
  8. Once you've shot a reasonably tight group (one or two inches with a rifle, two or three inches with a handgun), adjust your sights.
  9. Move the rear sight in the direction you want the bullet to go. For example, if you're shooting low, raise the rear sight. If you're shooting left, move the rear sight to the right.
  10. If you're using a scope, adjust the crosshairs in the direction indicated on the scope. If you're shooting low and left, turn the screws "up" and "right" the respective number of clicks (see tip 2 below).
  11. Shoot another group of two or three.
  12. Re-adjust your sights.

Repeat steps 11 & 12 until you're on target. For rifle shooting, you'll want to fine-tune the sights, usually at a distance of 100 yards. The point of impact will sometimes be noticeably different between 25 and 100 yards.

Tips:

Always keep guns pointed in a safe direction.

With a scope, the per-click graduation will usually be marked, i.e. 1/4" per click at 100 yards. Remember this will make it 1/8" at 50 yards, etc. Estimate the distance you're off and adjust accordingly.

Some "fixed" sights can be adjusted. If the rear sight is in a dovetail notch, you can drift it to correct for windage error. Do not hit it with a hammer! Use a brass drift and hammer, or if in doubt, have it done for you in a gun shop.

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Use Tree Stands Safely

An alarming number of hunters fall from tree stands each season. Here's how to stay safe while hunting from above.

Here's How:

  1. Never use a stand if you doubt its safety. Whether or not it's sturdy isn't the only question; if you doubt it, you'll be nervous and unlikely to enjoy yourself.
  2. Use extreme care. It's your life, be careful with it! Be more cautious than you think is necessary, because redundancy can save lives (i.e. Using two chains instead of one on a hang-on type stand).
  3. Avoid leaning. Many self-climbing stands can flip to the side if weight is unevenly distributed. Excessive leaning can also cause other types of stands to slip or fall, and makes it easier for you to lose your balance.
  4. Inspect any stand before using it. Whether it's yours or not, take a good look every time you use a stand. Metal fatigue, wood rot, and poor construction can all cause a stand to fail.
  5. Don't trust your life to fabric straps. Some models of hang-on stands use straps similar to seat belt material to secure them to the tree. I advise you to back this up with a sturdy chain before trusting them with your weight.
  6. Replace s-hooks with "quick-links." These are chain links that screw shut upon themselves, and they are much more trustworthy than s-hooks, which can straighten out and dump you from a hang-on stand.
  7. Don't go any higher than you're comfortable being. You're out there to enjoy yourself, not to make yourself miserable. Ignore anyone who tells you otherwise; the biggest buck I've ever seen was killed by a guy on a six-foot ladder stand.
  8. Never climb, or use a stand on, a dead tree.
  9. Take the time to get familiar with any stand before using it. Learn its strengths and weaknesses and keep them in mind while using it.

Tips:

When using a safety belt or harness, slide the end that's attached to the tree up until there's almost no slack. This will make any fall shorter, and will help prevent injuries.

Never fall out of a tree.

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Walk in the Woods

Just put one foot in front of the other, right? Actually, there's a bit more to it than that.

Here's How:

Tips:

Always keep a compass in your pocket. A GPS is handy as well, but a compass is more dependable and easier to use.

Wear comfortable shoes with ankle support. There's nothing like blisters or a bruised or twisted ankle to make walking miserable.

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