My hunting style is changing

[MtJerry]

I guess I am going thru a renasounce (sp?) period with hunting. For years I have hunted with my reliable Ruger M77 MkII in .270 cal. Most of my shots have been anywhere from 100 to 350 yards. To be honest, I was getting bored with hunting so I decided I needed a change.

Next year when I head out for deer and bear next year, I will be carrying my NEF 45-70 and my Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum - both WITHOUT optics.

Ever since I got my 45-70, I have wanted to make hunting less "technological" (no rangefinders, gps, etc.) and get back to the basics of fair chase hunting.

The 45-70 and the .44mag will require me to be more selective in my shots, and close the distance before making a shot. 45-70 will be limited to 200 yards (if I can get a good load worked up - that is still in progress) and the .44mag will be limited to 75 and possibly 100 yards (still working on a load for that as well - got some 240gr. keith style cast bullets that I am working with right now - can you say BIG meplat  :grin: ).

Both of these calibers will also cut down on the bloodshot meat and obvious loss of edible meat and will make hunting more of a challenge.

Am I getting nostalgic, losing my mind, getting old, or just going thru a phase? I chose nostalgic.

Granted, this will make hunting more challenging especially here in the wide open plains of Montana, but I can't wait until next year!

[fish280]

if i had more days to hunt, and if my eyes were younger, i'd go to iron sights. you ain't crazy or senile.
i use scopes so i can aim in early and fading light. i can still shoot irons very well in good light, but in the deep woods? early? late? nope, i'd lose at least an hour of hunting time because i can't resolve the front sight in poor light.
and with one son still in high school and wrestling this season and next, after which he'll graduate, i need all the light i can get on the 4-7 days we have to hunt between matches and tournaments. :wink:

[Mac11700]

It's nice if you have the time on hand to scout for those up close areas and shots and be in an area that you can not worry about even having a shot because of the abundance of game..but..I've found that just using a  scoped single shot..gives me enough thrills these days on our overcrowed public hunting lands... and for those long range shots if a buck of my dreams gets up...I'll have the needed optics nessasary for my old eyes...but I appluad you on wanting to wax nostoligic...nothing wrong with that. :wink:

Mac

[quickdtoo]

Nothing wrong with that, Jerry! I hunt muzzleloader now just about as much as I do centerfire, we have to choose our weapon by the type of tag we buy and our muzzleloader season here requires iron sights, so I go with aperture(peep) sights cuz I can't decide on which of the 2 open sights on the barrel to use! :?  Being able to use fiber optic front sights has helped a lot. When you get older, the eyes will determine what kind of sights you use, for the most part. One thing that I will always carry is binoculars, we have antler restrictions for most game here and not being able to tell what you're looking at can be a problem. Part of the binocular requirement is they be able to close focus cuz I do a lot of birdwatching while hunting, it's just part of the outdoors experience. I've seen a lot of birds while hunting that I would have never seen and got a good look at if it hadn't been for the binos, and have added many, many new birds to my life list that would not be there if I had not used em.

Good luck in you new found hunting experience, I'm sure it will be an experience worth the effort!

Tim

[Badnews Bob]

I finally after years of hunting shot my first deer, It was a large doe, I was sitting on the ground with my .357 max dressed in a Williams FP sight and hornet front blade from NEF. She walked right out in front of me and I took the shot at about 30yrds, turned out to be a good shot and she dropped less than 50 yrds away. It was undoubtably one of the finest moments I've ever spent in the woods. I believe the simple nature of my equipment added to the feeling of having done it right. Meat in the freezer and I didn't abuse the deer putting her there.

[single shot shooter]

welcome! I hunt with straight walls and am most likelygonna stay that way. 22's and  44's and now have a 45-70 on the way

[Greybeard]

Ya ain't old enough to blame it on age yet. So reckon you'll just have to fess up to being crazy.  :eek:

I'm thinking 200 yards with the .45-70 is pushing it a bit if you're going to forego the use of a rangefinder. Trajectory out there is getting pretty steep. Misjudge range 50 yards and you'll miss clean. Misjudge by 25 and you'll likely wound rather than kill. I don't like being in that position myself.

As for the handgun 75-100 yards is certainly do able if you have good eyes and are a good shot. I once could do that but the old eyes aren't up to it any longer. I pretty well limit me to 50 yards now.

So over all what you propose seems reasonable except I think you're asking more of the .45-70 than you and it together can deliver under your rules.

[MtJerry]

Greybeard -

First off let me say - I miss Alabama  

Second - THANK YOU for a GREAT SITE that I can enjoy and make new friends!

As for your comments, I understand them and appreciate them.  I am hoping I can find the right load, and practice enough with my 45-70 to make those "occasional" 200 yard shots with it.  You are right on the money about trajectory!

I'm kinda hoping The Montanan (Jon) will chime in and invite me up to his place to practice some long-range shooting.   :wink:   His posts have taught me a lot about this caliber and I would love to learn more from a pro.

TO ALL - thanks for the comments!

[95Road King]

Mt. JErry:
      I'm doing exactly what your doing except I'm using my .357 with my 45-70. Both have optic's. (67 yr. old eye's) :-)  :-)