>>1161206Learn by doing. There is no substitute for experience. You are a predator by nature. You have evolved to hunt and kill things Accept that fact and claim your purpose in nature.
Also learn by reading about your intended quarry. There is academic research on how deer see, how well they smell, what they like to eat, and so on. Same with bears, coyotes, elk, antelope, squirrels, moose, and pigs. Learn about the anatomy of your game-putting a bullet or arrow into a vital area means you kill them quicker and won’t have to track them as far. Also read the local hunting regs in your area. They’re free-look them up. Better to not take a shot than an illegal shot and have to pay a fine afterward.
Pair your book learning with your experience and you will gain an understanding of your prey our ancestors would admire.
>>1161308Thanks. Late 60s Winchester 94 I found on a gun shop used rack. That little 30-30 is the gun I reach for THE most.
When you’re hunting in dense forests like I am, compact and quick handling matters A LOT more than a scope and a magnum caliber.
I shot that deer at 20 yards max, maybe 15. At that range the sight or scope height over the barrel is by far your largest source of aiming error, so I just keep irons on mine. Works like a charm.
>>1161326Hunting regs vary by state, so check your laws.
Where I am minimum caliber is .22 caliber Centerfire (think 223), but some places have .24 caliber (think .243 or 6mm calibers).
A .243 will work great if it’s legal. Deer are light-bodied and easy to kill.
A short rifle in 30-30 is just about perfect for the woods where your shots will almost never be longer than 100 yards. Millions have been made too, so they’re cheap to find used. Look for a Marlin 336 or Winchester 94. Scope is unnecessary at those ranges, but if you want one, get a low power one, 4x magnification max.
