Find tips on Hunting, Firearm News, Reviews, & Training
In today's day and age, time seems to be in short supply. With work schedules, family activities and precious little time left for simple enjoyment or partaking in hobbies, it makes sense to maximize our best use of time.
Controlling for external factors like wind, temperature and elevation, accuracy is largely affected, for better or worse, by two general elements; the mechanical and the human. The mechanical element consists primarily of the quality of the firearm itself, but optics and sights, ammunition, and some accessories also play a major role in how accurate a given rifle is. The human element consists of factors such as aptitude, physical fitness, and mental state. A more detailed overview of how these two elements come into play follows.
If there is one thing that can get more heated than a Ford vs. Chevy debate, it is a similar argument for the best hunting rifle. Every shooter has their own preferences and in some cases these are influenced by local game, topography and local laws.
Compilation of links & general hunting season dates provide a starting point to familiarize with each state’s hunting seasons for big game & upland (non-migratory) small game species.
For some, a successful hunt means getting a big buck on the ground, out of the woods, and into the freezer. For others, it means simply getting that big buck in their cross hairs, experiencing the thrill of the hunt whether they pull the trigger or not. In both scenarios, the hunter has put his or her knowledge and skill to the test, and their efforts paid off in triumph.
The deer dropped at the crack of the rifle, anchored by an expertly placed bullet through the vital organs. The hunter knew he was lucky; there would be no tracking this time. A great deal of work lead to this moment; the months of pre-season scouting; the long, dawn to dusk days perched motionless in the deer stand, seemingly impervious to the chill of the November air.
Statistically, hunting is an exceptionally safe form of outdoor recreation. As evidence, consider that in the state of California in 2009, there were a total of 15 hunting related injuries involving firearms, eight of which were fatal. The fact that there were a total of 1,679,864 hunting licenses sold in California that same year puts the gun related hunting accident rate for 2009 at roughly .0001%.
If you’re a frequent On Target reader, you may remember a Marlin Model 336 that appeared in last year’s Hunting issue. It was a “beater” rifle when I bought it used ten years ago, and hunting with it every deer season, knocking around the dense north woods of New Hampshire,roughened the edges even more.
The Mosin Nagant is a well-known military rifle that has made its ways into the hands of many hunters, collectors, and sport shooters. This late 1800’s rifle is an affordable addition to any gun owner’s collection, including the first time buyer.
Learn more about hunter education requirements throughout the 50 U.S. states