why does it take so long for guys to learn...

[grumpyvette]

why does it take most hunters so long for to learn from what they see works in the field?
Ive hunted with dozens of guys over the last 45 plus years and as we age we all become a bit smarter in or equipment choices, we tend to take a bit less in day packs to lower the loads, we all seem to have learned to carry, and select better quality equipment, and AT LEAST among my friends, theres been a slow but obvious drift to larger caliber, cartridges, and smaller scopes, lighter rifles and carbines ,sometimes in non-magnum calibers.
where the, 264 mags ,270 win, 7mm and 30 cal mags ,and 24"-26" barrels were all the rage and 3x9x and 4x-12x scopes were almost universal in the 1970-80s, semi autos were more common, the current rifles tend to be carbines in calibers like 30/06-35 whelen, 358win, 338 win , 375H&H and 45/70 , and scopes like 2x-7x and strait 4x are now much more commonly seen, now, and single shots and carbines are far more common.
most guys don,t carry a pistol any longer, most carry a smaller knife.
theres an obvious shift from bragging about making long shots that connected to how close we got before dropping the hammer, on mule deer and elk.
theres a marked tendency for guys to be far more discerning about where they shoot game, in relation to road access, with at least some thought on how its going to be retrieved, or even If a shot will be taken while in years past, if it was legal it usually got shot and the thinking about retrieval only came later.
we have obviously as a group changed in both or skill levels and equipment choices , but its taken years.

comments?

 

[grumpyvette]

I think many new hunters would be best served with a single shot, not a repeater,until they learn shot placement and control over their nerves
within reasonable limits ,rifle caliber is not as important as bullet selection and shot placement and knowing the games anatomy,and getting in close before shooting.
a few years ago, one of my friends had a son that was at the time 18 and hes been hunting with his dads old 30/30 lever action for several years and having shot several deer hes been complaining about the rifles accuracy
(Ive shot that rifle, its VERY ACCURATE)
the problems rather obvious(to me) and its NOT THE RIFLE, or CALIBER ,its the kid, has a tendency to (SPRAY & PRAY) with the lever action
so I got together with my friend, and his son and took him down to a local range and had him practice a few dozen shots with my 6mm rem in a browning 78 falling block which with the correct hand loads shoots 1/2" hundred yard groups.
stressing its accuracy.... AND THAT hes only got one shot...
I let him take that rifle on his last hunt,that year, but I gave him only 3 cartridges, and told him I expected at least two deer so he better pay close attention to deer anatomy and shot placement, and take excellent care of my rifle and not scratch it up.
he dropped his first deer shot with that rifle, almost instantly , because he knew he only had the one shot and he had to make it good,so he placed it exactly like we told him(above the heart)the deer jumped and landed and kicked, a few times but that was it.
the kid brought back the two loaded cartridges to show me,, now IM not a huge fan of the 30 cal and smaller big game rifles even though I frequently use 25 and 27 caliber rifles on deer hunts. but the truth is that if your familiar with your equipments limitations most center-fire rifles can be used in a skilled hunters hands.
the kid thinks that rifles amazing, but its not the rifle its the kids attitude and attention to detail, that changed, the 6mm rem is no better than his dads 30/30 at the 50-70 yard deer shots hes likely to get around here