I had one of my hunting buddies and his son who turns 17 this aug,
stopped over to talk about the upcoming deer season.
as usual, the newer hunters have a bunch of rather predictable questions,
so his dad brought him over to talk and discuss his options.
like most kids his age he is not yet convinced his dad has all the answers.
his dads both experienced and capable , but the kid wants a second opinion,
and likes to discuss hunting and likes going to the range with his dad.
the kids been reading and watching videos ,
I asked if he had his hunter safety certificate yet and hes scheduled a class next month
https://myfwc.com/hunting/safety-education/courses/
https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/hunter-safety-requirement/
I have no idea why but most new hunters are worried the rifle they select is not adequate,
the truth is that finding a legal bucks the hardest part of hunting.
the fact is that almost any centerfire rifle,s that throw at least a 75 grain or heavier bullet ,
will in my opinion, with proper shot placement, get the job done.
guys I know have killed dozens of deer with a 223 rem AR15, ,mini 14 ,or even a 357 mag revolver, so its not all that difficult to do.
yeah theres some that are better than others but most work in experienced hands.
personally I've used a 44 mag carbine for decades,
here in florida on most local hunts.
it limits me to shots of about 150 yards, max.
(I can,t remember needing to take a shot in most areas I hunt over about 120 yards in 4 decades.)
but I've never felt the least handicapped, using it!
and it has nowhere near the power or range of the rifle the kid's dad supplied him with.
which has about double the range and power.
its the skill and experience of the person using the weapon of his choice,
not the weapon that matters most here to success.
but the younger son, wanted some assurance that his dad supplying him with a
cz rifle in caliber 308 was going to do the job?
Like I told his dad, thats a gorgeous rifle ,
light handy and feels great in your hands,
if you ever want to sell that rifle, let me know,
I don,t think theres many options that could be suggested that would be any improvement or a better choice that will work around here.
as thats one of the very best options I could think of.
in fact its better than most rifles I own for that particular application.
the only change Id make is to install a rear receiver peep sight.
but with 72 year old eyes thats almost required.
you don,t need a scope as 90% or more of the shots youll get,
will be under 75-100 yards
https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/proddetail.php?prod=4731
and sight in with some 165 grain bullet handloads
https://www.speer.com/bullets/rifle_bullets/hot-cor_rifle_bullet/19-2035.html
42 grains of imr 4895 and a 215 fed primer works very well,
I've posted this info before but it may help here
get out in the field with your dad , or at least a buddy ,and spend as much time walking the area you hunt, and observing as you can,
and take a camera and a note book, a back pack and a cell phone and don,t forget to carry a days supplies and let your dad know exactly where youll be, if hunting with a buddy.
find satellite photos get topo and boundary maps, and get the wild life area regulations,
and get a gps so you can locate those areas once your on the ground where things look a great deal different,
if you get out the recent satellite photos your looking for areas that channel deer movement, between cover and feed.
watch the wind, youll rarely see deer directly down wind, keep to the shadows as much as you can, wear good camo.
I can assure you no one can tell you exactly where too find deer or hogs consistently on any given location,
simply because the animals constantly change location due to changes in hunting pressure, food supply, cover, weather etc.
yet you can markedly up your odds of success,by getting to know each area, and personally scouting out the constantly changing factors that influence the game.
on the particular area you choose to hunt, nothing beats on site current observation, and documenting and mapping out the area.
one of the biggest helps will be actually getting out and observing the area and learning specifics about both that area and the game, as a great deal changes,
deer will love a secluded peninsula or any other area that has very limited human traffic as long as it has feed and cover,
here in florida much of the hunting management areas consist of swamp, if you pull a topo map,
many are endless small peninsulas extending into shallow drainage ponds, and islands in the swamp.
deer are not phased with crossing chest deep water, or even swimming a canal to gain access to decent feed and cover
Ive used a cannoe for decades to allow easy transport of equipment and downed game
almost daily, but there are semi dependable and if your observant patterns to the games movement.
a good quality climbing tree stand, patience, a management area map and decent binoculars will allow you get a good perspective on what your potentially dealing with,
a call to the local biologist and game department can be helpful.
obviously if you can find an experienced mentor familiar with your selected area that could be a big advantage.
but be aware that about 75% of the people that "hunt" are basically spending most of their time,
wondering aimless and clueless, hoping to spot game and while they are occasionally going to shoot game,
you can vastly increase your odds going at the process by doing detailed research and breaking down the process of locating the game logically.
http://www.mytopo.com/products/publi...e.cfm?state=FL
ideally youll want to locate a choke point concentrating deer movement like the narrow land area between two lakes, or the tip of a heavily wooded area adjacent too a second heavily wooded area with a small open meadow between the two.(natural game travel choke points)
if you have access to a welder and chop saw you can build a damn nice climbing tree stand for under $60 similar too this
http://myfwc.com/viewing/recreation/...rative/osceola
untill you know the area,increase your odds by finding areas deer constantly travel between cover and feed, be in a tree stand with a wide field of fire ,
up at least 15-25 feet up a tree so you command/control dozens of acres,travel with a scoped rifle, limit movement, ideally place the stand back a few yards from the edge of the timber (yeah I'm well aware you seldom have ideal choice locations for tree stand locations)
if you plop down in a random area on the ground your chances of success diminish a great deal.
your perspective changes giving you dozens of times more area you can see, from a tree stand 20 ft up.
get the largest and strongest cooler you can afford, keep it in your car or truck and throw a bag or two of ice in it every morning to keep a couple plastic gallon milk jugs you freeze solid before each trip from melting , then place a few sodas or gator-aid bottles in it, if you get lucky and drop a deer you place the number of 2 gallon zip loc bags of meat in the cooler to prevent spoilage untill you can get home, and properly process and label the meat packages.
coleman sells a usable fairly cheap,120 quart for $65, if you have the cash, pelican, grizzly and others sell premium coolers but they cost $260-$600
the cheap cooler will work on one or two day hunts if filled with frozen milk jugs
http://www.outdoorsmantime.com/best-...SAAEgLt7_D_BwE
the basics are simple you'll need to learn to be able too,
consistently find game on a regular basis,
and once found you need to be able to quickly place lethal shots precisely.
knowledge of where and when the game travel and skill with your equipment helps immensely.
so let me answer a few and post a few links.
https://myfwc.com/hunting/deer/get-started/
https://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsession/blogs/deer/deer-hunting-in-florida
https://www.wtvy.com/content/news/N...19-2020-Florida-hunting-season-559941711.html
https://myfwc.com/hunting/regulations/?iframe=true&width=95%&height=95%
https://myfwc.com/hunting/season-dates/
https://www.realtree.com/deer-hunting/antler-nation/2019/florida-deer-hunting
stopped over to talk about the upcoming deer season.
as usual, the newer hunters have a bunch of rather predictable questions,
so his dad brought him over to talk and discuss his options.
like most kids his age he is not yet convinced his dad has all the answers.
his dads both experienced and capable , but the kid wants a second opinion,
and likes to discuss hunting and likes going to the range with his dad.
the kids been reading and watching videos ,
I asked if he had his hunter safety certificate yet and hes scheduled a class next month
https://myfwc.com/hunting/safety-education/courses/
https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/hunter-safety-requirement/
I have no idea why but most new hunters are worried the rifle they select is not adequate,
the truth is that finding a legal bucks the hardest part of hunting.
the fact is that almost any centerfire rifle,s that throw at least a 75 grain or heavier bullet ,
will in my opinion, with proper shot placement, get the job done.
guys I know have killed dozens of deer with a 223 rem AR15, ,mini 14 ,or even a 357 mag revolver, so its not all that difficult to do.
yeah theres some that are better than others but most work in experienced hands.
personally I've used a 44 mag carbine for decades,
here in florida on most local hunts.
it limits me to shots of about 150 yards, max.
(I can,t remember needing to take a shot in most areas I hunt over about 120 yards in 4 decades.)
but I've never felt the least handicapped, using it!
and it has nowhere near the power or range of the rifle the kid's dad supplied him with.
which has about double the range and power.
its the skill and experience of the person using the weapon of his choice,
not the weapon that matters most here to success.
but the younger son, wanted some assurance that his dad supplying him with a
cz rifle in caliber 308 was going to do the job?
Like I told his dad, thats a gorgeous rifle ,
light handy and feels great in your hands,
if you ever want to sell that rifle, let me know,
I don,t think theres many options that could be suggested that would be any improvement or a better choice that will work around here.
as thats one of the very best options I could think of.
in fact its better than most rifles I own for that particular application.
the only change Id make is to install a rear receiver peep sight.
but with 72 year old eyes thats almost required.
you don,t need a scope as 90% or more of the shots youll get,
will be under 75-100 yards
https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/proddetail.php?prod=4731
and sight in with some 165 grain bullet handloads
https://www.speer.com/bullets/rifle_bullets/hot-cor_rifle_bullet/19-2035.html
42 grains of imr 4895 and a 215 fed primer works very well,
I've posted this info before but it may help here
get out in the field with your dad , or at least a buddy ,and spend as much time walking the area you hunt, and observing as you can,
and take a camera and a note book, a back pack and a cell phone and don,t forget to carry a days supplies and let your dad know exactly where youll be, if hunting with a buddy.
find satellite photos get topo and boundary maps, and get the wild life area regulations,
and get a gps so you can locate those areas once your on the ground where things look a great deal different,
if you get out the recent satellite photos your looking for areas that channel deer movement, between cover and feed.
watch the wind, youll rarely see deer directly down wind, keep to the shadows as much as you can, wear good camo.
I can assure you no one can tell you exactly where too find deer or hogs consistently on any given location,
simply because the animals constantly change location due to changes in hunting pressure, food supply, cover, weather etc.
yet you can markedly up your odds of success,by getting to know each area, and personally scouting out the constantly changing factors that influence the game.
on the particular area you choose to hunt, nothing beats on site current observation, and documenting and mapping out the area.
one of the biggest helps will be actually getting out and observing the area and learning specifics about both that area and the game, as a great deal changes,
deer will love a secluded peninsula or any other area that has very limited human traffic as long as it has feed and cover,
here in florida much of the hunting management areas consist of swamp, if you pull a topo map,
many are endless small peninsulas extending into shallow drainage ponds, and islands in the swamp.
deer are not phased with crossing chest deep water, or even swimming a canal to gain access to decent feed and cover
Ive used a cannoe for decades to allow easy transport of equipment and downed game
almost daily, but there are semi dependable and if your observant patterns to the games movement.
a good quality climbing tree stand, patience, a management area map and decent binoculars will allow you get a good perspective on what your potentially dealing with,
a call to the local biologist and game department can be helpful.
obviously if you can find an experienced mentor familiar with your selected area that could be a big advantage.
but be aware that about 75% of the people that "hunt" are basically spending most of their time,
wondering aimless and clueless, hoping to spot game and while they are occasionally going to shoot game,
you can vastly increase your odds going at the process by doing detailed research and breaking down the process of locating the game logically.
http://www.mytopo.com/products/publi...e.cfm?state=FL
ideally youll want to locate a choke point concentrating deer movement like the narrow land area between two lakes, or the tip of a heavily wooded area adjacent too a second heavily wooded area with a small open meadow between the two.(natural game travel choke points)
if you have access to a welder and chop saw you can build a damn nice climbing tree stand for under $60 similar too this
http://myfwc.com/viewing/recreation/...rative/osceola
untill you know the area,increase your odds by finding areas deer constantly travel between cover and feed, be in a tree stand with a wide field of fire ,
up at least 15-25 feet up a tree so you command/control dozens of acres,travel with a scoped rifle, limit movement, ideally place the stand back a few yards from the edge of the timber (yeah I'm well aware you seldom have ideal choice locations for tree stand locations)
if you plop down in a random area on the ground your chances of success diminish a great deal.
your perspective changes giving you dozens of times more area you can see, from a tree stand 20 ft up.
get the largest and strongest cooler you can afford, keep it in your car or truck and throw a bag or two of ice in it every morning to keep a couple plastic gallon milk jugs you freeze solid before each trip from melting , then place a few sodas or gator-aid bottles in it, if you get lucky and drop a deer you place the number of 2 gallon zip loc bags of meat in the cooler to prevent spoilage untill you can get home, and properly process and label the meat packages.
coleman sells a usable fairly cheap,120 quart for $65, if you have the cash, pelican, grizzly and others sell premium coolers but they cost $260-$600
the cheap cooler will work on one or two day hunts if filled with frozen milk jugs
http://www.outdoorsmantime.com/best-...SAAEgLt7_D_BwE
the basics are simple you'll need to learn to be able too,
consistently find game on a regular basis,
and once found you need to be able to quickly place lethal shots precisely.
knowledge of where and when the game travel and skill with your equipment helps immensely.
so let me answer a few and post a few links.
https://myfwc.com/hunting/deer/get-started/
https://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsession/blogs/deer/deer-hunting-in-florida
https://www.wtvy.com/content/news/N...19-2020-Florida-hunting-season-559941711.html
https://myfwc.com/hunting/regulations/?iframe=true&width=95%&height=95%
https://myfwc.com/hunting/season-dates/
https://www.realtree.com/deer-hunting/antler-nation/2019/florida-deer-hunting
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