General Hunting Question

Doyle said:
I believe it is more than just simply "rifle in pistol calibers". I believe there is also an overall case length restriction.
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Yup. From the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Guide under Legal firearms [for deer]:

Rifle with pistol cartridges that fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger; have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches; and have a maximum case length of 1.625 inches are legal to use only during deer firearms season. Some cartridges legal for deer hunting inlude 357 Magnum, 38-40 Winchester, 41 Magnum, 41 Special, 44 Magnum, 44 Special, 44-40 Winchester, 45 Colt, 454 Casul, 458 SOCOM, 475 Linebaugh, 480 Ruger, 50 Action Express, and 500 S&W."
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This is in addition to shotguns (.410 bore, 20, 16, 12, or 10 Gauge) with slugs or sabot bullets, muzzle loaders of .44 or larger loaded with bullets of .357 or larger, and a somewhat more inclusive list of handguns (although my 1911 is not legal for deer).
 
I once hunted with a guy that used a 10 guage auto with buckshot for deer. He used it when we were dog hunting.

If it's legal, buckshot is the way to go for deer. Just make sure your shots are not too far.
 
clubs

join or go to meetings of:
National Wild Turkey Federation
Bow Hunters Associations
ducks unlimited
ect ect ect
go to the meetings. Someone may take you as an understudy.
Hunt whatever is in season whenever you can.
Something can be learned every time.
You learn from mistakes.
get a compass.
find nearest public lands
 
Fox, Coyote, and Fall Turkey Firearm on Oct 15; and Pheasant, Quail, and Rabbit on N

If you get the opportunity to go on the above hunts and you want to go...then go. You will never know what you will enjoy until you try it out. I have hunted Deer, Squirrel, Rabbit, Dove, Quail, Racoons, Coyotes, Bobcats, and I am sure there probably is something I am forgetting but above all I enjoy Deer hunting the most. I have buddies that have bugged me for years to go Duck and Geese hunting with them but because they coincide with deer season I have never gone. Plus the fact that I would need to buy another shotgun has prevented any serious consideration by me. If you do not try hunting different game you will never know what you enjoy most. I know that the one thing I enjoy the most is simply being in the woods. The peace and serenity of being alone in God's creation has always awed me.
 
Dearhunter61 Says it all

"If you do not try hunting different game you will never know what you enjoy most. I know that the one thing I enjoy the most is simply being in the woods. The peace and serenity of being alone in God's creation has always awed me."
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Lonny
 
I've been thinking on this too. I've been trying to gear up for deer season in Wisconsin, but their damned non-resident deer license is $160. Heck, even their non-resident small game license is $85, and that doesn't even include raccoons. One would think they'd be HAPPY to have people come in and hunt their raccoons.

Then, there's the issue of my wife not wanting me to put a deer in the back of our car, for fear of the smell.

The one time I've been hunting so far was squirrel hunting in Indiana. I drove 6 hours down there to public land, camped, got up at the crack of dawn, hunted two days, got one squirrel. It was fun, but not quite worth that drive. I got one small squirrel, who was good for about 4 bites of meat. But it was fun. I'm going to look into squirrel and raccoon hunting in Illinois for this year I think. As others have said, I like getting out into the woods.

One thought: Can you use a 44 Magnum rifle on squirrel? It might be a good way to prepare yourself for deer season. You will get used to carrying the gun, you'll get accurate with it, you'll know the trajectory, if you see deer during squirrel season, you will make a mental note if they are within range of the 44 Magnum. The range won't be a limitation for squirrel either. You will have to go for the head or upper body shots though, or you will ruin all the meat. 90% of the meat in a squirrel is in its hind legs; they're scrawny little buggers.
 
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