So how does hunting work from a safety stand? and hunting with an SKS or AK47

C

conquer_all2002

New member
So Im interested in trying out hunting. Maybe I'll love it, maybe I'll hate it. But before I get any serious about trying it. What are the safety issues of hunting? Maybe is because I've never gone, but I cant help but think it may be risky to walk around in an area where people are hunting. What are the chances of getting hit by a tray bullet? Is there a rule in regards to how far away diff hunting groups have to be? How do you know if there is anyone around the area where your bullet may go?

Also, since I dont know if Im going to like it at all. I was thinking about using an SKS or AK47 I already have just to try it out instead of purchasing a new rifle. Is this doable and what would be my game and distance limitations?
 
Dude - you're scaring me.:eek:

Mandatory that you take a hunter's safety course in order to get a license. Hunting is a lot more than just grabbing your rifle and wandering around the woods.

Hunting is serious for just some of the reasons you pointed out. You are walking around with a weapon and there are other people possibly around.

This is not a casual trip to the range. Are you serious enough to take care of the animal you kill? Killing a game animal and not taking it to eat is a crime most places.

How well do you shoot your SKS or AK? This is not rapid fire - it is one good shot placed in the heart/lungs.

Best thing to do is find someone who can teach you and go with you. It is not going to be learned on the internet.
 
But, first get a copy ..

of your state game regulations.
Some state, Pa. for example, don't allow autoloading firearms for big game (Deer). Some state mandate three shots (Ohio) or five Maximum.
So, with your mentioned firearms you will need to get a five shot magazine.
Next, get to a range and determine what accuracy you have or have not.
For the attached sights, you should be able to put five rounds into a picnic plate @ 100 yds, if not, then you may have to mount a scope.
The previous post are correct, go and take a Hunter Ed course, it will give you a better undestanding.

How good are you with a compass and navigating the woods, reading a topographic map? It's very easy to get lost (turn-a-round) in the field. If no skills, then develop those first before going hunting.
 
Dont worry guys. I have no intention of going alone. Im going with a few friends that have done this before. I just had some questions so I have an idea of what to expect. I just have no access to my friends till they come back from deployment and was curious about the stuff I posted.

As far as accuracy Im fairly decent with both the SKS and Ak, but the longest range in this area is only 75ft. There is an outdoor range thats 200ft but its an hr away, I have yet to make my way out there.

And I'll ask the local range about hunting ed classes next time i go.
 
Blaze orange is your friend!!!

Most hunting accidents are from people falling out of deer stands. I'm not saying there's no danger from other hunters, just use some common sense. Know your target and what's beyond it! Never shoot at sounds or movements. If someone is being unsafe, leave the area.

Most hunters are safe and friendly people; but, like in any other group, there are gonna be some a**holes out there. Avoid them and have fun.

Like the others have said, take a look at the regs. in your state and take a hunter safety course.
 
I know I shouldn't rise to the bait....

Do you mean feet or yards?

Do they even make 5 round mags for an AK? Sorry, I have no idea. I can't imagine why they would, that would be really silly.

Where are you at?
 
You may be able to pull bits and pieces of advice off of this forum, but you abolutely must get some local help. Hunting safety, styles, methods, firearms, ammo, game, etc. is all dependent on where you are and what you are going after. I guarantee you that a person who has hunted mule deer in the inter-mountain west all his life would be totally lost trying to hunt whitetail or hogs in the swamps of the south. A swamp hunter down here wouldn't fare too well going up to the Canadian tundra either without some assistance. You have to have someone local to mentor you.
 
where to start

1. Hunting WHAT?

2. Yes, you can get 5 rounders for an AK

3. Yep, a 7.62x39mm will work if you're talking deer hunting and you know where the vital zone is on a deer. You need to use 154 gr corbons or 150 gr Wolfs. These are soft point hunting rounds.

4. Most states, if not all, require a hunter education course, to get a license. Even if it's not required, taking the course is not a bad idea. It will go over a lot of safety issue for you. A lot of them are common sense, standard gun safety issues. But emphasizing things like unloading when going over a fence or when traversing steep terrain is something that doesn't crop up during a range trip.

5. Yes, the gentleman is right, most injuries occur by people falling from tree stands. If you *always use a harness*, and don't fall asleep, you will nearly eliminate any chance of injury, should you use a tree stand.

6. Hunting is relatively safe, compared to most sports. It does SEEM to me also that it would be easy to get shot on public lands, but the statistics bear out that it's extremely rare. Wear your orange, and wait til there is some light before moving when on PUBLIC lands, and you'll be ok, 99.99% chance. The vast majority of hunters follow the gun safety rules of be sure of your target and what's behind it. For those who don't, there's usually so many trees and/or hills that bullets don't get very far. If you're really worried, hunt private land, not public, and decide in advance with you hunting party who is going to what area - spread out. No, there is no provision of law or regulation that requires a certain distance between hunters or assigning specific areas. It's a free for all on public lands. If you see orange, go the other direction, and don't make a lot of noise, so as not to disturb that hunter.

7. Did you mean "safety standpoint" when you said "safety stand", or are you referring to a tree stand?
 
I'm more worried about falling, tripping, and dehydration than I am about stray rounds. I worry the most about guns when they are being loaded and unloaded. Go with some experienced friends, and they'll show you the ropes and help to keep you safe. See if you can borrow a scoped hunting rifle from one of your friends; it'll work a lot better than you AK/SKS.
 
1. All of the above. :)

2. Take e very opportunity to get out into the boonies where you expect to be hunting. Be there at daylight; watch until around an hour or two after sunrise. Do this again in late afternoon, watching until right at dark.

Sit still. Learn to imitate a rock or stump. Don't do nuthin'. Just watch. Basically, that's what predator animals do, just to see what's going on in the world of prey.

Mid-day, walk around some and look for signs that game has used a trail. Hoof prints, paddy-paw prints.

Learn to walk quietly, not breaking twigs and sticks, not kicking rocks. Don't march along with rhythmic steps. Take a step or two; pause. Check the ground ahead. Then take another two or three steps while looking around you; not at your feet. Repeat this process as you move across country. Yes, it takes practice. So what? Doesn't everything?

Art
 
i really dont think you should be allowed to go hunting
Click to expand...

Why not????

At least he's asking questions and trying to do the right thing. Do you not agree with his choice of weapons? We can use all the new hunters we can get.
 
Take the hunter safety course and forget the AK. They're not accurate enough and you'll be bothered by every CO in the area wanting to know if it's FA. The sights aren't very good either. The stock sights on an SKS aren't much better, but for under 100 yards they'll do.
Whatever rifle you use, you'll need to practice with the ammo you intend hunting with. Use a 9" pie plate at 100 yards and practice, offhand(standing), until you can hit it every time. Then you'll be good enough to hunt. No rapid fire at all. Varmint hunting with your deer rifle is fabulous practice for deer too. Assuming it's legal.
"...Don't do nuthin'. Just watch...." Yep. Best nap I ever had was while sitting in the sunshine, in the bush, squirrel hunting. However, you really do need to learn how to sit without moving around, smoking, eating or anything else.
 
ok, im sorry about my previous comment. i just had a run-in with one of those hunters who give the sport a bad name and i apologize. you are right to ask questions.

as far as the ak goes, just borrow someones scoped hunting rifle and take it to the range to get it sighted in and feel comfortable with it before you go.

good luck
 
What's the big deal with hunting with an AK if it's an authorized firearm in your area?
People have hunted with their .30-30's forever. The 7.62x39 is ballistically almost identical to the .30-30 and many people use the SKS for hunting. The AK uses the very same bullet last time I looked, how is it different from the SKS aside from it's 'evil' assault weapon profile?
Some people need to get a grip.
Dude's trying to learn what he needs to do for his first hunting experience and he's basically called an idiot for asking.
My advice to him would be to ignore these critics and visit your local hunting store and go from there.
The SKS and AK are viable deer hunting firearms as much as the venerable .30-30 is, just know it's limitations and you'll be fine.
 
Kalinka Optics (website add a .com on the end) has some pretty affordable scopes for the SKS. As others have stated, get a 5 round mag, take the hunter safety course, wear orange, etc. THE BIGGEST THING IS MINDSET AND EXPECTATIONS. Do NOT go out there with the idea that this will be like shopping. You are out in nature as #1. You will spend the vast majority of your time LOOKING. You will sit dead still for extended periods of time, and as a human being this is and will be very foreign to you--until you deer hunt, you're likely not aware of how much movement and noise a person makes simply by existing. Practice being still by putting quarters on the top of your head, the top of your shoulders, tops of your knees, and the backs of your hands and watch the second hand of a watch tick away each second for 3 or 4 minutes. If those quarters move, you're not being still enough. Do it over again. Trust me, do this exercise. You'll learn a lot, and for the first time (or even 5000th time) hunter this is prerequisite knowledge.

You will see that 99.9% of what you see is NOT deer. They are not paper targets which are pinned up to shoot at will. You don't go out there with the expectation that this is a one trip, one day = 1 deer. People hunt YEARS before they see or get anything. Certainly you hope, and you think a bit ahead, but the expectation is something of an isolated chance, especially if you've not done any scouting and gathered foreknowledge of the area. Consider it a blessing to be there. Breathe clean air. Enjoy the purification of the mind that only time hunting can give.
 
Good points, all. Remember, safety is job one. For each hunting accident we have, we lose about a million confidence points with the non-hunting public.

1) Be sure of your target AND WHAT LIES BEYOND
2) Take a safety course
3) Be sure of your targetAND WHAT LIES BEYOND
4) Follow any and all regulations
5) Be sure of your target AND WHAT LIES BEYOND

Oh, and have fun too.
 
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