I have been hunting for most of my 34 years. Times have changed since I was a young boy stalking small game with my Marlin model 60, a pocketful of CCI stingers and a cheap Tasco scope. I have moved through more of the gun/caliber fad's than I care to admit. Countless dollars spent in the chase for the best energy, the longest reach etc. Even the places I hunt have changed. Gone are the days where I could walk anywhere with a rifle in my hands and legally hunt. Population increases, political tomfoolery, the rising and falling of animal numbers. All have influenced me in my gear, my weapons and how I hunt.
Now as a father I find I have the desire to be in the woods more, and to enjoy them with my sons. I also have come to realize enjoying those times usually means me doing very little but watching them discover and learn. The focus is no longer on me, and it's been a very great relief to me. No longer do I chase for things, and have learned now what just works. Simple is better and getting my mind to realize that is a huge step toward enjoying the woods again. I have to admit at times I had just become tired of feeling I needed more of this or more of that. That I couldn't hunt in a "proper" fashion without this gadget or this doohickey. I'd be willing to bet I was not alone in that feeling.
This October when deer season starts for Muzzleloader in NH, it will mark the beginning of a new start for me also. Gone are the smokeless powder rifles and scopes. Replaced by a slightly used Cabelas Hawken I got for a song (under $100 with powder, balls, patches, caps etc.) and a very poorly executed dance. No longer will I be hamstrung by shotgun only areas, I will enjoy a longer season for hunting here in NH with my frontstuffer. For the first time in years I am excited to hit the woods and take in the sights and sounds and not worry about what I am carrying and what my hunting partners will think of my super magnum 1000 yard deer cleaver.
After working with this rifle I have settled on a pretty common loading of 80grains of BP and the "poor" killing 177grn PRB. It has no "easy cleaning" label on the powder can, and I found no detailed explanation of how these roundballs will circumnavigate the globe and still penetrate two engine blocks before entering my deer and expanding to the size of a man hole cover. I can only hope that deer today have not learned they shouldn't fall to such a loading as millions of their ancestors did. I should have known something was amiss when I payed less for 100 roundballs and 1lb of powder then what it costs for 20 premium rounds of .300 win mag. I also worry that this "new" rifle isn't accurate enough. By all accounts it's nigh impossible to kill a deer with a rifle that won't put 10 shots into a quarter inch at 300 yards. I am deeply concerned my 2" 5 shot groups at 75 yards will not do the job at the typical 50 yard range most NH deer are taken at. No sir, according to the current press I am woefully undergunned and that likely has all to do with my refrain from dropping at least $1500 on a "suitable" rifle.
I have even gone so far as to realize I am a meat hunter now. Shocking turn of events for some. Something about the draw of a freshly filled freezer with three growing boys has more of a shine to it than the 10 point buck I spent so much effort finding in my youth. I will admit if Mr. Tenpointer steps out I will do my best to drop him in his tracks, but I think my luck will bring me something smaller and hopefully tastier. The shame will be great when he won't measure to Boone and Crockett standards, but I am prepared to cope with my disgrace.
For all it's "inadequacies" the BP rifle has given me a refreshing sense of freedom. Freedom from the pressures of fads and the newest whiz bang surefire deer killer. Freedom from areas where said whiz bang rifle is no longer allowed. And the freedom to shoot plenty of targets on the cheap, making me a better hunter than I was.
So thank you to all on this forum for the nudge, and do pray for my hunting soul as clearly I have lost my way. Just pick up an issue of your favorite hunting magazine to see the error of my ways.
Now as a father I find I have the desire to be in the woods more, and to enjoy them with my sons. I also have come to realize enjoying those times usually means me doing very little but watching them discover and learn. The focus is no longer on me, and it's been a very great relief to me. No longer do I chase for things, and have learned now what just works. Simple is better and getting my mind to realize that is a huge step toward enjoying the woods again. I have to admit at times I had just become tired of feeling I needed more of this or more of that. That I couldn't hunt in a "proper" fashion without this gadget or this doohickey. I'd be willing to bet I was not alone in that feeling.
This October when deer season starts for Muzzleloader in NH, it will mark the beginning of a new start for me also. Gone are the smokeless powder rifles and scopes. Replaced by a slightly used Cabelas Hawken I got for a song (under $100 with powder, balls, patches, caps etc.) and a very poorly executed dance. No longer will I be hamstrung by shotgun only areas, I will enjoy a longer season for hunting here in NH with my frontstuffer. For the first time in years I am excited to hit the woods and take in the sights and sounds and not worry about what I am carrying and what my hunting partners will think of my super magnum 1000 yard deer cleaver.
After working with this rifle I have settled on a pretty common loading of 80grains of BP and the "poor" killing 177grn PRB. It has no "easy cleaning" label on the powder can, and I found no detailed explanation of how these roundballs will circumnavigate the globe and still penetrate two engine blocks before entering my deer and expanding to the size of a man hole cover. I can only hope that deer today have not learned they shouldn't fall to such a loading as millions of their ancestors did. I should have known something was amiss when I payed less for 100 roundballs and 1lb of powder then what it costs for 20 premium rounds of .300 win mag. I also worry that this "new" rifle isn't accurate enough. By all accounts it's nigh impossible to kill a deer with a rifle that won't put 10 shots into a quarter inch at 300 yards. I am deeply concerned my 2" 5 shot groups at 75 yards will not do the job at the typical 50 yard range most NH deer are taken at. No sir, according to the current press I am woefully undergunned and that likely has all to do with my refrain from dropping at least $1500 on a "suitable" rifle.
I have even gone so far as to realize I am a meat hunter now. Shocking turn of events for some. Something about the draw of a freshly filled freezer with three growing boys has more of a shine to it than the 10 point buck I spent so much effort finding in my youth. I will admit if Mr. Tenpointer steps out I will do my best to drop him in his tracks, but I think my luck will bring me something smaller and hopefully tastier. The shame will be great when he won't measure to Boone and Crockett standards, but I am prepared to cope with my disgrace.
For all it's "inadequacies" the BP rifle has given me a refreshing sense of freedom. Freedom from the pressures of fads and the newest whiz bang surefire deer killer. Freedom from areas where said whiz bang rifle is no longer allowed. And the freedom to shoot plenty of targets on the cheap, making me a better hunter than I was.
So thank you to all on this forum for the nudge, and do pray for my hunting soul as clearly I have lost my way. Just pick up an issue of your favorite hunting magazine to see the error of my ways.
