The Folly's of my Bow Hunting.

     When I was around 16,  I was able to get a Bear Whitetail 2 compound bow.   It took me a while and allot of shooting to ever go hunting with the thing. This article is coming from a gunsmith so I do gun hunt, muzzleloader hunt, and would probably hunt with a sling shot if there was a season for it.   I  do however sit here in bow season writing this article questioning my bow hunting.
     The Down side of my bowhunting in NC and VA.   I stink up the woods allot and pressure my stands.  I admit that I am a trophy hunter.   Most of my early season hunting is however just killing a few does.  I rarely even pressure my good rut stands for the bucks because I have them set up gun and black powder hunting. I have hunted in Kentucky and look forward to go to Illinois and Missouri in the future.  Those states offer and promote bow hunting during the rut.   I would love to kill a big buck with a bow here but usually don't because honestly the guns are shooting and I love them as well.   That is not the fault of the bow but it does require being real close to your prey,  allot of early season pressure, and just more opportunities to let your deer know its Deer season.
     The UP Side of Early season bow hunting.   September is way early to hunt deer.  I do however do it ever year.  My first couple of sits often seem to be practice runs.  I somehow forget the range finder, have left my wrist release, and even forgot to tie the bow to the rope the other day as I climbed up a tree.   What I can honestly say, is bow hunting teaches me to sit, be more alert as I sit, helps me clean out the early season jitters, and just makes me a better hunter.   I know its harder to kill any deer with a bow and I believe you think more of your scent, your movements, cover, the wind, and just exactly where deer are when you are bow hunting.  All of that increases your woodsman-ship skills and that keeps me going.
   As I write this article, I am in my 40s and I said earlier that I started when I was 16.   A few years living in the northeast forced me to bowhunt as I realized they didn't have the long gun seasons of Alabama and Georgia.  I am thankful for my folks helping me with my first bow.   I guess as I continue year after year,  I still love to shot big bucks, but it becomes more about the experience and less about the kill.  Bowhunting has added to my experience as well as helping me to become a better bowhunter.  I think its just fun to be in the woods as well.  Having archery equipment in my hands let me do more of what I love to do and that is why I hope to always continue it.   See you in the woods and bring a stick and string along with you.
   

The venerable 30/30

      The winchester 1894 was the first rifle to be chambered in the venerable 30/30 winchester.   The 30/30 is what many people carry into the field and one of the guns you thing of when you think of deer rifles. The cartridge has light recoil and is the most popular chambering for all lever actions.  Since the cartridges humble beginnings, there have been many 30/30s taken to the field.   It has long been a standby for the deep woods hunter and a good option for a young hunter. 
     The first thirty references the bore diameter however you may not know the second thirty references the early blackpowder loads of 30 grains. The 30/30 is also know as the 30 WCF or 30 Winchester Center Fire.  Common loads for this guy 150 and 170 grains.  I remember running across some 125 grain bullets for mine as a youngster and thought I had a real long range gun then!!
     The 30/30 has long been considered a brush gun.  The thought or old wive's tale is that the slow moving bullet will not deflect as much as a smaller, faster moving bullet.  I will not go into specifics but have seen this myth debunked several times.   Now what it does offer as a brush gun is that it is short barreled and nimble.  It is easy to walk with and a great option for stalking.  The 30/30 is a great option for deer, coyote, and even bear.  It is considered light for elk  and moose even though it has probably taken plenty.
     The bolt action rifle as well as modern sporting rifle (aka AR10) have put a huge dent in the sales of the 30/30.  Faster and flatter shooting bullets come out all the time.  The 30/06 and its success didn't do much for 30/30.  The 30 WCF does however still hold on.   What it lacks in speed and accuracy, it makes up in success year after year in the field.
     Don't however go out an sell that old gun.  There is certain amount of romance in the old western lever action and the new flex tip ammunition has extended the range of this old workhorse.  Lets also be honest------Most of our deer around killed within 150 yards and the 30/30 will do that easily with about any ammunition.   The Marlin and now the modern winchesters come drilled and tapped for scopes so you can easily extend your kill range.
     My first buck came with a 30/30.  I was in sitting in a hay field near a cut over in Wilcox county Alabama.   A driver and his dogs walked through the cutover.   Out from the field burst a 4 point.  I raised my marlin 336CS topped with over and under sights and a 3x9x40 scope.   I put the cross hairs on the buck and dropped with a 70 yard shot.   That 30/30 killed that buck just as well as my 7 mag and it is a good choice.   Get out that old 30/30 and relieve your youth this season.