With whitetail season in full swing, followed by a week of muzzleloader hunting for the truly devout, it’s time to fine-tune that favorite deer gun. Even during promising Novembers after mild winters, as this one is, optimal shots at bragging-size bucks require scouting, stealth, shooting precision and a bit of luck. Often these shooting situations are “one and done,” whether you hit or miss, and second shots are a rare opportunity.
Even if you cleaned your rifle thoroughly before putting it away last year, go over it again. Just a mere touch of grease or oil should be placed on moving parts as too much and freezing weather can gum up the lubricant. Spray coat and then wipe excess weather protectant from metal and wood to assure rust prevention regardless of weather. Forget your old bottle of Hoppe’s Solvent, utilize both a specialized lead and brass solvent with a wire brush on the bore, and finish with a soft cloth swab head. Coat your rifle strap and its metal attachments with appropriate protectants as well.
Regardless of how sure you are that your gun is still sighted in from last fall, go to the range! Adjust the clarity of your scope optics and if yours doesn’t have a protective cover, buy and use a set. Just the few seconds cleaning snow, rain or mud from scope glass can cost a shot, so flip-up covers are priceless. Sight in by firing a few rounds, not just to hit the target but to refamiliarize yourself with proper eye relief, trigger squeeze, shoulder snug and breath control. Whether you’re a thick woods hunter, or an open field shooter, sight in accordingly. An average marksman should be able to shoot a three- or five-shot group of two-inch diameter at 100 yards with a scoped rifle, especially from a bench rest. If your gun won’t do this, it’s time to change the scope or perhaps purchase a better deer rifle.
For example, I shoot a Husqvarna .270 with 130 grain spitzer boattail bullets. If I hit dead center at 25 yards, I’m in the bullseye again at 200 yards and just three inches high at 100 yards. At 300 yards, I’m two inches low, at 400 yards the bullet strikes 4-1/2 inches below center and at 500, I’m 6-1/2 inches low. I’ve never taken a 400- or 500-yard shot at live game, just paper, but lots of antelope, elk, and mountain goat hunters do. The point is, know your gun and ammo for multiple situations. From a solid rest I’m able to consistently shoot one-inch groups of three shots with my rifle, scope and cartridge combo.
I suggest practicing off-hand, kneeling, sitting and even prone. You can never plan on a set shooting situation. Also, learn to arm wrap your rifle sling to provide added support and steadiness. There are a couple of very effective methods. If I’m using a ground blind or driving field roads looking for big game, I always have a monopod or bipod along, set and locked to the perfect height for quick, stable rifle support. In the woods, I’ve used stumps, tree limbs, and even rocks covered with my jacket to steady my rifle when time allowed.
Fifty years ago our fathers would go into the local hardware store (few towns had a gun shop) and grab a box of shells from a shelf. Remington, Winchester and Federal were the big three and 10 hunting calibers from .30-.30 to .308 would be a normal selection. A few stores actually carried a couple of bullet weights for a few calibers. Technical advancements in bullets, shells, powder and loading ballistics have far expanded the selection. While it might be trial and error to match the best load for your gun, in most cases any cartridge will offer the accuracy and lethality required for whitetail deer out to 200 yards.
Whitetails are thin-skinned game animals with moderate bone structure. When a good shot to the lungs is accomplished, huge, super fast bullets aren’t required. For example, I prefer a 130 grain bullet for open fields and a 150 grain for woods. The heavier slug won’t be so easily deflected off course if it clips a small branch en route to the target. Prime considerations for an effective deer cartridge are velocity, energy and expansion. These three prime requisites for any cartridge alter with the body size and bone structure of any big game animal to offer the quickest lethality.
Select a rifle shell too light and too fast and it punches right through the animal with less damage and less chance of a blood trail. Heavy bullets have better knock-down power but can do extensive damage to the meat hunter’s desire for the freezer. Aim and hit a vital area and the game animal will go down, miss by a few inches and the weight, speed and penetration of the best bullet usually puts a tag on the buck anyway. Take the time to select the best whitetail shell for your rifle and planned hunting conditions.
Many Maine deer hunters favor the last two weeks of November with possible snow for tracking and trailing, and plan whitetail camp vacations a year in advance. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare your rifle and shells if you want to up the odds of putting venison on the table. It’s deer season already, so don’t wait — get prepared now.
