[Guest]

I recently bought a big bore wheel gun that I am thinking about using to hunt with so I thought I would start a thread here about handgun hunting. Experiences? TALL tales? How about the one that got away? Really what I want to see here is techniques. Let me and others hear what worked for you and what didn't. Not equipment so much as stalking and camo and such.

Chris

 

[ChargingRam]

Many years ago I hunted deer with my .357. Never saw any that day. I hunt different areas so I could not use it all the time. I just picked up a Super Redhawk in .480 Ruger last month and I plan to hunt with it this year. I will keep it on me at all times so that when the chance presents itself , I shall be ready.

I would like to book a boar hunting trip someday and use handguns. Right after I get my truck done.

Brian

 

[luke9-1-1]

Chris..........I haven't yet used hand gun only; I usually carry it under my outer coat as back-up. However, sometime, I will do that, as I really want to tag a whitetail w/ my Ruger. With mine, my problem is that I'm sort of limited at how far I want to shoot because I use a red-dot scope instead of a magnified scope w/ crosshairs. I can shoot 50 yds and beyond but am not as accurate out to that kind of distance. However, 25-30 yds & in, I'm shooting 1" groups, so, I almost need to be in an archery situation as far as how close I can get myself to the deer. I'll do it one of these times. I'm just going to have to do what my dad keeps telling me; leave the rifle in the truck. As far as the rest, never could stalk anything worth a hang. I stay stationairy first thing in the morning and then our group will usually drive-hunt most of the day before sitting again late. Camo for me depends on the season and where I'm at as far as what pattern I wear, but, I'd have to say that Advantage Timber is my favorite.

 

[sig sauer]

well i use a sig p220 45acp and i stalk them to within 50-25 yards and bang never had a problem, tagging deer in this fashion, i like wooded areas and i rarely stand up, stay on all fours and low to the ground, use the natural cover to conceal your movement, i have yet to not kill a deer i have stalked within 50yrds, but i like to get about 25-30 yards before i take a shot, just to be sure of a kill. i also shoot regularly at varying distances, to stay proficient in my aim and shooting. i like does but if a buck presents the opportunity then i am all for it. i have also found out over the years if i wait till around 10 am to go when they are bedded down then i have a better chance at stalking in close, i think the closest shot i have made was around 10feet, while she was bedded down, imagine the shock when i stuck my head up and pulled the trigger. in missouri we have to wear orange vest and hat, but i have never had any problems with it. my advice is shoot a lot between now and season, scout where the deer are bedding, and learn how to track deer and know there habits in your area, then you can get close and personal with the deer, and bag a few.

 

[Guest]

Well, I bought a Ruger Super Redhawk .44 magnum with a 7.5 inch barrel, its used but in 100% condition, only had about 150 rounds put through it by a friend of mine. I got it, the scope rings and all ammo he had for $400. I know the rig will put down anything I wish to shoot with it. Stalking deer where I hunt is real challanging since their aren't any trees around, just sagebrush. I'm looking forward to trying though.

Chris

 

[sig sauer]

just stay low and slow and keep your rear end puckered and you will be fine. and if you ever want to see how we do it down here let me know and i will hook you up.

 

[luke9-1-1]

Sig.............do I read that right; they let you use semi-auto's for deer in MO?

 

[willy J]

thats what i was wondering? is that a tall tale there Sig?

 

[sig sauer]

you can use anything you want to use as long as it is larger than a 38. and cannot have a magazine capacity of more than 10 rnds, since i am using a 45 then i am limited to 7 rnds, i know of people who hunt with AR-15s i once hunted with my hk g3 shorty carbine, with the 5 rnd mag of course, look it up missouri department of conservation is the governing agency for hunting in missouri.

 

[ChargingRam]

In Wisconsin, it must by .357 or bigger and have a minimum 6" barrel length. You can get away with shorter barrels on revolvers becuse it is measured from the muzzle to the firing pin. But hunting deer with a 45 that's just crazy. I think. I'd hunt with my AK if I didn't think everyone would look at me funny. I have a cobra collimator sight on it and it is way accurate. Way. Oh yeah, WI is one of the few states that has no limit on the number of rounds you can have, not that I'd be out there with a bannana clip or anything....

Brian

 

[luke9-1-1]

Sig...........that's cool; Pa. doesn't allow us that luxury. Brian; what all does Wisconsin allow firearms-wise for deer? I have a brother in Milwaukee and he gave me his Marlin .30-.30 years ago because he said that Wi. didn't allow rifle hunting; he had to go shotgun.

 

[Guest]

Chris, the best camo I've ever seen for sagebrush country is the military's 3 color desert camo. You can't beat BDU's for comfort and the way they wear. It's about the only camo I've used that doesn't look dark from a distance.

 

[willy J]

Chris, the best camo I've ever seen for sagebrush country is the military's 3 color desert camo. You can't beat BDU's for comfort and the way they wear. It's about the only camo I've used that doesn't look dark from a distance.

i have an abundance of that kind of clothing need some?
to mask your sent use the sage, rub it on your clothes an skin where its not tender or prone to break out.

Sig Saur

larger than a 38. and cannot have a magazine capacity of more than 10 rnds, since i am using a 45 then i am limited to 7 rnds, i know of people who hunt with AR-15s

Ar 10 with the .308 or Ar 15 with the .223?

i just bought an AR 15 yesterday!

 

[ChargingRam]

Sig...........that's cool; Pa. doesn't allow us that luxury. Brian; what all does Wisconsin allow firearms-wise for deer? I have a brother in Milwaukee and he gave me his Marlin .30-.30 years ago because he said that Wi. didn't allow rifle hunting; he had to go shotgun.

You can use anything larger than, but not including .17 centerfire. Now in some of the populated areas around Milwaukee and Madison it is shotgun only along with some state wildlife areas. Those are special zones as the rest of the state is open to everything.

Brian

 

[sig sauer]

the ar 15 with the 223 but i have a hk g3 carbine in 308, however do to the areas i hunt in and the number of hunters in my party and around me i choose to use my handgun or it situation calls for a more long distance shot i use a 12ga

 

[sig sauer]

my barrel lenght on my 45 is just 4.4 inches and that includes the chamber and all, however it is very accurate, at the last competition i shot at, i was shooting a 2" group at 50 yrds, and 1.2" at 25yrds, then we have the speed shoot in witch i knocked down 5 plates at 25yrds in 2 sec, if you are ever going to get a semi auto handgun i suggest a sig or a 1911, my sig has had nearly 30,000 rnds put through it and i have only had 3 jams, and that was due to the handloaded ammo i was using, was too weak to through the slide all the way back, i use a 230grn round nose all lead for my competitions, loaded to 790fps, and my hunting loads are a 230 grn jacketed hollow point, loaded to 950fps, the reason for the hot load on hunting is better penitration, and longer distance shots, the comp loads have less recoil for a faster follow up or speed shots. but i enjoy handgun hunting far better than even bow hunting due to the challenge and it makes it more even for the deer to evade me, i use no cover scents, cammo or anything like that, just a pair of carhartt bibs, tee shirt, and carhartt jacket with my orange vest and hat, never had a problem yet, and yes some do get away just none that i have shot.

 

[luke9-1-1]

Thanks Brian........I guess I misunderstood what he said because I thought he was hunting areas further north of Milwaukee that were well away from any populated areas.

 

[Guest]

Well, I bought a Ruger Super Redhawk .44 magnum with a 7.5 inch barrel, its used but in 100% condition, only had about 150 rounds put through it by a friend of mine. I got it, the scope rings and all ammo he had for $400. I know the rig will put down anything I wish to shoot with it. Stalking deer where I hunt is real challanging since their aren't any trees around, just sagebrush. I'm looking forward to trying though.

Chris

Well, I was somewhat wrong on what I had bought. I thought he said it was a super redhawk but it isn't. Its a super blackhawk .44 magnum. The barrel is 7.5 inch and its a stainless "Hunter" model with the laminate grips on it. I paid $400 for it and I just checked my blue book of gun values and its worth about $550, not a bad deal IMHO

Chris

 

[Monsta® aka Mudshark]

Sounds like it's a good deal.

 

[sig sauer]

hey guys someone tell of some good hunting stories, or anyone not in missouri have any good places for a handgun hunter to hunt, i would be interested as long as the out of state tags are not too expensive, i am always into hunting new places, can any of you hunt from a vehicle, they allow this for handicap people in missouri , but not for the rest of the population but i have heard of people not handicap that can do this, in other states, and does anybody hand load ammo, would like to get a good conversation started on that too.