Drawing a unit we don’t “deserve”

[HairyScandinavian]

Another echo about not putting the pressure on, it's hard to do as a father knowing what they could score but at the end of the day the youngen has to be having fun. When my youngest was about the same age we drew a great hunt down here, the area has some legit whitetail bucks. 2nd day he saw a huge bodied 7.5 year old buck with a gnarly wad on one side and mangled antler on the other and decided that was his buck. I damn near cried as we hunted for him and passed a really nice tall 10 and a heavy thick 8. Eventually he got his buck and it took weeks to get the smile off of his face.

 

[180ls1]

Summer Camping/Scouting trip?

Can you pick up any OTC tags and hunt it before his hunt?

 

[WeiserBucks]

Really concentrate on building the hand/eye coordination to get the critters in the scope quickly. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people have missed shot opportunities because they cant find the target once they shoulder the rifle.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Congrats on the tag

If you don't have a Tikka .223, get one and have him shoot this drill as much as possible

Thread 'Equipment versus practice posts and Rifle practice/shooting'

Mar 31, 2020

This isn’t in response to anyone I particular, but there is an up tick in the amount of “I want a XXXX distance hunting rifle” traffic the last few months. I am getting a lot of questions relating to this, which I do not mind helping, but thought a public post might help answer some questions. It’s an attempt to get to actually using your rifles.


People online tend to act like 600/800/whatever yards is a rifle, cartridge and BDC scope purchase away. When someone asks for advice, or says I’m building an -insert whatever rifle/cartridge you want-, people are discussing hardware not...

• Formidilosus
• Replies: 927
• Forum: Firearms

• 

 

[Chris in TN]

He has a 243 that he took his two whitetails with but he wanted something bigger he could use forever and we have moved up to a 6.8 western with a muzzle break that probably kicks less than the 243.
We bring both when we go to the range just because the ammo cost on the 6.8. He is pretty accurate and can put 5 in a quarter with the 22.

Put a can on the .243 and just use it forever, for everything.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Really concentrate on building the hand/eye coordination to get the critters in the scope quickly. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people have missed shot opportunities because they cant find the target once they shoulder the rifle.

Yes absolutely, and familiarity with the rifle helps a lot also. I cost my youngest son a Nilgai bull because I let the Fudds get to me saying he needed a bigger rifle and he couldn't get settled for two shot opportunities because he had issues acquiring the target in my setup. Had I let him use his normal deer rifle I have no doubt he would've gotten shots off both times.

 

[johnsd16]

Having two boys now 17 and almost 15 and hunted a fair bit with both are tags of varying “quality” definitely try to stick to your routine that you always do when helping set up for the shot and you staying calm. If you do things different than during practice or get super excited/worked up yourself it will throw them off and they may not perform up to their normal level. It is hard to contain the excitement and I’ve learned the hard way (with kids and adults) so sticking to the routine and being a calming presence needs to be remembered. Otherwise good luck with the tag and I hope he gets a giant.

 

[Rich M]

Don’t make a big deal about it. It’s just a hunt at the end of the day no matter the unit. Don’t try and put any pressure on him or yourself. Shoot as much as you can especially 22lr. Then come season have fun and make memories it’s not about tagging out at that age.

This - and the other one that says your son picks the bucks to go after and shoot. You don’t get pissy if something goes wrong.

If it is a premium unit, should be easier to get on a nice deer.

Make this about you and him having fun hunting together and not a trophy hunt.

Lots of range time this summer. Do some playful plinking w .22 lr at 150-200 yards. Balloons or whatever. Make it fun and easy and his shooting will be good. Also do some prone and bench shooting for 200-300 yds.