How many rounds do you pack in with you on a hunt?

[Szwampdonkey]

Deer, bear, cougar, wolves, coyotes, etc. More animals to kill than just deer.

You’re a god if you use 30 rounds on one outing and come out with a deer, bear, cougar, wolf, coyote, etc on a single trip.

One trip i did kill a buck and a coyote on the way out though but that was two shots.

But hey, if you think you need 30 have at it i’m not telling anyone what to do i was just shocked seeing how many everyone is bringing is all. Some carry with them what i think i’d actually use in 10 seasons, not joking! Haha

 

[CodeMonkey]

You never know when you're gonna get into a gunfight with a trophy ram, just ask the Kryptek guys.

 

[Blackdog317]

I carry 8. Two mags with 3 rounds in each and 2 on the SAP patch velcroed to the stock.

 

[Corvus Corax]

13 rounds on a backpack hunt.

 

[8grenade]

I just carry 5 and it has always been sufficient.

 

[Dmoua]

You’re a god if you use 30 rounds on one outing and come out with a deer, bear, cougar, wolf, coyote, etc on a single trip.

One trip i did kill a buck and a coyote on the way out though but that was two shots.

But hey, if you think you need 30 have at it i’m not telling anyone what to do i was just shocked seeing how many everyone is bringing is all. Some carry with them what i think i’d actually use in 10 seasons, not joking! Haha

I know I don’t need 30. That’s why I have 20.

 

[TaperPin]

I heard a guy way up at timberline shoot 12 times - spaced enough apart that these were aimed shots - I figured he must have just killed the biggest monster buck in all of Wyoming. Curiosity started me over to the ridge all the shooting came from. I found two western Oregon hunters who had taken down a 3 point mulie - in the early morning light this deer looked so big compared to the little black tail they were used to that it must be a shooter. They had mis judged the range by at least 150 yards and were shooting over him. Those two poor souls dragged that 3 point 5 miles in 10 hrs, but they managed to get it down in one piece! Lol

Pack at least a box in case a 3 point pops out and you lose all common sense.

I normally take 10 if it’s only a 5 mile walk back to the truck. Hunting solo I’ve packed twice that - breaking a leg makes signaling with the rifle a pretty good idea.

 

[Hoosker Doo]

Most of the time, a few will do. But those of you saying 3 or 5 must have never been on a hunt where a "hit" elk (low, high, liver, etc) stands up after dropping on the first shot and heads for the timber. Shooting with limited windows of opportunity at a wounded animal might take a miss or two before you put it down. And what if the first shot is a miss, and you hit on the follow up. I'd feel pretty naked with one shot left and praying I didn't need to use it.
Or have hunted with someone who freehand an "easy" 100 yard shot (no practice prior) and after their gun is empty and a buck is gimping away says they have no more bullets and asks to borrow your gun.
I carry 10 on the gun Including a buttstock shell holder. If I have my pack there may be a few more there.

 

[sbaker0029]

Full mag of 3 plus 1 in the chamber, extra 5 round mag, and one ol trusty in the left chest pocket hahaha (not really).
There's usually another 3-5 loose in the pack.

 

[Ryan Avery]

If you can’t do it in ten shots you can’t do it. That’s why I carry 13 rounds


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[jimh406]

I usually carry a MTM ammo wallet which carrys 9 rounds. It’s quiet and thin.

So far, I‘ve only needed one round for each big game animal for the past 4 decades. I didn’t hunt every year with a rifle. I’m sure that makes me atypical, but I don’t go for long range shots. I also only shoot under pretty much perfect conditions and never shoot at running animals.

I grew up head shooting squirrels, so comparatively big game animals are huge.

 

[TN2shot07]

I have one of the FHF 5 cartridge holders in my pack or harness plus what’s in the rifle. The remainder of the box is in the truck, never needed it though.

 

[Rock-o]

My cartridges are too long for my magazine. I put four in my bino pack.

 

[JP100]

Crazy to see the low numbers!

I carry 20 at least haha.

As a guide ive seen way to many wounded animals, and random shit happen. Ammo is light and cheap in the scheme of things. and walking home empty handed is a slow and long walk.

Depends on the game we are hunting, but ive carried as many as 50 for a day hunt....and used them all haha. (but thats more 'culling' not 'hunting')

 

[BeastOfTheTrees]

I always carry at least 2 mags for most of my hunts. On a trip plus my sidearm. 2 cylinders worth for that.

 

[justinspicher]

Way more than I should, but sometimes I get bored and shoot rocks.

 

[Macintosh]

OK, so some people are considering multiple tags and guiding what seem to be inexperienced hunters, plinking, ...fair enough. What I'm more curious about is all the people packing, for themselves, a dozen or more rounds for one single tag: How did you arrive at that number, i.e. what is the scenario where you envision needing that many? (and if your answer is some variation of "it's more than I think I would ever need", I'm asking how many you think you would ever realistically need and what that situation would look like). I'm personally carrying 2 full magazines, which is 6 rounds, nearly 100% of the time, but I'm curious about the number of people who carry significantly more who seem to be in the majority.

• rifle only--not counting sidearm if you carry, not counting a secondary shotgun/.22, etc
• no guiding, this is just you
• no plinking for fun/boredom, just the hunt
• you only have one deer/elk/bear/sheep/moose/whatever tag. one critter only--assume you wont be shooting any coyotes or other varmints.

What is the accounting of shots that you carry 20+ cartridges on a hunt? Hypothetical example, I can see missing a critter with a full magazine (3 rounds for me), then re-zeroing rifle (3-round group, adjust, another 3-round group, adjust, 3-round group to confirm), then another two 3-round magazines--that's a total of 18 rounds and you are never hunting on a single tag without 2 full mags.

 

[ChrisAU]

3 in the mag, and 5 or 6 in bino harness. Extra couple boxes in the truck should I need them.

 

[FairWeatherFisher]

4 in the rifle, 5 in my pack.
This year I’m going to try out my single shot 243, where I’ll just carry 6 rounds in a pouch on the stock.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I carry 4 in the rifle, 5 in my vest and 18 or 20 on my belt. I used 10 one time in a thicket with 50 mph winds. Elk stood still but I kept hitting the tree next to its head.

Worst I heard was a friend went out after school with just a magazine full. Wounded a bull then used up his shells in a running gun battle through a bunch of cliffs. Someplace in there lost his knife and his brother found him 4 miles later on the county road trying to finsh off the bull with a rock.

I'm prone to plan for oh shits.