Ian M
Well-Known Member
Thinkin\'
Maybe the reason for this note is the fact that my buddy and I introduced a good friend to LR yesterday (we shot a 15"x15" steel plate out at 6 and 700 for a few hours in fairly ugly wind), then "double-tapped" a mulie at 545 with simultaneous hits with a 165 Scirocco and a 168 Barnes XLC. The shot was a challenge because we had never tried to hunt "long" together and because of a 10-15 mph full-value crosswind. The deer was dead before his knees buckled.
Reflecting on the two events - introducing our friend (an accomplished hunter) to LR and the taking of the deer - pretty tough to say which was more fun...
I am finding that there is something to the theory that hunters go through a series of stages - each stage somewhat connected to a person's age and amount of hunting opportunity. I am not even sure what these stages are, or if they are accurately determined - someone wrote a story about this once and the concept sticks in my mind. Bottom line for me is that there is something that goes on - for instance killing takes a much lower priority for me than it did at one time.
There seems to be a blend of aging, new challenges (like hitting far-off steel gongs or shooting tight groups in wind), obtaining really good gear and having the time to play with it. I am finding that sharing long range accuracy with others, particularly newcomers, can be as enjoyable as hunting.
Seems to be a different rational as to why I want to hunt and need to hunt.
One over-riding factor in these changing times is the fact that hunting and firearms ownership just isn't simple any more. Too many rules, regulations, concerns. My friend Tony Knight told me, "They are taking the fun out of hunting..." and I believe that he hit it on the head.
"THEY" range from our elected governments to anti-hunters/gunners to someone who's opinions are swayed by a half-wit reporter on CNN. I used to live in a society that did not ask the questions that seem to hang in the air all the time nowadays. I am not going to get into the future of our sport - just don't feel like going there.
I enjoy Len's gift a lot, we are all very fortunate to share this site. We really do owe him one for this. I enjoy the info exchange about equipement and techniques, the opportunity to learn from guys who share so much so willingly.
I just thought that I would mention that there is another side to our sport that we all encounter individually - the for-mentioned "stages" and the changes that most of you will probably encounter. This is not foreboding or unenjoyable - it is simply a fact of life.
Maybe the reason for this note is the fact that my buddy and I introduced a good friend to LR yesterday (we shot a 15"x15" steel plate out at 6 and 700 for a few hours in fairly ugly wind), then "double-tapped" a mulie at 545 with simultaneous hits with a 165 Scirocco and a 168 Barnes XLC. The shot was a challenge because we had never tried to hunt "long" together and because of a 10-15 mph full-value crosswind. The deer was dead before his knees buckled.
Reflecting on the two events - introducing our friend (an accomplished hunter) to LR and the taking of the deer - pretty tough to say which was more fun...
I am finding that there is something to the theory that hunters go through a series of stages - each stage somewhat connected to a person's age and amount of hunting opportunity. I am not even sure what these stages are, or if they are accurately determined - someone wrote a story about this once and the concept sticks in my mind. Bottom line for me is that there is something that goes on - for instance killing takes a much lower priority for me than it did at one time.
There seems to be a blend of aging, new challenges (like hitting far-off steel gongs or shooting tight groups in wind), obtaining really good gear and having the time to play with it. I am finding that sharing long range accuracy with others, particularly newcomers, can be as enjoyable as hunting.
Seems to be a different rational as to why I want to hunt and need to hunt.
One over-riding factor in these changing times is the fact that hunting and firearms ownership just isn't simple any more. Too many rules, regulations, concerns. My friend Tony Knight told me, "They are taking the fun out of hunting..." and I believe that he hit it on the head.
"THEY" range from our elected governments to anti-hunters/gunners to someone who's opinions are swayed by a half-wit reporter on CNN. I used to live in a society that did not ask the questions that seem to hang in the air all the time nowadays. I am not going to get into the future of our sport - just don't feel like going there.
I enjoy Len's gift a lot, we are all very fortunate to share this site. We really do owe him one for this. I enjoy the info exchange about equipement and techniques, the opportunity to learn from guys who share so much so willingly.
I just thought that I would mention that there is another side to our sport that we all encounter individually - the for-mentioned "stages" and the changes that most of you will probably encounter. This is not foreboding or unenjoyable - it is simply a fact of life.