Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Do you bring two rifles when traveling to hunt?

So was talking about this the other day to some friends I hunt with.

I always bring two rifles when I travel to hunt. I have never had one of my rifles go down, however there have been a couple of instances in the last few years where I was able to loan my backup out to save a friends hunt. I've always brought a similar rifles in the past.

I am also lucky enough to be able to hunt deer in a spot where depending on the day and deer movement you can choose thick brush or open prairies of rolling hills. So you might be able to see 50yds max or you might be able to bring the spotting scope and glass for over a mile in every direction. I hunt with my younger kids so I use a suppressor 100% of the time.

For next year I am temped to bring a 16.5" 308 for the mountains and a 24" barreled 300wsm for the open areas. You might find a meadow in the mountains that could stretch out to 350yds max. The 24" barrel along with a 7" suppressor is very noticeable while walking though the brush.



What's your thoughts?

I always take 2.

The wife travels with me. In a pinch....I’ll “step-down” to her .338 WM! memtb

Yes. I've never had it happen, but you never know when a trip or slip resulting in a fall may damage a scope. Where I hunt elk, it can be pretty thick with timber, or fairly open. I'll carry my lighter and shorter .308 for the heavy timber or if I'm walking a lot up and down, and I'll bring one of my other rifles for the more open terrain.

I take 2, not for different conditions, but because it would suck to have one go down, scope broke etc on a hunt your paying for. On the hunts where I hunted from a remote camp and two rifles wasn't an option I bring a second scope in its own rings pre-zeroed.

Every time I have had to lend out my rifle its been due to scope/mounting issues.

IF hunting too far to drive home easily (should I have a "firearms issue"), I routinely travel with 2 Model 760s, which use the same ammo.

yours, tex

Not always if hunting local (less than an hour) but almost always if traveling two or more hours away or staying at a camp for several days...

Out of state.....at least two.......

Whether I take two depends on the security situation in camp. I don’t try to match weapons to conditions because the percieved advantage just isn’t there in reality.

I hunt on tree farms that have very thick brush, but you can step out of the timber and see for miles. Every time I took a brush gun and a long-range gun, I had the wrong one in my hand when I saw game. Now I use a rifle, cartridge, and optic that handles quickly AND that can reach out a long way. If I do take two, then both must be able to handle any situation I’m likely to encounter.


Okie John

This is why I have always brought two longer barreled rifles and left the compacts, but this is also the first year I packed the can on the rifle the whole time. Last year was the first year I brought my boy and I made him wear electronic ear muffs, this year I brought the can which made it easier to whisper back and forth with him and don't see myself going back. So I might just have to live with the longer barrel. I also had to pass on a really nice buck because I wasn't confident on the cartridge at that range.

Yes,I take two rifles.

Yes, I take two. Generally they are both very similar. If I have my truck theres likely a spare scope in there as well. In 30 years I never had to use my spare ifle or scope. At least that I can recall.

Yep, the last few years a M700 Classic 270 and M600 308....

Hunting near home, a 15 minute drive, only one goes, whether it's bow season or gun season.

When we go to our property 4-5 hours away, it's either 2 rifles or 2 bows, pending type of season.

I can’t remember ever taking only 2 rifles. I usually have a half dozen different rifles on any hunting trip other than prairie dogs and then it is closer to a dozen...

Yes, always bring two. This fall it will be 4 (2 rifles, 2 shotguns).

Yup, always bring two. The one time in 30+ years I did not bring two....the firing pin broke on my rifle and I was out of commission. Seriously.

2 or 11. Whatever suits me.

Sometimes you just need a slump breaker.

always more than two

almost never 11.


ya!


GWB