Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Safety on or off.

Blaine, I guess I view a rifle's safety about the way I view a Cessna's fuel quantity guage..........

YOU BETCHA Sir. But not being a zoomie we said there are old soldiers and bold soldiers......................

SO>>>> "Good night Mrs. Calabash, where ever you are."

acc,

Good analogy.

I don't know about others here, but I don't know how many times I have gotten into trouble by unthinkingly doing something I have always done (which I probably knew in the back of my mind I shouldn't be doing), and to which my response immediately before the incident was:

"Well, I have never had a problem with that before.............."

Anyone else like that?

I�m so amazed at this thread that I emailed the link to my Dad and a couple of hunting partners. It�s absolutely boggling my mind the number of folks who traipse around with rounds chambered. I have to wonder�

Do you people hunt with your kids?

If so, where do you position them when you�re negotiating a slope or fighting through brush while brandishing a loaded firearm?

Do you allow them to carry loaded weapons?

This thread is both retarded and entertaining at the same time. Kind of like Bill and Joel after too much whiskey..

This has been an interesting read. It seems that the empty chamber folks are largely from the west and the hot chamber folks are primarily easterners. In 30 years of hunting in the Southeast, I can honestly say that I have never met anyone in person that hunted with an empty chamber, except where particular circumstances warrant emptying the chamber (i.e, crossing fences, ditches, etc.). I think the difference probably lies in the typical southern deer hunt. Assume you have less than 100 acres to hunt and that is where you go every Sat. You park your truck as far away as you can from your hunting location, but it is still close. You silently load your rifle as you leave the truck and slip as quietly to your stand area as you can. The trip back to the truck is the same - quiet and watching. A metallic (or plastic) sound might empty your patch of woods of deer. Unlike out west, you can't hike to the next ridge or glass another drainage. If the deer you spooked was a mature buck, that is likely the last encounter you will have with him. That is southern deer hunting. I will agree with everyone here that there are many times when the chamber should be empty, but I am suprised that there are people on this board that seem shocked by the idea that people are actively hunting with a loaded chamber. Perhaps the difference lies in when the actual "hunting" begins?

The trip back to the truck is the same - quiet and watching. A metallic (or plastic) sound might empty your patch of woods of deer.
--------------------------------------------------
Well, that is kind of why I asked the question. It stands to reason an empty chamber would be the safe way to go, but wondered how hard it would be to put one in the chamber without spooking a deer 40-50 yards away.

Being a greenhorn hunter I have no idea if this can be done with ease, or if most of the time a deer will hear the bolt or lever.

I guess that since the only way you would be that close is if the wind was right, and hopefully the same wind would take the noise away from the animal. I guess if that many hunters load the round at the last second, it must not be as hard to do as I thought.

To be honest I probablly would have put one in the chamber with the safety on, but after this thread I'm re-thinking it.

If in doubt, go empty. As has been said, no deer is worth an accident. However, I believe one can be safe while hunting with a loaded weapon. When alone, it is a question you have to answer for yourself and when with others, one to be deferential about.

As far as spooking game, if you are within 50 yards (and a good deal more) of a southern whitetail and operate a bolt, the deer will likely be turning itself inside out to exit the area.

Boy this thread sure went to hell.

I put a round in the chamber and the safety on when I get out of camp, practice good muzzle control, and unload if I am going to traverse anything precarious or for any reason I feel there will not be game availible. I feel much safer this way then closing the bolt on a live round with the safety off in a remington. This will upset almost every remington user and I'm sorry but that's my own little idiosyncrasy, just the thought of it scares the hell out of me.

Things are very different indeed, I can not really comprehend what it would be like to hunt small parcels like you mention(100 acres). What is it that defines such small parcels, are there fences or just property lines ? Are there people in each parcel? If that's all you've got and/or it's what your used to then I guess it's better than nothing, but it doesn't sound like a very high quality outdoor experiance to me...............but I'm funny that way, when I hunt or camp I don't enjoy the company of people other than those in the same party.

I do not mean to offend anyone with THIS post, just thinking out loud..........

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Tis nice to maintain that perfect glow... Seems like there are few on here that could use a cocktail or two...heh. Since I'm not around to watch Joel stumble around drunk, I'll have to use this thread to keep me entertained....

Most of the land in southern states is privately owned in relatively small parcels. I was just using 100 acres as an example, but I think it is fairly typical. I think most hunters consider a 1,000 acre lease in my state a large one. Where there are large tracks of land, there are typically a correspondingly large number of hunters. This is not to say that the hunting is bad, it is just a different game in the South than the West. The focus here is low impact management of your parcel. You are in many ways competing with your neighbors to keep the deer on your property. One way to do that is through habitat. Another way is to not run the deer off of your property. At some private clubs "walking around" will cause you to not be invited back, because it could disturb the deer travel corridors. You will find that succesful southern hunters are very picky about how they approach hunting spots, the scent they leave behind and the noise they make while there. I would prefer the open spaces, but you work with what you have....

I'm glad my excessive drunkeness keeps you entertained......

I just walked through the door from 4 days of snowboarding and I feel like I just got hit by a Mack truck. I must say, I had some impressive crashes........

This is an entertaining tread, and I am counting my blessings for having hunting pards who are safe... Nobody wants their balls blown off in a hunting accident..............

Glad you survived the trip... I'll guess you were sober whilst attempting to qualify for the winter X games? Kick back and have a read at this one. Its kinda like a picture of a fat chick in a bikini...it hurts to look, but part of you keeps wanting to see it.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> No offense guys!

Yep, I find it best to stay on the boat and play with my bolt. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Somebody needs to fess up...................

Who's bolt did Big Stick pack home ?

Not sure about that one. But if I can figure out a way to piss one of the brothers off bad enough to carry my pack, or dead bear, that would be good.

I'll show'em all, and not even bring a damn bolt. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Does that mean your still up for the spring fling?

Bill,
The X games are not in my future......

BW.. I had a short layover in Sitka today.. I almost called you. I hear halibut season is opening soon... Is the Jenny C going out to sea soon?

I do recall Stick telling a "Bolt" story, but I can't recall the details..........

There's never been a doubt about the 'fling.' <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

What I need, is a really cool partner like Big Sticks taking.