Buying the Right Hunting Rifle
PICKING THE RIGHT RIFLE WILL HELP YOU GET RESULTS THIS DEER SEASON
As hunters get ready to go into the woods this fall, it’s a good time to think about what type of rifle is best for you.
The Realtree website offers some solid tips designed for those new to hunting, though they may be helpful for anyone who wants to make sure their rifle is set up for success.
Among the tips: A bolt-action is always a good choice. Any caliber that shoots a 130- to 165-grain bullet well up to 250 yards will work for hunting whitetails. And a 3 1/2- to 4-pound trigger will provide the responsiveness you’re looking for.
Once you have the rifle picked out and purchased, Realtree author Mike Hanback recommends having a gunsmith at your local gun shop attach the scope and bore-sight it. Yes, you can do this yourself, but why not get a professional to help?
Then, once you get out in the woods, keep it simple, he says: “My best advice: Hold your shots at deer to 200 yards or less, always pin the crosshair smack in the middle of the deer’s shoulder blade, take a half-breath, and squeeze the trigger. You’ll get him, or the doe, every time.”
With hunting seasons right around the corner, it’s a great time to think about buying your own recreational tract for a home base. Contact one of the experts in PotlatchDeltic’s Preferred Broker Network to start the process, so you can be closer to the action.
In Iowa during the normal deer season you can only use a straight-wall cartridge round. Therefore, I use an AR-15 platform chambered in .350 legend. Works fine!