Outdoor Survival Info

Archive for October, 2007

Since my bow broke, and I haven’t been able to acquire a new one, it looks like I’ll just be hunting deer this year with modern firearms. Further, my budget isn’t going to allow for me to buy a rifle (unless I find some mystery money), so I’ll just be hunting with my shotgun… and XD if I’m in the mood for some handgun hunting. Though, the XD is just a 9mm, so I would have to keep my shots really close for the rounds to be effective.

So…what do I need to get for my shotgun to make into a world-class deer slayer? I took down a nice 8 point buck with it last year, but I was presented with quite a fortunate shot. I might not get such a shot this year. My setup right now is this: Maverick 88 Field 12 gauge shotgun, firing slugs. That’s it. the shotgun is stock, with a modified choke. I’ll be using rifled slugs.

One thing I really need is a sling. As I learned last duck season, hiking long distances with it is a pain. So I’ll be getting a sling and I will also have to get a swivel kit for it. I think Uncle Mike’s makes one for my shotgun. I think they make a universal kit. I’ve seen it before, and I’m not going to look it up now… Just look at Wal-Mart or Bass Pro or Cabela’s and you’ll find it.

There’s one (two) accessory(ies), what else do I need? I’m just using the stock bead sights on it, but I was thinking of getting some iron sight attachments that affix to the barrel ribbing. They might make my accuracy just a bit better. But I really don’t know. I haven’t been out to a marked range with a bunch of 12 gauge rifled slugs to see just how far I can reliably hit a 4 inch circle with the bead sights.

I plan on keeping my shots all within 50 yards, but if I can squeeze out a little bit more with better sights and maybe a different choke, I will. That’s something I’ll need to research — chokes. I might need to invest in just a little bit of choke to squeeze a little bit more range and accuracy out of my slugs. But, I don’t know much about shotgun chokes so I’ll just have to do some reading.

Any other thoughts, opinion, or advice would be appreciated.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here. But don’t worry, I’m still here.

I think I’m going to have to just stick to gun hunting this year, with modern weapons. My budget is totally shot, and since my bow broke, I’ve got nothing for archery season. I don’t have the money right now to buy another bow, and I don’t feel comfortable spending money on a muzzleloader, either. So, it looks like I’ll be using my shotgun to hunt deer again this year. And only during any Arkansas modern gun season.

There’s some public land not too far from here that has a modern gun season, so I’ll have to do some scouting out there soon. Then there is also some private land I may be able to hunt on. Hopefully my son and I will both be able to get a couple. Of course, then I would have to invest in a chest freezer to store all that meat.