The Accurate Reloading Forums
Thoughts PLEASE!
01 April 2008, 05:01
BloodnativThoughts PLEASE!
I have been offered the oportunity to hunt a small 40 acre tract this year and was wondering if this would be too small to hunt with a rifle. I am thinking I should hunt this with a bow to minimize spooking deer on the property. I am not a bow hunter and would have to purchase and learn to shoot one. I have always hunted public land with rifle. I would love to be able to hunt this with a gun but I think it may just be a little too small. What do you guys think?
01 April 2008, 05:08
slim butteshunt it correctly and one can use any weapon you want.
How many times to you actually shoot? regardless of weapon.
You can screw up a hunting area without even carrying a weapon.
No, not at all. My bro is there in SC and has hunted several small tracts of land with his rifle and it's never been a problem...sees deer all the time.
Also sees deer within 10-15 minutes after he's downed a deer.
Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns
I guess it would depend on how close neighbors are.
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01 April 2008, 05:11
L. David KeithDepends upon where your hunting. If it's the SC low land, unless you have dense woods to hunt in and from a tree stand, I'd consider a muzzle loader or shotgun. If on the other hand your in hilly country, I'd stay in the tree stand and be very careful about the direct you fire into. Common sense and gun safety will guide you. If you really have concerns (kudos' for you for being a conscientious hunter) go the M/L or shotgun route.
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01 April 2008, 07:39
The SlugHandgun?
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01 April 2008, 08:25
Kyler HamannIt would depend on the game density and nearness of residences/people.
Out West here usually 40 acres isn't worth wasting your time because the game density is pretty low. For my hunting business I rarely even look at a potential lease that's less than 1,000 acres and it doesn't get interesting until 3,000 and up.
But my brother-in-law hunts a wooded part of northeastern KS with lots of farming and he kept telling me about this place where he, his friends and half the people in his little town were getting their bucks every year. It turned out it was 80 acres... right on the edge of town... AND across the street from the local high school. I still can't get over it.
01 April 2008, 08:48
Alan R. McDaniel, Jr.40 acres can be real big, real small or just right depending on all of the above. As was said, you don't need a weapon to screw up the hunting.
Ask the property owner what he/she would prefer, then choose accordingly. If you're just looking for a good excuse to buy a bow and get into bow hunting then by all means do so.
Alan
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01 April 2008, 19:32
LBGuyuse the bow. you can still take plenty of game and no one will know you are there. the best of both worlds.
02 April 2008, 06:59
HerrMesserI hunt an 80 acre plot of land in Wy but just mainly the north 40 as the south is a hill. I have houses on three sides so have to watch shot direction. Deer density isn't too bad but have to wait for them to come to me. I drive my truck right up to the stand also which is uphill from my camper. Heart condition won't let me walk. Don't see many bucks though except on the neighbors.
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02 April 2008, 16:33
handwerkI hunt my forty with anywhere from 1-3 people, mainly on stands or doing a small"push" to one another. This is whitetail hunting in the thick woods of northern Mn.We get our deer every year. There are a lot of places for a deer to hide on even just a 40.
03 April 2008, 02:10
buckeyeshooterYou could always use a shotgun and slugs if you are worried about the bullet carrying too far.
03 April 2008, 18:21
Redhawk1I have 20 acre's of land in WV, and I use rifles, handguns, bow and muzzleloader's. But the land I hunt on is all mountains.
There is a lot of variables to take into consideration on what you use to hunt with.
If you're going to make a hole, make it a big one.
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04 April 2008, 06:55
HerrMesserquote:
Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:
You could always use a shotgun and slugs if you are worried about the bullet carrying too far.
Those carry just about as far as center fire rifles according to some studies. I just wish we could use a rifle in Ohio.
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04 April 2008, 08:34
buckeyeshooterSome of the new ones might indeed, but the old sluggers drop like a rock past 100 yards.
04 April 2008, 18:58
Red C.I've been hunting a 40 acre tract here in SE Oklahoma for three years and it has been productive for me. One year I killed deer with my bow, muzzle loader, and rifle. I always kill at least two deer there. One day I could hear hunters talking on the leased property which surrounds my 40 acres and I thought there was no way I'd kill anything that day, but while I could still hear them talking, up walked a beautiful 8 point, which I proceeded to kill with my muzzle loader.
If your in a good area, 40 acres can be very productive. Others hunting around you may be a benefit, in that, they may move deer your way.
Red C.
Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.
05 April 2008, 22:24
BloodnativThanks for all the replies. I'm kind of leaning towards the bow but I still have to go see the property. I do know there are houses nearby but I'm just not sure how close. According to the land owner there is only one other person with permission to hunt this property. Unfortunately I don't know this other person so I'm not sure what impact they have on the deer. I also want to hunt squirrels and turkeys here too. Good idea or not? Maybe bowhunt them too?