OK guys, I am itching to go hunting but it ain't going to happen for me til about October 1 (except maybe a little blacktail deer hunting in PWS if I am lucky - heck, I haven't been to the range in weeks as it is). I need a fix. So tell me, what have you got planned, what handgun/load you going to be using?

I'm planning on spending a week with the family looking for moose, and then doing a couple weekend trips with the kids later in the season. I'm planning on taking the 350 Rigby mauser (250 gr horn @ 2700 fps for mooose, 180 gr cast @ 800 for spruce hens) and my 480 Ruger SRH (460 gr @ 1050 fps for moose, 310 gr @ 700 for spruce hens).

My 357 Maximum barrel should be arriving sometime during the season, so I suppose I'll be putting some lead through it sooner or later.

I've also spent too little time at the range, I try and shoot once a week, lately its been like once a month.

[ 08-09-2002, 01:09: Message edited by: Paul H ]

I'm going on a 10 day elk/deer hunt in Oct. with My Dad, Brother and 2 friends. We are takeing 3 donkeys and a horse and backpacking in 5 miles in northern Idaho. We have 1 bull tag and 3 cow tags. Should be a lot of fun camping and hiking and if we are lucky we might fill are tags. I'm going to try my new VVCG 300wsm barral this year.

Have to wait till Nov. for deer here in Illinois. Shotgun and muzzleloader only for the first two seasons. Won't get a chance with my new 13" 30 Bellm Encore until the handgun season in January.

My beagle, Bob, and I will be chasing bunnies around until the deer seasons start.
Greg

Tree Rat season (squrrel)starts in Ohio in September and Bow Deer the 5th of October... so I hunt squrrels scouting deer works for me!

Greg

Well I'm nix for this year, didn't draw any elk tags, the blacktails in our area have a disease and with my damn back and hips the way they are right now it's probably best if I just spend the season sitting on the bench
I don't do much actual hunting when I do draw a tag but it gives the wife and I a reason to get out, and she ain't about to let me shoot anything thats alive when she's around, hehe.
I would like to go on at least a couple more hunts before I pack it up tho and will take my 14" 38-55 for bear and deer.
Elk? I have to fall back on my Win. .270
Wes

I know the feeling! I can hardly wait myself! I'm starting out with Mulies in late Sept. and early Oct. Then Elk in Nov., all of this in Oregon. Then it's off to Texas for Whitetails, Hogs, Turkeys and maybe even some Javalina!! Oh Boy, like I said I can hardly wait!!!

Bob

Rob,

Going to be hunting alot of whitetail deer with my 8" 44mag Bell barrel w/brake, and perhaps some turkey as well.

Oh, and of course the Woodchucks and other varmints with the Bellm/VVCG 223 :-)

Glad everyone has the same problem.
Black bear season is open and the bears are down low right now so I'm going to wait till the blueberries are on up high (sept-oct). Then I'll try for a blacktail in oct. Good luck to everyone and be safe.
Tony

Rob
Whitetail deer the only problem will be to see enough of them to test all the barrels out. Ulimately I would like to get a shot at at least three of them at the minimum, maybe four. In NY where I hunt that is asking for a lot.
Rich Jake

I am gonna do some tree rat huntin with the TC in October. Deer doesnt start until Dec 2. This year in our county a buck has to have 4 points on one side in order to be legal......more regulations

Early bear season in mid september. Whitetail in october and november with a late muzzle loader season in december.
Just gotta wait one more month to get started.
Rick

Thanks for the fix guys. Glad to see that we have plenty of handgun hunters and not just paper punchers here. It is so fun. I don't see why there are not a lot more of us. We need someone in the gun rags to do a better job of promoting the sport. Weisshun (sp?) is no great shakes and Peterson's Hunting got rid of Bob Good and handgun hunting column.

I am trying to put together the final pieces for a hunt to an area SE of Cordova Alaska for moose and mountain goat for October. Have taken a moose, but not a goat with the Contender in the past. Will be taking my .375 JDJ and .309 JDJ. Can't wait.

Good hunting.

Rob

Well guys, I speak in both awe and extreme jealousy of you others that have more than just whitetail to hunt...oh well. I have taken four deer with my contenders and my XP100 7BR, but haven't got a shot with my 45/70 contender as yet. After muzzleloader season that will be my first priority.

[ 08-10-2002, 02:22: Message edited by: W. Wilson ]

Mostly deer and turkey, but may get out for bear and hog also. We get 3 months of deer hunting in Va. and I was thinking of going to Fayette county Pa. for a couple of days to..for deer that is. I used to live there and the deer were of the 170lb. range.
I'll be using a varity of contender barrels in carbine and handgun form, from quarter bore to 444. Really looking forward to it. I'm waiting for someone on this forum to visit me and hunt for a few days. The offer is out.

Squirrel season opens in less than a month, bow season first of October. Muzzleloading first of November.

I'll be spending the 1st week of muzzleloading season in Bedford County, VA trying out my new Encore.

Back up there 2 weeks later for General Firearms season with my new Encore pistol in 270 Win.

Man I can't wait!

Rob,
If you had to pick out of the two 309 or 375 to hunt with, what one would you choose? I also have a 14 309 and a 14 375 and have a hard time choosing which one to hunt black bear with.

By the way I would give my left n-t or my right as far as that goes to go goat hunting with either one.

I've been trying to get a goat tag in Washington for 6 years now. Oh well so has about 10,000
other people.

Good luck this fall.

TonyK,

I have killed two goats with a rifle, bit none with my handguns. Goat hunting wis what actually got me into Contenders. After thrashing my rifle on the rocks, I started looking for a better way - the best i could figure out was the Contender. I could carry it in a holster to protect the scope and have both hands free for climbing. Unfortunately, you have to have a guide for goats here in AK.

I have killed black bears with both my .309 and .375 JDJs, and I would choose the .375. It makes a big hole all the way through, and you don't usually need to great of range, even when spotting and stalking. The one I took with the .309 did drop like a ton of bricks though. Shot him facing me just below the chin at about 30 feet. The 165 NBT just blew up. He was dead when he hit the ground. I am not sure what would have happened if I had hit him in the center of the shoulder instead - I am sure of what the .375 with 270 Hornadays would do, so that is what I generally use.

Would definitely be interested to hear of your results on bears.

Good day
Being from Canada I'm limited in my handgun use. I can have them in the house
and at a registered gun club.THAT'S ALL.

I'm fortunate enough that I can go to the USA with them though, so I try to take
advantage of that. I've been fortunate this year to be drawn in Wyoming for
Mule deer. So in October I'm off to try to get a Mulie with my .375JDJ.

Rob: you mention you have a .375 and .309JDJ, how does the 0309 compare
with the .375? I have a 30-30 barrel that I'm considering rechambering and
am trying to decide if it's worth the money?
Thanks
Mike

Right now my plate still has some room left on it....

Archery Deer/Turkey season opens October first and the vacation time is already approved. I usually carry an M77 30-06 for firearms deer season, but will have Ruff and Puff (375H&H rifle&pistol) loaded with Hornady 220 FPs this year. If successful, I'll put on the 260Rem Encore barrel to carry around for coyotes. If not, I'll use the Encore 209X50 during muzzleloader season.

Supposed to have a buddy checking out Elk hunt in CO, but haven't heard much, so don't think that's going to happen this year .

Going to try to take a groundhog or two out of the hayfield with the 260 if I can find some time in the next couple weeks. Might join my father for a Pheasant hunt in S. Dakota in early November.

Come on, October!!!!

Happy Hunting, Bill

Whitetail locally, and planning on my yearly elk hunt in SW Colorado. Will be hunting with one of my XP's.
xphunter