Question:
I am 28 years old and looking to go deer hunting in missouri. I have
never hunted dear before and do not own a deer rifle. I own several
handguns and a few rifles. However, none of the rifles I own will drop a
deer. Can anyone throw out a few suggestions as to what would be a good
rifle for me?
Answer:
You picked a good place to hunt, I know because I grew up in MO and
still hunt there every year. There are scads of deer, especially in
the southern half. You're also starting deer hunting at about the same
age I did. Any rifle in good operating shape that you can shoot well, chambered
in something from .243 up to 30.06 will work for you. I know people who
have hunted for longer than I've been born have never shot a deer over
a hundred yards, and have never had to.
Your cheapest entry will probably be a Marlin 30-30, using either the
iron sights it comes with or something like a Tasco or Bushnell 4x
scope. This is not a tack driving outfit, but the deer don't know the
difference. My only caution is that if you have not done a lot of iron sight
shooting you should probably stay with the scope. This rig should cost you
several dollars less than $400 you want to spend.
If you buy a used setup you can spend even less and again, bambi still
won't know what hit'em. Funny how the deer don't seem to keep up on all the
energy and trajectory tables we humans seem to get lost in.
Your best investment would be in a hunting buddy, preferably someone who
has a good hunting background and has hunted the area before. If you are
a stranger to the area public lands are probably your best, but Missourians are
human too and if you're nice and sociable you can probably sniff out some
private land to hunt.
