Your primary purpose for hunting

[Liko81]

I figure most people have one, possibly two reasons they hunt, so you can pick up to two options here. Of course "sport/fun" is always a factor, so it's not even an option. Then, go into specifics; what caliber/model rifle do you use, about what distance are you comfortable taking the shot, where, how often, what specific game or varmints do you hunt most often.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I guess I actually hunt for all of the above. Hogs can count as pest control, too. They've recently torn up a whole field of my friends that he'll have to fix before he can plant for hay. I use mostly an AR in .223 for pretty much everything. I've found that a Hornady 75gr BTHP works wonders on anything it needs to work wonders on, and it's very accurate in my guns. I usually take my Ruger M77 30.06 just in case the AR breaks down, or I decide I want something bigger. I use Hornady 150gr SST's in that. I've also been known to shoot raccoons for pest control with a .17 HMR. I've never really been a big trophy hunter. My wife has a strict "no carcas" rule in the house. They really gross her out! I usually take a deer or two to fill the freezer and rarely use any more tags. But I'm more than happy to spend a day out walking game trails or riding the 4-wheelers, even if I don't get anything.

Forgot about bird hunting. I love to bird hunt. I like just to do it, and to eat them. There's nothing like smoked quail or dove in the fall. MMMMM, good stuff!

[The Annoyed Man]

I've only been hunting once since I was about 12 years old, and that was just last December, when a friend of mine took me to his lease in Jack County. I loved it, had a ball, and will go again as soon as I can afford to.

We went primarily for deer, which is why I voted "deer/hogs." I didn't shoot anything except an old dead tree trunk to make sure my scope was zeroed. I hunted from two different deer blinds. The only deer I saw were two very small does quartering in from my left at 150 yards on the first evening, and I passed on the shot because I was shooting almost directly into the setting sun and could not see them very well through the tall brush and trees. That night my friend and I did some coyote calling out in a wheat field. We saw nothing. The temperature was in the high 20s, and the wind was blowing fairly gusty. I think all the song dogs were safely and warmly in their dens, faintly amused by these stupid humans. The next morning I passed up shots on a large tom turkey and two coyotes because I didn't want to scare off any deer that might be coming in to the feeder. No deer came, so I got skunked on that trip.

The rifle I brought along is a Remington 700 VSF in .308 topped with a Leupold 4.5-14x50mm VX-III. The rifle has a 26" heavy fluted barrel and I've had the trigger set to 2.5 lbs. It is a tack driver, and I would be fairly confident in taking a shot out past 500 yards with it. The ammunition I selected for the tip is the Federal Fusion 165 grain load, which I have shot .5" groups with at 100 yards in that rifle.

I'm not much into trophy hunting, myself, although I am interested in the trophies that others have collected. What I missed this time hunting was having my son with me. I can't wait to get him out there with me the next time.

[sbb]

I had to vote for just loving the outdoors. I am an absolute maniac for wingshooting. dove, duck, geese, quail, pheasant, sandhill and partridge. My friends and I will travel most anywhere for an opportunity to take game. I also find most fowl enjoyable on the table. The only thing that I don't have a taste for is those clay type pidgeons.

[bpet]

Just get me outside with a gun and a can of beanie wienies. I don't care what you call it, hunting, ranching, farming, I don't care. Sun rises are outstanding when you are sitting with your back to a tree and watching the critters go about their business. I love it.

[DParker]

You neglected to offer a "Getting out of household chores" option, which I suspect would have won by a landslide

[KBCraig]

Wal Mart doesn't sell venison. 'Nuff said.

[melkor41]

Wal Mart doesn't sell venison. 'Nuff said.

Nothing beats bambi fajitas

[SRizz21]

All of the above might be another popular choice

[kd5zex]

Fillin' the freezer... I love dry sausage...

[Pinkycatcher]

Never been hunting just haven't had the chance yet.

[BigBlueDodge]

I know it sounds cliche, but I voted for the last "Because I love the outdoors". There is just something about going out into the woods in the early morning on a cold fall morning that is really peaceful. I don't have to shoot anything to have a good time. In fact, I often trade my rifle for my camera with telephoto lens to go shoot stuff with. I'm not one for killin stuff just to kill it, unless there is a reason. I could care less about trophies and quite honestly I don't understand killing for trophies (I mean who eats bear meat? Why kill it just to kill it). Nobody knows the venison they are eating came from a 12pt buck, or a doe. They don't care that the turkey came from a big tom turkey, or a young jake.

[TexasComputerDude]

I hunt for food. I'm a computer guy and I HATE HATE HATE the cold and the heat. I prefer climate controlled environments. I do however, love venison.

My typical hunting trip involves me throwing on some tennis shoes, pants, and a t-shirt, grabbing my 30-30 and a few rounds, and walking out and sitting my butt down underneath a tree. last time I was out, a young buck walked out of the woods at around 200 yards away, I made myself had patience and he walked within 15-30 feet away from me. I put my scope over the brown blur and shot. The deer around my place are like sheeple, I can make quite a bit of noise and rustle around and they just don't care.


I usually just hunt in my boxers. I have wireless video cameras aimed out the windows of my house into each side of the pasture that I can watch from my office/gameroom/batcave/bedroom and when I see a deer I just throw open a window or the door and shoot.

[TDDude]

I grew up in the Texas Hill Country and hunting is just what everyone did if you had land. I loved being outside and I have to admit, I loved the challenge of taking game at very long ranges. 400-600 yard shots were not all that uncommon back then with my old ugly as can be Santa-Fe Deluxe 30-06 Mauser.

I also developed a love of bowhunting because of the extra challenge involved although the bow has since gone away.

Now I live in Houston and get back home every chance I can during hunting season but now it's more because I just like being out where it's quiet. If nothing shows up that's too bad but just being back home is worth the trip. Of course, it's a rare day if nothing shows up and now I work extra hard to get my children interested.

I sold that old mauser and kick myself every season because of it. I now have a Remington 700 but I shot much better with my old rifle.

And I still love the sausage that we end up with. I grew up on that stuff and there's nothing in any store that can come close.

[KBCraig]

I usually just hunt in my boxers. I have wireless video cameras aimed out the windows of my house into each side of the pasture that I can watch from my office/gameroom/batcave/bedroom and when I see a deer I just throw open a window or the door and shoot.

I think I have a new hero.

I could do the same thing, except it would only be for tree rats on my 0.6 acre in the 'burbs. And since SWMBO is fond of all fuzzy critters who don't come processed on foam trays and shrink-wrap, I'd have a hard time making the case for that.