Carry two rifles

[Hoshua1]

Do any of you carry two rifles afield? i know a lot of you carry a sidearm too. On some level I appreciate the focus of the hunt and the watching. Say I'm deer hunting...Why confuse the issue by having my .22 with me in case a couple of squirells runs out? It's a deer hunt. On the other hand I like making a hike out of sometimes. Having the .243 and the .22 would be neat no matter what came accross my path or near the camp.

 

[robert garner]

yessir!

and so would others ,who arrive with this ammo that gun, or buggered sights.
Only took once for me to learn.

 

[Big Larry]

A few months ago, I bought a Marlin 45-70 and I will now be taking 2 rifles with me to the deer blind. My fav is my Rem. 30-06, I'll use it for 200+yrds, but I'll use my 45-70 for anything under 150 yds. Just cause I want to.

 

[frednaz]

You might want to check your local hunting regulations. Where I live, it is strictly against the law to carry more than one firearm while hunting. Just to be on the safe side, I'd ccheck.

 

[MCgunner]

I take more than one rifle on a hunting trip, one for a back up. But, I don't carry more'n one afield. I do have a sidearm most times. Closest I've come is carrying my .22 LR scoped contender in a shoulder rig to a box blind after watching the squirrels there earlier. I took four squirrels that afternoon.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Not normally. I do carry a 10MM sidearm with me at all times when I'm out in the bush. Lots of bad guys wondering around in the desert out here so I want something more than a shotgun. Might even have to carry the AR as a back up if it gets any worse.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Bringing a spare rifle -- especially on a long and expensive hunting trip -- is only common sense. When I go elk hunting in Colorado, I always bring a spare rifle. It has saved the trip for me or some other hunter in the party more than once.

I don't carry two rifles though -- but where legal, a .22 pistol is nice to have along.

An equally good alternative -- perhaps even better -- is my Hammond Game Getter. This is a steel cartridge case with an off-center chamber for a Ramset <tm> .22 blank. The projectile is a buckshot in the mouth of the case. Mine, in .30-06 shoots on line but a bit low. By monkeying with the power ring, I can put the top of the thick lower crosshair at point of aim. It's perfect for squirrels and other small game that you see when hunting big game.

 

[dakotasin]

i bring guns along, but hunting for me is a mobile thing - i do not use blinds, and it can be a several mile hike to get to where i want to be. so no, only one rifle goes in the field, no sidearms either... i may very well have a half dozen guns of various types in the truck/camp, but only one w/ me in the field.

handguns stay behind (unless i'm hunting on the farm), too as a method of keeping the weight in check. i also take no more ammo than i think i need - usually amounts to a full mag + 1 in the chamber, and 1 in each front pocket.

i reserve extra weight/space for things like water, knife, etc.

 

[kjeff50cal]

I usually bring 2 rifles to hunting camp plus a side arm (my Ruger Mk I or my new fav. H&R 622). The closest I came to 2 long guns afield was carrying my Stevens Savage M24 .357M/20 ga or my Springfield M-6 .22Lr/.410.

 

[MNgoldenbear]

Another legal consideration is whether the second firearm is also legal to take the type of game you are pursuing. For example, if you're deer hunting and bring a .22LR pistol/rifle along for small game, you're in violation in several states, even though you have no intention of using the rimfire on big game. Simply having the wrong ammunition in your possession can be a violation. I've combination hunted waterfowl and pheasant -- gotta have only steel, even if you'd only use lead on the pheasants. Asked a warden about carrying slugs when hunting birds & small game in CA, in case a pig opportunity arose. He could see I just wasn't getting the idea of why it would be illegal -- I said that obviously I wouldn't fire ammunition that was inappropriate to the game, but he pointed out that the law was written regarding possession afield, not intents/plans/etc. I finally got it -- little slow though.

 

[lawson]

bring two, carry one. i'd rather move lightly in the field.

 

[Hoshua1]

GoldenBear

Good looking out man! I haven't inquired yet about the second gun. I know quite a few hunters that take their pistols out no matter what though. But the game consideration is an interesting spin. Thanks for the tip. I might call tomorow.

 

[Bwana John]

I would take three guns into the field, but good gunbearers are so hard to find nowadays.

 

[Grayrock]

The last couple of years I have been on a mission to take a deer with each the rifles available to me. In order to assure I had meat in the freezer, I took a back-up go to gun (Weatherby .270). The goals have been to take one with the Mini-14 (check), Rossi 92 in .45 Colt w/ iron sights (check), Winchester 1886 w/ buckhorn sights (unfulfilled), and 12 ga with buckshot (unfulfilled). Next is a handgun- I just have to get a proper handgun. As soon as I get some of the LeverEvolution ammo, my back-up gun is going to switch to the Marlin lever action .30-30.

 

[Gunrunner]

I've never carried two rifles into the field at the same time, but I always take a backup rifle to a hunting camp. Last year the two rifles I took the most were a Rem 700 7mag and a Marlin 1894 44mag.

Last fall I carried a pistol with me each time I went out hunting alone. A 1911 in a belt holster, worn on the left side in a butt-foreward manner. The extra weight wasn't much and the left-side carry allowed me to sling my rifle over my right shoulder without the buttstock banging the pistol grip. Just that extra 7 rounds of 45acp gave me peace of mind while hunting crowded public forest.

Another point in the CA regulations mix...according to the CA Fish&Game code -

353.(c) Pistols and revolvers using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding bullets may be used to take deer, bear, and wild pigs.

353.(d) Pistols and revolvers with minimum barrel lengths of 4 inches, using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding bullets may be used to take elk and bighorn sheep.

A person could legally use a Raven 25acp to hunt deer with. Maybe use a 4" 380 to hunt elk. Unethical - YES Legal - yes Nuts - YES!!

My 2 cents.

 

[MCgunner]

Hey, it's California. You expect logic in the laws there? I don't think there's a state in the union where law is totally logical. It is in the Texas constitution I'm told that it's a felony to be caught afield with wire cutters, not that it's enforced. But, I think they find the stupidest person they can, and lord knows they have a few to choose from, in the California legislature when they wanna draft a bill. :banghead:

If I lived there, I'd be plotting my escape.

 

[captdavid]

I always take two, if my shots may be over 200yds. I 'shoot/hunt' with the heavier one out of the stand. It's simply easier to hold on. The lighter one is for follow up of wounded game or if I decide to move around abit. capt david

 

[Smoke Rizen]

I always carry two rifles when hunting on horseback. I have a scabbord on each side, Mod.70 Win. in .270 ,and in the past a win. 94 in .32 spl. This year my iron sight gun will be a 1899 Sav. .300 that was a gift from my Brother in law from Ft. Worth. He carried it a few times to Co. for Elk hunting,but never got a shot. I promised him if I live long enough, I'd get an elk with it!

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Ok, I'm one of the guys in the woods that carries a rifle and a pistol. Usually a scoped rifle, and one of my .44mags. Ruger SBH Bisley, or a Ruger ssRH.

I've shot deer with pistol while I've had rifle in my arms. I've shot deer at close and distant ranges as I left the pistol in the holster. Sometimes I'll leave the rifle in the truck or back at camp and just hunt the low lands and brush with pistol in hand. I don't hunt from tree stand. I don't hunt from blind. I still hunt. I move. (yes, even for White tail) (especially for Blacktail) I always have a backup rifle in camp. Sometimes the second one is scoped like the primary, and sometimes there's an extra carbine.

I don't "carry" two rifles.

That said, One time a buddy, my nephew and I went to a spot we know, where there's Bear, the occasional cat, Coyotes, Grouse on the trail on the way in. So the three of us enter a U.S. Forest Service trail with holstered pistols. Slung scoped big game rifles, and pump shotguns in our hands. No, this is not normal. We are abnormal. Daypacks for the four mile hike. (one way) We did come across a few tree hugger granola's on the trail. And on the way out, one conversation as this gal admired four Grouse my buddy had. 'With so many guns, what are you hunting? I see the Grouse. Those poore birds.' "Bear is what we're really after." 'There's Bear's up here'? "Yup, saw three today. One just a mile back."

We could hardly keep pace with them on the hike out. They seemed a bit on edge.

I saw one bruin that morning that was my dream Bear. Cinnomon head. Black body. Beautiful. Too far off to shoot and at the end of my day. I'd separated myself from the others for an extra look-see on a south ridge a couple miles away. That was a good day.

You can read more about this area here:

http://www.cnw.com/~hotrod/Adventures/AndersonBear.htm

http://www.cnw.com/~hotrod/Adventures/BearSuccess.htm

-Steve

I should add, that when I went for my little jaunt away from the group, I did leave the shotgun behind.

 

[Poppy270]

I can't see the need to pack around two rifles,one is just going to be in the way.Any rifle in the .270 to 30-06 class will do nicely,near or far.If I have to pack to far,the pistol usually stays behind also,why do I need a pistol for protection,when I have a rifle which is far more effective,at least for me it is.If the squirrels are plentiful,I sometimes take a Ruger 22 pistol along.I do like to have my back up when I'm using a muzzleloader.I guess we all do things a bit different,just stay safe,stay legal,and enjoy the hunt.

 

[Smoke Rizen]

Hey Poppy, the .22 should work nicely for Squirrel, but they aren't that aggressive around here. I don't mind totin an extra gun cause the horse has to carry it. I've spent a day or two trying to hunt in rain,snow,or dark timber when I wished I had open sights instead of a scope. I agree though,a .270 rifle is my favorite pick.

 

[kennyboy]

The one day, I only had one .30-06 round, so I grabbed my rifle and loaded the round. To be safe (in case I missed or needed to put a deer down), I grabbed my 12 gauge and loaded it up with slugs, which I had plenty of. I greased a deer w/the 06 and did not need the slugs. I felt like the Terminator or something.

 

[Poppy270]

Hey Smoke,you're right that horse can really make a difference.I've been hunting the SW corner of Co. since 1998. After one trip I was hooked.September will usually find me totin my bow up on or around Stoner Mesa.One thing I found out quick was, a mile in Elk country was about 10 here at home,or at least it seems like it.I usually bow hunt because it's easier to schedule vacation time around,and I really like the September weather.Glad to find another .270 man,been using one for 36 years,it hasn't let me down yet.

 

[Smith357]

When hunting locally I just take one rifle. When going on a trip I will take two, one as my main gun, and the second for backup just in case I have a problem with the first. And I alway take two guns to any competition.

 

[Guntotingreen]

I hunt the thick, younger forests of Northeastern MN, which are punctuated by clear cuts, abandoned fields, long easements along power lines, and homesteads. I encounter deer at either 25 yards in the thick brush, or at 150 yds along a well travelled field corridor. Our terrain has some relief, but not enough to guarantee that a missed shot won't strike a residence. In the past I've held off good shots for fear of the unknowns.

I think I've finally solved my old dilemma of never having the perfect gun, I'll carry two of them. This season I'll tote a Stoeger 12 gauge coach gun with a red dot sight, and my trusty pre-war Winchester 94 scout rifle with an LER 2x7 scope. I've fashioned a leather scabbard for each firearm. Since I prowl on a private plot, I can spend the day sneaking from the heights of a my tree stand to the low lying blind along the high traffic routes inside the woods. From the air I feel confident of the earthy resting place of any hollowpoint that passes through a teeny-but-tasty doe at longer range. On the forest floor I can shoot in just about any direction with the slugger, knowing that the reduced recoil load probably won't reach the property line before it grounds out.