What should I carry opening day? Take this Poll & help me decide!

I have a ground blind a lasered 86 yrds from the feeder. Game cam shows decent prospects w/ a nice 2 to 3 year old 10 pointer, and LOTS of ferel hogs. I have mostly hunted with either a .270 model 70, leupold VIII 4X14 AO or a 7mm RM model 70, leupold VII 3X9. I have taken dozens of deer with each, and am very comfortable with either.

In the last 3 seasons, I have taken some game with an older model 94 .30-30, and I am really digging this "back to basics" thing.

So here it is, crunch time. Now that I have invested considerable cash for the first time in my own lease, I am torn between having the best weapon vs. the most enjoyable, reasonable challenge. I have a newer model 94 w/ a vintage weaver K-4 that I am really enjoying shooting. I just dig it.

Should I go with the proven deer sniper rigs, or stay with one of the 94's?

in Texas that means baited deer, is it also fenced? Whatever you think is fun.

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OK, I am willing to ackowledge that we Texas "baiters" are more harvestors than hunters. However; many of us myself included, position in such a way as to have multiple shooting lanes at various distances. Most game approaches my feeder from a draw 90 yards behind it. If hogs are present, the deer rarely come any closer in so that will be the shot; 170 or so yards.

To shoot inside the pin, I will have to shoot through the 4" fence. I have placed targets in the pin to see it I could avoid the fence; Nope. Hit it 1 out of 4 shots, so that option is out. I have to get them coming or going.

As for thinking this is fun, well, yes. Camping is fun. Solitude is fun. Scoping a lot of game is fun. Seeing something you didn't expect & getting nervous at the shot is fun.

I have hunted mule deer and big-horn sheep in the mountains of southern new Mexico, and it was great. I have walked and driven all over newly high fenced property to cull off all domestic whitetail. No feeders. lots of fun. I do not notice a difference in the rush when seeing a really impressive trophy approaching from a distance; feeder or otherwise.

The only part of this game that you and I will agree on is this; I do not like the feeling of having to out-feed, out protect, frankly out-hide my hunting "station" from other guns on the lease. It is easy to become very territorial of ones individual efforts to attract game, and that does take some of the fun out of it.

For example--The best deer I have seen is a nice 10 pointer, but it is likely shy of 3 years and could be an even better deer next year. NO WAY will any of the other 5 guys on this lease let that animal walk to grow another year, so I will be taking it if I see it.

Think I'll go ahead and run initially this year on opening day (Nov 21) with the new T/C Icon in .243 Win. But may change my mind.

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Forgot to put that on the list; not your T/C, but I do have an H&R .243 w/ a new Nikon 3X9 that is in the mix as well. I have decided to take the scoped .30-30 for opening weekend; but the .270 will be back-up if I drop it. I'll post pics of whatever these aging eyes are able to take down--

I just dont like an adjustable objective on a deer hunting rifle. But then, thats just me.

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It was a "gift" from a landowner / trophy breeder after I shot two of his breeder stock in low light. He required that I have it mounted before returning, unless writing him a $1500.00 check for the next "accident" was something I wanted to do.

and I detest a scope on a levergun....

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Yes, I am aware; as we have debated that in other threads. Given the massive, cheap scopes & ridiculously high see-through rings typically used, I actually agree with you. It's why I have two 94's; one with & one without.

The scope used is hopefully the least offensive option I could find; a 40+ year old K-4 with blue steel tube that matches the blue on the gun exactly.