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- Jan 28, 2003
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So you've finally achieved your dream of hunting ___________________(fill in the blank) critter in a far away state or even different country or continent. Here are some of the most common dream smashing mistakes hunters make on that big once in a lifetime hunt. Mistakes that will turn your dream hunt into a soul crushing nightmare.
1. Buying a brand new pair of high dollar, wonder boots for that high mountain critter hunt. There is nothing short of snapping off a leg that will destroy your hunt quicker than a great big bloody painful blister on your foot. Foot ware is important but if it hasn't been thoroughly, COMPLETELY, broken in and tested don't even think about showing up at the base of "Giant Sheep Mountain" with those boots on. I'll put several hundred miles on a pair of boots in similar terrain with the socks I plan to wear under the loads I anticipate for the hunt before I consider a pair of boots mountain hunt worthy. I've been there done that with a newer pair of boots that blew a hole into my heel on an extreme solo high country goat hunt! It was NOT FUN!
2. Showing up in camp with a brand new untested rifle. It seems like everybody that shows up for their first elk hunt is carrying around a brand new shinny long range thunder booming, barely been sighted in, rifle with a new scope. This is a two part problem, first rifles always seem to reveal their demons within the first hundred rounds. Just because it shot fine for the first ten rounds off the bench doesn't mean it's good to go. Second the stress of being unfamiliar with your new rifle and scope is going to show when that shot of lifetime presents itself on that huge trophy bull. If you truly want a new rifle buy it a year or so in advance and then dedicate some major time to becoming very comfortable with it. That way it'll show you it's demons well in advance of the hunt and it gives you time to figure out if you truly feel comfortable and are happy with the rifle. I have no problem with folks showing up with a thunderboomer, just be honest with yourself. Is it the right fit, does it cause you stress to shoot it? If you are not perfectly comfortable and familiar with the rifle don't bring it on the hunt.
3. Shinny new rifle, cheap scope. Just don't do it!
4. Being badly out of shape. You don't need to be a triathlete but the more time you spend hiking and exercising and minding your diet prior to the hunt the better time you are going to have in the field. With few exceptions you are almost never in as good a shape as thought you were once you hit the trail.
5. Buying that super cool big bore double rifle/iron sighted big bore heavy rifle for your first dangerous game hunt and not being thoroughly comfortable with that level of rifle and different operating system. It took me about 500 round under field conditions with a big bore double. Practicing reloads on the move, snap shots under stress, selective trigger use, safety manipulation and generally working and training with a double before I felt thoroughly comfortable shooting and operating a big bore double. That is a huge investment in time and money. Fortunately at the time I had a huge hog hunting lease in Texas that provided me an ideal training ground on actual game under field conditions to learn the art of the double rifle/big bore bolt gun before heading to the dark continent with one. Showing up in camp with a big bore that you are terrified of is not a going to work out well in the field.
Hunting that dreamed about critter is very rewarding and I think a goal that is worth achievement if at all possible. My advice is simply not to venture to far out of your comfort zone when it comes to gear and guns. Show up with comfortable duds, boots and a rifle that your are intimately comfortable with and things will go well and provide happy memories for a lifetime.
1. Buying a brand new pair of high dollar, wonder boots for that high mountain critter hunt. There is nothing short of snapping off a leg that will destroy your hunt quicker than a great big bloody painful blister on your foot. Foot ware is important but if it hasn't been thoroughly, COMPLETELY, broken in and tested don't even think about showing up at the base of "Giant Sheep Mountain" with those boots on. I'll put several hundred miles on a pair of boots in similar terrain with the socks I plan to wear under the loads I anticipate for the hunt before I consider a pair of boots mountain hunt worthy. I've been there done that with a newer pair of boots that blew a hole into my heel on an extreme solo high country goat hunt! It was NOT FUN!
2. Showing up in camp with a brand new untested rifle. It seems like everybody that shows up for their first elk hunt is carrying around a brand new shinny long range thunder booming, barely been sighted in, rifle with a new scope. This is a two part problem, first rifles always seem to reveal their demons within the first hundred rounds. Just because it shot fine for the first ten rounds off the bench doesn't mean it's good to go. Second the stress of being unfamiliar with your new rifle and scope is going to show when that shot of lifetime presents itself on that huge trophy bull. If you truly want a new rifle buy it a year or so in advance and then dedicate some major time to becoming very comfortable with it. That way it'll show you it's demons well in advance of the hunt and it gives you time to figure out if you truly feel comfortable and are happy with the rifle. I have no problem with folks showing up with a thunderboomer, just be honest with yourself. Is it the right fit, does it cause you stress to shoot it? If you are not perfectly comfortable and familiar with the rifle don't bring it on the hunt.
3. Shinny new rifle, cheap scope. Just don't do it!
4. Being badly out of shape. You don't need to be a triathlete but the more time you spend hiking and exercising and minding your diet prior to the hunt the better time you are going to have in the field. With few exceptions you are almost never in as good a shape as thought you were once you hit the trail.
5. Buying that super cool big bore double rifle/iron sighted big bore heavy rifle for your first dangerous game hunt and not being thoroughly comfortable with that level of rifle and different operating system. It took me about 500 round under field conditions with a big bore double. Practicing reloads on the move, snap shots under stress, selective trigger use, safety manipulation and generally working and training with a double before I felt thoroughly comfortable shooting and operating a big bore double. That is a huge investment in time and money. Fortunately at the time I had a huge hog hunting lease in Texas that provided me an ideal training ground on actual game under field conditions to learn the art of the double rifle/big bore bolt gun before heading to the dark continent with one. Showing up in camp with a big bore that you are terrified of is not a going to work out well in the field.
Hunting that dreamed about critter is very rewarding and I think a goal that is worth achievement if at all possible. My advice is simply not to venture to far out of your comfort zone when it comes to gear and guns. Show up with comfortable duds, boots and a rifle that your are intimately comfortable with and things will go well and provide happy memories for a lifetime.
