Blacktail Deer Hunting

[dak0ta]

Hi,

For dense thick Pacific coastal forests, would you prefer a Marlin 30-30 with a 4x scope or a Shotgun loaded with slugs or 00 buckshot and a shorter barrel. Both are pretty fast repeaters and the ranges are <100 yards.

 

[jmr40]

We hunt whitetails in exactly the same terrain. Most everyone here prefers a short barreled, compact bolt rifle in an extremely accurate, flat shooting cartridge. The 308 is probably number one, but 243 and 7-08 are common and the new 6.5Creedmoor is getting some use. In 45 years of hunting I've seen 2 hunters carrying 30-30's and a handful carrying shotguns, all back in the 1970's. None in recent years.

You're only getting one meaningful shot and there is no such thing as shooting through brush. The best bet is an accurate, flat shooting rifle that will thread bullets through baseball size holes in the brush. Good optics that work in low light help you see those openings, and even at 50 yards the arched trajectory of a 30-30 can be a problem. I zero my rifles at 100 yards, the bullets are no more than 1/2" above or below my crosshair between 50 yards and about 130 yards making it a lot easier to hit the game and avoid brush.

Needing a 2nd or 3rd shot is very rare, but even if you do a bolt gun is fast enough if you learn how to shoot one. I can get off 3 shots in under 2 seconds with my bolt guns. And if you're talking about "aimed" repeat shots there is no difference between any of the actions. Put up a 9" paper plate and fire 3 shots as fast as possible with the requirement that all 3 must hit the plate. There will be no difference between any action type. It takes longer to get the sights back on target than to work any of the actions.

 

[Patocazador]

I hunted deer and bear in western Washington and used a bolt-action in 7x57. The game that was close was obscured for the most part. I hunted small clearings and was successful. Use your regular rifle and you will be better off.

 

[dak0ta]

I also have a Remington 700 in 270 winchester but that seems like too much gun for forest hunting. I'll stick with the 30-30.

 

[DM~]

I've shot a pile of them, with everything from a .240 Wby. to my .338-06,



That one was shot with my 7 Express Remington...

These two were shot with a 30-06,



Here's the hides from 5 more, (the legal limit)



Those I shot with my .338-06...

Anyway, hunting blk. tails has always been fun for me, and I love the terrain they live in...

DM

 

[bearman49709]

I also have a Remington 700 in 270 winchester but that seems like too much gun for forest hunting. I'll stick with the 30-30.

If it was me I'd take the .270 Win, but the .30-30 Win should work for you.

 

[dak0ta]

It's on the Gulf Islands, so it's a shotgun only zone given some of the residential areas. I have the choice of my Benelli Nova, Wingmaster, or a Browning Auto 5. I can use slugs and 00 buckshot. Probably go with slugs. I'm leaning towards the Auto 5 for vintage factor.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I was born and raised in the Northwest, both Oregon and Washington. I hunted the Cascades and the Coastal ranges from 1958 to 1986. The rifle that was my main choice was a 1949 Winchester Mod 94 in .30-30. It would be my choice today in a heart beat (it's still in service).

 

[Patocazador]

It's on the Gulf Islands, so it's a shotgun only zone given some of the residential areas.

If it's a shotgun only area, why the original question???

 

[dak0ta]

Cause some of my other hunts are on the mainland coastal forests as well searching for mule and black tails.