NC Hunters, what rifle do you use?

[Glockster35]

I will be moving to Goldsboro NC in the summer, and would like to hunt deer next fall.

Before I do this though, I will need to purchase a huntung rifle for this use. I have never been to NC, so I don't know the terrain.

What type rifle should I purchase? A brush gun, or would a regular bolt action suffice?

I would also like suggestions on calibers...I plan to hunt bear, boar, deer and elk eventually. But I don't need a do all rifle.

I already own a Savage 10FP in .308, but think it is too heavy to haul around in the woods. Am I on track here?

 

[jtprevatte]

30-06, shotgun w/slugs, .270......they are work here....not to hilly....depends on the area you are hunting.

We DON'T have the largest deer here.....a tad bit bigger than a golden retriver....LOL

Smaller racks...but good bodyweight.

 

[jtprevatte]

I would also like suggestions on calibers...I plan to hunt bear, boar, deer and elk eventually. But I don't need a do all rifle.

Forget the Elk here.......

 

[mole]

I already own a Savage 10FP in .308,

You're good to go for deer. I've never heard of or seen elk in NC either.

mole

 

[JohnMc]

A decent shotgun would do the trick for most places, there's lots of plant growth around here, so unless an area is kept tree-free, you won't be shooting that far.
Of course, there are farm fields and rights-of-way that have open shooting lanes. Any good deer rifle will do you fine for those. Your .308 would be perfect, except for the weight. Maybe a mountain/light rifle in .308 for caliber simplification...

There used to be elk in the mountains (the town called Banner Elk is named for the past elk herd.) There's some talk about re-introducing them, but that'll be years or decades before a hunt would be a realistic option.

 

[xtarheel]

I grew up in not far from Greensboro and belonged to a hunting club. Although I've been gone over 25 years (hence XTARHEEL) I doubt much has changed. I used a 12 gauge pump with buckshot when we were hunting with dogs and a Marlin 336 in 35 Rem with a 4X scope when hunting by myself. I never felt under gunned

 

[Glockster35]

Ahh, I had read something about the Elk re-introduction, but assumed (my bad) it was a specific area...darn my luck.

Keep the information coming...I need all I can get!

 

[possum]

i am from concord and i always used a .270 and it worked fine for me. winchester model 70

 

[Rambosky]

Terrain............from the mountains to the vally's to rivers to the sea. God Bless America.....

 

[jungle]

It is pretty flat around Goldsboro. Lots of woods and plenty of open fields with soybeans, corn, etc. For the woods a light .308 boltgun is fine,or your favorite in short and fast.
Some of the beanfields can present shots out to 500 yards, and with a good range card with laser ranged distances noted these are possible. Pick your favorite and practice. Plenty of deer; bear and boar are scarce in that area and more common to the western part of the state.

 

[swampdog]

xtarheel nailed it. You might also want to invest in a climbing treestand and a good, light
gathering scope for your .308. I have lots of luck right before dark. A good scope makes a world of difference.
There are quite a few beanfields too, if you like field hunting.
If you already own a shotgun, you can skip the marlin and get a slug barrel for
heavy cover still hunting. Some land owners don't want you using rifles anyway.
If you just hunt public land, rifles are allowed on most of them.
I use my .308 for stand hunting, my marlin 30/30 with apeture sight for still hunting,
and shotgun slugs when I have to. The swamps around here are great for bow
and handgun hunting, too.
The deer are pretty small around here, but the bears sure "ain't".
The best hunting in NCarolina is in the coastal swamps. Look at the numbers.
As an added benefit, rockfish season (stripped bass) is open during deer season,
and you can't hunt on Sundays.
In the swamp on Saturday, offshore on Sunday. The perfect weekend.