To Scope or not to Scope....... Marlin 30-30

[Guyon]

As between the two, a stand hunter who uses a scope and one who does not, my vote goes to the one who does not as the more sportsmanlike of the two. I don't see how you could argue against that. Less technology requires greater skill and patience. That's the definition of being sporting.

Not offended at all, but I respectfully disagree on some points. You and I are differing somewhat on the sporting/sportsman distinction. I don't see the two as quite the same.

If you want to talk about giving a deer a sporting chance, then there's not all that much "sport" about shooting an unexpecting deer from an elevated stand with a modern centerfire rifle at close range--scope or no scope. Yes, it takes some skill to get your stand in the right spot, but at the moment of the shot, I doubt that deer cares whether or not you had a scope on your gun.

As far as aim, I don't really think the scope gives much advantage at 30 yards with full light. Takes about the same amount of skill IMO. Go out to 75 or 100 yards, and I'll give you your due on this point. In that case, I might concede the iron sights as more "sporting," but I would follow up with the caveat that you have no business using iron sights at that distance if you don't know precisely where your bullet is going. At short range, however, the distinction in terms of "sporting" is really neglible. In those conditions, one might even argue that the iron sights are actually easier to use--i.e. easier to pick up on the target when the deer is out in the open.

As I said before though, there are some advantages in a scope for hunting in low light and picking up on deer movements when they're behind heavy cover. I'm willing to scope up to get those advantages--in part because I can make a cleaner shot in those conditions when the opportunity arises.

Sporting chance? Maybe stalk hunt with a traditional muzzleloader? Or a bow? There are levels of "sporting" that I haven't tried, but whose practitioners I do admire because of their patience and abilities.

For me at least, embedded in the notion of a "sportsman" is one who is ethical in the way he/she goes about hunting. For those who use iron sights in low light, then I would expect them to pass up on shots when they're not absolutely sure of a clean shot. To shoot at a large, dim target would be neither sporting or sportsmanlike.

However, because I see so many deer at dawn and dusk, I'm willing to be a little less "sporting" at those moments so I can put meat in the freezer. Mainly for this reason, my .30-30 wears a scope.