I'll leave it overnight if it is going to be super cold and i want to hunt same blind in morning. Going from hot to cold in morning will fog my scope up for a while. We are 500 miles from the border though. Rarely have done it though.

Nope i'm to afraid it would be gone when I get back.

I follow what was taught to me in the military...never leave a firearm unsecured!!!!

Is a 8lb rifle really that much of a burden on a person to carry back to the truck?


I value my rifles a lot more than guys who are leaving them in the stand

The one and only time I didn't take my gun with me I had a chance to take a very easy shot. And the amount of hogs where I've been hunting is unreal. But in fairness I take two guns but only one rifle so easier to tote around.

I'm on a high-fence place in the middle of the hill country, so I don't tend to worry about people walking through. Because of that, I will occasionally leave mine unloaded in the stand if I think I'll be back in that stand that afternoon or the following morning. The main problem I run into is that the scope will fog up in the morning when I first look through it.

I left my bow one time. Rats ate the bow string. Lucky I saw that before I drew the bow back.

If it's in a closed blind on a fenced property with a locked gate is that considered unsecured?
Just being devil's advocate.

if my guns aren't in my safe or in my possession I consider them unsecured. Obviously they aren't 100% safe anywhere but that's the places I feel comfortable leaving them.

I have been known to have a few too many Sweet Lucy's in the stand...

Therefore, yes I have intentionally left my rifle in the stand.

i swear everytime I went to a large FOB we found a weapon left in a DFAC or on a bench at a bus stop

When we remodeled our house I had a safe at my mom's and a safe at my in-laws house. After we got all settled back in I was doing inventory and couldn't find an AR15. I searched my step dad's safe my FiL's safe, checked the ranch house. Couldn't find it. A few months go by and I took a backpack out of my safe that I thought just had hunting gear in it. Turns out I had broken the gun down and shoved it in the backpack to get it put of my house without anyone noticing.

I just want to know why so many of you guys bought guns from a sugar factory. Seriously!!??!?!?! Dry and dusty has a far greater chance of "damaging" your rifle and or optic than water ever will. The thought to leave my weapon behind has never crossed my mind. I mean, you knever know when you might need it for all sorts if thing......

Don't do it ever. I know 3+4 guys on our lease that do it though.

I always keep it with me. It has paid off more than once walking back to camp and running across a nice deer/pig. I will leave my pack before I would ever consider leaving my rifle behind.

How do you figure that?

Dry and dusty will not cause rust like damp conditions will

Seriously!!! High grade wood w no less than 10 coats of lacquer or polyurethane and blueing, paint or parkerizing or even stainless steel protecting the the metal?????? Rust doesn't happen instantly, I've never seen a wet rifle malfunction but I have see toooooooo many failure to fire because of dirt locking up triggers and aggravating actions crunching grinding in bolts ect... Basic maintenance will cure both problems but a wet rifle gets immediate attention, a dusty rifle might not get cared for and thus neglect

No matter how much a rifle costs they are just tool, a tool to be used in the harshest conditions imaginable, they are not grandmothers china used only for Christmas dinner.

I have left random items like a pack or a sandbag but damn sure not a rifle (or other firearm).

I will drive out in the afternoon and leave a cooler with drinks and sandwiches for the evening or morning and worry about that. I would have an ulcer if I had a gun in the stand.

Mark

I do it all the time between morning and evening hunts. The blind I hunt is less than 200 yards to my cabin. I am remote but fairly close to the border.

Well, that's just your opinion. I only have one that's never been shot. I have a few that have only been shot VERY little but they have been shot. I dang sure won't take those out in severe weather on purpose. They get brought out like Grandma's china. For special occasions. That's my opinion, just like you have yours. Don't make either one of us right or wrong.

Oh, I see what you mean now


Yes, dust will lock up an action quick like.

Never lose control of your Weapon

Between morning and evening hunts I do. I built my box blind, and the inside is plywooded and painted also. I have a section of wall that opens secret door style, you would have to know that its there and look for it to find it. plus all my windows lock from the inside and the door has a lock from the outside.

I have never even heard of anyone doing this. I wouldn't do it anywhere including my own ranch.