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Question for those who hunt with open sights
#7365629
12/03/18 06:03 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,259
Texas Dan
OP
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OP
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,259 |
With antler restrictions in place and no scope, how do you make decisions on whether or not a deer is legal? Do you depend on a good set of binoculars or just keep your shots limited to what you can safely recognize with the naked eye?
Earlier this year I shot a deer for the first time with an open-sighted 30-30. I thought it was a doe but it turned out to be a spike. I wasn’t bothered at all that it turned out to be a spike, but it did make me recognize the challenge in using the naked eye to judge deer at a distance.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7365688
12/03/18 07:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
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If you tell the GW that you were using open sights and actually thought the Deer was over 13 inches he will cut you some slack.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7365691
12/03/18 07:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: don k]
#7365708
12/03/18 07:36 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,788
Mr. T.
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
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If you tell the GW that you were using open sights and actually thought the Deer was over 13 inches he will cut you some slack.
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co. Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7365725
12/03/18 07:50 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,498
TX_LT230FH
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2007
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Sights or scope, I still check every deer I think about shooting with good binoculars.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7365783
12/03/18 08:42 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 17,721
Txduckman
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With antler restrictions in place and no scope, how do you make decisions on whether or not a deer is legal? Do you depend on a good set of binoculars or just keep your shots limited to what you can safely recognize with the naked eye?
Earlier this year I shot a deer for the first time with an open-sighted 30-30. I thought it was a doe but it turned out to be a spike. I wasn’t bothered at all that it turned out to be a spike, but it did make me recognize the challenge in using the naked eye to judge deer at a distance. If I say Holy S#$[ then it is legal.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: TX_LT230FH]
#7365818
12/03/18 09:33 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,504
txmudder
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Mar 2010
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Sights or scope, I still check every deer I think about shooting with good binoculars. Yes Sir.
You should have been here yesterday!
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7365830
12/03/18 09:48 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,259
Texas Dan
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It seems this is a topic that might create good discussion beyond what I expected.
Using binoculars would seem to work best when you have plenty of time to watch a given deer, like when sitting in a box stand and watching a feeder. I’m thinking someone hunting with open sights would more likely be in a closer and more restricted setup and with far less time and space to make a call and get off a shot. He/she might be positioned near a travel route or pinch point where they only have a few seconds to decide to take a shot.
At my age and with my eyes, I’m wondering if I will just have to accept the fact that open sights will only work for me in the closest setups.
Still, I’m sure there are others like myself who would enjoy hearing tips from those who frequently use binoculars to judge deer. Can you routinely judge a deer and get off a shot in 30 seconds or less?
Last edited by Texas Dan; 12/03/18 09:58 PM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7365920
12/03/18 11:24 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 877
therock
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 877 |
Like I tell my family that I let hunt on our place, if in doubt, dont.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7366243
12/04/18 04:36 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 596
crumrw
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Tracker
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It's a choice you make to hunt with open sights. It doesn't matter if you can't see as well or as far, or that your shot opportunity is minimized due to closer shots. By choosing open sights you also choose to handicap yourself. That being said, I hog hunt with an open sights 45-70 marlin. I decided to deer hunt with that gun this year, and scoped it just for that purpose.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7366269
12/04/18 05:33 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,796
dogcatcher
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If I hunted an AR county, I would mount 14" long boards painted white at about 100, and 200 years in several place from the blind, so I could compare them tp the deer. First time I saw the ones my buddy had in his pasture, I couldn't wait to ask him what those boards were for, made sense after he told me.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7366275
12/04/18 07:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 876
218 Bee
Tracker
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Tracker
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I spend a lot of the season carrying open-sighted rifles and, while I don't personally have to deal with mandated antler restrictions, I still want to KNOW what I'm considering dropping the hammer on. Binos just become part of the equation.
Mark
"I always take care to fire into the nearest hillside and, lacking that, into darkness". - the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7367171
12/05/18 01:02 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 481
Railhead
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 481 |
8x32 binocular
they have a wide fold of view and lightweight so you can keep them handy around your neck.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7368171
12/06/18 01:19 AM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,198
Smokey Bear
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,198 |
It seems this is a topic that might create good discussion beyond what I expected.
Using binoculars would seem to work best when you have plenty of time to watch a given deer, like when sitting in a box stand and watching a feeder. I’m thinking someone hunting with open sights would more likely be in a closer and more restricted setup and with far less time and space to make a call and get off a shot. He/she might be positioned near a travel route or pinch point where they only have a few seconds to decide to take a shot.
At my age and with my eyes, I’m wondering if I will just have to accept the fact that open sights will only work for me in the closest setups.
Still, I’m sure there are others like myself who would enjoy hearing tips from those who frequently use binoculars to judge deer. Can you routinely judge a deer and get off a shot in 30 seconds or less?
Yes.
Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7368288
12/06/18 03:14 AM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,170
Jimbo
THF Trophy Hunter
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,170 |
I always use bino's mainly just to observe the deer with my old eyes. When it comes to figuring out if a deer is 13" don't try to over think it. If you aren't sure let it walk.
Thursday at 12:45 PM #33 Once i learned that i didn't "NEED" to kill something, and that if i did kill something all the fun stopped and work began, i was a much better hunter.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7368466
12/06/18 01:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
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With open sights your sight picture of the deer is covered up at 100 yards or so. Why would you jeopardize wounding an animal? Scopes allow pinpoint placement of your bullet. Maybe hogs and varmints but deer? No way.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7368476
12/06/18 02:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
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As far as being able to get off a shot in 30 seconds, if I'm paying attention and not on my phone, ( like now), I can throw up my binos, stick an earplug in my left ear and get off a shot in 10 seconds or less.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7368650
12/06/18 04:17 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,930
unclebubba
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,930 |
I often hunt with a levergun with peep sights. I too have shot a spike thinking it was a doe. If you are taking shots at over 100 yards, yes, open sights is a bad idea...but who takes a shot with a levergun at game at over 100 yards? Under 100 yards, it's not too tough to figure out if he is legal. Same principal as with binos...if you are not 100% sure, then don't shoot.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: dogcatcher]
#7369000
12/06/18 09:42 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,615
MELackey
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,615 |
If I hunted an AR county, I would mount 14" long boards painted white at about 100, and 200 years in several place from the blind, so I could compare them tp the deer. First time I saw the ones my buddy had in his pasture, I couldn't wait to ask him what those boards were for, made sense after he told me. the hardest part of this method is training the bucks to go hold their antlers up to the board to make sure they are wide enough.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: MELackey]
#7369108
12/06/18 11:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,526
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,526 |
If I hunted an AR county, I would mount 14" long boards painted white at about 100, and 200 years in several place from the blind, so I could compare them tp the deer. First time I saw the ones my buddy had in his pasture, I couldn't wait to ask him what those boards were for, made sense after he told me. the hardest part of this method is training the bucks to go hold their antlers up to the board to make sure they are wide enough. Why not just use the ears....?
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7370537
12/08/18 01:59 PM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 737
Treinta-Treinta
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 737 |
Dan, nobody longs for the nostalgic days of open sights more than me but you have to rednekonize that it has a limitation.
It does nothing to enhance your limitations which is its only limitation.
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7372157
12/10/18 02:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 834
D Rogers
Tracker
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Tracker
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I, personally, only use iron sights when hunting in the woods where my shots are <40 yards. My .357 is deadly under those circumstances. However, for guys who are more comfortable I would guess it would be necessary to use some binos for insurance.
~Dustin
"Life's complicated, man, like a dang ol' Rubik's cube, man. Talkin' 'bout blue and red, man. Dang ol' get one side, dang ol' messed up th' other side, man."
-Boomhauer
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Re: Question for those who hunt with open sights
[Re: Erathkid]
#7372163
12/10/18 02:57 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 876
218 Bee
Tracker
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Tracker
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With open sights your sight picture of the deer is covered up at 100 yards or so. Why would you jeopardize wounding an animal? Scopes allow pinpoint placement of your bullet. Maybe hogs and varmints but deer? No way. If I'm not confident in placing a bullet where it needs to go, I don't shoot... scope or not. Iron sights simply result in more hunting and less shooting...and I'm perfectly at home with that equation. Mark
"I always take care to fire into the nearest hillside and, lacking that, into darkness". - the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
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