Just curious as to how much ammo others carry with them on the average hunt, excluding what you might keep in your truck or back at camp. All of my hunting is done in East Texas where I normally carry just three rounds since I'm not expecting to need any more than that. However, I can see where those who hunt close to the border, as well as those on extend "back country" hunts would feel the need to carry a lot more.

Also, have you ever ran into a hunting situation where you wished you had brought more ammo?

TIA

If rifle holds 3, if 5 then 5.

I haven’t needed more than one in a long time and I don’t remember needing more than the rifle holds. However, it’s cheap insurance so I carry 5 in the rifle and the 10 my pouch holds on my belt.

2-5. Some of them stay loaded for the season. Whenever I get to the stand I’ll put one in the chamber.

3 in the mag and 15 in backpack if I have a bolt gun, if it’s an AR I carry 20-30.

I load the gun with 4 and carry no extras.

I have an ammo holder in my hunting pack. I usually have two rifles in camp, so it’s nine of one caliber and nine of the second caliber.

I carry twice what it holds.

Three in the gun and one in my pocket.

I've been known to throw a couple of extras in my pocket as well if I can remember hearing coyotes that seemed close during a previous hunt. Just a little peace of mind rather than an expectation of truly needing them.

For deer whatever is in my folding carrier, maybe 12 rounds. For hogs, a mag and maybe a spare.

5 round mag plus a few extras in case I see hogs or coyotes. If I fire a round I load another always 4 in the mag one in the chamber.

3 when using my bolt action, if using my AR I load the 10 round mag full

3 or 4 in the rifle. 10 in an Uncle Mike's carrier on my belt. There is always an extra box in the truck.

If I'm carrying either of my Weatherby's I usually have between 8-11 on my; 3 in the rifle and the balance in the shell holder on the stock. My Rugers usually only carry 3-4 in the gun and around the same in the back pack.


I've had several instances out hunting where i emptied the gun at animals....over the summer i shot 4 pigs in about 30 seconds and was out.



I have made it a habit to carry extra cartridges because you never know what will happen, but don't normally tote around a full box.

My Ruger American takes AR mags. Came with 10 rnd mag.

Keep the top 3-4 Federal fusion and the rest varmint rnds.

When I see hogs, coyotes ect I usually will take out the deer ammo and use the varmint bullets.

They have been a times when I was glad i had the extra ammo.

In my old M70 I just kept 5 rounds in it

8-10 on the bolt gun. I've had evenings where the pigs showed up early and the coyotes came late and I wished I'd packed more.

Whatever fits in the magazine. Unless it’s a muzzle loader, then I bring two extra loads. But I’ve never done a big hunt for several days, just public land close to home. Half day if that, maybe all day on occasion. Just too busy.

If I had a weekend getaway I would bring at least a box of cartridges, in case the scope gets bumped too hard so I can get back on target and have ammo left to hunt.

This is insane of me

3 rounds, that’s it

I keep more in the truck a mile away

It’s just been my good luck thing for a few decades

This is for deer hunting only

Not taking about pigs, ducks, etc.

Whatever is left in the box in my bag. If under 5 rounds I refill the box in my bag.

I usually have 3 in the mag, and a handful (3-4) in the butt stock pouch.
Only once have I ever run into a situation where I could have used more than 2 bullets.
I dropped a coyote at 480 yards (bolt gun) and his buddy ran to the left. I fired my last of only two rounds at the second coyote (on the run) and blew the ground up below him. I had lead him perfectly, but failed to adjust elevation correctly. I sure wished I had more than two bullets that day.

I carry 20 rounds. What the rifle holds, 6-7 in zippered stock pack the remainder in a 20 round ammo pouch in the back pack.

4 in mag and 3 to 5 in my coat pocket!!!!

Haven't needed more than one over the recent past but I have had an occasion where a critter refused to give up and I needed more than I care to mention.

A good friend once told that on his very first deer hunt, his dad gave him one round and left him sitting on a stump. Told him one bullet should be all he needed. I can't remember if told me that ended up being true.

Could be wrong but I suspect it's something (being left with one round when first learning to hunt) that's happened to a lot of guys who are 50 and older.

Okay, I also hunt East Texas.. I used to carry 4 in my Rem 700 thinking I'd never need more than that. Then I was hunting one morning and shot a hog and another one ran down the creek bank. Knowing he would eventually cross the pasture behind me I ran around and caught him running across the pasture. I hit him on my 3rd shot and dropped him. He was kicking and squeeling like pigs do but I didn't have another round, AND I forgot my big knife I usually carry. So I booked it to camp to get more shells. By the time I got back he was up and gone. Had to chase him back through the creek and finally caught up with him to finish him off almost in the exact place I shot the first one...... SO, now I always carry 2 extra shells in my pocket.