Preparing For The Spring Hunt
Preparing For The Spring Hunt
By Aaron Ryan for the Bergara International Blog
Every day on the news and social media, from reporters, family members and friends around the world, we continue to talk about the economy, Covid-19, restrictions and lock-down that are affecting us all one way or another.
Unfortunately for some of us in the hardest hit regions of the pandemic, hunting is a far fetch dream while restrictions and lock-down continues. As with such restrictions, the safety and health of everyone is of vital importance.
Spring time is when most European country open their Roe buck season, some as earliest as mid-April.
As for me, it’s too much news and it’s good to just get away from all of that constant talk and focus on something else. I personally can’t help but think about the Roe buck season opener which is either happening across Europe starting as early as mid-April in some countries. For some of us that can get out and do some hunting, that means work.
Every spring we put focus on a lot of field work before we actually hunt. But one of the most important things that a hunter needs to also focus on, is ensuring his rifle and equipment is also ready.
There are just too many hunters, I encounter on the shooting range every spring, that just shoot a few rounds from their rifles, they hit the bullseye on the target and they call it good and go home. I can’t emphasize enough on how important it is to get enough range time and practice in with your rifle before the season opens.
Many hunters during the closed season scout for new areas, maintenance on hunting stands, or keeping overgrown vegetation at a minimum, but most importantly, practicing your shooting skills should be on your list of projects well before the season opens and not just two or three days before.
It’s not always easy to find the time to conduct the same preseason prep, but range time have always been at the top of my list as far as preparation goes. Trying and testing various loads to ensure the bullets are performing as they should and doing my part as a shooter.
As hunters, it’s our responsibility to ensure we provide a quick and humane kill on the species we’re hunting, ensuring we choose the right cartridge and bullets for the right species, especially in Europe, due to the different variations and interpretations of EU regulations from one country to the next. For any visiting hunter outside of Europe, these regulations can be confusing.
Regulations for cartridge and energy requirements for hunting in Europe can be confusing, especially for visiting foreign hunters.
I have swayed back and forth with using a .308 Win and .223 Rem for many years on Roe deer as the .223 is well within regulations in Germany. I really like the .308 as it provides plenty of energy for most of the species I hunt in Europe, but I have also started using the .223 a lot more. I even tried the famed 6.5 in a search for the elusive “perfect caliber “and one thing remains constant, they all have died humanely when care is taken with the correct shot placement and choosing the right bullets.
There’s not one cartridge that is a perfect cartridge for everything, but there are a few that are very close in my opinion with the right bullets. No matter what you decide to hunt with, it’s important that the rifle and cartridge you pick is one that you are most comfortable shooting and provides adequate energy to do the job.
Choose the right cartridge and bullets for deer game species you plan to hunt. My five rules of establishing the right cartridge for the games:
- Does the rifle/cartridge meet the country’s requirement for hunting
- Bullet selection for the right species
- Factoring in or limiting shot distance base off regulations (can affect your cartridge selection)
- Rely on past loads that have performed well for you
- Use a rifle you are most comfortable shooting
A proper expanding bullet is necessary to achieve maximum energy transfer from the projectile to the game. Not all bullets perform the same way and for this blog, I don’t want to complicate things and start talking about bullet sectional density and ballistic co-efficiency. If you are new to hunting and reloading, take advantage of the resource out there to learn more about cartridges and ballistics beyond what your hunting course have taught you.
Understanding ballistics and the terminology I have mentioned above gives you an idea of what to expect from different style and shape of the bullets. Knowing the velocity and performance at various distance will give you a better insight about the rifle/cartridge combination. All of this not only helps you become a better marksman, but also gives you the knowledge to better understand the overall performance of your cartridge and bullets in order help you choose the proper load for the game you plan to hunt.
Picking the rifle cartridge for the species you plan to hunt involves knowing the performance of your loads to take an animal quickly and humanely.
The average Roe buck only weighs 16kg/35lbs dressed out, meat preservation is key, especially for us in Europe where the resale earning is higher from games with less damage. Earnings from selling game meat helps with cost for things like game damage on property or construction material to replace or repair an old stand and feed. For this reason, understanding the cartridge you’re using, the load with the proper bullet you are shooting, will also help mitigate more damage than necessary on the games you take. Don’t misunderstand me, a bullet hitting shoulder bones or any other bones will cause extensive damage, as mentioned earlier, there’s no specific cartridge that can be call perfect or a perfect shot every time we squeeze the trigger.
Every cartridge known to hunters has its purpose. Some are better than others, some will do it all, but it comes down to us to choosing what’s best for our needs, not because of its popularity or how trendy it is within the shooting community, but that it serves its purpose to adequately and humanely take down the games we hunt.
One important thing I didn’t mention when deciding on a cartridge that fits your need. Barrel twist and bullet weight are two things that a lot of inexperienced hunters and shooters fail to understand, but this topic will be saved for another day.
In the end, a successful hunt can be a fulfilling experience that should be shared. When you go out to the woods this coming spring to harvest your Roe buck, be sure to get someone else involved. Getting out and enjoying the outdoors can be a rewarding experience for anyone in a time when social distancing seems to be the norm. So continue to share your stories and experiences with mutual friends over a grill and a cold beer to build camaraderie and bring neighbors back together. In closing this blog, I wish everyone a safe and successful hunting year, and I’ll see you in the woods.
About the Author
Aaron Ryan is a field representative and project manager for AmmaLa Oudoors. He is also a contributing blogger and moderator for the Bergara International Group on Facebook. He is a father and U.S Army Veteran living in Germany. [email protected]