Mistakes Hunters Make

Hunters are human and make a lot of mistakes. Some are downright funny, mildly annoying, or create some minor inconvenience. Others are much more serious and can ruin a hunt or even result in a dangerous, life-threatening situation. Let’s take a look at a few mistakes I’ve made or that I’ve seen happen in the field.

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Papers Please?

Yes, this actually happened with a group of guys I was hunting with long ago. One fellow finally shot a buck after a long dry spell. As we loaded it into the pickup, he asked us to take care of the deer while he went to town to get a license and tag! Another time, my hunting partner realized that he’d left his license and bear tag at home. Luckily, we were able to buy replacements for those documents before the bear hunt started. Keep your license and tags safe, know where they’re stored, and keep them with you while hunting. Many states also accept digital versions of your license. It’s wise to have a piece of twine, a zip tie, or some tape on hand so the tag can be quickly secured to your game animal once it’s down. Also be sure to have permission from the landowner if you’re hunting private property. I much prefer to have written permission in my pocket while I’m hunting just in case.

Unfamiliarity + Wrong Ammo

I tried to take a fairly light-hearted approach to this on the video, but mistakes in this area are potentially dangerous.

One fellow I took hunting had only ever fired AR-15 type rifles. Though he got familiar with the bolt action I loaned him for the hunt, he forgot how to load it on opening morning and I found him trying to cram the cartridges in through the hinged floorplate… We fixed that and I made sure he had a properly loaded rifle, with the safety on, as we hunted.

Knowing your rifle is critical. Most rifle enthusiasts are well acquainted with their rifle and cartridges but some hunters aren’t all that knowledgeable on these subjects. I’ve heard hunters asking for “7mm” in a sporting goods store, referring to the 7mm Remington Magnum. They were seemingly unaware of the 7mm-08, 7x57mm, 7mm Weatherby Magnum etc….

Handloaders need to be extra careful with the crafting and testing of their hunting ammo. I prefer to develop and load my hunting ammunition well ahead of time, and to load enough of it that I can get quite a bit of field and range practice with that particular load. One thing I do is to actually load all of my hunting ammunition into the magazine and cycle it through the action to be sure it actually fits and works in the rifle before going on the hunt.

I’ve seen several different handload failures including the following.

Cartridge won’t chamber easily because the cartridge case was insufficiently resized.
Ammunition loaded too long to fit into the magazine.
Bullet seated so far out that it contacts the lands and grooves when chambered. This can result in disaster when an attempt is made to eject the unfired round. The bullet can stick in the breech end of the barrel while the case is ejected, dumping powder into the chamber and magazine! This is quite a mess to deal with afield.

When it comes to hunting ammo, I’ll take reliability over the last iota of accuracy any day. It’s simply got to function.

Protect your rifle with a case and consider bringing at least a rudimentary tool kit so minor mechanical issues can be addressed. A multi-piece cleaning rod is more useful for clearing bore obstructions than a pull-through cleaning cable.

Scope

Many of us try for tight groups at the rifle range, partially by cranking up the magnification as far as it will go. That’s fine, but be sure to turn it back down to minimum magnification before putting the rifle away. When it’s opening day and that big buck jumps into view at 40 yards, 15 power is a problem, not a help! In that situation, a wide field of view is desirable. Also consider whether you are using a FFP or SFP scope.

After a practice session at 300, 400, 500, 600 yards or farther, did you turn the elevation dial back down to the normal zero? If not, that first shot could be well over the top of a game animal at 100 or 200 yards.

Even if you have the right zero, the glass on the fancy scope you invested in isn’t so great if it’s covered with dust, mud, rainwater or snow. Be sure to use effective scope caps or even a cover for the whole scope. A small optics cleaning kit is a handy item to pack.

The Aftermath

Several years ago, I was pleased to have taken a late season cow elk a few miles from my home. A single 165 grain bullet from my .30-06 at 340 yards put her down quickly. I had help getting the elk down to the trucks where I would clean it. This was my fourth big game animal of that season, following a bear, mule deer, and a pronghorn antelope. I discovered too late that I’d neglected to re-sharpen my knife before the December elk hunt and didn’t even have a sharpening stone with me!

Fortunately, another hunter loaned me his extremely sharp Buck knife and I used it to field dress the carcass. This is the only elk I’ve ever gotten out of the field and to my home in one piece!

Another time, I shot a muley buck early in the day only to realize that I’d left my hunting knife at home. Fortunately I always carry a sharp pocket knife. It did just fine for cleaning and skinning that buck.

These days, I always have game bags with me, and often a cooler. It’s important to be able to take good care of the meat from the beginning. Great meals start with a good shot, a quick kill, and good field care of the meat.

Packing out an Oregon cow elk with Dale Valade and Zach Bruce of AOA Outfitters.

It’s vital to be able to get your game out of the field. Sometimes I’ve been able to get a vehicle right to where the animal was. Other times, I’ve had to drag the carcass quite a ways. I prefer to quarter up or bone out an animal and pack it out if the distance is far or if it’s a difficult route. A single hunter can typically handle a deer alone, though help is always welcome. An elk is so much larger and heavier that it’s a much more difficult proposition. This typically ends up requiring multiple trips or multiple strong people!

Transportation

Hunting season often sees cool or cold weather and often requires travel to remote areas, oftentimes off-pavement. Be sure your vehicle is up to the task! I’ve seen panicky people in the backcountry having a terrible time negotiating a muddy and slippery dirt road with poor tires.

Is your hunting vehicle reliable? I “rescued” a father-son duo who were turkey hunting when their ATV died and refused to start. We towed the ATV behind my Jeep for eight or nine miles back to where their truck and trailer were waiting. Be sure your battery and all systems are in good operating condition. It doesn’t need to be a new vehicle, but it should be in good shape, reliable, and with good tires capable of handling off-pavement travel.

The photo is of my Jeep several years ago when I’d driven it into a snow-choked area and promptly gotten stuck. Even in 4-low, the rear limited slip kept trying to send the rear end downhill over the edge! As I stacked rocks to drive on, and performed 7 separate winch pulls… I longed for my tire chains which were safely stored in my garage 50 miles away… The Jeep is far better set up and equipped now than it was then.

Sometimes the route back to the start point can become blocked and a much longer route out is required. Does your rig carry enough fuel for an extended drive? I carry an extra five-gallon gas can just in case I or someone else needs it.

One other thing I do is set my hunting rig up to take care of me and any hunting buddies. Inside the vehicle are warm dry clothes, fire starter, extra food and water, a tent or tarp, a first aid kit, tools, and possibly even sleeping bags. If I can make it back to my Jeep, I have what I need to camp for several days.

Physical Prep

It’s easy to overestimate our own physical capabilities. Most of us these days have sedentary jobs that don’t build our strength and stamina. Some people do a great job of staying in good physical condition; others don’t. Now in my late 60s, I still hike and workout regularly. Now if I’d just eat less…

There’s a world of difference between walking or jogging in running shoes on flat terrain and tackling a steep, rugged route wearing sturdy boots and carrying a pack. If at all possible, incorporate some steep country hiking with gear!

I never want to find myself in an unsafe situation because I wasn’t tough enough to handle the conditions. These days, I know that I hike more slowly, but I also know that I can and will get where I need to go at my own pace. Being in decent basic condition helps a hunter operate safely in the hills and canyons.

If you’re physically limited by injury, age, or just being out of shape, consider easier hunts. A nice mellow hunt not involving a lot of sweaty hiking can still be very satisfying.

Conclusion

I’m wishing all the hunters out there a successful season and look forward to hearing about your hunts! Comment on the video and let us know how it went for you, along with any mistakes you’ve experienced afield.