Hi folks,

I am interested in hunting but have never hunted before.

I am ex military and have had rifles, shotguns and handguns most of my life. I target shoot a lot and do a lot of "plinking".I am comfortable with firearms and can use them safely. I am a pretty fair shot with a rifle.

I am curious about what my options are in NCin regard to Deer Hunting.

Would a .270 be a reasonable choice for Deer in NC?

Any advice for someone just starting out would be very much appreciated.

270 would be adequate for deer. It's a good all around rifle, at least from coyotes to deer. Very good balistics, light recoil. If ther is anythign I can help you with let me know, we need more outdoors men and women. Make sure that you take a hunters safety course and learn to be safe. The single most important thing is safety. Did I mention safety? There is a ton to learn. BTW which branch? And thanks for serving.

I was US Army.

82nd Airborne and the 1st Infantry.

THe hunting safety course is a good idea. I guess being safe with a firearm and being a safe hunter are not necessarily the same thing.

I'd be glad to show you around the woods a bit. Show you waht to look for, stand placement, food sources, bedding areas, how to dress one out etc. All of this you can get out of magazines and videos, having someone show you speeds the process up. Both take time to absorb it all.

As far as weapons. I have used a .270 for about 20 years with great success. I started shooting a .243 over the last year or so (I still have the .270 though). If you want to become a better hunter pick up a bow. That way you have to be close to em. That takes more skill than shooting from out to 300yds and up. With a bow you are limited to a lot shorter range. Then you have to deal with the deers major senses like smell, hearing eyesight that you don't normally have to when using a rifle at longer ranges.

I am near Ral (wake co), I hunt mostly in Halifax co (about 50 miles east of Raleigh) though. Shoot me a pm if you want some one to help show you the ropes.

And also thanks for serving our country.

martin...Make sure you do the hunter's safety...It's required if you didn't have a hunting license before July 1st 1991...What area of the state do you live???

There is a lot of Game Land in NC...Uwharrie National Forest is good, located in mainly Randolph and Montgomery Counties...

Yes .270 130gr NP is sufficient for deer. Used it for over 20 some years. Like every one has mentioned, Safety is the main factor.

Hunter Safety Course ,

Sunday Hunting Study - March 2007
(PDF - 50 KB)

I went to a friends house today and did some plinking with my 10/22 and mini 14 ranch rifle. I also fired a few rounds through his son's .270 and his .300 winchester mag.

All my experience is with military small arms (and it was nearly 20 years ago). Today was my first experience with hunting rifles. I was extremely impressed. I think I am going to get a .270 as soon as I can work it and a decent scope into my budget.

Oh and to nchawkeye, I live in Sampson County.

I go to Brevard,NC in Transylvania Countyevery year where my wife and her 6 brothers were born and raised and my father-in-law and her 6 brothers hunted Pisgah National Forrest and Nantahala National Forrest in Jackson countyfor manyyears. All their Deer and Hogs came from these to areas.

I have hunted in White Oak in Haywood county.

Having taught the hunter safety course for several years it is more than just a gun safety thing. Things covered in there are:

Calibers and distances a gun a can shoot
Identifying game and their tracks
Cleaning an animal
Game conservation and where the dollars come from
Water safety
How to hunt safely with a buddy or two
Obtaining permission from land owners
Survival skills
Ethical hunters
Primitive weapons hunting

This is only some of the content. It really is a good place to start getting your feet wet.

There is also a Bow hunters education.