Starting out, new hunter in NM

[nuevo_eph]

Hi all, I wanted to start a little bit of a thread here to track my progress in getting into Elk hunting.

A little bit of a background - I grew up in NM but because I was a late baby (parents were 40) my dad was getting out of hunting and fishing by the time I was old enough to pick it up. My older brother was a little more lucky, getting into this while my family lived in Catron county (Luna). Well, with 2 boys of my own now I figure better late than never and I must take advantage of the wonderful state of NM and instill a love for the outdoors with them. A new friend is also interested in "Starting out" even though we are both in our 30's. I live in Socorro, NM by the way, right smack dab in the middle.

So, for my first year goals I am hoping to:

Get comfy with my 30-06.
Learn everything I can about muley and elk hunting
Learn about my NM environments and how the animals live in them, emphasis on Gila and central NM
Get into good hiking shape.
Draw a hunt (I put in for a bunch of 2nd season cows in the 16 units and a mixture of deer (17 & 13), plus oryx for giggles).
My bonus would be to have a successful hunt or help my friend have one since we put in separately.

I'd like to use this thread to ask questions and keep track of my plans for meeting these goals.

I recognize that this thread is bow heavy, so I hope you all don't mind a rifle guy poking around a lot.

Ephraim

[nuevo_eph]

So, intro out of the way, let me make a gripe!


I had the most frustrating day sighting in my 30-06 yesterday when I tried to quickly get it in done in about 40 minutes of range time. It took me just a few shots to get on paper at 100 yards, but then I adjust my sights and could not get back on the target. Instead I was still hitting high and left despite trying to move POI down and right. After about 15 rounds of this I was mad and still off 9" target and I moved the target back to 25 yards where I struggled getting consistent even there.

I'll chalk this up as a learning experience and next time do the following:

• Start at 25 yards. My plan is to get roughly dead on there since most charts for 180gr 30-06 takes this out to 2" high at 100 and dead on at 200-225.
• Shoot less - I think I got a little tired/sore, flinchy and I wonder if I was heating up my barrel. I tried to squeeze in 20 rounds in less than 40 minutes. Next time I will do 3 shot groups and take a break before the next group.
• Bring a spotter. I really need to know how I'm missing as opposed to taking an educated guess if I am off paper. My buddy needs to sight in his rifle so this will be ideal.
• Get a better rest. My gun range has so-so benches with chairs. My long torso means I hunch down a bit too much to setup on the bench. Next time I'll bring some bigger bags and set up to where I am comfortable.

Any thoughts? Can my hot barrel have effected things and caused it to string up and away *if* I was getting inaccurate?

I'll try again this weekend if the NM Spring winds allow.

[planebow]

I had a Rem. 700 BDL that started stringing my shots, after a close examination I found my stock was touching one side of my barrel. I floated my barrel and now it shots great.

[BadgerBoy561]

When ever sighting in a rifle I always start close like 25 yards. Yes is may sound crazy but at the distance I focus only on windage, when my left to right is where I want it I then make some quick adjustments for up and down. I then move to 50,then 100,150 and so on and so fourth. I hope this help and good luck in your journey.

Dylan

[nuevo_eph]

I agree about getting on paper at 25. I did that today and with a friend who has a new 30-06 (my hunting buddy). With a pretty severe RtoLeft wind I'm glad we did as we had a hard time holding steady for the 112 yard shots.

Also, from looking at ballistics charts, for most 180 grain rounds a 30-06 round going up but zeroed at 25 will be nice a dead-on at somewhere between 200 to 225 yards. That's pretty good.

[elkoholic]

Welcome! No one will discriminate the rifle hunter. You are right archery hunting in big on the sight, but with that said there are plenty of guys that hunt with the rifle. You have came to the right place to gather information, whether it be for archery or rifle. I live here in Gallup, near unit 10. Unit 16 is a high demand unit, if you draw your golden! What other units did you put in for, for your first choice?

[nuevo_eph]

My buddy and I both put in on separate applications and did all 16 units, 2nd cow hunts. I went 16A, D, E. I believe he did D, D, E with the first one bull since he couldn't resist. We know are odds aren't great but are optimistic that one of us will draw over the next few years and the other can learn.

Also, I went out again on got on at 25 and then promptly learned how much 15-20 mph winds can make a bullet drift at 115 yards, not to mention how much they can make the shooter drift!

[pointysticks]

Pull the bolt out and sight thru the barrel at the target. Line up scope and you will be on paper at 100.

Put in for the cow elk hunt with the mecalero tribe in ruidoso. Rifle only or I would.