Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    I haven't seen or heard of anyone doing so.  Although it doesn't
    suprise me that someone would do it.  The closest thing to this
    that I have come across is one of my relatives uses an AR15 during
    his annual deer hunt.
    

    What do you think of guys that go deer hunting with AR15's and the
    like?
    
    Is this a reasonable firearm for deer hunting?
    
    Do you take your safety off if you see a guy coming up to you in
    the woods with an assault gun with a paratrooper folding stock?
    
    Just curious.
               
    Brett.

    re: .3
    
    Many "military weapons" are available in other calibers like
    the NATO .308 round
            
            
    The saftey line is semi-tongue_in_cheek.
    
    Brett.

    Personally, I think using something like an Ar15 for thew purpose
    of Deer hunting is something I wouldn't do but I know of one individual
    who hunts in Maine with one and does pretty good with it over the
    last couple of years. He feels that for foul weather, because of
    the weapon proving itself by not jamming, and the speed of pulling
    the trigger, is great stuff for the Maine swamps when you jump um.
    I guess if I was a person who did not hunt and seen someone walk
    by with An Ar15, I would basicly question it or at least make a
    comment. If we start thinking about what we should ban or ok, 
    because of the looks of a weapon and the looks of the hunter in
    dressup and what we use for a weapon and how we dress, and of
    course under the state laws its all legal,, we could be opening
    a can of worms. In every sport, you have the 10% that go over-
    board and I've seen an individual in Vermont at one time come
    over a ridge with a bandelier loaded with 458 cal bullets and
    and of cource the weapon. Being somewhat out spoken at times
    I preceeded to explain to him that I was under the assumption
    that they didn't stock elephant this year. He proceeded to tell
    me that he was using a 30-06 up until last year and he hit
    a big bugger and that it got away and that if he seen it this year
    it wouldn't have a chance and I indeed believed him as he proceeded
    to walk up the mountain. Through the season while sitting on
    my stand I've consistantly throught of this gentlemen and wondered
    if he ever got his quarry, cause I never heard him fire off a round
    and I never felt the ground tremble after the shoot.
    
    Stan
    

    Well, these guys are not new. Their the same guys I used to see
    up at the sportsmens club dressed like they just came out of the
    Jerimia Johnson movie. Now their dressed like Rambo. The thing
    is most of them don't do much hunting. They hang around the gun
    clubs and talk about hunting and shooting, but being dreamers they
    don't do much other than talk. The guy's I worry about are the die
    hard hunters. The ones that getting the game is the only thing their
    out there for. They become so greedy that they risk people lives
    in order to fill their bag. My brother is one, and thats why I don't
    hunt with him anymore.
    
    Jim
    

    
>    	On Monday the 14th, the Seattle Times printed an article titled
>    "Rambo Hunting". The article described how it is apparently in fasion
>    these days to go big game hunting dressed in military garb and packing
>    an assault rifle.
 
  "Rambo Hunting" that must be like "Saturday Night Special". It means
something different to everyone. 

>      The reporter interviewed a few scared people who's common 
>    consensus was "I'm not taking my family into the woods during this 
>    time of year, the woods are full of crazies!"                     
 
   Are they afraid of assault rifles or hunters in general? I'm sure
it's hunters in general.
   
>    	Unfortunately, the article also expressed concern in regards
>    to restricting hunting with assault rifles and related where
>    semi-automatics had been banned; a kind of subjective call to do
>    the same here.
 
      AHHHH! Here we go.....the message is these aren't made for hunting,
    they're to dangerous and only morons have them, so they should be
    banned.
   
>    	Has anyone, in their travels through the woods, seen these
>    individuals? Do you think that persons expressing their freedom
>    to do this in most states will result in us loosing our assault
>    and semi-automatic rifle privelidges hunting or totally?

  I guess bow hunters would fit this category!!! All the camo and the bow,
just like the Rambo flicks!!!


  We all know about the hunter's that just go hunting to party and are out
there stoned. There aren't alot of them but they stick in your mind when 
you see or hear them. What this article tries to create is an image of the 
worst type of hunter you can imagine and then it puts an assault rifle in 
their hands and says they're spraying the woods, so that even the safe hunters
aren't safe. A bolt action rifle or shotgun in the hands of a ignorant
person will kill you just as dead.

  I didn't read this article but read the same type of article every year.
Same old story.....and the bottom line is let's ban something and make us
all safer. I wouldn't mind if a hunter or firearms owner wrote it, then I'd
know they were just ignorant. Usually the writer tends to be anti gun period
and that tells me everything.

    	About the only thing that I think of if I see a person in armed
    forces fatigues and an assault rifle is that they either are in
    or were in the service, or they know somebody that is. Not to say
    that this is the case and that there aren't "RAMBO" types out there,
    it's just not the first thing that comes to mind.
    
    	If I were in the military and used an AR15 often, I'd see a very
    practical side to being set up like the so called "RAMBO" look-alike.
    For example:
    
    	1. The camo would be available at a low/reasonable cost and
    you know what the quality is like. For rifle season a blaze orange
    vest, hat, and gloves could be added.
    
    	2. The AR15 may be the gun that you shoot most often and therefore
    you are most comfortable and proficient with it. It is also very
    accurate and capable of taking a deer with.
    
    	3. You may have access to ammo through the military at a lower
    than usual cost and/or a higher than usual quality.
    
	I see these as 3 good reasons for the RAMBO look. 
    
    	I also think it's sad when even other hunters start making comments
    and display preconceived notions about a fellow hunter because of
    their dress and gun choice.  To me, if the clothing keeps you warm
    and/or dry and your gun is familiar, capable, and safe, that's all
    that matters. I'm trying very hard at this point not to add emotion to 
    this but........GGGGGRRRRRRRrrrrrrr THIS IS NOT A DAMN FASHION CONTEST.
    
    
    	It's not hard to see why the anti-gun people have the "always
    think the worst" type of mentality of hunters after reading some of 
    the replies in this notes file.

    	RAYJ

    
    
    	If .9 was directed at me...
    
    	I do hunt deer with an assault rifle. I think that they are
    great for the purpose. We have a lot of heavy brush around here
    and one may not get a second shot with a bolt action rifle.
                                                 
    	Re: Camos; The ONLY reason that I don't wear them too is that
    I like to be seen. If there wasn't that safety issue involved, I
    would probably be exactly like the hunters that were described in
    the article.
    
    	Re:.8; What the article indicated that the populous was afraid
    of was the scenario of taking the family out for a nice sedate drive 
    in the country and have a guy dressed like there was a war on jump
    out on the road in front of them.
    
    	Additionally, the article stated concern on the part of the
    Fish and Game officials who were allowed to carry only a revolver
    and felt quite out-gunned.

    I believe one of the ammo companies (Federal?) is coming out
    with a heavy (70 gr. or so) softpoint specifically for deer
    hunting with a .223.  I'd still prefer a heavier bullet, but
    ya dance with who ya brung, as they say. 
    
    I'd feel a bit leery about a "hunter" with two thirty-round
    mags 'jungle-clipped', tho'.
    
    Dana

      I could be mistaken but in the Rambo movies that I saw wasn't
    "the hero" wearing burlap bags or black fatigues?  I have always
    worn camos (orange vest added when needed) and never though much
    about it looking macho.  The stuff is just plain practical.  Price,
    pockets, etc., can't be beat.  Since the AF switched over to camo
    utilities my lifer brother takes good care of me. 
     As far as firearms go.... in the states that I'm familiar with
    it could be illegal to hunt deer with one of those "sandpit sporters" 
    for one or more of the following reasons:
    
      PA - No semi-automatic actions allowed
      WA - .243 is minimum for deer (I know that 7.62 is OK)
      CT - Rifles illegal on State game lands (OK on private land)
      MA - No rifles allowed
      NH - 5 shot max in a semi-auto
      VT - Same as NH (I believe)
      
      Anyway, so much for the "rambo" look.  My personal belief is that
    a .223 is too light for northern Whitetails and until they design
    an appropriate bullet (one that expands at lower velocities) I
    don't think much of the 7.62 x 39mm.
    
    Dave