Making Good on the First Shot
By Glen Wunderlich
Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)
Picture this: You are deer hunting to feed your desperate family that has been lost in the wild and has not eaten for days, when a mature whitetail is streaking through the tall timber 100 yards from you. To complicate matters, you have only a single round remaining in your possession after firing the rest of your ammo to signal your position to anyone that may have been searching for you. You’ve never attempted such a shot in your life and the pressure to succeed is mounting each hour. Do you take the long odds or wait for a better opportunity?
Although an extreme example, similar shoot-or-don’t-shoot thoughts will creep into the minds of Illinois deer hunters this season because of a newly enacted law allowing only single-shot firearms. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, any rifle chambered in a legal caliber and either manufactured or modified to be a single shot (capable of holding only one round in the magazine and chamber combined) may be used to hunt deer.
There are certain mental aspects of any hunt, but carrying a single-shot firearm afield has a way of revealing its physical properties from the start. Shots that are not a sure thing are not taken; otherwise, one soon discovers the hunt can be spoiled, because of one bad shot. Attempting a shot beyond one’s limitation – one that cannot be made 9 out of 10 times – will, at best, miss completely and scare off anything in the vicinity. Worse, however, is the ill-advised shot that cripples an animal often not recovered.
The most sensible approach is to take only shots that will be cleanly fatal. To accomplish this, one must be thoroughly familiar with the chosen firearm’s function and your personal limitations. Knowing you have no quick follow-up shot is ever present in your mind, and therefore, placing that single round with absolute precision is a must.
I have found that stand hunting fits my style and offers the most favorable opportunity for precision; running and gunning are out!
Preferred tactics involve sitting and the virtue of patience within the confines of a blind, whether permanent, portable, or makeshift. Inside the hideout, a firearm rest can be employed with sandbags on a windowsill, or by use of shooting sticks or bipods. Natural yardage markers can be determined and noted in advance to eliminate guessing distances. The cover of the blind can keep one warm and dry and allows the effective use of quiet, blind heaters.
Just as important as comfort is the cover of a hunting blind that allows movement within to be concealed – an all-important factor, especially for anyone with youngsters. Also, for those that want to record their hunt, tripod-mounted cameras can be manipulated with minimal concern, given adequate operational space.
In summary, successful hunting with a single-shot firearm or a repeater, comes down to reliable, controlled technique when opportunity presents itself. Nothing is more satisfying than the perfect, single shot – all part of an operating system with the most important ingredient positioned between one’s ears.
Dead Down Wind Unleashes Sweepstakes and Offers Weekly Prizes
Now that it’s October, Spooky Season is upon us, but the last thing us hunters want to do is spook our game! Dead Down Wind is going to help ensure you don’t do that with their Fall sweepstakes featuring weekly prizes to help you eliminate odor when hitting the woods.
It’s called Dead Down Wind for a reason – the three-phase system focuses on laundry, hygiene and field use actively works together to kill bacteria, not just covering odor but annihilating right at the source allowing you the stealth you need for a successful hunt.
Entering the sweepstakes is as simple as visiting this link and entering your name and email address. A new prize will be given away each week through November 3rd, 2023. Prizes each week will vary and may include items from the new premium Dead Down Wind Black line, multi-piece kits, and hats.
Click here to learn more about Dead Down Wind and its products or to stay social, connect with Dead Down Wind on Facebook and Instagram. Read more
EAA/Girsan Now Shipping Witness2311
European American Amory Corporation (EAA Corp) is proud to announce that the Witness2311® by Girsan is now shipping to distributors for dealers nationwide.
The new Witness2311® is a double-stacked 1911 built to compete with the highest quality double-stack 1911s on the market while keeping an affordable price. This state-of-the-art semi-automatic pistol boasts a sleek design with ergonomic space age grips, optic ready slide, accessory rail, multiple barrel lengths, calibers, and model configurations. In an industry where quality often comes at a premium, the Witness2311® stands out as a true game-changer. EAA and Girsan understand the importance of providing high-quality firearms accessible to a wider audience, and that’s why the Witness2311® is priced competitively without compromising on its quality.
The EAA/Girsan Witness2311® will come in seven different variations, with more to follow. The first 3,000 units will ship with a free EAA FAR-DOT optic as an added value. Read more
Davidson’s Exclusive EAA/Girsan High Power MCP35 PI Lightweight
Davidson’s, one of the nation’s top firearms, ammunition, optics, and accessories wholesalers, is excited to announce the release of its exclusive variant of the newly announced Girsan High PowerTM MCP35 PI Lightweight pistol.
Launched on Davidson’s LIVE, the recent introduction of the Girsan High PowerTM PI Lightweight was an instant hit with Davidson’s FFL dealers, range owners, and end consumers.
Taking the iconic design into the twenty-first century, the alloy-framed Girsan High PowerTM MCP35 PI LW is up to one-half pound lighter than the traditional steel frame Girsan High PowerTM. With a compact 3.88” barrel and an overall lighter weight of 1.34 lbs., the MCP35 PI LW model is optimized for concealed carry, ensuring both comfort and discretion for everyday carry. Read more
MGE Wholesale Announces Two Nostalgic Ruger 10/22 Rifle Exclusives
MGE Wholesale brings their first two Exclusive Ruger firearms to Market. “A” Classic Look from the 80’s now available in .22LR. These MGE Exclusive 10/22® rifles are available with either a Stainless Steel or Blued finish. Each rifle is equipped with a Walnut Samson B-TM side folding stock, pistol grip, adjustable aperture rear sight, picatinny rail, 10 round rotary magazine, and flash hider.
“The entire MGE Team is excited to offer these Exclusive Ruger rifles to our Dealers” said Brad Rupert, MGE General Manager. “These rifles are so popular among the staff and the few dealers who have seen them, it is hard to believe this is the first time they have been available from the Factory” he continued.
Both models are now available for pre-order, with a limited number being available in time for the Holidays. Read more
Meprolight Partners With OpticsPlanet To Create The OPMOD M21
Meprolight® has partnered with OpticsPlanet to design a proprietary reticle for the highly popular Mepro M21 Mil-Spec Red Dot Reflex Sight. It is rugged, dependable, and totally self-powered which is why it became standard issue to the IDF, militaries, and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
The Mepro OPMOD M21 features the OPMOD — HC reticle — designed by Clayton Jenkins, Senior Manager of Supply Chain Development at OpticsPlanet.com. Speaking on the reticle and collaboration, Clayton said “we are excited to bring this new red dot variation to our customers. We think the shooter will enjoy this exclusive 3.0 MOA dot with high-speed bracketing reticle, for faster target acquisition and accuracy. We’ve worked with Meprolight® for several years and this new collaboration continues to show our belief in their products and brand. We are excited to see the market response!”
The MEPRO M21 Self-Illuminated Reflex Sight is specifically unique — no batteries are needed. Reticle illumination is achieved by a fiber optic collector system during the day and a miniature self-powered tritium light source at night. It offers an extremely durable aluminum body designed to withstand water submersion and drop testing requirements as specified in the MIL-SPEC certification process. It has been combat-tested and proven to hold up under the most adverse conditions. In addition to militaries and law enforcement agencies, it is popular with Preppers and Survivalists who want a totally self-sufficient system.
Order your exclusive Mepro OPMOD M21 from OpticsPlanet and improve your target acquisition and accuracy. Read more
Bear Creek Arsenal Genes1s II New Options Available
Bear Creek Arsenal is now offering a variety of Genes1s II options. The Genes1s II now has a full black all-metal high-quality 7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum frame. The two-piece metal frame adds a comfortable weight and provides less recoil and faster acquisition for getting back on target.
The black nitride slide has window cuts as well as front and rear slide serrations that will showcase the new options in barrels. You can grab a gold TiN threaded, copper TiN threaded, Bear Claw fluted, or spiral fluted barrel in your Genes1s II. The threaded barrel will support suppressors or compensators with a ½ x 28 thread pitch and a matching thread cap is also included. The Genes1s II is optics-ready with an RMR footprint. Additionally, the slide is installed with metal sights with photoluminescent aiming dots for low-light shooting.
The Genes1s II is compatible with a vast selection of aftermarket parts, accessories, and holsters. In addition to this, the Genes1s II includes two 17-round 9mm magazines with every handgun.
Thousands of Birds Dead After Suspected Avian Botulism Outbreak; What Waterfowl Hunters Should Know
After a recent suspected avian botulism outbreak killed thousands of birds in northern Utah, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is providing some safety reminders for waterfowl hunters this fall.
DWR biologists first discovered dead and sick birds in mid-September in the Willard Spur and Harold Crane waterfowl management areas. Many birds have been collected and submitted for disease testing. The birds tested negative for highly pathogenic avian influenza. (Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have decreased in Utah this year.) While final test results are still pending, biologists suspect the birds died of avian botulism.
Avian botulism is a paralytic, often fatal, disease of birds that results from the ingestion of a toxin produced by a bacteria, Clostridium botulinum. The toxin is produced under certain environmental conditions in the summer and fall when there are low oxygen levels and warm water temperatures. Botulism mainly occurs in stagnant pools where there is no water flowing, and sick and dead birds are most often found along the shoreline.
Waterfowl, gulls and shorebirds are the bird species most often affected by avian botulism. Signs of avian botulism include the inability for a bird to hold its head up and a bird flapping its wings, but not having the strength to take off.
Avian botulism occurs almost yearly in Utah — typically between July and September — particularly during periods when the weather is really hot and after periods of rainfall. Those conditions often create stagnant pools of water that hold and grow the anaerobic bacteria that causes avian botulism. Read more
USDA Forest Service Christmas Tree Permits Available Online through Recreation.gov
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is selling Christmas Tree permits through Recreation.gov, which makes it more convenient for visitors to find and purchase permits to cut holiday trees from their favorite national forest. Permits will be available beginning on October 12, and sale dates may vary by national forest.
“Venturing into a local national forest to find that special tree is an experience that creates treasured family memories and stories,” said USDA Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “It is through these experiences that people establish important connections to the forest that can lead to a lifetime of adventures and instill a commitment to stewardship.”
Marcina B. expressed their gratitude when visiting the Tahoe National Forest in California: “Our family loves getting Christmas tree permits and cutting down our own tree. Thank you for making this possible and allowing me and my family some unforgettable memories.” Read more