Did you know that there are more than 11 million deer hunters in the US? While that number is much lower than in the 70s and 80, it’s an increase over the past 10 years.
Are you one of the new hunters hitting the field this year? There’s a lot that goes into a successful hunt. The more time you spend preparing for the upcoming deer season, the more likely you are to succeed.
One of the most important aspects of your hunt is your rifle. More specifically, the rifle scope. You can shoot a deer with a cheap rifle and a great scope. But it’s harder to shoot a deer with a good rifle and crappy scope.
Spending money on a good rifle scope for deer hunting is a worthwhile investment. Keep reading below for some rifle scope tips to provide you with a better season.
Buy a Rifle Scope for the Terrain
There are many different types of rifle scopes available. One of the most important factors that will determine your success is the magnification rating.
The more powerful the scope, the better you can see at longer distances. But for many hunters in the Midwest and Eastern United States, a scope that can zoom to 1,000 yards isn’t necessary.
Most of these hunters are in a tree stand overlooking 50 to 200 yards of hardwoods or farm fields. So rather than buying the most powerful long range scope, buy something that excels at the distance you are shooting at.
Likewise, if you’re hunting out west, you’ll likely take much longer shots, and you’ll need to buy a hunting rifle scope that can handle those ranges. You’ll also need to make sure your hunting rifle can handle those long shots. Click for more information on solid hunting rifles.
Position the Scope Perfectly
When installing the scope on your rifle, make sure to take your time. The rails of your rifle allow the scope to slide forward or back.
The perfect position will depend on your body size and ideal shooting position.
When deer hunting, you want the scope positioned well enough to get a clear view of the animal right away. You don’t want to waste 30 seconds trying to position your head just right while the animal gets away.
Zero in the Scope
When you buy a new scope, you’re going to need to adjust it to your rifle. This process is called “zeroing in” your scope.
Once you install it on the rifle, you want to align the crosshairs of the scope with where your bullets actually hit. Most hunters will zero in their rifles at 100 yards. But some western hunters, who usually take shots at 200+ yards, will zero in for 200 to 250 yards.
To complete this process, you’ll head to a shooting range or out in the field, set up a shooting table with a rifle rest, and fire shots in groups of three.
See where the shots hit the target. Then, make adjustments to your scope’s windage (horizontal) or elevation (vertical). Make slight changes on the knobs, then fire another group of shots.
Complete this process until you are hitting the target most of the time.
Finding Success in the Field
Most people think the quality of their rifle is the most important factor that determines success or failure in the field. But that’s not the case.
The skills of the hunter is the most important factor. The quality of your rifle scope is number two, followed by the quality of the rifle itself.
Looking for more deer hunting tips like this? Head over to our blog now to keep reading.