touchdowndallas2000

I'll be out, and it is going to be chilly.

we hunt in central OH too. With 8 of us out on Mon, only three deer were seen all day, all bucks. We drug two 8pts out. Tues we only saw 7 and none drug out (small buck and the rest doe). we will be back at it this weekend.

lots of info on here...thank you all very much. It seems that 30 06 seems to be what has come up most. Although I am only looking to hunt antelope and mulies in the coming years, it sounds like if I did decide to hunt something else, this will handle the job. I don't have a lot of experience with the different makes, and have never shot a rifle. I have a 20ga Mossberg and a 12ga Remington 870 which I really like. I have never heard of NEF but like the idea of reasonably priced. I will keep all input in mind and try to hold all and shoot as many as I can get a hold of. I am probably not looking to buy until late summer or early fall. Thanks again to everyone for all of the great advice and insight. I really appreciate it. Jay

Thanks a lot for the quick advice. I will take what you guys have given me and start looking.

I didn't grow up around hunting and only have a couple of shotguns, a muzzle loader, and recently a compound bow, because that is what we are able to hunt with in OH. A couple of the guys I hunt with go out west to Wyoming every couple of years for Antelope and Mule deer. I am going with them in 2010. My brother in law has a rifle that I can borrow but I am interested in buying my own. I am curious to hear what everyone's opinions are on good "first" rifles. I don't need the top of the line but don't want junk cheap stuff either. Thanks a ton for the advice. Jay

Two or three years ago I was sitting on a big tree stump out in the open on one hill side, looking across the ravine at another hill side, watching a big doe. I heard a noise and saw a button buck flying down the hill towards me. It ran by me at about 5 feet.

last week we drug one out a long ways, up and down big hills. I am not sure the actual distance but my guess is between 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile. It was very cold out and we were soaked with sweat when we got it out. The last 100 yards is a very steep muddy incline. It was not fun.

If the dog is leashed (or if it were a fence) and in it's own yard, I don't think any hunter has a legit gripe. I know it is frustrating to be in the woods and hear dogs barking nearby but that doesn't give a hunter the right to complain or give obscene gestures. Don't hunt so close to homes. We have to remember that just because we are hunting near a home it doesn't mean everyone else who is not hunting must change there routines while we are in the woods. That being said, if it were me and I knew there were hunters in the woods behind my house, I would probably "try" to keep my dogs quiet. It is not my obligation though, in my opinion. Just my 2 cents, Jay

we will be hunting down in Logan and Athens