The Everything Guide to Living Off the Grid (23 page)

• The action consists of the moving parts that load, fire, and eject the cartridges or shells.
  
• The stock is the body of the firearm. It is generally made from hardwood or a sturdy synthetic material. It can be produced as a single unit or as two pieces.
  
• The barrel is the metal tube the ammunition travels through.
  

The three general categories of hunting firearms are rifles, shotguns, and handguns. The main differences between them are their barrels and the kind of ammunition you use in them.

• The rifle barrel is long and has thick walls with spiraling grooves cut into the bore. The grooved pattern is called
  rifling
  .
  
• The shotgun barrel is long and made of thinner steel that is smooth on the inside, as opposed to the spiraling grooves of the rifle. This smooth finish allows the shot and wad to glide down the barrel without friction. The shotgun barrel is thinner than a rifle barrel because it doesn’t have to withstand as much pressure.
  
• The handgun’s barrel is shorter than the barrel of a rifle or shotgun because a handgun is designed to be shot while being held with one or two hands, rather than being placed against the hunter’s shoulder. The bores of most handgun barrels are similar to those of a rifle, having a grooved pattern.
  

Caliber
is the measurement of the diameter of the inside of a barrel (bore) and is expressed in hundredths of an inch, thousandths of an inch, or millimeters. The caliber is used to describe not only the size of the rifle or handgun bore, but also the size of the ammunition cartridge.

Caliber designations sometimes have a second number that has nothing to do with the diameter. For example, the popular .30-30 is a .30-caliber cartridge, but the second number is a holdover from the days when the cartridge took 30 grains of powder. The “06” in .30-06 refers to the year (1906) it became adopted by the U.S. military.

Every rifle or handgun is designed for a specific cartridge. The ammunition
must match
the data stamp on the firearm. There are several .30-caliber firearms that use the same bullet size but are designed for different cartridges. If, for some reason, you cannot find the caliber stamped on your firearm, don’t try to guess the right caliber; take it to a qualified gunsmith to find out your exact needs.

Rather than caliber, shotguns are classified by gauge.
Gauge
is a measurement, like caliber, that relates to the inside diameter of the shotgun bore and the size of shell designed for that specific bore. Common shotgun gauges are 10 gauge, 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, and 28 gauge.

The smaller the gauge number, the larger the shotgun bore. Gauge used to be determined by the number of lead balls sized equal to the approximate diameter of the bore it took to weigh one pound. For example, if it took ten lead balls, with the same diameter as the bore, to weigh one pound, the gun would be classified as a 10 gauge. Today, however, gauge is measured like caliber, by measuring the inside bore diameter.

The .410-bore shotgun is the only exception to the gauge designation for shotguns. It has an actual bore diameter of 410/1000
^ths
of an inch, which is approximately equivalent to a 67½ gauge.

The gauge of the shotgun is always equal to the gauge of the shell, i.e., a 12-gauge shell for a 12-gauge shotgun. The gauge of a shotgun is usually marked on the rear of the barrel, and the gauge of a shell is marked on the shell as well as on the factory box.

Carry only the correct ammunition for the firearm you’re using. A common mistake involves putting a 20-gauge shotshell into a 12-gauge shotgun. The smaller-gauge shell will slide through the 12-gauge chamber and partly down the barrel, causing an obstruction. The hunter, especially when excited by the presence of game, then might insert a 12-gauge shotgun shell behind the 20-gauge shell. This can cause injury to the hunter or damage to the firearm.

Your firearm’s maximum projectile range is the distance at which your firearm’s projectile (or ammunition) can cause injury or damage to persons,
animals, or objects in your area. Knowing this range is essential in order to be a safe and responsible hunter. Your firearm also has an effective killing range, which is the distance at which your firearm is at its most efficient and effective for hunting your prey. This is the range where you will most likely have a clean kill. Understanding these ranges and becoming proficient at estimating distances are important parts of hunting.

The storage of firearms and ammunition is very important, not only for the long life of your firearm, but also for the safety of your family. Firearms must be stored unloaded and in a locked location, separate from ammunition. The storage area should be cool, clean, and dry.

Firearms should be stored vertically, or with the muzzle pointed down. Ideally, guns should be hidden from view and locked, in a place away from curious children and potential thieves.

Ammunition should be stored in a secure, cool, dry place in order to prevent corrosion, which can cause jamming and misfiring. Ammunition should be stored away from flammables.

Nontoxic shot is required throughout the United States for waterfowl hunting. Studies showed that many waterfowl died each year because of lead poisoning contracted when they picked up and ingested lead pellets from traditional shotshells. The toxic effect spread to other birds, such as the bald eagle, that consumed the poisoned waterfowl. To reduce this problem, conservationists worked with shotshell manufacturers to produce effective alternatives to lead shot.

Bowhunting

Bowhunting is another popular method of hunting. You can define bowhunting as the act of pursuing or taking wild game animals by use of a bow and arrow. You might be surprised to learn that bowhunting is an important aspect of life for many Americans. A 1998 survey by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service found that:

• More than 14 million Americans hunt, which represents about 7 percent of the population.
  
• Forty-four percent of hunters report that they have hunted with a bow.
  
• Bowhunting continues to grow in popularity, especially in recent years.
  
• Most bowhunters are between the ages of thirty-five and fifty-four.
  
• The average age at which an active bowhunter begins hunting is twenty-three.
  

Unlike hunting with firearms, bowhunting presents a number of challenges:

• Bowhunters need to become proficient archers before attempting to hunt with a bow and arrow. Becoming an archer requires hard work, dedication, practice, and the development of distance-judging skills.
  
• You need to learn and practice close-range hunting skills, which include scouting, tracking, stalking, and recovering game. Like the early American Indians, a practiced bowhunter needs to learn to walk quietly through the woods to take his quarry unaware. While some may consider this too challenging, others find that the elements of bowhunting add to the pleasure of the hunt. Because you are so close to the game, you gain a different perspective and respect for the animal you are pursuing.
  
• A critical skill for a bowhunter is mastering bowhunting techniques and animal anatomy and behavior, so you can achieve a quick, clean, and, most important, a humane kill.
  

Bowhunters must comply with state or provincial legal requirements. These requirements are passed by boards or commissions. Often, these boards are open to public hearings in order to give bowhunters and others an opportunity to provide input. You should remember that hunting is a privilege that can be taken away if you violate the hunting laws in your area. Your hunting license can be revoked if you are convicted of a serious violation or if you have repeated offenses.

Hunting regulations can be found in booklets published by every jurisdiction. These booklets are often found at the places that sell hunting
licenses and sporting goods. If you are going to hunt, you need to become familiar with the requirements. Ignorance of a law is no excuse.

The “rule of first blood” establishes a fair way to determine who can claim an animal shot by two bowhunters. Although the rule may not have legal grounds, its strength and enforcement lie directly with the understanding and true sportsmanship of all responsible bowhunters. The first hunter to place an arrow in an animal’s vital area, which draws enough blood to leave a trackable trail and thus has a good chance of bringing the animal to his or her possession, may claim the animal.

Rod and Reel

Angling, or fishing, is one of the most popular forms of recreation in the world. One reason for its popularity is how simple and inexpensive it is to fish. You can fish from a shoreline, from a boat, or from the middle of a river and have great success. You can also fish all year-round, although ice-fishing requires some special equipment. Fishing equipment is called
tackle
. The basic tools are a rod, a reel, fishing line, and hooks and lures.

A fishing rod is a long, straight, flexible pole that can be made of bamboo, fiberglass, or graphite. Rods are used by anglers (fishermen) to cast bait, or lures into the water. Inexpensive rods, like some bamboo and fiberglass, are often popular with beginners. Due to the low maintenance and flexibility, fiberglass rods have become the most popular rods. Graphite rods, though more expensive, are sought by experienced anglers because they are light and strong.

You should choose the length of your fishing rod depending on several factors—the type of fish you are trying to catch, the kind of water you are fishing in, and the surrounding landscape.

If you are fishing in an area where overhanging tree limbs could catch your line and lure, a short, flexible rod might be your best choice. If you are casting in moderate winds, a long, thin rod may be used. If you are planning to fish for heavy game fish in large lakes or in the ocean, you will want to use a shorter, sturdier rod.

The body of the rod is made up of a grip, or handle, that is usually made of high-quality cork or foam. In order to thread your line from your reel to your lure, there are a number of small metal rings called
eyes
attached along the rod to the tip. The eyes help your line flow smoothly when you cast your lure and retrieve it.