This is about hunting hogs at night, 2 people from a vehicle specifically. Other times, I use much better means in an open field. I hardly see it mentioned, but I'm curious about how you keep a rifle handy while hunting from inside the cab of a truck or Jeep? A Wrangler has little space to store anything larger than a pack of gum, so if I'm sitting on a feeder with my Jeep, we keep rifles laying against the back tires which requires us to slide out, pick 'em up, and get on target without any commotion. Not good on the guns, not good on my back, and not good from a stealth point of reference. This does work, but with my limited use of my legs, it makes a poor situation even worse. Keeping the guns inside gets crowded even though we still open the doors, hop out, and line up our shots from on foot, so not much change here. Spooking them is little problem - it just hardly ever happens. If I hunt alone (always facing a feeder) it's simply a matter of parking sideways with no issues, but I rarely hunt alone. So, in this odd situation, what are some clever gun managing techniques you may have which allows lower times to get on target? Those overhead gun racks look promising, but what else?
Stashing a rifle while hunting from a truck
- Thread starter KMatch
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flipajig
Member
Years ago we had a very bad rabbet problem it was similar to the hog problem today.
We would use a Ruger 10-22 as well known its a short Barreld carbine. I would use the shortest rifle I have witch is a Winchester 30-30 with a 18" barrel anything with a barrel over 16" is considered a SBC just as long as it is able to get the job done.
Flip
We would use a Ruger 10-22 as well known its a short Barreld carbine. I would use the shortest rifle I have witch is a Winchester 30-30 with a 18" barrel anything with a barrel over 16" is considered a SBC just as long as it is able to get the job done.
Flip
chas08
Member
I have an overhead rack that bolts in to the existing sun visor mounting holes. The visors bolt on to it. It only holds one gun and wouldn't work in a Jeep, but in my 4x4 pick-up it serves me well.
41 Mag
Member
While on the farm or at my friends property we usually never leave the barn without at least one long barreled revolver and a rifle in some caliber. That said I usually have a rifle with me in most cases as well on my farm. If the rifle goes along, I usually have it rested against the center arm rest with the muzzle well outside the window. In your case this would be the butt rested on my right thigh, and muzzle out the window. I keep my left arm under the stock to keep it from battering around, which I could see if you were driving it might be an issue while shifting. For the most part the biggest issue is the barrel length. With my 25-06AI I have let it ride with the bolt back rounds in the mad, muzzle on the dash and butt of the stock on the seat. This works out fine as the barrel is 28" long so you don't just grab it up for a shot with it sitting muzzle on the floorboard. With my little Ruger Compact with the 16.5" barrel however, I just lay it on the arm rest. It is more akin to grabbing up a revolver anyway. I have to admit when I got it I really only got it for stalking in the river bottom where my longest shot might be 50yds at times. It however will easily reach out, and has, to 500 using store bought ammo.
If your simply sitting a feeder however I do not see an issue. It makes it quick and easy to raise up and acquire a hog or even a deer. (we mostly work on the hogs this way)
For two people, unless the back is open, well its just going to be step out behind the door sort of thing. The only other option is the passenger sitting away from the feeder, and stepping out in front or behind the vehicle to shoot, leaving the driver to do as above.
When my daughter was very young and also with my first grandson we hunted out of my Ramcharger in similar fashion. I normally parked it so that the passenger window faced the feeder so that we simply needed to roll down the window, pick the rifle up off the floor, poke it out, and slowly chamber a round. The nice thing about this was we put a bath towel across the top of the window and used it as an adjustable rest. That way the kids could raise it up or lower it to adjust it perfectly for however they were sitting in the seat. With an adult well you simply rest it on your arm or palm. If while we were out together I wanted to shoot, I eased out the driver side and usually rolled up the towel and rested across the hood. Thing about this is, you need to pay particular attention to the angle your shooting or you might put one through your hood and fender like my neighbor did while shooting at the biggest buck he had ever seen. A 180 class buck stepping out of the brush will effect even some seasoned hunters used to looking at them, but this fellow was accustomed to only seeing stuff in the 120's at best. That's whats neat about the river bottoms with good genes, you just never know what might happen to be there.
These are just how we worked through it. Yep there were times when we blew it as well, but for the most part slow and deliberate movements weren't noticed by deer and especially the hogs.
Hope this helps.
If your simply sitting a feeder however I do not see an issue. It makes it quick and easy to raise up and acquire a hog or even a deer. (we mostly work on the hogs this way)
For two people, unless the back is open, well its just going to be step out behind the door sort of thing. The only other option is the passenger sitting away from the feeder, and stepping out in front or behind the vehicle to shoot, leaving the driver to do as above.
When my daughter was very young and also with my first grandson we hunted out of my Ramcharger in similar fashion. I normally parked it so that the passenger window faced the feeder so that we simply needed to roll down the window, pick the rifle up off the floor, poke it out, and slowly chamber a round. The nice thing about this was we put a bath towel across the top of the window and used it as an adjustable rest. That way the kids could raise it up or lower it to adjust it perfectly for however they were sitting in the seat. With an adult well you simply rest it on your arm or palm. If while we were out together I wanted to shoot, I eased out the driver side and usually rolled up the towel and rested across the hood. Thing about this is, you need to pay particular attention to the angle your shooting or you might put one through your hood and fender like my neighbor did while shooting at the biggest buck he had ever seen. A 180 class buck stepping out of the brush will effect even some seasoned hunters used to looking at them, but this fellow was accustomed to only seeing stuff in the 120's at best. That's whats neat about the river bottoms with good genes, you just never know what might happen to be there.
These are just how we worked through it. Yep there were times when we blew it as well, but for the most part slow and deliberate movements weren't noticed by deer and especially the hogs.
Hope this helps.
Sheepdog1968
Member
I saw this on Cabelas website
http://reviews.cabelas.com/8815/228...views/reviews.htm?sort=submissionTime&dir=asc
http://reviews.cabelas.com/8815/228...views/reviews.htm?sort=submissionTime&dir=asc
oneounceload
member
Rugged gear makes a rack specifically for floor mounting:
http://www.ruggedgear.com/index.cfm...tegory_id=126/home_id=190/mode=cat/cat126.htm
http://www.ruggedgear.com/index.cfm...tegory_id=126/home_id=190/mode=cat/cat126.htm
Certaindeaf
member
In the old days you'd use a "bearer". or a scabbard
AKElroy
Member
I finally gave up looking for a decent truck rig. I now rest the butt on the passenger seat with the muzzle on the floor. Since my ranch-Samurai has no carpet, I slip an old leather work glove on the barrel to protect the muzzle.
22-rimfire
Member
Assuming you aren't on a public highway, I'd keep the rifle between my legs. After all, you're hunting not vacationing.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I don't know about the OP's jeep?
But in my full-size 2011 Dodge RAM with bucket seats and a floor-shift console?
There isn't room to hold a BB gun between my legs while driving.
Years ago, I had a 1970 something Ford F-150 with a big bench seat and rubber floor mat.
I screwed a homemade flat metal bracket to the transmission hump, with pipe conduit 'barrel muzzle holders' lined with carpet.
The rifle muzzles went into the holders on the transmission hump, with the guns resting on the bench seat.
I can't get a full size, ready to use rifle in the front seat of my new RAM 1500 on a bet.
At best, a CAR-15 collapsed, or Mini-14 folder is a close I can get.
Then they have to slide back and forth on top of the dash.
rc
But in my full-size 2011 Dodge RAM with bucket seats and a floor-shift console?
There isn't room to hold a BB gun between my legs while driving.
Years ago, I had a 1970 something Ford F-150 with a big bench seat and rubber floor mat.
I screwed a homemade flat metal bracket to the transmission hump, with pipe conduit 'barrel muzzle holders' lined with carpet.
The rifle muzzles went into the holders on the transmission hump, with the guns resting on the bench seat.
I can't get a full size, ready to use rifle in the front seat of my new RAM 1500 on a bet.
At best, a CAR-15 collapsed, or Mini-14 folder is a close I can get.
Then they have to slide back and forth on top of the dash.
rc
22-rimfire
Member
I was assuming that you weren't actually driving. Using the vehicle as a comfortable blind in essence.
yzguy87
Member
rondog, that would be sweet!!!! You should definately post pics when you get your project finished!
Well, at least I can show you what I started with. It was my dad's hunting Jeep in the late 70's, he used it a couple of times and then it sat indoors in storage for 30 years. So it suffered a lot of dry rotting and corrosion here and there.
I'm doing a total frame-up restoration/rebuild/restomod, when I take it on mountain trails I want it to be as dead-reliable as possible. I'm upgrading the brakes, electrics, steering, ignition, and carburetor, plus replacing every doodad, bolt and nut possible. I don't want ANYTHING to fail coming down a mountain trail. It's going to look showroom stock, but with every functional upgrade possible.
But, on topic, I do want to have a secure way to tote an M1 carbine in it too. I figure my IBM and Inland would both like to ride in a Jeep again, just like in their youth.
I'm doing a total frame-up restoration/rebuild/restomod, when I take it on mountain trails I want it to be as dead-reliable as possible. I'm upgrading the brakes, electrics, steering, ignition, and carburetor, plus replacing every doodad, bolt and nut possible. I don't want ANYTHING to fail coming down a mountain trail. It's going to look showroom stock, but with every functional upgrade possible.
But, on topic, I do want to have a secure way to tote an M1 carbine in it too. I figure my IBM and Inland would both like to ride in a Jeep again, just like in their youth.
yzguy87
Member
That's pretty cool rondog! I like stuff with historical and sentimental value and that has both! I hope you get to finish it and thanks for the info and pics!
Keep us updated!!!
Keep us updated!!!
When it's more than 2 of us, I use a camo net wrapped on poles I plug into the ground in a square we sit inside. I tried chairs in the open field once and heard one pig that squealed on high alert and have never seen others when in open chairs, so I went with the netting and it works well. That's too much trouble for my lazy side when it's just 2 of us, so I'm trying to come up with a better mouse trap in a gun storing fashion.
I'm kind of leaning toward some of the overhead racks seen above even though I have an overhead shelf I already use. It's just not the best as guns get beat up and such. Really I was hoping someone had some sheath type ideas, door hangers, or ??. Still some good input, though!
the fool
Member
That "http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=bc941e3763153dcab459cab96c9770e4&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehighroad.org%2Fshowthread.php%3Fp%3D9002413&v=1&libId=8469b776-a3c5-440e-8e8d-98ff957aebb8&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bigskyracks.com%2Fproducts%2Fsporting-racks%2Fsport-racks%2F&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehighroad.org%2Fforumdisplay.php%3Ff%3D30&title=Stashing%20a%20rifle%20while%20hunting%20from%20a%20truck%20-%20THR&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bigskyracks.com%2Fproducts%2F...s%2Fsport-racks%2F&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13728567575366" is the one I'm putting on my "to get" list. Looks promising.
And for the netting from the roof? Yep, that crossed my mind! 'til it comes time to do it... Working with this stuff is like getting gum off your shoe. For an extended stay, forming the square fence works, although a bit of a nuisance. For a short stay? Frustration sets in real quick and here I sit at the keyboard asking for better ideas! Think in terms of "half crippled", cow pasture abundantly fertilized by said cows, a landowner (aka step FIL) who mowes every couple of years whether it needs it or not, and wrestling 40 ft of tangled netting around and you start to get the picture. It's "OK", but my brain works in a manner where it's always looking to improve things. There's room here for improvement.
And for the netting from the roof? Yep, that crossed my mind! 'til it comes time to do it... Working with this stuff is like getting gum off your shoe. For an extended stay, forming the square fence works, although a bit of a nuisance. For a short stay? Frustration sets in real quick and here I sit at the keyboard asking for better ideas! Think in terms of "half crippled", cow pasture abundantly fertilized by said cows, a landowner (aka step FIL) who mowes every couple of years whether it needs it or not, and wrestling 40 ft of tangled netting around and you start to get the picture. It's "OK", but my brain works in a manner where it's always looking to improve things. There's room here for improvement.
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