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Step Outside: A Good Rifl e

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Highlights

Highlights

Larry Leigh is an avid angler, hunter and all-round outdoors person who prefers to cook what he harvests himself. He is a past president of the Canadian Wildlife Federation and a retired hunter-education coordinator for the Government of Yukon.

THE HUNTER’S FIRST RIFLE: THE VENERABLE .30-06 SPRINGFIELD

This .30 calibre, accepted by the U.S. military, in 1906, is 112 years old and still high on the list as one of the mostversatile hunting cartridges in the world. Probably every huntable species on Earth has been taken with a .30-06 rifl e.

In the Yukon, this cartridge meets the minimum standards for hunting wood bison, provided the hunter follows the ammunition regulations. Factory ammunition is available, with bullets from 130 to 220 grains, while the handloader has an even-broader range of bullet weights. Factory loads come with a very broad range of bullet types (shape and construction) to match your preference and are more accurate in your particular rifl e. Depending on your choice of ammunition, a standard box of 20 rounds ranges in price from about $30 to about $100, with quality and accuracy increasing with the price. Ammunition is also available around the globe, and lower-priced ammunition allows you to afford to practice. It is important to sight-in and hunt with premium ammunition.

In recent years, the fi rearm industry has fi nally produced somewhat-smaller-overall rifl es to be used by smaller-framed adults and youths. In prior times, rifl es were all made about the same size, to suit the “average” size of shooters. This made them ill-fi tting for larger and smaller shooters, which resulted in poor accuracy and often in bruised shoulders and cheeks, from recoil (kick), PHOTO: Pixabay

Choosing a versatile rifle, from the start, can be a great way to ensure that the hunt is an enjoyable one

when the gun was fi red (the gun did not fi t the shooter). These newer, smaller-fi tting rifl es have somewhat shorter barrels so that the rifl e stays balanced. On some rifl es, the buttstock length (length of pull) is adjustable through the use of wafer-like inserts fastened to the rear of the buttstock. Some rifl es come with or can be fi tted with adjustable-length stocks.

For most shooters, the recoil from a .30-06 is obvious but not painful. If the rifl e is not held properly or is ill-fi tting, the recoil can be unpleasant. Learning to mount (hold) the rifl e properly, altering the stock so it fi ts, or mounting a recoil pad, can ease that concern.

The .30-06 is so common that all fi rearm manufacturers produce them in the lower-cost rifl es, described above, up to very-expensive, custom-built units at all prices in-between. Probably every business that sells used fi rearms will have at least one .30-06 rifl e on the rack, and ads in newspapers are common. Canadian Access to Firearms is a publication that advertises fi rearms and accessories for sale.

I would recommend a bolt action, as they are the most common, simpler, easily maintained and likely the safest choice due to its method of operation.

The sights that come on the rifl e (front and rear) are adequate and should be practised with before installing optics (scope or red dot). Optics are broken or quit, from time to time, so familiarity with the iron sights will allow you to continue on your hunt.

In closing, a newer cartridge (1956), for the .308 Winchester (WIN, a.k.a 7.62 NATO) is very close in energy to the .30-06 and is as common. A drawback for the .308 WIN. however in the Yukon is that it does not meet the minimum standard for hunting wood bison making the .30-06 the better choice. n

Atlin Community Improvement District

Apply for community project and event funding

The Community Development Fund supports projects that benefit Yukoners and contribute to thriving, vibrant and sustainable communities.

Eligible projects include: • new construction projects; • renovations and restorations to buildings or land; • knowledge or skill development; • research and planning; and • programs and events.

Apply by October 17 for projects under $20,000.

ATLIN THANKS YOU! On behalf of the Atlin Volunteer Fire Department fi refi ghters and the entire community of Atlin, the Atlin Community Improvement District wishes to express an enormous, heartfelt THANK YOU for the assistance provided by our caring Yukon neighbours!

THANK YOU Yukon S.H.O.T team

(Special Heavy Operations Team) that came to Atlin in the early morning hours of September 23 to assist with the fire at the General Store / Post Office & Henry’s.

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO:

the departments that make up the S.H.O.T. team & the fire apparatus supplied by S.H.O.T:

Golden Horn Fire Department Marsh Lake Fire Department Tagish Fire Department SPECIAL APPRECIATION & RECOGNITION TO:

Diane Lister S.H.O.T Chief - Marsh Lake Dennis Berry - Ibex Warren Zakus - Ibex Mike Setterington - Golden Horn Chris Reynolds - Golden Horn Rob Schnider - Marsh Lake Joh Mah - Hootalinqua Andrew Pike - Golden Horn Cam Cos - Dispatcher at Delta1

WITH GRATITUDE TO the Yukon Fire Marshal’s O ce which funds and supports the S.H.O.T. Team

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