The Best Weapon of the Forest

[ryaninmichigan]

30-06 is widly regarded as the most effective cal for anything in North America..

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

I was wondering what was the best weapon of the forest or a weapon you want to take with you when you go hunting? I know that bows are favoured over guns as guns kill the prey too fast. Does anyone know any better weapons.

well, thats a good question. wilderness weapons are my favorite to use. like the javoline, which is a tree splinter of 4 feet or more in length, the entire "ray"of wood tapers to a sharp point that breaks off to a sharp point every time you break it. (those are nice)

[Alpine_Sapper]

30-06 is widly regarded as the most effective cal for anything in North America..

Sure, I use 30-06 for everything....rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, dove, duck, possum...

[canid]

and then you get the extra enjoyment of finding and collecting all the pieces

[klkak]

well, thats a good question. wilderness weapons are my favorite to use. like the javoline, which is a tree splinter of 4 feet or more in length, the entire "ray"of wood tapers to a sharp point that breaks off to a sharp point every time you break it. (those are nice)

Here's some Wikipedia info on the Javelin.

A javelin is a light spear designed primarily for casting as a ranged weapon. The javelin is almost always thrown by hand unlike the arrow and slingshot which are projectiles shot from a mechanism. However, hurling devices do exist to assist the thrower in achieving greater distance. The word javelin comes from Middle English and it derives from Old French javeline, a diminutive of javelot which meant spear. The word javelot probably originated from the Celtic language.

Prehistory
There is archaeological evidence that javelins and throwing sticks were already in use during the last phase of the lower Paleolithic. Seven spear-like objects were found in a coal mine in the city of Schöningen, Germany. Stratigraphic dating indicates that the weapons are about 400,000 years old. The excavated items were made of spruce (Picea) trunk and were between 1.82 and 2.25 meters long. They were manufactured with the maximum thickness and weight situated at the front end of the wooden shaft. The frontal centre of gravity suggests that these pole weapons were used as javelins. A fossilized rhinoceros shoulder blade with a projectile wound, dated to 500,000 years ago, was revealed in a gravel quarry in the village of Boxgrove, England. Studies revealed that the wound was probably caused by a javelin.

[aflineman]

My carry everywhere in the woods used to be a H&R 12ga Survivor
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It now tends to be a Savage 24 in 30/30 over 20ga.
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I also carry a Security Six, just because.

I may get a 20ga Trade Rifle later on, I do like the old smoke poles, just don't have a smooth bore yet.

Bows and arrows, while I am good with them, are not my thing. My old Bear recurve long had a limb crack while it was in storage a few years ago. Maybe if I found another one like it, I may take up archery again.

[Yuma Kutsuu]

If I was just wandering into the woods for a while and needed to take a general weapon it would have to be a high carbon steel knife made by Ka-Bar or Cold Steel. Knives don't jam, make noise, or need reloading. They also get damaged less easy (if you have a good one) and they can be used to make other weapons primarily out of wood.

One of the many things humans have going for them is their ability to think and strategise. I don't see many other animals picking up rocks if you catch my drift.

[Nativedude]

The absolute best weapon to have is the gray matter between your ears.

As for a weapon you might carry, my choice would be a bow. You can make a bow in the woods, if necessary, you can make more arrows, if necessary, you can make a new string, if necessary. They are compact and lightweight to carry and are quiet to boot!

While a gun blast may or may not startle or scare off all of the game, a bow never scares off all of the game, except for the one you shoot.

And you can take a bow anywhere without be scrutinized by the law!

JM2C!

[Alpine_Sapper]

And you can take a bow anywhere without be scrutinized by the law!

I agree with everything you said, except the above statement. Now days you can't go anywhere without being scrutinized by the law dogs if you have any kind of "weapon".

[Beo]

30-06 is widly regarded as the most effective cal for anything in North America..

PFFFFFFTTTT!!!! on the 30-06, I rifle hunt (modern) with my Remington 700 that is chambered in the Winchester .300 mag and I can drop anything on this planet with it. But even my flintlock is a .68 cal that will drop any big game in North America, soooooooooo PFFFFFFFTTTT!!! On the 30-06.
Beo,

[klkak]

The best weapon of the forest is the one you have with you when you need a weapon. Regardless of caliber or platform.

[oldsoldier]

IMHO there is no "best" weapon. A weapon is a tool, just like a wrench, a hammer, whatever. Depending on what you are hunting, just as what project your working on decides what "tool" you use. You'd never want to use a screwdriver to drive a 60 penny nail, or a hacksaw to cut a railroad tie. The same way you would'nt want to use a 30.06 to squirrel hunt. Decide on what you hunt then how you do it. But if I had to choose just one weapon to carry I guess it would be my stag arms M4 it's in .223 cal so I can use it for larger game, or in a matter of about a minute by changing the bolt assy. and the magazine you can convert it to a .22 for smaller game.

[Bladen]

Best weapon is whats above your shoulders.

i agree 100%.
i think everything else is a personal choice or would depend on the situation youre in.

[jesse james turner]

What are you hunting? Where are you hunting? I don't think you can kill an animal too fast. The quicker the better. That last thing I want any animal to do is suffer needlessly. A quick kill is essential.

I agree with Rick, The quick kill of the animal is a nessecity here, the speed of the death is Imperative here just as the placement of the bullet/Arrow/ Spear,.........Whatever you use. For one the quick kill is usually one that drops the animal right there in its tracks. If the animal runs You then have to wait till you hear it drop or till you think its dead. If you have actually just grazed it or gut shot the animal there is another problem. You have severly wounded the animal but didn't complete the job. He might get totally away.
So placement of your shot is important also.

Third thing is is the animal "dangerous game" I.E. Bear, Couger, Panther,
Coyote. A wounded bear is even more danferous then a Healthy one.

So a bow is great as long as you stay in the kill zone but you best hunting still will always a gun.

[rwc1969]

the best weapon of the forest isn't much use if you can't find critters or track em. Too many people around my neck of the woods have "best weapons", but not many can track a deer. even fewer know when to stay put or get up and move.

Reagardless of the weapon you use, you will eventually have to track a big game animal and it's best to know how before you go shooting up the woods.

I prefer my .22LR, 20 gauge shot/ slug gun and .50 cal muzzleloader for hunting most critters. I have quite a few others, but those are the ones that work best for me and are affordable enough to get real good without getting real broke in the process.

[Sarge47]

I prefer the M1 Abrahms Tank! Not too many critters, or folks either for that matter, can out-run a round fired from that cannon!

[Huntinfool]

This is funny what appeared to be a PETA troll started this thread about a year ago and it's still goinig! LOL! I'm glad because it gives me a chance to quote one of my favorites!!

"The single most important factor in wound lethality is bullet placement. This cannot be overstated"

Taken from: The Mechanics of Terminal Ballistics

~HF~

[hoosierarcher]

I was wondering what was the best weapon of the forest or a weapon you want to take with you when you go hunting? I know that bows are favoured over guns as guns kill the prey too fast. Does anyone know any better weapons.

AS many others have stated you can't kill too quickly. Are you trying to whomp a hornet's nest?
A properly placed bullet or arrow both kill in 14 seconds or less. A whitetail deer fatally hit with either can travel slightly over 300 yards in that 14 seconds. Bows are used to increase the challenge for the hunter. Not to kill an animal more slowly. In fact wild boars die faster from a properly placed arrow than a bullet in my personal experience.
To answer your question the best weapon for the forest is the one a person has the most confidence in.

[crashdive123]

The little pimply faced, booger eater that started the thread did no survive the encounter.

[Ole WV Coot]

Most of what I read about calibers is like driving a tack with a sledgehammer, a bit much. Learn to hit the right spot and good stalking don't hurt either.