Nevada’s archery hunting seasons for big game are well underway, and that means firearm seasons are just around the corner. Which also means it is time for those who hunt with firearms to invest some of their time at the shooting range. The legendary Jack O’Connor, respected by many as one of the great gun writers, often wrote about the importance of sighting in one’s hunting rifle in preparation for the hunt. Not only does range time give you the opportunity to make sure your rifle shoots where you want it to, but it also provides you with the confidence you need to make the shot when the time comes. O’Connor also stressed the importance of double checking the rifle’s zero once a hunter arrives at their final destination. This is especially true if reaching that destination includes air travel, and I can tell you from experience there are hard lessons to be learned when you don’t. If you doubt the advice, just watch the baggage handlers the next time you are waiting to board your plane. Gentle is not part of their operating procedures. Some people have a meticulous and lengthy approach to verifying their rifle’s zero, but my Uncle Doug has always kept things simple. He says, “If I shoot the can and it jumps, I go hunting.” Obviously, if the can does not jump there is some work to be done. Normally, spending time at the range is something every hunter looks forward to. It is the chance to spend time with family or friends doing something one enjoys, and it is all part of the larger hunting experience. In addition to punching paper, hunters often take the time to shoot metal silhouettes at a variety of distances to both sharpen and test their skills. An activity from which most of us could benefit. This year, however, pandemic driven ammunition shortages have some hunters thinking twice about how much time they spend at the range and how many rounds they plan to fire in preparation for their hunt. Anyone who has been looking for hunting ammunition in recent months has mostly found bare or nearly bare shelves. Whether they are shopping in a brick-and-mortar store or online it is the same. If they do happen to find what they are looking for the price is substantially more than they would have paid at the beginning of the year.  [full article]