It just past the six-month mark before the Rifle Opener. Already I am tying my stomach in knots jonesing on what rifles to take. It should be easy for a guy like me, just go to the rack as I’m taking off for camp and find the rifle that speaks to me. Only it isn’t that easy. It’s never that easy.

About 5 years ago, I decided to build a decision matrix. Heck, I’m an IT guide by trade– did it for over 40 years. This was easy stuff for me. I took my entire rifle inventory and ranked them 1 to 3 on what was suitable for deer hunting. Then I added a column ranking them 1 to 3 on which ones I really wanted with me, I went on like that and when I was done, I totaled the points, and the rifles with the highest percentage of points got to go. Only it did not go that well. The matrix kept suggesting rifles that I didn’t want to take, or burying favorites. I finally added a MustGo column and weighted it heavily.

This sounds like a lot of work, but it was a good exercise. I finally got to see the complexity of what goes through my head every year. I’ve been using the matrix every year since. I thought about adding a “Deer Taken” value, so that I could rotate rifles better, but there are some rifles that just “have to go.” All this been functioning fine ever since until this spring.

First off, I ate tag soup last year. With this as the only factor, I’d probably keep the choices the same and not worry about it.

Second, I acquired a new rifle, the Rossi 92 in 44 Magnum. Well, of course, it’s going. However, there is only so much room; something has to go. What then? I could drop the Savage 99, but that is my go-to Opening Day rifle. Honestly, role wise, that would be the most logical. However, nobody said this was a logical process. I’ve got load-development issues on two rifles. The 7mm-08 and the 25-06.

In the case of the latter, I’ve been bumping this custom Mauser out of the line-up for 6 years in favor of other projects. Its time has come. Furthermore, this is the 10th anniversary of losing its previous owner, my dear friend O.T. I need to get this rifle out.

Lastly, I brought the 8X57 Mauser out last year in the role of “Safety Blanket.” I try to have one tried-and-true rifle and load that I can swap in if anything goes wrong. Usually, this choice stays cased up for the whole season, but it has had to come out a few times.

By this time the decision matrix had fallen flat on its face. Rationality had thrown up its hands and gone out for a beer. All my little rules had gone scurrying into the bush, I was left with nothing but shreds of superstition and a wall of cold hard steel.

Last night, I had an idea: Why not do an all-oddball season. Take the oddest possibilities out and see what happens. No. There are projects that I need to work on. I have loads to test. I have articles to write. However, when I thought about it, I have enough on the rack for all sorts of ideas:

• An All-Black Powder line-up.
• An all-MilSurp line-up with the Garand, the Moisin Nagant, the MAS 36, etc.
• A old home Buckeye Special line-up. Nothing but shotguns and Pistol Caliber Rifles
• Go through the rack and systematically take everything that hasn’t taken a deer yet.

I’d love to hear what you think would be fun. I’m retired now. I can do whatever I want. Furthermore, the days of making these picks every season is going to be a thing of the past soon. KYHillChick and I are going to move down to the farm full-time as soon as things get sorted. I’ll be able to hunt every day of season and just reach in the rack as I am going out the door.

In the end, I decided to go without the security blanket. The 8X57 Mauser will stay home. What I will do is as follows:

• Use the Savage 99 in its traditional role on the Opener
• Use the 7mm-08 for the long-range afternoon venues
• Bring the Rossi 92 out to the morning treestand hunts
• Start using 25-06 after my buck tag is filled or after I have given up.

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