I have a Marlin 30-30 lever that my dad hunted with as a kid. I've shot 45-70 levers too. Don't think- just buy. It's impossible to be sad while shooting a lever gun.
I go with Mtn House usually because they're fairly inexpensive at my local Bi-Mart. If they carried Peak I would go with them- I'm usually buying meals last minute so that's on me haha and I love Mtn house's pad thai
This year was my first season archery hunting and I think I hiked maybe 5 miles- it was freezing cold where we were and there was very little sign. Stayed around camp mostly. Last year I didn't really elk hunt and the year before I think we hiked ~15 miles. Have yet to kill an elk but have...