Experienced Comments on Shooting Running Deer and Varmints with a Rifle
Subject: Re: Can deer be shot in the head? (On Shooting Running Deer)
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2002 17:38:36 -0600
From: Frank Cerynik <cerynik@nep.net>
Organization: self
Newsgroups: rec.huntingYears ago in the farmlands of Northeast Pennsylvania it was common practice for neighbors to get together, write up a roster and hunt together by driving deer (Deer Drives) out of the wood lots on the farms. Standers' would be stationed at areas where the deer would be expected to run. When the drivers got done shooting, the deer would run past you at top speed, heading to the next woods.
This type of hunting is quickly dying out and being replaced by stump hunters, hunters who sit on a stump all day. They will sit in the middle of a drive and shoot the deer the drivers chased before they got out to the standers. So people backed off and stopped driving the deer for someone else. Well anyway, I don't remember anyone being told by the old timers to shoot for the head. It would have been silly as it is hard enough to shoot a deer bouncing in the air without aiming for the head. And don't say wait for them to stop as they were heading out of the area lickity split, if you didn't shoot your freezer might be empty that winter. Those were fun days with lots of fellowship and laughs, and lots of deer piled up. It is harder today to organize a hunt because of posted land and peoples inclination to go it alone. The last time I was on a roster was about 10 years ago.
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Subject: Re: Can deer be shot in the head? (On Shooting Running Deer)
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 17:40:23 -0600
From: BILL_NY@webtv.net
Reply-To: "Rec.hunting discussion list" <HUNTING@listserv.tamu.edu>
Organization: WebTV Subscriber
Newsgroups: rec.huntingChris wrote:
I, for one, would never go on such a hunt. There is just something unethical to me about shooting at a deer running full tilt. If I can't put my bullet within 1/2" of where I want it, I don't shoot. And I can't do that on a running deer. And fwiw, I don't think anyone else can either (at least not 100% of the time).
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That's the way we hunt Chris, and that's why we use the Lung shot. It gives a much larger kill zone and its not that hard to hit it. Running Deer do stop, that usually gives a chance for a shot too. As far a being unethical, that's a bunch of Bull, it's no more unethical than sitting in a ground blind with a bipod, and bench rest, that's what I call target shooting, not hunting.
Bill
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Subject: Re: Can deer be shot in the head? (On Shooting Running Deer)
Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 21:46:42 GMT
From: Fluid fromAK <fluid@alaska.net>
Reply-To: "Rec.hunting discussion list" <HUNTING@listserv.tamu.edu>
Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com
Newsgroups: rec.huntingSomeone wrote:
That's the way we hunt Chris, and that's why we use the Lung shot. It gives a much larger kill zone and its not that hard to hit it. Running Deer do stop, that usually gives a chance for a shot too. As far a being unethical, that's a bunch of Bull....
While I refrain from taking running shots myself, hunters with the appropriate skills can and do this with excellent and highly ethical results. [ Noted hunters who often did this successfully include Jack O'Connor and Elmer Keith. ] I have one hunting partner who is an exceptional bird shot, and that skill apparently carries over into big game hunting as he can drop running game as readily as most hunters who fire at standing deer. However, he only takes running shots at animals under 100 yards and only when the animal is running on fairly flat ground. Its impressive to watch a gifted shooter at work - remember the Triathlon competition a few weeks ago?
Jay TSubject: Re: Can deer be shot in the head? (On Shooting Running Deer)
Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 21:46:42 GMT
From: Fluid fromAK <fluid@alaska.net>
Reply-To: "Rec.hunting discussion list" <HUNTING@listserv.tamu.edu>
Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com
Newsgroups: rec.huntingSomeone wrote:
>That is the way we hunt Chris, and that's why we use the Lung shot. It gives a much larger kill zone and its not that hard to hit it. Running Deer do stop, that usually gives a chance for a shot too. As far a being unethical, that's a bunch of Bull....
While I refrain from taking running shots myself, hunters with the appropriate skills can and do this with excellent and highly ethical results. [ Noted hunters who often did this successfully include Jack O'Connor and Elmer Keith. ] I have one hunting partner who is an exceptional bird shot, and that skill apparently carries over into big game hunting as he can drop running game as readily as most hunters who fire at standing deer. However, he only takes running shots at animals under 100 yards and only when the animal is running on fairly flat ground. Its impressive to watch a gifted shooter at work - remember the Triathlon competition a few weeks ago?
Jay T
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Subject: Re: Can deer be shot in the head? (On Shooting Running Deer)
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 17:41:57 -0600
From: Irv <irv@attglobal.net>
Reply-To: Irv <isavidg@attglobal.net>
Newsgroups: rec.hunting----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Barnes" <chris.barnes@mail.com>
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 10:25 AM
Subject: Re: Can deer be shot in the head? (On Shooting Running Deer)> "Frank Cerynik" <cerynik@nep.net> wrote
> > Years ago in the farmlands of Northeast Pennsylvania it was common practice for neighbors to get together, write up a roster and hunt together by driving deer ( deer drives )out of the wood lots on the farms. Standers would be stationed at areas where the deer would be expected to run. When the drivers got done shooting, the deer would run past you at top speed, heading to the next woods. This type of hunting is quickly dying out and being replaced by stump hunters, hunters who sit on a stump all day.
They will sit in the middle of a drive and shoot the deer the drivers chased before they got out to the standers. So people backed off and stopped driving the deer for someone else. Those were fun days with lots of fellowship and laughs, and lots of deer piled up.The attitude of many participating in the large drives (and reflected in the above in the characterization of "stump sitters" above) was often that anyone else hunting the area by any other method should get out of the way of those involved in the drive - even landowners who were often berated or threatened by the drive participants.
Small 5 or 6 man drives are useful in hunting the slower midday times, but I do not miss the large organized drives which had no respect for other hunters or landowners. Although the actions of participants were often bad, I do acknowledge the skill of the organizers in conducting a well organized large drive which provided unskilled hunters a chance to harvest a deer.
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> I, for one, would never go on such a hunt. There is just something unethical to me about shooting at a deer running full tilt. If I can't ut my bullet within 1/2" of where I want it, I don't shoot. And I can't do that on a running deer. And fwiw, I don't think anyone else can either (at least not 100% of the time).
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It is not necessary to place a bullet within 1/2 inch of the point of aim when the vital area is 8 inches in diameter. A running deer at less than 50 yards is not that difficult to hit in the vital area using aperture sights or a LOW power scope.Isn't it against your newsgroup rules to characterize others' legal methods of hunting as "unethical"?
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Learn how to shoot! I have shot 12 running deer so far the longest being 325 yards and have killed them all in their tracks. Hunters are suppose to were bright orange. Deer do not wear bright orange, ergo don't shoot bright orange ever! Take up trap and skeet if you can't shoot a moving target and try shooting scope with both eyes open, it works, then you can see what is out side of your scope view. - SirMikeDucan - rec.hunting - Shooting at Running Deer - post
My advice regarding shooting running deer and varmints with a rifle is to know the ballistics of the cartridge you are using and then get as much practice as you can. Safety must be the first consideration of any shots you take in the field. This means you set-up knowing the shooting alleys and areas that are safe for running shots, or you don't shoot!
One hundred to 150-yards should be the distance limit for most shooters' with exceptional shooting skills due to extensive practice shooting at moving targets at various ranges and speeds.
We should have moving targets on every rifle range in America! I turn sideways with my left side towards the moving target and bring my left elbow into the side of my chest pivoting at the waist. That gives me bone structure support and works the best for me, try it!Knowing the approximate lead while utilizing a swing through lead, squeeze off while continuing to follow-through. You will be amazed at how your score will improve on moving targets.
I mainly only get dry fire practice at moving targets, but the only shot I got during the 2000 WI deer season with my 243/06 Wildcat with a 100 grain Sierra bullet at around +3400 fps MV, blew out the deer's neck vertebra, the deer was dead before it hit the snow covered ground. The deer was 100 long paces (100 yards) away running fallout, broadside. I had an old Weaver K-6 scope on my old mid-1960's custom built 243/06 Wildcat rifle. I never got a shot during the WI 2001 deer season.
In many of the southern states they use hounds to drive the deer out of heavy cover to the ambush standers along clearings, if they can't make running shots the odds of filling the freezer goes way down!
Stay within your shooting skill levels! (My shooting skills are dropping off due to injuries.) (10-08-02)
COYOTE HUNTING IN WISCONSIN
Darrell Udelhoven
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