ORIGINAL: HuntinGUS
I would hope that young hunter has a good mentor.
As I would "hope" they never take running shots.
Until you can tell me why it is unethical a running shot is just another shot.
The biggest reason a running shot is unethical is the increased chance that the shot will not be fatal. Pretty simple if you ask me.
I should clarify that I do not advocate running shots with bows and have never taken one with my rifle but when it comes to shotgun hunting there is nothing you can tell me about a running shot.
Why not? If a bowman is "good" and accurate what is the difference? Why not with a Rifle? If a rifleman is a dead ringer, why not take the shot?
I wonder why "buckshot" was ever introduced, hmmmmmmm
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What does that have to do with shooting a running deer?
You are missing the much bigger point it is the hunter that needs to be ethical and choose his shots based on the situation and his/her capability and knowledge.
Again.........then why not with a Bow or Rifle?
There are running shots I don't take but the ones I do take I am confident in and in no way will I accept being labeled as "unethical" because of thatshot selection.
Where do you draw the line? Is that where everyone should draw the line? I am not labeling you. I simply said that I think ?taking a running shot at a deer is unethical.
The proof of my shot selection is in my crock-pot right now. You call it whatever you want, I call it tasty!!
Mine too, but the deer I killed were standing still
The increased chance the shot will not be fatal? Again, your opinion. I am a firm believer in the power of buckshot within its effective range.
A bow, a rifle, and a shotgun are all different weapons with different characteristics. When I bowhunt or rifle hunt I am still hunting and usually don't see running deer so I guess that is one reason but more importantly Iwouldn't feel confident with my bow or rifle shooting at running deer and it is not something I practice with those pieces of equipment. Now a shotgun is different for obvious reasons and shooting clays and other moving targets is pretty common practice.
I should not have said advocate in my earlier post just simply I do not take running shots with my bow or rifle. I'm sure there are many who can do it with a rifle(I'm not one)but a bow has some trajectory issues and I personallywouldn't feel comfortable or confident in that kind of shot.
You draw the line by knowing your equipment(in my case it is a shotgun) and what it and you are capable of. Anything beyond those capabilities you don't shoot.
I shot several deer standing still this year as well. The running shot is not the only shot I take but if the situation presents itself and the deer is within range it is all over but the field dressing and butchering.
I'm sorry you feel I am unethical, I'm sure if you hunted with me you would not think so.