ORIGINAL: oldsmellhound

With an accurate rifle or muzzleloader, if the range is short and the deer isn't moving, I think it's an okay shot. Most of the time you'll either kill the deer instantly, or miss completely. Yes there is a chance of wounding a deer, causing suffering, but that chance is still there for you "double lung" guys- if your aim is off, if the deer moves, etc, you can wind up gut-shooting them- also a lot of pain and suffering for the deer. Fact is, we're hunting deer and trying to kill them- and it doesn't always work out the way we want it to every time- there's always a chance of wounding a deer. Our job is to keep that chance as low as possible.