Hi Outdoor,

We forgot the "presentation" (side to side, quartering, head on - tail on, etc.) wind direction and velocity...... I'm only kidding. I understand the question.....but like many others have already said....it depends upon the shot.

First, the furthest whitetail I've ever rifle shot was 95 yards. (Furthest whitetail was 115 yards with a Sabot slug.) But the vast majority were probably between 25 to 75 yards. With two or three handfuls at well under 25 yards. And I have taken "running" shots....but they all "looked good...and I felt confident" that I could make it. If a deer is running either straight towards you (a couple of instances).....or much more likely, straight away from you....there is "no lead". If the animal is strongly quartering...there will be significantly less lead. And full on broadside will require the most lead. I don't know if I can quantify it verbally while sitting here, without doing the math. But I do know in my mind's eye if I "see the shot"......when in the field. It's like shooting birds with a shotgun......or even to a lesser degree like seeing and making a pool shot. (I know.....not moving....but involves angles.) Either you "see it"....or you don't. The human brain is the most complex computer known to man. It is capable of doing these calculations rapidly.....if and when.....trained to do it. It is not infallible...but it is amazingly accuracte when so trained. (Like aerial gunnery, some are better at it naturally...but nearly all can be trained.)

The longest shots I have ever taken at running game have been on Caribou. All of these animals were moving at a steady gait, (though not 20 mph), and they were completely out in the open. Not only did the shots look good.....but I knew there was sufficient time for a finisher if needed....without the animal either "getting away wounded", or suffering unduly! And those shots were considerably easier to make then many running shots I'd passed up on whitetails in the hardwoods and mountain laurel!

If I'm confident in the presentation, my ability, and the weapon/load....I'll take the shot! If there are doubts.....I'll let it go!

I know that was not the answer you were looking for, (but I could always get out the calculator and assume wind direction/velocity, etc.).

Dave