Will the 22 mag. harvest a deer yes indeed i have taken 8 of them with a 22 & shorts. I just shot them between the eye and the ear, dead deer. In the south half dz. states allow them for deer hunting. Its an experts rifle cal. So please keep an open mind, it maynot be your cup of tea but anothers sweet peach. I don't suggest folks run out and buy one just because they can harvest game with it and very light recoil. Hey were in the real world and folks do many things they shouldn't. [&:]