Went deer hunting this weekend with several very experienced and some well experienced, but not "expert" hunters.

Thought I'd mention the success in the context of running deer:

Running deer - 3 missed (completely, we think -HOPE), one gut shot and recovered, the second was shot at SIX times first shot in belly (skin only, divot of hair taken), another shot taking out left front leg, another shot taking out right rear leg the other three apparently missing completely. Deer with two mangled legs still lived for more than an hour, jumped and ran when first found (30 min after shot). Jumped again when tracked second time (after another 45 minutes). Was left alone and found dead 2 - 3 hours later. Strong blood trail for about 300 yards, I think it bled out from the femoral artery in rear leg.

5 standing or slowly walking deer: 5 single shot, clean kills in heart/lungs or neck.

Tell me why we should shoot at running deer? Maybe the guys who shoot at the running deer will get better with practice? I doubt it because they've all been hunting much longer than me (I only shoot at still or walkng deer - I would never even consider throwing a shot at a running deer.. those suckers are FAST!!).

Simply put,hunting experience does not determine shooting skill,especially at moving targets.And yes practisedoes definitely improve one shooting skills especially at moving targets.Ihave shot and cleanly killed severalhead of big game but I do keep the ranges reasonable and I have had a great deal of practise shooting moving targets from skeet to tires rolled down steep hills, to coyotes on the run.I do also know several people that aremuch better than myself at hitting moving targets,and I have seen these people hit a very high percentageof the varmints or game that they shoot at on the run at much longer distances than I would ever attempt.I choose to set my own limits on the shots that I will take based on my own shooting skills,and I judge other peoples shot decisionsbased on their shooting skills rather than on my own.

Good points. I've never tried a shot at a running deer and it just doesn't cross my mind to do it. I watch and try to stop it with a grunt or bleet. After a few years I've come to understand that a lot of folks think every deer they see, they need to at least take a whack at it, running, in the bushes, long distance or what have you. I'd be sorely embarassed if I took a shot and made a bad hit or missed - unless there was something that just happened - like a sudden movement on the part of the deer, a branch being hit, or what have you. To me the absolute most important thing is to make a clean hit that will kill the animal as fast as possible and that I can be proud of. I'd rather let them all walk (run) away than take a low percentage shot.