How do you hit a running deer?
12-23-2006 | 12:03 PM
#21
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,394
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From:
RE: How do you hit a running deer?
First, you're not ready, so don't attempt this, yet anyway.
You need to practice as others have stated. Here is one way to do it;
Rolling wheel - get an old tire, one that is pretty tough, like a truck tire. Carrige bolt some plywood on the inside and staple targets to it. Have a friend roll it down a hill that has some bumps. The bumps will make the tire bounce and simulate a deer jumping through the woods. Most who understand this way of shooting agree that the shot should be taken while the animal is in the air, since it is "committed". Meaning that it cannot stop, change directions, or speed as they can while on the ground. But this is a very challenging shot. The single biggest reason for its challenge is that you can’t take advantage of the accuracy associated with being surprised by the shot like you would if you were shooting at a still target. You will have to pull the trigger knowing that the gun is going to fire and you will flinch. This applies to timing the shot, meaning finding an opening and shooting though it when the deer is passing through or with leading, meaning keeping the gun on or just ahead of the animal while it is moving.
So, you'll also need to get to know your flinch. You can do this by standing while aiming your weapon. Have a friend command when to shoot. As soon as the command is given, you need to shoot. Since the danger that is causing you to flinch is understood, always in the same spot (five inches from your face) and expected, your flinch should be somewhat consistent. Once you know how you flinch, you'll be better at making these shots and you should use this info while practicing. I have found during my practicing, that I am the most accurate with the single bead on the end of a smooth bore shotgun barrel. Next would be a rifle with iron sights and lastly the scope. Further, I would recommend using slugs rather than buck shot. Some will disagree, but there are many advantages to slugs. They are distance, energy at any given distance and the biggest one for this topic would be either hitting the animal or having a clean miss. If you hit an animal with just a few buck shot pellets, they will most likely live for a while or recover. You may not even think that you’ve hit them, and only track them for a short distance if at all. I don’t think this is a fair way to treat these animals. A slug normally leaves no question whether there was a hit or not. The animal will either collapse right there on the spot, run only a short distance, or if the hit wasn’t great, there will still be a great blood trail.
For those of you who disagree, please go study the ballistic coefficient of buck shot pellets before arguing. It does have some very poor numbers.
On another note, I would first recommend not jumping the deer. This is your best case for a good clean shot. If you are continually jumping deer and you are using a scoped weapon, it sounds to me like you were in shooting range and didn’t see the animal was near by. You should be using binoculars, moving very slowly and scanning the entire area before proceeding. Shooting at a moving animal to me would be the last choice, only after all else had failed. Further, since I do not require the meat from these animals for me to survive, I would and have elected to pass on these shots.
Good luck,
KP
You need to practice as others have stated. Here is one way to do it;
Rolling wheel - get an old tire, one that is pretty tough, like a truck tire. Carrige bolt some plywood on the inside and staple targets to it. Have a friend roll it down a hill that has some bumps. The bumps will make the tire bounce and simulate a deer jumping through the woods. Most who understand this way of shooting agree that the shot should be taken while the animal is in the air, since it is "committed". Meaning that it cannot stop, change directions, or speed as they can while on the ground. But this is a very challenging shot. The single biggest reason for its challenge is that you can’t take advantage of the accuracy associated with being surprised by the shot like you would if you were shooting at a still target. You will have to pull the trigger knowing that the gun is going to fire and you will flinch. This applies to timing the shot, meaning finding an opening and shooting though it when the deer is passing through or with leading, meaning keeping the gun on or just ahead of the animal while it is moving.
So, you'll also need to get to know your flinch. You can do this by standing while aiming your weapon. Have a friend command when to shoot. As soon as the command is given, you need to shoot. Since the danger that is causing you to flinch is understood, always in the same spot (five inches from your face) and expected, your flinch should be somewhat consistent. Once you know how you flinch, you'll be better at making these shots and you should use this info while practicing. I have found during my practicing, that I am the most accurate with the single bead on the end of a smooth bore shotgun barrel. Next would be a rifle with iron sights and lastly the scope. Further, I would recommend using slugs rather than buck shot. Some will disagree, but there are many advantages to slugs. They are distance, energy at any given distance and the biggest one for this topic would be either hitting the animal or having a clean miss. If you hit an animal with just a few buck shot pellets, they will most likely live for a while or recover. You may not even think that you’ve hit them, and only track them for a short distance if at all. I don’t think this is a fair way to treat these animals. A slug normally leaves no question whether there was a hit or not. The animal will either collapse right there on the spot, run only a short distance, or if the hit wasn’t great, there will still be a great blood trail.
For those of you who disagree, please go study the ballistic coefficient of buck shot pellets before arguing. It does have some very poor numbers.
On another note, I would first recommend not jumping the deer. This is your best case for a good clean shot. If you are continually jumping deer and you are using a scoped weapon, it sounds to me like you were in shooting range and didn’t see the animal was near by. You should be using binoculars, moving very slowly and scanning the entire area before proceeding. Shooting at a moving animal to me would be the last choice, only after all else had failed. Further, since I do not require the meat from these animals for me to survive, I would and have elected to pass on these shots.
Good luck,
KP
12-23-2006 | 12:08 PM
#22
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,673
Likes: 0
From: NW Arkansas
RE: How do you hit a running deer?
ORIGINAL: jake smith09
One reason its hard to get one with a scope is because normally when a deer runs from you its because you spooked it up from close range and a scope is ment for long range so its hard to find something running in something that is makeing things look 10 times bigger. it depends on the distance for leading it or not and it depends on the gun also.
One reason its hard to get one with a scope is because normally when a deer runs from you its because you spooked it up from close range and a scope is ment for long range so its hard to find something running in something that is makeing things look 10 times bigger. it depends on the distance for leading it or not and it depends on the gun also.
12-23-2006 | 01:18 PM
#27
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From:
RE: How do you hit a running deer?
I think it takes practice. Ive hit a couple bucks running and it is tough. Missed a few big ones too cause they were running. for me it isnt hard finding them in the scope its just the lead and all that and hitting them. i hit a coyote in the head at about 300 yards running full bore. that was intense. i double lunged a nice 4x4 this year, it was hit it the ass but it was still running really fast and i just killed it for him so we didnt have to go chase him. if i have to ill take running shots but if i think hes gonna stop soon ill let him stop
12-23-2006 | 02:41 PM
#29
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 0
From: Berkeley Springs, WV
RE: How do you hit a running deer?
I dont think anyone can answer your question correctly without knowing where you hunt and what you hunt with. In general if you walk slowly thru the woods and jump a deer you cant just aim for the nose or worry about the wind.
You should have the scope somewhere around a 4x setting and pick your shot, most times if you are in the woods you have to use openings to shoot threw. Any of the mentioned methods are good for practicing. You need to be fairly confident with shooting offhanded with your rifle. The situation is always changing though so there is no answer someone can give you that will always work. Most times when I jump a deer it runs away from me and not left to right from me, So the best you can do is aiming at the front half of the deer. Ive shot bucks running straight away in the butt, with the correct bullets\gun they are still lethal shots.
I mainly hunt hardwood mountain terrain in WV.When Im not hunting out of a tree stand(broadside take you time shots can use about any gun)then I am slowly walking threw the woods. It seems to work best on windy days because my movement is hidden a lot better and it seems like you can walk right up on them compared to a still day. After or during rain is a good time too because it easier to walk quietly. I think Rifle choice does matter when you hunt deer you expect toshoot running. I use a Ruger Deerstalker in 44mag. Its an autogun, its about the only time I think you need a quick 2nd and 3rd shot for deer is when you jump them, there are other rifles that work good in this situation also just depends on what you are comfortable using.
Im no expert about hunting this way but I can tell you that patience is very important, take your time and walk slow, remember you can never kill a deer with the gun slinged across yourback, so make sure you carry it so your ready to shoulder it very quickly. Practice by finding something in the woods like a downed tree or rock break or whatever stands out and shoulder the gun and see how quickly you can get it in you sight picture. Up to about 100 yards or so I can pick out whatever and throw the gun up and its in the scope, thats mainly from practicing throwing up the gun and aiming at something.
You should have the scope somewhere around a 4x setting and pick your shot, most times if you are in the woods you have to use openings to shoot threw. Any of the mentioned methods are good for practicing. You need to be fairly confident with shooting offhanded with your rifle. The situation is always changing though so there is no answer someone can give you that will always work. Most times when I jump a deer it runs away from me and not left to right from me, So the best you can do is aiming at the front half of the deer. Ive shot bucks running straight away in the butt, with the correct bullets\gun they are still lethal shots.
I mainly hunt hardwood mountain terrain in WV.When Im not hunting out of a tree stand(broadside take you time shots can use about any gun)then I am slowly walking threw the woods. It seems to work best on windy days because my movement is hidden a lot better and it seems like you can walk right up on them compared to a still day. After or during rain is a good time too because it easier to walk quietly. I think Rifle choice does matter when you hunt deer you expect toshoot running. I use a Ruger Deerstalker in 44mag. Its an autogun, its about the only time I think you need a quick 2nd and 3rd shot for deer is when you jump them, there are other rifles that work good in this situation also just depends on what you are comfortable using.
Im no expert about hunting this way but I can tell you that patience is very important, take your time and walk slow, remember you can never kill a deer with the gun slinged across yourback, so make sure you carry it so your ready to shoulder it very quickly. Practice by finding something in the woods like a downed tree or rock break or whatever stands out and shoulder the gun and see how quickly you can get it in you sight picture. Up to about 100 yards or so I can pick out whatever and throw the gun up and its in the scope, thats mainly from practicing throwing up the gun and aiming at something.
12-23-2006 | 03:29 PM
#30
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 0
From: wisconsin
RE: How do you hit a running deer?
The best advise i can give is to stop the deer.This wont work if he knows where you are,like you jumped him.but if hes running past,ill draw,aim, and yell HAY!!Believe it or not they stop on a dime and give you 5-6 seconds.