Everyone does not know or think that. It is your opinion, and that is fact.

Because it just doesn't happen. I have killed 7 this year, no wounded deer, but that doesn't mean I have not wounded one before or that I will never wound one again. In my originalpost that you picked a couple of sentences from to take out of context, I implied that it is the shooters call. There are too many variables for a question like this to be realistic. Lets be specific, is the deer running full speed, flat or bounding, how many deer are there, is it open woods, a cutover, a field, what is the weapon, the distance, and on and on and on and on.

You are right.....it is simply my opinion.The sad partthere might be a youngsterfollowing this threadand reading the posts that say it is OK. They might not have the skills to be as proficientas you proclaim. What is he/she left with? A long blood trail? I wounded deer?A heart broken hunter?

If you choose to take running shots more power to ya, but please don't say and argue that it is ethical not matter how many times you have been seccessful.

I would hope that young hunter has a good mentor. Until you can tell me why it is unethical a running shot is just another shot. I should clarify that I do not advocate running shots with bows and have never taken one with my rifle but when it comes to shotgun hunting there is nothing you can tell me about a running shot. I wonder why "buckshot" was ever introduced, hmmmmmmm. You are missing the much bigger point it is the hunter that needs to be ethical and choose his shots based on the situation and his/her capability and knowledge. There are running shots I don't take but the ones I do take I am confident in and in no way will I accept being labeled as "unethical" because of thatshot selection. The proof of my shot selection is in my crock-pot right now. You call it whatever you want, I call it tasty!!

As I would "hope" they never take running shots.

The biggest reason a running shot is unethical is the increased chance that the shot will not be fatal. Pretty simple if you ask me.

Why not? If a bowman is "good" and accurate what is the difference? Why not with a Rifle? If a rifleman is a dead ringer, why not take the shot?
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What does that have to do with shooting a running deer?

Again.........then why not with a Bow or Rifle?

Where do you draw the line? Is that where everyone should draw the line? I am not labeling you. I simply said that I think ?taking a running shot at a deer is unethical.

Mine too, but the deer I killed were standing still

sorry "dude" but can you point out where I stated I've never missed a deer? I agree s#$% happens and has to me too. My point is when I shoot at an animal I have my mind 100% made up the deer is getting a double lung/heart shot. Sometimes things go bad after the arrow is released or the trigger is pulled. However, EVERY single time I'm zeroed in on the vitals and will NOT fire untill I'm 110% sure of that it's going to hit the vitals. My comments geared towards this comment.

You have to have it in your mind that it is 100% sure or don't take the shot. Sorry "dude" to me it's more than "just talk". So go ahead and keep aiming at noses and "leading" deer blah blah blah. Sounds like a bunch of lead flying and wishful hitting rather than placing a shot in the boiler room.

To each their own "dude"

There's a single doe running across an alfalfa field at 65yards and you have a shotgun. She's heading towards some thickets and you have about 10 seconds from the time you see her untill the time she has made it to the woods

So I guess you guys who dont take shots are running deer because you may wound an animal and think its unethical to shoot an animal thats running or movingconsider all bird hunters unethical. Rarely do they get a shot when the animal has stopped.

If you dont feel comfortable talking a shot at a running deer or animal then dont. Don't come on here judging if its right or wrong. Dont take a shot thats out of your skill level if they need to standing still then wait til then.

You guys be careful on your soapboxs telling us about it being wrong to shoota moving animal(deer, bird rabbit all the same), theres a lot of folks on boxs right behind you saying its unethical toshoot them at all.

We are talking abour DEER and no they are not the sameas rabbits or Birds.The animals you mention above are shot with Buck shot. To my knowledge it is illegal at least in WV to shoot a deer with Buck shot.

I guess I have trouble figuring out why anyone would take a running shot? Why not wait until a better shot is presented or wait on another deer? Why chance it? Is it worth the chance of blowing off it's jaw and letting it starve to death?

The increased chance the shot will not be fatal? Again, your opinion. I am a firm believer in the power of buckshot within its effective range.

A bow, a rifle, and a shotgun are all different weapons with different characteristics. When I bowhunt or rifle hunt I am still hunting and usually don't see running deer so I guess that is one reason but more importantly Iwouldn't feel confident with my bow or rifle shooting at running deer and it is not something I practice with those pieces of equipment. Now a shotgun is different for obvious reasons and shooting clays and other moving targets is pretty common practice.

I should not have said advocate in my earlier post just simply I do not take running shots with my bow or rifle. I'm sure there are many who can do it with a rifle(I'm not one)but a bow has some trajectory issues and I personallywouldn't feel comfortable or confident in that kind of shot.

You draw the line by knowing your equipment(in my case it is a shotgun) and what it and you are capable of. Anything beyond those capabilities you don't shoot.

I shot several deer standing still this year as well. The running shot is not the only shot I take but if the situation presents itself and the deer is within range it is all over but the field dressing and butchering.

I'm sorry you feel I am unethical, I'm sure if you hunted with me you would not think so.