RE: was this the right thing to do
 

As said, it' s up to the individual hunters ability. Many people can barley hit a standing target, but many others can hit one running with one hand. It' s all what you practice. Most, and I mean the vast majority of hunters do not practice shooting enough. I shoot all year long, but then, I am a gun nut.

RE: was this the right thing to do
 

Amen, A5Mag12. One has to love not only the hunt, but also the tools of the hunt, in order succeed more often than not.

RE: was this the right thing to do
 

I wouldn' t think about it too much unless it becomes a habit. I don' t know his situation or how many deer he has harvested, but I' m sure we have all taken shots that we' re not proud of when we first started humting. I took two stupid shots at deer when I was younger before realizing the importance of a clean shot. I' ve only lost one deer in my life and I attribute that to waiting for just the right shot.

RE: was this the right thing to do
 

a 30-40 yds running shot should not be that difficult of a shot to make for many people to make. He didn' t make the shot but I don' t feel you can jump all over him for taking it.

RE: was this the right thing to do
 

maybe, but i know he tends to show off and act stupid, i just hope next time a shot like this presents itself to him, he' ll think about this experience and say ahh i didnt do to well on the last one better wait for a better shot

RE: was this the right thing to do
 

ive killed alot of deer running, i would take the shot

RE: was this the right thing to do
 

I wouldn' t hesitate a bit in the same situtiation.

Use it a learning experience and show/teach him how to make the shot instead of bashing his head in. He' s only 16 for Christ sakes.

RE: was this the right thing to do
 

I would have shot. I have shot a few while running. I have also seen a lot of guys shoot at standing deer and they lost those deer. So.....does that mean that it was irresponsible to shoot at standing deer?
Lay off the kid, give him a break. If he' s 16, how many of you never made a mistake when you were 16?

RE: was this the right thing to do
 

I personally don' t believe in shooting at a running deer. It' s just too hard to place a shot where it needs to be. You can always tell when someone is shooting at a running deer because they shoot 4 or 5 times in short succession. Just burns me up when I hear all those gunshots, knowing that whoever is doing the shooting is probably going to just wound the deer instead of put it down... [:' (]

Just my opinion, but I never shoot a deer when it' s running. Heck, I never shoot it when it' s just walking. I always whistle and make it stop before I shoot...

Thunder