Moving Game
 

Do you shoot at moving game? And I mean deer and things like that. When I hunt PA all that we do is deer drives, and being one of the younger ones in the group, I am almost always playing dog for my great uncles and grandpa. Of my twelve deer, 6 have been at a full run, 3 have been trotting. 2 were with a bow, and one was a doe just standing still in a field. SO most of my rifle deer have been running. What do you all think about shooting moving game and how do you practice?
-Jake

RE: Moving Game
 

i will NOT shoot at a deer that is moving any faster than a fast walk/ trot. Don't have full confidence in my shooting abilities to make sure i hit the deer in a kill zone.

RE: Moving Game
 

i prefer to shoot at a stationary target...but then again who doesnt. it really depends on me tho...we have provate property and if a deer gets by one of us someone else will see it and get a shot. so i elect to pass most of the time if its more than a trot and i cant stop him. however after i touch one off...if he begins to run i will let two other slugs fly if i still believe i can male a good shot on him. last year shot at one three times...all three hits...2 in the kill zone...one a bit high but he was taken humainly as could be. thats just me..and im sure different ppl will answer differently depending on the way there hunting grounds are set up...population...private or public property...length of the season will all come into play

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It is WAY more "ethical" to shoot ducks on the move rather than chillin in your decoy spread. But heck... I'm not picky when it comes to ducks, so yeah I'll cut 'em moving or sitting.

RE: Moving Game
 

It all depends on the day. If a deer is running full speed through thick brush or 300 yards out i wouldnt shoot. But if its running through an open field at 75 yards i would shoot. Each and every situation will determine if i shoot or not. I shot my big 9pt whyle he was walking with a bow.

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you already know where i am on this

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YES, I will shoot at game that is moving but I prefer a stationary target. When I was bow hunting yesterday I shot a spike that was on the move. The deer didn't go 50 yards...;)

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Yea sky, Im pretty sure you and I had about the same upbringing.
-Jake

RE: Moving Game
 

seems that way dont it lol

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It all depends on the situation for me. If I feel comfortable with the shot, I will take it. If not, I am not taking the shot.

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hey boca where in pa are you? im also a pa boy and i am always on the other end of drives and i think we both no nothing will piss of the dogs (drivers) as much as standers not taking shots at deer when you push them out. ill wade waiste high thru swamps to get the deer out as long as i have cofidence the standers will be shooting. and where i hunt a long shot is 100 yards 95% of deer on drives are within 50 yards i guess thats why we all shoot pump guns.

however if i am just on stand w.o drives i wont shoot at running deer and i deff dont recomend shooting moving deer with the bow. made the mistake witha nice buck two years ago one step was all it took to go from a lung shot to a gut shot, they are close guys give them a lil grunt or a yell if need be they will pause long enough for a clean shot

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You took the words right out of my mouth.

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Where in PA are you? He is on one side of the state and im on the other.

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Indiana county. And yes I know what you mean. But I dont get mad at someone i they aren't comfortable taking a shot, if they aren't comfortable with it they shouldn't take it. Most of my deer come off of driving when they jump up. I'd rather be walking anyway. I even still hunt when I am bowhunting. Got an 8 pointer that way last year!
-Jake

RE: Moving Game
 

Chris and ksfowler, why is it more ethical to shoot them in the air?

RE: Moving Game
 

I don't agree with them saying more ethical. More challenging might be what they meant to say.
-Jake

RE: Moving Game
 

I'd say it's more challenging to get them in the decoys than it is to shoot one flying over your head;). Just wondering why they said it, nothing more.

RE: Moving Game
 

Well for one thing it is illegal to shoot them on the ground or water.

RE: Moving Game
 

So is legal always ethical? Not in my opinion. And we don't have that law in Missouri, my mistake.

RE: Moving Game
 

thats no law here. you can water swat if you want in maine. but yes, ducks are much harder to kill sitting on the water then flying. they have way more protection w/ their wings tucked in opposed to flying. plus, they are a bigger target in ythe air

RE: Moving Game
 

also, thats why repeating rifleswere invented! lol shoot hard and fast boys!

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x2
except if io miss[:o]ill take some hailmary shots then:)

RE: Moving Game
 

RE: Moving Game
 

I never said that. I knew I should have put a disclaimer in there. Once again, my bad.

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Turkeys are the same way. We get them flying and shoot them out of the air. Its alot easier in the fall that way because they dont like to come to calls.

RE: Moving Game
 

How do you guys hunt them then? In the fall we normally bust them up, get in the middle of where they all went, and then call. You get surrounded most times, if you do it right.

RE: Moving Game
 

I say it is more "ethical" to shoot ducks in flight than in your spread. Notice the quotes around the word: "ethical." I say this because all of the hunters on their high horses in the other forums say it unethical to shoot sitting ducks.

I couldn't disagree more. And it is legal to shoot ducks on the water where I'm at, so by God im doin it. If you have what it takes to work that duck into your spread, cut it. And if you don't, cut 'em when they're passing.

As for the correlation between the two meanings "ethically" and "legally," thats a whole 'nother topic. Go talk to some of the "experienced" hunters in the bowhunting/deerhunting forums about hunting deer over cornpiles :eek:

RE: Moving Game
 

Chris, understood. Thank you for clearing it up for me;)

RE: Moving Game
 

I know people who would claim it is unthical to shoot a turkey in the air, but ive done it, me and my dad doubled on a flock of turkeys that flew right at us. And peple will claim it is more ethical to shoot a duck out of the air do to the added difficulty of shooting a fast moving target, and haveing no time to aim properly.

And in CA it is not illegal to shoot them sitting, and Ksfowler, firstly you would need a place that would hold birds long enough for you to sneek up on them like that to make your point valid, the law is more for the duck that lands in your spread well your back is turned

RE: Moving Game
 

ya me too;) if it brown it down

RE: Moving Game
 

ay

I got lots of crap for having that in my sig about a year ago haha...

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i hunt 3d and live in swiftwater area have you two been seeing much rutting action going on? i didnt see a buck chase until the last friday just not many doe hot yet

RE: Moving Game
 

I am away at school right now. And I live in North East Ohio actually. But I was there...two weekends ago. And I saw quite a bit of deer. Three buck... but it didnt seem like the rut had hit yet. Thats the only time Ive been out. I will be there for rifle season. Retaks has had a very good year tho.
-Jake

RE: Moving Game
 

We do it the same way but we hutn them on mountains so when you bust them up they have a tendency to fly over whoever is the lowest on the mountains. They always come running back to where the flock was when we bust them up.

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i might put if its brown its down in my signature. bojacalanja i think i rememember when you had that is your sig.

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haha. I had it in there, cause it was like a joke around camp.... But people took it literally. they didnt realize I passed 18 shots on bucks just in bow season that year to wait out on a nice 8 point, so I took it out.
-Jake

RE: Moving Game
 

oh im seriosus about brown it down though

RE: Moving Game
 

I have only ever shot 1 deer while it was moving. It was was a small doequartering towards me at a brisk walk. Shot was 20 yards with a Remington 1100, the deer went backwards [8D]. I prefer non-moving targets though, especially with my bow. The only shot i would take on a moving deer with my bow would be under 15 yards and ata walking pace.