Whats your longest rifle shot on a deer?

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560 yards across a canyon (that's deceiving) on a free range Aoudad in Central Texas with a 7mm STW. Two shots, two hits, first high in the shoulder, it hunched and stood still. The second hit low in the chest/ribs behind the shoulder (as insurance). It walked 10 yards uphill and dropped.

Best combo wasn't long shooting, but was 6 Axis deer with the same gun - 7 STW (first two with one shot) all as fast as I could shoot and re-load. All head and neck shots ranging from 60 - 120 yards.
 
Cooper wrote something to the effect that anyone taking a shot beyond 300 yards should be required to sit down and explain, in triplicate and longhand, why it was necessary. I personally hope to someday see a thread where we brag about our shortest shots and heap scorn upon anyone who hasn't the skill to get closer than 400, 500, 600+ yards from the animal.
 
Perhaps we can get together an heap scorn on anyone who lacks the skill to make a clean shot at 400, 500, and 600 yards on such a large target zone. Cooper's arrogance was often a source of annoyance for me. Well, it's not really arrogance... more like closed mindedness. If it wasn't his way, then clearly it should be derided as idiotic and moronic.

The guy had some valid points. But no one's right 100% of the time about everything. I say if someone has the marksmanship skills to take animals at longer ranges, go for it.

Now, I would find fault with someone that over-estimates their skills and results in a wounded animal suffering. But my confidence in hitting a deer in the vitals out to at least 400 is VERY high. And if I get that shot on a deer I want, I'm going to take it. And Cooper can do my triplicate longhand explanation himself.

Oh, wait....
 
200 yd., from standing; deer was standing, too. Measured with string the following day.

Heart/lungs. Springfield 1903A3 in .30-'06, sporterized in the 1950s; 4x Lyman All-American; Rem. 150 gr. Core-Lokt PSP.

Shortest: I'm a lot prouder of the sub-40 yard shots that I've made. Granted, it's easier to get close in hilly country; not everybody has the terrain that I can enjoy here (UP the hill, then DOWN, and then UP, and bloody DOWN, and Oh Look: I get to climb UP some more...). Still, it's called hunting; I like to get as close as I can.
 
Perhaps we can get together an heap scorn on anyone who lacks the skill to make a clean shot at 400, 500, and 600 yards on such a large target zone....I say if someone has the marksmanship skills to take animals at longer ranges, go for it....Now, I would find fault with someone that over-estimates their skills and results in a wounded animal suffering
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The trouble, I think, lies in the fact that many people can hit a distant target, from a bench, in good conditions, at a known range, after a few ranging shots, most of the time. Many of these same people then believe that they can repeat that performance, on demand, at unknown ranges, under real-world conditions, from an improvised position -- not to mention that many people seem to believe that the "large target zone" is the whole deer, and not the +/- 7" vital area. These things tend to add up to three-legged deer, which are among the few things in this world that truly upset me.

Like you, I have no problem with the true marksmen who have a very high probability of making the 400, 500, 600 yard shot. It's just been my experience that an awful lot of people think they are that marksman, and precious few actually are.
 
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I'm a lot prouder of the sub-40 yard shots that I've made...Still, it's called hunting; I like to get as close as I can.
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Amen, brother. Any jackass can whang away at deer he can't see without his wunderscope. Only a hunter can sneak to within 50 feet of his animal.
 
Longest: A hair over 100 with a 1952 Winchester 94. Ammo used: 150 grain silver tips.

Shortest: ~20 yards with a Savage 111 in .270 Win. Ammo used: 130 grain Remington Core Lokts.

It's strange that the two extremes happened in the same season.
 
Like you, I have no problem with the true marksmen who have a very high probability of making the 400, 500, 600 yard shot. It's just been my experience that an awful lot of people think they are that marksman, and precious few actually are.
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We're in complete agreement there.
 
Doing most of my deer hunting back east my longest shot was a little over 200 yrds with a Remington 700 7mm-08.

My best shot (I was 17 years old) was on a running 8 point at 95 yards - put three shots in a palm sized group through both lungs with a Remington 760 pump action, Weaver 4X scope in 300 Savage.
 
yes I too am proud of the 25 to 45 yard shots that I have made on deer with my mod 29 smith 44 but I didnt spend all that time at the reloading bench and the shooting bench to not take advantage of a long shot opportunity when it arises
 
I will have to agree with .38 special and others on the short shots..

I shot a 6 point buck with a bow at 18 yards, while my whole body was shaking from buck fever lol... and I am very proud of myself for getting calmed down enough to take the shot....

I also agree that someone that can shoot 500 yards off a bench shouldnt go out and expect to do the same thing freehanded... that why I will be doing both... although I doubt I will take a shot at 500 yards with a .30-06 or whatever I end up getting, I want to know that I can make that shot if need be..

I have shot a M16A2 service rifle at 600 yards in the marines with open sights... and if that thing can hit the target I know almost all other rifles can lol:)
 
I used to think anybody could shoot a deer at distance but now... I am getting curious about doing it. I regullary take deer at less than 25' from the ground so the bow has become my prefered weapon of choice.

It is the hunters obligation to obtain the skills needed, that I have done. Now to find a place I can shoot out to 300yds or so.

Longest shot about 130yds in the woods with a Hawken's BP rifle. Would not repeat that. Perfect shot, center base of the neck. She dropped instantly. Don't know why I shot? Gun resting against a tree and suddenly became very calm...boom! Wow she tasted good.
 
Hi Koontzy...

I don't think anyone needs to "heap scorn" on people who actually have the skill to make the 400-500-600 yard shots (with their rifles, not their keyboards) nor would I "heap scorn" on the people who have the skill to get within 25 yards of their deer. In fact, I admire both of those crowds. But I am inclined to chide those who tell others they should hunt deer with rifles of ridiculously excess power (read: 30 cal.) because they they "need" them or because an overkill caliber will make reckless shooting turn out Ok (the infamous "insurance" nonsense), or because of some other worn-out gun-zine Urban Lore.

Of course local opinions may vary. :)
 
My longest shots took place this year, the first was 297 yards off hand on a doe, the second was 304 from a solid rest also on a doe. Both deer were drt and were shot with a 180 gr partition out of a .30-06. My typical shots are 100 yards or less, however I spend a lot of time shooting at various ranges and have great confidence in both the rifle and load. This was also the year of my shortest shot, 6 yards eye level with a bow.
 
473 yrds lasered, with a 300 RUM . prone across a day pack. it was a power line right of way between two hill tops. 160 lb. doe. she went about 15 yrds and fell
 
My longest was about 75 yards with a Model 70 Winchester Featherweight in .270 with a 140 grn. Hornady Spire Point.

My closest was 0 yards ( well about 15 feet straight down as the deer was directly under my treestand) using a Winchester 94 in 30-30 with 170 grn SilverTips.

I hunted in East Texas river bottoms where it is heavily forrested and very close shots are the norm.
 
My longest shot. 225 yards on a small buck with a 243 Remington 700.

My closest 13 yards with a 50 caliber round ball. My first muzzloader kill.

I let one buck get to within 8' of the muzzle of my 30-30. I couldn't bring myself to shoot at a deer that close so i waited until he walked off a ways. About 15 yards.

Then i shot. And missed. The deer walked around a bush and out of my life forever. My bullet hit an unseen limb on a mesquite tree and blew up.
 
That's way too much hammer for goat, man. And what do you need with a clawed "assault" hammer? An eight ounce ball peen hammer will work just fine without scaring the neighbors, Rambo.
 
250 yard, doe, head shot, 7mm mag It grazed the back of her neck took the fur off and had a half pencil deep radius cut through the skin no blood loss but a broken neck.....oddest kill I ever had
 
My longest and shortest shot (I've only hunted once) =about 30yds.

I was in ND and it was the last morning I was there (had to leave noon that day). Right around 20min after shooting time started this doe came walking along a row of trees that we were siting at the end of. I was so excited I don't think I even looked down the scope of my uncles .223 I barrowed.
 
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