Hitting a moving deer

[wombat13]

This past weekend was the start of gun season for deer in most of NY state. I took a nice deer Saturday, but missed an important shot that I think should have been easy. About an hour before dark I saw a buck with one rear leg nearly shot off moving fast for cover about 70 yards behind my tree stand. I had only a couple seconds to grab my rifle, clear the safety and make the shot before he reached cover. I missed.

I always wait for a shot at a standing or slowly walking deer, but there are times like this that taking the shot at a fast moving deer is the ethical thing to do. Any advice on how to prepare myself so I don't miss if this happens again?

Btw, about 10 minutes later a hunter approaches my stand and asks if I got the deer. He had wounded it nearly a mile from my stand and had been tracking it for nearly two hours. He had also decided to track the deer onto my property without asking first, but that's a whole 'nother issue.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I have no advice as to how to practice but it is worth mentioning that a 70 yard running shot is going to be harder to do with a scoped rifle than open sights. At least it would seem that way to me. But I've been wrong before.

So that is something to consider.

He had also decided to track the deer onto my property without asking first, but that's a whole 'nother issue.

I agree it would have been a common courtesy to try and contact you before hand if at all possible.

If I were the landowner my reaction would likely depend on the individual situation. If it is a neighbor that I know and trust I really wouldn't have an issue with it. If it was a stranger I've never met or someone I barely know, then yes, at least let me know what's going on if possible.

 

[Patocazador]

A scoped rifle is very difficult to use on a running shot. If you ignore the scope and pretend it's a shotgun, it's easier .. but not easy. Having a scope at its lowest magnification helps too.

I have shot very few running deer in 45 years of hunting. I have only tried to shoot about 6 and killed half of them. It's a low percentage deal but circumstances sometimes dictate that it be done ... like in your case.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Have you practiced making shots on running deer? I will go ahead and say that it is far from easy, especially from 75 yards out with a scoped rifle.

Up close and with open sights is easier for sure. The best way to practice for that kind of shot is to set up a moving target somehow. I've shot at targets mounted on remote control vehicles (not your average toy store RC car) to practice hitting movers, but never anything moving as fast as a deer running.

 

[MCgunner]

A scoped rifle is very difficult to use on a running shot. If you ignore the scope and pretend it's a shotgun, it's easier

I've shot running game with both scope and iron sights and a scope is FAR faster to get on target fast. No need to line up sights which takes too much time. The secret to it is a low power scope, 1.5-2 power at most. This is why I have a 2x10x40 on my favorite rifle. People tend to over-power their optics. I don't know that I've EVER used anything over 5 or 6 power on anything other than paper. My scopes STAY on minimum power when I'm hunting.

I've shot deer out to 50 yards on the run. Over 50 gets REAL tough to do off hand. I've taken 'em from 15 feet to 50 yards running, though. Takes a little lead, but not much at close ranges. I've never even attempted it past 50 yards and the one I shot at 50 was in the wide open and I had time.

Anyway, optics have the HUGE advantage of no sight alignment. If you have the scope adjusted properly, the gun comes to your eye and there's the crosshair, no need to line up a front sight into a notch, then focus on the front sight while the target is a blur. Even aperture sights are slow compared to a low power optic. I've never tried a red dot, but that might be the fastest, but a low power optic is fast enough.

Yes, if you use the gun as a shotgun, ignore the sights, it's quicker, but you lose precision much past 10 or 20 yards. With a shotgun, as range increases, so does the size of the pattern. A .30 caliber bullet remains a .30 caliber bullet at 50 or 100 yards. I need that precision with a rifle, personally.

 

[loose noose]

Where I live, I've had the good fortune to have hills next to my range where I can take an old tire and place a piece of cardboard inside it. Having a buddy, get behind the crest of the hill and on a signal start the tire down the hill. Believe me it gets going at a pretty good clip. Out to 75 yards I can usually hit it 3/5 times near the center using my scoped 3X9 Remington 700 BDL in .270.

Note; I wouldn't take a shot at a spooked deer at that distance, however if I wounded a deer and he took off, at least I would feel somewhat confident in hitting the deer in the vitals at that distance.

 

[wombat13]

Allaroundhunter - No, I haven't practiced. Part of the problem is I'm not sure how to practice it. I'm looking for ideas.

 

[wombat13]

MCGunner - Last year I dropped a doe going full speed, no problem, but there were two key differences last year. First I was using my .44 lever which as a Burris FF3 red dot on it. Second the deer was very close and running toward my stand. I shot her at about 4 yards from the base of the stand.

This year, I was using a scoped rifle with it set to 4x, the deer was about 70 yards out and running across my FOV.

There was no problem getting the crosshair on the deer. It must have been lack of lead and/or follow through.

 

[wombat13]

Where I live, I've had the good fortune to have hills next to my range where I can take an old tire and place a piece of cardboard inside it. Having a buddy, get behind the crest of the hill and on a signal start the tire down the hill. Believe me it gets going at a pretty good clip. Out to 75 yards I can usually hit it 3/5 times near the center using my scoped 3X9 Remington 700 BDL in .270.

Note; I wouldn't take a shot at a spooked deer at that distance, however if I wounded a deer and he took off, at least I would feel somewhat confident in hitting the deer in the vitals at that distance.

Good idea. I'll have to see if I can figure out how to do that.

 

[sage5907]

I've shot several bucks when they were running at distances up to about 150 yards. I'm confident in my ability and consider it a normal part of hunting trophy deer. In fact, if a buck is chasing a doe that will probably be the only shot you're going to get. First, running shots are best taken on a deer that is running across in front of you so you have the large shoulder/lung area for a target. As far as practice, I think you could do well by picking a flying bird and keeping the scope reticle on the bird as it flies and then pulling the trigger on an empty chamber when the sights are lined up. Keep the rifle moving and let it flow on through when the trigger falls. When shooting a deer do not lead the animal, shoot exactly for the point of the shoulder. The travel time of a bullet to 100 yards is almost nill. If you're a deer hunter you never fire the shot without having hair in the center of the reticle.

 

[wombat13]

I just found this interesting article. You can skip the fiction at the beginning. The last few paragraphs are the important part.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/ultimate-shooting-challenges-shooting-running-deer.php

My bullet was traveling about 3,000 fps. That means it would take 0.07 seconds to travel 70 yards. Let's assume the dear is running 15 mph (22 fps). If this is all correct, my bullet would have passed 1.5 feet to the rear of my sight picture when I pulled the trigger. This ignores my reaction time and lockup time of the rifle. Let's say it is easily 2 ft.

I instinctively aim for a heart shot in the lower one third of the chest. It's pretty easy for me to see that if you move the bullet path rearward 2 feet it might well pass under the deer.

I think I need to aim higher and farther to the front on a moving deer and be sure to follow through. I'd also like to find a way to practice, if I can.

 

[WestKentucky]

I learned on a few dead deer running. First shot would be a good kill shot but I hunt small acreage now, and before I hunted right next to an interstate. Second and third tries were simply to stop the dead deer in the field rather than in somebody's car, or somebody else's freezer. I always shot for the leading edge just under the neck. I got a lot of good hits that way. This was wide open field though where I could get a good shot. In brush or woods I wouldn't consider it.

 

[Sunray]

"...I'm looking for ideas...." There was an article in one of the gun rags, long ago, about it. They used old tires with targets on 'em, rolled down a hill. Two guys and a safe spot, of course.
Kind of hard thing to do given the different speeds Bambi can run. Don't think the sights make much difference though.

 

[short barrel]

Sitting with my back to a tree this muzzleloading season, looking out over an open field. A doe came running out of the woods on my side and two seconds later, here comes a buck, running but not fast. My rifle is an in-line with no scope. Fiber optic sights. He was turning, quartering away. I lined up the sights and held on his shoulder in order to lead him a little. Missed completely. Distance was about 50 yards.

I think what I did in my haste was to not settle the bead of the front sight into the U notch of the rear sight, but just lined them up evenly, like a pistol sight, thus shooting high.

It's easy to do. But oh how much better it is to completely miss than injure one you don't recover.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I've killed close to 100 deer in my lifetime and only TWO with running shots, by luck if nothing else.
I absoleutly refuse to shoot at a running deer, mainly because I don't want to cripple one.
Here in Penns Big Woods, only a fool would shoot at a running deer.

 

[sage5907]

The target area on a running buck is all the way from the front shoulder back through the lungs and then the liver. That's a good 12 or 14 inches in length. When you swing a rifle on a running buck you are swinging the reticle from the rear to the front of the deer. The reticle is traveling slightly faster than the buck so when the reticle hits the shoulder and the rifle fires the swinging of the rifle takes care of the bullet travel time. Not only that, most of the time when the buck runs across in front of you by the time you get on him he is quartering away so if you hit the buck in the liver the bullet will angle forward through the lungs.

 

[jmr40]

A scoped rifle is very difficult to use on a running shot.

I strongly disagree. It MIGHT be a factor if you are using way too much magnification, but with a fairly low powered optic it is much easier to hit game whether it is still or moving.

To be honest, it is not something I've practiced enough to feel good about. I've fired several shots at fast running game in my day after they had been wounded. Didn't connect on a shot, but did recover every animal. The 1st shot worked, but I didn't know that for sure until they fell over.

I have made quite a few shots on moving game. As in a fast walk, but not running all out. Wouldn't attempt so on an animal not already wounded.

You did the right thing though. The animal was already hurt and there was nothing to lose by trying.

 

[dogrunner]

If he's running full out then put your point of aim on his nose, maintain your swing and you'll hit him every time............at least to 150.

Old fella that managed a dog hunt club I was in taught me that and I seriously doubt you could load a semi with all the deer that man killed....without doubt the best snap shooter and wing shot I have ever seen!

 

[MCgunner]

There was no problem getting the crosshair on the deer. It must have been lack of lead and/or follow through.

Good point about follow through. I do that naturally being as wing shooting is my favorite form of hunting. Beyond 50 yards, one must start to consider lead. It's not that much, though, even at 100 yards, with a 3000 fps bullet. However, it's enough to gut shoot a deer if you miss calculate. I don't feel comfortable shooting that far off hand without a good rest. I've never made a running shot past 50 yards anyway, even with a rest.

My very first deer was taken on the run at 50-60 yards. I placed the bullet on his shoulder from that range. I knew the shot broke well, KNEW I was on him. I knew I'd followed through. I was 11 years old. The practice I'd had was shooting rabbits with my .22, which to me is even tougher considering the size of the target. I've taken rabbit to 40 yards off hand running with a .22.

Yes, it can be done. On that one, I was shooting off a good rest out of a hide. He was on a dead run after a doe, multiple bucks with him. I didn't lead that deer much at all, was on the point of his shoulder, and hit him smack where I wanted it on the shoulder. However, I have a book, "Extended Ballistics for the Advanced Rifleman", by Art Blatt. It's just a compilation of exterior ballistics for various loads. It shows lead on a target at 100, 200, 300 yards for a 10-15-20 mph target. A running deer can hit probably 30 mph. Well, my dog can hit 30 mph, chases me down the road every time I leave, and I've seen her outrun a deer. ROFL! But, that's another story. She's a bit paranoid of deer, though, gets chased a lot.

So, to illustrate why I'd rather not take a shot past 50 yards... at 10 mph, 100 yard lead for a 2900 fps 150 grain .30 caliber bullet out of a .30-06, is 1.7 feet. That's a lot. That's about 20 inches. If you don't get in front of it just a tad, you could gut shoot it. At 200 yards, forget it, it's 3.4 feet. Now, that's only 10 mph. At 20 mph, that 100 yard lead is 3.4 feet and 200 is 6.8! Now, see why I won't shoot at a running deer past maybe 50 yards? Yeah, rifles are fast, but so is a deer.

Add to this, by exprience, deer bound rather than run straight. The up and down motion can cause problems. I shot one 2 years ago with an iron sighted SKS that was bounding, but it was only about 25 yards and I had a solid rest. STILL, I caught it in the spine, paralyzed it's hind quarters, had to finish it. The bounding was the problem, was jumping over brush on a run snortin' and razing hell. Guy some 2 or 300 yards behind me had shot at it and missed. I kinda got lucky on that one, but felt good making the shot.

 

[sage5907]

I've heard several hunters say that they always shoot at the nose of a running deer, but I can't ever remember hearing one say they were hitting them. If I remember ol Jack O'Connor's writings I think that was his method. I tried it one time back in the 60's and it didn't work for me. I quickly found out that I could make a lot more hits if I put the reticle on the deer. I was hunting quails with a shotgun before I was a teenager so that gave me some advantage.

 

[3212]

In open country,place the vertical hair on the front edge of the chest in the brown, not in front of the deer.Swing with the deer,staying in the brown and shoot.As mentioned earlier,you probably have 14 inches of vitals lengthwise. In the woods pick an opening in front of the deer.Hold on the opening until the deer enters the scope and shoot.This is more difficult,you cannot hesitate.Once I creased the chest,but he turned and ran toward me.The second shot lifted him and pushed him back.He ran past me and collapsed.These were driven deer.

 

[alsaqr]

In the woods pick an opening in front of the deer.Hold on the opening until the deer enters the scope and shoot.

i always do this. Some call this technique "trapping".

My longest running shot was a hog going full out at 226 yards. The gun was a .50 muzzleloader. Fired when hog was about 8 feet from the spot. Scope was a fixed 4X. Yep, some luck was involved.

 

[HB]

I shot a running doe this weekend, albeit with poor results. First shot had perfect placement but the deer took off at full clip broadside at 50 yards. I knew I hit it but didn't want to lose the only legal deer I saw all weekend.

I aimed for the front shoulder but hit her directly in the ham, destroying a ton of meat. I guess it's better than losing her all together but I feel pretty stupid. In the future I won't be taking such shots.

As an aside, don't use hpbt bullets on deer. The entrance and exit on the chest were tiny and didn't do nearly the damage a hunting bullet does. The damage on the ham was quite nasty as expected.

HB

 

[Savage99]

I have shot running deer. We ran a running deer practice shoot at our club for years. We made a trolley with a deer target and ran it over tubing set in the ground.

When I see a running deer I shout "Maw". They usually stop or slow!

I jumped a buck on the hill near the camp and he took off downhill. I shouted 'Maw' and he stopped, turned and began running uphill past me. I got him with the M70 308.

When they are running and bounding shoot when the deer is in the air and not when their front feet are about to touch. They move up faster then.

 

[MCgunner]

My longest running shot was a hog going full out at 226 yards. The gun was a .50 muzzleloader. Fired when hog was about 8 feet from the spot. Scope was a fixed 4X. Yep, some luck was involved.

Ya think? Hell, I'd shoot at a pig 500 yards running. Worst can happen is ya miss.