Killed a Deer With Sidearm

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rhoggman

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So I was able to kill 2 deer in a short period of time. I had no time to reload my .50 cal inline after the first one went down so I took the second deer down with a head shot from my CZ75BD Police using a Hornaday Critical Defense load.

I really had to concentrate on the shot because whenever I shoot a deer my heart pounds at a ridiculous pace for approximately 15 minutes. The CZ75 was wobbling all over God's creation, but luckily I was able to steady my hands enough to take the deer cleanly at about 20 yards. The button buck was standing broadside when I hit him. The HP round entered behind the right eye, and exited behind the jaw on the left side. Strangely it was an instant knock down, but I watched the deer bleed out for about 20 seconds.

When it came time to exit the forest I was reminded sharply about the difficulties inherent in removing two deer from the woods. The button buck weighed maybe 50 pounds dressed out so I tied him to my tree stand and painstakingly drug his mother simultaneously.

More meat in the freezer, and much gloating at the campfire soon ensued:)
 
This isn't something to brag about.


You're in Virginia, right?


Although it is lawful in Virginia to carry your concealed weapon during muzzle loader season if you have a permit to carry, you do know it's unlawful to use your handgun to take a deer with it outside of regular firearms season, right?


Not only it is unlawful, it's unethical. Deer seasons, including the various archery and muzzle loader-only seasons, exist to help properly manage the herd. I'm not going to get all preachy on you, or report you, but obey the game law.


Virginians worked hard to get legislation allowing concealed handgun permit holders to have that right to carry not stripped from them while hunting in muzzle loader and archery seasons. We don't have that right in Pennsylvania, because the Game Commission and the legislature asserts that hunters will be tempted to use those handguns to take deer out of season.



You just proved their point.
 
This shows what happens when folks don't learn the rules of some particular game. All of life's games have rules. Football, traffic, money matters, hunting, you name it.

You don't want a Zebra to call you for clipping in a football game, just as you don't want a Game Warden and a Judge to do their deal for your being offsides in the hunting game. In some states, it means fines and confiscation of your hunting gear--and it can include your means of transportation to the huinting area.

Learn the rules.
 
This is the reason to carry a BP pistol while hunting during BP season. If you're aloud two too carry
 
rhoggman wrote:


So I was able to kill 2 deer in a short period of time. I had no time to reload my .50 cal inline after the first one went down so I took the second deer down with a head shot from my CZ75BD Police using a Hornaday Critical Defense load.

I really had to concentrate on the shot because whenever I shoot a deer my heart pounds at a ridiculous pace for approximately 15 minutes. The CZ75 was wobbling all over God's creation, but luckily I was able to steady my hands enough to take the deer cleanly at about 20 yards.

The button buck was standing broadside when I hit him. The HP round entered behind the right eye, and exited behind the jaw on the left side. Strangely it was an instant knock down, but I watched the deer bleed out for about 20 seconds.
Click to expand...



I don't know the "legal" ramifications others alluded to, but I would suggest that you NOT purposely take "head shots" on deer with a pistol.

The potential for wounding the animal (hit in jaw, neck) is too great. It is our responsibility as Hunters....to be good stewards of the land and resources.

This includes taking high percentage "ethical" shots....(with respect to circumstance)....so as not to do the animal a dis-service.

Fortunately, it worked out for you (this time)....but such actions would have gotten you permanently banned from my place.
 
I've always wanted to use a GLOCK G20 (10MM) with stout loads and take a deer. I have taken a few with a GLOCK G22 (40 S&W) and it did the job with proper shot placement. I was actually surprised with how well the 40 S&W worked as bullet performance was excellent without over penetration and the last buck wobbled briefly and fell without taking a step.
 
Maybe it was gun season and he was just using his front loader? Gun season has opened here.

I've always thought taking my Ruger Old Army for back up would be the ticket, but we don't even have a muzzle loader season here. There have been hog hunting on WMAs in the APH system where it was muzzle loader only, though, and packin' the ROA would be legal there.
 
Fortunately, it worked out for you (this time)....but such actions would have gotten you permanently banned from my place.
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Killing a button buck would have gotten him banned from every lease I've been on. :mad:
 
The button buck weighed maybe 50 pounds
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50 lbs, lol. Fawn slayer with a CZ.


I agree with all this criticism, but it underscores how important ethics are and why you should ponder what ethics are before you get outdoors. Otherwise, you just do whatever you think is okay in the moment, like shooting a "button buck" fawn with your handgun. :)

Deplorable, but a good post that will illicit some sage advice you can put to use if you're man enough to listen and take it to heart.

Or, you can get mad and tell us all to cram it with walnuts and do whatever you want as long as the game warden doesn't catch you.

Your choice.
Like it or not, we're all in this hunting thing together. Don't make me look bad because I work awfully hard to make sure I don't make you look bad.
 
In Wisconsin you'd have been arrested for shooting that deer with the CZ75 because the barrel isnt 6" long. You can't even carry a pistol less than 6" barrel length during the hunting season because they just aren't accurate enough to get the job done at any range more than 5 yards. Especially during the BP season here, you'd lose your hunting privileges for life for taking a deer with a pistol, because when you register it, you have to tell them what you used to take the deer.

I don't have any idea what the laws are in Virginia regarding handgun hunting, but I wanted to take my CZ52 hunting here, but I can't unless I put a custom barrel on it, which costs more than the pistol did... I'll stick to my long guns for deer... and my handguns for defense and target practice.

That said, at least you had a kill shot, and didn't wound the fawn with your shaky hand...
 
Just looked at the VA DFG website, didn't notice anything that would have been a modern rifle season in VA currently, so it does sound as if you took that deer illegally, definitely wouldn't brag about that.

But on an aside with the button buck. I've shot a few on accident, never 50lbs though. I still can't tell them apart from a smaller doe with my rifle, at least I can now with my bow (I've consequently passed up a lot more this way). Used to accidentally tag them when I was trying to get rid of some of the younger does to reduce numbers, I quit doing that and now shoot for the larger does since I seem to have bad luck doing anything else.
 
dragonriot says
You can't even carry a pistol less than 6" barrel length during the hunting season because they just aren't accurate enough to get the job done at any range more than 5 yards.
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While what you say about the 6'' restriction may be true the rest of your statement is almost as ridiculous as the OP and with such authority. A quote from the proclimation no doubt.

When I read the OP yesterday I was pretty sure he was in violation but not knowing Va. laws I wasn't sure. I know in Co. it would get your tit in a ringer.
 
I think my last buttonhead dressed in the high 70's, probably the smallest one that I've shot, I thought he was a youngish doe, then I noticed nuts when cleaning.

Those were the ones that got me, now I only shoot the magnum does (typically 110+lbs dressed)
 
Anything less than a six inch barrel isn't accurate past 5 yds? Really? We put five rounds in the x ring at 25 yds all the time with a 4 inch barreled Glock .40. I don't handgun hunt yet, but I'm pretty sure you can hunt with a 4 inch barrel here in Arkansas.
That being said, I don't condone illegal hunting, and while I wouldn't necessarily turn someone in for it, I definately wouldn't associate or hunt with said individuals.
 
i sure the OP forgot to mention he was being charged and therefore this was a good shoot. Mod please move this to tactics section/self defense section.
 
Last October he posted he was new to hunting and wanted someone to show him the ropes. Hopefully with the responses he has learned. As for the pistol having to be 6in to be able to hit your target over 5 yards, thats a new one. I carry a Les Baer and it will do less then a 3in group at 50 yards(the pistol not me)), but I can put 8 rounds in one ragged hole at 15 yards( again the pistol not me :) So I have to go with A Paul on this one.
 
That is the kind of statement that the anti's put out about hand guns and their uselessness. I will bet he is not a handgun shooter or owner and probably one of those hunters who thinks John Kerry is his friend.
 
If you practice enough and know your equipment (like any other weapon) hitting distant small targets with a short barrel handgun is not impossible. I personally use 6" revolver more often then not due to the longer sighting plane for my older eyes but have been effective with a 4" self-loader every-time I've taken deer. The link below is not even as neat as Bob Munden basically doing the same thing at 200 yds. but it demonstrates the potential.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_b3dAbKoJ0
 
OP posted a thread about bow season:
http://thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5919777&postcount=1
Indicating he is indeed in Virginia.

Per regs, you cannot use a ML pistol during ML season. Under the Concealed Handgun provisions, it says that you can shoot an animal so long as it's not prohibited... during muzzleloader season, which is 10/31 - 11/13, only a muzzleloader can be used to take game.

I'd have to say, as much as the OP purports to know about hunting, I think it's about time that he take a Hunter Safety course to re-evaluate what he knows about the laws.

Sorry to say this, but if you were my friend, I'd give you swift kick in the pants, and make you give that meat to the hungry, since it was illegally taken!

I would've just rather you shot the doe, and let the buck live! Button or not.
 
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