rifle hunting and bow hunting

[rusty bubbles]

I've always hunted deer with a bow- and the rules, if you will, are much different than with a firearm- firstly you have to get real close,(10-30 yards)to be sure of
placing the arrow in "The killing zone"- - the heart ,liver and lungs-mostly from a broadside shot to the body--as the arrow kills by cutting internal
organs , causing massive hemorrage.

Would some of you rifle hunters tell me what the average range is for taking deer ,and what is the usual "Kill Zone" when you take aim- do you aim for the head-for the chest or what-or just some where on the critter?

I'd appreciate any feedback.

Rusty B.

 

[schlockinz]

Same kill zone as the bow ('cept miss the liver for sure).

Effective range depends on calibre and shooter.

 

[Art Eatman]

My longest one-shot DRT kill was 450 yards. My closest was at most 30 yards.

I have read that most whitetail deer are killed well inside of 200 yards. I'd guess that the majority of my shots were around 100 yards, give or take maybe 25 yards or so. A couple of running bucks; one at maybe 175 yards and one at maybe 100. Both were one-shot kills, although a coup de grace quickened the demise.

I'd say that about half of my 45-ish bucks were neck shots. One head shot. Otherwise, mostly cross-body at the heart/lung area. I don't recall any angling shots; maybe one or two.

"Aiming at the brown" is nothing but a way to either cripple a deer or waste a bunch of meat.

 

[rusty bubbles]

Thanks guysfor those interesting replies-

Rusty B

 

[hardluk1]

My longest shot was 385 yards and my shortest was 20feet. I will try to set up or use the same stands or blinds i use for bow hunting and just try to trim for some longer range shots. The 20 footer was darn near straight down.

 

[swampboss]

First you need to tell us what type of firearm you intend to use. Max range for 12 ga. shotguns when using buck shot is around 60 yards. I know some will say they have done it at 100 but, they were lucky or had custom guns set up for longer range than a stock gun. 100+ when using a scoped shotgun using slugs.
Now if you are using a scoped rifle it is a different ball game. 20 yards to 200 is common. 300-400 with the right gun and practice.
As far as aiming- IMO if you use a 270 cal. or larger ( I shoot a 30-06 ) aim dead center of the shoulder when the deer is broad side and they will drop in their tracks.I like to break some bone and put them down where they stand. It does shoot up a little shoulder meat, but if I need more meat I will shoot a doe. If you intend to use something like a 243 size cal. I suggest you shoot behind the shoulder like you would with a bow due to the smaller bullet wt.

 

[rusty bubbles]

Again- thanks for sharing your experiences guys

very helpful

Rusty B

 

[Loyalist Dave]

120 yards is the max for me, but I am in heavy brush country, and you can't really see 'em at farther ranges. Plus we are limited to Shotgun Slugs or muzzleloaders. I use iron sights, and placing the shot has not been a problem so far.

LD

 

[schlockinz]

200yds max with the 45/70

30.06 max of 400yds (would have to be damned ideal conditions for me)

30.06 max of 300yds offhand (DRT magnum doe)

I usually hunt wood lines with the rifles, and I'll take the 45/70 into the brush. (30.06 has a 4.5 minimum power scope, and thats too much in the woods)

 

[Legionnaire]

Not much chance of a really long shot in the wooded hills of PA, and the portions of NY I hunt are limited to shotguns (slugs, of course) or handguns. So, my longest shot on a deer with a long gun has been approx 160 yards, and most have been in the 40-100 range. If the counties I hunt in NY allowed rifles, I'd have had opportunity for shots out to 400, though.