whitetails with rimfire

[thomis]

In 2004, or thereabouts, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission dropped the minimum caliber restriction for rifles used to take deer. It used to be that a rifle had to be a minimum of .24 caliber. My .243 Winchester barely made the cut. Now there is none.

There are many popular beliefs as to why the WRC made this significant change. I think the two prevailing factors were the over-abundance of whitetails now in our area and sub-urban sprawl.

There generally stand two sides of agreement on the topic of hunting deer-sized game with rimfire. Folks are either for it or strongly against it.

When I moved to my present location in June 2005, I took the new change in law as good news. I live in the county but neighborhoods are very nearby. (Quite a few folks around these neighborhoods hunt with archery equipment, including myself, and WRC is also pushing municipalities across the state to open an extended archery "urban" season for deer... but that's another thread and another forum.)

What I was hoping to discuss here were several facets of this topic:
First, your opinions about taking deer-sized game with rimfire.
Second, your preference of bullet type and ammo.
Third, your shot placement, very specifically, for the cleanest kill.
Any other points you would like to table.

Since the law change I have taken several deer on my little 2 acre lot with my .22 rifle, all head shots and all instant, clean kills. There is one restriction; and that is the shooter should be at least 8 feet off the ground before discharging a rimfire rifle near sub-urban areas.

I think the NC WRC made a smart move in dropping the minimum caliber restriction. It opened the door for folks to use much quieter rifles to hunt deer much closer to town. The current deer population is a real problem and hunting has proven to be the best management practice thus far. If we can make it easier and more neighborhood-friendly for folks to use firearms to take these animals, we can really help impact the growing population. Of course, these are mostly my opinions and I would like to hear yours.

~thomis

 

[Lorenzo Rojo]

I think that head shots are the best choice with .22s. I think you are right on the point there. Many areas of the country are experiencing deer over-population and making it easier for folks to hunt them is a step in the right direction. My only concern with "no restrictions" is that it opens things up for some folks to use very small and hot rounds. There have been many cases were .22lr bullets have travelled seemingly freakish long distances and taken unbelievable deflections--I would be concerned about what a .22 hornet, .223 fireball, or .17 HMR might do is someone let one fly and missed.

Overall, good idea...I do have some reservations about where those small caliber, high-energy bullets may end up.

 

[jmorris]

First, your opinions about taking deer-sized game with rimfire.
Second, your preference of bullet type and ammo.
Third, your shot placement, very specifically, for the cleanest kill.
Any other points you would like to table.

You can do it but there are a lot of things you can do in life that are best avoided.

What ever ammunition was the most accurate out of the rifle.

Eyeball would be a good start.

 

[Hangingrock]

I haven’t hunted deer since we’ve relocated to North Carolina so I’m not current on the applicable laws.

We allow hunters on the property to hunt deer archery and rifle. No one has approached us about black powder. The only stipulation we have is shots fired must equate to deer taken. Obviously I can’t hear arrows in flight. Shots fired no deer taken you’re no longer welcome to hunt here. This has the effect of being self regulating.

I’ve never examined the firearms being used but from the reports heard apparently center fire rifles are being employed.

As for rimfire’s being employed I’m not judgmental. I talked to one young lad that used a .22 magnum rimfire to kill a deer while hunting squirrels. Apparently the seasons over lapped.

My uncle the farmer (long departed from this place) used a Winchester pump and .22 RF shorts on deer. He simply didn’t care if cleanly taken or not. The deer were nuisances which needed to be dealt with. The area Game Warden and Walt got into some intense discussions’. The Game Warden said the deer were property of the state and Walt said let the state pay for feeding them. I don’t think they reached an agreement or compromised but to the best of my knowledge Walt never changed his habits in regards to deer.

 

[627PCFan]

If allowable, Id feel comfortable with 22LR shots inside of 25 yards with a rest, and spine shots only. Note I didnt say neck. The whole head shot worries me because its alot of bone with alot of angles and bullets do weird things when they encounter both. As for the HMR, maybe the controlled expansion would work but I think bullet selection for that round is limited and less than appropriate for the task. I do like the idea of what your state is offering, but I wish that states addressed land access issues in suburban areas rather than methods-

 

[Old Shooter]

I suspect using rimfire cartridges will result in a lot more wounded deer to die a lingering death from infection than will put meat in the freezeer.

Yes, a properly placed rimfire hit will drop a deer DRT but how many rimfire nimrods will take the time or even care about the shot plaement?

I can see a lot of gut-shot deer or even well placed shots with out sufficient penetration to reach the dead switch being the result of rimfire hunting.

I could see a reasonable argument for .223 power range cartridges or better but I think rimfire is best left for the squirrels and rabbits, mayby a woodchuck or two.

 

[countertop]

The only stipulation we have is shots fired must equate to deer taken.

I'm sorry, but that's the most asinine thing I've ever heard. Sure, it's you land and you make the rules, but that is ludicrous.

What, you've never missed a deer before because an otherwise unoticed branch got in the way? Or shot a deer and neede a follow up shot to put the creature down? I guess you'd rather they sit there and suffer - cause that's what the impact of your rule is. It will drive people to allow the deer to suffer much more than it might have otherwise.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I suspect using rimfire cartridges will result in a lot more wounded deer to die a lingering death from infection than will put meat in the freezeer.

I suspect that you are correct sir. There are some who are good enough marksmen to cleanly do it. I've seen it done. I would be willing to bet that most are not that competent though. There will be a lot more wounded game if that's the case. Bet on it.

 

[Hangingrock]

countertop wrote: I'm sorry, but that's the most asinine thing I've ever heard. Sure, it's you land and you make the rules, but that is ludicrous.

First the individuals I let on the property aren’t doing me a favor by hunting the deer. The majority of the land in this area is hunting by lease or posted disallowing hunting at all. Since I allow hunting and don’t charge for the privilege my rules apply. The individuals that are allowed don’t have a problem with the rules I’ve stipulated.

What is asinine?????? Let’s simply agree to disagree and maintain a semblance of civility.

 

[MCgunner]

Illegal in Texas, but I have REAL deer rifles. Why the hell would I wanna use a squirrel gun for deer hunting when I have a safe full of better calibers? Yeah, I have bows, too, so what? You can probably kill an elephant with a Daisy Red Rider if you hit him right, but I ain't gonna try it. If I was hunting deer in the back yard, I'd just nock and arrow.

 

[trickyasafox]

I would think CNS shots with a 22 WMR would harvest a deer just fine at close distances.

 

[Rokman]

I suppose a shot through the eye or 1 inch below the ear should do it, but I recommend using something that is really more suited for the task (centerfire cartridge).

 

[Art Eatman]

A couple of urban areas in central Texas are way, way overrun with deer. Rollingwood, a suburb of Austin, and the Lakeway development. For all that there are some people there who dearly love to watch Bambi, for many the deer are just as desirable as feral hogs. Might be more "disposal" if low-noise guns were used.

 

[MCgunner]

Mmm, spanky, spanky.

 

[Water-Man]

Very poor decision by N.C.! If the hunters there can't afford a centerfire rifle then DON'T HUNT. Seems folks in this country get dumber and dumber.

 

[Sav .250]

Just cause the DNR`s dropped the min cal doesn`t mean you have to use it!
Is there some sort of macho gratification for popping a deer with a .22?
Seems to me there will a lot more deer wounded then killed cleanly.
But as it`s ok, it`s legal.

 

[buck460XVR]

There are a lot of options for hunting in rural areas that make much more sense than .22 rimfire. Shotguns with slugs and/or buckshot. Handgun calibers either shot from handguns or rifles. A deer's brain and spine are very small targets even at close range and altho a .22 rimfire is capable of dropping a deer with hits in those critical areas, the margin of error is miniscule because of bullet weight and energy. Seems to me, the WRC is more concerned with deer dying than being shot humanely and successfully retrieved. Any hunter using a .22 rimfire for deer when other options are legal and practical is not only limiting himself, but actually inviting the inevitable. Over the years, I have had to put down several deer that other hunters had tried to shoot in the head to "save meat". Lower jaws shot off, Upper jaws shot off, one side of the face gone. Shoot the damn deer where it counts with the right weapon and be done with it.

 

[FLAvalanche]

So they dropped the caliber to encourage reducing the over-population instead of simply allowing more deer to be shot?

Are they taking game management tips from Pennsylvania Fish and Game?

 

[pikid89]

id go with a .22 mag...seems ive read several accounts of people killing deer with those

 

[Rokman]

Shoot the damn deer where it counts with the right weapon and be done with it.

Amen to that brother!

 

[Hangingrock]

Shot these four (5) round groups from 50yds with a CZ-452-2E with a Leupold 4X rimfire scope. The groups were fired yesterday.

Note the group movement dependent on the brand of ammunition employed for the particular group. If, that’s a big if I were to shoot a deer with a 22 rimfire it would be with the rifle sighted in for one type/lot of ammunition. The distance would be under 50yds closer the better. The circumstance would have to be just right target presentation.

Under all things are possible yes but I have my concerns. It would not be my first choice.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

A .22 Mag with a 50 gr bullet ought to do the job. Kepp your shots at a close distance. If they are that over run with deer, and this is a heavily populated area, it definitely beats killing deer with the family sedan, possibly injuring or killing humans.

 

[jmr40]

I'd use a 22 rimfire if I were in a survival situation and needed to take a deer to survive. I have no trouble with the 223 with quality ammo as a minimum, but that is as small as I'd personally feel ethical about using for sport hunting.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I think the idea of taking deer with a rimfire is absolutely asinine. Sure, it can be done, but it's going to lead to far more dying deer lying around in the forest after a week of agony, than filled freezers.

 

[W.E.G.]

IBTL.