Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
Good thread. I get a kick out of the sniper/tactical guys when they go hunting.
Finally Got First Deer :) And Lessons Learned
- Thread starter miykael
- Start date
Good you got yourself in order with thoughts.
Makes for good respectable hunting.
One thing I didn't read on your info was, "reloaded after first shot".
I took my daughter out yesterday and saw one big mule deer doe.
Two grouse, one was blessed.
On the way home, ten mulies on acreage in town.........
Tizz the way it has been for a while.
Good job.
Those vittles are going to be sum goooooood........
Makes for good respectable hunting.
One thing I didn't read on your info was, "reloaded after first shot".
I took my daughter out yesterday and saw one big mule deer doe.
Two grouse, one was blessed.
On the way home, ten mulies on acreage in town.........
Tizz the way it has been for a while.
Good job.
Those vittles are going to be sum goooooood........
You can do the same thing with a duplex reticle as long as there is some sort of fixed distance at a given magnification in the reticle it should work just remember to have it set to the same magnification if it is a variable power scope lol . Ranging this way on 15 X when you took the measurements at 3 x is going to be a headscratcher, when you shoot a deer that should be 100 meters away and suddenly you drop the rifle and he is half a Kilometre away.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I'd agree that you probably don't "need" a rangefinder but there is absolutely nothing wrong with using one to increase your confidence. In fairness, you did say "this" shooter and not "all" shooters. I've done lots of hunting and shooting and never used a rangefinder personally (my PH in RSA did use his Geovids to tell me that my springbok was 287m away and I made a very good 1 shot kill with my 416 Rigby) but I do own a rangefinder and would use it if the situation presented itself. You can use the duplex reticle as a rangefinder teh way Mil Specs described as well and save yourself a bit of cash on your next scope purchase.
Congrats on the deer and welcome to the world of big game hunting. Enjoy shopping for a handier and lighter rifle for next year's hunt. Keep your eye on the EE.
Congrats on the deer and welcome to the world of big game hunting. Enjoy shopping for a handier and lighter rifle for next year's hunt. Keep your eye on the EE.
I do agree in some points, 100 yards slopes or not, is not a far shot and you should be able to judge that instantly. But I guess that's why the OP had bought a rangefinder as hes not all that great at estimating distances. The previous year he said he missed a shot so if this is what he needs to feel confident with making a humane kill, although it shouldn't be necessary, I'm not going to tell him not to bring it along.
And nice shot OP.
Thanks. I will get better at range estimation and I sight at 200y now not 300 (which was about 5" high at 100 for me for the load I was using at the time). The shot last year was downhill and I thought over 250 but I ranged it this year to a horizontal equivalent of about 140y. Respectfully disagree on the slopes. If you have an accurate rifle, yes maybe not as big a deal for a general hit. But if your rifle only groups 2-3 inches at 100 with cheaper factory ammo, that's the difference between a quick, clean kill and tracking a wounded animal (I've heard a lot of stories about this). Again, this is hunting for me.
Thanks, mag had normal length rounds ready to go for follow up (one problem with over-length rounds, they won't fit in mag!). Backups still shoot 1 MOA but fortunately not needed this time. Deer can't get far without a heart 
Thanks! I grew up in Fort Mac in the 80s, shooting rabbits in the trails. Just a boy, his dog and a pellet gun
so who taught you how to field dress the deer?
One of the guys I go hunting with, who I call my hunting mentor (the hunter I went with when I got the deer). You can watch a million YouTube videos but nothing like the real thing I see your from fortmac, I haven't been back since 1993, guess whole different town now
I see your from fortmac, I haven't been back since 1993, guess whole different town now 
OccasionallyOnTarget
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Burnaby, BC
Thanks for posting your experience.
One of the guys I go hunting with, who I call my hunting mentor (the hunter I went with when I got the deer). You can watch a million YouTube videos but nothing like the real thing
Christ yes, you would not recognize the place. Traffic sums it up lol.
One thing I'd like to ask you, and please don't read this as critical... Why did you do it?...
You are not a meat hunter as you said, and you aren't a trophy hunter (which is obvious by the deer you took), again, don't get me wrong... I am a "meat hunter" and to me a deer that size is perfect and a trophy to me...
I guess my question is... What greater satisfaction did you get from shooting that deer that you wouldn't get from spinning a 4 inch gong at the same range?
You are not a meat hunter as you said, and you aren't a trophy hunter (which is obvious by the deer you took), again, don't get me wrong... I am a "meat hunter" and to me a deer that size is perfect and a trophy to me...
I guess my question is... What greater satisfaction did you get from shooting that deer that you wouldn't get from spinning a 4 inch gong at the same range?
Thanks, mag had normal length rounds ready to go for follow up (one problem with over-length rounds, they won't fit in mag!). Backups still shoot 1 MOA but fortunately not needed this time. Deer can't get far without a heart
You will be surprised how far an animal can get without one! Adrenaline can do a hell of a lot and they will go further then you could ever imagine. Couple things I would suggest. Dial back your scope. You will almost always have time to turn up the magnification if you need it but you rarely have time to dial it down. And it sucks when you come up close and bring up your gun only to see a brown patch and not have a clue where you're aiming (I've had the experience, it sucks). Also with having your gun sighted in at 200 yards you are good to aim and shoot right out to 300. Put the crosshairs on the vitals and squeeze. A lot can happen in the time it takes a bullet to reach its target (animal decides to step/turn at the same time you fire).
Congrats on the first deer! You'll never forget it!
Congratulations on your first deer! It's an amazing feeling especially after being skunked for a few years. I vividly remember my first deer and my mentor standing over me as I tried my first field dress.
Something worth mentioning is that if you sight your rifle for MPBR (Maximum Point Blank Range), with a standard .308 factory load, you should be able to shoot a deer with a 6" kill zone up to ~260 yards without having to hold over or under. I don't want to insult your intelligence, since you seem to know a lot more about trajectories than I do, but sighting in for MPBR allows for quick shots. If you think your under 260 yards, you aim for center of kill zone and shoot. All that being said, when you sighted in at 200 yards, you should be hitting target at 1.3 inches high and then you're zeroed in correctly. Your loads might work out to different numbers.
Just thought I mention MPBR since there's tons of hunters that don't understand the concept. If you do and I missed something, my apologies. Either way, congrats again!
Something worth mentioning is that if you sight your rifle for MPBR (Maximum Point Blank Range), with a standard .308 factory load, you should be able to shoot a deer with a 6" kill zone up to ~260 yards without having to hold over or under. I don't want to insult your intelligence, since you seem to know a lot more about trajectories than I do, but sighting in for MPBR allows for quick shots. If you think your under 260 yards, you aim for center of kill zone and shoot. All that being said, when you sighted in at 200 yards, you should be hitting target at 1.3 inches high and then you're zeroed in correctly. Your loads might work out to different numbers.
Just thought I mention MPBR since there's tons of hunters that don't understand the concept. If you do and I missed something, my apologies. Either way, congrats again!
Not critical at all, I should have clarified what I meant when I said 'meat' hunter. There's guys I work with that don't care about shooting (only go to a range to sight in), they only want to pack the freezer aka 'meat hunters' and enjoy the social aspect. You're right, I don't kill for sport, but I still want the meat!!! I guess I'd be the guy who could have been a soldier, but ended up somewhere else in life but 'warrior' things still interest me. Granted road hunts now (due to circumstance & no time to get out pre-season) are not the ideal way for me either but still provide a test of skill, as everywhere we go terrain is a little different. I guess 'hunting' is as close as I'll get to 'sniping' and I take great satisfaction from precision ammo making, testing at the range and in the field - hunting, which brings it all together [until WW3 that is & I think it's a good idea to have some LR, mid-range and CQB skills]
Seeing the deer drop on the spot was satisfying (especially when I found out it was a heart shot) because it showed me that I brought together the skills of precision ammo making, testing, ballistics and shooting in the real world and that I actually have those skills. The deer was watching me the whole time, so getting out of a truck and setting up without spooking it also not as easy as some make it sound. So, to me, that one shot instant kill spoke volumes and made the 'meat' I'm getting more valuable than just nourishment
The first time I went 'truck' hunting a few years ago and we saw a buck that took off upside the hillside near Merritt, I went after it on foot. I literally felt like I did when I was a kid, tracking through the trails/woods after small game. That awakened something in me and I love being on the ground hunting on foot - I knew the deer was gone, but I needed to be out there. Last year, when we missed the deer and tried to track it (snow on ground) into the woods for quite a distance, it again brought the 'smell of the hunt'. I could understand why cultures throughout history valued hunting as a rite of passage
Anyways, not sure if I'm making sense but I guess the satisfaction from hunting is a multitude of factors for me
but 'warrior' things still interest me. Granted road hunts now (due to circumstance & no time to get out pre-season) are not the ideal way for me either but still provide a test of skill, as everywhere we go terrain is a little different. I guess 'hunting' is as close as I'll get to 'sniping' and I take great satisfaction from precision ammo making, testing at the range and in the field - hunting, which brings it all together [until WW3 that is & I think it's a good idea to have some LR, mid-range and CQB skills] Seeing the deer drop on the spot was satisfying (especially when I found out it was a heart shot) because it showed me that I brought together the skills of precision ammo making, testing, ballistics and shooting in the real world and that I actually have those skills. The deer was watching me the whole time, so getting out of a truck and setting up without spooking it also not as easy as some make it sound. So, to me, that one shot instant kill spoke volumes and made the 'meat' I'm getting more valuable than just nourishment
The first time I went 'truck' hunting a few years ago and we saw a buck that took off upside the hillside near Merritt, I went after it on foot. I literally felt like I did when I was a kid, tracking through the trails/woods after small game. That awakened something in me and I love being on the ground hunting on foot - I knew the deer was gone, but I needed to be out there. Last year, when we missed the deer and tried to track it (snow on ground) into the woods for quite a distance, it again brought the 'smell of the hunt'. I could understand why cultures throughout history valued hunting as a rite of passage
Anyways, not sure if I'm making sense but I guess the satisfaction from hunting is a multitude of factors for me
Thanks! No, I meant literally no heart, my hunter buddy/mentor said it was obliterated, he couldn't find it. Even with adrenaline, animals need a pumping heart to move that adrenaline (blood flow) Yeah, 8x was the lowest setting on my scope but it worked pretty good, there was more than enough field of view.
Nice thing about the Shooter app is that it also gives Time of Flight (TOF), so at initial 2650fps (+drag) bullet will reach 100y in just over 1/10s, so unless the animal is spooked, it's probably not moving far. Thanks again, for sure won't forget it!
Yeah, 8x was the lowest setting on my scope but it worked pretty good, there was more than enough field of view. Nice thing about the Shooter app is that it also gives Time of Flight (TOF), so at initial 2650fps (+drag) bullet will reach 100y in just over 1/10s, so unless the animal is spooked, it's probably not moving far. Thanks again, for sure won't forget it!
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