Anyone use a 22 Hornet for deer?

As much negativity as there is on this topic, I fail to see how knowing the limitations of the caliber and firearm are any different than hunting with a bow. My aversion to using the Hornet up to this point is that I sometimes have opportunity to make longer shots or shots where cover makes a small fast bullet impractical and unsuitable. That said, most of my recent big game kills have been headshots inside 40 yards so it's likely a safe bet. No different than hunting with a handgun or bow, it just increases your handicap.
 
rem31 said:
Writer Bob Hagel said it first and said it best. Don't choose a caliber that will do the job when all goes right, pick one that will do the best job when all goes wrong. The head shot is a poor choice, too small a vital area, (brain) surrounded by too much non immediately fatal tissue, and too mobile. Pros shoot for the lungs on unwounded game. Ignore those who are trying to prove something by using a marginal caliber and save unnecessary suffering.
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I'd carry my 338, but the damn thing is heavy. :p
 
22 LR is still a popular way of starting Young kids to get into hunting deer at home
a 22 hornet is a better option over at 22 LR a 243 is better yet but it's hard for a 6 or 7 year old to hold a 243 steady enough to make a cleen kill
All the deer I have hunted over the years not one have I wounded or lost with a 22 hornet
I have lost two deer with a 30-06 both times shooting too far for my abilities at the time one deer I never able to recover I know I hit him but the bush was thick any one who has hunted on Haida Gwaii knows what I'm talking about 50 yards to bleed out can mean a lost animal its better a close shot and a Instant death
Unlike others on this forum I take full responsibility for my mistakes
I will stick with my 308 and my 6.5CM but it my Personal Choice
 
carverk said:
22 LR is still a popular way of starting Young kids to get into hunting deer at home
a 22 hornet is a better option over at 22 LR a 243 is better yet but it's hard for a 6 or 7 year old to hold a 243 steady enough to make a cleen kill
All the deer I have hunted over the years not one have I wounded or lost with a 22 hornet
I have lost two deer with a 30-06 both times shooting too far for my abilities at the time one deer I never able to recover I know I hit him but the bush was thick any one who has hunted on Haida Gwaii knows what I'm talking about 50 yards to bleed out can mean a lost animal its better a close shot and a Instant death
Unlike others on this forum I take full responsibility for my mistakes
I will stick with my 308 and my 6.5CM but it my Personal Choice
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My first deer was on your Islands when I was 14. Homemade bowstring on a longbow. Old school broadhead I sharpened with a file. Swan Bay area IIRC. Killed fast but if I had a .22 Hornet it may have been easier. I think I may have got lucky....:)

Deer was still in the older growth but if it had made into the real bush who knows? Not like I had great tracking skills then....:)

But as a kid I didn't have any options other than bow. Bow got used, but my fishing rod REALLY got a workout that trip. What a time!
 
Gatehouse said:
My first deer was on your Islands when I was 14. Homemade bowstring on a longbow. Old school broadhead I sharpened with a file. Swan Bay area IIRC. Killed fast but if I had a .22 Hornet it may have been easier. I think I may have got lucky....:)

Deer was still in the older growth but if it had made into the real bush who knows? Not like I had great tracking skills then....:)

But as a kid I didn't have any options other than bow. Bow got used, but my fishing rod REALLY got a workout that trip. What a time!
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Kid on ther first deer hut has to be the funnest and most nerve-racking of all hunting
So much to worry about like whether they understand exactly where to aim and dealing with buck fever all the stress is so worth it when they get there first deer ,grouse or rabbit
I still think a 22 hornet on a deer hunt has it place just like a 308 on a deer hunt May not be a popular opinion but that never stopped me from speaking my mind it still has its place and can be extremely useful caliber especially for training young hunter To shoot , patients and shot placement
on Haida Gwaii we don't have to many grouse and no rabbits to let the kids cut their teeth so they have to jump straight into deer hunting
In the old days kids were given Extremely Lightweight bows and arrows and encourage to shoot everything that walked or flys or swim including songbirds apparently Robins makes really good soup so I've been told
 
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A lot of FN have stepped up to using the 'magnum'( 22 magnum.)

I would absolutely not feel under gunned carrying a 22 hornet for deer ...what I would do is make absolutely sure where the shots were going, confining my shots to close range, like under 50 yards maximum( of all the deer I've killed ,most were within that range anyway) ,waiting for the deer to be standing still ,sight on its eye and move back one inch , reach for my 'Folder' and start cleaning my deer which dropped in its tracks
 
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ratherbefishin said:
A lot of FN have stepped up to using the 'magnum'( 22 magnum.)

I would absolutely not feel under gunned carrying a 22 hornet for deer ...what I would do is make absolutely sure where the shots were going, confining my shots to close range, like under 50 yards maximum( of all the deer I've killed ,most were within that range anyway) ,waiting for the deer to be standing still ,sight on its eye and move back one inch , reach for my 'Folder' and start cleaning my deer which dropped in its tracks
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22magnum is Evan harder to find up here then 22 hornet sun times
 
Just came across this old revived thread. And yes, I took a small coastal deer a fair number of years ago. The first shot was poor shooting on my part, and the second was in the spine, but penetration was lacking. I finished it fast, but it wasn't ideal. Years ago, Dad killed a black bear with the little gun with a neck shot. I figured it out, that the factory loads were lacking. Not the cartridge. If I had shot the deer in the neck to begin with, the deer probably would have died right there. I have heavier constructed 50 gr. "non Hornet" bullets that would probably work decent at closer range. I would be doing a little testing beforehand if I ever tried it again. The 60 gr. cast would be a good killer, and would use that on a little deer.
 
Superbrad said:
How many can you pay for? - 1 unless you apply for additional controlled hunt tag

Get two a year? - If you are successful in getting drawn for antlerless it is an endorsement to your current tag... you can still only shoot one deer....

How long have you been hunting again?..... lol
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the number of tags is not the point we could get 6 tags each for deer just a few years ago. I hunt with 12 guys or more and shot more then just my tags.
 
dutchhunter said:
the number of tags is not the point we could get 6 tags each for deer just a few years ago. I hunt with 12 guys or more and shot more then just my tags.
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Haida Gwaii it's 15 deer bin that way for a long time
my experience is not based on shooting just one or two deer each year
we really have the best deer hunting and most generous hunting season in all Canada and the numbers prove it
By the way the islands is over 50% native and look we have no shortage of deer
With beef prices running between $8 to $12 lbs and 80% unemployment everyone hunts deer
No heards of a wounded deer running around plenty of them are killed each year with 22lr
 
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Nothing wrong with the hornet but if I was going to spring serious money for a BRNO,I'd probably go for a 223 rather than a hornet..cheaper ammo and more capable ...
 
carverk said:
Kid on ther first deer hut has to be the funnest and most nerve-racking of all hunting
So much to worry about like whether they understand exactly where to aim and dealing with buck fever all the stress is so worth it when they get there first deer ,grouse or rabbit
I still think a 22 hornet on a deer hunt has it place just like a 308 on a deer hunt May not be a popular opinion but that never stopped me from speaking my mind it still has its place and can be extremely useful caliber especially for training young hunter To shoot , patients and shot placement
on Haida Gwaii we don't have to many grouse and no rabbits to let the kids cut their teeth so they have to jump straight into deer hunting
In the old days kids were given Extremely Lightweight bows and arrows and encourage to shoot everything that walked or flys or swim including songbirds apparently Robins makes really good soup so I've been told
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Well, I was alone, so I was pretty amped up, nobody to get nervous for me! :)

Judging by the size of many of the deer, I don't think the Hornet is really that out of place on HG deer. I think if I went there for deer, I would be packing a .223 with TTSX bullets.
 
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