Anyone use a 22 Hornet for deer?

[carverk]

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.

We get sum big dear up in the mountains
you we're hunting the beach or near the beach smaller deer but it is the best place for learning the deer are not that skittish on the beach for some reason
The deer on the highway almost never get very big but that's because everyone is shooting them Haahaa before everybody gets excited I know it's illegal but that's life living on an island
I like to get up in the mountains away for everyone so it means a boat ride and riding the Rokon its A lot different hunting a deer that has never been chased by a truck or ATV or chase by dogs ,wolves ,or coyotes
Eagle will take the odd fown it's cool as hell to see might be a little bit too violent for some of the more sensitive Hunter on CGN

 

[Gatehouse]

In my 3 trips there, I've mostly seen smaller deer, but I did see a couple of big boys. That- and bears- is why I would want a TTSX bullet.

The deer I arrowed was not a large buck, and not far from the beach where we had pulled our kayaks up and camped. It was 1983 or 84. Damn, I'm old now. Can still recall how soft the foot deep of moss was to sleep on under our tarp though. Sea kayaks weren't that common then, not like today!

 

[carverk]

In my 3 trips there, I've mostly seen smaller deer, but I did see a couple of big boys. That- and bears- is why I would want a TTSX bullet.

The deer I arrowed was not a large buck, and not far from the beach where we had pulled our kayaks up and camped. It was 1983 or 84. Damn, I'm old now. Can still recall how soft the foot deep of moss was to sleep on under our tarp though. Sea kayaks weren't that common then, not like today!

800 pound black bears up where you're camping but those are not the Bears to worry about
It's the monkey bears Not very common but there a much thinner black bear who has Learned how to hunt deer
Seen one take down a doe on a clear cut incredibly fast and powerful the deer had no chance at all

 

[1899]

Leary about chiming in, but I just got back from HG 2 weeks ago. My hunting partner shot 4 deer with a Hornet. All pass throughs and all but one dropped pretty much where it was standing. The one that didn't went about 5 yards before expiring. Biggest one was maybe 75 pounds.

 

[carverk]

Leary about chiming in, but I just got back from HG 2 weeks ago. My hunting partner shot 4 deer with a Hornet. All pass throughs and all but one dropped pretty much where it was standing. The one that didn't went about 5 yards before expiring. Biggest one was maybe 75 pounds.

They do get bigger than that it's just a matter where you go hunting on Haida Gwaii
22 hornet is more than adequate it has a lot of limitations but still lethal in the hands of a skilled hunter

 

[tactical870]

Leary about chiming in, but I just got back from HG 2 weeks ago. My hunting partner shot 4 deer with a Hornet. All pass throughs and all but one dropped pretty much where it was standing. The one that didn't went about 5 yards before expiring. Biggest one was maybe 75 pounds.

Awesome. Thank you for chiming in.

 

[1899]

Awesome. Thank you for chiming in.

What convinced him was his success on coyotes with the Hornet. He shoots lots of coyotes. He used Winchester's 46gr HP with Lil' Gun and his load chronographs at 2800 fps. I should point out that all of his shots were under 100 yards.

I was using a .270 with 130gr and of course most of the deer also fell where they stood. Except for one. That one went +70 yards with a perfect behind the shoulder double lung shot. The deer was broadside and undisturbed when I pulled the trigger. It just walked off as though nothing happened, disappearing into thick brush. We would never have found that deer without my dog - there was only a few specks of pink blood that was difficult to find in the first instance. The deer ended up crawling under a deadfall, and was invisible from most angles.

So go figure, sometimes animals react in unexpected ways.

Here is a picture of that deer - adult doe. Note that the dog is 72 pounds.

 

[carverk]

What convinced him was his success on coyotes with the Hornet. He shoots lots of coyotes. He used Winchester's 46gr HP with Lil' Gun and his load chronographs at 2800 fps. I should point out that all of his shots were under 100 yards.

I was using a .270 with 130gr and of course most of the deer also fell where they stood. Except for one. That one went +70 yards with a perfect behind the shoulder double lung shot. The deer was broadside and undisturbed when I pulled the trigger. It just walked off as though nothing happened, disappearing into thick brush. We would never have found that deer without my dog - there was only a few specks of pink blood that was difficult to find in the first instance. The deer ended up crawling under a deadfall, and was invisible from most angles.

So go figure, sometimes animals react in unexpected ways.

Here is a picture of that deer - adult doe. Note that the dog is 72 pounds.

I almost lost one on Haida Gwaii using 444 marlin
I found myself out of ammo One season The co-op was close so that what I went with
Hunting was poor that day towards suppertime I decided to go to my crappy honey hole I hate that spot but thers always a buck in the field but it's wet realy wet and Boggie
Walking close to the odd tree and blowdown is small spike jumpe up from his bedding spot just as I got stuck in the muskeg I did not have a clear shot for the head but I had the 444 so I decided to go for the heart
I was only 40 yards or so away from him The 444 hit him so hard it flipped him completely over in a somersault damn deer got up and started staggering and then disappeared in the deep grass
I figured for sure he just fell over dead but when I got there no deer spent a good hour and a half looking
Found them almost 200 yards away buried in a Salal bush
Shot was excellent right through the heart and totally exploded one lung I don't know how the hell that Spike even got up let alone crawl 200 yards

 

[1899]

Yes, it is funny how sometimes animals do the seemingly impossible. Both my hunting partner and I would have sworn that my shot was a clear miss. You just never know and need to conscientiously follow up on every shot.

 

[tactical870]

I've shot a number of deer that ran up to 100 yards on a heart or lung shot with a 270 or slug gun. Lately I've been making headshots with a 6.8 SPC and dropping them in their tracks. Less work looking for them.

 

[Gatehouse]

I have a funny 270 story.

A new hunter (adult) said he wanted my opinion on a few different 300 WM he was looking st. I told him then asked what he was hunting. "Deer"

I said a 308 or 270 might be better options but no. He had gone out with some buddies and watched a deer take 4 shots from a 270 Not powerful enough!

I suggested that it wasn't the cartridges fault but probably the shooter or -unlikely - bullets failing but nope, he had decided.

I haven't seen him in years but I hear he has killed some deer with his 300.

 

[carverk]

My 444 was stupid on my part I wasted so much meat with that Dammit rifle on that small buck I would never make that mistake Again
It's horrible blow the crap out of the small deer

 

[Aries-]

 

[carverk]

I tried to stay out of this thread but couldn't help myself The 22hornet with all its limitations is a wonderful and still viable hunting round
May not be popular with the now generation who may not want to take the time to sneak up on the game and place one fatal shot at close range but the old gall can still get the job dun
Kind a like that old joke about the two Bulls and the Young one wanting to run down and jump on the first cow it sees and the old bull wants to take his time and jump on all the cows

 

[1899]

Well Gatehouse, and you will know this as well Carverk, those HG deer can be very aggressive so a larger caliber - preferably a magnum - may not be such a bad idea.

I took a picture of this one right before it charged. Luckily for me it was a bluff charge. You can tell by the look in its eyes that she meant business. And see those long guard hairs? I'm pretty sure it can sense fear with those, kind of like a catfish smelling around with its whiskers.

 

[carverk]

Well Gatehouse, and you will know this as well Carverk, those HG deer can be very aggressive so a larger caliber - preferably a magnum - may not be such a bad idea.

I took a picture of this one right before it charged. Luckily for me it was a bluff charge. You can tell by the look in its eyes that she meant business. And see those long guard hairs? I'm pretty sure it can sense fear with those, kind of like a catfish smelling around with its whiskers.

That's a pretty small doe I wouldn't shoot it would be too embarrassing Haahaa

 

[tactical870]

I tried to stay out of this thread but couldn't help myself The 22hornet with all its limitations is a wonderful and still viable hunting round
May not be popular with the now generation who may not want to take the time to sneak up on the game and place one fatal shot at close range but the old gall can still get the job dun
Kind a like that old joke about the two Bulls and the Young one wanting to run down and jump on the first cow it sees and the old bull wants to take his time and jump on all the cows

As I get older and quite possibly wiser, I realize that a lot of firearms are overkill for most game. The challenge and self discipline to make an ethical kill shot with something less than a massive magnum rifle appeals to me more and more. That said, I may hunt with my 444 or 577 express rifle sometime just for giggles.

 

[MD]

Seeing as this thread has been going for three years, I may have already mentioned this; My father used to regularly shoot Vancouver island blacktails with a 22 hornet.

He only took neck shots. He was usually successful but what I find odd is that when I try to shoot that gun now I find the trigger stiff as heck and the gun not particularly accurate. And he used iron sights!

 

[carverk]

S

Seeing as this thread has been going for three years, I may have already mentioned this; My father used to regularly shoot Vancouver island blacktails with a 22 hornet.

He only took neck shots. He was usually successful but what I find odd is that when I try to shoot that gun now I find the trigger stiff as heck and the gun not particularly accurate. And he used iron sights!

I know for myself growing up poor we hunted with anything and also learnt to use any rifle even the inaccurate ones
A Poor inaccurate Rifle can be compensated by cutting the distance same with the lower power caliber cutting the distance is the key
Your father is probably quite skilled I getting deer with a 22lr about 30 yards shots he probably never took a shot much further than that with his 22 hornet

 

[mbogo3]

Anyone remember the WW2 collapsible BA .22 Hornet airforce survival gun to provide protection and food if shot down....ie....wild boar,roe deer + Nazi's ? Harold