do you take the shot?

[Demonical]

I have never shot a running animal. The only time I ever tried I got embarrassed pretty badly by pronghorn antelope that were going by me at full speed; I expect I was missing them by 12-20 feet or something.

Everything else I pretty much ambush, shooting deer that are unaware, standing or walking very slowly, moose that are called to within 30-40 yards, bears that I stalk to close range etc...

So the way that I hunt has as much to do with my shot selection as anything and not because I am a moral icon or anything like that.

But this spring when I had the chance at that enormous bear Angus, I passed up the one shot opportunity that I had because he was not on a good angle.

 

[jjackman]

Angles, elevation, wind, shooting position, game type, and movement all make shooting more difficult. I don't hit every bird I shoot at, and not every deer that I've shot dropped dead and died within 2 seconds, but they never get far and they never live long. What is humane is a subjective opinion and I've only ever taken 1 shot that I've regretted and after a 2 mile track it will never happen again.

20 rounds is not enough ammo to take on a trip, particularly one which required extended travel and even air travel. I would likely have more then one tag, and I'm going to spend some time re-sighting my rifle when I get there, which is more then 2 shots, I hope thats good enough shooting. I'm also likely to carry several different bullet types suitable to different game.

 

[stubblejumper]

20 rounds is not enough ammo to take on a trip, particularly one which required extended travel and even air travel.

He actually takes 50 rounds,which he says is not enough.

It can very easily be an issue, When I travel out of province for deer hunting, I bring fifty rounds.

Confirming zero at a local gravel pit when you arrive, and if you're scope is off, or something isn't working properly,and after twenty or thirty rounds trying to confirm zero, you're left with 20 rounds for hunting all week?. You may need to run to a nearby store and buy ammo.

The new stuff you buy will end up as reserve because you only need one shot to kill a deer, but you dont want to feel under ammoed.

Here is why 20 rounds isn't enough for actually shooting at deer.

I really am a lousy shot at them running deer.

They are the only shots we have out west, as we walk all day, kicking up deer and they are always on the run and quite difficult to shoot off hand.

Now you know why 20 rounds wont see you through the week and can make you nervous when you've only got one or two bullets left and a big bruiser runs out in front of you at 200 yds and gaining on 300 real fast

 

[boresnake]

I won't shoot farther than 200 yards, that's my comfort zone. Most of the hunting I do is closer than that though. I try to sneak up on em as much as possible, to me that's hunting!

 

[olegs69]

I shoot as soon as the leaves rustle. I usually take a few shots with the .308 then move on the the 9mm hardball for safeties sake.

 

[Dogleg]

Stubblejumper,
When your skilled, 97% on clays, 75% on birds buddies shoot a goose, how do they keep the other hundred pellets from hitting and wounding other geese? That's a pretty good trick.

 

[senior]

I have had more than a few deer & moose (especially moose) walk or run away as if nothing had ever happened even after taking the heart right out of it. Any sane hunters first instinct is to question your shot, did the sights get jarred, did I hit a twig en route..etc! Also any sane hunters second instinct is to follow up & make sure a possible wounded animal is not gonna walk or run off & not get recovered.

I believe most hunters are pretty sure of their shot although it can not possibly be 100%.
As another poster stated, 1st objective is to be sure your shots are fired in a safe direction, but again nothing is 100%.

 

[Mumptia]

I believe most hunters are pretty sure of their shot although it can not possibly be 100%.
As another poster stated, 1st objective is to be sure your shots are fired in a safe direction, but again nothing is 100%.

Safety is paramount, but I take the shot when I'm given a shot I know I can make.

The percentages in the poll are irrelevant in my mind. You either have confidecnce you can make the shot or you don't.

The majority of my game have been broad side boiler room shots, but I've shot two deer running and got them both and have shot a couple moose front on through the sternum. If I have a clear shot to the animal I take it.

That said, you need to have piece of mind in your abilities and in your rifle when taking lower percentage shots.

Nothing wrong with taking low percentage shots but the problem I see is that many hunters don't practise it.

A deer silhouette pulled across a range shooting lane on a wagon works well for running practise.

 

[Brandon]

I've only lost one animal in my short hunting career (9 years) Shot a doe last year my grandfather chased out to me on a hydro line, and couldnt for the life of us find it. Looked for HOURS, was pretty pissed, but thats the way it goes I guess.

As long as Im comfortable with the distance, Ill take the shot. Ive been pretty consistent with running shots, and actually more so than sitting there thinking about shooting or watching a big ol buck walk toward me for half an hour.
Theres sometimes my brother takes a shot that I wouldnt, but thats up to each other. We were raised to respect the animals we're hunting, so as long as you're doing that while being 100% safe - fire away.

 

[gth]

If I think I can makethe shot, I shoot. Simple. Havent been wrong yet.

(coyotes/jackrabbits excluded cause I shoot no matter what on them)

 

[Boomer]

There are many contributing factors which may lead to a perfect shot, to a wounded animal, or to a clean miss and with that in mind I wouldn't like to say that I've ever been 100% certain of any shot I've ever made on game. But given the reasonable expectation of a killing shot, I do the best I can. I've never taken a shot on any live target with the intention to wound an animal. It hasn't always worked out, and when it hasn't I've always done my best to finish what I started. I don't think you can ask much more from anyone.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

When I first started hunting, I was 100% sure, of every last shot. The fact that I missed, on more than one occasion, makes my opinion on that percentage, pretty useless.
Like 7.62, I hunt close quarters in Ontario. I am in the midst of pre-season practice right now. I know I will have running shots, it's a given. And I know I can make a lot of them. I also know I won't attempt some of them.
Skill as a hunter, comes with time, and practice.
I think if I were to hunt BC for example, or any of our prairie provinces, I'd have to start over on my training. I've been there, I've even done some light hunting. It's a world of difference.
I can see how a guy could go to the field with confidence with justa few rounds.
Here, things are different. We have party hunting for one. I have shot three deer in one day before. So you are damned right I carry lots of ammo, and more at the camp.
Is it fair to the animal to shoot it once, wound it, and then wait for it to die, if it does, because you have no more ammo?

 

[glang1]

No Brainer...

I am very surprised that there are any answers other that "almost 100%". My goal is always a clean kill. If I'm not sure of shot, I just pass on it. Another will always come around. Hunting for me is not just shooting at the first animal I see. Patience Grasshoppah'

George

 

[stubblejumper]

I take the shot when I'm given a shot I know I can make.

Nothing wrong with taking low percentage shots but the problem I see is that many hunters don't practise it.

As soon as you admit that a shot is a low percentage shot for you,you are admitting that you think that your odds of making that shot are low,so you don't actually know if you can make it.If you practice a particular shot until you are making that shot on a consistent basis,it is no longer a low percentage shot for you.

 

[stubblejumper]

When your skilled, 97% on clays, 75% on birds buddies shoot a goose, how do they keep the other hundred pellets from hitting and wounding other geese? That's a pretty good trick.

Unless you shoot only at single geese,there is no 100% way to guarantee that no other birds are hit.But the fact that these shooters do shoot far less shots to take home their limit,means that they are shooting far less pellets each day,so they will naturally hit fewer geese with stray pellets.They also are much better at centering their patterns on the chosen goose,so the patterns don't overlap as many other geese.Lastly,more of the pellets hit the chosen goose,leaving less stray pellets to hit other geese.

 

[7mmlefty]

Youre quotes of me and my western friends, hunting skills and methods are very entertaining stubby jumper, funny how you omit words, between us in our PM's that you clearly omit to suit you're bizarre posting here.

It's funny how you are trying to turn everyone here against my(our) western hunting (walk the square mile) hunting tactics into you're own circus.

I didnt know CGN had you as the secret police hunter ethics comity, single handed run by you.

We do nothing wrong when shooting at a deer full out on the run, as thats all that is presented. We do very well as you can see from my profile pic's. WITH NO LOSSES OR CRIPPLES< EVER...

 

[stubblejumper]

Youre quotes of me and my western friends, hunting skills and methods are very entertaining

I quote your own words,so that people will know that it is your words,and not a fabrication on my part.

We do nothing wrong when shooting at a deer full out on the run, as thats all that is presented.

And out of almost 200 votes on this thread,apparently one person does agree with your shot selection.

 

[7mmlefty]

And out of almost 200 votes on this thread,apparently one person does agree with your shot selection.[/QUOTE]

Must be one western Canadian hunter who knows what it's like to work very hard all day, and walk a lot of miles before you see a good buck.

And yes, you might see a few in a day, and yes, you might very well empty you're gun trying to shoot it, but that does not mean that what we do is unethical.

It's hunting. Ps, I didnt vote on youre poll.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

Hey 7mmleft, there are definately a lot of deer shot by hunters around the Manitoba, Sask border where it is common practice to push the bluffs and pretty much your only opportunity is at a running deer when you do it that way. Some of these guys get good at it. I'm sure not going to tell them they need to wait for the deer to stop running before they take a shot. The deer generally doesn't stop until it hits the next bluff, and that might be half a mile or more. And once its there, its hidden again until someone flushes it out.

 

[stubblejumper]

Must be one western Canadian hunter who knows what it's like to work very hard all day, and walk a lot of miles before you see a good buck.

Many of the hunters on this board,including me are Western Canadian hunters,and most of us don't consider Ontario to be Western Canada.And not all of us spend all day walking,while we drive deer.Many of us have learned much more effective ways to present us to much higher percentage shots on good bucks.

there are definately a lot of deer shot by hunters around the Manitoba, Sask border where it is common practice to push the bluffs and pretty much your only opportunity is at a running deer when you do it that way. Some of these guys get good at it. I'm sure not going to tell them they need to wait for the deer to stop running before they take a shot.

When I first started hunting in East Central Saskatchewan,pushing bush was very common,and it did produce some good deer.And some people were very good at shooting running deer if the ranges were reasonably short.I even shot a few running deer myself when I was much younger,but I soon learned that there were other ways to hunt these deer that provided much better shot opportunities.As a result,I haven't attempted a shot at a running deer in many years,because now I hunt using methods where I am presented with standing shots.