Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    
    Here's how to hit a deer for each of your category's.
    
    
    
                        "Whistle Sharply"
    
                          Game Stops!
    
                         You Shoot............
    
    Works 99% of the time.
    
    Rick
    

    Re .1
    
    Read Re .2; It does work; Why ??? but I've seen it happen to many
    times.
    
    
    Jeff

    
    Another thing to consider on a running deer.....
    This *usually* works in an open field or when the deer is about to jump
    fence.
    
    Whitetails when they are running typically jump/bounce/whatever every
    4 or 5 strides. The theory is that when ever the front hooves  touch 
    the ground, there is a brief time where the vitals are stopped while 
    the back legs come forward. ie Time your shot for when the deer jumps
    and aim right at the vitals when the front feet touch. You of course
    don't have too much time to think about it but who does on a running
    whitetail!!
    
    The best opportunity for what I described above is when the deer 
    reaches a fence or any other object for that matter that it has to jump
    over. In this case, you have two times for a shot; at the beginning
    of the jump and at the end.
    
    Something to consider next time you're watching your favorite whitetail
    flagging the world!!
    
    					/ Andrew /
    
    
    

    
    re .1 whistle, I know it works, it has been demonstrated but.....when I
    see a deer in stride and a whistle is attempted it ends up coming out
    as drool, then I spend time having to clean and reoil the rifle, and the
    scope (no I don't oil the scope). 
    
    Leonard

    Regarding leads etc... better yet, pass on the running shot and wait
    for a better opportunity.  The deer will appreciate it, as will the
    guys who might have to track a gut shot deer.
    
    Fra

    Shooting moving game is a skill that all the mathematics and theory in
    the world won't make you capable of executing satifactorily.  This
    skill is gained only by choosing a firearm and practicing on moving
    targets with it a different ranges until you can consistently hit the
    target where you expected to.
    
    I have shot lots of wild dogs, deer and other game while they were
    running so know that it can be done fairly easily if you have practiced
    correctly.  I have yet to gut shoot an running animal (or any as for
    that matter), having always shot into the shoulder/vital area or the
    head/neck area.  So if you practice, practice, practice until you have
    acquired the necessary skill, and then continue practicing to maintain
    that skill, running shots should not be a problem if you're shooting
    within the limits of the gun and your acquired skills.
    
    I use a scope on all of my rifles, which I believe makes it much easier
    to learn to hit running shots with - especially at ranges over 100
    yards.  I always set my scope on 4x for hunting which gives me a
    reasonably large field of view.  The advantage of this is that the
    position of the running animal in the scope is an excellent way of
    determining the proper lead.  I simply follow the animal with reticles
    at to the  proper position for the distance, move ahead of the animal
    keeping the horizontal reticle at the same position on the animal, and
    squeeze off when my subconscious tells me to as per it's pre-determined
    lead from my practice sessions.  Seems to work good for me.  This is
    the way my Dad does it also, and he is a crack rifle shot on running
    game.
    
    Bounding and prancing deer are a little more difficult to hit.  In
    these cases I adjust my hold to be on the low side so that I will
    either cleanly miss or hit the bottom of the vital area.   If the
    deer (talking Whitetail deer here) is doing this bounding or prancing
    across an open area or field,  it is probably best to wait to see if
    they stop, since they usually do.
    
    Basically what I'm trying to say is that taking running game is not a
    difficult feat, nor is it a high risk shot (as some would have you
    believe), IF you have DEVELOPED AND MAINTAINED THE SKILL through
    practice, practice, and more practice.  You can calculate how much lead
    you need with formulas but in the end you have to know the speed of the
    animal, the distance to the animal, trajectory information, and then be
    able to estimate this lead distance accurately.  The only real way to
    do it to be successful is to practice, practice, practice till you
    subconsious knows how to determine the proper lead and hold by itself,
    instantly.
    
    Roy...

    
    Now when you say practice, how and where do you practice to obtain this
    skill??? I use to do alot of trap shooting but in the past five years I
    have not had the time to do this. Would trap be enough to get you in
    the swing of things???? I think one of the problems I encounter when
    hunting with a bow or a gun is I'm always looking for that perfect
    shot, deer standing slightly angled away from you with it's head down,
    but this shot very rarely if ever presents itself. 
    
    Gus

    For bird hunting, trap shooting would definitely be a good practice. 
    However, this will do little for you for deer hunting.  I've found that
    practice at running deer targets, available at some clubs, to be good
    practice but not complete since the target tends to be predictable in
    speed, verticle movement, and path.
    
    Although this method is not available to all, this is how I practice
    when I get the chance.  On my Dad's farm there is a deep, slanted gully
    that is about 600 yards long and which can be seen from various angles to
    permit anywhere from 0 to 400 yard safe shots.   The targets we use are
    old tires with a target mounted inside.  One person stands at the top
    of the gully and starts the tires rolling down it while the other
    shoots.  Since this is all strip farmed in about 50 yard strips, each
    tire tends to travel a somewhat different course,at different speeds,
    and with varying degrees of bounce.  Some bounce like crazy while
    others just scream down the valley with very little bounce.  This is
    not only lots of fun, but I believe offers about the best practice you
    can get for running shots of any kind.  This, however, is most
    definitely is not a couple box of shells to get tuned up proposition.  
    The first several times out I had lots of trouble even hitting anywhere
    in the tire.  However, persistence, determination, and my ammo supply
    prevailed and within a few sessions I was nailing the bull (a 12"
    diameter circle) consistently at various ranges.  
    
    Anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to develop there running shot
    skills, should not attempt them unless they are in a situation where
    they're in a survival type situation.
    
    I am a firm believer in use of large calibers and heavy weight bullets
    for my Big Game hunting.  I believe that this is even more warranted if
    there is a possibility that you will take a running shot, and here is
    why.  The heavy weight bullets, heavy for the caliber, provide the best
    combination of down-range power retention and long-range trajectory. 
    The larger calibers do not depend nearly as much on the bullet
    successfull and complete mushrooming in order to get the job done, plus
    are typically excellent penetrators.  On running shots all of these
    characteristics are very desirable since we're mainly concerned with
    placing the shot in a path through the vitals and not normally capable
    of predicting accurately the exact path or the resistance the bullet
    will encounter on its travels along that path.
    
    Roy...
    

    Roy,
    
    Of the total number of hunters who hit the woods on opening day, i'd
    say less than 10% actually shoot their rifles MORE than the alloted box
    of shells (less in most circumstances) to get it sighted in, and fewer 
    actually bench rest and work up loads or just plain practice... 
    My guess is that less than 2% actually practice running shots...  Not 
    saying it can't be done, but for the average hunter, i would'nt 
    recommend it.
    
    So for the few who do it, my hats off to you... for the rest of us,
    stick to guaranteed (ha!! ;^)) kill opportunities.
    
    Fra

    I agree with you whole 100%.
    
    Please note that in all my comments on this subject, scattered
    throughtout this and the FIREARMS notesfile, I've always stated that
    these shots should only be taken by those who have DEVELOPED AND
    MAINTAINED running shot skills through PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and more
    PRACTICE.
    
    Roy...