Hunting & Fishing leading a running whitetail...

[smack]

Re: leading a running whitetail...

I cant even count the mule deer I've smoked on the run, if it scares you or you need a calculator, slide rule and several guys patting you on your ass, telling you its going to be OK. Then DON"T DO IT.

 

[Advokaten]

Re: leading a running whitetail...

Just to add a bit of perspective,

in Europe and Sweden, headshots are a great no-no in the hunters community,

however we shoot at least 1/3 of all hoofed game with running shots,

they are second nature for us and I guess it´s like most things just a question of proper training and mindset.

Most countries have annual shooting proficiency test for running boar and moose,

so in short different strokes.

Yeah, the pic in the start of the thread, that deer is to fast, to far away, a no go in my book,

others opinion may diffed.

/Chris

 

[armymedic.2]

Re: leading a running whitetail...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: coondog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Lots of people nowdays that spend more money on corn than ammo. </div></div>

i love this guy!

 

[PSL1078]

Re: leading a running whitetail...

It's hard to tell you exactly by looking at the pictures. You need to know how far your target is from you and the type of lead you need to use. I practice shooting moving targets at both long and short range, but I have never shot a a deer that was moving faster than a walk beyond 200 yards. I have hit several on the run that were under 100 yards.

I have never hear of the intercept method. Think you are describing the trapping method. This is when you hold the cross hairs at one point and allow the target to move into the crosshairs. I have had less success using this method.

The tracking method is when the shooter moves his scope with the target and continues to move the rifle as he fires. This is the method I use.

There are 2 types of leads: full and half value. A full lead requires a leading the animal more . The deer in your picture require a full value lead. Shalt value requires less lead.

There a formulas to determine how far to lead a target, but you must estimate the speed and range for your target and determine the type of lead to use. This is
complicated and requires calculation. I don't bother to do this when hunting. I shoot
instinctively and rarely miss. I take these shots on the lowest scope setting to get a better field of view and within 200 yards to insure a humane kill. This is because of
practice though. Misses will occur when shooting at moving targets. If you want to miss less, you need to practice.

I saw some type of formulas on other posts, but skimmed through them. I didn't read them. I can send the easy formulas I have later if you are interested. It would be helpful to know the velocity of hour round. What caliber do you use and what length barrel?

 

[wisam]

Re: leading a running whitetail...

For a walking deer aim at the front of the chest. For a running shot, aim just ahead of the nose. Worked pretty well for me in the past. If you run the numbers, it works out pretty well out to 150 yards or so.

 

[ARCOREY]

Re: leading a running whitetail...

I don't pull the trigger unless I'm sure I can cleanly kill that animal, whether standing, walking, or running. I have been wrong on occasion, but it wasn't from being overly optimistic in my abilities. If you want to shoot running game practice until you are sure you can do it. Do I pass running shots, yes. Do I take running shots, yes. It is a judgement call that only you can decide. Every situation dictates its own course of action. Cover, distance, speed of target, motion of target, surrounding dangers are all factors. The main thing is don't think of it as you're only losing a bullet, think of it as if it is the last bullet you'll ever have and make it count. There's nothing wrong with bringing bullets home, but by the same token, there's nothing wrong with putting meat in your freezer using what you have in a responsible manner whatever your method may be.

 

[PSL1078]

Re: leading a running whitetail...

Agreed. I dont like to take running shots either. I have made them and will continue to, but as we all know, they aren't the best shots to take. I choose my shots carefully and don't shoot beyond my ability.

My advice is to find a range with a 150 or 200 yards moving target system or use some sort of rope with a pulley or even a remote control car with a balloon. If a deer is within 75 yards or so, you shouldn't have to lead it anyways. Use your scope on lowest setting and practice acquiring your target quickly and making accurate shot without a rest on a target that is not moving. This should help you........

 

[notquiteright]

Re: leading a running whitetail...

Having spent some time working out the various leads needed to hit moving targets as well as seeing a few 'natural' shooters whiff the target cleanly when put to any varifiable test this has been interesting.

"Ah jess throw dey gun out there a ways infront n pull de trigger. Ah gits more deer on de run th'n any other ways!"

Jason- the only thing I'll say to you is trying to do something you never practised or even gave much thought to when it comes to flinging 308 bullets out in public isnt inspiring me to want to hunt with you.

But no biggie, I like hunting alone.

Like everything that might kill someone or something, think driving a car, a bit of practise before hand might be in order?

I shoot at running hogs alot. have done my homework a bit first. The first round takes the biggest sow in the bunch, then its a crap shoot at the fleeing pigs. I use a mildot scope so I can gauge the lead I am applying to the running porkers.

I am a mile away from anyone else, nice thing about out west.

Using the mildot you are leading with an angular unit of measure so a lead is a lead no matter the distance until you get out to 600 or so. Well unless you are shooting a comp I guess.

Anyway I hope those who just swing on out front 'a ways' and fire would consider doing just a little homework prior to shooting. I have found most 'natural' hunters have a long history of wounded game before their 'natural' abilities are found.

Mildots, they are not just for looking cool at the range.

 

[jayd4wg]

Re: leading a running whitetail...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: notquiteright</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jason- the only thing I'll say to you is trying to do something you never practised or even gave much thought to when it comes to flinging 308 bullets out in public isnt inspiring me to want to hunt with you.</div></div>

I don't recall inviting you? But at the same time, i'd never turn my chin to a fellow hunter and provided that I disagreed with some of their judgements would use the opportunity to possibly influence some of their decisions. Have you met my friend Jesus?

Noone said I don't practice hitting running critters either. I've knocked more than a few running squirrels off a log with my 22mag. velocity on this gun is about half that of the 308...so my past experience could easily be putting my lead far ahead of a running whitetail and in fact THIS is what I truly think happened during my hunts this year. Am I 100% with the rimfire on squaks? um...no. i don't know too may people that haven't blown a shot on a squirrel either once or twice in their career, i'll bet even Top Predator has a couple pics of botched bunnies and squaks to show that he hit a little to one side or another from where he was WANTING to hit it. difference is...this is like thumping a deer with a 50BMG...i don't care WHERE you hit, that part of the animal is missing and you can't put it in the freezer. I try to hit the head of every squirrel i see and sometimes we hit a little farther back.

all this is inconsequential at this point though. My FIL and I are collecting milk jugs for an afternoon trip up to the farm. we have a cable and pully set up, and the creek nearby will be a lightweight source of water for our adventure practicing on running kill zone shots. if i can proficiently thump the milk jug, i'm pretty confident i will hit the vitals of a deer at that speed.

BTW, i really appreciated some of the banter in this thread but really feel it's time to let it die now.

 

[notquiteright]

Re: leading a running whitetail...

Dont get your panties in a wad young man.

Like I said it was a bit amusing and sad to read your account of shooting at running animals out in a as you said not so private farm with a high powered rifle capable of pushing a bullet out 400 yards if shot flat from the shoulder and misses its target, but absolutely NO practise or even serious thought given the process.

But by other posts in this thread you are not alone in some rather odd 'methods' of mover engagements.

Hindsight is 20/20 but if I might, perhaps your next slipshod attempt to shoot an animal be posted on Fudd.com rather than where guys do a bit more work before just flinging the muzzle infront of the brisket and pulling the trigger.

One bit of advise before you start flinging lead at a moving milk jug-

Think in angles and not linear. The mildot system uses angles that have linear value at certain distances. You want to hold a certain number of degrees infront of your deer's heart no matter the distance to the deer.

Ok, one more, I think you jerk the crap out of the trigger when shooting the rifle. Practise your standing shooting at a stationary target until you have than down pat.

Crawl, walk, run

Good luck, perhaps you should look for help rather than justification for your actions in future posts.