How Far Can You Make Successful Kill Shots ?.

[Panama Red]

Hunting water (or fence lines with crossings) is my preferred method as age takes over. I have a pop up blind, a chair with arm rests, a Zane Grey book (or Louis Lamoure) a pee bottle, drinks snacks and a day to myself. My worst problem can be staying awake. Many times I have jerked the chin off the chest when my book falling from my hands scared a flock of turkey. To date I have not slept through any antlered game (that I know of). I have a stick or by pod and as per above I expect to hit within inches of POA. Only once a few years ago did this fail me as I record book white tail (Cous) deer came by and at 35 yards I was too shaky to shoot him. NEVER had buck fever before (or after) that but I had never had a Cous deer come in. 2 years later I gave his grandson a ride to town.

You would not believe, or, maybe you would believe, the number of hours I have spent sleeping in a tree stand. Never dropped my bow though…

 

[Panama Red]

Truth. There is a local guy here that has probably killed more deer with a .22 rifle than 90% of the hunters will ever take. Yes, he was an outlaw and I'm in no way condoning shooting deer with a .22 rimfire.

Learn your rifle, learn your capability and stay within your ability to make a clean ethical killing shot.

If you’re in West Virginia, I think I know that guy, LOL!

 

[Panama Red]

How far do I REALLY need to shoot?

 

[user 53891]

View attachment 216307How far do I REALLY need to shoot?

That's about the way it is around my home, only with mulies or elk.

 

[Panama Red]

That's about the way it is around my home, only with mulies or elk.

Man! I couldn’t imagine elk piled up like that. I’ve only seen them in hunting videos. Incredible animals. I never thought about having to cut one up and tote it out of the woods in pieces. You can shoot these little white tails, throw them over your shoulder, and walk out of the woods with them.
Watched one video of a guy bow hunting elk. The thing walked up on the other side of the tree he was sitting behind. He could have stuck the arrow in by hand it was so close. But he couldn’t take a shot, because his camera man was about 5 yards dead in front of that huge thing.
I also read an article about us fat old southern flatlanders trying to come out west and hunt elk. Poor guy tripped, and stuck an arrow through his neck. DRT… Dead Right There. Article was written by his guide. All that to say, I’ll stick with these tiny deer I can tote out on my shoulder in the “mountains” of north Florida. LOL!
But I wouldn’t mind having at least mulies down here…
Sorry for the thread hijack. If you ever want to see how your shooting falls apart with stress and movement, try running the “Rifle Ten”. Not a muzzle loader thing, but a fun test of your skill with a rifle.
https://artoftherifle.com/rifle-ten/2012/06/rifle-ten.html

 

[Eric Krewson]

I don't know how far I can make a kill shot with my M/L because I never stretch the distance, I think my furthest shot on a deer is about 40 yards with most being within bow range. I am a lousy offhand shot so always shoot at deer supported, I have a shooting rail on all of my treestands and shoot off cross sticks when I am on the ground. I hunt thick cover and only get brush clear shots at close range.

 

[user 53891]

Man! I couldn’t imagine elk piled up like that. I’ve only seen them in hunting videos. Incredible animals. I never thought about having to cut one up and tote it out of the woods in pieces. You can shoot these little white tails, throw them over your shoulder, and walk out of the woods with them.
Watched one video of a guy bow hunting elk. The thing walked up on the other side of the tree he was sitting behind. He could have stuck the arrow in by hand it was so close. But he couldn’t take a shot, because his camera man was about 5 yards dead in front of that huge thing.
I also read an article about us fat old southern flatlanders trying to come out west and hunt elk. Poor guy tripped, and stuck an arrow through his neck. DRT… Dead Right There. Article was written by his guide. All that to say, I’ll stick with these tiny deer I can tote out on my shoulder in the “mountains” of north Florida. LOL!
But I wouldn’t mind having at least mulies down here…
Sorry for the thread hijack. If you ever want to see how your shooting falls apart with stress and movement, try running the “Rifle Ten”. Not a muzzle loader thing, but a fun test of your skill with a rifle.
https://artoftherifle.com/rifle-ten/2012/06/rifle-ten.html

I haven't killed a mulie yet that I could dress out and throw over my shoulder and walk out. The last one we dressed it at the kill site. Found a nice long strong limb, and my 2 sons carried it out, resting every 75-100yds. I carried the guns and accessories. That was 2 years ago. Last year we drew NO tags at all. Very disappointing. Try again this year.
Never a good idea to hunt with a nocked arrow....sorry for his family.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Pretty far...the problem is getting it in and out of the Woods.

 

[Panama Red]

Pretty far...the problem is getting it in and out of the Woods.View attachment 216372

…reporting as non-muzzleloading related… LOL!

 

[Absoroka]

Many years ago I did an experiment at the first NMLRA Western National in Phoenix. The setup was life size deer targets at 50, 75, 100, and 125 yards. The field was clear of brush. Some of the participants were buckskinners but most were target shooters. Many of the shooters came from other matches to shoot the deer targets. Ideal conditions all around. The results were pretty clear. The 50 yard target had most of the shots in the vital zone on the deer. The number dropped at 75 yards but still more than half in the vital zone. At 100 yards the results were poor and at 120 yards only a few hit the vitals. This experiment indicated that 75 yards was pretty much it. Add wind, light, fatigue, old eyes, what ever else, and the limitations of shooters was clear. Another factor to consider is that more than a few hunters only shoot just before and during hunting season. Good reason to put the hunt back in hunting.

On the deer and elk in the yard, go west young man. We had around 200 elk in our yard for two to three nights after a big snow. Could have hit them with a rock. The Mulies are around all the time. Sometimes have to stop and wait for them to get off the road. Funny how they all hide when the hunting season begins.

 

[Panama Red]

Many years ago I did an experiment at the first NMLRA Western National in Phoenix. The setup was life size deer targets at 50, 75, 100, and 125 yards. The field was clear of brush. Some of the participants were buckskinners but most were target shooters. Many of the shooters came from other matches to shoot the deer targets. Ideal conditions all around. The results were pretty clear. The 50 yard target had most of the shots in the vital zone on the deer. The number dropped at 75 yards but still more than half in the vital zone. At 100 yards the results were poor and at 120 yards only a few hit the vitals. This experiment indicated that 75 yards was pretty much it. Add wind, light, fatigue, old eyes, what ever else, and the limitations of shooters was clear. Another factor to consider is that more than a few hunters only shoot just before and during hunting season. Good reason to put the hunt back in hunting.

On the deer and elk in the yard, go west young man. We had around 200 elk in our yard for two to three nights after a big snow. Could have hit them with a rock. The Mulies are around all the time. Sometimes have to stop and wait for them to get off the road. Funny how they all hide when the hunting season begins.

These deer have been coming through our yard for 15 years, bedding down in the front yard, standing there eating corn while we have a barbecues 25 yards away. But when season opens, they get very skittish. Will only have a few come out in the daytime. I’m guessing they feel the pressure.

 

[Muddly]

My personal limit is the point where I must take an off body hold. With my current loads/ rifles, that's 150 yards. The drop at that point is 8 inches. 24 at 200. The load has plenty of oomph. But as things stretch out, too much can go wrong.
I prefer to get MUCH closer.

 

[Jedidiah]

My personal limit is the point where I must take an off body hold. With my current loads/ rifles, that's 150 yards. The drop at that point is 8 inches. 24 at 200. The load has plenty of oomph. But as things stretch out, too much can go wrong.
I prefer to get MUCH closer.

If it over 50-75 yds I do not take the shot. it is what it is. Like Harry said " A mans got to know his limitations"

 

[bronko220002]

This is a very vague question. It depends on the situation. I know I can hit a 3" dot offhand 3 out of 3 times at 50 yards (if done it in a fun competition) so I will take an offhand shot up to 75 yards if I have no rest. Kneeling or a rest no problem. The farthest shot that I've ever taken and will ever take is 150 yards. I did kill a nice fat doe at 157 ranged yards from a good solid rest. I set the front bead on top of her back just behind the shoulder

 

[brazosland]

.610 patches balls make the paper plate bigger!

 

[hanshi]

I've killed at least two deer in the 100 yard (+ or -) range. I was in a huge field sitting in a chair behind a hay bale and there was no way I could even hope of getting closer. I couldn't have had a better stand and it was about like bench shooting at the range.

 

[smokepolehall]

At my age unless i am at a Club shoot/ woods walk 60 yards is as far as i will shoot. Mind you i hunt from a climber n most of my shots might get to 45 yards. They being the tick toters are still don't move much sucking up the white oak acorns.

 

[ROA457]

I can’t hit ****, so the whites of their eyes

 

[Sun City]

Frankly I couldn't care less that I possibly couldn't hit a pie plate off hand at 75 yards because I'm not going to faced with that situation! When I'm hunting I will be sitting on my backside and shooting from a blind so no need to have to show the hair on my chest by standing up and shooting offhand! I don't walk around hunting; never have! Especially since I may have been hunting on public ground as that's a really great way to get one's arse shot off! I'll use a rest of some type to make a hunting shot!

 

[Kmcmichael]

About 82 yards. From a good rest.