Typical Range of shot (deer and other medium game) - Page 2

Scorch · July 9, 2007, 12:15 PM

Closest rifle shot at a deer was about 30 yds (walking down a trail, the buck cam out and was walking almost abreast of me), farthest about 350 yds (bedded buck, rifle rested on a pack, across a rimrock canyon). Most have been about 100-150 yds. That's about how close most deer will let you get before they start to get uncomfortable.

taylorce1 · July 9, 2007, 01:07 PM

Closest shot on deer and elk right about 25 yards. Farthest shot on elk 250 yards, farthest shot on Mule deer is 560 yards to date. Only bear lasered at 202 yards. Pronghorn closest shot 150 yards farthest 300 yards. Most of my deer and elk have been taken inside of 100 yards.

bcarver · July 10, 2007, 03:54 AM

I have had shots from 10 to 285 yards with most being about 80 yards and rarely over 100.

Buckmaster · July 10, 2007, 09:09 AM

I hunt in South West Texas. Most of our shots are 100 - 200 yard range. I regularly see deer in the 300 yard and further range. I have taken a few past 300, but normally I will not attempt that long of a shot unless conditions are right (wind, proper rest, etc....).

willsjeep · July 11, 2007, 08:27 AM

My shortest was sniffing the bottom rung of my 10' ladder stand, my longest was a measured 287 yards.
The long one was on the gas line right-of-way where we had sighted in our rifles three days before. He was standing right in front of one of our target stands!
The closest was, well I was hunting from that stand at the time!
Average distance is probably 40-60 yards in pine/scrub oak thickets or creek swamp.
Will

dbgun · July 11, 2007, 09:11 AM

My shortest shot was 20 yards, right at dusk. The longest shot was 225 yards. All with a Remington .270. Most of my shots have been at 100 yards +/-25yds. there are a couple of box blinds on our lease that have had deer shot out to 180 yards, but I usually have a lot of success at my blind, so I usually don't worry about longer (than 100yds.) shots.

oldironman · July 11, 2007, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Seems typical of 90% of hunting. So why do some people think they need magnums and high powered scopes.

Answer: Because it is easier to blame an inamate object for failures than to blame the screwup using same object.

Bagtit, I take it you don't use a magnum rifle?

taylorce1 · July 11, 2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Bagtit, I take it you don't use a magnum rifle?

I don't use a magnum rifle to hunt with either and haven't found where all the extra recoil and noise produced that much better results on game. All of my large game has been shot with .243 Win, .270 Win, .30-06, or a .50 Cal ML. I do own a 7mm Rem Mag but I don't hunt with it, the rifle shoots great and would definatly do the job but I don't enjoy shooting it like I do my .270. My .270 has made my two longest kills that I posted above and both animals required only one shot and both went less than 20 yards after being hit.

The biggest problem I have with Magnum rifles is exactly what Bagtit stated. I've seen too many of my friends who don't spend enough time on the range blame the rifle and not themselves for poor shots. They go out and buy a .300 WM or something larger and think it will kill better and it doesn't because they didn't learn to shoot it well. Magnum rifles will do the job just the same as standard calibers as long as the hunter does theirs.

ZeroJunk · July 11, 2007, 11:50 AM

I hunted with a 300 WM for a while.It was a Model 70 that I sent to McMillan and had them bed in their stock which cost more than the rifle.It would shoot sub MOA.You just had to grit your teeth and take it.I have told this story a couple of times on this forum.I shot a doe square through both lungs with Weatherby factory loads and she ran 200 yards.The bullet never expanded,the fat filled the entrance and exit and,she did not even leave a trail.I was lucky to find her.I figure the bullet left going about as fast as it entered.I know this was an anomaly but it made me decide there is little point in taking the beating.I also think fatter is better as I have shot a couple of 140 class bucks with a 250 grain 45 lobbed out of a sidelock.They went less than 50 yards.

oldironman · July 11, 2007, 11:54 AM

Quote:

The biggest problem I have with Magnum rifles is exactly what Bagtit stated. I've seen too many of my friends who don't spend enough time on the range blame the rifle and not themselves for poor shots. They go out and buy a .300 WM or something larger and think it will kill better and it doesn't because they didn't learn to shoot it well. Magnum rifles will do the job just the same as standard calibers as long as the hunter does theirs.

I really ain't trying to be a smart-alec, but it seems like your biggest problem isn't with the magnums, but with some of the people who use them.

mikejonestkd · July 11, 2007, 01:16 PM

Technology ( modern flat shooting rifles and great optics ) are great but not essential, since most of us have posted that typical yardages are around 75 - 100 yards or so.

I'll personally leave the superduperohmygodthatthingisloud magnums for those of you that want them...

You don't need a 300 weatherby for deer and similar game. Granddad's old .30-06 is more than enough gun and in most cases great grandad's ole thurty-thurty will do just fine too..

just my 3 cents on the topic...

taylorce1 · July 11, 2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

it seems like your biggest problem isn't with the magnums, but with some of the people who use them.

Oldironman that is the point I think Bagtit was trying to make as well when he complained about people using Magnum rifles. I don't have a problem with anyone using a 700 NE rifle on deer as long as they can shoot the rifle well. The problem is that I find is most people beleive what they read and think it can't be killed without the newest magnum load out there, and they can't even shoot it without flinching.

I find that I can consistantly shoot my .270 or my .30-06 better than any magnum rifle that I've ever shot. I'm not trying to pick any fights either, I beleive hunters should be able to use there weapon of choice very well. Most modern rifle cartridges (with a few exceptions) that have been developed since the 7x57 and .30-40 are capable of producing clean kills on deer sized game to 300 yards and beyond.

oldironman · July 11, 2007, 03:06 PM

Very true. Nearly every kill I have made could have been done easily with a 30-30. A 44 mag carbine could have done many of them (I wish I had one). But I ain't givin up my 300winmag.

cpaspr · July 11, 2007, 06:16 PM

shortest - about 20 yards running flat out straight away from me (almost stepped on her)

longest - about 150 yards, standing broadside

Both with a .308 Remington 760 with a 4x scope.

Now it has a 3-9 variable with BDC, but I've not had an opportunity to try longer ranges yet.

davlandrum · July 12, 2007, 10:25 AM

+1 to using whatever you want and can shoot well. Most of the guys I hunt with have "the" gun they hunt with no matter what critter we are hunting. These range from .257 Roberts to 270 to -06 to 7mmMag. Depending on what we draw in a given year, that particular round may be slightly under-gunned, slightly over-gunned, or "just right". But everyone can shoot their rifle well and has faith in it.

My buddy's mom killed a monster bull elk with her .257 Roberts - perfect shoot through the pump house. Before that, I would have "tsk-tsk"'d that round for elk. The guy who shoots the 7 Mag is "over-gunned" for blacktails if we end up hunting west side, but when he pulls the trigger there is an animal on the ground.

ronto · July 12, 2007, 04:36 PM

Deer come within 25 yards of my house in broad daylight...I could bag 'em during NFL half-time from my living room window...But I don't see the sport of "shootng fish in a barrel".

CK1 · July 15, 2007, 12:28 PM

90%+ of the whitetails I've taken hunting in Texas have been under 100 yards. However, I have had opportunities at 400+. Antelope have been 250+.

If I don't anticipate long range shots (250+), I'll use my .308.

If there is the possibility of a long shot, I'll use one of my Weatherby's, .257 or .300, depending where I am hunting.

Elk...if there are grizzlies around I'll use a .338 Win Mag. If not, a .300 Weatherby.

lockedcj7 · July 15, 2007, 08:48 PM

I don't hunt for "sport". I hunt to take my place as a top-tier predator in the food chain. I hunt to fulfill some primal need. I hunt to put lean, healthy meat on my family's table. I spend many hours in the woods hunting all kinds of game, enjoying nature and watching all manner of life go about the business of daily survival and I love every minute of it, but a deer in my yard would very quickly be a deer in my freezer.

BIGR · July 15, 2007, 10:01 PM

10 to 15 yards on the short shots for deer. Taken a few in the field at 80 to 100 yards, but most are 60 yards or less. Heck unless I hunt one of the fields I can't see the deer any further than 50 yards where I hunt. Its a thicket with thick timber.

July 9, 2007, 12:15 PM	#26
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Closest rifle shot at a deer was about 30 yds (walking down a trail, the buck cam out and was walking almost abreast of me), farthest about 350 yds (bedded buck, rifle rested on a pack, across a rimrock canyon). Most have been about 100-150 yds. That's about how close most deer will let you get before they start to get uncomfortable. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

July 10, 2007, 03:54 AM	#28
bcarver Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2007 Location: Jackson,Mississippi Posts: 838	shot range I have had shots from 10 to 285 yards with most being about 80 yards and rarely over 100.

July 10, 2007, 09:09 AM	#29
Buckmaster Member Join Date: May 12, 2007 Location: San Angelo, TX Posts: 37	I hunt in South West Texas. Most of our shots are 100 - 200 yard range. I regularly see deer in the 300 yard and further range. I have taken a few past 300, but normally I will not attempt that long of a shot unless conditions are right (wind, proper rest, etc....). __________________ A bad day hunting is better than a good day at work!

July 11, 2007, 09:11 AM	#31
dbgun Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 326	My shortest shot was 20 yards, right at dusk. The longest shot was 225 yards. All with a Remington .270. Most of my shots have been at 100 yards +/-25yds. there are a couple of box blinds on our lease that have had deer shot out to 180 yards, but I usually have a lot of success at my blind, so I usually don't worry about longer (than 100yds.) shots. Last edited by dbgun; July 11, 2007 at 11:56 AM.

July 11, 2007, 01:16 PM	#36
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,717	Technology ( modern flat shooting rifles and great optics ) are great but not essential, since most of us have posted that typical yardages are around 75 - 100 yards or so. I'll personally leave the superduperohmygodthatthingisloud magnums for those of you that want them... You don't need a 300 weatherby for deer and similar game. Granddad's old .30-06 is more than enough gun and in most cases great grandad's ole thurty-thurty will do just fine too.. just my 3 cents on the topic... __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

July 9, 2007, 01:07 PM	#27
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,249	Closest shot on deer and elk right about 25 yards. Farthest shot on elk 250 yards, farthest shot on Mule deer is 560 yards to date. Only bear lasered at 202 yards. Pronghorn closest shot 150 yards farthest 300 yards. Most of my deer and elk have been taken inside of 100 yards.

July 11, 2007, 08:27 AM	#30
willsjeep Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2005 Posts: 180	My shortest was sniffing the bottom rung of my 10' ladder stand, my longest was a measured 287 yards. The long one was on the gas line right-of-way where we had sighted in our rifles three days before. He was standing right in front of one of our target stands! The closest was, well I was hunting from that stand at the time! Average distance is probably 40-60 yards in pine/scrub oak thickets or creek swamp. Will

July 11, 2007, 11:50 AM	#34
ZeroJunk Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Location: Browns Summit NC Posts: 2,589	I hunted with a 300 WM for a while.It was a Model 70 that I sent to McMillan and had them bed in their stock which cost more than the rifle.It would shoot sub MOA.You just had to grit your teeth and take it.I have told this story a couple of times on this forum.I shot a doe square through both lungs with Weatherby factory loads and she ran 200 yards.The bullet never expanded,the fat filled the entrance and exit and,she did not even leave a trail.I was lucky to find her.I figure the bullet left going about as fast as it entered.I know this was an anomaly but it made me decide there is little point in taking the beating.I also think fatter is better as I have shot a couple of 140 class bucks with a 250 grain 45 lobbed out of a sidelock.They went less than 50 yards.

July 11, 2007, 03:06 PM	#38
oldironman Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 155	Very true. Nearly every kill I have made could have been done easily with a 30-30. A 44 mag carbine could have done many of them (I wish I had one). But I ain't givin up my 300winmag. __________________ Kill or be Killed

July 11, 2007, 06:16 PM	#39
cpaspr Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 304	shortest - about 20 yards running flat out straight away from me (almost stepped on her) longest - about 150 yards, standing broadside Both with a .308 Remington 760 with a 4x scope. Now it has a 3-9 variable with BDC, but I've not had an opportunity to try longer ranges yet.

July 12, 2007, 10:25 AM	#40
davlandrum Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Lane County Oregon Posts: 2,547	+1 to using whatever you want and can shoot well. Most of the guys I hunt with have "the" gun they hunt with no matter what critter we are hunting. These range from .257 Roberts to 270 to -06 to 7mmMag. Depending on what we draw in a given year, that particular round may be slightly under-gunned, slightly over-gunned, or "just right". But everyone can shoot their rifle well and has faith in it. My buddy's mom killed a monster bull elk with her .257 Roberts - perfect shoot through the pump house. Before that, I would have "tsk-tsk"'d that round for elk. The guy who shoots the 7 Mag is "over-gunned" for blacktails if we end up hunting west side, but when he pulls the trigger there is an animal on the ground.

July 12, 2007, 04:36 PM	#41
ronto Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2007 Location: Smack Dab in the Middle of Nowhere. Posts: 505	Deer come within 25 yards of my house in broad daylight...I could bag 'em during NFL half-time from my living room window...But I don't see the sport of "shootng fish in a barrel".

July 15, 2007, 12:28 PM	#42
CK1 Member Join Date: December 25, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 48	90%+ of the whitetails I've taken hunting in Texas have been under 100 yards. However, I have had opportunities at 400+. Antelope have been 250+. If I don't anticipate long range shots (250+), I'll use my .308. If there is the possibility of a long shot, I'll use one of my Weatherby's, .257 or .300, depending where I am hunting. Elk...if there are grizzlies around I'll use a .338 Win Mag. If not, a .300 Weatherby. Last edited by CK1; July 15, 2007 at 03:42 PM.

July 15, 2007, 08:48 PM	#43
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	I don't hunt for "sport". I hunt to take my place as a top-tier predator in the food chain. I hunt to fulfill some primal need. I hunt to put lean, healthy meat on my family's table. I spend many hours in the woods hunting all kinds of game, enjoying nature and watching all manner of life go about the business of daily survival and I love every minute of it, but a deer in my yard would very quickly be a deer in my freezer.

July 15, 2007, 10:01 PM	#44
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,385	10 to 15 yards on the short shots for deer. Taken a few in the field at 80 to 100 yards, but most are 60 yards or less. Heck unless I hunt one of the fields I can't see the deer any further than 50 yards where I hunt. Its a thicket with thick timber.