Practice for Running Game, etc
- Thread starter KYE-OAT
- Start date
Nevada Fitch
New member
Jack o'Connor always said shooting at running jackrabbits with a centerfire rifle helped him a great deal. I never had a chance to shoot at jackrabbits. I finally did get resonably good at hittng running deer, but it took several years of hunting to get the experience I needed to pull it off on any kind of regular basis. You have to shoot at running game to get a feel for it. It comes more naturally to some people than others. It did not come that easy for me, but I have killed several running deer over the last few years. What helped me the most to develope what skill I have was long range pass shooting at ducks. I had a 10ga. double barrel shotgun with rifle sights, bored full and full. I got to where I could kill ducks at quite long range for a shotgun with that big 10ga. I had it sighted in with the iron sights and knew exactly where the shot charge was hitting. It taught me follow thru and lead. IMHO a deer is still harder to hit running than a flying duck even if the duck is at fairly long range but it sure helped me.
Keith Rogan
New member
I admit to having done it a few times but you know what? It just ain't right!
If you're seeing a lot of running deer then you need to work on your stalking or observational skills rather than your marksmanship.
Your kill zone on a large animal is what, a 9 or 10 inch circle? and if you hit it anywhere else you're leaving it to die in the field. It's not justifiable except in rare circumstances - a wounded animal perhaps.
I'm not trying to bash anyone here because as I've said, I too have surrendered to temptation and with mixed success. I'm older and smarter now and have to wonder on those that got away - did I really miss?
If you're good enough (and I know somebody who does this regularly), then you can walk right up to a bedded deer without it even being aware of your presence. When they hear you coming, deer will almost always stand up momentarily and observe you before running, but few people are ready for this or even notice. These are the skills that put venison on the table.
If you're seeing a lot of running deer then you need to work on your stalking or observational skills rather than your marksmanship.
Your kill zone on a large animal is what, a 9 or 10 inch circle? and if you hit it anywhere else you're leaving it to die in the field. It's not justifiable except in rare circumstances - a wounded animal perhaps.
I'm not trying to bash anyone here because as I've said, I too have surrendered to temptation and with mixed success. I'm older and smarter now and have to wonder on those that got away - did I really miss?
If you're good enough (and I know somebody who does this regularly), then you can walk right up to a bedded deer without it even being aware of your presence. When they hear you coming, deer will almost always stand up momentarily and observe you before running, but few people are ready for this or even notice. These are the skills that put venison on the table.
Just curious....
Could you please 'splain to me the specifics involved in one walking silently thru' a hardwood forest, with much dry leaves on the ground....and a deer, which has considerably better hearing,etc ..not even noticing a person.....I have trouble wrapping my brain around That....What special techniques do I need to learn to become that invisible....I live miles from civilization and spend much time each day in the woods....would love to learn how to Do This!!!
Could you please 'splain to me the specifics involved in one walking silently thru' a hardwood forest, with much dry leaves on the ground....and a deer, which has considerably better hearing,etc ..not even noticing a person.....I have trouble wrapping my brain around That....What special techniques do I need to learn to become that invisible....I live miles from civilization and spend much time each day in the woods....would love to learn how to Do This!!!
Keith Rogan
New member
You take a step and watch for a a few minutes, then take another step. If you're good you'll soon see deer stand up near you to take a look. If you're very good you'll walk righht up on them.
Of course you have to know when you're close enough to their beds to make that practical and if I knew all the answers to that I'd be a happy man.
But I know a guy who does this. A native that hunts deer with a .22 mag by walking up and shooting them in their beds. He does this all the time. He knows where they'll bed on a sunny day, a rainy day, a windy day, whatever, and walks right to them and takes them out.
?
Of course you have to know when you're close enough to their beds to make that practical and if I knew all the answers to that I'd be a happy man.
But I know a guy who does this. A native that hunts deer with a .22 mag by walking up and shooting them in their beds. He does this all the time. He knows where they'll bed on a sunny day, a rainy day, a windy day, whatever, and walks right to them and takes them out.
?
think I understand, now....
I know where a small herd hangs and beds.....I think this Step-LOOK-Step can be of value as early as October...maybe earlier for Squirrels! I heard somewhere a long time ago that this is a method used also by successful 'cat-burglers.....the step-wait-step thing.....I will definitely be trying it tho'!
Thanks Keith...
I know where a small herd hangs and beds.....I think this Step-LOOK-Step can be of value as early as October...maybe earlier for Squirrels! I heard somewhere a long time ago that this is a method used also by successful 'cat-burglers.....the step-wait-step thing.....I will definitely be trying it tho'!
Thanks Keith...
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
People tend to walk in a rhythmic manner. Wild critters are arrythmic. They take a step or two and stop to nibble or browse and then take another step or two.
Even a short pause, every two steps, will break any rhythm and fool critters into thinking another harmless critter is wandering about.
Generalizing, since deer ain't read no books, deer tend to bed down where they can smell Bad Things coming from behind them, and see/hear Bad Things coming from downwind. E.g., the downwind crest of any sort of ridge. Also, they'll be near any sort of saddle in a ridge, so they can avoid being skylined when they take off, and have cover if in relatively barren country.
"Real" bucks will generally head out upwind, and uphill. Does and little bucks will go most any old how--which means, if you see does running, don't watch them; Bucky is elsewhere.
Back to the running deer thing: It's all integral calculus of your mind. A running deer is about a 30mph target. That means at 100 yards, and a 90-degree path, four feet of deer travel for your bullet to intersect in that one-tenth of a second of bullet travel. So, hold two or three feet in front of his nose--ignore the up and down; it won't matter. If he's quartering, less lead. If he's much over 100 yards, don't shoot...
If you're hunting open country where it's a matter of shoot a running deer or forget eating venison, use a bit more gun than otherwise. A bad hit from an '06 is more likely to put a deer down than a bad hit from a .243, for instance--and your second shot should then end it.
But first, practice offhand shooting--a lot!
, Art
Even a short pause, every two steps, will break any rhythm and fool critters into thinking another harmless critter is wandering about.
Generalizing, since deer ain't read no books, deer tend to bed down where they can smell Bad Things coming from behind them, and see/hear Bad Things coming from downwind. E.g., the downwind crest of any sort of ridge. Also, they'll be near any sort of saddle in a ridge, so they can avoid being skylined when they take off, and have cover if in relatively barren country.
"Real" bucks will generally head out upwind, and uphill. Does and little bucks will go most any old how--which means, if you see does running, don't watch them; Bucky is elsewhere.
Back to the running deer thing: It's all integral calculus of your mind. A running deer is about a 30mph target. That means at 100 yards, and a 90-degree path, four feet of deer travel for your bullet to intersect in that one-tenth of a second of bullet travel. So, hold two or three feet in front of his nose--ignore the up and down; it won't matter. If he's quartering, less lead. If he's much over 100 yards, don't shoot...
If you're hunting open country where it's a matter of shoot a running deer or forget eating venison, use a bit more gun than otherwise. A bad hit from an '06 is more likely to put a deer down than a bad hit from a .243, for instance--and your second shot should then end it.
But first, practice offhand shooting--a lot!
, ArtNevada Fitch
New member
Art is right on using enough gun if you expect to take running shots at game. Also it is better to avoid running shots whenever possible. I would rather have one standing shot at an unalerted animal than a whole clip full of running shots. On the other hand I have bagged several deer that I would not have gotten if I had not taken a running shot. In my area the deer are hunted hard during gun season and sometimes you just have to take what comes your way.
To practice snap shooting at moving targets??? Try shooting trap/skeet or even hand tossed clays. Best 'practice' there is.
It takes years to learn to be patient enough to stalk them up in their beds> I know it took me a long time to learn it. I'm pretty good at finding elk in their beds and my dad has even shot one that was sleeping (nice spike).
On shooting at running animals.. It can be done its easier with iron sights than with a scope and I have learned thats its damn near impossible to hit a pronghorn running full tilt (55mph the second fastest land animal) at 50 yards with a scoped rifle. With bot eyes open and leading him so far he's note even IN the scope you'll still shoot behind him. I refuse to shoot at running antelope. You MIGHT hit one, but it won't be the one you aimed at. Deer and elk are a bit different. They aren't as fast and Kieth is right when they are standing up they are a bit awkward. If your rifle is on your shoulder instead of in your hands you just missed your best shot. I hunt in heavy woods where a "snap shot" is all you are likely to get, a scope isn't REALLY necessary but most of use them anyway. Binos and iron sights could get you where you want to go.
It takes years to learn to be patient enough to stalk them up in their beds> I know it took me a long time to learn it. I'm pretty good at finding elk in their beds and my dad has even shot one that was sleeping (nice spike).
On shooting at running animals.. It can be done its easier with iron sights than with a scope and I have learned thats its damn near impossible to hit a pronghorn running full tilt (55mph the second fastest land animal) at 50 yards with a scoped rifle. With bot eyes open and leading him so far he's note even IN the scope you'll still shoot behind him. I refuse to shoot at running antelope. You MIGHT hit one, but it won't be the one you aimed at. Deer and elk are a bit different. They aren't as fast and Kieth is right when they are standing up they are a bit awkward. If your rifle is on your shoulder instead of in your hands you just missed your best shot. I hunt in heavy woods where a "snap shot" is all you are likely to get, a scope isn't REALLY necessary but most of use them anyway. Binos and iron sights could get you where you want to go.
huntershooter
Inactive
running targets? Go to the range!
I can't believe nobody posted the obvious solution. Try it on the range first!
Rather than discuss if a running shot is/isn't ethical or possible, try it with your equipment on a moving deer target at various speeds and distances.
If you can get consistent hits, you can consider the shot out in the woods. Otherwise, forget it! (This goes for long distance shooting, snap shooting, etc.)
HSA has a simple, inexpensive moving target carrier design We're prototyping several more.
I can't believe nobody posted the obvious solution. Try it on the range first!
Rather than discuss if a running shot is/isn't ethical or possible, try it with your equipment on a moving deer target at various speeds and distances.
If you can get consistent hits, you can consider the shot out in the woods. Otherwise, forget it! (This goes for long distance shooting, snap shooting, etc.)
HSA has a simple, inexpensive moving target carrier design We're prototyping several more.
AdrenalineJunky
New member
I know this seems a little childish but...
I feel I have to say...Duh! Any of you big time hunters play other big time hunters in a game of paint ball? The best way to learn how to stalk something is to stalk something that shoots back, not runs away!
I feel I have to say...Duh! Any of you big time hunters play other big time hunters in a game of paint ball? The best way to learn how to stalk something is to stalk something that shoots back, not runs away!
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Growing up on a farm/ranch, sixty years ago, there was a shortage of paint-ball guns--not to mention people.
I later discovered that people are easy to sneak up on, compared to Bambi. Or Wiley. Or the various cats...People's noses ain't worth a hoot, their ears aren't very useful, and their brains aren't really focussed on survival.
You want a challenge? Go TO a turkey, not wait for one to come to you.
, Art
I later discovered that people are easy to sneak up on, compared to Bambi. Or Wiley. Or the various cats...People's noses ain't worth a hoot, their ears aren't very useful, and their brains aren't really focussed on survival.
You want a challenge? Go TO a turkey, not wait for one to come to you.
, ArtWhile I agree that your first shot at an animal should not be running (or from long range), as an outfitter and hunter, I find myself and my clients shooting follow-up shots at running game quite often. This is especially true in Africa, where animals like Zebra, Wildebeest, and Buffalo often take off for the next country regardless of how well they are hit. They may only make it 50 or 100 yards, but you don't know how well they're hit when they run like that, so we usually keep shooting until we can't see them or they fall. More often than not, the only holes from follow-up shots are mine. If my clients hit them at all, it's usually poorly, and then only because the shot was short. I still encourage the follow-up shot though, because once they are wounded, we're just trying to get as much lead into them as possible. Nothing ruins a hunt for a client like having to pay for an animal they didn't recover. It may be their fault, but they project the blame on me, and my success depends on them being happy. They don't mind the extra holes as much as they do paying a trophy fee with nothing to show for it.
I shoot quite a bit of skeet and sporting clays, as well as moving targets with rifle and pistol, but most people don't have access to rifle and pistol movers, and even fewer seem to have the discipline to practice. If they did, the running shot probably wouldn't be necessary. Besides practicing on moving targets, the 2 most important things you need to be successful on running game are: 1. a good bullet of adequate caliber (I use Trophy Bonded Bear Claws or solids), especially on quartering targets or Texas heart shots. This will ensure that your bullet gets to the vitals regardless of the angle, and 2. know the anatomy of the animal you are hunting. You should know it well enough to be able to hit the vitals form any angle, including steep quartering shots. Capstick called i t "shooting by anatomy", and I can't think of a better way to put it. A good example of this is the Lion, whose vitals are actually a little behind the shoulders, not between them. While many people would shoot through the shoulders to "break them down", they may only be nicking the lungs. Whoops. Just realized the time, and I have to run. This is the first hunting post I have responded to here, but I will start checking back more often.
I shoot quite a bit of skeet and sporting clays, as well as moving targets with rifle and pistol, but most people don't have access to rifle and pistol movers, and even fewer seem to have the discipline to practice. If they did, the running shot probably wouldn't be necessary. Besides practicing on moving targets, the 2 most important things you need to be successful on running game are: 1. a good bullet of adequate caliber (I use Trophy Bonded Bear Claws or solids), especially on quartering targets or Texas heart shots. This will ensure that your bullet gets to the vitals regardless of the angle, and 2. know the anatomy of the animal you are hunting. You should know it well enough to be able to hit the vitals form any angle, including steep quartering shots. Capstick called i t "shooting by anatomy", and I can't think of a better way to put it. A good example of this is the Lion, whose vitals are actually a little behind the shoulders, not between them. While many people would shoot through the shoulders to "break them down", they may only be nicking the lungs. Whoops. Just realized the time, and I have to run. This is the first hunting post I have responded to here, but I will start checking back more often.
huntershooter
Inactive
Practice for Running Game
Greg said:
>> ...most people don't have access to rifle and pistol movers...
Which is why we made a design that even a poor carpenter can build for USD $30-50.
>> ... and even fewer seem to have the discipline to practice. If they did, the running shot probably wouldn't be necessary.
Sad, isn't it? Of course formal shooting events have been recessed into a dark corner for the past couple decades. Typical gun owners don't even know what venues exist, much less participate.
>> 2. know the anatomy of the animal you are hunting. You should know it well enough to be able to hit the vitals form any angle, including steep quartering shots.
And that's why the HSA target takes target angle into account! Because the design uses a seperate Overlay, hunter-shooters can create their own to simulate virtually any big game species.
Don't take my word for anything. Listen to the professionals. (I do)
Greg said:
>> ...most people don't have access to rifle and pistol movers...
Which is why we made a design that even a poor carpenter can build for USD $30-50.
>> ... and even fewer seem to have the discipline to practice. If they did, the running shot probably wouldn't be necessary.
Sad, isn't it? Of course formal shooting events have been recessed into a dark corner for the past couple decades. Typical gun owners don't even know what venues exist, much less participate.
>> 2. know the anatomy of the animal you are hunting. You should know it well enough to be able to hit the vitals form any angle, including steep quartering shots.
And that's why the HSA target takes target angle into account! Because the design uses a seperate Overlay, hunter-shooters can create their own to simulate virtually any big game species.
Don't take my word for anything. Listen to the professionals. (I do)
I think the clay bird advice is good, but I'd like to add have a rifle that fits you like a shotgun and learn to use iron sights. If you can throw your gun to your shoulder and the sights are aligned then the gun "fits" you. Then all you have to do is swing the gun, get the proper lead and ping one off.
Too many hunters carry scoped rifles that cannot be used to acquire, let alone hit running game.
Too many hunters carry scoped rifles that cannot be used to acquire, let alone hit running game.
I agree that gun fit is extremely important. I am 5'3" and stocky. My .375 is made for me, and I don't know anyone else who could even shoot it. As to scopes, I use a Zeiss 1.5-6x42 which has a very wide field of view, and leave it on 1.5x most of the time. I have shot running pigs, Wildebeest, and Nilgai with it, and never have any trouble finding them in the scope. I do use my iron sights, however (the scope is mounted with Talleys) on the bigger stuff or in thick brush. I use the New England Custom Gunworks Masterpiece sight with a large bead, and have found it to be an ideal combination for fast, accurate work out to about 50 yards.
Regardless of whether you use a scope or iron sights, gun fit, or any other factor, trigger time is still the key. When I return to Africa in late August, I plan to give the Warthogs and Baboons hell, and cull quite a few Impala and Wildebeest. In between now and then, I will shoot 2-3 times a week, as I have since my guiding stopped in March. I will shoot skeet once a week, then practice with my rifle the other 1 or 2 times. It does get a bit boring sometimes, but my friends and I do whatever we can, including wagers, different targets or target presentations, or making up shooting games to make it more fun and more realistic.
That may sound excessive to some people, but it's important to me for 3 reasons: 1. the animals deserve to be killed humanely. I practice so that they don't suffer., 2. I want to make sure that if the trophy of a lifetime steps out in front of me, I am as prepared as I can possibly be to take him. It doesn't make sense to pay a lot of money and travel halfway across the world to hunt, yet not have a realistic chance of taking the animal you went there to get because you didn't practice. and 3. As an outfitter and booking agent, I can't aford to miss. As childish as it sounds, I can't miss when I am hunting with PHs that I book hunts for who treat me as an equal, and I can't miss in front of the clients that I am taking with me. They hunt and shoot with me quite regularly, and I have witnessed quite a bit of their poor marksmanship. They are dying for me to miss so they can give me hell! Anyway, you all know there is no quick fix. To be successful you have to practice. Practice will, more often than not, make the difference between a great and a bad hunting experience.
Regardless of whether you use a scope or iron sights, gun fit, or any other factor, trigger time is still the key. When I return to Africa in late August, I plan to give the Warthogs and Baboons hell, and cull quite a few Impala and Wildebeest. In between now and then, I will shoot 2-3 times a week, as I have since my guiding stopped in March. I will shoot skeet once a week, then practice with my rifle the other 1 or 2 times. It does get a bit boring sometimes, but my friends and I do whatever we can, including wagers, different targets or target presentations, or making up shooting games to make it more fun and more realistic.
That may sound excessive to some people, but it's important to me for 3 reasons: 1. the animals deserve to be killed humanely. I practice so that they don't suffer., 2. I want to make sure that if the trophy of a lifetime steps out in front of me, I am as prepared as I can possibly be to take him. It doesn't make sense to pay a lot of money and travel halfway across the world to hunt, yet not have a realistic chance of taking the animal you went there to get because you didn't practice. and 3. As an outfitter and booking agent, I can't aford to miss. As childish as it sounds, I can't miss when I am hunting with PHs that I book hunts for who treat me as an equal, and I can't miss in front of the clients that I am taking with me. They hunt and shoot with me quite regularly, and I have witnessed quite a bit of their poor marksmanship. They are dying for me to miss so they can give me hell! Anyway, you all know there is no quick fix. To be successful you have to practice. Practice will, more often than not, make the difference between a great and a bad hunting experience.
Al Thompson
Staff Alumnus
Floating a few of these threads as hunting season rolls around..
If you want a real challenge which will also be great practice for running game- here's what I've found works great...
You will need a shooting area with a good sideways slope. Get an old tire and a thick piece of styrofoam cut to fit inside. Stick a target on the styrofoam and get a buddy to set it rolling down the hill from the side. Be sure there is a safe place for your buddy (perhaps behind the slope).
You will be surpised how difficult this is. Clays and mechanical runers usually follow a pretty smooth path. Rabbit clays bounce pretty good, but you only get one hit. The tire wil bounce, turn, and everything else real game does- and it's cheap and you don't need a thrower. Lots of fun, too. Be careful, though- you just might embarrass yourself trying to chase it down.
Nate
You will need a shooting area with a good sideways slope. Get an old tire and a thick piece of styrofoam cut to fit inside. Stick a target on the styrofoam and get a buddy to set it rolling down the hill from the side. Be sure there is a safe place for your buddy (perhaps behind the slope).
You will be surpised how difficult this is. Clays and mechanical runers usually follow a pretty smooth path. Rabbit clays bounce pretty good, but you only get one hit. The tire wil bounce, turn, and everything else real game does- and it's cheap and you don't need a thrower. Lots of fun, too. Be careful, though- you just might embarrass yourself trying to chase it down.
Nate