I remember before nearly everyone hunting had to run out and buy a 48mm quadruple extra ultra mega magnum to take a white tail deer at 2.39 miles, people used to use sensible cartridges and there was more honor in taking a close shot than one at driving ranges (with a car, not a golf club). This was when people went hunting instead of shooting. I am not knocking long range shooters, and I recognize that it takes a good skill set, and also admit that I do not have that skill set, only because I have never practiced it, as I have absolutely no use for it where I hunt. But anyway, my question, in remembrance of the art of hunting, what are the closest ranges you've ever shot a deer? I don't think I've ever shot one at more than 60 or maybe 75 yards, and the closest one was at about 8-10 yards. I am mainly talking rifle ranges, but you can include pistol and archery ranges also, but let's leave it to on-the-ground hunts, not in blinds or stands.
What's the CLOSEST you've ever shot a deer?
- Thread starter 2DaMtns
- Start date
I have never shot a deer. I did shoot squirrel at about 10 yrds when I was a kid with my dad's savage turkey gun. It was an old savage breach loader 12 ga.. I was 10 yrds away, but I think the barrel was only 6" from the little varmint. He had it loaded with some heavy shot, it nearly flipped me over! Not long after I shot it I got my first lesson in respect for nature.....One I did deserve, the biggest piece of that squirrel I found was the tail.
I shot a deer at about 20' once. It was right at the bottom of my tree stand. I shot straight down at it with a 44 Mag revolver. I aimed for the base of the neck and it dropped DRT.
My Grand Pa killed a deer with an Axe once. He was chopping wood and I was along. He sent me into the woods with my 22 to shoot some squirrels for dinner. Well I scared up a deer and it took off running at my Grand Pa. I mean it ran right at him. He hauled off and hit it in the head with an axe he was using to buck off tree limbs. I came up and he finished it off with a bash in the neck. It was Deer season and he had a license. It was a young spike and he was very tasty. Grand ma cooked him up good. So I guess I can say I have seen a deer killed in Hand to Hand combat
That Deer must have been Crazy messing with Grand Pa. He was a WW1 Marine vet and was about 6'3". He had hands as big as Base Ball gloves. He looked like a cross between LBJ and John Wayne tough as the bark on a hickory tree. I miss him.
My Grand Pa killed a deer with an Axe once. He was chopping wood and I was along. He sent me into the woods with my 22 to shoot some squirrels for dinner. Well I scared up a deer and it took off running at my Grand Pa. I mean it ran right at him. He hauled off and hit it in the head with an axe he was using to buck off tree limbs. I came up and he finished it off with a bash in the neck. It was Deer season and he had a license. It was a young spike and he was very tasty. Grand ma cooked him up good. So I guess I can say I have seen a deer killed in Hand to Hand combat
That Deer must have been Crazy messing with Grand Pa. He was a WW1 Marine vet and was about 6'3". He had hands as big as Base Ball gloves. He looked like a cross between LBJ and John Wayne tough as the bark on a hickory tree. I miss him.
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
Ground only?
3 ft from the gun, one at about 25 feet, almost every deer I've ever shot was under 30 yards.
3 ft from the gun, one at about 25 feet, almost every deer I've ever shot was under 30 yards.
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From the ground, maybe 20yds. It was early in the season and I was easing along a ridge in Western Washington state near Pe-el. I shot a 3 point(western count) Blacktail. Gun used was a Pre 64 Winchester 30WCF with a Lyman Peep sight with handloaded 130gr Speer FNSP bullet at about 2100fps. One shot through the head. I had been in the woods maybe 45 min and was going to where I thought I would see some deer. It was a chance encounter. There was a road at the bottom of the ridge maybe 500yds away and a log truck was driving by. The deer was totally focused on the log truck and never knew I was there. I pulled a lot of deer out of those woods and Elk too when I was stationed there in the 80's. Beautiful Country after you get over the rain.
Willie Lowman
New member
About 10 yards.
It was the first time my little cousin had gone hunting. He was sitting about 10 feet to my left. A buck ran along the ridge top, my cousin shot at it. The buck turned and ran straight at him. He shot a second time and the buck stopped. I looked at my cousin, he was trembling visibly and had not pumped his gun again. I wasn't going to give the buck a chance to gore my cousin so I shot it. Dropped like a rock, I hit it in the spine, was aiming for the vitals. I was a little shook up too.
It was the first time my little cousin had gone hunting. He was sitting about 10 feet to my left. A buck ran along the ridge top, my cousin shot at it. The buck turned and ran straight at him. He shot a second time and the buck stopped. I looked at my cousin, he was trembling visibly and had not pumped his gun again. I wasn't going to give the buck a chance to gore my cousin so I shot it. Dropped like a rock, I hit it in the spine, was aiming for the vitals. I was a little shook up too.
troy_mclure
New member
was aiming at a deer about 100yds away across the ridge with my knight m/l. i see something out of the corner of my eve and a doe walked right in front of the gun 10' away. smoke was coming out of the hair for a good five mins.
Yankee Doodle
New member
A measured 18 feet. As it happened, I was actually in the process of urinating at the time. Saw deer, picked up gun, shot deer, zipped pants, dressed deer, went home.
Laughing all the way back.
Laughing all the way back.
I shot a young whitetail buck at 6 yards once with a 7mm rem mag. I shot it through the neck to save meat.
I've shot far more deer under 75 yards than I have at ranges beyond that mark, but it's nice to have the skills and rifle to handle longer shots when they become necessary.
Daryl
I've shot far more deer under 75 yards than I have at ranges beyond that mark, but it's nice to have the skills and rifle to handle longer shots when they become necessary.
Daryl
About 10 feet. We walked right up to each other. He lost. When I shot him he ran right at me and ran by me with in arms reach. (yes, I had to clean my pants
) To this date it was the biggest deer I have taking. just dumb luck. It was the beginning of the Rut and his mind was else where.
) To this date it was the biggest deer I have taking. just dumb luck. It was the beginning of the Rut and his mind was else where.Attachments
rantingredneck
New member
I shot a 9 pointer in self defense once. He was about 8-10 feet away and running right toward me. 18 pellets of 00 buckshot changed that.
From a tree stand I shot an 8 pointer with a bow straight down. I was 15 feet up the tree.
From a tree stand I shot an 8 pointer with a bow straight down. I was 15 feet up the tree.
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DiscoRacing
New member
last year I shot a huge doe that was so close that I nearly missed it with my .06. We stepped it off and it was round 15 ft... Now thats a long shot