yesterday i was walking out of the woods and im walking threw an overgrown field and i popped a buck up. He was probably 5 yards from me when he jumped up. It was windy and the wind was in my favor thats how i got so close. I tried stopping him but he was not stopping. Should i have drew back and let one fly when he was on the run since he was so close? You miss all the shots you dont take? Thats what people say. What would you guys have done. Ps i feel good about my decision of letting him run off.
Ia this a trick question? No, I would never take a shot at a running deer. It's difficult enough to make a clean kill shot on a deer standing still under perfect conditions. Look at how many "less than stellar" shots you see TV hunters make on deer that are stopped broadside within chip shot range. It happens to hunters on here and it's happened to me. I'm a good shooter when I'm shooting 3D at our club shoots but I've botched shots inside of 20 yards on the real thing under ideal conditions. You should definitely feel good about not taking that shot.
I can't speak for you or others but never. This is not a sport that the result is at worse a missed 2 points.
Running, no. Walking slowly. Maybe if it’s really close and broadside/quartering away. Like <15 yards I’d shoot a slowly walking animal. Only thing I’d shoot an animal that’s running like that with is a 12ga with buckshot. Even then I’d have to assess the shot in the moment. And I’d of had to have the shotgun ready.
Growing up we had a cantankerous old fart, my grandpa, that took care of our 3D range at the local rod and gun club. Using some old rail and some weights he sat up a "running" target. Even if you were at full draw and ready you would miss most of the time and even if you did hit it was a bad shot placement at best. It was all for fun but I still believe it was to also serve as a lesson. So no, would not even attempt a shot on a running animal.
Even with a rifle, no shot. That is why I quit gun hunting over in Wisconsin. Spray and pray is not for me.
Only if I had my own show or Youtube channel and was desperate to be a hunting "celebrity". So, never.
Never, just admire the beauty of it's rack as it disappears and save it for stories to be told years down the road. I remember this one time...
Not a chance as a first shot. The only time I can see shooting at a moving deer is if it is walking slowly because I already shot it and it was a bad hit. I had this happen one time; I gut shot at doe at 30 yards four years ago. I got a clean pass-through. The doe walked hunched up from my 12 o'clock to my 4 o'clock; it was walking very slowly and had closed the distance to 18 yards. I shot again and put the second arrow through the heart, dropping it within 10 yards from the second shot. I only took this shot because it was already hit, moving very slowly, and had actually come closer to me. But other than a scenario like this one, shooting at a moving deer, especially one running is a terrible idea.
