When have you shot game animals on the move? What rifles have you used? How close and how fast?

[OntarioHunter]

I have been to many target rifle range running deer shoots and in the 1980's and early 90's we practiced shooting moving targets all the time by rolling tires down hills and having competitions with the guys we hunted with on basket balls and volley and old bowling balls etc.

good stuff those were the days

It is hard to go back to just shooting paper once you're hooked on moving targets. Wish we had some rifle ranges here that would set up for it. Our provincial safety officer would never stand for it. An ex local cop with a teaspoon of brains and fifty-five gallon drum full of self-importance. Typical.

 

[noharleyyet]

Offhand...

 

[mtmuley]

Guess my aversion to shooting a running game animal comes from my experience of killing crippled antelope. I don't need any animal bad enough to risk it. mtmuley

 

[hank4elk]

My 30-30 Win. has taken many wild pigs and some bucks on the move, 50 yards and less.
Not in many years have I taken a shot at an animal not still & oblivious.

 

[TheTone]

When ever I shut an animal on the move I AIm for the FUGGIN head!

 

[Fullquiver]

Once killed a rabbit running full bore past me with my handy mutt dog in hot pursuit. Weapon used was a pair of pliers from my father's tool box thrown by my best arms imitation of Nolan Ryan. It was a head shot and clean kill..

 

[OntarioHunter]

Guess my aversion to shooting a running game animal comes from my experience of killing crippled antelope. I don't need any animal bad enough to risk it. mtmuley

I'm guessing the sloppy running shots that crippled those antelope were a lot further than fifty yards.

 

[mtmuley]

I'm guessing the sloppy running shots that crippled those antelope were a lot further than fifty yards.

Why does that matter? mtmuley

 

[OntarioHunter]

Why does that matter? mtmuley

You're right. Anyone stupid enough to attempt a running two hundred yard shot probably couldn't hit an antelope at fifty yards running ... or standing still.

 

[Shortbowshot]

Years ago me and a buddy were out being teenagers. We had an old lever action 30 30, in the truck. A coyote was standing about 80 yd in the barn lot. I missed him standing at which he decided it was best to leave. My next round found him in the back of the head running at 200 plus yds. We shot the gun later it was about 2 ft off at 80 yd. Unlucky coyote!!

 

[thusby]

A couple deer that were more trotting than running, at about 100 yards. I did paste a bobcat on an all-out run with 20 gauge buckshot a couple years ago.

 

[RobertD]

I'm not shooting at anything running but a hog and even then I'm going to do my best to make the shot count.

I don't doubt some of y'alls shooting ability but I agree with Muley, don't need an animal bad enough to risk it personally

 

[Shortbowshot]

I personally don't. For most of the above reasons.
Years ago here in Arkansas everyone hunted with hounds and running shots were the norm. I'm sure a lot of deer were crippled, but there were local guys who were legends with iron sights.

 

[Tikka06]

A Remington Model 7 in 7-08. I killed 2 does who were both at a trot at about 60 yds and a few year later killed a small buck as we walked up on each other and he took off. All 3 died pretty quickly as I recall it. Those were all public land hunts and I was a young man who thought he could do anything. I don’t take shots like that anymore. I teach my kids that the only thing we shoot at running are rabbits that are being chased by beagles.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

You're right. Anyone stupid enough to attempt a running two hundred yard shot probably couldn't hit an antelope at fifty yards running ... or standing still.

As always I respect both your experience and the opinions gained from them. The same goes for Mt. Muley.

Of course a standing shot is always preferred. That said, from the many responses to this post, taking shots of animals that are moving sometimes is a valid option, one that I think a hunter should prepare and train for.

Seems like shooting at running coyotes and even wild boar offers hunter's a pass however. I am not sure what or why,,,we choose to value some critters less than others. For the record I have never shot a predator of any kind in my life.

The solid research that has come out Texas just recently about the near total crash in quail populations goes against the belief that it's only about habitat loss. Shooting middle level predators, which eat lower level egg eating predators like raccoons and foxes has been clearly identified as a super factor in the quail population crash

Anyway, back to shooting at moving game

I have probably mentioned this before, but I used to attach a target with little pully wheels to an old fire service telegraph cable still on poles that once went to a fire lookout towers. Where it went down hill that target really got going fast and still so when it hit level ground.

I practiced all three techniques suggested by Jack O'Connor; fast swing, the sustained lead, and the snap shot. Each has merit and is situationally dependent as to it's use.

Where I did get bolder in taking even full out running shots a game was with huge wild boar on barley ranches. We were at war with boar.

Jack O'Connor once said that fast running antelope on level ground were pretty easy once you could adjust for speed/lead.

I have only shot one antelope on the full run. I would not have done that save for it was wounded. Just as I pulled the trigger for a 300 yard shot it stepped forward and the bullet hit it farther back. I tracked it and shot it as described above.

Hitting a bouncing up and down mule deer even up close would be a real challenge,,,that offers a "don't shoot" signal to my brain.

Where I did get a wealth of fast and moving shooting was with wild boar hunting with depredation permits on grain ranches and also in fruit orchards.

That was even a daylight and full moonlight affair, going for doubles or even a triple now and then.

I recall the last time I used a Nosler partition bullet. I never liked how they came apart. I came to think of them as an inaccurate rock that broke in two upon impact.

Anyway, I shot a 300-350 pound boar at 200 yards from a prone position with one. It was hit right in the heart but as I have often found with a heart shot an animal can really run for a bit. Not a problem but this boar was very close to a fence line where recovery was just not possible. The boar was running flat out, full speed and at that time my running shooting skills had gotten pretty honed with boar without wounding any of them, solid kills all, starting with close shots.

So I fired and his kind legs made a huge back kick and that big black Russian boar flipped right over, complete summersault, on his back he crashed with his head going where he came from. He was only 30 yards from the fenceline.

Upon field dressing him i saw that my 30-06 bullet from my old Belgium Browning, ( had it for 51 years now) had completely severed his spine.

My last thought,,,this kind of shooting skill can be best developed with a longterm relationship with one trusted rifle, of course in a caliber that is "enough gun" for when things are real world and not bench rest perfectly controlled.

Thanks for your many contributions.

 

[Seamaster]

I will not shoot unwounded big game that is moving more than a walk. Small game with a shotgun is a completely different story.

 

[antlerradar]

The target was standing broadside on all the shots I wish I could have a do over on.

 

[mtmuley]

Ii's all about comfort. I'll take a 500 yard plus shot at an undisturbed critter before a runner. mtmuley

 

[OntarioHunter]

It's all about comfort. I'll take a 500 yard plus shot at an undisturbed critter before a runner. mtmuley

I'll take a fifty yard running shot over inter-continetntal bullet lobbing. Speaks to my hunting skill, not my gear.

 

[mtmuley]

I'll take a fifty yard running shot over inter-continetntal bullet lobbing. Speaks to my hunting skill, not my gear.

Yep. mtmuley