Shoot a moving deer?

longlowdog

Well-Known Member
I have just read a pile of American/Canadian hunting magazines and shooting moving deer appears to be an acceptable practise. Likewise for driven deer/boar shooting on the continent.
I wondered what U.K stalkers make of this and when do you draw the line, only stationary deer, walking deer or would you up rifle and shoot a bolted deer within say 50yds which is the boundary for shooting on most continental driven shoots?
I don't want to start an Us Vs Them arguement, it's just that my own eyes have been opened since I went to Europe and saw the levels of marksmanship that they show on running game.
I know where the B.D.S would stand on this but they must preach an absolute line that perhaps does not reflect what other people/countries regard as a broad enough remit.
What are your thoughts on moving deer shooting?
 
I have shot in Italy, where shooting boar on the run is the norm. I must confess I waited till mine was pretty much at a standstill, before squeezing the trigger. The range was about eighty yards, which is considered a long shot over there. There are always dogs on hand to follow up, so that does make quite a difference if things are less than perfect. I guess it's a case of doing what you are comfortable with and observing local customs.

Buckup
 
"When in Rome do as the Romans do" should probably cover it.

Practice on the running boar range and with a .22 on bunnies is the way the continentals get good at it.

However, it must be admitted than the incidence of wounding is higher than with stalking.

As has been mentioned, this factor (dogs, recovery specialists etc.) is allowed for in the European driven hunts where shooting at moving animals is permitted.

Outside of those driven hunts, continentals are like us with respect to shooting moving game.

If we are talking about a browsing muntjac or slowly walking fallow, that is something different entirely.
 
Having shot driven boar and deer, I can only say that the animal shot on the run in many cases needs a coup de grace. I challenge anyone to get a clean kill on something running between 30 and 40 mph across a ride 3 to 5 mtrs wide.
In saying that, it is the most challenging, stimulating and adrenaline pumping sport I have ever done. It's quite addictive!
 
I have just read a pile of American/Canadian hunting magazines and shooting moving deer appears to be an acceptable practise. Likewise for driven deer/boar shooting on the continent.
I wondered what U.K stalkers make of this and when do you draw the line, only stationary deer, walking deer or would you up rifle and shoot a bolted deer within say 50yds which is the boundary for shooting on most continental driven shoots?
I don't want to start an Us Vs Them arguement, it's just that my own eyes have been opened since I went to Europe and saw the levels of marksmanship that they show on running game.
I know where the B.D.S would stand on this but they must preach an absolute line that perhaps does not reflect what other people/countries regard as a broad enough remit.
What are your thoughts on moving deer shooting?
as its been already said "when in rome"
last hunting trip I was on in Namiba,we went lamping and was expected to shoot running game if the opertunity came along,before anyone tries to pick hole (you know who your are) running shots if missed
the PH was a dab hand at running shots,seeing they do it all the time over there,quite a spectacular thing to see running Kudo being head shot on the run ,it wasnt my thing but an experience I can say I have done
 
It really depends on distance and speed. If a deer is walking slowly, browsing etc, I would have no qualms about shooting it, if the distance was limited, say 50-60m or less.

An alarmed deer at full pelt, no way I would shoot at it. I have declined shots of this type while on driven hunts in Europe. Deer at full steam are much hard to hit than boar, they are faster and bound about a lot more. Boars legs do all the work, the body generally travels at an even height above ground making it easier to achieve a good hit.

I have shot quite a few foxes that were trotting in the light and refusing to stop. You need next to no lead with a HV CF rifle compared to a shotgun.
 
As we hunt most of our game with dogs it means a lot of it is shot on the move. I've shot roe on the move with shotgun and rifle and moose going full tilt with the rifle. also shot boar with the rifle and slug.
I do have 3 running moose ranges within half hour of where i live and there is also a small game running range where they can have targets from Hare to boar.
Practice makes perfect, nearly ;).
 
The only running deer i have ever shot is the two headed one on the BSRC range at Bisley (i am sure the range does have a particular name but with my memory......... ) even with plenty of practice it is a challenge. The only time i would consider it in the UK for real would be for an injured or wounded animal - as a last resort , but as has already been said - when in rome ............
 
I only attempt a "Running Shot" on a injured or wounded beast. Having said that, whilst in Germany several times i went to a indoor range, useing live ammo at footage taken of Animal in the wild, could not get enough of it. And it certainly helped as so far ive have killed (head or neck) the few Boar i have shot running :eek:
 
Yes the Germans do practise lots at driven shooting on full boar hunting club ranges using their normal huning ammo. It is seen as the only way to become proficient at it.
I usually use 100m outdoor running boar ranges which are lots of fun with .308 and up rifles as it shows up any deficiencies in your optics or eyesight.
Are there any indoor ranges with cinema style target full screen systems showing various game situations in the UK?
All the german ones I have seen are all commercial ventures and the local police use them for running man target shooting also (I have not tried that yet).
I went to one on Friday last week as I am the shooting range officer for my club and had to arrange a training outing and they quoted me 125 Euros per hour (it"s possible for six shooters to get enough practice in in one hour all using fullbore rifle/pistol up to max of 7000 Joules energy level) the club subscription funds will be used to pay the range fees.
Maybe I should open such a range near London methinks UMMMM!!!!!
Martin
 
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that just bought back good memory's "Cinema" My German Friend said, i have booked us in the Cinema ????????? Hope the Film is in English then :doh: the place i went had Pistol range's, 100m range and the 50m Cinema Range. I was totally spellbound, live ammo .30-06 an shooting a Boar running through wood's etc, the Gentleman who owned the range also owned a Gun shop (my mind has gone blank to which town) his self and my Friend played a trick on me, when i called ok, NO BOAR nothing but both the owner an my Friend was crying with laughter looking back at the sceen the was a Ostrich running away from :eek: i had the last as i head shot :D Dont know of any in England????? wish there was though. :thumb:
 
I am generally not hungry enough, or greedy enough to shoot deer on a high speed run. I hunt for free so I am not under any pressure and I hunt for meat, not to "kill a deer". Now if I've got a loper and the shot is doable, I would take it. I think it's a judgment call at the moment. I can say with certainty that I would be more likely to do it with a low magnification scope, or better yet, an open sighted rifle. Running shots with hi-magnification scopes are a dicey affair. ~Muir
 
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