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AR-15s and deer hunting in Maine
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Byron Quick
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Grumulkin,
I shot a buck a couple of years ago at about 40 yards. I used a .35 Whelen. Perfect set up. The shot I picked was my personal favorite. Impact on a shoulder, penetrating both lungs, and then exiting around the short ribs on the far side.
Mr. Murphy stepped in though. A split second before the very light trigger broke, the buck to one step. The bullet impacted on the short ribs, traversed the abdominal cavity just below the spinal column, and exited just in front of the far side rear hip. The deer fell down, tried to get up and couldn't. While the spine was not hit, the shock of the bullet had temporarily paralyzed its hindquarters. The buck pulled itself about two feet before it bled out from its wound and died.
Tell me, would a .22 caliber centerfire have hit that buck sufficiently hard to do that type of damage with such a mucked up shot? That shot was the worst hit I've ever made on a buck. It lived maybe thirty seconds.
I'm with Art. I use rifles such as the .35 Whelen not because I think they are the smallest caliber sufficient for deer. Such calibers are more than sufficient. I use such calibers because they drastically lessen the chance I will not quickly kill an animal due to factors I cannot control such as the animal moving at the last instant.
I know people who've killed deer for years with .22 rimfire. They had the means of getting within range to assure a DRT shot and passed up shots that weren't absolutely sure.
It's not being on a high horse, friend. I hope for the best but plan for the worst. I'm often pleasantly surprised but rarely disappointed. Keep hunting deer with .22 centerfire rifles if you care to do so. On the day one moves on you and you find yourself trying to track a wounded deer through a frozen beaver swamp for a few miles...ponder this discussion. I've been in that situation and don't care to be there again. One of the most exhaustng and miserably cold days of my life. I was using a rifle considerably more powerful than a .22 rimfire.
A friend once said of me,"You think if some is good and more is better, then too much is just right." He was correct
Some people like to go for as small a caliber as possible. I don't understand it and think it is an unwise choice. I like to go heavier than necessary to allow myself as large a margin of error as possible.
I shot a buck a couple of years ago at about 40 yards. I used a .35 Whelen. Perfect set up. The shot I picked was my personal favorite. Impact on a shoulder, penetrating both lungs, and then exiting around the short ribs on the far side.
Mr. Murphy stepped in though. A split second before the very light trigger broke, the buck to one step. The bullet impacted on the short ribs, traversed the abdominal cavity just below the spinal column, and exited just in front of the far side rear hip. The deer fell down, tried to get up and couldn't. While the spine was not hit, the shock of the bullet had temporarily paralyzed its hindquarters. The buck pulled itself about two feet before it bled out from its wound and died.
Tell me, would a .22 caliber centerfire have hit that buck sufficiently hard to do that type of damage with such a mucked up shot? That shot was the worst hit I've ever made on a buck. It lived maybe thirty seconds.
I'm with Art. I use rifles such as the .35 Whelen not because I think they are the smallest caliber sufficient for deer. Such calibers are more than sufficient. I use such calibers because they drastically lessen the chance I will not quickly kill an animal due to factors I cannot control such as the animal moving at the last instant.
I know people who've killed deer for years with .22 rimfire. They had the means of getting within range to assure a DRT shot and passed up shots that weren't absolutely sure.
It's not being on a high horse, friend. I hope for the best but plan for the worst. I'm often pleasantly surprised but rarely disappointed. Keep hunting deer with .22 centerfire rifles if you care to do so. On the day one moves on you and you find yourself trying to track a wounded deer through a frozen beaver swamp for a few miles...ponder this discussion. I've been in that situation and don't care to be there again. One of the most exhaustng and miserably cold days of my life. I was using a rifle considerably more powerful than a .22 rimfire.
A friend once said of me,"You think if some is good and more is better, then too much is just right." He was correct
Some people like to go for as small a caliber as possible. I don't understand it and think it is an unwise choice. I like to go heavier than necessary to allow myself as large a margin of error as possible.
22-rimfire
Member
Remember Maine bucks are known for heavy bodies if you are lucky enough to get a shot at one. Leave the 223 at home and take the 30-06.
SigFan , im located in Kennebec county . Lots of thick woods with some good sized openings here and there . I tend to hunt kennebec and oxford counties . Have used everything from .270 to my trusty .45-.70 and have had the best luck using my brush guns , .30-.30 , M44, and .30-.06 . All short barreled and bigger slower rounds . Have traded out my .45-70 rounds (500 grain ) down to the 350 and plan on trying that this year .
A_Swede_17_1911
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If that is what you have to hunt with, then I would look for some of the Nosler 60grain partions, I know black hills loads them and I belive that federal does as well. They shoot pretty good out of that 1:12 twist. Another issue is with that twist the bullet might not stabalize, and really yaw in the deer causeing a massive injury and possible death.
I was going to hunt with my AR15 this year, for deer, because its what I had. I went a head and bought a Marlin 336 in 30-30 Win, great rifle, If you have the little extra money thats what I would look in to, and just buy a peep sight for it, and sight it in.
Anyhow I would look at 60 grain nolser partions, or 55 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claws, or the Winchester 64grain power points.
Above all as with all rifle calibers, I would take good shots, and have good bullet placement, just be ethical in your shot choices and you should be allright.
Best of luck to you
I was going to hunt with my AR15 this year, for deer, because its what I had. I went a head and bought a Marlin 336 in 30-30 Win, great rifle, If you have the little extra money thats what I would look in to, and just buy a peep sight for it, and sight it in.
Anyhow I would look at 60 grain nolser partions, or 55 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claws, or the Winchester 64grain power points.
Above all as with all rifle calibers, I would take good shots, and have good bullet placement, just be ethical in your shot choices and you should be allright.
Best of luck to you
Sure, it can be done, I could kill them with a rock under the right circumstances, but it doesn't mean the odds are with you in the long run.
Then, why bow hunt?
*I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I'm just new to this, but isn't a bow much less powerful than a rifle at the same distance?
Vern Humphrey
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Then, why bow hunt?
*I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I'm just new to this, but isn't a bow much less powerful than a rifle at the same distance?
"Powerful" isn't the right word in this case. "Effective" would be more like it.
A good broahead arrow will do an enormous amount of damage with its wide, sharp blades, and will typically shoot completely through a deer. However it will not have as much kinetic energy as a .22 Long Rifle -- which everyone agrees is unsuitable for deer.
Vern Humphrey
Member
It doesn't go anywhere. Bulets and arrows kill by tissue destruction. A .22 bullet is light and has much less momentum than an arrow.
It won't penetrate as well, and leaves a narrow wound channel. The arrowhead is sharp and wide -- it slices and dices as it goes through.
The real advantage a highpowered rifle has over a bow is range and accuracy, not killing "power."
It won't penetrate as well, and leaves a narrow wound channel. The arrowhead is sharp and wide -- it slices and dices as it goes through.
The real advantage a highpowered rifle has over a bow is range and accuracy, not killing "power."
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