Drop him right where he stands

[jcbanner]

Hi, new guy to the forums here, hope you don't mind me posting my two cents worth.

I hunt with a 308 and have dropped every deer I'v ever shot with it where it was standing.

A 12 ga. slug would definately drop any deer with the right shot, but will also tear up a good deal of the meat. I'd recomendthe 308 for a good clean kill.

Easiest way to do it would be to get a broadside view of the deer, follow the leg up into the shoulder, and shoot into the crease at the top of the shoulder. I've seen my brothers shoot deer dead on the spot, but have the bullet pass through with minimal damage and the deer takes off running not knowing its dead. Shooting it in its shoulder will knock it over it it kills it. It may start kicking once its down, but thats the nerves firing, same as a chicken with its head cut off. Since the deer is on its side and on the ground, its not going anywhere.

Another benifit to shooting in the shoulder is instead of a target the size of a golfball, you have a target area larger tehn a grapefruit. but I typicaly shoot at 60-85 yard distances while hunting, that may not matter as much at 20 yards

Good luck.

 

[gunmn74]

I would go with the 308 though the front shoulders. All kinds of vitals and
they are not going anywhere with broken shoulders.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=316060

 

[JR1]

.308 through the shoulders. Top of the shoulder is my preferred shot as I know that it is going to break one down instantly as it takes out the spine.

I DO NOT recommend a head shot as there are just too many things that can go wrong. You think it is rough with your neighbor now, just wait till a deer shows up on his property with a bottom jaw hanging off. All because you took a low percentage shot and that deer moved its head just a little.

 

[AL9426]

I would just ask your neighbor. You never know. Be nice about it and everything and try to works something out. If they say yes, then have fun. If she says no, shoot it when they arent home. ahahhha

 

[unreal45]

A high shoulder shot with a 150 grain softpoint from the 7.62x54 will drop em, same goes for the .308. I have a similar situation, a neighboring land owner that is anti hunting and his 40 acres of land is a wildlife preserve filled with deer. I consider it a good thing. I don't need them to drop where they stand but they cant travel more then 40 yards. I use a 270 wsm with 140 gr accubonds they don't go far after a heart lung shot. At short range this cartridge carries around 3000 foot pounds of energy.

Large exit wound from a 270 140 grain accubond at 3200fps. It was a lung shot and there was actually small bits of lung in the short 20-30 yard trail.

 

[retrieverman]

If buckshot is legal, that would be my first choice. A 20 yard shot with 00 buck should put a deer on it's tail end with never a twitch. I have killed about 20 over the years with buckshot and have never had a single deer take a step after being hit.

 

[Shadow Shock]

Here in Texas, more deer have been killed with a .22lr than just about anything else (leagaly years ago, illegaly today). If you want a Drop In Tracks shot, don't make much diference what you use. You shoot a deer in the spine or the brain bucket with a .17HMR, it'l kill 'em just as dead as a .50BMG. Anything you've got will work, shot placement is all that matters. Personally I'd go for a neck shot with your scoped rifle.





NOTE: No I would never hunt with a .17HMR or .22lr except for survival.

 

[Legionnaire]

Maybe my experience is abnormal, but most heart/lung shots I've taken on deer (my preferred aiming point) have not resulted in "dropping 'em where they stand." The deer I've taken with heart shots have almost always hunched up, then bounded 20 to 40 yards before piling up, even if shot while standing or walking at a slow walk. A shoulder shot isn't guaranteed to drop them either, although probability goes up if you can get both shoulders. Head shot is probably the best bet.

But I concur with other posters who council against giving in to temptation, especially as you are already planning to move, sounds like in the not-too-distant future.

 

[Joe Demko]

Leave those deer alone. There're too many ways for this to go wrong for it to be worthwhile. If you were an experienced previously successful deer hunter and could place your shot accurately with a minimum of "buck fever" it'd be doable, but still ill-advised.
Find some public land on which to hunt or see if one of your co-workers is willing to let you tag along with him.

 

[Clipper]

A couple of points:
1. Anectdotes of a few guys claiming a DRT aside, the ONLY guaranteed way to drop any animal is a central nervous system shot...Brain or spine. Period.
2. At that range, I would either use the 12ga with buckshot, or the rifle I could shoot most accurately at that range, sighted in for the range at which you're shooting.

Unlike some, I have actually read and understand your posts. If you are, as you say, able to safely and legally shoot these animals, I say go for it and fill your freezer.

 

[cracked butt]

1. Anectdotes of a few guys claiming a DRT aside, the ONLY guaranteed way to drop any animal is a central nervous system shot...Brain or spine. Period.

+1

I've never had a deer drop dead with a heart or lung shot they always run 30-100 yards before they run ou of gas. Last one I shot was at <10 yards with a .308- took the top of the heart off and destroyed the aortas, deer didn't drop, but ran another 30 yards before piling up. Spine or brain is the only guarantee that the deer will be anchored where its shot- and even then, unless you are really close to the deer, these are iffy shots- deer don't tend to cooperate by standing still and the targets are very small. A miss on a brain shot and you end up with a deer sans lower jaw running about the countryside, a neck shot that is a little off will mean a tracking job as well.

 

[langenc]

You have plenty of room.

Talk with the guy and explain that for every deer on his place he could feed a pony. He will say "go ahead"!!

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Assuming everything is legal load some 110gr. or 125gr. bullets for your .308 and sight it in. They are guaranteed to expand and dump all their energy. With proper placement be it the head/neck/shoulder the deer is most likely to drop like a rock. If a .22mag. is legal and you're a good shot, just shoot him in the head. Good luck.

 

[hockeybum]

my dad told me once "aim small, miss small"

 

[Harley Quinn]

You are not in an area for doing what you feel is correct. Do not shoot where you are intending.
:banghead::banghead:

Good discussion otherwise.

 

[Caimlas]

I'd say a rifle shot to the head. My vote is for .308, as it's the quietest of those listed (don't want the lib neighbor to cause a ruckus). Take your shot close to assure you don't miss or hit it in the neck and just injure it- that's a painful death.

Check out laws on caliber (can you use a .22? that'll cause less of a disruption) and distance from a dwelling laws - afaik, most states have a "must not shoot within 300 yards of a dwelling" law, or similar - at least they do out here in the midwest: that's problematic, as I believe it still applies to your own dwelling, even if you're shooting away from it.

Talk with the guy and explain that for every deer on his place he could feed a pony. He will say "go ahead"!!

You go go so far as explain to him that, "around here, these here deer criters are considered pests. Farmers hate them and ranchers despise them - they're like rats, and are grossly over-populated!" - he may even let you hunt his land, you never know. Tell him you'll give him some meat and/or the hide. If he's a "green" type, tell him how nice the hide can naturally tan out for clothing, and that the whole animal can be used, etc. It's worth a try!

 

[Joe Demko]

In Pennsylvania the no-shoot areas around homes are called "safety zones." It's not legal to shoot into or out of a safety zone.

 

[Clipper]

I don't know from Pennsylvania law. It isn't relevant here. Why are you even bringing it up? He's already indicated he would be legal, and I assume he's intelligent enough to know the laws where he lives (which is Tennessee, not Pennsylvania, BTW).

 

[Joe Demko]

I brought it up in response to Caimlas (who lives in South Dakota) mentioning that they have such laws in the midwest. I'm well aware where the OP is located. They have similar regulations in TN. Since he is the owner, he doesn't appear to be violating that particular regulation. Is there anything else I can clarify for you?

 

[Clipper]

Funny, I don't see any questions anywhere in Caimlas' post that required any clarification of Pennsylvania's, or for that matter, any other place's statutes. I reiterate that the OP says he's checked state law and is legal. If you think he's too dumb to know his own state regs, just say so...

 

[Joe Demko]

Deleted by me.

 

[carnaby]

The only deer I ever shot was in the neck with a .300 Win Mag. at 30 yards. DRT.

 

[Harley Quinn]

Since you are in an area close by others and you are insisting on shooting I'd use the shotgun and sight it in at 25 yds at a range. Double ought buck to the head.

 

[45Badger]

Leave those deer alone. There're too many ways for this to go wrong for it to be worthwhile. If you were an experienced previously successful deer hunter and could place your shot accurately with a minimum of "buck fever" it'd be doable, but still ill-advised.
Find some public land on which to hunt or see if one of your co-workers is willing to let you tag along with him

Probably good advice.

Do your state's hunting regulations require a minimum distance from a structure or occupied dwelling? It has nothing to do with zoning. If not, work out an understanding with your neighbor before you start bllasting away. It's the polite and smart thing to do.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

just make real sure it isn't one of his ponies !