Hunting rifles and big game at distance

[GW11]

People make it sound like your losing 1/2 the deer with a high shoulder shot. Have you actually butchered your own deer after one? Sure you lose a bit but it might make a couple of burgers. It’s really not the end of the world. I get more meat from the heart and liver than what you will lose from that shot. And a high percentage of hunters have no issue leaving those in the field.

I'd say in the last 10 years or so since we've started butchering our own, we've butchered in the neighbourhood of 25 to 30 deer. Investing in an electric grinder made a world of difference. I would rather walk and drag an extra 100 yards and lose a bit of rib meat than pick through a mess of bloodshot meat and bone fragments and lose otherwise decent chili, taco and spaghetti sauce meat.

That being said, if you don't recover the deer, you lose all the meat. So there are times when a high shoulder shot would be the better choice (next to a swamp, last light, rainy weather, etc), but if you're a meat hunter first and foremost, it's not the my first choice when you can lose less meat with a chest shot.

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[TroutSlayer]

People make it sound like your losing 1/2 the deer with a high shoulder shot. Have you actually butchered your own deer after one? Sure you lose a bit but it might make a couple of burgers. It’s really not the end of the world. I get more meat from the heart and liver than what you will lose from that shot. And a high percentage of hunters have no issue leaving those in the field.

I love the heart stuffed with rice and mushrooms baked in the oven. My first choice on a kill shot with deer has always been a head shot, if I was close enough. Horns or no horns! A good friend of mine up at moose camp in Caramat, always told me "Shoot'm in the face if you can"

Here I am in Caramat a couple of years back: Attachment 39707


And stuffing the heart: Attachment 39708

[Deer Hunter]

To each their own , I am not either for nor against it, myself I have had the opportunity a couple of times to take a long shot because it is all I had and I was successful, but I would sooner get as close as possible to make sure I get a good killing shot.

Yes to each their own for sure. Not disputing that. My longest shot was around 400 yards, long story but it did turn out ok. Few at around 300 yards. I don’t practice further then that so wouldn’t even try. I much prefer closer shots. I shot enough game that it don’t bother me to let one walk if I‘m not comfortable with the shot.
As far as DRT shots, I shot lots of game inside a 100 yards at the base of the neck. Does the job especially at last night. No tracking needed.

[Deer Hunter]

I love the heart stuffed with rice and mushrooms baked in the oven. My first choice on a kill shot with deer has always been a head shot, if I was close enough. Horns or no horns! A good friend of mine up at moose camp in Caramat, always told me "Shoot'm in the face if you can"

Here I am in Caramat a couple of years back: Attachment 39707


And stuffing the heart: Attachment 39708

Been a while since I had heart cooked like that. When my dad was alive we had that often. Moose tongue I never cared for unless in the latter stage of a good drunk.
I also had lots of success with kill shots at the base of head where it meets the neck. No wasted meat.

[TroutSlayer]

Been a while since I had heart cooked like that. When my dad was alive we had that often. Moose tongue I never cared for unless in the latter stage of a good drunk.
I also had lots of success with kill shots at the base of head where it meets the neck. No wasted meat.

Right on Deer Hunter. My dad has been gone for a couple of years now. A lot of what I do and what I like, was passed down from him.
I've shot a lot of deer in my 67 years of living. I've never had to touch the trigger at over 100 yards. I say that because all my deer have been taken in the bush at Burks Falls or in the bush on Cape Breton Island. The only two places I've hunted the tasty animals.

[MikePal]

The high shoulder shot, as shown in the videos, looks dramatic (especially on animals that top out at 80 lbs) but it's not instant death. Note how the camera is never on the animal longer than 10 seconds or so after the shot. In one video, you can see the deer start to move its head again before the camera cuts. When they somewhat recover from having the wind knocked out if them and laid flat by the energy transfer, they start to expire. That usually takes a bit of time. Generally that's when the cameraman turns to film the high fivin' and back slappin'.

That being said, if you don't recover the deer, you lose all the meat. So there are times when a high shoulder shot would be the better choice (next to a swamp, last light, rainy weather, etc), but if you're a meat hunter first and foremost, it's not the my first choice when you can lose less meat with a chest shot.

Two good posts GW11, sensible reality check. A shoulder shot is a 'Pin' shot, immobilizes the deer. The results vary depending on what cartridge/ bullet you use and the distance of the shot.
Hydrostatic shock plays a key role in what happens to the nervous system and the damage it may do to the spine. No guarantee of a desired, clean 'one shot' kill..especially when your taking high risk long range shots.

[MikePal]

I also had lots of success with kill shots at the base of head where it meets the neck. No wasted meat.

I hear ya..12/12 for me too, dead before they hit the ground.

But definitely not a good choice (to small a POA) ) for a long range shot..

[jaycee]

Agree..he's honest and has a good grasp of what is ethical in regards to hunting.

I have a 500 yd range on my property and it's open year round. I've offered it to guys who say they can shoot long range. I get a lot of excuses and they never show up. Haha..

I should call it the 'Put Up or Shut Up' range

His follow up video on cartridges is also right on the money. Someone worth listening to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSRhQK9KoMY

love the comment:

He is also quite the hypocrite, because in one video he condemns long range hunting, and in another video, he admits to hunting .shooting at long range of 600 to 800 plus yards!

[MikePal]

He is also quite the hypocrite, because in one video he condemns long range hunting, and in another video, he admits to hunting .shooting at long range of 600 to 800 plus yards!

Your inability to comprehend what what you see and read always astounds me Jaycee... he's quite adamant in the absurdity in hunting game at distances past 500 yds .

Start at the 9:00 minute mark and pay attention...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifE_fnsOa1s

And yes in this video he says he has hunted long range, but also clarifies why and how come he doesn't support that kind of hunting...that's not being hypocritical that's speaking from experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTsbIIoRUCA

[canadaman30]

Your inability to comprehend what what you see and read always astounds me Jaycee... he's quite adamant in the absurdity in hunting game at distances past 500 yds .

Start at the 9:00 minute mark and pay attention...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifE_fnsOa1s

You dont need 1500ftlbs to reliably kill deer. This is only his opinion. According to his opinion the 30-30 at 100yds should not be used for deer. I am no fan of them but I think the 30-30 is more than enough gun for deer at 100yds. 2000ftlbs for elk sounds a bit much as well. The RUM cartridges produce much more power than a 7rm, which is the cartridge he's commenting on.