When to take the shot

[Rifleman]

I have always been a firm believer in taking the shot on game as soon as the game is in range and you have a decent shot. I mean if a deer is spotted at 150 yds headed my way I am not gonna wait for him to get closer looking for an easier shot. When the shot is there Bang! I take it. It has just been my experience too much can go wrong waiting for the "perfect" shot. Too much can go wrong,the deer changes it's mind and goes the other way, it winds you, another deer spooks it, besides the biggie which is you start getting nervous if it is a big one. I watch these guys on TV sometimes and although I know they are trying to get footage and make sure the cameraman is on the animal they just about drive me nuts! I am thinking inside" shoot dummie!"
I have made my share of mistakes over the many years I have been hunting, especially when I first started out with a handgun. I would sometimes wait for a better shot even though I knew I could make the shot presented at the moment. Seems like as I grew more experienced the less it happened. I am now not perfect in this regard but I must admit once I make up my mind to take an animal I shoot at the first decent opportunity. Thought this might make for an interesting topic and would be interested to hear from the rest of you both experienced and inexperienced.

 

[sheephunterab]

I guess the question that begs asking, is what is the perfect shot. I agree on taking the first high percentage shot that is within your comfort range under the conditions at that moment.

Obviously there are countless factors that determine that range, including your weapon of choice, the position you are shooting from, wind, etc.

But what happens when things aren't perfect or within your comfort range? A couple examples of this are from this year's season. In one instance my wife was hunting Stone Sheep and her comfort range was 250 yards with her .30-06. After 16 days of hunting and eight hours of stalking it became obvious that the closest shot she was going to get was slightly over 270 yards. Should she take it? She did and killed the ram dead. She had that shot available for several hours but waited in hopes the ram would venture closer. The first available shot was at over 300 though. Would she have made that one?

The second was a moose at 153 yards. He was hard quartering away and about to leave. The only option was a neck shot at the base of the skull. She placed it perfectly with the Omega. This was a shot she had never attempted and was not in her comfort range.

The final was a mule deer last year at slightly over 300 yards with the Omega. Again, well outside her comfort range but she knew the ballistics and it was the only shot she had.

I guess, I'd say wait for the shot within your comfort range but be willing to take a high-percentage shot outside that range if conditions and your skill level is up to it and there is no hope of a shot from within that comfort range. I think it is important to have that comfort range set in advance though and stick to it if possible

 

[DeerNut]

I say, when you have the shot.....take it. With the mulie I shot this year, he was quartering towards me walking at 125 yards. I could have let him keep walking towards me, but I felt 100% confident I could make the shot and didn't want to risk him spotting me in the wide open and spooking. Who knows, he might have walked up to the end of my barrel, or the wind could have changed and caused him to bolt within the next 5 yards. Like Sheephunterab said, if the shot is in your comfort range I don't push my luck......too often. Personally, It doesn't have to be perfect.....most good opportunities at "trophies" aren't.

So, I'm with you Rifleman...take the shot already.

 

[Grouse]

Take the shot.

 

[smokit]

I'm with Rifleman on this one.I'll take a shot with my muzzleloader out to 250 yards in a heart beat and take it the first chance I get. The longest shot I've made with the muzzy is about 210-215 yards,but I'm ready for the long one.

 

[Redclub]

Shoot when you get a shot and then shoot again. I know a ML is a little tougher but you have to shoot. 55 years of hunting deer has told me you don't get what you don't shoot at. By the way I am an excellent tracker.
Ken

 

[cancan]

aww come on guys dont ya like to smell em?? dont ya like to hear em snortin and flappin their lips like a horse....i like a long shot now and again but i like being in the midst of deer too....besides here in the east its a close in game, shots rarely over 50 yrds.....unless i have a bow then they all walk 150 yrds away ...DOH!!

 

[schoolmaster]

You have to take the shot when you have the first opportunity to kill them. You can admire them on the ground, take pictures etc. If I decide to take an animal I don't waste much time. The only delay I have is to assume a steadier position i.e. a lean off a tree, knee, shooting sticks etc. I am primarily a meat hunter and you can't eat "what ifs" or "should haves".

 

[flaguy]

Ive watched a number of the TV shows where they wait and wait, by the time they shoot I woulda been dressin mine out. If I get a shot I feel good with I take it and Im not always after a trophy especially when Im close to out of game in the freezer, does taste just as good maybe better that a big buck.

 

[Rich M]

To shoot at the first good opportunity is a must in my book.

My furthest shot is 178 yards at a walking deer. It hit at the point of aim. All others were inside 100 yards.

 

[Yankee Doodle]

It seems to me, that each and every one of us has to know what his/her abilities actually are. I use an iron sighted Hawken for deer. At this point in my life, my old eyes will permit me to keep all my shots, from field positions on a 6" paper plate only out to 75 yards. Therefore, I will not shoot until the deer is within 75 yard, and is presenting me with a shot at its vitals. Where I hunt, this is a really long shot. Most deer around here are taken within 40 yards, and I have taken a few within 20.
I guess what I am trying to say is that no one should even consider taking any shot at game until they are sure they can make the shot. I was taught that "If you know you can make the shot, you can. If you think you can make the shot, you can't."
Jus my way of doing things.

 

[thatguy]

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I agree on taking the first high percentage shot that is within your comfort range under the conditions at that moment.

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this is how I look at it.. Even with my .308, I wait until its a sure shot before I pull the trigger.. I am probably not getting as many shots, BUT I just want to make sure its a good shot..

BUT - for the records I took a couple of higher risk shots on moving deer and they have worked out OK (ie good hits and didnt travel far)..

brian

 

[g.g.]

I am one that has always had the problem with waiting too long. it has cost me a few massive deer over the years too.

never advocate taking a bad shot, but take the first good shot

 

[tnt1960]

I say take the first good shot that he gives you, if you know that you can make the shot. Everybody should know their limit as far as range is concerned. I`ve learned from bowhunting, if he gives you a shot opportunity, take it. He may not give you a better one!

 

[black powder]

it is never the same even after 40 odd years of hunting i still enjoy watching the game before taking the shot ..i have missed a few and if i recollect it was because i did not take the time to line everything up ..

 

[416LJT]

The perfect shot is not the one you can make , but rather the one you can't miss.

 

[IowaRobinhood]

The perfect shot is not the one you can make , but rather the one you can't miss.

Perfectly said

 

[ART338WM]

I agree about 90% with Rifleman. Waiting for a better shot caused me a chance at the largest deer I have ever seen on the hoof as well as one of the largest I have ever had in range while bow hunting.

Bottom line I strongly doubt i will ever wait to shoot again once the animal is well with in my efective range. Now the exception would be if the deer or elk is coming towards me and the sight picture and shooting situation I have is perfect or almost perfect (no swerling winds, nice open shot, no other hunters to screw it up and so on) and there is no chanse what so ever some external force can impact the situation or in other words the deer or elk is simply walking calm as can be to wards me and is acting in a compleatly normal non presured or alerted state, I might allow him to get to say a 100yrds or less, but based on loosing chanses at two tremendous trophies in the past by waiting for a better shot, I kinda doubt I will hesitate again. The pain of those memories just never seems to fade compleatly.

 

[Barry]

If you are trophy hunting, I would take the first sure shot.

But often I target a doe to improve the buck to doe ratio. In that case, I wait for the deer to be located for the easier drag out. I will also wait on a shot to see if a bigger trophy might be following.

The biggest buck I ever saw in the woods was following about 300 yards behind a nice eight point. I happened to be bow hunting so neither animal was within my comfort range for a shot. But my point being, I never would have seen the giant if I had taken a shot at the eight.