Shooting Game on the move

[KillerFord1977]

Good read pertaining to Hogs on the run and methodology to shooting them on the move.
Can pertain to any other animal like coyotes, etc ..
Insight to leading the target, speed, distance

Shooting Moving Targets - JAGER PRO Store

Interested in learning the most effective methods for shooting moving targets? Read this article to learn the best tactics.

jagerpro.com

 

[Recusant]

Yep, there's nothing like shooting at a deer that's running down the side of a ridge hitting the ground about once every 10 feet! Factor in keeping the deer in your scope plus trying to shoot between trees can be very challenging to say the least. Instead of shooting at the deer, sometimes you'll do just as well by throwing several of your extra shells at it as it goes by. At least that way you can retrieve those bullets and maybe get to use in your rifle at another time.

 

[KillerFord1977]

Yep, there's nothing like shooting at a deer that's running down the side of a ridge hitting the ground about once every 10 feet! Factor in keeping the deer in your scope plus trying to shoot between trees can be very challenging to say the least. Instead of shooting at the deer, sometimes you'll do just as well by throwing several of your extra shells at it as it goes by. At least that way you can retrieve those bullets and maybe get to use in your rifle at another time.

Agreed, have to know time and place to take a shot or not, but its a little different for hogs, coyotes, etc …

 

[KI4WTF]

Nothing more fun than a nice Buck snapping a twig at your 3:00 while he's doing Mach2 with his tail on fire......

 

[Bassbob]

Yep, there's nothing like shooting at a deer that's running down the side of a ridge hitting the ground about once every 10 feet! Factor in keeping the deer in your scope plus trying to shoot between trees can be very challenging to say the least. Instead of shooting at the deer, sometimes you'll do just as well by throwing several of your extra shells at it as it goes by. At least that way you can retrieve those bullets and maybe get to use in your rifle at another time.

Most of the people I know think it's pretty unethical to shoot at running deer. I think a nuisance animal like these bastard hogs most people feel different about. Especially since you're likely hunting them with 30 round magazines. I'm not sure how I feel about it ( hogs). Suffering is suffering. We got coyotes showing up here closer and closer. I am out in the sticks, but I live on a street with about 40 houses on it. We've never really had coyotes showing up in people's yards. At least not in the 22 years I've been here. On principle I don't kill coyotes unless I have a good reason. I'm hoping I don't have a good reason anytime soon. On the other hand a guy I know went down to Hayti last weekend with his boy to hunt coyotes. On Saturday he killed ten of them. He also went to Canada last year to bear hunt. I think he just likes to kill shite.

 

[Keystone19250]

Most of the people I know think it's pretty unethical to shoot at running deer. I think a nuisance animal like these bastard hogs most people feel different about. Especially since you're likely hunting them with 30 round magazines. I'm not sure how I feel about it ( hogs). Suffering is suffering. We got coyotes showing up here closer and closer. I am out in the sticks, but I live on a street with about 40 houses on it. We've never really had coyotes showing up in people's yards. At least not in the 22 years I've been here. On principle I don't kill coyotes unless I have a good reason. I'm hoping I don't have a good reason anytime soon. On the other hand a guy I know went down to Hayti last weekend with his boy to hunt coyotes. On Saturday he killed ten of them. He also went to Canada last year to bear hunt. I think he just likes to kill shite.

Shooting something just to kill it is beyond reprehensible.
It’s no secret I’m not a hunter however I have no issues with hunting done responsibly. I remember while living in Texas I was constantly asked if I wanted to go hunting even though those asking knew I didn’t hunt. The sad part is there idea of hunting was to pay to be in a metal box and shoot dear that were bated to an area to be easily shot.
That to me is not hunting.

 

[Bassbob]

Shooting something just to kill it is beyond reprehensible.
It’s no secret I’m not a hunter however I have no issues with hunting done responsibly. I remember while living in Texas I was constantly asked if I wanted to go hunting even though those asking knew I didn’t hunt. The sad part is there idea of hunting was to pay to be in a metal box and shoot dear that were bated to an area to be easily shot.
That to me is not hunting.

I agree 100%. It’s why I quit hunting deer with a rifle a long time ago. Shooting a deer with a scoped rifle 100 yards out isn’t hunting. It’s killing. I understand the need to control wildlife populations and I have no issues with legal hunting as prescribed by wildlife biologists, but that doesn’t mean I have to do it. My personal rule for myself is if I don’t eat it or it’s not doing harm to me or my property I’m not going to kill it. I don’t tell others what to do or berate people that hunt animals that really aren’t food, but killing animals just for sport or the thrill of it certainly lowers my opinion of a person.

 

[Keystone19250]

I agree 100%. It’s why I quit hunting deer with a rifle a long time ago. Shooting a deer with a scoped rifle 100 yards out isn’t hunting. It’s killing. I understand the need to control wildlife populations and I have no issues with legal hunting as prescribed by wildlife biologists, but that doesn’t mean I have to do it. My personal rule for myself is if I don’t eat it or it’s not doing harm to me or my property I’m not going to kill it. I don’t tell others what to do or berate people that hunt animals that really aren’t food, but killing animals just for sport or the thrill of it certainly lowers my opinion of a person.

Everything you said totally agree.

The only caveat to that is this.
Hunting to me is being on the ground and stalking the animal you intend on killing, then if you kill it it’s eaten.

 

[KillerFord1977]

Shooting something just to kill it is beyond reprehensible.
It’s no secret I’m not a hunter however I have no issues with hunting done responsibly. I remember while living in Texas I was constantly asked if I wanted to go hunting even though those asking knew I didn’t hunt. The sad part is there idea of hunting was to pay to be in a metal box and shoot dear that were bated to an area to be easily shot.
That to me is not hunting.

Texas is a little different in that almost all the land is private. The public owned land requires a state public hunt permit and the GW/State discourages folks from just “stalking” deer. For safety with other folks out and about. Most just try to scout and find a game trail and lean against a tree in public domain, since structures are not allowed.
Most deer leases have many members, so land owner and other members dont want you just stalking around everyone else.
Private land, do it all you want, but unless you have lots of land stalking deer or other “non blind” methods would be tough. Particularly in the flatter, open territory west.

As for hogs, you have to shoot them on the run. 30+ hogs, one shot at those standing before they all scatter, it will take a long time to cull them out.Females can have up to 3 litters a year with up avg around 8-10 piglets. If you shoot 1-2 at a time standing still, you can do the math.
As for trapping hogs, now you have say 10 hogs in a trap. Kill one, other 9 goes ballistic. You get the idea.

I have seen a 400 acre crop field about 50% destroyed by a large group of hogs. Happens across the state. Thats lots of lost crops for statewide farmers. Have to shoot them on the run.

Oh, and hogs dig holes, like 2 foot x 1 foot deep on avg “rooting” for their grub, so its not just eaten crops. Its now a rutted mess that messes up livestock and farm equipment. Think of driving down a perpetual pot hole road.

This pic is prob 10 hogs worth of rooting around. In a night.

 

[Keystone19250]

Texas is a little different in that almost all the land is private. The public owned land requires a state public hunt permit and the GW/State discourages folks from just “stalking” deer. For safety with other folks out and about. Most just try to scout and find a game trail and lean against a tree in public domain, since structures are not allowed.
Most deer leases have many members, so land owner and other members dont want you just stalking around everyone else.
Private land, do it all you want, but unless you have lots of land stalking deer or other “non blind” methods would be tough. Particularly in the flatter, open territory west.

As for hogs, you have to shoot them on the run. 30+ hogs, one shot at those standing before they all scatter, it will take a long time to cull them out.Females can have up to 3 litters a year with up avg around 8-10 piglets. If you shoot 1-2 at a time standing still, you can do the math.
As for trapping hogs, now you have say 10 hogs in a trap. Kill one, other 9 goes ballistic. You get the idea.

I have seen a 400 acre crop field about 50% destroyed by a large group of hogs. Happens across the state. Thats lots of lost crops for statewide farmers. Have to shoot them on the run.

Oh, and hogs dig holes, like 2 foot x 1 foot deep on avg “rooting” for their grub, so its not just eaten crops. Its now a rutted mess that messes up livestock and farm equipment. Think of driving down a perpetual pot hole road.

This pic is prob 10 hogs worth of rooting around. In a night.

View attachment 24705

Trust me all that I said about hunting had nothing to do with hogs, I remember while living in Texas that when I went out to shoot at a privately owned piece of land owned by someone I worked with I was constantly reminded about the possibility of running into hogs and although I never did I always carried my XDM 45ACP on my hip regardless of the gun I was shooting and I never walked out into the open land wether I was alone or with other people from work.

 

[KillerFord1977]

Trust me all that I said about hunting had nothing to do with hogs, I remember while living in Texas that when I went out to shoot at a privately owned piece of land owned by someone I worked with I was constantly reminded about the possibility of running into hogs and although I never did I always carried my XDM 45ACP on my hip regardless of the gun I was shooting and I never walked out into the open land wether I was alone or with other people from work.
View attachment 24706

I was referring to the fact on hunting methods. Most Texas landowners prefer the blind situation. They know where you are on their land. kinda what we are stuck with.

 

[javbike]

I agree 100%. It’s why I quit hunting deer with a rifle a long time ago. Shooting a deer with a scoped rifle 100 yards out isn’t hunting. It’s killing. I understand the need to control wildlife populations and I have no issues with legal hunting as prescribed by wildlife biologists, but that doesn’t mean I have to do it. My personal rule for myself is if I don’t eat it or it’s not doing harm to me or my property I’m not going to kill it. I don’t tell others what to do or berate people that hunt animals that really aren’t food, but killing animals just for sport or the thrill of it certainly lowers my opinion of a person.

Well said bass bob I totally agree

 

[KI4WTF]

Yep, there's nothing like shooting at a deer that's running down the side of a ridge hitting the ground about once every 10 feet! Factor in keeping the deer in your scope plus trying to shoot between trees can be very challenging to say the least. Instead of shooting at the deer, sometimes you'll do just as well by throwing several of your extra shells at it as it goes by. At least that way you can retrieve those bullets and maybe get to use in your rifle at another time.

You just described my Casino strategy, Except I throw a couple 20's out the window while I'm driving past it. Same odds at making a hit.

 

[BreakingWind]

Most of the people I know think it's pretty unethical to shoot at running deer. I think a nuisance animal like these bastard hogs most people feel different about. Especially since you're likely hunting them with 30 round magazines. I'm not sure how I feel about it ( hogs). Suffering is suffering. We got coyotes showing up here closer and closer. I am out in the sticks, but I live on a street with about 40 houses on it. We've never really had coyotes showing up in people's yards. At least not in the 22 years I've been here. On principle I don't kill coyotes unless I have a good reason. I'm hoping I don't have a good reason anytime soon. On the other hand a guy I know went down to Hayti last weekend with his boy to hunt coyotes. On Saturday he killed ten of them. He also went to Canada last year to bear hunt. I think he just likes to kill shite.

Back in the mid 70's when I was a teen they had a coydog (a hybrid of coyote and domestic dog) problem in the rural areas of upstate NY. On top of the threat to local farm stock they had also found packs infected with rabies. The state put a $50 bounty on them and they were relatively easy to hunt. On top of that, some of local farmers would pay you a small bounty of $5-$10 bucks per dog if they were packing near their cattle. You had to take them to Albany NY which was about 300 miles away to turn them in and collect the bounty so we used to hunt them until we had 10 or more and then take them down and turn them in. The parents of one of the kids we hunted with owned a bar and we used to store them in the beer cooler while waiting. His mom hated it but his dad allow it, so we went for it. We also did a couple of wolf hunts on the wolves coming across the ice from wolf island. They were also bountied and we would take them and bury them in a snow bank behind the bar until it was ready to transport them. putting 2-3 hundred bucks in your pocket at a time when your take home pay from a 40 hour minimum wage job was less then a hundred bucks was a boom for us.

 

[Wessely]

You just described my Casino strategy, Except I throw a couple 20's out the window while I'm driving past it. Speaking of casinos, in my spare time from hunting, I like to have fun on a website with a large collection of online games. Same odds at making a hit.

You're right, his hunting was quite fun) He relies more on luck than skill.