shortest shot on a deer

[thirty06]

Have just voted on Grayghosts post for longest shot at a deer which goes to show that there are some fine riflemen/women out there.
I want to know how many good hunters are out there.

What is the closest range you have managed to stalk a deer to before you have popped the cap.

I have to gloat that the closest I have stalked to is approx 2 metres on a whitetail doe before she became camp meat but that was a bit of a fluke.

I usually try to keep them to under 100 with either the 260 or the 30-06, knowing that I can take them at a longer range if I need to.

Also do you guys have a season on big game. Here we can hunt big game all year round. The only season we have is on game birds and trout and salmon. Everything else is open as there is so much of everything we need to hunt them all year just to control numbers. Can't imagine having to wait to go get a deer to put on the BBQ

[gd357]

The closest deer I ever killed was probably only 10 yards away. I've let deer walk that were closer though... Had a young 8 point walk within 2 or 3 feet of the tree I was in a few years ago. Also stalked within 7 or 8 yards of a 7 point and passed on him. It's always a rush to have such wary animals that close and not have a clue that you're there.

gd357

[fabsroman]

Most bowhunters in my area will have had deer right underneath their tree. I once had 10 deer hanging around right underneath my tree. My heart was pounding and I wasn't sure I could move without them seeing me. I ended up killing the last doe in the bunch as they were moving out.

[Big joe]

I had a apx 30 yard shot at a VERY nice 4 point Mule Deer buck... and get this... did'nt take it because the bugger had his whole head and neck parked right behind a couple of pine tree branches. He ran across a backroad we were driving on . He was with a smaller 2 point buck that, of course, was in plain sight the entire time it took to jump out of my truck. I was 95% sure it was him but we had seen lots of does that morning even though these two bucks were alone running across the road. GRRR! I just sat there with the cross hairs if my 270 resting on his chest, and my finger on the trigger, waiting for him to move a little so I could identify him. I'm pretty sure he was watching me because after about 20-30 seconds of agony, He just bounded off, never giving me another opportunity for a shot. I did get a couple of fleeting glimpses of him as I followed him hoping for a shot and WOW!!! He was by far the biggest Mule Buck I've ever seen while hunting!!! It happened 4 years ago and it haunts me to this day... like I said... GRRRRRR!!!

[Classicvette63]

Killed my first buck at 10-15 FEET. Dummy walked out around a tree right to me. That also gave me proof that there is no such thing as "knockdown" power. A 180gr round nose Core-Lokt out of the '06 right into the neck just kinda tipped him over, but not all the way.

[M.T. Pockets]

My home area is a slug zone. It is a 2 day free for all. Most hunting is done from well placed stands. I like to be in position for about a 30-40 yard shot. Over the years I've shot several deer within 10 yards. I've had to get out of the way of running deer and had a buddy get run into by a doe one year while hunting in a cornfield. Lots of strange stories over the years about close calls with running deer.

Like Classic mentioned about knockdown power, I've seen 100 lb. deer take a 12 ga slug in the ribs at 10 yards and after the hair flies all over, the deer runs away like nothing happened. This is a round a lot of folks in Alaska use for bear protection. Amazing.

[Swift]

About 3 yds, 4 yrs ago.

[Dan Morris]

Roughly 15 feet...running...in another life, two of us were looking for other game.....in a dry creek bed, a small buck bust outta the brush....we both drew and fired several shots...lil bugger droped in about 50 yards. .357 Rem hollow points...a suprise to both of us!
Dan

[Lilred]

Mine was on a 4pter, who walked out from behind me right beside the tree I was sittin beside...well..in..it was a downed forked tree..I killed alot of deer from that stand. It was in an open oak woodlot w/ a creek and a mineral spring beside it..which them deer tore up. I had the 30/30 that day..he aint know what hit him. I've had deer live longer bein hit w/ the muzzleloader..lol
Killt a few deer right below my treestand..1 was a 6 pt right square below me..I paid fer that one dearly, the gun blew me right out the stand lol...what a show of excessive gooberism..

[gd357]

Lilred,

sounds like you need a seat belt and shoulder harness for your treestand. Hope you came thru all right.

gd357

[bigbrother]

3 yards was the closest I've shot with a bow.
About 10 yds with a muzzle loader.
About 15 yds with rifle.
About 40 yds with handgun.

[DocHunter]

Less than 6 feet from my muzzle with a TC Encore 209x50. Walked right under me.

[earschplitinloudenboomer]

'bout 3 feet with a bow. He was on one side of a tree, I was on the other, when he put his head down I whacked him in the ribs.
About 30 yards later the little generator light came on, an' I invited him over to my place fer dinner.

[8X56MS]

My very first deer was taken at almost point blank range with a single barrel Stevens 20 GA. I was about 7 then.

[Rocky Raab]

Maybe five feet. Straight down. Had to "flare" my feet apart to miss'em! Was able to aim at A hair. Never knew what hit him.