The Accurate Reloading Forums
Shooting Moving Game
Shooting Moving Game
Here in the UK you wait for them to stop unless you've previously wounded them. Most deer here will stop to a low whistle unless you've spooked them. We don't tend to drive deer but in case I ever get to Scandinavia,
Will a moving unspooked moose stop to whistle
How do you best shoot a moving deer/boar?
I'm presuming a low power (say1.5-6power) scope mounted rifle.
What method is best? Maintained lead, swinging through or snap? What power should scope be on?
24 May 2001, 00:22
<JOHAN>1894
To shoot on moving game you have to practise a lot. In Sweden there are shooting ranges that have a running moose target. I suggest that you give it a try when you come here.
I prefer to swing and follow through the game when i'm shoot at running game.
If you ask 50 hunters you will get 50 ansvers on which metod is the correct, pick the one that you feel secure with.
Sweden is a very strange country to many britts and yankees since we shoot roe deer with shotguns loaded with us.5-1 pellet size. This can be done if range is not more than 30 meters and the choke gives a good pattern of pellets. Personally i prefer to hunt roe deer with rifle, shotguns for small game and birds.
GOOD LUCK
24 May 2001, 07:47
Robert D. LyonsI prefer the deer to be standing still when I shoot them, but I have shot one deer that was running full out and another that was slowly running. The closest one was about 100 yards away, in the woods and was shot from the standing position, the farthest one was about 200 yards away and was crossing a open area. I shot it from the kneeling position. Both were nice broadside shots. I put the crosshair where I wanted the bullet to hit and kept it there until the rifle went off. It only takes the rifle bullet a milli-second to get to where it is going, so I didn't lead any. If I have to use a long lead, then I figure it is too far away.
1894.
Yes a unspooked moose useally stops to a low whistle, snapping a twig or similar. A moose is quite easy to call and a contact call is a prooven way to stop a moose.
Most rifles here used for moose hunting have a low power scope like you suspect. I use a 1,5-5 and like it a lot. A moose is a big kritter and not all that hard to hit if it moves. I would personally not shoot at a running moose at more than about 100 m. A running moose lookes like it�s "floating" along and it�s not all that hard to follow it in the scope.
Stefan.
24 May 2001, 11:03
p dog shooterShooting at running game comes with practise. Here in the states hunting rabbits is a great way to get use to hitting running game. If you can hit the bunny bouncing around the woods, deer and every thing else is easy. I to prefer my game standing still put when it come running out and it will not stop. It is time to see you has it and who dosen't.
I think that the thicker the cover you hunt in the more practice you get at running deer. If you use the same technique as shooting a shotgun at a moving object it applies to the rifle as well. Also the rifle must fit well and come up smoothly and quickly. We hunt very thick swamp areas and I always put my scope on the lowest power walking to and from the stand. Another thing that works well for me is to shoot with both eyes open and you can follow the deer easier. I got a lot of practice when I was growing up hunting deer with dogs so most of the shots were running.
Ralph
A few years back, I took a white tail deer with a Ruger Super Redhawk, no scope. The animal was bounding through a marsh about 35 yards from me. I missed on the first shot, got it on the second. High hit through both front shoulders. I learned a long time ago from an old water fowl hunter, that if you miss moving game on the first shot, you aren't leading it enough. Worked for me.
Originally posted by 1894:
1) Will a moving unspooked moose stop to whistle2) How do you best shoot a moving deer/boar?
3) What method is best? Maintained lead, swinging through or snap?
4) What power should scope be on?
1) Yup, usually. They're kinda curious animals and have great hearing.
2) Preferrably by getting it to stop first, but otherwise see below.
3) IMO, maintained lead. As Stefan mentioned, moose don't bounce around like smaller animals and following them is not hard at all.
4) Whatever you can handle. I'd guess most have their variables at the bottom of the range, 1.5-4X, and that works great with a big enough reticle. I tried 12X at a range of about 40 meters (unintentional, I had been fiddling with the scope), I saw a helluva lotta moose in the scope at that time but it would've worked. On the moose range (practise, that is) I tend to leave it at 8-9X for score, but I always shoot some series with the scope at my hunting setting to get the hang of that too...
-- Mats
27 May 2001, 13:31
AtkinsonThe only circumstance that I will shoot at a running deer is when he isn't standing....I take'm as they come...and use enough gun to get the job done. I modify my hunting method with smaller calibers, to whatever degree that it is required...
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Ray Atkinson
ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com
28 May 2001, 12:12
Yukoner[QUOTE]Originally posted by Atkinson:
[B]The only circumstance that I will shoot at a running deer is when he isn't standing....
Ray, In my book, that is absolutely the only circumstance that I would shoot at running deer as well. 
Daryl
28 May 2001, 16:47
Robert D. LyonsWill a moving unspooked moose stop to whistle? I know what 1894 meant, but I get a kick out of this sentence every time I read it. Would any of you that hunt moose care to comment?
28 May 2001, 19:09
<Slamfire>What method of lead do you use when shotgunning. I think it is a mistake to change your natural rythum when shooting a rifle. I use the fast swing in both. With the scope it is easy to keep the elevation constant. I don't know how far ahead of the animal the verticle cross hair is when the gun goes off, I just shoot at a lot of moving targets. The lower powered scopes work well in heavy cover. I use a 2X7 variable but have yet to use the 7 setting.
29 May 2001, 06:25
AtkinsonIf I heard a moose stop to whistle, I wait until he finished and demand an encore....
On running shots, I never really gave it much thought how I do it, I just poke it out in front of them and jerk the trigger as a rule, but since I have perfected the controlled flinch it always works....
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Ray Atkinson
ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com
29 May 2001, 07:05
<R. A. Berry>Now you guys got me laughing. The first time I read it I just assumed 1894 typo'ed, and I was too dull witted to think of a moose taking a break to whistle "Dixie" or maybe "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Bullwinkle was quite a musician.
ROTFLMAO.
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Good huntin' and shootin',
RAB
29 May 2001, 07:43
<Slamfire>Every one who has heard moose whistle, knows they prefer the "Col. Bogey March".
And I thought it was only the British that had a sense of humour!