Going to Alberta this weekend for a whitetail hunt. Curious as to the dimensions of one of these large northern deer (brisket - back). Will help determine hold over for any potential long shots.

Thanks,
EZ

It varies widely. Why not just get a ballistic reticle or hunting turret scope and take the guess work out? I suspect you paid a good dollar for the hunt....why take a chance shooting at air?

You know it is really beyond 400 yds. Very unlikely to take a shot that far unless it is a monster and the wind is still.
I have a 3X18X44 Leupold VX6 on a 300 ultra mag that I am pushing 200 Nosler AB's at +3200 FPS (Chrono).
200 yds +1"
300 yds -5"
400 yds -13"
500 yds -28"

The load will shoot clovers at 100 yds if I do my job.
At 400 yds I can put the cross hairs on the spine.
Really just curious beyond that range.
I do have bullet compensation knob on my back up rifle.
I really like things as simple as possible and shooting one of the flattest commercial cartridges out there takes some guess work out of the equation and less to think about.
Just my take.

EZ

Ballistic reticles and hunting turrets take all the guesswork out of the equation. It will really depend on the outfitters hunting style. Many hunt from blinds and shots are sub 100 yards. Others hunt the more open country. I suspect you'll be shooting under 300 yards regardless.

Even with a good spotting scope, how do you accurately judge a whitetail at those distances (400 to 500 yds.)?? I doubt you are going there to meat hunt??

When you see a big one you know it!

That's true

quote:

Originally posted by eezridr:
You know it is really beyond 400 yds. Very unlikely to take a shot that far unless it is a monster and the wind is still.
I have a 3X18X44 Leupold VX6 on a 300 ultra mag that I am pushing 200 Nosler AB's at +3200 FPS (Chrono).
200 yds +1"
300 yds -5"
400 yds -13"
500 yds -28"

The load will shoot clovers at 100 yds if I do my job.
At 400 yds I can put the cross hairs on the spine.
Really just curious beyond that range.
I do have bullet compensation knob on my back up rifle.
I really like things as simple as possible and shooting one of the flattest commercial cartridges out there takes some guess work out of the equation and less to think about.
Just my take.

EZ

Why not just stay home and take the shot from there , save on traveling costs.

Grizz

North Dakota deer get big two years ago I shot one that went 232 lbs field dressed and weight at the local big buck contest. Alberta deer are about the same size as the deer we have here in the Dakota's.

eezrider---Dimensions on A Canadian deer wouldn't do you any good--they are metric, your Texas scope is not. It wouldn't be compatible.

All right guys. I received a suggestion that I look at 20-22" (mature buck) or about 50 CM's.
Hypothetically I can figure the hold over beyond 400 yds. I would hope for a shorter shot..
Thanks for your support.

EZ

Not many really good whitetail areas that will provide 400 yd shots, and if the only reason you might consider a shot of that distance is because "it's a monster", seems to me to be the very reason not to take the shot and run the risk of wounding and wasting such an majestic trophy?? I would use any means possible to get closer, or move closer for the next day...But that's just me?? Each his own....

That was the point I was trying to make originally as well....the only thing that should dictate how far you shoot is your gear/skill level....not the size of the antlers. I've seen too many bloody animals run away never to be found because they had too big of antlers/horns not to shoot! If you wouldn't shoot at a spike at that range you shouldn't shoot at a 180 either.

Sheephunterab,

Well said......

quote:

Originally posted by stevet50:
Not many really good whitetail areas that will provide 400 yd shots, and if the only reason you might consider a shot of that distance is because "it's a monster", seems to me to be the very reason not to take the shot and run the risk of wounding and wasting such an majestic trophy?? I would use any means possible to get closer, or move closer for the next day...But that's just me?? Each his own....

I don't see anywhere, where the o.p. mentioned the size of the deer would detemine the length of his shot. All he is asking for is dimensions of Alberta's deer.

quote:

Originally posted by sheephunterab:
That was the point I was trying to make originally as well....the only thing that should dictate how far you shoot is your gear/skill level....not the size of the antlers. I've seen too many bloody animals run away never to be found because they had too big of antlers/horns not to shoot! If you wouldn't shoot at a spike at that range you shouldn't shoot at a 180 either.

Your original post was about ballistic reticles, had nothing to with shot selection or size of deer.

quote:

Originally posted by eezridr:
Going to Alberta this weekend for a whitetail hunt. Curious as to the dimensions of one of these large northern deer (brisket - back). Will help determine hold over for any potential long shots.

Thanks,
EZ

Looks like you have the info you were asking for. Hopefully your bullet found a good resting place.

Get close

With a mil or moa ranging reticle, knowing a demension takes the guess work out. Just a good old fashion mil dot reticle and a mil dot master . Or you can do the calculations. Account for the density altitude, the correct muzzle velocity. Dial your elevation and either dial the windage or hold for windage. And , send it. Much better than ballistic compensated reticles. All you need to be sure of , other than your shooting skill and rifles accuracy, is that your scope tracks exactly.
Knowing that one measurement is all thats needed with the correct reticle and optic.

quote:

Originally posted by Cold Trigger Finger:
With a mil or moa ranging reticle, knowing a demension takes the guess work out. Just a good old fashion mil dot reticle and a mil dot master . Or you can do the calculations. Account for the density altitude, the correct muzzle velocity. Dial your elevation and either dial the windage or hold for windage. And , send it. Much better than ballistic compensated reticles. All you need to be sure of , other than your shooting skill and rifles accuracy, is that your scope tracks exactly.
Knowing that one measurement is all thats needed with the correct reticle and optic.

How is doing all that better than laser ranging a deer at 400 yards and placing the crosshair marked #4 on him and killing him dead in his tracks????? No fuss, no muss, no guesswork. All extremely precise and simple. MIL Dot reticles definitely had their place but the technology has long been surpassed.

The ready availability of laser rangefinders makes other ranging methods obsolete. You don't have to bracket and guess. Regards, Bill.

quote:

Originally posted by Cold Trigger Finger:
With a mil or moa ranging reticle, knowing a demension takes the guess work out. Just a good old fashion mil dot reticle and a mil dot master . Or you can do the calculations. Account for the density altitude, the correct muzzle velocity. Dial your elevation and either dial the windage or hold for windage. And , send it. Much better than ballistic compensated reticles. All you need to be sure of , other than your shooting skill and rifles accuracy, is that your scope tracks exactly.
Knowing that one measurement is all thats needed with the correct reticle and optic.

Nope the trouble with any reticle for measuring distance is that target size varies.

They were better then nothing in their time.

I used them all.

Now I use a laser it is much faster easier and more accurate.

I just use the extra dots or cross hairs for the proper elevation and or wind age

A center body hold is good to 300 yards, a top of back hold is good to 400 yards with a rifle stighted in 3" high at 100 yards, that would be 4"s high at 200 and center at 275, 3 inches low at 300 and about 15 inches low at 400, depending on caliber and one needs to check that out by shooting at those ranges...Ive gotten some disagreement on this method, but its worked like a charm for me over the last 60 years..It was the Jack O'Connor method, and many still use it...to each his own but I won't ever change that method...Its only problem is lots of folks cannot judge long range, but ranch kids raised on big wide open spaces are good judges of long range..and those raised in the brush usually have a hard time in the mountains, but all they need is a range finder that's good to 600 yards, and don't shoot beyond your capabilities, and you will know that by practice. I guess that's learning to shoot. I seldom shoot beyond 300 yards on deer and 400 yards on elk, depending on circumstances. I always get as close as cover will let me.but that's hard to do in the desert SW of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Also in the desert of Mexico..

Well, Eezrider .. did you get your buck and what kind of yardage ???