Shooting at buck on the run with a bow?

[Founder]

Question of the Day - Would you shoot at a buck on the run with a bow?

I'm guessing most who reply will say no. Who would admit they have done it or would do it?

How about I word it like this, does anyone know of anyone who has arrowed a buck as it was running? Have you ever heard of bucks wounded that way? What's your thoughts on it?

I was just watching a Youtube video and the dude let one rip at a bouncing buck and first thing I thought was, "that's got to be hard to hit one like that!". Seems more often than not a deer would just be wounded if hit at all. Maybe I'm wrong.

I don't mean to throw the dude under the bus here, but they posted the video on Youtube for all so I'll share it and you guys can see what I'm talking about. Go to the 8:20 mark to see the shot I'm talking about.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
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[4corners_sportsman]

Yes my uncle killed a buck as it was bouncing in a canyon. He ranged the buck at 35 yards and he pulled back and I think he said that he aimed for the brisket and he hit the buck in the vitals and killed it.

 

[fullthrottle]

No I would not shoot at a running deer with a bow. That being said I did shoot and recover a bull elk on the run at about 40 yards one year, lucky. I have since evolved as a hunter and would no longer let loose on a runner.

 

[rmanwill]

To be honest. Have I (yes). Young and easy to excite!!! Would I now, no way, no how. I found out long ago that it was hard enough hitting a standing deer in just the right spot, let alone a running deer that makes your arrow appear to curve.

 

[TheFever]

As you said Brian, most would disagree on the ethics of the shot. I also don't think the shot should be taken. I can't even at 10 yards the shot being a great idea. It could work out for some people, but so do 120 yard bombs.
I hope that I make all my ethical decisions right now, not in the field when I'm faced with temptation.

>>>---->
For the love of the game

 

[HiMtnHntr]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-16-16 AT 04:54PM (MST)[p]I've never taken a shot like that and I doubt very few of us would recommend it.

However, this brings to mind a hunting video I watched years ago that showed (I believe I have the name correct) Byron Ferguson, archery expert extrodinair, shoot a whitetail buck as it jumped a fence, in mid air.

While I'd never recommend it, I'll bet he could've hit it 10/10 times due to his skill level.

 

[Shadow]

Once. But I already had one through him and he came quartering past at 30 yards going like a banshee. Pinned both lungs. It was a long time ago but I'm still sticking to my story that it wasn't just luck.

 

[Ruby1]

My answer is the same as many here. NO, I would not take the shot shown in the video nor have I shot at an animal on the run. I think this question can easily raise more ethical questions. How about a walking deer? How about shooting at a deer without knowing the yardage? I think knowing your own personal skill level and what you feel is ethically right or wrong will ultimately sway your decision. I think these questions apply to what ever weapon you choose to hunt with. That being said, we all know how rare opportunities can be in the field. After days of living in a tent and eating dehydrated food our judgment can be clouded when an "opportunity" finally presents itself. Maybe sometimes it's the camera man that's along filming the hunt. The more pressure that one puts on himself or the hunt, the higher the chance of making a poor decision. I've made several poor judgment calls in the field. I have also learned from every one them.

 

[missalot]

Done it and would certainly do it again. It is a very simple issue. If you have the ability to hit a moving target, why not? And I mean having the ability to hit that target on a regular basis. It is not that difficult but does require a great deal of practice at moving targets. I have taken seven shots at moving/running animals, killed five, missed two cleanly. Of course this opens the door to a million "what ifs" but those exist EVERY time someone takes a shot. Would I advise someone else to do it? Only if they could do it on the practice range time after time after time.

 

[littlebighorn]

Ruby1 is dead on!
I am one that will admit to not only shooting at a walking deer but wounding him. (fortunately it was a non-lethal lower leg wound). But years earlier, I also, wounded a buck standing dead still on a hillside. (ethical shot but poor arrow placement)
I learned from both experiences that I am not a great archer and I should probably stick to really close archery shots.

All facets of our lives hold ethical grey areas. Hopefully age and experience help us temper our impulses with wisdom.

 

[fly4fish]

That was a horrible shot. "The wind is blowing hard," he said; all the more reason to take a running shot I guess. I can't figure out why they would make it part of the video. Why not just leave it out of the video as if it never happened and never speak of it or attempt it again. I certainly wouldn't want my brand on it if I was goHunt.

 

[chasewild]

I thought the exact same thing when I watched this flick a couple weeks ago. I couldn't believe it. Glad you posted.

 

[TOPGUN]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-19-16 AT 08:01PM (MST)[p]>That was a horrible shot. "The
>wind is blowing hard," he
>said; all the more reason
>to take a running shot
>I guess. I can't
>figure out why they would
>make it part of the
>video. Why not just leave
>it out of the video
>as if it never happened
>and never speak of it
>or attempt it again. I
>certainly wouldn't want my brand
>on it if I was
>goHunt.


Exactly! There are so many lousy hunting videos on youtube that it's absolutely sickening. Two that come to mind were done by the same crew. One was a bull elk the guy made a head shot on at 685 yards while it was broadside and labeled the video "Amazing Head Shot" when it should have been labeled "STUPID". The other video was showing his Dad hitting a bull high over the rump and drawing hair. The bull turns and runs straight away at over 600 yards and the guy takes another wack at it and the bull goes down with a bullet right between the ears! They get up to the bull and act like the guy was aiming for that spot when he had missed the bull's vitals by 4' while it was standing broadside! This is the kind of garbage that sure doesn't help us as a hunting community when hunters themselves do that stuff.

 

[scopenstalk]

shooting a running deer with a bow is extremely irresponsible.

 

[Silentstalker]

I have shot at two moving animals. Killed both. Both were years ago. Have not done it since.

Devils advocate though, where do you draw the line? Is it okay to take a 500 yard rifle shot? 1000 yards? Walking, running? I could tell you stories about what I have witnessed. Wounded bulls not even pursued because " pretty sure I missed" and bulls flopping around for quite a while before the hunter could get close enough to finish it off. It sickens me.

Bottom line, its not really a weapon choice issue as much as an ethicsl shot issue. Anything can happen on even the very best broadside shot. We owe it to the animals we shoot at to take shots we have the least amount of likelihood of a poor hit. Those shots are defined on a personal level.

 

[Roy]

What about shooting a running buffalo with a wooden bow and arrow off the back of a running horse?

Maybe that is just Hollywood though.

HOOK 'EM!
_______________________________________

Since I am frequently asked about my religion on this site and others, I have created a profile that explains my beliefs. If you are interested in finding out more about my faith, please visit the link below:

http://mormon.org/me/6RNQ/

 

[CAelknuts]

Not a deer, but when I had my Monroe archery elk tag (some will remember the thread I wrote throughout that hunt) in 2008; I had an opportunity to shoot a bull I thought would score 365 or so. He was running by me at a tad over 20 yards, quartering away.

I let down and watched him disappear, never to be seen again. I could have shot, but the chance of wounding him was too great so I just let him go.

 

[scopenstalk]

>What about shooting a running buffalo
>with a wooden bow and
>arrow off the back of
>a running horse?
>
>Maybe that is just Hollywood though.
>
>
>HOOK 'EM!
>_______________________________________
>
>Since I am frequently asked about
>my religion on this site
>and others, I have created
>a profile that explains my
>beliefs. If you are interested
>in finding out more about
>my faith, please visit the
>link below:
>
>http://mormon.org/me/6RNQ/

I think its a little different when killing the animal is the difference between starving to death or living....Usually that isnt the case nowadays haha

 

[antlerrick]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-22-16 AT 10:39AM (MST)[p]I shot an antelope with my bow running full tilt. As I was stalking him, he took off thru this cut in the trees, chasing another buck off, and there was one big quakie in the middle of the cut, so I got up to that tree and waited, knowing he would be coming back for his does. The top of the hill where he ran rolled over about 40 yards from the tree, so I couldn't see him coming until he was right there. When he came, he was really trucking, and I shot him as he ran right by the tree, and probably 3-4 feet. My arrow zipped thru his lungs, and was stuck in the ground about 8 feet from where I was standing. I can still remember seeing the hair that was cut by the broadhead, sifting down to the ground right by my feet. It was one of those times you never had a chance to think about what to do, just instincts took over. He ran out about 150 yards, and turned and looked back at me, and toppled over. It was pretty crazy...

 

[pookiebar]

And you're talking about someone who has done it since they were a kid. I think if you trained at it then you could get proficient at hitting things on the run. Look at Fred Bear or Howard Hill.

But, would I ever try it. Heck no.

 

[chasewild]

First, bragging about bagging an antelope at full tilt is just real special. Jesus.

Second, using Fred Bear as the model of ethical shots is nearly as special. The guy regularly took 60-80 yard shots with a stick bow (see his stone sheep hunt in "The Adventures of Fred Bear"). I'm not saying he isn't influential, or a god father, but he surely isn't what we call the pillar of shot ethics.

 

[Gator]

Watched video of a guy shooting small items(dimes/aspirin out the air,so it can be done if you train to do it.
I have a hard enough time just shooting ballon's on a string that are moving a foot or 2 in the wind.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

 

[antlerrick]

Apparently sharing an experience is taken as bragging in your eyes Chasewild.
Sorry to ruin your day....
But sharing experiences is what this site used to be about... Guess we need to see what all the others think...