Shot Placement and Distance

[Bigeclipse]

Hey Guys. I am wondering what shot placement on whitetail deer you would take at certain distances. Now I dont shoot over 500 yards yet so I dont really need info for that at the moment but under 500 yards using a 3006 with a 165 grainer, at which distances would you take harder quartering shots, broadside shoulder shots, broadside double lung shots, straight on (deer facing you) chest shot, neck shots etc? Obviously short range shots like 100 yards...id guess almost any shot would be fine except shooting up the deer's rear end haha but at what distances would you start only shooting say a broadside shot right behind the shoulder double lung (maybe heart)?
I aks because to date, my farthest shot on a deer has only been ~160 yards lol but target shooting I go a LOT further. The hunting trip I am going on this weekend may have shots up to 500 yards...I honestly (probably) wont shoot past 300 but who knows.

 

[jkupper]

I shoot partitions out of my 30-06. I like the high shoulder shot, or shooting them in the ribs. If I'm worried about the deer running off a ways in rough terrain I go shoulder. If it doesn't matter I shoot ribs. I have killed deer past 400 yards with my 06 with either shot.

I usually try to wait for the deer to get broadside when it is over 250 yards, so no frontal shots past there for me.

Maybe someone who shoots Bergers or some other frangible bullet out of their 06 can chime in on shoulder shots out to 500 yards. I would be interested to hear as well because I have started shooting the 168 gr VLD's in my 06 in addition to the partitions.

 

[Bigeclipse]

I shoot partitions out of my 30-06. I like the high shoulder shot, or shooting them in the ribs. If I'm worried about the deer running off a ways in rough terrain I go shoulder. If it doesn't matter I shoot ribs. I have killed deer past 400 yards with my 06 with either shot.

I usually try to wait for the deer to get broadside when it is over 250 yards, so no frontal shots past there for me.

Maybe someone who shoots Bergers or some other frangible bullet out of their 06 can chime in on shoulder shots out to 500 yards. I would be interested to hear as well because I have started shooting the 168 gr VLD's in my 06 in addition to the partitions.

At the moment I do not have a load worked up for my 3006 I am bringing on the trip but it is shooting .75MOA consistantly with factory remington core lokts 165 grain PSPs so this is the major reason to limit my shots to around 300 yards, but I will go for a 500 yard shot if I have lots of time with little to no wind. Sounds like playing it safe with a broadside just behind the shoulder rib shot is my best bet for now.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

30-06 has plenty of punch so that at 500 yards you should have some margin for error. I always try to wait for a broadside shot regardless of the range. But any double lung at any range is a good shot.

 

[Bigeclipse]

30-06 has plenty of punch so that at 500 yards you should have some margin for error. I always try to wait for a broadside shot regardless of the range. But any double lung at any range is a good shot.

I have shot quite a few deer, just not at long ranges. Ive noticed the double shoulder that drops them right there shot is becoming more popular but since this is a paid trip id rather be safe than sorry. Drawing blood is considered a kill and you pay for it regardless if you recover the deer so definitely dont mind tracking a deer. I was most curious about quartering towards shots where you will most likely hit the leading shoulder...if this is the only shot I have on the Buck of a life time then I will probably take it...just wanted to make sure the distances a 165 grain core lokt psp would be able to punch through.

 

[MMERSS]

Have you shot "that far" in practice at least a few times under field conditions? What were your results? Do your results indicate a good change of success during hunting season for the type of animal you're hunting?

The point of my discussion is to practice at the intended distances you will be hunting. First time "practice" on a big game animal may not turn out as you anticipate.

Go shoot 500 yards before the hunt. Hopefully you will be surprised just how well you can shoot.

 

[Bigeclipse]

Have you shot "that far" in practice at least a few times under field conditions? What were your results? Do your results indicate a good change of success during hunting season for the type of animal you're hunting?

The point of my discussion is to practice at the intended distances you will be hunting. First time "practice" on a big game animal may not turn out as you anticipate.

Go shoot 500 yards before the hunt. Hopefully you will be surprised just how well you can shoot.

I have practiced a lot at these distances, just never hunted a large game animal at anything greater than 160 yards. So I do have confidence in my shooting skills and rifle. That being said, I will be limiting myself to around 300 yards for now...again, unless the buck of a lifetime comes out at 400-500 yards and the conditions are perfect AND I am calm haha then I might go to those distances. Anyways, on a quartering towards shot...any worries with a 165 grain core lokt psp going through the leading shoulder with shots under 300 yards?

 

[jkupper]

I have practiced a lot at these distances, just never hunted a large game animal at anything greater than 160 yards. So I do have confidence in my shooting skills and rifle. That being said, I will be limiting myself to around 300 yards for now...again, unless the buck of a lifetime comes out at 400-500 yards and the conditions are perfect AND I am calm haha then I might go to those distances. Anyways, on a quartering towards shot...any worries with a 165 grain core lokt psp going through the leading shoulder with shots under 300 yards?

I wouldn't think you would not have any problems with that shot at that distance, so long as you hit where you want to.

I hope you have a great hunt!!!

 

[Bigeclipse]

I wouldn't think you would have any problems with that shot at that distance, so long as you hit where you want to.

I hope you have a great hunt!!!

thanks! It should be a great time! I will post up some pics if I am fortunate to get a buck!

 

[mtwarych]

Of all the various shot angles you will have a chance to see, try to remember where the heart, lungs and liver are. On some shot angles your target vitals will become very narrow and can be hard to hit under hunting situations. If you feel you have the time to wait on a better angle, then wait. If not, remember where the vitals are and put that 30-06 right where it needs to be. Good luck on your hunt and please post a story because I like to read about other hunters good luck. JW

 

[Bigeclipse]

Of all the various shot angles you will have a chance to see, try to remember where the heart, lungs and liver are. On some shot angles your target vitals will become very narrow and can be hard to hit under hunting situations. If you feel you have the time to wait on a better angle, then wait. If not, remember where the vitals are and put that 30-06 right where it needs to be. Good luck on your hunt and please post a story because I like to read about other hunters good luck. JW

I leave this sunday and will be hunting all next week. I will be sure and post up a story if I get a buck or something else amazing happens haha. Definitely excited.
On a side note got my first buck with a bow this year. Started bow hunting last season (which i got a doe). The Buck I got was 3 weeks ago. He was about 40 yards away but was blocked by a bunch of brush. He started walking away (in my head I was thinking...little early for them to come to a grunt but you never know) so i grunted. Sure enough, he turned right around and came 10 yards away from me. It took him FOREVER to come though. He was VERY cautious...sniffing and looking every few feet. Took him about 20 minutes to cover the 30 yards to my stand. Was an awesome feeling grunting him in.

 

[jkupper]

Nice!

I got my archery buck a couple of weeks ago. I need to post a story and some pics, but it was my best archery buck to date. 165 inch 5x5 mule deer, spot and stalk.

I go and set in a tree stand when I hunt with my uncle sometimes, and it amazes me how excited I get when a deer comes close. I got buck fever on a whitetail doe last year from a tree stand, lol. I haven't had that feeling for a long time. For some reason it only happens in a tree stand, which is about the only reason I like to hunt from one.

 

[Bigeclipse]

Nice!

I got my archery buck a couple of weeks ago. I need to post a story and some pics, but it was my best archery buck to date. 165 inch 5x5 mule deer, spot and stalk.

I go and set in a tree stand when I hunt with my uncle sometimes, and it amazes me how excited I get when a deer comes close. I got buck fever on a whitetail doe last year from a tree stand, lol. I haven't had that feeling for a long time. For some reason it only happens in a tree stand, which is about the only reason I like to hunt from one.

haha thats great. I get buck fever every time still but I have only been hunting 3 years now. Shooting alot longer than that though. I am good about calming myself down though before the shot. Honestly...I hope the feeling never goes away hahaha

 

[Greyfox]

Hunting whitetails, particularly an older buck in the rut in my view makes them a trickier target than other game.under field conditions at 500 yards. They move around a lot, not giving lots of time. Add wind, dusk or dawn, etc, at the longer ranges I prefer a broadside behind the shoulder mid height chest shot. At that range with a 308/30-06 I have had good success anywhere within 5" of that POA with a 165 SST or Ballistic Tip. For me it has proven give some margin for error and be a high percentage kill shot. At 500 yards where velocity drops to the 2000FPS range,these bullets expand well, penetrate, and apply their energy.