First off, as noted, this is not for deer hunting in Indiana. I spent the past weekend in Texas on a managed land hunt. Basically, in Texas, "managed lands" have quotas assigned to them by the wildlife department. We were there to take deer and hogs.
Now the scenario that I'd like input on.
After discussing the options with the owners, I settled on using an AR* with standard 55 grain rounds. That's what the rifle was zeroed with and the owners of the property had no reluctance. We've hunted there before, and frankly, hogs have been more plentiful than deer. (Specifically with regard to hogs, the owners don't care if hogs hurt before they die.)
In the course of this hunt, we (including the owners that hunted with us) took bucks and does (more than we EVER have in trips there) with .270 Win, .30-06, and my .223. Of those, my .223 was the only one that required a finishing shot.
On the shot, there were some gusting winds across the rather large field. The actual shot was at about 80 yds, from a 20' high stand. The deer was leisurely walking across the field, and straight across my shot angle/field of view. Completely broadside. But it didn't stop. Well, when it would pause, by the time I lined up the shot, it started walking again.
As it crossed directly across from me, I decided I would take a shot. No deer had been taken at this point against the quota, and we'd all talked about how they've had trouble getting to the quota in years past. I knew that, at that range, the flight time would be less than 1/10 of a second (using Strelok+).
I felt like I got a good shot off, but given my own abilities and the environmental factors, the first shot resulted in a spine hit. The deer fell immediately. It was still basically broadside to me, so I was able to finish it with a lung shot. It was not as clean as I would like it. Even with the finishing shot, the animal suffered several minutes while I waited for nightfall and walked out to it. (The other kills happened after mine, and there was a chance something else might've been flushed out to my area.)
The owners expressed no issue with how the shot transpired, or the result. The deer died. It is one less deer they have to hunt for the rest of the season. They have a rather binary measure of success. Don't get me wrong, they are very ethical and safe hunters, but they live on this land and care for the cattle on it. What is important to them is not necessarily the same thing that is important to a city slicker, couple-hunts a year hunter.
So, my own takeaways:
- I need to shoot better. (We can discuss this aspect, but it is what it is.)
- I need to make sure to take account of the environmental factors. (Same thing.)
- I have serious doubt about the .223 round I was using, and perhaps the .223 round generally.
I found this thread here:
https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/great-outdoors/321799-5-56-vs-whitetail-graphic-pics.html
But it is somewhat old. (BTW, I would not try a headshot on a deer. I accept that it is beyond my abilities.)
I'd really like input on the last issue - the .223 round generally, and specifically if there is a more effective hunting round.
So, what says INGO?
TIA.
*I also have a .308 that I've taken in the past, as well as a 7.62x39 that I took on a trip there years ago. Both are rather heavy compared to the AR, and we spend roughly have the time on these hunts stalking.
Now the scenario that I'd like input on.
After discussing the options with the owners, I settled on using an AR* with standard 55 grain rounds. That's what the rifle was zeroed with and the owners of the property had no reluctance. We've hunted there before, and frankly, hogs have been more plentiful than deer. (Specifically with regard to hogs, the owners don't care if hogs hurt before they die.)
In the course of this hunt, we (including the owners that hunted with us) took bucks and does (more than we EVER have in trips there) with .270 Win, .30-06, and my .223. Of those, my .223 was the only one that required a finishing shot.
On the shot, there were some gusting winds across the rather large field. The actual shot was at about 80 yds, from a 20' high stand. The deer was leisurely walking across the field, and straight across my shot angle/field of view. Completely broadside. But it didn't stop. Well, when it would pause, by the time I lined up the shot, it started walking again.
As it crossed directly across from me, I decided I would take a shot. No deer had been taken at this point against the quota, and we'd all talked about how they've had trouble getting to the quota in years past. I knew that, at that range, the flight time would be less than 1/10 of a second (using Strelok+).
I felt like I got a good shot off, but given my own abilities and the environmental factors, the first shot resulted in a spine hit. The deer fell immediately. It was still basically broadside to me, so I was able to finish it with a lung shot. It was not as clean as I would like it. Even with the finishing shot, the animal suffered several minutes while I waited for nightfall and walked out to it. (The other kills happened after mine, and there was a chance something else might've been flushed out to my area.)
The owners expressed no issue with how the shot transpired, or the result. The deer died. It is one less deer they have to hunt for the rest of the season. They have a rather binary measure of success. Don't get me wrong, they are very ethical and safe hunters, but they live on this land and care for the cattle on it. What is important to them is not necessarily the same thing that is important to a city slicker, couple-hunts a year hunter.
So, my own takeaways:
- I need to shoot better. (We can discuss this aspect, but it is what it is.)
- I need to make sure to take account of the environmental factors. (Same thing.)
- I have serious doubt about the .223 round I was using, and perhaps the .223 round generally.
I found this thread here:
https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/great-outdoors/321799-5-56-vs-whitetail-graphic-pics.html
But it is somewhat old. (BTW, I would not try a headshot on a deer. I accept that it is beyond my abilities.)
I'd really like input on the last issue - the .223 round generally, and specifically if there is a more effective hunting round.
So, what says INGO?
TIA.
*I also have a .308 that I've taken in the past, as well as a 7.62x39 that I took on a trip there years ago. Both are rather heavy compared to the AR, and we spend roughly have the time on these hunts stalking.