Bambi

[wotavidone]

Not sure where to put this one, so I decided to try the general chat area.
This question is for our North American members I suppose.
My area is experiencing an explosion in feral deer numbers. Apparently these were escapees from deer farms years ago. A country dwelling colleague reckons he sees them regularly on his drive home from work. I even saw a dead one on the side of the road yesterday, that had presumably been hit by a car.
These are relatively small animals, sort of white belly fur, with tannish fur on the back/upper body with white spots.
They haven't been shot at a lot, so they are currently relatively sedate, for deer. My country dwelling colleague is currently able to bag the odd one with a hunting bow.
I only believe in hunting animals that are either bad pests, or at least edible. You would never see me shooting or fishing for sport. I don't believe the ending of any life can be justified, unless there is a very pressing pest control need, or the killing of the animal results in other animals or people being able to eat and sustain life.
That being said, I'm currently hankering for venison, and don't see why I shouldn't cut out the middle man and catch it myself.
Various mates reckon that it can be done with a 0.22 long rifle. One advises a lung shot. I have my doubts so here, finally, is the question. Two questions really.
Should I try my luck with my trusty 0.22, do I stand a reasonable chance of a clean kill? Given the rifle calibre, is it better to try for a headshot or chest shot?
Regards,
Mick

[Les]

I wouldn't use a. 22. Maybe a clean shot into the eye would drop it but most likely it will run off and
die. I use a 3006 and aim for the neck.

[Jaronimo]

If you have good aim, a head shot with a 22 is quick.

I have seen a few shot in the neck. If you miss the major artery, that deer is just gonna run away where you cant find him and die a slow death. Shoot for the lungs, its better.

[wotavidone]

thanks guys. I did sorta suspect I was undergunned. I'd love to buy a new rifle, but you have to jump through a lot of hoops these days. There is a gun smith in town these days. I have a rifle with a worn barrel. I might just see if I can get it rechambered for .22 magnum., at least have half a chance.
Alternatively, I have a 0.410 shotgun that allegedly will take 0.44 solids. I shall consult the gunsmith on that one too. Smoothbore, though. It'd probably be pretty good for pigs up close in the scrub. As long as you nail that pig first shot. Nothing scarier in South Oz than an angry wild pig.

[C5dad]

You should use a .223 at a minimum as a poorly placed 22 mag shot will break a rib and not penetrate, not to mention that they are notoriously inaccurate after about 30 to 40 yards, IMHO. I personally hunt with a .308 which is a good all around rifle for everything except very large game (44 grain loads, 150 grain Nozzler boat tip partitions). On the other hand, babi will succumb to the 223 readily. Also, rounds are fairly inexpensive with those as many military use it as well.

[Les]

Originally Posted by Jaronimo

If you have good aim, a head shot with a 22 is quick.

I have seen a few shot in the neck. If you miss the major artery, that deer is just gonna run away where you cant find him and die a slow death. Shoot for the lungs, its better.

Interesting. Thats why I started going for the neck. I got tired of running after the bastards. The last two bagged were dead before I got to them. If you don't hit blood, you will hit a tendon or bone. They are pretty much down with a broken neck. I guess hunting is like building an oven - we all have our own approach.

[RTflorida]

Have not hunted since my teenage years (30+ yrs ago). Back then the state of Ohio over regulated white tail hunting, limiting hunters to primitive weapons and a 12 ga. with a slug barrel, no "high power" rifles as the state called anything else. Limit was 1 buck tag per weapon class (so the real top shots could get 2 deer per yr). Needless to say, by the time I moved away 15 yrs ago the population was exploding. A 12 ga. slug is effective, but you have to be close, over 75 yds and you would chase a wounded deer for miles, you might as well shoot for the sky.

RT

[brickie in oz]

In a long lost parallel universe, long before one nutter with a rifle spoilt it for all law abiding shooters in Australia and basically got all firearms banned, I used to hunt, mainly foxes and rabbits.

Anyway, I was out spotlighting one night with my BIL, me spotting, him shooting when he unloaded a whole 10 shots from a semi auto .22 into......"shit I think I just shot a cow".......

I went back next morning and cut off some of the most amazing Venison off this big buck that he had dropped.

So yes a .22 is effective.

[wotavidone]

limiting hunters to primitive weapons and a 12 ga. with a slug barrel

Is a slug barrel what I would call an "open choke"? i.e. no choke at all? or is it something to do with having better sights? Or a barrel designed to withstand the higher pressures I'm guessing would be present when using solid slugs?
Reckon I might be able to find a single shot Winchester in the gun cabinet that might fit the bill. I've never been well informed enough to use anything but standard ammo in any of my gats.

[wotavidone]

So I've had a closer look at my winchester. Its a cooey model 840 made in canada, and chambered for 3 inch rounds. Barrel is marked full choke. I'm guessing it might not be a good idea to use a solid slug in it. However, I've just been reading a wiki article that says buckshot is called buckshot because it was originally designed for deer hunting. I'm thinking 00 or 000 buckshot. Naturally the biggest I own are BB's. Any comments chaps?