lets talk stats

[Barry D]

I figured I'd share my hunting stats over the last forty six years for the benefit of some hunters that are just getting into the game and have many questions about all species and what gun and calibre they should shoot. This is just my personal stats that reflect my hunting technique, so please take that into account.

WHITETAIL DEER, total 62 (29 were bucks)
longest shot- 346 yards
shortest shot- 9 yards
only two @ 300 yards or more
Average -135 yards

MULE DEER, total 29 (26 were bucks)
longest shot- 420 yards
shortest shot- 6 yards
only four @ 300 yards or more
Average -154 yards

ELK, total 8 (7 were bulls)
longest shot- 410 yards
shortest shot- 50 yards
only two @ 300 yards or more
Average -166 yards

MOOSE, total 9 (all bulls)
longest shot- 341 yards
shortest shot- 80 yards
only one @ 300 yards or more
Average -183 yards

ANTELOPE, total 4 (3 were bucks)
longest shot- 330 yards
shortest shot- 75 yards
only one @ 300 yards or more
Average 178 yards

WOLF, total 5
longest shot- 284 yards
shortest shot- 95 yards
zero @ 300 yards or more
Average 142 yards

SHEEP, total of one Ram
340 yards

BEAR, total of one boar
2 yards, Yes there's a story on this one for another day.

The point I would like to make is that, most kills happen at relatively short distances. It is much better to focus on being a good hunter and adapting our hunting strategy to each species that you hunt, rather than thinking you need better equipment, etc. Second, just focus on being a really good shot and stay within your acurate distance. I have wounded eight animals out of my 119 kills. I hated every one of them, but still my success rate was better than most because I focused on only ethical shots, and stayed within my limits.

FYI, I started with a British 303 and ended with a 7mm for my weapon.

[stob]

Cheers 2u ... I have not kept Stats but with my memory I believe I mirror yours give or take...most under 200yds...only 2 over 300 yds...although I am practiced to 500yds, I do not search out those shots nor take them...I believe I can close the distance ... I.often fail as.i.am not as sneaky as I think I am or used 2b...lol

[Bushleague]

I dont have detailed stats but I'd guess my average shot distance is about 40 yards. I've killed a few animals at 250-300 yards, but I've killed far more at 15-20.

Like the OP, this is mostly a reflection of the species, areas, and methods I focus on... but IMO learning to quickly put a freehand shot into the front half of a deer at 100 yards will put more meat in the freezer than shooting golf ball sized groups off a rest at 300.

[HL_transplant]

Originally Posted by Barry D

I figured I'd share my hunting stats over the last forty six years for the benefit of some hunters that are just getting into the game and have many questions about all species and what gun and calibre they should shoot. This is just my personal stats that reflect my hunting technique, so please take that into account.

WHITETAIL DEER, total 62 (29 were bucks)
longest shot- 346 yards
shortest shot- 9 yards
only two @ 300 yards or more
Average -135 yards

MULE DEER, total 29 (26 were bucks)
longest shot- 420 yards
shortest shot- 6 yards
only four @ 300 yards or more
Average -154 yards

ELK, total 8 (7 were bulls)
longest shot- 410 yards
shortest shot- 50 yards
only two @ 300 yards or more
Average -166 yards

MOOSE, total 9 (all bulls)
longest shot- 341 yards
shortest shot- 80 yards
only one @ 300 yards or more
Average -183 yards

ANTELOPE, total 4 (3 were bucks)
longest shot- 330 yards
shortest shot- 75 yards
only one @ 300 yards or more
Average 178 yards

WOLF, total 5
longest shot- 284 yards
shortest shot- 95 yards
zero @ 300 yards or more
Average 142 yards

SHEEP, total of one Ram
340 yards

BEAR, total of one boar
2 yards, Yes there's a story on this one for another day.

The point I would like to make is that, most kills happen at relatively short distances. It is much better to focus on being a good hunter and adapting our hunting strategy to each species that you hunt, rather than thinking you need better equipment, etc. Second, just focus on being a really good shot and stay within your acurate distance. I have wounded eight animals out of my 119 kills. I hated every one of them, but still my success rate was better than most because I focused on only ethical shots, and stayed within my limits.

FYI, I started with a British 303 and ended with a 7mm for my weapon.

Lol

[1899b]

Originally Posted by Barry D

I figured I'd share my hunting stats over the last forty six years for the benefit of some hunters that are just getting into the game and have many questions about all species and what gun and calibre they should shoot. This is just my personal stats that reflect my hunting technique, so please take that into account.

WHITETAIL DEER, total 62 (29 were bucks)
longest shot- 346 yards
shortest shot- 9 yards
only two @ 300 yards or more
Average -135 yards

MULE DEER, total 29 (26 were bucks)
longest shot- 420 yards
shortest shot- 6 yards
only four @ 300 yards or more
Average -154 yards

ELK, total 8 (7 were bulls)
longest shot- 410 yards
shortest shot- 50 yards
only two @ 300 yards or more
Average -166 yards

MOOSE, total 9 (all bulls)
longest shot- 341 yards
shortest shot- 80 yards
only one @ 300 yards or more
Average -183 yards

ANTELOPE, total 4 (3 were bucks)
longest shot- 330 yards
shortest shot- 75 yards
only one @ 300 yards or more
Average 178 yards

WOLF, total 5
longest shot- 284 yards
shortest shot- 95 yards
zero @ 300 yards or more
Average 142 yards

SHEEP, total of one Ram
340 yards

BEAR, total of one boar
2 yards, Yes there's a story on this one for another day.

The point I would like to make is that, most kills happen at relatively short distances. It is much better to focus on being a good hunter and adapting our hunting strategy to each species that you hunt, rather than thinking you need better equipment, etc. Second, just focus on being a really good shot and stay within your acurate distance. I have wounded eight animals out of my 119 kills. I hated every one of them, but still my success rate was better than most because I focused on only ethical shots, and stayed within my limits.

FYI, I started with a British 303 and ended with a 7mm for my weapon.

Drives me stupid when folks call their a firearm a weapon.

Carry on…

[ALBTUFF]

This is my weapon and this is my gun, one is for hunting and one is for fun.

[yidava25]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

I dont have detailed stats but I'd guess my average shot distance is about 40 yards. I've killed a few animals at 250-300 yards, but I've killed far more at 15-20.

Like the OP, this is mostly a reflection of the species, areas, and methods I focus on... but IMO learning to quickly put a freehand shot into the front half of a deer at 100 yards will put more meat in the freezer than shooting golf ball sized groups off a rest at 300.

this is gold

[Dick284]

Too many deer to count. From 1.5-600 yards
Not enough elk to my liking 225-450 yards
Not enough moose too, 40-350 yards
4 antelope, 75-420 yards
8 black bears, 15-60 yards
Even more coyotes than deer….0-750 yards

[aragor764]

Originally Posted by yidava25

this is gold

double gold! for WT anyway being on the ready is the most important for me!

[spirit4u]

I've killed 3 coyotes with my single shot .410 1st had mange. 2nd was a tiny runt. 3rd was a fluke. Looked over the creek bank there it was, a pup from that year. Also shot dozens of pheasants with my .410 This is back in my younger years. Also killed 14 starlings with one shot from that gun. Those were the best years back on the farm......