I used to go to the range in the days prior to the big game seasons. It was shocking, some horrible groups, some groups nowhere near the point of aim. I helped some get their rifles zeroed, showed some how to shoot better. But, some rifles just couldn't group better than 4 to 5 inches. Some guys would sight in with one type of ammo, and say they would hunt with the "better" stuff. Some would say they couldn't shoot targets, but always got their animal.
Wounded critters.......
- Thread starter William Suter
- Start date
You'd be surprised how many people get their deer rifle out of the safe and go deer huntin with it without firing a shot at a target. Even after it rode behind the seat of their pickup all Winter long so they could shoot at coyotes after deer season. My buddy is bad about that. And he also missed a 180" deer 4 times at less than 100 yards back in 2018. He never got another shot at that deer and someone else ended up killing it. His scope was messed up and he was shooting way over that deer.
And I know it's not just him that does that. You can tell a significant difference in how leary coyotes are after deer season. You don't see one standing out in the field beside the road and have it watch as you drive by after deer season. They're running like their tail is on fire. Every deer hunter in Oklahoma has shot at those "tame" ones and obviously didn't hit what they were shooting at. It's not surprising to me that a lot of deer end up wounded.
But I'll tell you this, missing a 180" deer will break a person of that pretty quick. I'll never forget that day. He texted me right after it happened cussin up a storm. Misspelling words so I know he was shaking like he just got into a shootout with the Taliban or somethin. He was flipping his lid and thank God he didn't call me because I was howling laughing. He was saying he didn't know what happened, what do I think happened and every cuss word under the sun. He was crappin himself over the whole deal. Don't feel bad that I was laughing at his expense. I can assure you he's done plenty of laughin at me. He said he was aiming at the deers feet and he was still shooting over it. When he texted that I had tears rolling down my face I was laughing so hard. He didn't even clip hair off of that deers back. But.....that's why I'm glad to call him my friend. He's a pretty amusing young man.
And I know it's not just him that does that. You can tell a significant difference in how leary coyotes are after deer season. You don't see one standing out in the field beside the road and have it watch as you drive by after deer season. They're running like their tail is on fire. Every deer hunter in Oklahoma has shot at those "tame" ones and obviously didn't hit what they were shooting at. It's not surprising to me that a lot of deer end up wounded.
But I'll tell you this, missing a 180" deer will break a person of that pretty quick. I'll never forget that day. He texted me right after it happened cussin up a storm. Misspelling words so I know he was shaking like he just got into a shootout with the Taliban or somethin. He was flipping his lid and thank God he didn't call me because I was howling laughing. He was saying he didn't know what happened, what do I think happened and every cuss word under the sun. He was crappin himself over the whole deal. Don't feel bad that I was laughing at his expense. I can assure you he's done plenty of laughin at me. He said he was aiming at the deers feet and he was still shooting over it. When he texted that I had tears rolling down my face I was laughing so hard. He didn't even clip hair off of that deers back. But.....that's why I'm glad to call him my friend. He's a pretty amusing young man.
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doggin coyotes
Well-known member
You work at a Bass Pro in Colorado?
204 AR
Well-known member
Yeah I've got stories, but just suffice it to say it's frustrating to hunt with someone who doesn't take the accuracy or zeroing of their rifles seriously. Nothing worse than seeing a critter run off wounded. Or calling up a coyote for someone who you figure has no chance of hitting it with their lack of preparation.
I was guilty of a couple wounded coyotes night hunting this past season. It certainly wasn't due to lack of effort in prepping my gear though, and it gets a thorough investigation of video then zero check afterwards. I still haven't figured out why a couple shots went low.
I was guilty of a couple wounded coyotes night hunting this past season. It certainly wasn't due to lack of effort in prepping my gear though, and it gets a thorough investigation of video then zero check afterwards. I still haven't figured out why a couple shots went low.
Satori Bowhunter
New member
I'm pretty hard core on getting the absolute best accuracy out of the rifle I'm shooting at the rifle range. 
This way I know what the rifle is capable of doing at any given yardage. Now that I know what the rifle can do, next thing I need is to know what I can do with the rifle. 
I purchase a rifle caliber based on its' ballistics, for the task I have in mind for that rifle. An example would be the Savage Predator in .243 with a Vortex 6-24x50, that I use my reloads of a 75 gr. Hornady V-Max at 3400 fps. Coyotes are the target animal and it does a super find job of putting them down...hard.
Dime sized groups at 100 yards and quarter sized groups at 300 yards. 
I had a 25-06 that didn't perform nearly as well, especially after I put the time in with it....and so I sold it.
This way I know what the rifle is capable of doing at any given yardage. Now that I know what the rifle can do, next thing I need is to know what I can do with the rifle. I purchase a rifle caliber based on its' ballistics, for the task I have in mind for that rifle. An example would be the Savage Predator in .243 with a Vortex 6-24x50, that I use my reloads of a 75 gr. Hornady V-Max at 3400 fps. Coyotes are the target animal and it does a super find job of putting them down...hard.
Dime sized groups at 100 yards and quarter sized groups at 300 yards. I had a 25-06 that didn't perform nearly as well, especially after I put the time in with it....and so I sold it.
bowhunter57
Well-known member
I have a Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster that will put 5 shots inside a ragged 1" hole at 100 yards. My reloads of a Hornady 240 gr. FTX bullet with 39.5 grains of Lil'Gun at 2550 fps. I've never lost a deer to this cartridge. I topped it off with a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40. Just knowing what the rifle is capable of doing at the rifle range is a confidence builder for the hunt. Love this cartridge!
135 yards:
60 yards:
123 yards:
I've never lost a deer to this cartridge. I topped it off with a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40. Just knowing what the rifle is capable of doing at the rifle range is a confidence builder for the hunt. Love this cartridge! 135 yards:
60 yards:
123 yards:
K22-hornet
Active member
I did, the Basspro in Denver. Started shortly after they opened in 2006 and retired in 2023. I worked in the gun/hunting department.
Talk about gun counter stories, lol.