Thread: How far away was the last deer you shot???

This poll interesting because it shows me shooting distance has NOT changed alot since 60s-70s. 50% of animals in this poll were shot between 0-100m, about 73% shot 0-200m, and 85% shot within 300m. Approx. That's not really different to 40-50 years ago - even though quality of most rifles and certainly optics has improved. Shooting usually governed by conditions and not necessarily longer range capability of modern arms.

Tends to confirm my own view that LR arms/optics setups not necessary for NZ field shooting. They are for one segment of our shooting fraternity - ideal choice of course for 400-1000m competition shooting, or perhaps southern mountain chamois/thar etc. But .. also true to say we shot those thar etc comfortably with the 270s/308s of the day with a Pecar Berlin 4x sitting on them. My view - LR gear no neccessity, but if its your hobby interest then my all means go for it!

Be interesting to see a north/south island breakdown from the figures above. Most of our deer in the past in the north were well under 100m. Bush shots. That will still hold - average distance still likely well under 100m. South more open so more frequent longer shots, and one would expect higher average distance.

Originally Posted by mudgripz

This poll interesting because it shows me shooting distance has NOT changed alot since 60s-70s. 50% of animals in this poll were shot between 0-100m, about 73% shot 0-200m, and 85% shot within 300m. Approx. That's not really different to 40-50 years ago - even though quality of most rifles and certainly optics has improved. Shooting usually governed by conditions and not necessarily longer range capability of modern arms.

Tends to confirm my own view that LR arms/optics setups not necessary for NZ field shooting. They are for one segment of our shooting fraternity - ideal choice of course for 400-1000m competition shooting, or perhaps southern mountain chamois/thar etc. But .. also true to say we shot those thar etc comfortably with the 270s/308s of the day with a Pecar Berlin 4x sitting on them. My view - LR gear no neccessity, but if its your hobby interest then my all means go for it!

Be interesting to see a north/south island breakdown from the figures above. Most of our deer in the past in the north were well under 100m. Bush shots. That will still hold - average distance still likely well under 100m. South more open so more frequent longer shots, and one would expect higher average distance.

Well I've lived in the deep south for 10 years and most of the deer I shoot are sub 300 with the vast majority being sub 150.

It also depends on what part of the south island you're talking about. Fiordland, Westcoast, Rakiura can be both bush hunting but both equally clearings and open country. But I do agree it would be very interesting to see how it breaks down in terms of SI vs NI and into that what regions people are shooting.

Originally Posted by mudgripz

This poll interesting because it shows me shooting distance has NOT changed alot since 60s-70s. 50% of animals in this poll were shot between 0-100m, about 73% shot 0-200m, and 85% shot within 300m. Approx. That's not really different to 40-50 years ago - even though quality of most rifles and certainly optics has improved. Shooting usually governed by conditions and not necessarily longer range capability of modern arms.

Tends to confirm my own view that LR arms/optics setups not necessary for NZ field shooting. They are for one segment of our shooting fraternity - ideal choice of course for 400-1000m competition shooting, or perhaps southern mountain chamois/thar etc. But .. also true to say we shot those thar etc comfortably with the 270s/308s of the day with a Pecar Berlin 4x sitting on them. My view - LR gear no neccessity, but if its your hobby interest then my all means go for it!

Be interesting to see a north/south island breakdown from the figures above. Most of our deer in the past in the north were well under 100m. Bush shots. That will still hold - average distance still likely well under 100m. South more open so more frequent longer shots, and one would expect higher average distance.

The poll itself doesn't really mean dick squat, it only asked for the distance of the LAST animal you shot, the last 2 i have shot have been about 50 meters which is the distance i put in the poll, the 6-10 before that were 200meters plus, The poll would have been better off, if it asked for an average of range that deer were shot in last 12 months.

Originally Posted by HUNTY

The poll itself doesn't really mean dick squat, it only asked for the distance of the LAST animal you shot, the last 2 i have shot have been about 50 meters which is the distance i put in the poll, the 6-10 before that were 200meters plus, The poll would have been better off, if it asked for an average of range that deer were shot in last 12 months.

Its all relative tho i wouldnt been looking at it like a survey to take numbers from.
The season is ripe for easier hunting too, fresh grass kicking around and silly spikers out trying to find there feet.

Last one i shot was in a stag group, shot a spiker, stags too off but 3 spikers hung around for another few minutes before taking too the bush.

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Not really. That’s not how statistics work.
If you sample a big enough group you get good data. It’s just as likely a long range hunter shot 9 of her last 10 deer at distances over 600M But the last one was at 25M.
As you say if you take a 10 shot average you get a very different result. But so long as the overall sample size is big enough you get a good representation.

I would guess a bigger issue is exaggeration.
Plenty of blowhards in the world, and while Bunji maybe gone, there’s bound to be the odd one like him here.

Bring back Mick