Up Close / How Close

In todays world of Long Range / Distance measured in many hundreds of metres hunting , I thought it might be interesting to take a 180 degree turn and talk about “ How Close “
It’s becoming that my most satisfying hunts are now measured on how close I got .
Notice is said “ satisfying hunts “ not “satisfying kills “ , because I’ll be honest and say I’ve blown a few real easy kills by trying to get that 10 metres closer just to see if I could .
To date my best/closest is 7 metres on a Pig with no cover higher than my knees .
This change in attitude has partly come about by hanging out and hunting with some Bow Hunters who obviously need to master the art of the stalk.
Yes I have started to learn the ways of the Bow , but haven’t hunted with one yet until my skills improve, but the up close and personal mind set has really invaded my rifle shooting and I’m really loving it .
So how close is your closest kill been and are you a sneak up and touch them kind of a guy ?

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Originally Posted by Ground Control

In todays world of Long Range / Distance measured in many hundreds of metres hunting , I thought it might be interesting to take a 180 degree turn and talk about “ How Close “
It’s becoming that my most satisfying hunts are now measured on how close I got .
Notice is said “ satisfying hunts “ not “satisfying kills “ , because I’ll be honest and say I’ve blown a few real easy kills by trying to get that 10 metres closer just to see if I could .
To date my best/closest is 7 metres on a Pig with no cover higher than my knees .
This change in attitude has partly come about by hanging out and hunting with some Bow Hunters who obviously need to master the art of the stalk.
Yes I have started to learn the ways of the Bow , but haven’t hunted with one yet until my skills improve, but the up close and personal mind set has really invaded my rifle shooting and I’m really loving it .
So how close is your closest kill been and are you a sneak up and touch them kind of a guy ?

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Shot a red stag a few years ago with barrel almost touching the neck.
He was trying to get me tho[emoji16]

I don't try and get close to be fair It just ends up that way due to the country I hunt.
I have shot 99% of my deer inside 200 yrds and probably 80% of those well within bow range of 60yrds.
I think the hard thing for bow hunters is being presented a kill shot. With a rifle you can bang them over in the neck or head up close when facing you. Not a good shot with a bow.
I have never had an interest in Bow hunting and have even less of one having guided few bow hunters.

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A deer at 2 metres. I'm not kidding! Came around a bush and there she was. Can't claim I sneaked up on the animal because I didn't know she was there. In the second between seeing the deer and pulling the trigger, I contemplated jumping on it and doing some knife work (probably would have ended badly!) or taking another step, leaning forward, putting the muzzle virtually on the animal and pulling the trigger rather than using the scope (also probably would have ended badly!). As it turned out, I used the scope and saw nothing but brown fur, pulled the trigger and all good. Nothing about it was "sporting", but it was an intense way to end a meat hunt.

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Originally Posted by R93

Shot a red stag a few years ago with barrel almost touching the neck.
He was trying to get me tho[emoji16]


I think the hard thing for bow hunters is being presented a kill shot. With a rifle you can bang them over in the neck or head up close when facing you. Not a good shot with a bow.


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Yip barrel on neck is close :thumbsup:
Your spot on about the difficulty of getting the animal to present a shot with a Bow , I watched a mate stalk up really close on a Deer through the binoc’s with his Bow and no matter what he did he couldn’t get a clear broadside shot at it .
It finally winded him and was gone , never to be seen again .
The Bow is really interesting though and I’ve started practicing with it after work every night for half an hour and its kind of a fun way to unwind and zone out . Also its cool to be able to do it nearby others , people are more interested than alarmed, which in this modern world is the reverse of shooting with firearms.

Shot a fallow buck couple months back at 10yds, have a video to prove it too, was about to give up thinking he had long gone and then I saw the tips of his antlers making their way towards me. Shot him with a $8000 purpose built long range rig too Haha

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Originally Posted by Ground Control

Yip barrel on neck is close [emoji106]
Your spot on about the difficulty of getting the animal to present a shot with a Bow , I watched a mate stalk up really close on a Deer through the binoc’s with his Bow and no matter what he did he couldn’t get a clear broadside shot at it .
It finally winded him and was gone , never to be seen again .
The Bow is really interesting though and I’ve started practicing with it after work every night for half an hour and its kind of a fun way to unwind and zone out . Also its cool to be able to do it nearby others , people are more interested than alarmed, which in this modern world is the reverse of shooting with firearms.

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I can shoot a compound okish to 60yrds. Have taken goats, grouse and vermin with one, but no deer sized game.
Not my cup of tea. I have had deer numerous times close enough to spit at but not by stalking skills just ended up bumping them that close.
My son is into his long bow but he is just starting out. He has got a few rabbits etc.
American bow hunters are the pits.
Great shots and all but anal about mythical scent control.
You can't tell them it's a load of gimmicky shit[emoji16]



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Originally Posted by R93

Great shots and all but anal about mythical scent control.

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I think they're just being polite and not telling you you're a smelly old bastard

Welcome home anyway douche bag

I shot a pig with the barrel in its mouth when I was about 18. I crawled into a pig tunnel in heavy scrub and met an old sow who wanted to eat me. I haven't gone into one since! I shot a Thar at about 20 meters while climbing round a bluff, a hind in the bush at 10 metres, and a lot of assorted animals under 50 metres. I have scared the bejesus out of myself and a few very close (3-5metres) deer on bush edges in the evening but never fired a shot. They jump to their feet and take off while I try to get my breath!

Was walking along a track with real dense scrub on either side looking more ahead than side to side. Mate jabbed me in the ribs and pointed into the scrub on my side. There was a fallow hind standing dead still level with me about 2 metres away. I aimed as best as I could at her head and fired and she dropped.

Then 2 more fallow broke out of the scrub further along the track.
Mate and I ran forward and he shot a hind at about 100yds. At this stage they were on the other side of a clearing and had stopped when I whistled.

Spent a few minutes catching our breath and then mate headed off to gut his. I went back to mine.
By the time I got to her she was trying to get to her feet. I was able to cut her throat.

When I checked her over I couldn't find a bullet hole. I had totally missed and the muzzle blast must of stunned her.

Later on I felt sorry for her. Should I have let her get up and see if she recovered okay?

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Originally Posted by kiwijames

I think they're just being polite and not telling you you're a smelly old bastard

Welcome home anyway douche bag

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Probably right.


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shot a pig sleeping at 10 mtrs then got its mate at 25-30 on the run out of the fern.
shot a few reds at 20 yards.
shot rabbits with shotgun close enough to pluck head off eg under 5 yards.
last stag I shot my mate,the dog and I were at carcase when two of his girly friends walked past 14mtrs away!!!!! that was a thrill.
same day got INSIDE a mob of pigs in matagouri...kept seeing glimpses but not enough to shoot till 2 broke and bowled one at about 125 yards.
head shot a red yearling in spotlight using shotgun. all of about 15 yards.

Managed to shoot 3 sika stags last roar ranging between 10 and 20 metres away within 5 minutes of each other somehow. Love getting up close and personal. Spotted the first one cross a ridge below me about 70 metres away and stalked in toward him over about 15 minutes and shot him as he burst and the other 2 came in with my sika reel straight after. Doubt I’ll fluke doing that again!

Because of the areas I hunt (rather than deliberately trying to get close) the last deer I saw was broadside on about 15m away and stood there for 20 seconds or so - but I wasn't the one with the rifle. The previous 3 shots were all at about 20m, and I managed to miss one of them!

Cat at approx 3 feet.

Hit amidships with a 12 ga, but made it about 12 feet around a corner.

Full marks for perseverance.

I took a Uruguayan bloke out hunting and after he stuffed up a couple of beaut opportunities on two different stags we were walking out a creek bed right on dark when I spotted a yearling broadside with its head down behind a Bush grazing literally a few yards in front of us, I froze and tried to motion to him that the deer was right there in front of us, He just looked confused and couldnt figure it out, I knew as soon as the deer lifted its head it would be game over, was bloody frustrating trying to point it out and be silent and still at the same time and sure enough it lifted its head and he kind of picked up on it due to the movement but it bolted at the same time as he was fluffing round with the rifle (had my ar15 at the time) we let it run as he was definitely not experienced enough to take a running shot at it.
Once it had crested the hill and was out of sight I laughed out loud and two Hinds that had been there the whole time only a few yards to the left of us broke cover and bolted for the Bush line also. Bit of a bugger we went home empty handed after so many opportunities and a massive walk but I actually really enjoyed that day, plenty of deer seen, couple of close encounters and being in the co pilot seat was nice for a change

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Originally Posted by zimmer

When I checked her over I couldn't find a bullet hole. I had totally missed and the muzzle blast must of stunned her.

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I had a similar experience with a fallow in the Blueys. It jumped up right in front of me and I shot at the back of her head with my M1 Carbine at about 2 metres and she went down like a sack of spuds. I transferred my rifle to left hand and pulled out my knife. She jumped up and disappeared into the bush. Not a speck of blood anywhere!

It does make you wonder as I have seen a farmed red deer drop dead from a heart attack because it got a fright from a little kid in the yards, they're not the most stoic creatures so a gunshot up close is probably more than enough to at least stun them for a bit

One of the best stalks I've had resulted in a hind at less than 15 metres, head shot. And on the very same farm, I had sent my mates in various directions so was just wandering along the track away from the hut and spied a hind on the other side of the gully. Laid down, closed the bolt and very carefully shot her with an empty chamber, felt good to know I could but didn't. Then I walked back to the hut, dropped my boots and stalked her with the camera, was able to take a really nice pic at 20 metres and then watch her fawn come out and have a feed from Mum. Another day, on the same block, was blowing a howling NW gale, hot as buggery, and the cicadas were out in force, very very noisy. So decided to go for a stalk through the bush. Was able to stalk within a metre of a sow sleeping, with a couple of piglets sucking' away on Mum. Closed the bolt on my 303, put the barrel about 10cm from her neck and let rip. Well, holy shit, the place erupted, she ran about 5 metres not knowing she was dead and there were bloody piglets going nuts everywhere........good times

thats reminds me...shot a sow (also suckling)at about 10mtrs after a 250mtr stalk in open country...a couple of sheep acting goofey and looking in her direction gave her away...shot the two piglets at point blank range 12mths later.....they came home in swannie pockets and led a merry life for a year.

Hunting the Ahimanawas one roar I was sitting on a game trail in a small gully head. I gave a roar and a few minutes later a sika stag came wandering around the game trail toward me from my left with it's nose to the ground. Being left handed I couldn't turn to shoulder the rifle so I held it in one hand and waited for the stag to walk into the muzzle. Not exactly stalking but the closest encounter I have had.
Another time I was hunting the pylon track on the desert road one evening. As I got closer to a small clearing I could hear an odd noise coming from just behind the broom bush I was creeping up to. Turned out to be a Sika hind chewing on her dinner. She never heard a thing.
I really enjoy the up close stuff but you can't beat spotting an animal from distance and planning a stalk to close the gap to whatever necessary.

The dog and I stalked onto a stag beded down on a spur, the dog locked up and I was looking past the stag I wondering what the dog was locked up on then seen antlers right in front of us only 3m away.
7m on a hind with a bow.

Two instances that I recall where it was close quarters for sure . The first was when I was culling goats up Coromandel, my dog had bailed a goat way down in a dirty gully. I was next to a slip thinking shall I go down or not as the dog would have killed it by the time I got to him. I suddenly noticed movement on a trail that lead past me to the slip. having no rifle as I hunted with a dog and knife a lot in the bush. I got in behind a tree and as the goat walked past I lunged forward and drove the knife to the hilt behind it's shoulder, the goat took off, making it to the slip then sitting down and expiring. Thank Christ otherwise I would have lost me knife.

The other time I was stalking in the Kiamanawas on the Tiki Tiki side of Mt Te Iringa when I spied a small portion of deer behind a large beech tree, I was about 15 m away so began to sneak in and move further around so I could get a better look at it. After what seemed like ages I managed to move around enough without waking the deer. I could then see the vitals and shot the sleeping 8 point Sika stag at about 2-3 meters. The first and only time I have shot a sika stag sleeping.

Had a young sika stag come into a roar a few years ago. Dropped it from 3metres as it walked around a large beech tree towards me. Still remember the ' oh f#(k ' look on his face when he saw me.

As much as I like shooting out long, nothing gets the blood pumping more than an up close and personal encounter. I've shot numerous deer and goats sub 20yds, closest would have been about 10yds. The most recent being 2 weeks ago in the Tararuas, two goats broke cover at about 10yds, the marlin 45-70 sorted them out.

Great read, there have been some close encounters going on out there.

A mate of mine shot a stag in the chest basically touching with muzzle, quite an impressive entry wound...

My closest was a spiker in the Blueys at about 6m, have shot heaps under 20m.

Having a snooze up the Whakatane River.
Nice spot in the sun on a spur.
Bit tired after lilo had failed.
Sort woke with the feeling somethings watching me.
Looked between my feet.
Young hind staring at me.
Had rifle alongside.
Picked it up and shot it from the hip so to speak.
Was pretty close.

I was hunting quietly up a steep slope in the shit in the Puketois and spotted a deer leg in front of me a few yards away. I sneaked forward and grabbed it, and of course couldn't hold it and it made good its escape in one kick. Never saw what it was.
Another time we roared a stag up and it winded us and then lunged past, and my mate slapped it on the arse with his hand :)

Closest encounter was a non hunting one. Flatting next to Richmond park in London a while back, I used to go running in there quite a bit to keep fit. Heading into winter carried on but geez I would get spooked sometimes. Eerily quiet and only background light to run by along the trails. Sometimes low fog. Lost in thought, then all of a sudden a fox would let rip. For those that haven't heard a fox cry it's like a baby crying full noise, but kind of with a sinister tone. That'd get the heart rate going. Anyway one evening had a hind jump out of a bush and right over the track and just clearing me. Felt the rush of air across my face as she went past. Not too long after they locked up the gates at night for their annual cull of the deer herds in there. Probably a good thing for me.

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Originally Posted by Tahr

I was hunting quietly up a steep slope in the shit in the Puketois and spotted a deer leg in front of me a few yards away. I sneaked forward and grabbed it, and of course couldn't hold it and it made good its escape in one kick. Never saw what it was.
Another time we roared a stag up and it winded us and then lunged past, and my mate slapped it on the arse with his hand :)

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That reminded me of a time a while back now when we were going for a hunt early morning(still dark) and we picked up two deer in head lights of the land Rover, the brother in law jumped out and emptied his mag as the deer ran towards the head lights , I thought I best help and grabbed the old 7mm and as one deer ran past the door I spun round and dropped it a the back of the Rover the other one went up a step face and made it's escape into the native. You do get some easy ones, sometimes.

Had a hind bust out and start heading away then turned around and run straight at me then hit the brakes and i shot her less then a metre from the end of my barrel
Got a stag from about 7m after hearing it munching its dinner then seeing antler in the grass
Both up the kaimais
Got 2 goats at 2m after I ambushed them on a track they were using through gorse. The 870 12g did a good job of stopping them on the spot

I once spotted a stag feeding down the river bed towards us. He was in sunlight we were in shade, he kept moving along and when he stopped and put his head down, I would move closer. I ran out shade and cover at about 25 yards, so took the shot broadside into his shoulder, at such a close distance i wasnt sure of a head shot/neck shot. The 270 literally blew him off his legs.
Another time I saw a red hind from about 350 m away, feeding on a face above a creek. I got down into the creek bed and stalked in to where she was.
The chatter of the water masked any sound I was making
Looked up the 30 M or o that seperated us and thought.... I can get closer.
Her head was behind a bit of scrub as she fed. I climbed up the near vertical face hanging onto bits of cutty grass and the like, got to within 7 or 10 M and had another look ... GONE!!

I took a young Scottish lad bowhunting in the kaimais the other day. I managed to make him shoot a hind at 5 meters. It was the closest he has ever come to shoot at an animal. You would have seen the grin on his face!

Ive head shot quite a few game with a 22Lr which requires managing distance and angles. Not something you can admit to in certain crowds but its legitimate form of hunting if you do it right.

Two incidents spring to mind.

The first was a roe buck I spotted lying just inside a wood I was stalking along the edge of. There was a bramble bush between us that I could just see over. I raised my rifle slowly but had an 8x fixed power scope at the time and couldn’t get a sight picture. Ended up looking over the scope and dropped him with a neck shot.

The second was an out of season roe doe I spotted on a very windy morning. She was browsing through a large clearing into the wind
. I thought it would be fun to see how close Sam the lab and I could get to her. Stalking slowly in, we gradually caught up with her and got so close that I was able to tap her on the haunch with my sticks. She casually looked round and almost died of fright before running off. Sam was appalled with me for not shooting her, but it was fun.

I have got to within 3m of a hind, I was hunting a private block with a stag or spikers only policy.
Spotted it at about 10 and froze got the binos out and once I had figured it for a Hind it was then a case of how close can I get.
There was a tree directly between its eyes and me, a stream running in the background so I was only worried about scent and major noise.
Had time to get the phone out and get pics etc
And just quietly walked in on it, fantastic experience and made me want to try and stalk in more often

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I shot a Thar pretty much on the end of the barrel.

I spotted a mob of them feeding across a face close to last light.I scooted up a gut hoping to intersect them,when I got to where I thought they would be I thought I had blown it.I snuck around the right side of a bolder and there they were,all grazing in a row.I shot the first one point blank.
I have done a fair bit of Thar hunting since,but never been as lucky as that.