Don't want a repeat of last year, shooting advice needed!!!

[Biz45]

I agree on the rangefinder being used, I would like to think that I was capable of taking that shot and being successful without as our ancestors have done this for many moons before, but I was not so that's why i decided to invest in.
Continuing to shoot at greater distances, understanding of bullet ballistics, and physics is what i believe and sounds like i need work on much more in the offseason.

on another note I have been successful on harvesting BUCKS just not while shooting up and down hill, those shots were straight line of sight.

 

[rammont]

Shooting at a 45 degree angle with a .270 at 275 yards would require that you only elevate your shot by about 1 MOA vs. 3 MOA for a flat and level shot (this is just an estimate but it serves to provide you with about how much change there is due to an angled shot). At 275 yards that's about 5.5 inches lower than you'd assume. A 30 degree down angle would require about half that much change (only 3 inches or so).

 

[dirtclod Az.]

88man is correct,Sight in at 100yds with a holdover,I sight in at 100yds at 2 inches high so at 200 your dead on, at 300-approx 2-3 inches low.anything out to 300yds your in the money.Then compensate for elev. and windage.Missed a nice buck on the Kiabab shooting down hill,knew the exact yardage and shot right over his back.I completely forgot about the elevation change.Maybe had a little fever.

 

[LaHunter]

So I am not a savvy marksmen shooter, Last year 3rd season in colorado I had a opportunity to harvest a really nice buck what seemed to be 5x5 through the lens of my 10x42 bushnell bear grylls binocs. He was uphill about 275, basing off my golf expertise as I did not have a range finder. So I set up on get my sights on him pull and was unsuccessful, barrel pointed above vitals; maybe a 1/2 inch above pull the trigger and he stands their as if nothing happened shot a 2nd time and he ran off. Hike up hill to no find no blood but see him down hill in thick oak brush about 200 yrds down, setup again this time using my backpack as a stand and point above him again and shoot miss 2 times and see him run off to my dismay... basically i shot 4 times and was a complete failure any info on shooting up and down hill will be invaluable to me and much much appreciated..

1) you had no idea how far the animal was. Without a range finder, guessing is not reliable
2) it seems from your post you had no idea how to adjust your point of aim
3) based on your post, I am going to make the assumption that you don't practice shooting very often
4) you shot anyway...4 times. Sorta like a 'Hail Mary' attempt.

in my opinion, this seems a bit irresponsible. You need to know your limitations and stick within them.

as has been stated already, practice and understand your rifle and your skill level. Don't try to 'stretch' your effective range on a hunt.
KNOW the range, don't guess. Guessing increases the odds of wounding.

Just my $0.02

 

[Biz45]

If i would of shot 10 times that is more IRRESPONSIBLE and more of a hail mary in my eyes not 4 shots.I didn't mention that the 4 shots were all taken in a 30 min interval has I had to climb down a ravine then back up to his 1st location. Understanding how to shoot in certain circumstances is something all hunters need to work on, some have the luxury of going out shooting regularly I do not, agreed i got to do more shooting to get a better understanding of the rifle,bullet, and all the other aspects that come with it.

 

[HuskyMusky]

Get a range finder and know how to use it!

also I would be dead on at 200yds,, and at 300yds I think most cartridges the drop is like 6-8inches, but check your data/shoot and be sure.

I remember years ago out west, eye balling some distances with a friend/hunting partner, we both were like that's... 350yds, 300yds, checked with the range finder, it was like 650yds!!! we both were so far off it was insane! but some of this open country etc... can be very deceiving!

also sometimes you think an animal looks so small it must be far! in reality it's just 200yds away etc...

get/buy a range finder!
good luck.

 

[88man]

Go shoot and learn the gun and get comfortable and confident.

 

[Rich M]

I did an antelope hunt last year- shot 2 yearlings. Had fun - trying to decide if I want to go back or go hunt elsewhere. I bought boots, range finder, back pack - in that order. Already have a decent rifle - 30-06 model 70.

Spent summer shooting at range - furthest range was 250 yards. I normally shoot okay but this dialed me in so that there were no odd fliers and all the shooting removed the flinch I had. Forgetting the logistics exactly, I set it up for the longest point of aim shot I could take, assuming an 8-inch vital. The bullet hit low at 150 and a couple inches high at 250 and was dead nuts to 330 or so. Think I went to the range 6 or 7 times and shot 150-200 rounds total. Nothing crazy, being a gun hunter, we just need to refine a few things.

Back to the antelope - I had been given advice from several folks - never hold off the animal, they always appear further than they are. So, when that first shot arrived, I made it (25 yards - yes, twenty-five) and later when that second shot arrived (340 yards - more like it right?), I held higher but on hair and it made a meaty "whap" hitting critter thru center of shoulder.

Fast forward to this year - I haven't adjusted the rifle since the antelope hunt and made 100 yard and 220 yard shots on whitetails.

Guy I hunted antelope with had a dial-up scope. He purchased it and had to send in the ballistics of his bullets. They sent him a dial set for his gun exactly. He made two 300-yard shots. That seems like a good was to go as well.

I'm gonna get a new scope and don't know if I want to dial it or just set it an go. I can shoot 1,000 feet without adjusting the scope... The trajectory doesn't drop too bad until after about 400 yards.

My advice for you is to get more range time. A range finder is cheap insurance and some also calculate trajectory if you can read thru the manual and figure it out. I might do that for a 2019 mule deer hunt...