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Would you use a Judge as a "finish off" gun for deer?
Posted on 8/18/15 at 2:33 pm
Posted on 8/18/15 at 2:33 pm
When tracking a wounded deer we normally carry a 12ga with buckshot in case we jump it up or have to finish it off. I recently got a Judge and wondering if the .410 buckshot would be enough for a kill or if it would just wound it even more. Just thinking it would be one less thing to carry since I have leg holster for it.
What are your thoughts/experiences?
What are your thoughts/experiences?
Posted on 8/18/15 at 2:39 pm to Yammie250F
quote:
When tracking a wounded deer we normally carry a 12ga with buckshot in case we jump it up or have to finish it off.
Just a question, how often do ya'll wound a deer that you have formulated a plan and carry a second firearm?
Posted on 8/18/15 at 2:41 pm to Yammie250F
.357/.38 Single Action Cowboy gun is the perfect sidearm for finishing off a deer.
Posted on 8/18/15 at 2:52 pm to TigerDeacon
quote:
Just a question, how often do ya'll wound a deer that you have formulated a plan and carry a second firearm?
Not often at all.
The reason I always do now is because my brother and I were tracking an 8pt I had shot and had been tracking for a while with little blood. Anyways, I had a rifle and he had left his back at the camp and as we fanned out looking for blood he came up to the deer laying down. I was about 10 yards away from him and by the time I got to where my brother was he had just taken off. Had my brother had a gun on him he could have killed it right there. We found some blood where it had been laying down but not a drop afterwards after looking for a few more hours. That is why I will always have a weapon on me while tracking deer and if you don't bring yours you can not be up front looking for blood.
Posted on 8/18/15 at 3:19 pm to Yammie250F
i would post a video....but no
Posted on 8/18/15 at 3:30 pm to Itismemc
quote:
i would post a video....but no
Looked some stuff up and the answer is no. You'd have to be right up on it to be effective.
Posted on 8/18/15 at 3:30 pm to Yammie250F
I wouldn't use a shotgun or a shotgun cartridge. It does more damage to the meat spreading the shot out like that.
I would use a 38/357 as suggested earlier. One smaller hole for a lethal wound and the meat is still in good shape.
I would use a 38/357 as suggested earlier. One smaller hole for a lethal wound and the meat is still in good shape.
Posted on 8/18/15 at 3:40 pm to Yammie250F
Are we talking about a squirming deer that can't get up, or one that has laid down and may jump up and run off once confronted?
You can put a head shot with a judge on a squirmer, but one that jumps up may require something that points/aims a little better.
In my experience, any deer I've tracked, I put the rifle up and grab a 12 ga. shotgun with 3.5" buckshot.
You can put a head shot with a judge on a squirmer, but one that jumps up may require something that points/aims a little better.
In my experience, any deer I've tracked, I put the rifle up and grab a 12 ga. shotgun with 3.5" buckshot.
Posted on 8/18/15 at 3:49 pm to Yammie250F
Lever action Marlin 35 Rem during rifle season. In 20+ years have only needed it once but it's compact and easy to carry. Don't worry about getting it dinged up, can get on target and fire quickly if need be.
My go to gun that stays with me when possibility of hogs are present.
My go to gun that stays with me when possibility of hogs are present.
This post was edited on 8/18/15 at 3:52 pm
Posted on 8/18/15 at 3:58 pm to Yammie250F
A judge would leave you with no viable meat to process. The deer would vaporize with a judge to the face
Posted on 8/18/15 at 4:02 pm to Yammie250F
Your existing gun is chambered in the perfect caliber for this. Just shoot a .45 Colt round instead. There is no reason to buy another gun for this, unless you just want one.
I have finished deer with a .357. I think a .38 is a touch on the light side for the task. I wouldn't choose either over a .45 Colt for this task.
I have finished deer with a .357. I think a .38 is a touch on the light side for the task. I wouldn't choose either over a .45 Colt for this task.
This post was edited on 8/18/15 at 4:26 pm
Posted on 8/18/15 at 4:16 pm to Yammie250F
I'd take my rifle. What if ol' mossy head stands up 100yds from you're holding a damned scatter gun? Or a single action cowboy pistol. bye bye big buck contest.
This post was edited on 8/18/15 at 4:17 pm
Posted on 8/18/15 at 4:20 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:Just grab hold and cut its throat with a knife if it can't get up.
You can put a head shot with a judge on a squirmer
Posted on 8/18/15 at 4:23 pm to Buck_Rogers
Or the OP could stand a comfortable distance away and place a single 250gr piece of lead into the deer at an appropriate vital area.
Posted on 8/18/15 at 4:26 pm to weagle99
Yeah, I guess you could take the boring route.
Posted on 8/18/15 at 4:40 pm to weagle99
Back when I was younger I had a pretty graphic event with a buck. I dropped him from about 80 yards with a 30-30. I hit him high and took out both shoulders but didn't kill him. After realizing he wasn't going to bleed out anytime soon, I took a closer shot at his head. I'll be damned if the thing didn't move his head that split second and I ended up with a crippled buck with one eye.
I decided then to grab its antlers, brace its head against my leg and cut its throat. It took about 3 seconds once I hit the artery for him to die, and it left about 6 quarts of blood on me to explain to everyone back at the camp. I'm not bragging and still feel bad for the deer. I try to make my shots count now, but realize that deer could've suffered a lot less if I just used my knife when I first realized it wasn't getting up.
I decided then to grab its antlers, brace its head against my leg and cut its throat. It took about 3 seconds once I hit the artery for him to die, and it left about 6 quarts of blood on me to explain to everyone back at the camp. I'm not bragging and still feel bad for the deer. I try to make my shots count now, but realize that deer could've suffered a lot less if I just used my knife when I first realized it wasn't getting up.
This post was edited on 8/18/15 at 4:42 pm
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