Sighting and Shooting the Deer

Each of guns will have different caliber. Each caliberto its original setting and thus missing an easy shot at
will have the different effect with the sight of thesome future time.
deer gun while a hunter shoots the target.The sights on a deer gun are important because they
Many calibers will not permit this two-hundred-yardare the only control that the hunter has over the
sighting range and keep within the six-inch limit. Forbullet's course. These sights are made in many
example, the 170-grain bullet in the popular .30/30different shapes and sizes. Blade, post, bead, ring and
caliber will drop about one foot in 165 yards. Thisa few other types of front sights are made in
does not mean that this is the limit of the six-inchdifferent sizes in order to accommodate different
variation from the line of sight because the bulletshooters and different shooting conditions. Rear
starts below the line of sight and the highest point ofsights are made in so many different styles, shapes
its flight is beyond the half-way point between theand sizes that it is difficult for the non-hunter to
gun and target and thus the six-inch limit is extendedselect any one that will give him satisfaction in the
beyond the distance of the twelve-inch drop. It doeswoods. Some of these sights are only adjustable
mean that if the sights are set for much over 150vertically, while others may be readily moved to any
yards, that there is a good chance of missing theposition, which the shooter desires. Some of the leaf
vital area of a deer at mid-range unless there is sometypes have several different sights that may be
effort to compensate for trajectory. Similarly the .30snapped into position so that the shooter has a
06 with the 180-grain load will drop a foot in aboutchoice of sights to suit different shooting conditions.
200 yards. I have never tried the 270 calibers, butMost of the aperture-type sights have several sizes
have been informed that this gun may be safelyof apertures for the same reason. Telescope sights
sighted for 250 yards, with telescope sights, and thevary in power and field of view and are adjustable in
six-inch limit will not be exceeded either above orall directions.
below the line of sight for at least 350 yards.All of these sights will direct a bullet to the desired
For the greatest satisfaction in relatively flat country,spot if they are adjusted properly; but some of
most deer guns should be sighted for one hundredthem are practically useless to the deer hunter; and
yards. This gives the hunter a hunting range of aboutsome of the others, while giving satisfactory results,
150 yards without the need for making allowancesare too complicated to be practical. The deer hunter
for trajectory. The average hunter will have difficultyneeds a sturdy sight which will not be knocked out
in hitting a deer beyond this distance unless he has aof adjustment by rough handling and he needs a
standing shot and in such cases he will have timesight which may be seen easily without cutting side
enough to make the necessary allowances for thevision.
distance. I find that it is not desirable to make anyThe sights on a deer gun are important because they
changes in the sights while actually hunting. Aimingare the only control that the hunter has over the
high for those long shots may not be as accurate asbullet's course. These sights are made in many
changing the rear sight to compensate for thedifferent shapes and sizes. The deer hunter needs a
increased distance, but, since the distance must besturdy sight which will not be knocked out of
estimated rather than measured, there is about asadjustment by rough handling and he needs a sight
much chance of error in either method. In aiming high,which may be seen easily without cutting side vision.
there is no danger of forgetting to return the sight