Actually it depends on your definition of "movingrunning". If its means an elk running full steam 350yds away, the answer is no. If you means and elk walking or even trotting at 100yds with no obstructions or animals near it, then sure I'd shoot it.

Beef Jerky; the good ole boys Here in North Carolina make running shots at White tail deer all season long. Rarely is one lost after a hit is made.
If you didn’t know we hunt whitetails with dogs here in NC. It is the closest thing to “Big Game Wing Shooting” you can get. The younger guys start out with shot-guns and then with experience move to rifles. I personally have taken whitetails running, with rifles since reaching an age of 18. Come on down; you should give it a try here. You will like it !!!!!!!

As a general rule, I do not.

However a few years ago I did shoot a cow elk once that was about 50-60 yards away and starting to trot up an embankment. It was about dusk and the last day of the season. It was either take the cow or no meat for the year.

I've shot several deer on the run. A lot of it depends on where you are. In some parts of the country the cover is thick enough that deer encounters tend to be at close range and lots of time they're moving. Nevertheless, I've found myself getting more conservative as time goes by. The trouble with a running shot is the amount of time available to identify sex and rack size while analyzing what your shot might hit behind the animal, then trying to get a somewhat accurate shot that'll put the animal down right away without ruining too much meat. But I'll admit that such conservatism in dense forest has sent me home empty handed from time to time. Sometimes you gotta adapt to circumstances and do what you can.

I agree with expatriate. The first deer I ever took was moving at the time, but it was only about 25-30 yards away from me and it wasn't moving very fast--sort of a gentle trot. Would I take a shot at an elk, 200 yards away and going at a brisk trot? No way.

I think ruuning shot under certain condition are okay base on :
distance
speed of game
your ability with a rifle
terrain
The main thing my father taught me about hunting(besides safety) is that you owe the game you're after the cleaness possible kill.

to expatriate

good post.

one time I only have a split second to make a decision on a deer. I shot through the scrub oak as it was leaving and killed it. It had horns but didn't meet the lawfull requirements so I left it lay to feed the buzzards...A B.S. law if you ask me (horn requirement)...

Walking probably, trotting maybe in the right conditions but I won't shoot at anything running because I've never practiced it. I couldn't garuntee a clean kill. My number #1 rule about shooting is if I squeeze the trigger - it's dead. No maybe's, no iffy shots and hope for the best or knock it down and finish it off.

The first deer I shot took 2 shots (1st was through the hindquarters) - that was a horrible experience that I hope I never have to experience again.

I shot through the scrub oak as it was leaving and killed it. It had horns but didn't meet the lawfull requirements so I left it lay to feed the buzzards...

You dropped a bomb with that one, Beef Jerky, one worthy of a thread of its own. On one hand, intentionally leaving game to rot if it isn't sin, its somewhere in the vicinity.

On the other hand, I'm not sure quite what I would do in your shoes. I would probably report it since then I wouldn't have to leave it, but I would be dreading it after reading stuff like this.

Quote:

On 2003-09-26 10:04, Beef Jerky wrote:

one time I only have a split second to make a decision on a deer. I shot through the scrub oak as it was leaving and killed it. It had horns but didn't meet the lawfull requirements so I left it lay to feed the buzzards...A B.S. law if you ask me (horn requirement)...

Usually I respect peoples opinions and even if I disagree as long as someone is on the right side of the law I will never anger. However Beef Jerky your post angers me. You lost all the respect I'd ever have for you.

Mistakes happen but 1-You shot at a moving target you were not clear of. 2-You let it rot because it wasn't a legal animal anyway which is a blatent disregard for the law and what ethical hunters stand for. By the way thats poaching! We don't get to choose what laws we will and will not follow.

I hope your post was to prove a point and not the truth. Please clarify, otherwise this is my last response to any of your "B.S." posts.