Mar
10
Could you use a . 17 rifle to go deer hunting ?
ByI am wondering if it is possible to kill a deer by using a . 17 caliber rifle? And if it is then where would you have to shoot it. I will appreciate if someone tells me if it is possible or not and what gun would you prefer……………..thanks…….
16 Comments
March 10th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
sure, it is possible……..But Illegal!!!!!
March 10th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Possible? —- Yeah you could aim, pull the trigger but more than likely the deer will run off and die a slow painful death….. This isn’t humane…. The idea is your supposed to use a cartridge / bullet big enough for the job to end its life quickly…..
The absolute minimum size cartridge to ethically drop a deer is a .243 with a .270 or 30/30 being a better choice……..
March 10th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Not unless you like to torture animals.
You really shouldn’t use less than a .243.
.270 .308 .30-06 is a better choice.
March 10th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
You would have to be point blank!! Go with a .30-06.
March 10th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Is it possible…yes, it is “possible”, but the bullet would have to hit in exactly the right place, and then penetrate far enough to do the required amount of damage. Not likely to happen with a .17 cal bullet, no matter how much “power” is behind it.. The question you really should ask is “Is it legal”.
Go ask the folks at your local DNR (Department of Natural Resources – sometimes called “Fish, Game & Wildlife”) if it is legal. I’m betting they’ll say “No, it is not legal to use a .17 cal rifle to hunt deer”.
March 10th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Possible? Yes
Legal? No
Humane? No
It’s also possible to kill a deer with a butter knife (granted you would have to be extremely lucky and talented)…doesn’t make it a good idea.
March 10th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Use at least a .243-caliber. You’ll get a cleaner kill that way.
March 10th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Yes, it is possible at close range if you shoot the deer right between the eyes.
it is a poacher’s trick to ‘shine’ deer (hit em with a powerful spotlight, this disoreints the deer, and the deer eyes shine back brightly for the same reason they do in car headlights, and the same reason people’s eyes can look red in photographs)
Normally the poacher will use a 22 magnum or a 17 HMR to shoot the deer because it is a relatively quiet rifle.
March 10th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Well over hear in the uk its totaly iligal and i expect it is where you are as well, my preferd choice would be a 243.
But to answere your question, yes.
A roe deer at 100 yrds with a shot placement to the hart
with a v max 17grn balistic tip, with little wind ,
How do i no this,, dont ask
March 10th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
It’s possible,But in most states it is to small of a caliber. Check with the DNR.
March 10th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Yes, but it is inhumane, unethical, illegal, and you would end up wounding far more Deer than actually killing them causing undue pain and suffering, sickness, and crippling them.*
March 10th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
In not a single one of our 50 states is this legal. However, with the right bullet, given the high velocity of this round, you could certainly take deer with it.
March 10th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
you had better be a dang good shot
March 10th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
NO! Illegal. Use 30.06.
March 10th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
a .17 is a rimfire cartridge and most states and provinces prohibited big game hunting with these rounds. If your talking a .17 rem its a bit better but a mach 2 and an HMR would just would the animal. Why would you ask this? It is a stupid question…if you can’t aford a .243 30-06 or whatever then dont hunt deer it is unethical. Would you like to be shot with a .17 in the leg and have to live with the wound for the rest of your life. Im not an anti hunter i hunt all the imte but not with rim fire rifles.
March 10th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Yes its possible but illegal. Go with a .300 win mag