What caliber gun has killed the most deer in No. America?

[dryheat]

For some reason catching fish came up in the discussion. She was telling me that they caught fish with just line hand held. I mentioned that the good ol boys down south caught catfish by just jamming their fists in their mouths. There's a term for it.
I've caught fish from under embankments. Y,know, moss backs. I do it the old fashioned way. I always let them go. It's a better memory.

[dryheat]

I have killed at least 3 whitetails with a .22 pistol. All were injured in some way or another 2 in car crashes and one great big 12 point buck. It was 2 weeks after deer season had ended and he had a broad head arrow that was imbedded in a shoulder blade and was struggling to get out of a soft bog. The infection was so elevated you could smell him yards away. The .22 was the only weapon I had and one round to the back of his head ended his suffering. As with any game, placement is extremely important, whether it is a .22, 30-30, or a bow.

That's damn good Red. I shot a deer lying on the hiway (out in the country) just after it had been hit by a car or something. Ruger Mark I pistol. After I drug the carcass into the ditch the lead was still lying on the pavement. Went completely through. I momentarily wondered about putting it in the trunk and taking it home but that was a dimwit idea. We don't have deer up the ass like some parts of the country.

I can't imagine killing a deer with a .22. Well, I guess if I try I could. The biggest thing I've shot is a snowshoe hare when I was twelve. Except for the deer.

[JimF]

. . . . . I could certainly have dropped that buck or the afore mention doe with no drama by putting a common lead .22 LR bullet into its brain pan. Sincerely. bruce.

Bruce, you reminded me of the story a friend (now departed) once related to me . .

Back in the 1940?s, Ken was married to a nurse at a local hospital (back when nurses wore ?hospital white? uniforms) and Ken worked for the power company.
His job was to walk the high tension power line through the woods and valleys for a distance of some 10 or 12 miles. He often toted a .22 rifle and would sometimes ?pot? a whitetail by carefully placing his shot in the ear canal, into the brain. Later, he would contact his wife to help him drag the deer home. Sometimes she would still be in her white uniform, which didn?t go down too well with her.

[jjrothWA]

At least the .50BMG, eliminates the cleaning and gutting phase and the cooking / eating phase!

[Vern Humphrey]

not sure if it is still in place, but Crows in VA at one time could only be hunted Mon, Wed, Fri

there is also a specific section on a river in the western part of the state where you shoot fish, legally, from a ladder in the river or boat, with a rifle,

that's right , fishing with a firearm

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/adminco...20/section150/

That started right after WWI when the good 'ol boys brought home surplus military rifles, and were looking for fun things to do with them.

[lyman]

For some reason catching fish came up in the discussion. She was telling me that they caught fish with just line hand held. I mentioned that the good ol boys down south caught catfish by just jamming their fists in their mouths. There's a term for it.
I've caught fish from under embankments. Y,know, moss backs. I do it the old fashioned way. I always let them go. It's a better memory.

Noodling,

there are some Vids out there of a young woman with some of her family,

little bitty woman, catches catfish that are quite large ,

[Allen]

I knew some folks that moved into our area that were from the "hills". They fished all the conventional ways but used an old guitar string to fish for fish that would not bite bait on a hook.

In shallow streams I've often seen these huge fish (30" or so) drifting about ever so slowly not paying any mind to anything or anyone. These folks I spoke of would lay on the bank of the stream and patiently wait for them then slowly guide the loop end of the guitar string around their head and jerk them out of the water.

The only guess I can come up with is these are sturgeon's. They aren't catfish or gars. They're long, light colored and move very slowly.

Now, is there a term for fishing with a guitar string other than "redneck fishing"?

[jmm03]

the deer population grew past sustainability(due to misguided management) years back in New Jersey and Fish and Game had to cull the over population due to disease, starvation and death by auto. the story I heard was the game warden would find out where the little old ladies in town were feeding the poor creatures and then set up at night with a suppressed .22 and thin the herd. Maybe just a good story, but efficient at any rate. Oh, Mr.Humphrey, wasn't 160 grain a little over the top for bushy tailed rats? Jim

[lyman]

the deer population grew past sustainability(due to misguided management) years back in New Jersey and Fish and Game had to cull the over population due to disease, starvation and death by auto. the story I heard was the game warden would find out where the little old ladies in town were feeding the poor creatures and then set up at night with a suppressed .22 and thin the herd. Maybe just a good story, but efficient at any rate. Oh, Mr.Humphrey, wasn't 160 grain a little over the top for bushy tailed rats? Jim

I know a guy that is an avid bow hunter,

he and his club go into the high end neighbors and bow hunt,

rules are kill all you can, but they better be clean kills, as in if you unsure of the shot, don't,

no residue, drag the deer out and gut it at home,

and not around any people,


the rich folks don't want to do the deed, or see it done, but are tired of replanting ornamentals,,

[dogtag]

I'm assuming these Deer killers were HV like Stingers ?

The June 71 copy of American Rifleman has a large section devoted to
the history of the 22 from the first Short 1857, First Long 1871, LR 1877
plus all the early variants. The article shows boxes going all the way back
plus a pic showing 40 different head stamps. Real interesting stuff.

[Art]

I know a guy that is an avid bow hunter,

he and his club go into the high end neighbors and bow hunt,

rules are kill all you can, but they better be clean kills, as in if you unsure of the shot, don't,

no residue, drag the deer out and gut it at home,

and not around any people,


the rich folks don't want to do the deed, or see it done, but are tired of replanting ornamentals,,

Well, its pest control, but yeah you're right. Our daughter likes to hunt and fish but won't kill anything with fur. Birds and fish, ok deer, rabbits, squirrels, no dice. We all have our "sensitivities."

One of my best friends used to razz me often about being a hunter, finally I told him you enjoy a good steak, right? Upon his affirmative answer I told him that the difference between him and me was he always hired a hit man while I did some of my own killing.

[Allen]

I'm assuming these Deer killers were HV like Stingers ?

The June 71 copy of American Rifleman has a large section devoted to
the history of the 22 from the first Short 1857, First Long 1871, LR 1877
plus all the early variants. The article shows boxes going all the way back
plus a pic showing 40 different head stamps. Real interesting stuff.

Along with BB caps in 1845. Also, somewhere along the line the powder switched from black powder to smokeless.

- - - Updated - - -

Well, its pest control, but yeah you're right. Our daughter likes to hunt and fish but won't kill anything with fur. Birds and fish, ok deer, rabbits, squirrels, no dice. We all have our "sensitivities."

One of my best friends used to razz me often about being a hunter, finally I told him you enjoy a good steak, right? Upon his affirmative answer I told him that the difference between him and me was he always hired a hit man while I did some of my own killing.

I would be a vegetarian if I could find and stomach an alternate source of protein.

My wife will only eat chicken and some seafood's. A friend of ours developed cancer from red meat not digesting or being slow to digest in her system so my wife hasn't touched red meat since and won't touch pork due to the fat/salt/preservatives.

[Art]

Feathers.

My daughter and I on our first duck hunt together (it was a guided hunt.) She killed 5 birds with 17 shells and asked me if that was good. I told her most people on their first hunt against live targets are lucky to get a feather. The gal can shoot a shotgun. She's slightly built and one of the guides offered her a 20 gage automatic, she shoots a 12 gage Remington 870. I told the young man "she'll be fine."

You'll see a beautiful ringneck drake on the strap, I should have had him mounted.....oh well. I got him and his hen as a double, don't do that every day let me tell you.

heavy strap.jpg

[Allen]

Good picture of all of you.

A lot of work and eating on those birds.

[Art]

Good picture of all of you.

A lot of work and eating on those birds.

Funny you should mention that. Between us and the guides we had 24 birds. On the way out they told us they were all ours. We talked a young apprentice guide into taking one limit (6) but that's still 18 birds left for us. The hunt was a gift to my daughter who had always wanted to go but she knew I wasn't going to clean 18 birds by myself. At that point one of the guides said we'll clean them for you for $4.00 a piece. She said "sold."