Tip 1:
Do it Right.
Make sure you thoroughly understand all of the laws and regulations regarding handgun hunting in your area. Rules can vary widely from state to state, and an innocent assumption can get you in big trouble. In my state, no one outside of law enforcement can carry a concealed handgun, so if your coat falls across the butt of a holstered handgun, you may be committing a felony.

Tip 2:
Safety First.
Handguns are smaller, lighter, and shorter than rifles, and it is much easier to lose control of where the muzzle is pointing. Shooting your kneecap off in a tree stand will quickly ruin your day, so be extra vigilant with that basic commandment of firearm safety: Always control the muzzle of your firearm, and never point it at anything you don’t want to shoot.

Tip 3:
Practice, Practice, Practice.
In the right hands, a high-powered, scoped handgun can reliably take deer far in excess of 100 yards. In the wrong hands, that same handgun will wound a deer at any range. Just as with rifles, muzzleloaders or bows, the difference is the shooter, not the device. Find the range at which you can put five out of five rounds into a paper plate, every time, under hunting conditions, and you have your maximum effective range with that handgun. It may be 30 yards, it may be 110, but whatever it is, don’t take a shot beyond your effective range. For me, that’s 40 yards offhand with iron sights on a .44 Magnum, and 110 yards with a supported, scoped Smith & Wesson .460.

Tip 4:
Bring Enough Gun.
Check state laws regarding minimum caliber or power laws, but make sure you use a caliber large enough for deer, and use ammunition designed for hunting. In my opinion, a .357 Magnum is the floor for deer, regardless of what the law allows. The S&W .500 and .460 are adequate for any North American big game, and again, in my opinion, are not too big for whitetails. I would rather drop an animal immediately than track it for hours. Do not substitute large calibers for shooting skill (see #3).

Tip 5:
Become a Better Hunter.
Success with a handgun requires you to be close to your quarry, just like bowhunting, and you should incorporate the tactics and techniques of bowhunting as much as possible. Pay attention to scent control, wind direction, stand placement, and preseason scouting whenever possible. If you are a decent shooter, your effective range can easily be two or three times that of a bow, but the closer your shot, the greater the chance of scoring that one-shot kill.

Tip 6:
Hunting Conditions.
I love going to the range and having fun. Getting ready for the hunting season is a little more like work. Don’t practice shooting supported from a bench, in a T-shirt, unless that’s how you will be hunting. Shoot from likely hunting positions, using your likely hunting clothes. Bring enough ammo, and spend more than a single day at the range.

Tip 7:
Support Yourself.
Shooting a handgun accurately and consistently is difficult, and gets more difficult very quickly as the range increases. Learn to give yourself every advantage, and one of the easiest is to use a support. This can be the side of a tree, the structure of a blind, shooting sticks, or your knees, when shooting from a seated position. Also, use a rangefinder, both at the range and in the field, so you know how far you are shooting. When you’re hunting be true to yourself, know your limitations, and use every advantage you can.

« Top »