Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game How much time….

One season I set up in mid-day across a meadow from a timbered ridge where I knew there was a bull moose, or more. I put my partner on the meadow. Near sundown, after 8 hours of me calling every hour or so, he whacked a bull as it came fast-trotting across the meadow toward my position.

He had maybe 5 seconds to make the shot. And a good one it was.

It's a good spot, but I've timed two moose just WALKING across the meadow in 21 seconds.... ya gotta pay attention!

But he bitched about sitting there "8 whole hours"......

If I am by myself easing along pretending I can sneak up on game, I hunt with a cartridge up the spout and my finger on the safety. Just like I would when hunting upland birds or rabbits or jump shooting ducks with a shotgun. I do a lot of shotgun shooting.
I have taken quite a few deer and a couple elk and moose under those conditions where there was certainly no more than three seconds or so between spotting the game and the shot. But the shot has to be close for that to work, under 100 yards. If any farther range or if hunting in a group situation, it takes far more time, load, take a rest, aim carefully, maybe 10 -15 seconds or so.

It depends on my mental state, and what I've already decided to do or not.

If it's last day of deer season and I have determined that I am killing the next legal animal, period, then about 2 seconds is all it will take.

If it's opening day and I'm being picky and a bit lazy, I will hesitate a lot. It usually takes me a "few days in the woods" to get that sixth-sense killer instinct back anyway.

I did once lay in a field after a stalk for over 3 hours, just waiting for the big one to stand up and give me a nice easy 40-yard shot.