Best rifle for hunting whitetail deer

[Rustic]

I have an invite to go to Gillette, Wyoming and shoot prairie dogs in exchange for free camp space plus one meal a day. I'm thinking a 223 with a bipod and good scope.

That would be a blast!!!
I would actually go and buy a new rifle for it!!!

Start here...
"
Wyoming has more wildlife than people, and Campbell County is no exception! Hunt Campbell County, Wyoming ~ Gillette and Wright! With over 4,802 square miles, it is home to vast numbers of deer, white tail and mule, pronghorn antelope and small herds of elk. Hunting in Wyoming is a great way to introduce young people to the sport, as licenses are available and relatively inexpensive. Limited hunting licenses for adults are usually available for antelope, deer, and elk specific areas, so please check with the wyominggameandfish for availability.

Looking for an outfitter Campbell County has many. Click HERE for a list of Campbell County Outfitters & Guides

For more information on Hunting please contact us at the Visitor's Center at 1810S Douglas Highway Suite A or by calling (307) 686-0040."
Hunting

And then check with the local farm bureau for farmers seeking dog hunters. Private property does NOT require a permit for varmits.

That is about two hours from where I live...

So hook him up!

I live in South Dakota

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

View attachment 73568
6.8 spc.
Antelope and Prairie dog killing machine...

Some interesting numbers on the 6.8...
Sounds like it's ideally suited for for small varmints...but.
Not So Special: A Critical View Of The 6.8mm SPC - The Firearm Blog

 

[BuckToothMoron]

Very dependable gun and there are not many elk in Texas if any so the caliber is fine. Its not a Elk gun I can tell you right now.

Elk can't take a shot a run quite a bit. Definitely want high cal and good scope for the Bulls

Never had a problem dropping em with the .270,hell they ain't much bigger than an Axis and the .270 will punch all the way through even hitting ribs on the way in and out.

Now lets talk Duck. I run a Rem 870 20 with a scope. BIG scope because I like to bust them as they are coming in. And the best dog I had for fetching was a Weimaraner. His name was Chadwick and he was as clumsy as a SOB but get in the field and he was spot on.

Haven't had the opportunity to do much duck hunting, but will be taking my bow out later this week for some turkey.

Hunted Turkey in Missouri for 12 years. You want a shotgun challenge? Pheasant, they lift strait up and turn and bang they are gone. You have to shoot them as they lift otherwise good bye.

Would love to hunt pheasant. Had some good days doing dove in dry river beds here in Colorado.

 

[DarkFury]

Elk can't take a shot a run quite a bit. Definitely want high cal and good scope for the Bulls

Never had a problem dropping em with the .270,hell they ain't much bigger than an Axis and the .270 will punch all the way through even hitting ribs on the way in and out.

Now lets talk Duck. I run a Rem 870 20 with a scope. BIG scope because I like to bust them as they are coming in. And the best dog I had for fetching was a Weimaraner. His name was Chadwick and he was as clumsy as a SOB but get in the field and he was spot on.

Haven't had the opportunity to do much duck hunting, but will be taking my bow out later this week for some turkey.

Hunted Turkey in Missouri for 12 years. You want a shotgun challenge? Pheasant, they lift strait up and turn and bang they are gone. You have to shoot them as they lift otherwise good bye.

Would love to hunt pheasant. Had some good days doing dove in dry river beds here in Colorado.

Pheasant I think is the hardest bird to down. They are monster quick and have great eyesight.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Elk can't take a shot a run quite a bit. Definitely want high cal and good scope for the Bulls

Never had a problem dropping em with the .270,hell they ain't much bigger than an Axis and the .270 will punch all the way through even hitting ribs on the way in and out.

Now lets talk Duck. I run a Rem 870 20 with a scope. BIG scope because I like to bust them as they are coming in. And the best dog I had for fetching was a Weimaraner. His name was Chadwick and he was as clumsy as a SOB but get in the field and he was spot on.

Haven't had the opportunity to do much duck hunting, but will be taking my bow out later this week for some turkey.

Hunted Turkey in Missouri for 12 years. You want a shotgun challenge? Pheasant, they lift strait up and turn and bang they are gone. You have to shoot them as they lift otherwise good bye.

Would love to hunt pheasant. Had some good days doing dove in dry river beds here in Colorado.

Dove hunting is almost as good as Duck.
I love a shooting sport where I can wear shorts and sit back with a six pack and bring home dinner.

 

[Rustic]

View attachment 73568
6.8 spc.
Antelope and Prairie dog killing machine...

Some interesting numbers on the 6.8...
Sounds like it's ideally suited for for small varmints...but.
Not So Special: A Critical View Of The 6.8mm SPC - The Firearm Blog

I have used it on everything from mule deer to prairie dogs, it is extremely accurate. I have a custom made Broughton barrel on it.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Never had a problem dropping em with the .270,hell they ain't much bigger than an Axis and the .270 will punch all the way through even hitting ribs on the way in and out.

Now lets talk Duck. I run a Rem 870 20 with a scope. BIG scope because I like to bust them as they are coming in. And the best dog I had for fetching was a Weimaraner. His name was Chadwick and he was as clumsy as a SOB but get in the field and he was spot on.

Haven't had the opportunity to do much duck hunting, but will be taking my bow out later this week for some turkey.

Hunted Turkey in Missouri for 12 years. You want a shotgun challenge? Pheasant, they lift strait up and turn and bang they are gone. You have to shoot them as they lift otherwise good bye.

Would love to hunt pheasant. Had some good days doing dove in dry river beds here in Colorado.

Pheasant I think is the hardest bird to down. They are monster quick and have great eyesight.

Cant say how hard they are to shoot since i've never had the opportunity.
But down south these little bastards will drive you nuts..

 

[Rustic]

Elk can't take a shot a run quite a bit. Definitely want high cal and good scope for the Bulls

Never had a problem dropping em with the .270,hell they ain't much bigger than an Axis and the .270 will punch all the way through even hitting ribs on the way in and out.

Now lets talk Duck. I run a Rem 870 20 with a scope. BIG scope because I like to bust them as they are coming in. And the best dog I had for fetching was a Weimaraner. His name was Chadwick and he was as clumsy as a SOB but get in the field and he was spot on.

Haven't had the opportunity to do much duck hunting, but will be taking my bow out later this week for some turkey.

Hunted Turkey in Missouri for 12 years. You want a shotgun challenge? Pheasant, they lift strait up and turn and bang they are gone. You have to shoot them as they lift otherwise good bye.

Would love to hunt pheasant. Had some good days doing dove in dry river beds here in Colorado.

Hard to beat South Dakota for pheasant hunting… A lot of fun.

 

[BuckToothMoron]

Whitetail deer are not huge animals. Nor are they particularly tough skinned. So anything above a .243 should work well enough. (yeah, I know there are people who hunt deer with a .223, but not me)

As for action, I think the Ruger No. 1 is the best. Being a single shot, you lose about 4 inches of overall length, while keeping the same barrel length.

Anyone else have an opinion?

As always, it isn't what you're hunting ... it's WHERE you're hunting.

If you hunt in the northwoods of the midwest - as I've done - a .30-.30 is sufficient because you'll never take a shot over 75 yards. However, the deer can be rather large (175 - 225 lbs), so the increased kill power is necessary.

If you hunt them in Texas - where the deer about the size of a big dog - a .243 would be good enough.

In Colorado - where I hunt now - a .308 (my current favorite) is appropriate because most shots are a greater distance and the deer are much larger than Texas. (The last mule deer I killed was about 280 yards). Of course, to be honest, you are usually hunting elk at the same time.

Your Texas example is somewhat on target.
White tail in South Texas are huge as are the Axis in the hill country.
And of course you have Mule deer in West Texas.
And while the White Tail In the Hill Country are smaller I can shoot five a year,two bucks and three doe,and that doesnt count exotics.
I shot nine deer of various types off my back porch one year,and that doesnt count the two dozen hogs.

We got hogs here in Arizona so damn thick we hunt them with hand guns. Taurus 41 mag for me.

Are those hogs good eating, I may have to try that...bucket list.

 

[DarkFury]

Never had a problem dropping em with the .270,hell they ain't much bigger than an Axis and the .270 will punch all the way through even hitting ribs on the way in and out.

Now lets talk Duck. I run a Rem 870 20 with a scope. BIG scope because I like to bust them as they are coming in. And the best dog I had for fetching was a Weimaraner. His name was Chadwick and he was as clumsy as a SOB but get in the field and he was spot on.

Haven't had the opportunity to do much duck hunting, but will be taking my bow out later this week for some turkey.

Hunted Turkey in Missouri for 12 years. You want a shotgun challenge? Pheasant, they lift strait up and turn and bang they are gone. You have to shoot them as they lift otherwise good bye.

Would love to hunt pheasant. Had some good days doing dove in dry river beds here in Colorado.

Dove hunting is almost as good as Duck.
I love a shooting sport where I can wear shorts and sit back with a six pack and bring home dinner.

The hogs here run a fence line about 50 feet from my door. I can post AND hunt from my porch!

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

View attachment 73568
6.8 spc.
Antelope and Prairie dog killing machine...

Some interesting numbers on the 6.8...
Sounds like it's ideally suited for for small varmints...but.
Not So Special: A Critical View Of The 6.8mm SPC - The Firearm Blog

I have used it on everything from mule deer to prairie dogs, it is extremely accurate. I have a custom made Broughton barrel on it.

You know how firearms critics are.
Kinda like the assholes who said Apocalypse Now sucked.

 

[Rustic]

This we're I go pheasant hunting...

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Whitetail deer are not huge animals. Nor are they particularly tough skinned. So anything above a .243 should work well enough. (yeah, I know there are people who hunt deer with a .223, but not me)

As for action, I think the Ruger No. 1 is the best. Being a single shot, you lose about 4 inches of overall length, while keeping the same barrel length.

Anyone else have an opinion?

As always, it isn't what you're hunting ... it's WHERE you're hunting.

If you hunt in the northwoods of the midwest - as I've done - a .30-.30 is sufficient because you'll never take a shot over 75 yards. However, the deer can be rather large (175 - 225 lbs), so the increased kill power is necessary.

If you hunt them in Texas - where the deer about the size of a big dog - a .243 would be good enough.

In Colorado - where I hunt now - a .308 (my current favorite) is appropriate because most shots are a greater distance and the deer are much larger than Texas. (The last mule deer I killed was about 280 yards). Of course, to be honest, you are usually hunting elk at the same time.

Your Texas example is somewhat on target.
White tail in South Texas are huge as are the Axis in the hill country.
And of course you have Mule deer in West Texas.
And while the White Tail In the Hill Country are smaller I can shoot five a year,two bucks and three doe,and that doesnt count exotics.
I shot nine deer of various types off my back porch one year,and that doesnt count the two dozen hogs.

We got hogs here in Arizona so damn thick we hunt them with hand guns. Taurus 41 mag for me.

Are those hogs good eating, I may have to try that...bucket list.

You can eat em at any size but the yearlings are your best bet.
They havent spent the whole summer picking up parasites and they're more tender.

 

[DarkFury]

Whitetail deer are not huge animals. Nor are they particularly tough skinned. So anything above a .243 should work well enough. (yeah, I know there are people who hunt deer with a .223, but not me)

As for action, I think the Ruger No. 1 is the best. Being a single shot, you lose about 4 inches of overall length, while keeping the same barrel length.

Anyone else have an opinion?

As always, it isn't what you're hunting ... it's WHERE you're hunting.

If you hunt in the northwoods of the midwest - as I've done - a .30-.30 is sufficient because you'll never take a shot over 75 yards. However, the deer can be rather large (175 - 225 lbs), so the increased kill power is necessary.

If you hunt them in Texas - where the deer about the size of a big dog - a .243 would be good enough.

In Colorado - where I hunt now - a .308 (my current favorite) is appropriate because most shots are a greater distance and the deer are much larger than Texas. (The last mule deer I killed was about 280 yards). Of course, to be honest, you are usually hunting elk at the same time.

Your Texas example is somewhat on target.
White tail in South Texas are huge as are the Axis in the hill country.
And of course you have Mule deer in West Texas.
And while the White Tail In the Hill Country are smaller I can shoot five a year,two bucks and three doe,and that doesnt count exotics.
I shot nine deer of various types off my back porch one year,and that doesnt count the two dozen hogs.

We got hogs here in Arizona so damn thick we hunt them with hand guns. Taurus 41 mag for me.

Are those hogs good eating, I may have to try that...bucket list.

Yeah, about 35 lbs of meat on average. They tend to be leaner then farm hogs.

 

[DarkFury]

Whitetail deer are not huge animals. Nor are they particularly tough skinned. So anything above a .243 should work well enough. (yeah, I know there are people who hunt deer with a .223, but not me)

As for action, I think the Ruger No. 1 is the best. Being a single shot, you lose about 4 inches of overall length, while keeping the same barrel length.

Anyone else have an opinion?

As always, it isn't what you're hunting ... it's WHERE you're hunting.

If you hunt in the northwoods of the midwest - as I've done - a .30-.30 is sufficient because you'll never take a shot over 75 yards. However, the deer can be rather large (175 - 225 lbs), so the increased kill power is necessary.

If you hunt them in Texas - where the deer about the size of a big dog - a .243 would be good enough.

In Colorado - where I hunt now - a .308 (my current favorite) is appropriate because most shots are a greater distance and the deer are much larger than Texas. (The last mule deer I killed was about 280 yards). Of course, to be honest, you are usually hunting elk at the same time.

Your Texas example is somewhat on target.
White tail in South Texas are huge as are the Axis in the hill country.
And of course you have Mule deer in West Texas.
And while the White Tail In the Hill Country are smaller I can shoot five a year,two bucks and three doe,and that doesnt count exotics.
I shot nine deer of various types off my back porch one year,and that doesnt count the two dozen hogs.

We got hogs here in Arizona so damn thick we hunt them with hand guns. Taurus 41 mag for me.

Are those hogs good eating, I may have to try that...bucket list.

You can eat em at any size but the yearlings are your best bet.
They havent spent the whole summer picking up parasites and they're more tender.

Rustic you need to hook this man up with a farmer for some free dog hunting.

 

[Rustic]

As always, it isn't what you're hunting ... it's WHERE you're hunting.

If you hunt in the northwoods of the midwest - as I've done - a .30-.30 is sufficient because you'll never take a shot over 75 yards. However, the deer can be rather large (175 - 225 lbs), so the increased kill power is necessary.

If you hunt them in Texas - where the deer about the size of a big dog - a .243 would be good enough.

In Colorado - where I hunt now - a .308 (my current favorite) is appropriate because most shots are a greater distance and the deer are much larger than Texas. (The last mule deer I killed was about 280 yards). Of course, to be honest, you are usually hunting elk at the same time.

Your Texas example is somewhat on target.
White tail in South Texas are huge as are the Axis in the hill country.
And of course you have Mule deer in West Texas.
And while the White Tail In the Hill Country are smaller I can shoot five a year,two bucks and three doe,and that doesnt count exotics.
I shot nine deer of various types off my back porch one year,and that doesnt count the two dozen hogs.

We got hogs here in Arizona so damn thick we hunt them with hand guns. Taurus 41 mag for me.

Are those hogs good eating, I may have to try that...bucket list.

You can eat em at any size but the yearlings are your best bet.
They havent spent the whole summer picking up parasites and they're more tender.

Rustic you need to hook this man up with a farmer for some free dog hunting.

Cool beans...

 

[DarkFury]

Your Texas example is somewhat on target.
White tail in South Texas are huge as are the Axis in the hill country.
And of course you have Mule deer in West Texas.
And while the White Tail In the Hill Country are smaller I can shoot five a year,two bucks and three doe,and that doesnt count exotics.
I shot nine deer of various types off my back porch one year,and that doesnt count the two dozen hogs.

We got hogs here in Arizona so damn thick we hunt them with hand guns. Taurus 41 mag for me.

Are those hogs good eating, I may have to try that...bucket list.

You can eat em at any size but the yearlings are your best bet.
They havent spent the whole summer picking up parasites and they're more tender.

Rustic you need to hook this man up with a farmer for some free dog hunting.

Cool beans...

He hunts dogs ONE TIME he will every year for the rest of his life. Its the closet thing to live sniper there is.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

We got hogs here in Arizona so damn thick we hunt them with hand guns. Taurus 41 mag for me.

Are those hogs good eating, I may have to try that...bucket list.

You can eat em at any size but the yearlings are your best bet.
They havent spent the whole summer picking up parasites and they're more tender.

Rustic you need to hook this man up with a farmer for some free dog hunting.

Cool beans...

He hunts dogs ONE TIME he will every year for the rest of his life. Its the closet thing to live sniper there is.

I love sharpshooting!!

 

[DarkFury]

Are those hogs good eating, I may have to try that...bucket list.

You can eat em at any size but the yearlings are your best bet.
They havent spent the whole summer picking up parasites and they're more tender.

Rustic you need to hook this man up with a farmer for some free dog hunting.

Cool beans...

He hunts dogs ONE TIME he will every year for the rest of his life. Its the closet thing to live sniper there is.

I love sharpshooting!!

I'm going with a bolt action 223 with bipod and a 6x42 scope.

 

[skye]

sorry

why would anybody.....would want to kill a deer? why?

why?