First mule deer I shot was free hand while stalking. Was following one buck, then looked to my left 75 yards and there was a bigger buck. Shot once and he ran 10 feet, then stopped. I shot him again and DRT.

Once I got to him, the two holes were less than 2 inches apart and right through the heart.

That was with a Weatherby 300.

Most of the deer I have shot have been off-handed. But until the last few years (before I had to get on leases where I have been confined to hunt from box stands), I loved to hunt in the woods from climbing stands and where 75 yards was a very long shot. So it isn't like I had to shoot them a long ways off-lol.

5 deer, 1 antelope and 1 elk. Not at all what I was expecting on the antelope and elk.

1 deer - the window wouldnt roll down so i had to get out.

My first deer ever was shot free hand, walking to a tree to sit under and a doe hopped the fence 100yds out. Then a 12point hopped the fence chacing her.

One shot dropped him in his tracts with a spine shot.

Ruger M77mkII .270 w/ Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10x40 & 130gr. sierra game king BTSP hand load

2 - 25.06 & 30.06

(... the rest were sitting around in folding chairs, smokin cigars and drinkin cold beer - )

Several over the years, most with my .35, at least 2 with the old Thompson .223, and a few with a 30-30

I shot two pigs this morning with my .35 offhand while sitting in a tripod stand.

Nailed a doe once, she did a complete back flip and would have been on her feet if she was'nt DRT.

I shot my first mule deer this year. 169 yards standing. Dropped him with heart/lung shot. I was thrilled!

NONE!! Marines always live by 'One Shot, One Kill" I will never shoot at a running deer or would I consider a off hand shot unless my life was in danger and depended on it.. I use every advantage I can to make my shot true and deadly weather it be a tripod or shooting sticks.

1st deer ever with a 30-30 open sights....deer was running to me and stopped, then I nailed him clean and dropped him....I was so pumped up....Deer was 40 yards....

2 standing, but ive shot at least 2 others free handed, but in a kneeling or sitting position.

NONE.............hope to keep it that way. Not that I have an ethical problem with it. I just enjoy a GOOD rest.

me too!

Was out hunting with my 9 year old and stalked a nice 9 point on a friends place and got within 120 yards for a free hand shot. My friend talked me into taking it since I didnt think my son could make the shot. I hit it a little forward and it was a mess breaking the front shoulders and having to run up on it while flopping all over. Seriously thought my son may never want to hunt again.
Then the next week we stalked up on a doe from the same area on the last day of season. I let my son take the shot. He dropped it dead before it hit the ground. The little knucklehead quickly reminded me of how he could have made that shot.

My first was at 20 ft with 22 mag and a carbide light. His eyes were red.

First deer hunt of my life at 30 yrs old w/borrowed rifle from wife's grandpa, old Marlin 336 in 30-30 w/Simmons scope. Received the gun on Thursday, travelling all day Friday up to Amarillo, hunting Saturday morning. Never fired this weapon. (I know what you're thinking, and believe me, not the way I would have wanted to go into first hunt, couldn't be helped.)

Spot and stalk hunting on north rim of Palo Duro, actually walking back to the truck to strip some layers, and the three of us see two bucks walking in a line. Buddy who also has never hunted before, shoots the 5x5 mulie with borrowed gun, buck goes down, second one runs a little and stops. I shoot, DRT, little 2X2 with huge body, bout 175lbs dressed. First bullet I've ever fired out of this gun, aiming for boiler room, hits it in spine right in front of hips, messes up a little of the backstrap but overall ok, INCREDIBLY LUCKY that I even hit it in the first place, much less dropped it. Both of us were shooting offhand about 75-80 yards. Incredible day.

Never mind. I reread the actual question.

I shot at least five that I can remember while stalking. One Mule deer at about 50 yards, 3 whitetails (10,9 and 7pt) between 20 yards to 80 yards, 1 axis doe at about 140 yards. All were shot with Weatherby 7mmMag MarkV

I have shot a couple but the one that really stands out is my ten point. I was 14 I think and was walking down the tree line and he came barreling down the hill to my left chasing a doe and I dumped him with my .243 running at about 120 yards. One of those situations where everything came together perfect! Will never forget it

Every single one I've shot - it's not very sporting to shoot them when they are laying down. LOL

My first deer when I was about 10. We were hunting on a day lease in llano and we were walking around and jumped up 4 does and I started slinging lead. Remington 700adl 30-06 w/ fixed 4x red field scope. My daddy still uses that gun.

Every deer I've shot has been from a blind, so I've never had to worry about it. I've shot a pig running at 75 yards, and another standing at 20 yards, but most of the time manage to find a handy tree or fence post. I'm not the most steady rifle shot, so anything past 50 yards free hand is as much luck as skill.

ive shot pigs and yotes standing no deer though