Handgun hunting in Michigan can test the basic hunting skills of even the most seasoned veterans afield. Today’s modern magnum calibers offer the handgun aficionado more options than Dirty Harry ever imagined. And, while his .44 Remington Magnum can still be a formidable tool in the deer woods, it and other powerhouses like it, take some getting used to. Here is a look at some considerations for handgun hunting deer.
If you are recoil or noise-sensitive, it would be best to stick to long guns that are heavier and can absorb recoil better. A suitable handgun will typically be a handful – and, by suitable, it should be of .357 Magnum caliber or larger in fairness to the animal. In this brand of hunting, it’s go big or stay home.
The type of handgun can be single-action or double-action revolvers, single-shot, and in select cases even semi-automatic, although most self-defense style handguns are of little practical use afield because of their accuracy limitations.
Once a handgun model and caliber are selected, only practice at the shooting bench can begin to confirm the choice. If a shooter cannot keep 9 out of 10 shots within a 6-inch circle at any given distance, it won’t happen afield, when the rest is not as solid and the heart rate not as predictable. Remember that the 6-inch target is the barometer for accuracy, because it allows for marginally acceptable accuracy at or near the outer edges of the target. Or, in other words, the smaller target allows for human error that always enters the equation.
For hunting, some type of shooting rest is a must, if shots are going to beat longer ranges of 100 yards or more. In fact, most shooters will have trouble keeping shots on target beyond 25 yards without a rest. One professional handgun hunter that I know, Larry Weishuhn, carries a collapsible bipod that he uses to steady his single-shot Thompson/Center Encore pistol. If, on the other hand, you have the luxury of hunting from a fixed box blind, common sandbags can duplicate accuracy at the practice bench.
Scopes, be they magnifying or red-dot models, are a must for longer shots. If an iron-sighted gun is sighted in for shorter ranges, the front sight will block out the target at longer ranges. That makes many shots unethical, if not impossible. Not so with a scope. By elevating the crosshairs or red dot the appropriate amount, shots beyond 100 yards are possible, although still not necessarily advisable.
Assuming the handgun and caliber are up to the task of humanely dispatching a deer, it all comes down to the operator. As always, a good, crisp trigger pull is synonymous with accuracy. Our litigious society has seen to it that most factory triggers don’t pull easily, and because of that, it may be advisable to have a competent gunsmith massage a sticky trigger.
With full-power hunting loads, extreme concentration and self-control are required to master technique. It is a difficult proposition to hang on tight, yet be in control of the crosshairs, while being surprised as the gun fires; only this element of surprise will lead to accuracy.
Remember that single-shot pistols are legal in Zone III, as long as they are.35 caliber and larger and loaded with straight-walled cartridges. In the rifle zones I and II, it is legal to hunt deer with any caliber firearm, except .22 caliber or smaller rimfire(rifle or handgun).
