Handgun Hunting Discussion

After moving to northern Alabama from Texas year ago I was finally able to lease a small tract to hunt - but it's loaded with deer. It is all close quarters (thick brush) and the deer are super spooky! I was desparate to knock down my first Alabama deer and the danger of a wounded deer leaving the small tract where I could not recover it had me scrambling and thinking. I finally decided that, at least for the first one, a headshot with the 357 carbine would be just the ticket. Still not easy. I was sitting in a tiny pop up blind with no wiggle room. This doe came out on my far right. No way to turn or she would bust me as she was already staring me down. I had to shoot left handed, with the rifle canted! I put the red dot right between her eyes, muttered the quick prayer I always say before I shoot, and sent a hail Mary. No one was more surprised than me when she dropped. I would never have made that shot with a traditional scoped rifle as I would never have gotten a full view circle in the scope. Red dots work great for close, quick, off center shots!

Now that the initial impatience, worry and jitters are gone it's back to handguns only again. I will still have to really pick my shots though, to keep any tracking jobs very short if any.