Hunting Deer With a Handgun
Deer are where most handgun hunters start and where the sidearm shines. Here is how to do it well, from the cartridge in your hand to the bullet in the vitals.
For most handgun hunters, the journey begins and often stays with deer. Deer are widespread, legal to hunt with a handgun in many places, and exactly the right size for the cartridges most hunters can shoot well. A handgun deer hunt is challenging without being daunting, which makes it the perfect proving ground for the sport.
Why deer suit the handgun
A deer’s vital zone is generous enough to hit reliably at handgun range, and the animal is not so large or tough that it demands a big bore. That puts deer squarely within the comfortable ability of the most popular hunting cartridges, and it means a well-placed shot from a moderate handgun does the job cleanly. Deer reward marksmanship and patience, which is what the sport is about.
Cartridge and bullet
The .44 Magnum is the classic deer choice and arguably ideal, but the field is wide: the .357 Magnum at the low end with good bullets and close range, the 10mm and .41 Magnum in the middle, and the big bores at the top, covered in best calibers. Whatever you choose, pick a hunting bullet that penetrates and expands appropriately on deer, and confirm it meets your state’s legal minimum.
Range and shot
Keep it close and broadside. Most handgun deer are taken inside the distance the hunter can shoot reliably from field positions, often well under 100 yards. Aim for the heart-lung zone low and just behind the front shoulder on a broadside or quartering-away deer, the placement covered in our shot placement guide. Pass head-on, quartering-toward, and moving shots.
Tactics that work
Because the handgun is a close-range tool, deer tactics revolve around getting near undetected. Hunting from a stand or blind over a feeding area or trail lets deer come to you inside your range. Careful still-hunting and stalking can work for the patient. Either way, the goal is the same: close the distance, get steady, and wait for the broadside shot. A shooting rest or sticks helps enormously.
After the shot
After a good hit, give the deer time, then take up the trail carefully and recover the animal. Field dress it promptly to cool the meat, and handle it cleanly, as covered in our field-to-table guide. A clean shot and diligent recovery are what make a handgun deer hunt something to be proud of.