Closest kill

[Ravensview]

Whitetail deer off the end of the bbl, I was taking a break from still hunting and sat against an old tree stump, it was in U.P. Swamp lightly snowing out, I pulled out my sandwich had my BLR .308 laid across my knees and a four point walked right down my trail, came towards me and licked the muzzle of my rifle, when he turned to run my bbl was basically touching his shoulder and I fired, it was the dangdist thing, that was back 40 odd years ago.

 

[AZDAVE]

Warthog, 5yards, chased with bushpig dogs, 2013 Eastern cape, 450NE double, Blaauwkrantz safaris.

 

[Tra3]

Directly below my feet in a tree stand. The whitetail deer walked in and I had to lean over with my bow to loose an arrow. The arrow went right through and buried in the dirt. The buck ran in to the ladder of the stand and made it 10 yards, then tipped over.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Whitetails, crossbow, five or less yards, out of a 20' treestand, almost straight down through the vitals. They don't go far and have had some rear up on their hind legs then drop dead as a doornail.

 

[JimT]

Gray wolf in Northern Alberta shot from the hip at 7 feet. Boy was he surprised ! Boy was I thinking WTF!! LOL

 

[DWB]

Couple of Bushpigs at less than 5ft in the maize over hounds

 

[Jfet]

I did not kill the pig that close. In fact, I had to let him create some distance from me to acquire him in the scope. However, I did use the cut block drills my high school football coach had taught us as linebackers.

 

[Beretta391]

Cow elk with a bow at 6’

 

[thriller]

A feral hog with a knife(in contact) and one with a throwing spear 5-6 ft and one with a shotgun at about 2-3 ft

 

[YancyW]

In a tree stand, it was probably 30 feet or less. But on the ground, I was rifle hunting elk in WY during the rut a couple years ago, my guide called a bull in and when he came in hot, I shot him at less than 40 yards, it was self defense, he was going to run right over the top of us.

I will add, I make a horrible shot. If not for thinking quickly and getting a second shot in him when he was running away, I would have lost him for sure. Still took several hours of tracking.

 

[Red Leg]

Wild boar in Germany in the late seventies. Off the muzzle of a 12 bore SxS loaded with number 6 shot. Not sure if he was actually charging are simply breaking through the line of guns, and I happened to be there. We were hunting hares, pheasants, and huns. Though a boar was always a possibility, and several of the German hunters had drillings. I jumped to the side and fired with the muzzles basically against his ear. It was decisive.

 

[Randy F]

I’ve had a couple of close encounters.

The bear in my avatar had come in straight on on a trail at 25 yards but he heard my safety click off. Without hesitation, he backed away and disappeared. I would find out later that he would spend the next 3 hours circling me. He knew something was up but couldn’t find me. I was occasionally hearing a bear “woof” but was unaware that it was the same bear until he appeared behind me out of the thick brush at 8 yards. What a rush!

8 point whitetail buck so close that the arrow would’ve buried in his neck before it was completely off my bow. My buck tag was full and I was hunting for a doe or two to fill the freezer. I love when it starts a light rain while I’m in a stand cuz I’ll climb down and pick a trail into the wind. Shot a lot of deer that way with my bow, really a fun challenge. Quiet walking and wind in your face. I’d topped a small mound and was standing by a small tree when over the other side I could see the top edge of a deer feeding on the trail and working my way…but I couldn’t see “her” head. The trail would bring her right up to me at 5 yards by another small tree. I planned to do my thing as soon as she popped her up by that tree. But when she popped up she had a rack! I couldn’t see it until now because of the steep bank. I had pulled my bow back and was ready but now I’m face to face with a buck at less than 5 yards…just at the end of rut and I don’t have a buck tag. One of us is gonna die. I didn’t move. Adrenaline was holding my bow back but I can’t hold I forever. He saw me but had no clue what I was. Wind in my face. So I kicked my foot a little to move him away hopefully without sparking something bad. Instead he casually started walking directly at me. Now he’s at the end of my arrow. Like 2 feet. This is gonna hurt! My arrow was centered on the white patch under the chin but there’s no way this is gonna be smooth and I don’t want to shoot him anyway. So, while saying something stupid like “get out of here!”, I let my bow down and spun around behind the little tree I was standing by. You’d think he’d flee in terror. Did I mention this was at the end of the rut? Instead of bolting out of there, his ears slowly dropped back as his the hair raised on his neck and back. Here it comes and the only thing between me and a pissed off buck at 4 feet is this baseball bat sized tree. The stare down seemed like forever as I slowly got ahold of my knife. (What I was planning to do with that I have no idea). Man they can give a look! I was really convinced he was coming, but with ears still back and hair up, he slowly turned broadside to my left but kept staring. Apparently, and mercifully, he decided I wasn’t worth he effort and slowly sauntered off. I have no idea why he didn’t kick the crap out of me but I’m sure glad he changed his mind. So with adrenaline drain and pants full, I headed for my truck. Geez!

Of course there was also the “dead” whitetail buck that I spined from a tree stand, hadn’t moved a muscle for the 20 minutes I waited to be “sure”, and came alive when I went to touch his eye with a nocked arrow. His G2 ripped off a belt loop of my pants as I sidestepped away…which was in no way a planned macho move, just a terrified reaction. Pretty close to getting “groined” by that one.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Boy, some of you guys killing those nasty animals within feet or right at the end of a barrel or with a bow, crossbow, knife or a spear is pretty impressive in close quarters. I have no desire to partake in such "adventure", but I do enjoy reading about those that have. Great thread!

 

[Ragman]

The three animals under 20 yards that I remember best are:
1). A whitetail with my bow at 11 yards
2). A mule deer with my bow at 16 yards
3). A moose with my 7mm RM at 17 yards

 

[Dukeisok]

My 12 year old shot a 6 point whitetail buck at about 10 feet with a 6.5 creedmoor ar10 when we were sitting eating lunch and taking a break from hunting. The deer didn't notice us when he stuck his head out from the brush. One shot to the neck (all that was sticking out).

 

[Huntndog]

Sable at about three yards from a blind. We saw him and my PH had us run down wind to a water hole and get in a blind. After one or two minutes the PH peeked out of the blind on his side. “ He’s right here” he whispered.
I said “ ok” Then he said urgently “ He’s right here! “ and pointed just outside of the blind. I thought he wanted me to wait until he went to the water so I said “ ok” again.
Then I whispered” Do you want me to shoot him?”
If ever a look could convey” Isn’t that why you came to Africa you idiot?!!”, that’s the look I got.
I eased my .416 Rigby out of the slot and shot him at 2 or three yards .

 

[Shooter375]

5 Yards. Bull Elk. Archery. Called him in and walked right past me on the other side of a tree. I also shot a calf elk at 3 yards with a crossbow. I called the bull in and he pushed his herd right past me. I just pointed the crossbow at the elks ribs and pulled the trigger. Both elk were down in 40 yards.

 

[meigsbucks]

I didn’t shoot it extra close but I was coming down a hill and there was a low drop off. As I stepped / jumped down and the ”ground” moved. I stepped on a sleeping hog. It was as startled as I was, as he ran about ten yards and stopped. It gave me enough time to draw my .44 mag handgun and shoot him.
Also took a whitetail doe at ~3 yds with my bow. She was coming straight in and almost hit my drawn broadhead with her nose. Had to wait for her to turn for a shot.

 

[MS 9x56]

Boy, some of you guys killing those nasty animals within feet or right at the end of a barrel or with a bow, crossbow, knife or a spear is pretty impressive in close quarters. I have no desire to partake in such "adventure", but I do enjoy reading about those that have. Great thread!

In all honesty it was definitely not planned that way I can assure you.

 

[DieJager]

A young roebuck from a tree stand . Think maximum of 5 meters