The creation of the Deer Season XP was a combination of decades of Winchester experience to make the perfect choice for whitetail deer hunting ammunition. Accuracy, combined with massive bullet impact performance means that Deer Season XP is a great choice for all deer hunters.

Both versions of Deer Season XP are designed for devastation. The oversized tip meets the jacket and core for large impact diameter, delivering massive trauma. Deer Season XP Copper Impact, however, is an all-copper bullet, giving a helpful, lead-free alternative for hunters.

Winchester® designed their Deer Season XP™ . 243 Winchester 95 Grain Centerfire Rifle Ammo specifically for hunting whitetail deer - America's most popular big game animal. Winchester uses the XP (Extreme Point™) bullet in this premium rifle ammunition that puts deer down instantly.

Deer Season XP ammunition combines extensive experience into a product engineered specifically for deer hunters. The Extreme Point bullet features an oversized impact diameter. The larger impact diameter means more impact trauma, better energy transfer and larger wound cavities for faster knockdown.

Field & Stream tells us that the average shot distance for deer hunting is about 100 yards or less. Still, sometimes, you will want to take a shot at a long range, such as 300 or 400 yards. When Field & Stream experimented with distances, they found that they were threats to deer at distances up to 300 yards.

The goal is to hit the lung and liver. The quartering-to shot is not a horrible angle for rifle hunters, but not ideal either. If the deer is not going to give you a better angle, then aim right behind the elbow of the lead leg. Other choices are between the lead leg and breastplate or high shoulder.

While a grunting and snort-wheeze fest might not be the best way to bring a deer close, a soft contact grunt or a bleat might. If you're more concerned with meat than antlers, soft, plaintive bleating to does that are out of range can bring them back around.

Food Plots It's a dream scenario for most hunters: having one of the best late season deer food sources around. But it doesn't have to be just corn or beans. Other good late season food plots include grains (e.g., wheat, oats, rye, etc.), turnips, radishes, and winter peas.

Best Deer Hunting Calibers of 2023

Hollow points are generally designed for rapid expansion, and even near-explosive fragmentation at high velocities. For deer hunting, they work well out of slower, large-caliber rifles.

Heavier grain means more energy and impact to the animal for a clean kill, but it does mean more recoil, and the cartridge travels slower. The heavier the grain, the more force delivered to the threat. At short distances, heavy grain is more effective for self-defensive shooting.

Popular calibers such as 9mm, . 223, 45, and . 40 S&W rounds have been the hardest to find.