Did You Know that Shooting Running Deer Used to Be an Olympic Event?

If you enjoyed yesterday’s Outdoor Hub article, here’s another weird past-Olympic event that debuted in the 1908 games: Running Deer Shooting. This target-shooting event was part of the Olympic program from 1908 to 1948 and was discontinued after that. There were two different variations of the event, single-shot and double-shot, based on the number of shots fired at the target during each run.

The event consisted of a deer-shaped target that made ten 75-foot runs. Each run, which lasted about 4 seconds, took place at a distance of 110 yards from the shooter. The target had three concentric circles. The smallest circle carried four points, three for the middle circle, and the outermost circle carried two points. A shot that hit the target outside of the circles also counted for one point, provided the hit was not on the haunch (butt and thigh). The event judged for a maximum of 80 possible points.

Oldest ever Olympic medalist was 64 when he got his second gold, Oscar Swahn. 3 gold, 1 silver, 2 brons. Great Swede!

In its 1908 debut, Oscar Swahn of Sweden won the gold medal in the single-shot event, and the bronze medal in the double-shot event. Walter Winans of the United States took the gold in the double-shot event.

This is one event that we really want back.

OutdoorHub Editor: Keenan Crow

Keenan Crow is an outdoor writer who graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in journalism and creative writing. He has been writing for OutdoorHub for nearly five years, but anybody he is close with will tell you he has been telling hunting stories for far longer. He uses his experiences outdoors to write about things he loves - bow hunting, fishing, upland hunting, shed hunting, turkey hunting, waterfowl hunting, dog training, shotguns, ATVs and the outdoor lifestyle he lives in his home state of Michigan. Outside of hunting/fishing, he also loves to cook - especially with wild game - play golf and go on hikes with his yellow lab, Stella.