The target system is for use with center fire deer rifles up to 30 caliber, so the gun I used to test the target system was my Remington 700 ADL .270 topped by the inexpensive Bushnell Banner 3x40 scope. Ammo was Remington Express Core-Lokt 130 grain jacketed soft points. I used a couple of Caldwell bag rests to stabilize the gun. I trashed all the settings on the scope until the gun was almost shooting backwards, then proceeded to try out the Hunter Education Targets.

First I unfolded and laid out the target and took a good look at it to kind of get an idea exactly what I was going to do. The instructions for how to sight in an average hunting rifle at 25 yards are included on the upper left hand corner of each target. And while the targets are specifically printed and designed for 25 yards, they have all kinds of potential to use at other distances for different reasons. But I was here to test it at 25 yards as specified.

Printed on the target are three deer. At 25 yards the deer simulate the size of a deer at 100 yards, 200 yards, and 300 yards when looking through a scope. Also on the sheet is a round bullseye target that has the number of clicks necessary to adjust a 1/4 moa scope wherever the shot lands on the target. Included with the target is this cool little "Target Shooter's Rule" that has necessary scope adjustment clicks for targets placed at 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards. It can be used with the Hunter Education Target or with any target set at any of those ranges. I used the 25 yard rule.

My intent was not to spend half a day at the range moving targets to 100, 200, 300 yards and doing all that is necessary to fine tune my rifle at any of those distances. My intent was just to see how the targets and rule basically worked. I had to see where the gun was shooting first. Make the necessary click adjustments according to the Shooter's Rule. Sight it in on the bullseye. Then shoot the 100 yard deer picture to see just how effective it is at getting the basic settings on the rifle scope with as few shots as possible. If that worked, the rest of it would work as advertised and instructed because that would have to do with the rifle and bullet trajectory, not the sighting system.

I tried a couple of shots that went well off the target and made some big click adjustments to get it on the paper. With that adjustment I got it on the paper and here were the first couple of shots.

I then measured and made the necessary number of clicks to correct the shot. Having made two shots that landed on the same side of the target but in different places, both a bit low, I measured from the one furthest away, and allowed for some sight upward adjustment according to the rule on the shot closest to center.

And here was the result of the adjustment made according to the number of clicks necessary (on the shooter's rule) at 25 yards to hit the bulls eye. One measurement and suggested adjustment resulted in this left bulls eye shot.

Then it was time to kill the hundred yard deer. Adjusting one click, I set the sight on the 100 yard deer target and here was the result. From one adjustment from the Shooter's Rule and one click right, the shot at the 100 yard deer was solidly in the kill zone.

There are a couple of other steps the target system suggests for setting the zero on the rifle for distances out to 300 yards by moving the target to 100 yards and shooting at the bullseye, adjusting the scope until the shots fall within the gray area 2.5 inches above the bullseye. This will give you an effective kill out to 300 yards aiming dead center without any holdover up to that range. That would complete the steps necessary to shoot a white tail deer out to 300 yards by just aiming where you want to hit.

The Hunter Education Target system works on the premise that the average deer rifle, sighted in at 25 yards, will shoot with a bullet trajectory that will hit within the kill zone of a deer out to 300 yards if the shooter does his/her part. The obvious disclaimer is that we all have different shooting skills and rifles will shoot differently. Scopes will adjust differently. Bullet weights and loads will affect trajectory, etc. Fine adjustments will have to be made. But for getting the basic adjustment down, the Hunter Education Target does exactly what it advertises. It allows you to sight in your rifle to dependably shoot a deer out to 300 yards with a minimum of time, money and ammo. Here's what it boiled down to with me. One shot to get on the paper. Two shots on paper off center. One adjustment. One shot in the edge of the bullseye. One click adjustment. One shot to the center of the kill zone of the 100 yard deer picture. Total shots: 5. Once you get that, it should only take a two or three more shots to make the 300 yard adjustment.

Here's what you can expect from the target system: Basic and generally accurate adjustment suggestions for sighting in your hunting rifle to dependably shoot within the kill zone of a white tail deer in a minumum amount of time, and with a minumum amount of ammo.

Here's what not to expect from the system: To make up for your shooting skills, the stability or lack thereof of your gun rest, or any malfunctions in your equipment. Don't breathe properly or jerk the trigger and the shot will still go wild. It will also not make you a marksman able to shoot the center out of dimes at long distances. Minutiae like that are up to your skills and equipment.

Bottom line: The Hunter Education Target system does what it says it does and in a minimum of time and expense. And it's fun to use. When I finished photographing the initial tests, I played with it a while because I had plenty of left over ammo (not usual when I sight in a rifle). In the shooting world, target manufacturers scream at us to buy theirs and make us yawn. But the Hunter Education targets and the included Shooter's Rule are truly innovative and helpful products that will help anybody from neophyte to expert sight in their deer rifle in a minimum of time. The target system is sold by contacting the Midsouth Photographic Specialties at 2711 Paula Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72404, (870) 932-4454 and you can also purchase them online on ebay. for the link. You get 10 targets and the Shooter's Rule for $20. Solid product. Great value. You won't be disappointed with this target system. Check their web site for the link. You get 10 targets and the Shooter's Rule for $20. Solid product. Great value. You won't be disappointed with this target system.