Where is here that you have so many deer? In my very restricted state of New York it's illegal to even field a .22 during deer season. What kind of ranges are you taking heart shots at a deer and killing it with a .22? I can see getting lucky but wouldn't the rib cage deflect or stop the rounds at any kind of distance? I have seen a deer taken with a headshot at about 40 yards using a 22 hornet and I thought that was never going to work until I saw it happen. I never even really considered a .22LR for the job if I was allowed for me.