Hunting & Fishing Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

[KClark]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

PGS, that is an awesome MT goat. Good job on a long, well planned and executed shot.

Now back to the pissing match.

 

[psinclair]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Thanks! I look at as "all good"....Everyone has different opinions and ideas. The sun will keep coming up...

 

[spaniel]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

I know people that make me sick for taking a 100yd shot and some who make 600yds look like absolutely nothing. There is no rational basis for taking an arbitrary range and judging someone else by it, it all depends on skill and equipment.

No offense to those on here who know what they are doing but given all the pics of $3K-$5K rifles on here I'm getting a chuckle at the frequency with which 300-400yds is considered a difficult shot. If you own a $3-$5K rifle and think 400 yds is a long shot you wasted your money. I've taken big game to 700yds with centerfire (factory Sendero no less!) and just shy of 350 yds with a muzzleloader, I've made a few bad shots (2-3 in 15 or so years) at close range due to over-confidence but have yet to mess up a "long" one because I must sit and think about those ones and take my time...

 

[elkkid3]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PGS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My self imposed rules when hunting big game is never take a shot unless you are 100% sure you will make the shot....Thats my opinion.</div></div>

Thats what I was getting at, The 20 shots out of 20 shots was way to much. Nice lope by the way.

 

[aqualung]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HathcockWannebe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I detest hunters that wound game due to carelessness, but it's entirely feasible to ethically take game at ranges beyond 1k.


Just my not-so-humble opinion.
-The Kid. </div></div>

Feasable? possibly. Ethical? Certainly not.

The ethics part come into it when you do NOT make that kill shot. Oh, and in my experience there is no such thing as an instant kill shot unless you are taking out the 'electrics' rather than the hydraulics or pneumatics.

So, how long will it take you to cover the 1000yds to get to the point you <span style="font-style: italic">THOUGHT</span> the animal was standing? Then you can start looking for "paint and pins", and track the animal.

The SAS selection requirement is to cover the ground at a speed of 3kph, so lets say you are super fit and can actually cover the distance of 1000m in the 20min it would take an SAS Trooper. How far can a wounded Elk run in 20 min?

THAT'S the part that's unethical, NOT when everything goes right, but when something goes wrong.

Not every shot I make is perfect. Are you one of those steely-eyed Demi-God killers who NEVER makes a mistake or fluffs a shot? Be honest. No, thought not. Those people only exist in novels and films.

Do not confuse skill and ethics. They are two entirely different things.

N

 

[DBohn]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Paduan Learner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

The SAS selection requirement is to cover the ground at a speed of 3kph, so lets say you are super fit and can actually cover the distance of 1000m in the 20min it would take an SAS Trooper. How far can a wounded Elk run in 20 min?

</div></div>

Are you serious? 20 min to cover 1000m. That's equivalent to 1 mile in 32 min. The average human walks 3 mph(4.8 kph) which is a mile every 20 minutes. Your standards of "super fitness" are obviously different then mine.

 

[striker nz]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DBohn</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Paduan Learner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

The SAS selection requirement is to cover the ground at a speed of 3kph, so lets say you are super fit and can actually cover the distance of 1000m in the 20min it would take an SAS Trooper. How far can a wounded Elk run in 20 min?

</div></div>

Are you serious? 20 min to cover 1000m. That's equivalent to 1 mile in 32 min. The average human walks 3 mph(4.8 kph) which is a mile every 20 minutes. Your standards of "super fitness" are obviously different then mine.
</div></div>

I think you will find that speed is over all and any terain with full combat load out and or day or night. that is a fair bit more than what you could expect of an ordanary civilian

 

[DBohn]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: striker nz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DBohn</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Paduan Learner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

The SAS selection requirement is to cover the ground at a speed of 3kph, so lets say you are super fit and can actually cover the distance of 1000m in the 20min it would take an SAS Trooper. How far can a wounded Elk run in 20 min?

</div></div>

Are you serious? 20 min to cover 1000m. That's equivalent to 1 mile in 32 min. The average human walks 3 mph(4.8 kph) which is a mile every 20 minutes. Your standards of "super fitness" are obviously different then mine.
</div></div>

I think you will find that speed is over all and any terain with full combat load out and or day or night. that is a fair bit more than what you could expect of an ordanary civilian </div></div>

Are you trying to say that there are people hunting in full combat gear? I don't think someone has to be super fit to cover 1000m in 20 min while hunting.

 

[psinclair]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Anyone who's done much elk hunting at all, or deer hunting for that matter should know that you dont go blundering ass over tea kettle into a wounded animal anyway...thats the best way to get it up and moving and most likely push it in to next township without recovering it...

 

[BkCntryXtrme]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

I agree, sad that anyone thinks that boresighted means ready to hunt. Another common thing I see all the time is some dude at the range sighting in his rifle with "cheaper" loads, then loading their gun with "premium" ammo when they head out for the hunt, thinking if they buy same weight bullet in premium, they should have same impact point. Man I have seen a ton of guys do this...sucks

 

[spaniel]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BkCntryXtrme</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I agree, sad that anyone thinks that boresighted means ready to hunt. Another common thing I see all the time is some dude at the range sighting in his rifle with "cheaper" loads, then loading their gun with "premium" ammo when they head out for the hunt, thinking if they buy same weight bullet in premium, they should have same impact point. Man I have seen a ton of guys do this...sucks </div></div>

I agree 100%, however extrapolating these cases to represent everyone who may take "long" shots, as some on this thread are doing (this is not directed at you BkCntryXtrme), is simply a purposely dishonest strawman.

The only elk I've shot was almost 700 yards. I'd had him at 80 yards the day before and would happily have taken him then but could not get a clear shot. I found myself pinned down, with him above and me below unable to maneuver at all without being seen and blowing him over the mountain. I was not surprised when I hit him nor that the shots were in the vitals where they belonged; I would have been surprised if I'd missed as I had practiced well beyond that range under field conditions.

I'm not going to feel bad about taking a shot I've prepared for, on the last day of an expensive cross-country, wilderness backpacking hunt because someone on the internet who has never bothered to gather the requisite knowledge scoffs at the idea.

 

[elkkid3]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Just so everyone knows I am not against long range hunting! I think it is fine, If you can make the shoot go for it. If I was confident about making the shot I would take a "Long shot" on game. What I am against are the people that just sight in there rifle and go shoot 600+ yards at game. If you don't think people do it.... Think again. I have glassed people that emptied boxes on animals at 600-800 yards. Then they don't ever go look for blood. "The animal didn't fall over we didn't hit it". I have been on a lot of elk hunts for my age. If you think elk just fall over every time with 1 good hit you haven't been hunting long.

 

[krink85]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Wont take a shot longer than 15 yards with a bow, 100 with a shot gun (slugs), and really don't get to hunt with a rifle. I practice 10-20 yrds with the bow and I can hit where I want EVERY time. But I don't like the thought of screwing up a Deer so I wont shoot a deer further than 15 and if you wait a closer shot will present its self. Its all about what you are comfortable with and practice. If you have the ability to see 1000 and shoot that far then practice it. Also practice the ranges in between. On a personal level I get a better feeling when I can see the whiskers of the animal (i hunt deer mostly) , smell its fart, be able to see and judge the rack or to be able to see if is a button buck in the doe only season. The closer the better IMO. Plus even if you don't get to take an animal you get to see and learn more by being closer. Every one has their own limits and as long as you stick to them you are golden.

 

[bigngreen]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

I have been shooting a 270 WSM for long range hunting out to 800yrds but shoot it out to 1600 yrds for practice. I thought it would be interesting to compare it to a 375 H&H, I'm not pointing at anyone just saw it come up in this thread as a great wind bucking cal and it would make a great example. I compared an average 375 H&H loaded with a 300gr bullet with a 300 yrd limit, with matching the wind deflection and trajectory I wanted to see what range my 270 WSM would have the same numbers as the 375 H&H. Drop matches at 500yrds and 5 MPH wind deflection matches at 800yrds and at 300yrds the 270 WSM has just over 400ft lbs MORE energy. If you were trying to take game at 600yrds with a cartridge like the 375 H&H, ya that's going to be harder that hell and take some excellent skill cause it is a ballistic TURD but use something designed for long range with a bullet designed for long range you still need skill but you don't need super mad BR skills to make good long range kills.

I would rather some idiot blazing away at game 800yrds away than at 100yrds, at least the game has a good chance of getting away with out getting shot up. I watched 3 of these idiots hammer away on 8 elk one day at almost point blank range and not one dropped but they managed to weigh down one calf with lead and later that day we had to shoot 5 of them that made it to the ranch because of wounds, range had NOTHING to do with it.

 

[esorensen]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

It seems to me that folks today mistakenly interchange the terms "capability" and "ability". We live in an era in which technology surpasses and even eclipses itself on a daily basis. These are the days where sub moa rifles and ammo can be had easily. Information regarding the capabilities of these weapon systems are disseminated instantly across the planet to anyone within sight of a TV or computer.

A popular and somewhat effective instruction method used these days is thru video. Employees can watch a video and take an online test and are "valid" for the next year or so. Accordingly, it stands to reason that one can watch a video showcasing long range style hunting and acquire one of these sub moa long range systems and be as successful as the guys on the video. It sure looks easy. All you do is pull a trigger, right? Seems to be as easy as a point and click with a mouse.

We all know there is a shit ton of work involved before any trigger squeeze. The way I look at their thought process is this: I bought a Ferrari, therefore I must be Michael Schumacher.

 

[Crazy Dog ll]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Perhaps my writing skills are at fault. This is what I meant to say,the .375 H and H cartridge is a low B.C. of 0.250 #37209 RN IB drags in the wind like a freight train.It is meant to take game at short to medium range as with a few calibers that work in this range; 40-70,416 Dakota,and other heavy bullets calibers rifles. I know its limits and use it for what it is. On the other side of the coin,I quess the old Bufflo Hunters with their Ballistic Turds Blackpowder rifles manage to tame the West. I don't think that's a fair comparsion,kinda like VW car up against a Mustange .In short,meant to say is the .375 H and H is like shooting a wall against the wind . I quess I should have contince on with my high school education!

 

[strick9]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

PGS, we gotta see a full frontal of that goat, damn the cutters on that bastard! Personally I shoot it all and eat all the dead stuff, yeah I pass a few shots but not many then again there are very few places where you can even take a 300 yd shot in my area. However I do like to have than have not.

 

[skinney_7]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

+1 huntinaz,
i just recently attended a gun show, and we had a vid of a 400M whitetail kill, 95% of the people who stopped @ the booth couldn't believe just how far the shot was, most considered it a LR shot, goes to show how much a true long range shot is in the minority of hunters and what they need to know befor making a capable shot.

 

[woodspider]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Alot of good thoughts, but I say if they want to try at extended ranges have at it!! Most likely misses anyway right? I've given up on attacking other hunters period. We need to close ranks and face the real enemies of our love of hunting the anti-hunters!
I never understood the aversion to wounding versus clean kill debate? We all try to clean kill we do. sometimes it doesn't happen whether it's 100 yards or 800 yards.And if the deer had the choice between being cleanly killed and in your belly the next day I'm
guessing he,d take gut shot, or missing a leg
and ALIVE the next day? No?
Besides yotes gotta eat too?
If you don't want or are worried about an animal suffering don't put a small piece of metal at high velocity into it's chest cavity. It probably hurts real bad!

 

[tarzan]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

seen more game shotup at short range than long range, most that take long shots that i have seen knew they could do it and if 3 or 400 yrds is to far you need to go back to the range and burn more powder

 

[Jthoss0837]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: woodspider</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you don't want or are too worried about an animal suffering don't put a small piece of metal at high velocity into it's chest cavity. It probably hurts real bad!</div></div>

 

[skinney_7]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: woodspider</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Alot of good thoughts, but I say if they want to try at extended ranges have at it!! Most likely misses anyway right? I've given up on attacking other hunters period. We need to close ranks and face the real enemies of our love of hunting the anti-hunters!
I never understood the aversion to wounding versus clean kill debate? We all try to clean kill we do. sometimes it doesn't happen whether it's 100 yards or 800 yards.And if the deer had the choice between being cleanly killed and in your belly the next day I'm
guessing he,d take gut shot, or missing a leg
and ALIVE the next day? No?
Besides yotes gotta eat too?
If you don't want or are worried about an animal suffering don't put a small piece of metal at high velocity into it's chest cavity. It probably hurts real bad!
</div></div>
+1

 

[Crazy Dog ll]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

With respect, All it takes is one Game Warden witness a 900 yard cripple shot,no clean kill. There will be a citation issued,but thats not the end of it. He will present this to the Board of Wild Life and you can bet your dollar,more laws governing distance shots will be regulated. Choice is ours now. We can regulate our selves or.....

 

[bigngreen]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Crazy Dog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">With respect, All it takes is one Game Warden witness a 900 yard cripple shot,no clean kill. There will be a citation issued,but thats not the end of it. He will present this to the Board of Wild Life and you can bet your dollar,more laws governing distance shots will be regulated. Choice is ours now. We can regulate our selves or..... </div></div>


WHAT? Are you kidding? What about all the game that is crippled at close range, what are we going to do to all those guys who cripple game with bows or at close range with there super magnum. Holy cow we had better start turning people in for hitting deer with there car and wounding them!
Think it through, it's other hunters ragging on other hunters claiming some fake ethical high ground that will get all our hunting pulled!

 

[BugSniper]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: motodog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">we dont need any gun here to hunt just hit em with your pick-up. </div></div>

You should see NoVa. We have a stretch of rd that had, no kidding, like 5 deer dead within a mile, every day. It was bad enough they, LE, pulled out one of their signs to flash "Deer breeding season underway, please drive carefully" or some such. Mind you this is a major commutor artery.

You can drive up on them, honk, yell, flash your lights, and they just sit there. I had one leap off an embankment onto my hood once too while driving, thankfully a littl'un. Almost nobody here has not hit a deer, many people I know have hit several.

 

[skinney_7]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bigngreen</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Crazy Dog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">With respect, All it takes is one Game Warden witness a 900 yard cripple shot,no clean kill. There will be a citation issued,but thats not the end of it. He will present this to the Board of Wild Life and you can bet your dollar,more laws governing distance shots will be regulated. Choice is ours now. We can regulate our selves or..... </div></div>


WHAT? Are you kidding? What about all the game that is crippled at close range, what are we going to do to all those guys who cripple game with bows or at close range with there super magnum. Holy cow we had better start turning people in for hitting deer with there car and wounding them!
Think it through, it's other hunters ragging on other hunters claiming some fake ethical high ground that will get all our hunting pulled!

</div></div>

both of you have a point, with the out of controll gov who knows... but wether its a close shot or LR shot, cripple or clean, its the anti hunter dems that we all need to be against, these people will put more rules and regs in place that will eventually put a stop to any kind of hunting.

 

[Crazy Dog ll]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

100 per cent right. Need to be in tune of thinking we are all good hunters and straight shooters. We are going to ran through 5 to ten boxes of shells before we go hunting. We are going to help our poor hunters to get better through the manner of being good shots and being ethic hunters.

 

[jeffersonv]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Hey knockemdown,

I saw that show. I see I wasn't alone!

What a fiasco!

The silver lining? A sponsored show showing a boob exorcising his right to be a boob.

I can shake my head at his approach, but I would defend his right to it.

I thing in the not so distant future we will wish shows like that were still being shown.

 

[ToddM]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

This is just something each hunter needs to decide on their own to try and ethically follow. I know guys that can't hit a 10" plate at 100 yards on a perfect day off a bench and guys that can routinely hit one at 600 yards in variable conditions.

I will say though that you exponentially reduce the likelihood of a clean first shot kill with distance for any shooter. I can make a 250 yard 8" vital shot up/down in a 30mph wind, good rest bad rest no problem. You move that out to 500 or 1000 yards and no way. Especially in a cross valley shot where swirling winds are not consistent from minute to minute. At 500 with a good rest and nice predictable conditions and a good shot, sure. At 1000 wouldn't even try it. I know guides that due to terrain frequently have clients take 500+ yards shots across valleys and oddly they complain constantly that their clients miss and wound game. As long as the shooter knows and follows their limitations is the best you can ask for.

The new rage is to see how far you can shoot game. That's just the way it is. This is a long range forum, of course it's going to get support here. There's also a lot of companies making $ on long range hunting now, so it's starting to get big ad $'s.

Frankly I have more respect for guys that use actual HUNTING SKILL to get closer to game, not those that prefer to see how far away they can shoot it to test their shooting skill. It's easy enough to test shooting skill on a range. It takes ZERO hunting skill to get 1000+ yards from a trophy animal, period. That's my opinion, of course I also have no respect for guys that pay thousands of dollars for a guide to do the scouting and to put them on the game and do 90% of the work for them. At that point all your trophy does is display how much $ you can throw away. Nothing about your dedication or skill as a hunter.

But that's hunting, people never agree. The muzzle loaders think gun hunters are cheating, the compound archers think muzzle loaders are cheating, and the traditional archers think everyone is cheating.

 

[diGGer]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

I was out at Camp Le Jeune last weekend with M1- for vets working with wounded warriors. we coached them on how to shoot a high power match using M1 rifles. It my first opportunity to shoot formally at 600 yds. Yes they are iron sights but fellas; that is a poke and a half. wind, even with 175's moved the strike of the round. One better practice a lot before shooting at an animal. Bad guys? different story. One can practice on them but not an Elk

 

[elkhuntinguide]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

I see a lot of talk on "Ethical Hunting" in this thread...Who defines what an ethical kill is...Is it listed somewhere or is there a rule book...
An ethical kill in my eyes is a kill that brings an end to the animal as quickly as possible...
Ethical would have to be determined by the shooter.... One should not take shots out of his/her pay-grade...
If one can not make a 200 yd shot then a 200 yd shot should not be attempted...
If you can hammer shit at 1k consistently and with accuracy then by all means let the air out of 'em...
There should be not separation for species (Game vs. Predator/Varmint) IMHO.... All deserve the same respect...

Long Range Hunting has busted on the scene with shows like "Best of the West" selling their kool-aid and Miracle rifles/scopes which are by far highly overrated... Pushing their product with video of amazing shots and ultimate scopes to cash in on a market that grows everyday... Giving people the "false bravado" that long range shots are made easy using their equipment and thus these people neglect putting in trigger time to learn their weapon of choice and rely on this Miracle equipment to make up for their inadequacies in true marksmanship skills...

I have a customer who has two of the Gunwerks rifles that shoot like dogshit...Not to mention the trash riding the action that is highly praised by so many...

He has a 7mm and a 6.5-284 and neither shot better than 3/4 MOA @ 100.... The 6.5-284 came from them with the scope canted 4.5-5* to the left... When he called Gunwerks and questioned the installation he was told it was canted due to the cant that was built into the stock... Long range rifle my ass... Junk and nothing more...

I guide tons of hunters and will very seldom allow a hunter to take a shot over 350 yards...I can count the number of shots that were allowed over 350 on one hand and these shots were by skilled shooters that were known to me... If a clean kill shot can not be made then we will pass on the shot until a clean kill can be made...Trophy animal or not...

I have seen many bad shots at 100 yards or less and it all comes down to practice... One needs to now their limitations and put in the trigger time to better their shooting skills... No caliber or combination of equipment will make a bad shot better... Don't take shots out of your pay-grade... Shot placement is key...

 

[Texas_Republic]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bigngreen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Range don't have jack to do with wounding game! If you don't know your rifle and ammo then you are going to do the same stupid stuff at 100yrds as you would do at 800 yrd, the only good thing is that the deer at 800yrd won't get touched but the deer at 100yrds will most likely get jacked up by some poser.
</div></div>

Spot on. More likely to wound it at close range. A shooter who knows nothing about shooting at long range wont come close. On the other hand, long range shooting has become much easier these days IMO. The technology and data are much more available to pull it off. I remember how surprised I was when I first hit my target at 600 yards just using a simple ballistic plex one day at the range. Granted that distances at 1000 yards require much more.

As far as not having an opportunity to stalk...that all depends. Most on terrain. I love hunting from on top of cliffs. Ranging my surroundings and wind way before hand and just waiting. You try to pull off a stalk on a sheer cliff.

 

[marduk185]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

not to hijack but i feel its a similar issue...many folks here in missouri are of the belief that whitetails should be taken with headshots. if someone is a seriously good shot with a good rifle at a reasonable distance this may work for them, however what usually occurs is deer runnin around the woods with horrible disfigured faces often showing a broke jawbut not really critically wounded. these deer can live for weeks all broken like that. guys if yer totin yer sks that you havent shot since last deer season and were hittin minute of paper plate at 50 yards 3 years ago when u bought it, then please attempt to get closer and aim for the boiler room. i dont really enjoy walkin the woods with a pistol cleaning up yalls messes. just sayin

 

[EricM40]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

A couple things I do not like about shooting game past 400:

Can you honestly take an ethical shot at that distance, i.e. Heart/lung or neck?

How the hell to you find the blood spot at 1000 yards if the animal does not drop right there?

And it really is not fair if you can sit back talk at normal voice, laugh, ect without the animal even knowing you are there.

 

[battson]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

The SAME old shi*t.....

Those who badmouth the practice are entitled to their opinion. The decisions we make when we're alone outdoors are our own. But -please- don't come on a long range shooting forum and spill your sh*t here, I mean come on, or are you just trying to piss people off?

Here's the thing:

The guys who take long shots on game usually have such a high skill level, they'll miss less at 800 yds than Joe-public will miss at 80 yds.
An animal doesn't know the difference. If it's wounded at 80yds it's still wounded.

And, (now I'm just going on...) at long range you -should- have ample chance for a second shot, often they don't even know what's happened or where you are, it may even run towards you, at close range the animal will certainly make a run for it, if you non-fatally wound it then that's prety much it.
Enough said.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: EricM40</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Can you honestly take an ethical shot at that distance, i.e. Heart/lung or neck?</div></div>

Some of us can and have, and always excersize prudence when doing so. We practice every chance we can, and wont take a shot that we haven't made many times before, practice hones your skills, making you better at what you do.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: EricM40</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How the hell to you find the blood spot at 1000 yards if the animal does not drop right there?</div></div>

Again, skill, the same way you find a blood trail at 100 yds, you walk over there and start looking
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: EricM40</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
And it really is not fair if you can sit back talk at normal voice, laugh, ect without the animal even knowing you are there. </div></div>

Who said anything was fair? some think rifle hunting itself is unfair, some think hunting period is unfair. some think that shooting at a deer under 200yds is unfair cause its too easy, all in the eye of the beholder.

 

[VJJPunisher]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

i hunt from 3 miles away, i set up a feeder and plant land mines around it, that unethical?

 

[Bugs Bunny]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Everyone around me sucks - 75yds standing & they are wounding them with a scoped rifle

We are limited here by landscape, about 300-400yds max is what we can see.

 

[psinclair]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: EricM40</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A couple things I do not like about shooting game past 400:

Can you honestly take an ethical shot at that distance, i.e. Heart/lung or neck?

How the hell to you find the blood spot at 1000 yards if the animal does not drop right there?

And it really is not fair if you can sit back talk at normal voice, laugh, ect without the animal even knowing you are there. </div></div>

5 @ 450 meters from prone and a bipod. Trust me, that rifle in front of the right driver will make any deer, anywhere very dead, very fast at well beyond 400 yards...

Dont make judgements on topics you know little or nothing about.

 

[EricM40]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Never said the shot was not possible, because too many factors come into play, i.e. wind, can you do it on something other than a clear day?

If it is your cup of tea, then by all means do it.

Finding a blood trail on the exact spot you shot the deer is a hell of a lot easier at 100 yards than 400 and the same would go for 1000.

I would never take that shot, but that's just me.

PGS, I respect your rifle and your groups, but do not think I know nothing due to a post. I see your target and thats nice, but what were the conditions on that day, looks pretty clear. Can you produce the same group on a windy, snowy, or rainy day on a cold bore shot?

 

[vman]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Eric, some of us here train pretty hard and/or know our stuff really well.

A well trained long distance shooting should be able to hit his mark regardless of the conditions.

All it takes is the right ammo, the right mind set, the right experience, the right dope and the right wind and range estimation.

I feel confident enough to take a deer at 600 yards if I wanted to and hit it where I want... If i dont have the right equipment with me and I can close the gap to reduce margin of error, I will.

But if i have all of the cards theres no reason for me not to pull the trigger.

And I dont think the animal cares about fairness, your level of volume, or the jokes your telling your mate. At the end of the day you plan on taking a life and that in itself requires a whole level of respect for what your about to commit to... thats how I see it anyways.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

It all boils down to judgment like PGS stated...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PGS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My self imposed rules when hunting big game is never take a shot unless you are 100% sure you will make the shot....Thats my opinion.</div></div>

The conditions <span style="text-decoration: underline">ARE</span> what set the max range.

We spend countless hours through out the year shooting hundreds of rounds building our skills while learning weather conditions and it's effects by shooting in them and recording them. Just because a deer presents itself does not mean it must be shot.

If the shot is not favorable it is not taken, or... you change the equation until it is a shot with confidence.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

To me, a long shot is one thing, and proves something. Hunting is something else, and the only thing I need to prove is, I'm hungry. Whatever gets that done most reliably, I favor. Long distances and often/nearly impossible shots are not part of that mantra. Fact is, I'm the only one in the house, cats included, who will eat venison. I usually give over my doe tags to my Son-In-Law, where it can feed my Daughter and Grandkid, too. If venison was not possible, I'd not starve.

Greg

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

"can you do it on something other than a clear day?"

sometimes, if not then the shot is not taken, or you maneuver for a better shot.

"Finding a blood trail on the exact spot you shot the deer is a hell of a lot easier at 100 yards than 400 and the same would go for 1000."

Honestly I've never had to look for a blood trail, typically at that range you have the ability to watch the animal from the time itis hit till the time it expires. Or more often, as with alot of rifle kills, the animals drops DRT.

"I would never take that shot, but that's just me."

It is good to know your limits, that is one of the most important skills one learns.

"PGS, I respect your rifle and your groups, but do not think I know nothing due to a post. I see your target and thats nice, but what were the conditions on that day, looks pretty clear. Can you produce the same group on a windy, snowy, or rainy day on a cold bore shot?"

He was assuming you know nothing because of your comments, we all did. as far as the conditions, like I said before, know your limits, some people and some rifles can do shit that will amaze anyone. while others couldn't hit a cruiseship with a Crusader. PGS can shoot pretty damn good as he has shown,(not just on this thread) he also has the experience to know when and if he can make a shot. everyone has to figure that out themselves, and like you said, if its not your cup of tea fine, but that doesn't mean others cant nor should anyone tell them so.

 

[LongRangeSweden]

Re: Everyone Wanting to do Long Range Hunting?

Good said! I have also been shooting Long range for many years (not as long as you, almost 10 years). I can honostly say that it is to big margin of error.