CRS,
Long range hunting is an oxymoron.
Long range shooting is challenging and a bunch of fun.
Was out at a friends range a few weeks ago and my son ran his AR out to 800 yards, shot my friends 260 out to 1000 yards. Hit his last 4 in a row after taking two shots to get dialed in. Took the 338 lapua to a mile (3 hits out of 4).
My son is 14 years old and has never shot long range before.
At the other end of the spectrum, I killed my archery buck at 4 yards with my longbow last fall. grin
If you were correct the long rangers would go out to a place and shoot rocks or whatever was there. They don't. They hunt. Sometimes for days before they get a shot at the game.
The idea you killed a game animal at spitting distance is no big deal now-a-days with sent blockers and Hecs clothing.
