Interesting thread. I say a little bit fact and fiction.
I'm planning to hunt a burn this year for blacktail. There is timber left in the burn which can be still hunted and I'd prefer a light rifle for that. There are also 1500yrd shots available (Too long for me). It has a lot of steep canyons. If you see a nice buck on the next ridge over, you may not have enough time to stalk him. I plan on taking a magnum and sacrificing a little bit on the snap shots (Wish I had a nice 6.5, but I don't).
The last several years I've bow or muzzleloaded at least 50% of the time.
I've killed elk from 6 ft to 426yrds (Longest shot on big game so far). Most deer have been under 350. I hunt blacktail more than mulies. I'd still recommend being prepared for long shots, at least if you're trophy hunting.
I know a guy who has killed his last 4 of 5 bulls at over 400yrds.
