Not sure I understand the need to shoot game animals at long range but it is definately an impressive shooting feat. It is not hunting though, very rare a situation hunting were you can not get within 300 yards of an identified game animal. I can usually get within 100 yards of any North American game. I have two 270WSM T3's they shoot great groups from 100-300 yards. I handload them with 140gr accubonds.
dude seriously?? you must have never hunted in the mountains or the western US or the high deserts of the west either. animals don't stand around and wait to get shot. terrain is difficult and often noisy to cross such as rock slides etc. I archery hunt all the time where one does have to get within 100 yards and I can tell you every year a trophy buck would be on my wall if I had the distance of a rifle at my disposal at that time of the season.
I bet you had some great success with your bow too. I can't shoot ethically past 40-50 yards with a bow but I probably don't practice as much as you do. I would take up to a 450 yard shot with a couple of my rifles and have only done it once on an antelope but overall with patience I can usually get much closer to game animals. I have never hunted sheep or goats but I was reading posts about head shots at 700 yards and 1000 yard shots. That just doesn't seem like hunting to me. That is pure skillful shooting.
450 yds you are to some a long range shooter.
It always seems to me that people judge long range hunting on what they themselves are capible of or where they themselves hunt. What they do is hunting and what the others do is just shooting. It never occurs to them the work and dedication it takes to make the long shot. I sure would like to take them out antelope hunting on public land, 1 week after the season starts and tell them to get close.
Last year I put the stalk on a group of antelope, I used the terrain to my advantange and saw myself low crawling through all kinds of prickly things just to get within 550 yds. I put the hammer down on my .243 and ended up with a nice tasty doe. Was I just shooting or hunting? I do what I do to increase my chances of sucsess.
Elk season is going to start soon and if the choice is between an 800yd shot and going home meatless, I think I'll take the shot, I am prepared. I'd much rather fix bayonet and stab them where they sleep but sometimes they just won't coperate.
