Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Extreme Long Range Shots?

Part of hunting is being undetected. I've killed WT deer from 20-30 yds that did not know that I was in the State.
Jerry

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1. Why does a hunter, who has drawn the bighorn sheep tag he's been coveting for 30 years, switch to a Gunwerks LR-1000 for the hunt rather than use his trusty deer rifle (or the rifle he shot all his other sheep/ibex with)?

...If I drew a bighorn sheep tag and, lets say, I get called and agree to be filmed by a show. I don't care if they want me to use a rifle made by the show's sponsor, I'll shoot my own rifle, stalk as close as I can, and keep my shots under 500 yards. Seems that formula has been working for lots of hunters in the pass.

Long range shooting of game animals is almost entirely about bragging rights and marketing, not about real hunting hunting skills IMHO. Nothing illegal about it, but not something I aspire to or would encourage in others. Wounding percentage goes up exponentially with each animal hit at more than about 300 yards. There is a very good reason that very, very few shots are attempted at more than 300 yards in Africa. The PH is watching, and every animal hit equals a trophy fee paid, no matter if the animal is brought to bag or not. It's no great mystery that behaviour changes when there are real consequences. Sadly, nobody watches in North America, and far too many hunters in North America are not up to the challenge of making a real effort to stalk within sure range. It is easier to rely on technology and shooting skills instead of perfecting actual hunting skills. There's also a lot of "entitlement" behaviour among those who shoot at every legal animal they see, regardless of distance. As hunters, I think we'd do better to limit long range shots at game to only those animals already wounded.

Thanks, that makes me feel a little better. If I do get out there, I'll need to find a field, maybe on the farm behind my house, and set up some targets out there. All of the ranges here are 100 yards. Hell, we aren't even allowed to use a rifle here. The only hunting rifle I own is a 30-06. I do shoot 150 gr. bullets though. I'm not sure if it will be accurate enough out to 300, much less than the operator being good enough out that far.

I guess I snuck up on you because you didn't read what I wrote...

If a animal has never seem me ... Means it's beyond thier range of detection...

I am not invisible.

TFF

There is a very good reason that very, very few shots are attempted at more than 300 yards in Africa. The PH is watching, and every animal hit equals a trophy fee paid, no matter if the animal is brought to bag or not. It's no great mystery that behaviour changes when there are real consequences. Sadly, nobody watches in North America.......

Long range hunting is an oxymoron.

Lot's of moralizing and value judgments here.

Just because you or I like to sneak in close doesn't mean that people who don't are not "hunting." There are a lot of different reasons people hunt, even a lot of different reasons I hunt over the course of a year. I might bow hunt in September for the challenge and the charge I get out of calling in a bull elk and shooting it within 30 yards.

If I don't get my bull, I might get a late season cow tag and hunt solely to fill my freezer. If I see a herd of cows out on the prairie, over on the next hill at 600 yards with no cover between us, settle in, and make a shot that I've practiced literally a thousand times, am I not hunting?

Would I have been a "better hunter" if I'd attempted to sneak in to 300 yards? Or 200 yards? How close do I need to get before I'm hunting?

The difference is that you have practiced the shot and did not go afield with the purpose of taking that shot. You cold not get closer and that makes a difference. Going out with the idea of taking only extreme-range shots is a different deal than taking the only shot you get and being competent to do it.

Doc I din't have any particular number of rounds in mind and "several thousand " isn't set in concrete. Just my way of trying to quantify the experience factor side of things.

My only real point is it takes a lot of concentrated practice in real world conditions to make first shot hits on BG animals at extended range, and many of us (me included) are not up to it. Maybe I am too conservative...

I hear ya. I didn't take your post as being set in concrete kind of deal. Get it? "Post"? "Set in concrete?" Hahaha! Ahem. Sorry.



Lots of folks have no idea much better they are at distance than they think they are, cause they don't try. If you have access to a 300 or 400 yard range, you'll probably surprise yourself at how well you shoot. Do it over a half dozen sessions, and you'll amaze yourself.

Long range shooting of game animals is almost entirely about bragging rights and marketing, not about real hunting hunting skills IMHO. Nothing illegal about it, but not something I aspire to or would encourage in others. Wounding percentage goes up exponentially with each animal hit at more than about 300 yards. There is a very good reason that very, very few shots are attempted at more than 300 yards in Africa. The PH is watching, and every animal hit equals a trophy fee paid, no matter if the animal is brought to bag or not. It's no great mystery that behaviour changes when there are real consequences. Sadly, nobody watches in North America, and far too many hunters in North America are not up to the challenge of making a real effort to stalk within sure range. It is easier to rely on technology and shooting skills instead of perfecting actual hunting skills. There's also a lot of "entitlement" behaviour among those who shoot at every legal animal they see, regardless of distance. As hunters, I think we'd do better to limit long range shots at game to only those animals already wounded.

Lot's of moralizing and value judgments here.

I agree with you 100%
I'm waiting to see the video of all the wounded game that staggers of into the woods. All we see is the kill porn.

But if I take the shot at 600, I'm engaging in "long-range hunting," right?

I understand your point and agree with it, but I don't think a blanket statement that "long range hunting" is an oxymoron can stand on its own.