A couple friends guide for a local outfitter/rancher with big elk and lots of open country. Every sport that brings their own rifle gets a little range time before the excursion. The guides bring out their rifles too.
After a couple shots on the 500yd gong, most of the sports end up trying the guides' guns. Most of the elk are then shot with the guides' guns.
So, I would say that the practice is becoming more common, as guides realize it is easier to get a sport on a solid rest farther out, than it is to get the sports close enough to flock shoot the herd.
