Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Ethical or not? 1376 yard elk by a 12 year old

This is the sad part of it all. There are a few among us that are always testing the limits. For fear of division among the ranks, there is always some justification for pushing those limits.

It wasn't that long ago and some computer geek was trying to sell the idea of shooting deer out of a tree stand with a computer and a mouse. Those that could stomach that philosophy are stretching that distance thing too far.

How far is too far, seems to be a question that doesn't have the perfect answer. Maybe a lazer guided missile would still be acceptable to some, where do you draw the line?

It is obvious that this video isn't about the shooting skill of this 12 year old kid, it is about the adults that are using a kid to legitimize their ambitions to make long shots look easy and foolproof.

The first shot was a complete miss, that should have ended the video, but no, they had him load up and shoot again. That kid had no more idea of shooting long range than he had of flying a jet. They just put him in the pilot's seat and handed him the controls.

I really hope this kind of stunt shooting goes away and people get enough sense to use their own skills to get close enough to make the shot or just not shoot...

Have read the replies and since I was not involved I have ought to say about the circumstance.

But good on the lad for not sitting about town with the other miserable little drongos making a nuisance of himself.

Just an opinion - I really think this is indicative of a sad shift occurring in the sport. I don't think it necessarily a good thing that "long distance" shooting is becoming the new "cool" thing to do.

I grew up with an entirely different focus and that was getting close enough to make a high probability ethical, one shot kill. It hasn't always worked out that way, but the goal remains get close and execute a one shot kill, while utilizing the skill of a hunter - stalking carefully, paying attention to stealth and what your stepping on, minimizing noise, mindful tracking, understanding the habits and movement of the quarry, noticing wind direction, applying scent control, and out maneuvering the animal to get close enough to it. Respect for the evolution of becoming a good hunter, and the trials and tribulations along the journey-- made success something enjoyable. Meat in the freezer is a reward for all of those factors coming together.

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Anecdotely - in the last 4 years I have seen more wounded elk and deer, or found more dead/ elk and deer in the woods than in the past 10 years prior. I'm seeing an average of 5+ a year, whole animals that were shot and not recovered.

I can't say that this is directly related to the increase in long range hunting, but I can say that every year I see at least 2 or more people shoot from distances greater than 400 yards, they don't see an animal drop, and don't even go to check out if they hit the animal. As one of my buddies said to me, "some people just suck- doesn't matter if you meet them in the woods or while they are yelling at their 5 yr old at a t-ball game."

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I personally watched that video over 1.5 years ago and commented to friends on what I thought was an extreme injustice to an impressionable young hunter.

To me it was a story of commercialism (gunwerks advertisement), exploitation of a young boy, and sad to see that was his first elk harvest.

Hunting IS and should BE , much more than a trigger pull and a harvest. The boy in the video was robbed of the journey of becoming an ethical hunter. By offering a short cut, the boy was forever influenced that his focus should be shooting and harvesting...foregoing the skill required to outsmart the quarry, and IMHO earn the animal/trophy.

I viewed that video with sadness.

Too much margin for error, as evidenced by the first shot. Too high a risk for wounding. They got lucky and hit center mass with the second, could have just as easily been a leg.

We haven't even talked about remaining energy at 1376.

NOT ethical.

Say whatever you want about the shot choice, but there's no way a kid killing a bull elk with any shot is contributing to the "pussification of American youth."

"Well, Son, that one got back up and got away. It's probably gut shot. Let's try for that one on the right this time."

And didn't.

My own opinion is it was shooting, not hunting.

But I feel that way about almost every shot I've seen on film.

"The shot" was the young man's trophy he was seeking in this case. The elk was just a participant in the process.....that's all.

Sickening to me, but that's only my opinion.

Part of the fun is smelling the elk when you are close enough. And hearing them talk to each other. I like the sound of them walking as they are feeding too. I shake too much for more than a 200 yard shot. I prefer a 50 yard shot.
The kid did good and it wasn't a video game.

This is my personal checklist of ethics.

1. Am I raising my children in a Christian way and taking the time needed to teach them moral fiber.

2 Am I faithful honest and true to the Misses as I promised.

3. Do I live my life according to bible principle.

4. Do I hunt for food or do I turn the gift of God into sport just as some do women and wine.



As I stated quite some time ago........I am a survivalist hunter. Probably the purist form of hunting there is. Any true survivalist hunter will always have the first three rules solidly fixed to his character and lastly hunts for provision

If you've never hunted in this pure form of humanship then you could never possibly understand the beuity of the pure hunt.


Shod

That is possibly the most arrogant description of hunting I've ever had the misfortune to suffer through.

Where does one buy a humanship? I need one for fishing.

Well, that is your opinion but a lot of people woill disagree. Including those "survivalist" hunters who don't have kids or a wife, may never have read the Bible or have a different faith or none at all and still manage to be good people who hunt for food, not sport.

Around the world there are many such people.

Having watched the video a second time I’d like to make a few observations for those who haven’t watched it at all:

1. The elk was at 1376 yards. According to the video there is a 24”gong at 1360 yards that “these boys shoot all the time”. Whether “these boys” includes the 12-year old kid or not is unclear and there is no mention of hit rates.
2. At the end of the video there was, not surprisingly, an overlay advertising Gunwerks.
3. There were at least 6 people involved in the filming of the video – 5 that you see in the video plus at least one more holding the camera. (And it wouldn’t surprise me if there were at least 2 unseen people in the camera crew)
4. It appears the “hunters” knew where the elk were before they climbed to the shooting position.
5. It also appears to me that the rifle was a short action which, if using cartridges listed on the Gunwerks web site would limit it to a 6XC (6mm).
6. It also appears there was plenty of opportunity to get closer to the elk.


I agree with 8SNAKE that “This video is nothing more than a commercial that happened to involve an elk getting killed.” The lesson for the kid that I would have preferred would have involved leaving the camera crew and other onlookers in their dust as the dad taught his kid how to stalk the elk to get as close as possible before shooting.

I can't wait until this sniper boy fantasy thing runs it's course.

I'm posting w/o reading more than the OP.

IMO, I don't care how much practice with whatever 'uber' long range rig A KID has....

A KID shouldn't be allowed to 'attempt' such XXXX !!

It might be legal (?) but WHY teach a 'KID' to start hunting errr correction 'sniping' or 'pot shooting' at such a young age?

I could say much more but it would only go DOWNHILL !! So I'll just stop.


Jerry

Having read some of your posts.. I think you are pretty close to right!!

Jerry

Lots of similar posts to this one. This makes no sense. A guy goes out there to KILL the animal. Where does the respect come in?

Ringman, you and I have gone around and around on the "respect" question before and I understand where you're coming from. The conventional meaning of "respect" doesn't really work when applied to animals that we hunt.

I think of it more in terms of how the general public sees hunters and hunting. Do they see hunters as showing a certain appreciation and esteem for the animals we hunt, or do they see us as using animals for target practice, with only disdain?

Sometimes I'd like to say "who cares what they think" but like it or not, we all should care. A wise man once said that in our modern society hunting as we know it will only continue to exist as long as the majority believes it's an honorable pursuit.