Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Realistic Distance For Ethical Kills

Rick,

I think this is the point you're trying to make, in short. If we miss because we've made an error in the moment of the shot, or overlooked a variable, that's human. If we miss because we failed to prepare properly and do our homework ahead of time, ethically, we shouldn't have taken the shot.

you should ask the admins to start up a "up close and personal" topic header there we can talk about my 21 1/8 black bear I called in to 8 yards before sticking a rage through his chest or maybe we could talk about my last archery muley I shot a 17 yards spot and stalk with a recurve or the several bulls I have called in and walk by under 10 yards I shot a speed goat with my compound in 2005 at 11 yards "spot and stalk" I find the challenge of knowing I can use my wits and time proven ability to take one cold barrel shot and take my quarry just as challenging and as big as of an adrenaline rush as being in that close range you speak of ...

There is a never ending argument amongst traditional bowhunters vs compound bowhunters, traditional cap and ball muzzleloaders and inlines, and the most common one Long range hunters and non long range hunters... Hunting is hunting is hunting right? You go out into the field to take an animal to provide meat for your family same as the next, why does it matter how that is done? Opinions that is the only matter involved, ok maybe there is a point to draw the line a guy with a 35# 50 cal BMG yea that is excessive and makes me sick too other than that we are all after one common goal..

"Shoot a lot of long range practical rifle matches and precision rifle matches. They will make you a better hunter"

NOPE not even close! It will make you a better shot not a better hunter. The ability to find game and advance to a comfortable distance to take a shot whether it be with a LR rifle, bow or pistol is where the hunting skills are manifested.

Being able to hit stuff at that range is the mark of a good shot whatever the distance is deemed to be for that hunter. We see many great shots on the range who are lousy hunters.

Back Country Mule Deer:

I'm all for getting in close. Yet, I've also had instance whereas I've attempted and even succeeded with some extreme long-range rifle shots. For that matter, even some extreme long-distance range archery shots. But, I'm all about getting close. For one thing, the animal deserves it.

In reference to "hunting is hunting"; we all go afield because we like to kill things. That's the bottom line. If we're honest with ourselves as killers of animals, then we admit that we hunt because we like to kill. Otherwise we'd merely be hikers and photographers.

In a nutshell, it doesn't matter whether or not we justify our pursuit by saying we need to "feed our families" or to "conserve wildlife" or to "commune with nature" or, to "enjoy camaraderie with friends". those are simplistic justifications which fringe upon a lie, within the on-hunting public's view.

The truth is, we hunt because we like to kill. End of story.

Exactly. Thanks for making it seem too simple.

Maybe I'm weird, but I don't assign the same value to a trophy class big game animal and a piece of steel.

If you're shooting at steel with the wrong data and poor positional skills, it matters little if your miss would have meant a wounded big game animal.

Yep. But I've only fired a rifle twice in my life, so I feel good about my percentage. LOL.

Redhill,

You don't think being a good shot makes you a better hunter? Reminds me of the "when hunting becomes shooting" thread! Hunting and shooting are inseparable. If you can't hit what you found by hunting, you're not going to be a very successful hunter

RC:

This is interesting -- You've only fired a rifle but twice in your lifetime, yet you missed once and you once hit.

So, that's a 50% hit-rate per whatever you were shooting at (paper target or animal) during the only two (2) times you ever fired a rifle.

How old are you and do you exclusively pursue animals when you're with archery tackle?

Maverick

That's what steel is for! Nobody goes from rookie to expert in one shot. Misses on steel tell you what to do in order to go from "newbie" to "capable of shooting game animals at distance". It just takes a lot of hits and a lot of misses to figure that out *grin*

I guess I don't understand the contradicting statement here. "We hunt because we like to kill" and "the animal deserves it". I believe the animal deserves to die quick, Aside from a quick death I can play the wind and come over a ridge and dump him in his bed or I can dope the wind, elevation, barometric pressure, angle and shoot him as he is feeding what difference does it make he's DEAD.. How does the animal deserve a 1 shot kill at 100 yards over a 1 shot kill at 1000 yards.

I partially hunt for the thrill of the kill, I hunt partially for the enjoyment of being in the wilderness with a gun or bow and I hunt partially because I like wild game meat. You say if your not in it for the kill than your a photographer I guess I am sitting on the rail with your assumption because I spend more time in the woods with a camera capturing animals than a gun killing them. Don't get me wrong I LOVE TO HUNT, but hunting seasons are short photography seasons are endless

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You haven't any PE.... you've got no D...

This is simply not true. I hunt to justify to my wife that I should be in the woods. Killing is the end result of a successful hunt. If we wanted to kill stuff we would not pass up the shots we do. I waited till the last hour of the last day of my hunting season to kill one the doe I took this year. This is after passing on some sure shots. I thought I was going to be skunked. But when I was only a quarter mile from the truck a shot presented itself. Success is more fun than failure no matter what the game.

PE consists of thousands of rounds of range and field condition shots and the D better damn sure be done prior to even leaving to go hunting

So, why did you kill that doe? What was the "need" to kill that doe? You hunt in order to justify being in the woods? That's an oxymoron. At best, it's a pathetic irony.

Come on man, be a man. It's not shameful to admit that you like to kill. We, as hunters, love to kill. It's our desire and that's why we hunt.

So, be real, not only to your own self, but to others, too. If anything, be real with your wife. She deserves your honesty.

Hah, good call

Dare I say.... InDeed?

I'm amazed at how little some folks shoot, then think they can consistently hit MOA sized targets at extended ranges. Most of whom, couldn't hit a 1" dot at 100, 5 times out of 5.... from a bench. I've put well over 100 rounds through the new 6.5 this week, and I wouldn't bet on a first round hit on an MOA size target at 300. But, I'd feel more than comfortable on a coyote out to 700+ in good conditions.

Not sure it takes thousands, with the same rig/load/glass/etc.... but rather, simply observing bullets flying through the air, either via trigger time or spot tine. Once you've seen more than a few... it's much easier to extrapolate...

It was a joke Maverick.

I would bet I wear out more barrels in two years than 99.5% of the posters on the Fire do in a lifetime.

Thanks for the clarification, RC. It's truly appreciated.

In regards to my nearly six decades of hunting, there's been misses and even some that were wounding which resulted in losses. It goes with the territory, no matter how much we try to prevent it.

Regardless of the attempt by recent developments in technological gadgetry, which disillusions young people into thinking that hunting can be an exact shooting science, misses are going to occur.

Hunting isn't precise, nor is killing animals a precise occupation.

Killing is part of a very involved process. If you don't have just the slightest bit of remorse when the game is over, find another hobby. You'd think after "6 decades" of experience a fella might get it....

I get it, thus the reason why I'm comfortable with it and why I don't need to justify it.

Right. The misses on steel show you the importance of making sure your data is correct. Misses on steel when shooting from positions other than prone show your shooting skill limitations.

Testing and finding out those things in the field on Big Game is the BassAckwards way of going about it!