How Far is Too Far? Wyoming Legislature Mulls Shot Distance Restrictions

[np307]

A yardage cap is a hard thing to legislate for sure. Nothing is a substitute for personal ethics and standards, but I don't think the idea of legislating a maximum distance is out of the picture simply because it's difficult (near impossible) to enforce. Wildlife laws in general are difficult to enforce, especially when they're broken on private land. Even something as basic as a deer limit here in the SE is practically unenforceable if someone is hunting on their own land.

Equipment regulation is definitely the easier way to limit max yardage. The argument against it is going to be that you're limiting the effectiveness of the weapon system and thereby reducing the ethical ability to quickly kill game without wounding them. I don't buy it, but that's what the claim would be.

Personally, I have a 400 yard absolute max cap. That's calm conditions, calm animal, prone supported. And even with that being the case, I've only taken one animal in my life beyond 150 yards.

 

[ashersdad]

A few units in Utah recently went to no scopes for the rifle season. There were also restrictions put in place on muzzleloader and bow seasons. I think something like this could work. At least it would be enforceable.

 

[SaskHunter]

I'm all for it. Drinking and driving is unenforceable unless you get caught.

There definitely needs to be equipment restrictions, technological advances move faster than legislations. Having shooting distance restrictions would also prevent all the YouTubers and influencers of this world from bragging about shooting animals from a different timezone.

 

[vanish]

Making it difficult to take long range shots via equipment handicap often leads to higher wounding loss. I don't think this is the way to go for your average hunter. It should be up to the individual if they wish to handicap themselves.

While in many situations a range limit is realistically unenforcable, there are plenty of hunts that take place in the wide open where an officer can be watching. The longer the shot, the more likely you are to be exposed. I don't think it's as ridiculous as it sounds at first.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I think people put way too much stock in "custom rifles" and expensive scopes. A cheap bolt action and a $500 3-9 can be a lethal weapon way beyond distances most hunters have any business shooting.

Open sights or 1x magnified optics is the only way if one is thinking technology limitations IMO but then we'd also likely turn a lot of 150 yd shots into rodeos that would have been a clean kill with a magnified optics.

If we could limit max distance to 500 yards and there was a magic button to help with enforceability, i'd be for it.

 

[Nick87]

Open sights or 1x magnified optics is the only way if one is thinking technology limitations IMO but then we'd also likely turn a lot of 150 yd shots into rodeos that would have been a clean kill with a magnified optics.

I feel like with some guys your gonna have rodeos regardless. Some idiots out there are flinging arrows out there at 100 that have no business.

 

[Bighorner]

A distance limit may be hard to enforce, but it might cut down on the youtube stars posting questionable shots and on-line alpha hunters bragging about how the first two shots were left but center punched him on the third

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I feel like with some guys your gonna have rodeos regardless. Some idiots out there are flinging arrows out there at 100 that have no business.

No doubt about that. With zero weapon restrictions at all there are a lot of terrible shots taken inside 100 yards.. Never going to eliminate that.

 

[elkduds]

Agree w those who posted limiting equipment seems most enforceable. Thinking 10x magnification as a starting point for discussion.

 

[cgasner1]

Agree w those who posted limiting equipment seems most enforceable. Thinking 10x magnification as a starting point for discussion.

Think making turrets illegal would be the best bet. Hard to shoot 900 when you can’t dope your scope guys will still do that on 10x

 

[MTTW]

The Redfield Accurange scope came out in 1966 according to the Google. I saw one used successfully at 600 yards on an elk in 1972. Leupold brought them back after acquiring Redfield years ago and I used one effectively on targets to 650 yards at that time. I never tried to go further. Like 10 years ago.

In my lifetime we have never lacked the technology to do stupid things.

If I was king I would pursue weapons restrictions immediately after banning kill shots on video posted online.

Of course, I say this before the lobbyists show up offering bribes.

 

[elkduds]

Think making turrets illegal would be the best bet. Hard to shoot 900 when you can’t dope your scope guys will still do that on 10x

I agree. I never used turrets so don't have a sense of what that would be like past, say 500 yds. @ 10x.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Agree w those who posted limiting equipment seems most enforceable. Thinking 10x magnification as a starting point for discussion.

Limiting to 10x magnification would probably help more hunters be effective at distance than it would restrict them.

 

[Elktrack]

Limiting to 10x magnification would probably help more hunters be effective at distance than it would restrict them.

Not being a smart arse but wouldn’t that be a good thing? I’m assuming that part of the reason this is being considered is because of the ineptitude of guys shooting distance.

 

[Tradewind]

Thats a good point. At least if it were illegal - people might not film themselves.

I think you underestimate the narcissistic need for 'cliques'

 

[Forkyfinder]

I think you underestimate the narcissistic need for 'cliques'

You might underestimate my trollery - someone would hate to send them to game and fish....

 

[Tradewind]

You might underestimate my trollery - someone would hate to send them to game and fish....

rock on

 

[David Gough]

Nevada put caliber/cartridge restrictions in place years ago. .338 and under if memory serves me right. Got rid of the guys shooting at elk with 50 cal BMGs.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Not being a smart arse but wouldn’t that be a good thing? I’m assuming that part of the reason this is being considered is because of the ineptitude of guys shooting distance.

I'm saying that 10x magnification is not a limiting factor out to way further than ethical shots can be taken by 99+% of hunters. You can discern a small enough aiming point with 10x magnification at long distance. Further, lots of dudes with limited experience shooting long distance under stress tend to believe zooming way in on an animal is going to help them make a good shot. I believe that the big magnification is more of a net negative in many cases - Guys zoom way in and struggle with finding animals or staying on them, struggle to spot impacts, struggle to find animal again for follow up shots, miss body language of other nearby animals hinting that there might be movement soon, possibly shoot the wrong animal, etc. By limiting it to 10x, i think there would actually be better outcomes on the same long range shots than having guys zoomed in to 20x.

So yeah, maybe its not a bad thing, i just dont think it would move the needle meaningfully. If the goal is to give the animals a more sporting chance at survival, it wouldn't be helpful.

 

[cgasner1]

Personally I have zero issues shooting game at 500 with my turret. If I had to try and hold over to hit the mark I wouldn’t shoot past 350