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

[Doublecluck]

I shot a elr match couple weekends ago and the targets were 900-2250 yards. Think I may may zoomed in past 14 once or twice in 20 stages. In nrl hunter, usually running around 12-14 power and rarely zoom in past that. 10 power on deer size game is doable to 1k easy. A 600 yard shot in nearly all my rifles is right around 3 mils, gonna get anywhere from 6-12 mils visible on a mil reticle depending on magnification. Don’t need a turret. Caliber restrictions? Saw a guys wife take a mule deer at 650 with a 22 creed on YouTube couple days ago. First thing they pointed out. Even I rolled my eyes. But I kinda roll my eyes at the ethical argument in all this. All the old timers I grew up hunting around, none owned a range finder but could “guess” the distance of a deer and knew how many 1/4,1/2, or whole deer to hold over. Hell guys were out looking for the flattest cartridge they could find so their guess could be off. What the hell y'all think the lure to the 7 Remington mag was for? Bet I could find the articles in field and stream etc. Ban social media of people killing animals, that seems to be what everyone has the problem with.

 

[88man]

I think if you put a video on the internet and use the phrase " smoked um" you should be banned from hunting for a few years.

 

[SaskHunter]

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.

But its my God given right to shoot elk with my HUMVEE mounted full-auto M2 .50 Cal...

 

[CPAjeff]

It's a sad state of affairs when these type of proposals are being discussed/thrown around. The more effective shooters become, and the more those success stories are posted, the more opportunities will be lost. Although this is about shot distance regulations, and this is just my opinion, but we shouldn't be hunting animals during the rut with the most effective weapon.

 

[Lou (Louis)]

Curious to hear the thoughts and opinions here. My two cents: a 'fair chase' regulation around shot distances could be an effective measure that encourages better shots and decisions in the field. The challenge would be the balance around not over-regulating whatever the details would be, and understanding that it would be more of an 'honor-code' regulation (similar to archery shots outside of shooting light, for example).

In some clicking around I learned that this is already common in many European countries. I can think of pros and cons, and there would be a lot of nuance to consider.

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

How far is too far to take an ethical shot on an animal? However you answer that question, some in Wyoming are calling on lawmakers to step in and decide. Long-distance hunting has become more and more popular over the past several years, and MeatEater has lots of coverage about squeezing the...

www.themeateater.com

Unenforceable (mostly), but it might send a message.

 

[elkhuntinfool78]

Definitely a hard subject to put a number on. That said I think most guys rely on a range finder for yardage. So, what if they put the restrictions on range finders, say only be able to use range finders that wouldn't read past 500 yards, or whatever distance was determined max range?

Just a thought, not sure what the best answer is.

 

[Bullshot]

Here is my take on the problem…. why does anybody WANT to take shots over 500, which itself is very far? What is so hard to understand - that to actually hunt is to get closer (and usually much closer) than that.

Arguing about what a rifle or shooter is capable of doing, at the max, can happen at the range and doesn’t need blood and bone and higher risk of wounding to prove anything. Go shoot a gong.

Also, I agree a law won’t really prevent much, but contemplation of hunting principles and ethics may have a shot.

God forbid we ever have laser weapons. Infinite range ( well, curve of the earth gets in the way) and guaranteed kill shots removes the wounding argument. Who’s for it?

 

[Buffs35]

All these peeps spouting how great they are at 600 to 1k will still be the most proficient at 125 with peep sight muzzy. You'd still have the advantage over most sportsmen.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

Has anyone else been shot over? I was all set up for a shot at 300 when some guys shot right over my head who were at 6-700. Like right over my head. I was totally in the open as it was a prairie hunt. Probably a 170 mule deer which is huge for where it happened. Then they wanted help packing it out 4 miles. Evidently I was totally hidden in blaze orange by the thin grass of the high plains.

 

[MTTW]

All these peeps spouting how great they are at 600 to 1k will still be the most proficient at 125 with peep sight muzzy. You'd still have the advantage over most sportsmen.

Getting within 125 with a muzzleloader in open country is a different skill set than sniping at 1000 yds.

 

[jimh406]

I've watched a few YouTubers asking people to predict their ethical range with cold bore. Almost none of those asked are able to hit even if they are using their competition rifle. Sure, they hit somewhere, but not the "kill" plate.

So, I think that means I call BS on almost everyone's max range.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

Probably the best way to nix most of the long range stuff is to regulate the rangefinders. You make anything over say a 600 yard rangefinder illegal for a party to possess while hunting and all but the most irresponsible hunters are going to have to try to get closer.

 

[BAKPAKR]

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 Wyoming would go to open sights only, how far would 31.5 MOA get a person? Asking for a friend.

 

[44hunter45]

There were rumors that distance limits were going to be part of Idaho's Hunting and Advanced Technology working group last year. In the end their report was pretty much business as usual. In Idaho a lot of the attempts to redefine or limit fair chase come from one state Senator. Same thing in another state? Someone is behind these guys passing out $100 bills.

 

[BrentD]

It is not the sights. It is the bullet. Simply allow only bullets with lengths not more than 2x their caliber. You cannot defeat aerodynamics.

 

[44hunter45]

It is not the sights. It is the bullet. Simply allow only bullets with lengths not more than 2x their caliber. You cannot defeat aerodynamics.

Quigley says no to that.

 

[BrentD]

Quigley says no to that.

Quigkey? Really?

 

[44hunter45]

Quigkey? Really?

poking you. Thinking of paper patched BPCR.

 

[BrentD]

poking you. Thinking of paper patched BPCR.

Truth there. My bullets are usually longervthat 2x their caliber and I shoot further because of it.

But can you imagine the number of big mulies and other game, if this was the law? And the length of the seasons? It would truly be a game changer like no other game law could be.

Imagine if we were restricted to 2x bullets for pronghorns! My god, it would be fabulous.

 

[44hunter45]

Truth there. My bullets are usually longervthat 2x their caliber and I shoot further because of it.

But can you imagine the number of big mulies and other game, if this was the law? And the length of the seasons? It would truly be a game changer like no other game law could be.

Imagine if we were restricted to 2x bullets for pronghorns! My god, it would be fabulous.

I imagine a white board room at state game agency offices where there is a working matrix on the wall.
Columns and variables for acceptable wound/loss, social acceptance, NR revenue, season lengths weighed by hunter success and other mortality, opportunity vs quality, etc.