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

[Wind Gypsy]

There are, but that was then, and this is now. I don't care just do it.

I feel differently after seeing lobbyist and special interest led political hunting regs mandated by legislature. They should keep their hands off hunting regs far as i'm concerned.

 

[JM77]

First off, that's an invalid "stretch".

It's actually not a stretch. It used to be a hunter couldn't carry in archery in Wyo and National Parks were off limits to firearms except broken down and cased. Now you can freely carry in bow season and in the Parks thanks to 2nd A.

Secondly, if so, then what is the role of the Wyoming Legislature? How does it "step in"?

That is what this thread is about. The Legislature is looking at hunting ethics. Someone brings an idea to a legislator and they get it into interim discussion. Complete by-pass of G&F Commission.

 

[Straight Arrow]

It's actually not a stretch. It used to be a hunter couldn't carry in archery in Wyo and National Parks were off limits to firearms except broken down and cased. Now you can freely carry in bow season and in the Parks thanks to 2nd A.

That is what this thread is about. The Legislature is looking at hunting ethics. Someone brings an idea to a legislator and they get it into interim discussion. Complete by-pass of G&F Commission.

Understood. My question relates to the role of the Legislature in "stepping in" to a 2 A rights infringement.

BTW, the right to carry while archery hunting and in the Parks is not what this thread is about.

 

[JM77]

Understood. My question relates to the role of the Legislature in "stepping in" to a 2 A rights infringement.

BTW, the right to carry while archery hunting and in the Parks is not what this thread is about

That's right, but my comment was directed at the Legislature "stepping in". The point about the 2nd A. is it could actually affect any new law as it did in the examples I mentioned.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

View attachment 375920

Fair enough but I just mean it as a "keep an honest man honest" kind of thing. You won't keep people from airmailing lead if he's big, I just mean a responsible hunter

 

[Lota lota]

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

Totally unenforceable unless it's witnessed...even tough at that. This is like the Illuminated reticle law and Illuminok law that Montana had. Every guy that had an Illuminated reticle just took the battery out of it and then it was legal. Thank God that's changed.

 

[jeff_gibbons]

Just to play devil's advocate, they are pretty involved already. I talk to a lot more game wardens than all other law enforcement agencies combined.

Hunting has a pile of laws and regulations that I constantly pay attentiontion to. I watch where I park, I watch where I'm walking, I watch how I dress. I keep the stack of paperwork on me (more individual articles than I needed to drive there), I watch what type specific equipment I am allowed to hunt with, I watch how I break down the animal and how long I have before it must be on ice.

I'm missing a few, but hunting is one of the most regulated activities you will participate in outside of running a business. I'm sure spotlights wasn't in volume 1 of the regulations, but I'm thankful it's there now.

I'm not for more regulation, but you get my point.

Slippery slope. I understand the benefit of evolution but it also comes at a cost in this case. The logic must be thought through past the immediate.

I want to focus the spot light on values, principles and culture. I believe they drive behavior more than any law or policy can.

 

[BrentD]

Slippery slope. I understand the benefit of evolution but it also comes at a cost in this case. The logic must be thought through past the immediate.

I want to focus the spot light on values, principles and culture. I believe they drive behavior more than any law or policy can.

Personally I think the slippery slope argument is a cheap way out. That said, i've used it myself, but it is still a cheap way out.

Yeah, and that exactly when is this spotlight on values principles and culture about to happen? How is it gonna happen? Who's gonna make it happen? And I'll bet you a hundred bucks it won't happen in the next decade. I wish I could believe you are right, but I don't.

 

[3855WIN]

No reason to limit range for elk and whitetails. Maybe limit season length or weapon for muleys.

 

[Benfromalbuquerque]

Not going to happen because of lobbying. We could start with a well-regarded optics company patron of this very site. Then ya got all of the other optics companies, all sporting arms dealers, certain sportsman’s groups and the NRA too. I add in the NRA because just think of it, the lie that sportsman “need” certain guns and any more restriction is contrary to 2A would be exposed. If an open sight 30-30 really was all we needed in the first place, well shit. Organizations need contributions and companies need income so this will die in committee.

 

[Ballistic]

I agree with others weapon restrictions are the only way to address what this is trying to address.

How is wounding a deer at 100 yds with a musket different than 800 yds with a modern centerfire?

 

[BrentD]

How is wounding a deer at 100 yds with a musket different than 800 yds with a modern centerfire?

Who says that it is? But keep in mind that 800 with a centerfire is way harder than one hundred with the average musket.

 

[Ballistic]

The faster we can all weigh in on the ethics of what, how, and why we hunt and what skills should be important to everyone else the sooner we can all dispense with this obscene archaic tradition for the very same reasons.

 

[Ballistic]

Who says that it is? But keep in mind that 800 with a centerfire is way harder than one hundred with the average musket.

No. I can shoot a 3" waterline in 15 mph winds with my match rifle at 800, good luck maintaining 20" at 100 with an average musket. There is more math involved, but it is not harder.

 

[Doublegunner]

How much of a problem is this really? Yes you have some YouTube slobs taking excessive shots but does that represent the majority of us? I for one vary how far I'm willing to shoot based on the circumstances at that time. I shoot a lot so I'm comfortable with longer ranges but I always strive to get closer. Last year i snuch to about 40 yards and got my deer. That's not always possible though. I hold fast that I simply won't take a shot that I'm uncomfortable with. I'm a sport hunter. If I really need meat I can go the the grocery store. I'm not interested in lobbing bullets and hoping they connect.

 

[brymoore]

Who says that it is? But keep in mind that 800 with a centerfire is way harder than one hundred with the average musket.

Based on my experience with other hunters, most couldn’t hit a pie plate 2 out of 3 times at 200 yards with their rifles let alone worry about them shooting 800 yards.

 

[rogerthat]

How is wounding a deer at 100 yds with a musket different than 800 yds with a modern centerfire?

A deer at 800 likely has no sensory ability to detect you unless you yell at it. 100 yards may take sone effort and skill to get that close

 

[BrentD]

No. I can shoot a 3" waterline in 15 mph winds with my match rifle at 800, good luck maintaining 20" at 100 with an average musket. There is more math involved, but it is not harder.

Apparently you don't shoot muskets much.

Anytime you want to wager, your you're rifle @ 800 against my flintlock @ 100, let me know.

 

[cgasner1]

Apparently you don't shoot muskets much.

Anytime you want to wager, your you're rifle @ 800 against my flintlock @ 100, let me know.

I’d make the same bet all day with a 5” gong

 

[mtmuley]

Apparently you don't shoot muskets much.

Anytime you want to wager, your you're rifle @ 800 against my flintlock @ 100, let me know.

Pink slips? mtmuley