long range

[Duck-Slayer]

any long range shooter's out there, my buddy Rob his GF Dawn, my wife, and I are headed out too a 2 point only hunt in some wide open countryish, my buddy love's too long range shoot and my dad and I got into last 2 years or so, its fun, but I am going too take my bow, going too try and stick another deer, the wife will be long range shooting, i'm hoping she can pull off a 400 yard shot, we'll see, but my buddy Rob wants too break his record of 725 from this past antelope season, so hopefully I will have some good pictures and story for you all, and i'm sure a video or two... we will be leaving wed. morning....
Matt

 

[putm2sleep]

I love long range practice shooting, but when hunting, I like stuff close - and like to get in up close and personal.

 

[Wally Dog]

I'm not. But I witnessed a friend put the hammer to an antelope last year at 792 yds.
He was outfitted with a .338 Edge and Nightforce scope and did the school etc.
WD

 

[Gerald Martin]

I'm not. I've got nothing against someone who has the necessary skills taking a long shot if needed to fill a tag. But to set a goal of shooting a live animal at long ranges just for bragging rights goes against everything I hold dear as a hunter. My goal is to make the deadliest shot at the closest range possible.

I guess the justification is "it's a two point, make it difficult." I can appreciate taking the bow to make it challenging, but what's next with the long range mentality?

I look forward to the video. Make sure to include all misses and bad shots as well if you want to hear "Atta boys" for a good shot.

 

[HUNTMAN]

Very well put Gerald.

 

[Straight Arrow]

I agree, Gerald. And it does not take much wind, slight deer movement, or merely an itch in your neck to throw off a long range shot resulting in a wounded animal running off to hide. It takes awhile to close the distance if it's 792 yds. At that distance it is even difficult to confirm a hit, unless lethal.

I support long range target shooting. It increases skill level. But in my opinion, long range shooting for hunting wildlife is irresponsible. It's difficult to envision a spot-and-stalk bowhunter tagging along on a long range rifle shooting hunt. 'Don't get it ... but obviously I'm pretty narrow minded.

 

[spook12]

Same here, never have understood the mindset of ultra long range shooting of animals. Take a few steel plates along and shoot them. We owe it to HUNTING to close the distance as much as is the situation allows ,not increase the distance just to set some personal [best] . For me the fun is getting as close as i can ,playing the wind working the terrain ,etc.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

nobody said it was for bragging rights, he wants too better his shooting.... wow the negativity.... you don't know by buddy Rob and you don't obviously know me GERALD. Also we all miss, it doesn't matter if your 20 yards or 900 yards, alittle confused on that clarification may be needed... trust me this is what he does, he shoots a completely custom 300 ultra Mag., with a bushnell tactical scope, he practice's at 600-1000 yards weekly, and does his own custom loads for the gun.... when you want too get on somebody else's thread and rant about nothing you know about "long range shooting" or my buddy "rob" and how good he is, and yes it's fun for me too see how far he can accurately kill an animal, I am a bow guy just like you it sounds like, I pride myself on how close I can get too an animal.... GERALD you really need too open you mind set, not everyone is a irresponsible hunter....:W:
Matt

 

[indian larry]

he wants too better his shooting

Shooting is shooting, hunting is hunting. He can do his shooting at the range on paper and bring home proof every single time how great of a shot he is. if your goal is to go hunting, go hunting. An ethical/responsible hunter IMO is going to make the best possible shot as close as they can get. His bullet would lose about 45% of its energy at 500 yards, why not move in and hit it with all the power you got. you will have the rest of the day to spend at the range doing 1000 yard shots and not chasing 3 legged, one horn, gut shot deer in some "wide open countryish" all day.

any long range shooter's out there,

Dont forget to yell at the other 5 that against it for similar reasons. you asked a question you got an answer.

Also we all miss, it doesn't matter if your 20 yards or 900 yards

i would much rather see him hit the staple that is holding his target on the board at 900 yards reload and try again then knock the left front of a deer and have it spinning circles while he hucks lead at it for 10 more minuets trying to make a hit while its moving. You could sprint 450 yards to make a better shot and cut your distance in half but that takes time.

im not for it.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

Ok, your the experts... Thanks for ruining a thread....
Matt

 

[Gerald Martin]

Ask a question... get an answer. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

I asked if there was any long range guys out there, not for your opinion on it....
Matt

 

[Gerald Martin]

am a bow guy just like you it sounds like, I pride myself on how close I can get too an animal

Actually, I'm pretty much a poser when it comes to being a "bow guy" even though archery hunting is my favorite.

In all actuallity, I'm probably guilty of taking shots longer than my ability justifies, but I can guarentee the only thing I've ever tried to increase the range on to make my shot harder is a prararie dog. ( I justified that by thinking if I hit one at all it would kill him)

If your buddy wants to increase his shooting ability, more power to him. That's what targets and praraie dogs are for IMO.
Sorry to ruin your thread. Thick skin and all that....
Best of luck on your hunt. I hope you double lung a monster two point at 20 yards.

 

[belly-deep]

I'm not. I've got nothing against someone who has the necessary skills taking a long shot if needed to fill a tag. But to set a goal of shooting a live animal at long ranges just for bragging rights goes against everything I hold dear as a hunter. My goal is to make the deadliest shot at the closest range possible.

I guess the justification is "it's a two point, make it difficult." I can appreciate taking the bow to make it challenging, but what's next with the long range mentality?

I look forward to the video. Make sure to include all misses and bad shots as well if you want to hear "Atta boys" for a good shot.

Quite a bit of what hunters do is for "bragging rights"

Shooting is just another aspect of it.

Don't bowhunters shoot smaller animals than they would with a rifle and say "its a good sized buck for a bow kill"??? How is that different from a rifle hunter saying "its a two point, make it difficult"???

Would you disparage a traditional archer because he challenges himself with a tougher shot and doesn't just go with a compound?

How about when that archer considers his effective range to be where he can place 90% of his shots in the vital zone of an animal?

And yet, a long range rifle hunter who considers his effective range to be where he can place 90% of his shot in the vitals of an animal is somehow violating ethics?

The long range rifle hunter is no different from a bowhunter. The thrill and the challenge is different; one uses a weapon that limits the hunter to shot range and placement while the other uses a weapon extends the range to obtain the challenge.

I guess you could say that you bowhunt to extend your hunting opportunity with a longer season, but isn't the long range rifle hunter trying to extend his hunting opportunity too?

And so if a long range rifle hunter can get closer for a shot but doesn't, he's unethical...and by that logic, the bowhunter who doesn't pick up a rifle when general season opens is unethical too? Or he is just exercising his right to hunt how he chooses?

I say we don't throw rocks in a glass house. The bowhunters, the "regular" rifle hunters, and the long range hunters will all wound animals. The ones that practice more, regardless of weapon, will be less likely to wound.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

Belly-deep that is one of best answers/thoughts I have ever read, applaud you for looking at both sides......
Matt

 

[MHMT]

Quite a bit of what hunters do is for "bragging rights"

Shooting is just another aspect of it.

Don't bowhunters shoot smaller animals than they would with a rifle and say "its a good sized buck for a bow kill"??? How is that different from a rifle hunter saying "its a two point, make it difficult"???

Would you disparage a traditional archer because he challenges himself with a tougher shot and doesn't just go with a compound?

How about when that archer considers his effective range to be where he can place 90% of his shots in the vital zone of an animal?

And yet, a long range rifle hunter who considers his effective range to be where he can place 90% of his shot in the vitals of an animal is somehow violating ethics?

The long range rifle hunter is no different from a bowhunter. The thrill and the challenge is different; one uses a weapon that limits the hunter to shot range and placement while the other uses a weapon extends the range to obtain the challenge.

I guess you could say that you bowhunt to extend your hunting opportunity with a longer season, but isn't the long range rifle hunter trying to extend his hunting opportunity too?

And so if a long range rifle hunter can get closer for a shot but doesn't, he's unethical...and by that logic, the bowhunter who doesn't pick up a rifle when general season opens is unethical too? Or he is just exercising his right to hunt how he chooses?

I say we don't throw rocks in a glass house. The bowhunters, the "regular" rifle hunters, and the long range hunters will all wound animals. The ones that practice more, regardless of weapon, will be less likely to wound.

The only thing I see wrong with your analogy is when you're challenging yourself with a bow it is giving the animal a greater advantage. Long range rifle hunting is giving the animal less advantage.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

The only thing I see wrong with your analogy is when you're challenging yourself with a bow it is giving the animal a greater advantage. Long range rifle hunting is giving the animal less advantage.

Not sure that's accurate. A breeze can throw a bullet off by 5 feet at 800 yards.
Matt

 

[MHMT]

Well archery is challenging by getting close and outsmarting the animal, not by reading the conditions and being a great shot, I am sure that can be very difficult, but you are not outsmarting the animal. That is what hunting is about to me.

 

[Gerald Martin]

A breeze can throw a bullet off by 5 feet at 800 yards

Your words not mine. I agree wholeheartedly with the above statement.

I think if you read my first post the way it was written you'll see I stated I'm not against someone shooting X yards if necessary and they have the skills.

However, I know some fellows who are "longrange hunters" and claim to have the skills necessary. In fact their trophy wall will lend creedence to that. What they don't say until pressed is that the last bull that was killed at 700 and something yards (the yardage was mentioned in their opening statements) was shot multiple times in nonvital places even though it was immobilized. They had to finish it off when they got there. Precision shooting? They got their bull. I know their kill to wound ratio at long ranges is probably as good as "average" guys ratio at two -three hundred yards. But the fact of the matter is at longer ranges the hunters ability to hit what he's aiming at in only one of many factors in making a fatal shot.
Matt, maybe I'm reading into your first post too much but the way I understand it the stated goal for this upcoming hunt for your buddy and your wife is not only to get a deer but to do it at a further distance than has previously been accomplished.

To want to shoot an animal at a further distance than is necessary and to make that the goal is gimmicky at best and shows a lack of reguard for the animal and our sport at worst.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

You misread my intent, I'm not good with words, but is yes looking to shoot a deer at 400+ yards.... To some who do not understand what this entails too do accurately for a high shoulder kill shot... Well it's complicated too say the least.. I understand this because I have shot 2 animals in that 400 yard range with 1 shot kills, the only two big game animals I've shot with a rifle, I'm a die hard bowhunter, but I understand the precision it takes to do it well and to be called a long range hunter/shooter... It's apparent that some of you have a bad attitude/ideas about real long range shooters/hunters.... The End
Matt