Jim Burnworth's long distance ram.

[zachbow]

So there is a thread on Bowsite and a lot of talk on Facebook about Jim Burnworth of the show western extreme shooting a desert ram at 73 yards with a 93 yard follow up shot. A lot of folks are pretty upset that we are questioning these shots. What do you Real western hunters think. I think his long shots and high fenced hunts make for a bad show? I value the Eastmans readers opinions, so what do you think of taking these type of shots and the canned hunts that he shows on his show as well?

 

[Ryan]

Zachbow,
Without getting into the specifics of any one particular hunter, TV show, or event, I'll address my own personal thoughts on long-distance shots. When you get over "reasonable distances" - say 60 yards with a bow or 400 yards with a rifle (with variances in those numbers depending on situation), I feel that there are simply too many variables that come into play that cannot be controlled as they can be at the range. What's the wind doing halfway between here and there? What's the animal going to do in that extra 1/2 second of projectile travel time? What's that .00001 degree of angle error going to do at that distance when combined with those other factors? How tired are you from hiking? How jittery are you from the heat of the moment? I think some of this starts boiling down to ego and overconfidence rather than respecting the animal enough to get closer and make sure of a better shot. Just because I can hit a target at extreme distances doesn't mean I have any business taking those same shots at live animals. Leave long-distance shooting at the range.

 

[miller1]

I dont think a 73 yard shot is somthing to be stoned for, it is a poke for alot of people but a well practiced shooter under the right situation is ok by me, i can hit the kill everytime at 73 yards in my backyard (which is alot different than hunting) so im sure the guys that hunt out west and practice for this type of shot all the time shouldnt have a problem, the individual has to know his limits. as for the 93 yard shot, if the animal is already hit you have to go to the limit to harvest that animal. look at some of Fred Bears shots.

 

[300WBYMAG]

It amazes me some of the comments that those guys put and to know that they are actually "buying in" to his whole deal is just sickening. You hit the nail on the head zachbow, canned hunts, high fences, you name it...Burnworth will do it. The worst part is, is that guys give him recognition for it.

On the flip side, the best part is how he validates everything with the number of animal's he has taken(usually in that year)...like when he said in his FB rebuttal, "I took 61 big game animals with only my bow this last year..." At what point does the guy reading that not wake up and smell the coffee? Also, if the shot was a "73 yard X" (which we all know is crap), why was there a need for the follow up shot at 93 yards, which was another "perfect" arrow when he was "Hard Quartering" away.

The guy is a pure joke, an insult to be known as the "western hunter. Makes us guys who actually work for it, year in and year out and come home empty handed most of the time, just sick. At least it does for me...

 

[Doe Nob]

I think its up to each archer to decide what they can reasonably hit. Some of the new fast compound bows can shoot easily and accurately out to loooong distances that should not have been considered 10 years ago.
If it was a robot drawing one of the state of the art bows, you ought to just be able to move the pins up and shoot consistently out to 100 yards. To the extent that the archer practices enough with the right form, they can be consistent at long ranges - 70 even 80 yards. This is not the weekend shooter though, this is the die hard guy that practices daily and knows every piece of equipment that comes into contact with his bow.

Its similar to the long range rifle debate. Anyone who's not an expert shouldn't be shooting at that kind of range.

 

[Adam]

I guess I can see both sides of the argument, but at the end of the day, to each his own. However, I can say that for me, personally, you wouldn't catch me ever taking a shot that far on an animal with my bow. I'd venture to say that I's seriously hesitate on a 60 yard shot, unless I knew everything was just right and was 100% confident before I released.

Sure I have the pins and setup to do it, and I can consistently hit my Block at those "long" ranges, but putting a live and very unpredictable animal out there and taking a shot, that's just not my cup of tea.

 

[dito]

I never really cared for his show. But I quit watching it after he shot a mule deer with a 50 BMG. WHY?????

 

[elktracker]

I agree with Ryan, leave long distance shooting at the range. Like most of you have said, I can hit the target all day at 70 yards, but an animal is not a target. I've heard stories of deer and elk jumping the string at 30 yards, so no matter how fast your bow is an arrow just takes too long to get to 70+ yards. Ethical hunters should have enough respect for the animal not to take these marginal shots. Better to come home without releasing an arrow than to not recover a wounded an animal because you took a long shot.

 

[Jerry]

For me Ryan said it all! Taking shots at extreme distances is out of the question!!! I'm quite sure that there are people out there that can consistently shoot these distances but it encourages others that lack the skill of a military sniper to take shots that they shouldn't.

 

[ceby7]

To call himself a hunter is an injustice to everyone. He's no more of a hunter than a poacher is. He's never killed a "wild" animal in his life and the term "fair chase" is nonexistant in his language. 300WBYMAG hit it on the head when when he said the worst part is that he gets recognition for it. What kind of a hunter actually watches that s#*t! I was raised to respect the animals I hunt and have the opportunity to harvest. Along with that comes a sense of pride when you finally lay hands on a buck or bull that you've worked your butt off for, regardless of how big it is. Burnworth doesn't have an ounce of respect for a single animal he's ever or will ever kill. Pride? Grocery shopping doesn't exude pride. Like the time he was trying to kill a mule deer with a .50 cal, but only if it was at least a 1000 yard shot. What the hell does that prove?

 

[Elkoholic307]

I haven't watched Burnworth's show in long time because he's kind of a cornball. But, I'm all for long range if you know what you're doing. When I'm meat hunting, it's boring if it's not long range.

 

[miller1]

I dont know who this Burnworth guy is, i dont get all the hunting channels but he sure doesnt seem to be liked well, if his hunts are like described i can understand why nobody like to watch him.

 

[Firearrow]

This is an umfortunate realism of toadys so called Celeb Hunters, not to be confused with any of the Eastmen crew (kiss, kiss, smooch. smooch). You take a guy who looks like he is a IBO shooter from back east (no offense to the east coast guys) with a target style release, 310+ fps bow, that thinks that just becasue he can hit the spot at 80 yards with a fieldpoint under ideal conditions, should take a shot at an animal with his Rage Broadhead, a desert sheep no less, and think that it is ok. Don't get me wrong, I use Rage BH for deer, and hogs. The difference is I have enough respect for the animal, as well as the sport of bow hunting to know what my limits are, and what an ethical shot is. Just becasue you can shoot that far, doesn't mean you should take that shot at an animal.

I practice at further distances, 60-70-80 yards, not to take the shot at that distance, but to make me a better shot at 40-50 yards. Broadhead tune your bow at further distances to make your rig shoot better, but respect the animal/your self, and get closer and make that 40 yard shot.

Hopefully some of this guys sponsers will see these posts, and have a come to god with him, so that he doesn't give bow hunting a bad name. JMO.

 

[elkmtngear]

I think it would be much better if he just left the distances out of it....I'm sure there are young hunters that look up to guys like Jim, and a couple of hail-Mary shots are nothing to brag about. Celebrate the kill, not the distance, it was a really nice Trophy Ram....just leave it at that.

Best of Luck,
Jeff

 

[NDHunter]

I absolutely can't stand the guy. I never watch his show but for some reason watched his last episode and he said that last year he hunted something like 300 days and shot 90 animals. He goes on and on and on about how "hunting is in his blood" but does nothing but KILL. If you shoot 90 animals a year, you're not a hunter, you are a killer. I eat everything that i shoot. I'd like to ask him what type of hunter would go out and just kill and kill and kill and if he is such a glorious hunter, how he manages to eat 90 animals in one year.

 

[BOHNTR]

First off, congratulations to the hunter......don't know him but a Desert Bighorn with a bow is a feat. Kudos.

Now for the overall topic of long range shooting. I not only sit on the records committee for P&Y but I also sit on the CA state archery board and deal/negotiate with F&G Commissions and Department personnel from several states in the West. Trust me when I say this folks.....extreme long range shooting will be the demise of archery only seasons if we continue down this road. They are noticing it......and they do not like what they see. Whether you agree or not is irrelevant if the folks making the rules have their minds made up. Remember, their perception is their respective reality.

I've been bending bows for over 35 years now and was raised with the following statement: An ARCHER sees how far away he can get from his target and still hit it. A BOWHUNTER sees how close he can get to his target before he hits it. How far a person casts an arrow is usually not a major debate with me.......until their actions directly affect mine.

 

[HuntinMontucky]

Sure to each his own, but at the end of the day we are more than just some guy running through the woods with a bow, Burnworths shots make bowhunters look irresponsible! If you can do it at the range rock on but when your in the field be ethical! I can hit my Rinehart all day at 70 yards, this past season a twig took my perfectly placed and released 55 yard quartering away shot and sent it into the dirt, that beautiful 6 point walked out to 70 yards, stood broadside and watched my nock another arrow, draw and steady without moving, I could have flung the arrow out there sure but missing the first shot was heartbreaking enough, then to think of possibly wounding an animal? No leave that at the range. Same goes for this new long range rifle crap Im seeing anymore, if you cant close the gap within a reasonable distance especially with your rifle...stay home! Any why take long shots with a bow, isnt that why we bowhunt, for the challenge and the THRILL of getting CLOSE?! Just my 2 cents.

 

[zachbow]

I'm glad that you guys agree, because I am getting blasted on Facebook over this.

 

[300WBYMAG]

zachbow, I seen that and it's a shame that so many guys jumped all over you. However, I do think that because of the comments you and others put, ultimately is what got it yanked off FB. You were standing up for what you believe, nothing more, and the opposing side (the brainwashed fans) went straight for your throat. I bet Jim was real proud of the some of those comments coming from his "fans" that were in favor of him and what he stands for. It's got to be real heart warming to see so many people show such poise and character when defending a man they know nothing about other than what airs on TV three nights a week.

It's also great to know that there is some people in this world who are not completely batsh!t crazy like most of the guys who were posting towards you. The sad truth is, anyone with a little financial backing can get a TV show now days. I can guarantee that if his "fans" knew what goes on behind the camera, the footage that doesn't get show, the details about the hunt that he doesn't air, people would have a much different view of some of these guys.

And what amazed me the most was how many open invites he got from his FB fans to come "hunt with them anytime." NO! He's not ever going to come hunting with you and you're probably never going to sit down and have a beer with him! Please, stop trying to make it seem like he's your buddy from high school who you used to chase girls with and get in to trouble with. Wake up and come back to reality from behind that monitor and internet connection.

 

[Mike]

Right On HuntinMontucky part of the skill of hunting is the stalk. Everyone has taken long shots, but this long-range Hail Mary stuff, bow or rifle, is lack of stalking skill. And those people who high fence kill and pawn it off as hunting, have gone to the dark side. Mike Eastman