The Long Shot... Take it or Leave it?

[BHunt98]

Hey guys,

With all these DIY videos coming out on YouTube, there's an increasing exposure to the world of hunting for sportsmen and non-sportsmen, alike. That being said, one thing that I keep coming across in these videos is hunters taking shots that range between 400-700 yards. Some of those animals are dead on impact and others take one, two, and even three more shots to go down.
As an open country hunter myself, I understand that sometimes a 600-yard shot is the only opportunity that presents itself in the course of a hunt. But I've always told myself I would never take a shot past 300 yards for a few reasons: 1) It makes me feel like I'm not "sniping" an animal and that it was a fair hunt, 2) I feel like there's less risk for destroying meat, and 3) It makes the hunt more challenging. While I aknowledge that one of the primary reasons for hunting should be for the purpose of getting meat, are all kills created equal? The question I would like to pose to you all is this:

EVEN IF YOU CAN CONFIDENTLY SHOOT LONG DISTANCES, IS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

I'm biased towards saying no, but I want to hear your guys' opinions! Looking forwards to reading the comments!

 

[Gr8bawana]

Ethics, some people have them and some don't. At what point does does actual hunting of an animal simply become shooting at a live target 600-1000+ yards away?

 

[tdub24]

I kind of sit on both sides of the fence. The only chance I will take a shot between 400-600 yards is if the animal knowingly knows I am there and is about to bolt. On top of that, this said animal will need to be pretty darn big. I feel that after a few seasons of archery hunting,1 kill on 177" buck at 20 yards, and a few kills with a muzzleloader under 100 yards under my belt I am more than capable enough to close the distance to less than 300 yards without being detected. I feel long shots when the animal doesn't know you are there is not giving the animal the fair chance at evading my pursuit. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I think you should get as close as possible when taking a shot. If that is 600 yards you should be able to to put the bullet in the correct spot every time you pull the trigger regardless of conditions. To do that you must practice a lot, have the correct equipment and KNOW you can make the kill with one bullet.

IMO I think most shots will be less then 300 yards if you really try to get as close as possible.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I can routinely shoot minute or less groups out to 500 yards with both my .25-06 & .300 Wby. The longest shot I have ever taken was a one shot kill on a buck antelope that was slightly over 400 yards away. I had hunted this particular animal for 4 days and just couldn't get closer. He was smart and I finally ran out of patience.

I have shot a lot of deer at 300 to 350 with no problems. But I just won't shoot any further for a variety of reasons. The variables (especially wind) get greater and I don't want to be chasing down a wounded animal.

I've seen the tv shows that shoot animals across canyons at extreme ranges (600, 700 and more). They never show how many they miss or cripple. Not for me............

 

[kidoggy]

I personally will not take a shot over 400. just no longer feel confident enough in my ability or eyesight to do it.
in fact,I doubt most hunters have the ability to do so.
besides for me, half the fun is in getting close and seldom have I encountered a situation where it was not possible to get that close.

that said .., there are many who DO have the ability . for those who do , kudos to them and congrats.

I will not fault those who do it but would say ,"just because you can , does not ALWAYS mean you should."

every situation is different and I believe whatever ones capability may be ,if the hunter respects his(her) prey ,they owes it to the animal to to try and get into position for the , best shot they can.

 

[BHunt98]

Really neat that you have experience hunting with all three weapons! I'm curious as to whether people's mindsets about "the hunt" and "the kill" change based off of the weapon they hold in their hands

 

[kidoggy]

many have a mindset that is different from mine.

doesn't necessarily mean I am right and they are not ,or vice versa.

not everyone wants the same thing out of a hunt.
for some it's only the kill that matters. for some it's getting the meat.for some it's the trophy . for some it doesn't even matter if they kill anything or not, it's simply about being in nature and testing themselves.(my favorite hunts these days is not even when I have the tag. it's taking a new hunter out for their first hunts.)IT IS A CHALLENGE AND A RUSH TO HELP A NEWBIE SUCCEED.

and probably, for most, it's about all of those combined.

my priorities change somewhat based upon what tag I manage to draw and how full my freezer is. mostly, for me, the meat is the most important thing but there are certain hunts that getting that trophy takes precedent over wether I fill the freezer or not.in those type hunts one should always be content to eat tag soup. if you are one to get bummed later, about passing on an animal, you should not trophy hunt

 

[JimP]

Having hunted in the west my whole life with cross canyon shots can get up there in yardage I will say it all depends. Nice way of avoiding the question isn't it?

I would say that the vast majority of my shots at animals have been under 300 yards with most of them in the 100-200 yard range but there have been a couple that pushed the envelope past 700 yards. One was a elk and the other was a mule deer. On both of them I knew what my rifle was capable of along with myself and didn't hesitate to take the shots. The elk took two shots with both of them being kill shots but after the first shot he was still standing and I have the philosophy that if a elk is still on his feet then I am going to keep shooting. The other 700 yard+ shot was at a mule deer standing at the far end of a hay field with no way to get closer with only 1/2 hour left in the season. He dropped as soon as the bullet hit him. Both shots were taken from a dead rest with no wind, if the wind would of been blowing I never would of pulled the trigger on either shot, just too many variables.

The coues deer in my avatar was shot at 420 yards and if any of you have hunted those grey ghost you know that is a close shot most of the time.

Other than that I also like to hunt with a pistol. Where a 150 yard shot is way out there but again I have taken those shots with confidence that I was going to hit the animal, I have also passed those same kind of shots depending on what is happening.

So in the grand scheme of things I think that 90% of those kind of shots depend on where you are hunting. Wide open country requires long shots usually. I don't agree with some of these shows out there that push the limits of their equipment to the extreme and you know that with it being shown on TV that you will never see the ones that were hit and never recovered. They also add to problems with hunters that want to push the yardage out there without the practice or skill to do so. I have a relative that is this way. He thinks that all he needs is a scope with a turret installed on it to where he can just dial in the distance, place the cross-hairs on the target and pull the trigger. There are times that I wished that it was that easy.

 

[BuzzH]

Lots of other variables to consider before pulling the trigger, with distance only being one of them.

The real "skill" is knowing when to, and when not to, depending on each situation.

Honestly, given favorable conditions, a good rest and a rifle you know and shoot well...300-500 really isn't any big deal. Crap rest, wind, bad light, animal that's jittery, etc...150 yards may be too far.

 

[280ackimp]

I think this is a "are you hunting, harvesting or shooting" issue. Colorado cowboy has valid points ....

 

[JimP]

But then we get into another area when you mention hunting, harvesting, or shooting.

How about those who just drive around in a truck all day that say that they are hunting?

Or how about those who just sit in a tree stand waiting for a animal to show up?

It is all a slippery slope.

 

[mcseal2]

I practice to be able to take long shots when the situation requires it. If I can get enough variables in my favor to be certain of a vital hit I will take longer shots. I don't look for long shots. I've been in the position before though where a shot has to be taken cross canyon at an animal feeding in a pocket. The only shot options are in the pocket with the animal at under 30yds or across the canyon at 400+. I usually get in one out of state trip a year and 5-9 days of hunting time on that trip. I practice all year to be able to make the most of those few days and shooting at longer range is one of the skills I practice. When I think my best opportunity is a longer shot I get into my shooting position and see how steady I can get my crosshairs on the animal. If I can get locked down well enough and the wind is manageable I'll take the shot. If I can't get steady enough from that shooting position or the wind is to iffy I will pass and try to get closer or steadier.

That said off the top of my head I can only remember 2 big game animals I have taken past 360yds. Both were elk in the cross canyon scenario I discussed above. When I can I get closer. The practice I do shooting closer range targets quickly has filled more tags than my long range shooting. Shooting reactive targets, the balls that roll or jump when hit, steel spinner targets, and other improvised targets to make me faster acquiring and shooting a target have been very beneficial. They benefit my predator hunting a great deal also, and I think the predator hunting benefits my big game hunting immensely.

 

[dustin ray]

Whats seems unethical to one guy is a chip shot to another guy take a guy like Criss Kyle 500yrds was nothing
https://youtu.be/EVWUuNdl1b4
For me i like to get close >200 would be ideal unless I'm shooting coyotes
Iv have killed a deer with one shot with a muzzleloader at 450 yrds i new the gun could do it after hitting paper at 500 600yrds in practice before the hunt i have to admit it was a thrill having done it i wouldn't want to do it again unless it a dog.After the hunt i did catch some crap from guys that where not there and don't under stand the gun or what got me to that point so Unless a guy is being careless with a random shot with no practice with the gun and windy conditions ho I'm i to judge.
My passion is archery hunting theres nothing like getting close but with practice 80 to 100 yrd are vary doable

 

[Slugz]

Great comments from a great bunch of hunters

As was said on another thread "practice should determine your max shot range" I routinely see guys roll into state after shooting only 100 yards at the range 3-4 times in the summer and expect to make a 300-400 yard shot as they are huffing and puffing.

I personally wont take an elk shot past 400 yards and that has to be only because its cross canyon and he/she is calm feeding. My small bull last year was at 35 yards in dark timber

 

[mallardsx2]

I also have watched countless youtube videos of guys whacking away at deer and Elk at extreme ranges. It sickens me.

I say this to my wife all the time when we are out hunting and she asks how we are going to get closer:

"Indians used to kill them with spears and wooden bows with pieces of rock tied to the tips of their arrows..."

It always makes her laugh.

For someone to say they cant close the distance on any animal to within a couple hundred yards to make a clean and ethical kill with a rife is nonsense. Because, "Indians used to kill them with spears and wooden bows with pieces of rock tied to the tip..."

I'm with Randy Newberg in saying that, "Anyone who backs up further away to take a shot at an animal to prove some kind of personal record should have his hunting license taken away".

 

[kidoggy]

Having hunted in the west my whole life with cross canyon shots can get up there in yardage I will say it all depends. Nice way of avoiding the question isn't it?

I would say that the vast majority of my shots at animals have been under 300 yards with most of them in the 100-200 yard range but there have been a couple that pushed the envelope past 700 yards. One was a elk and the other was a mule deer. On both of them I knew what my rifle was capable of along with myself and didn't hesitate to take the shots. The elk took two shots with both of them being kill shots but after the first shot he was still standing and I have the philosophy that if a elk is still on his feet then I am going to keep shooting. The other 700 yard+ shot was at a mule deer standing at the far end of a hay field with no way to get closer with only 1/2 hour left in the season. He dropped as soon as the bullet hit him. Both shots were taken from a dead rest with no wind, if the wind would of been blowing I never would of pulled the trigger on either shot, just too many variables.

The coues deer in my avatar was shot at 420 yards and if any of you have hunted those grey ghost you know that is a close shot most of the time.

Other than that I also like to hunt with a pistol. Where a 150 yard shot is way out there but again I have taken those shots with confidence that I was going to hit the animal, I have also passed those same kind of shots depending on what is happening.

So in the grand scheme of things I think that 90% of those kind of shots depend on where you are hunting. Wide open country requires long shots usually. I don't agree with some of these shows out there that push the limits of their equipment to the extreme and you know that with it being shown on TV that you will never see the ones that were hit and never recovered. They also add to problems with hunters that want to push the yardage out there without the practice or skill to do so. I have a relative that is this way. He thinks that all he needs is a scope with a turret installed on it to where he can just dial in the distance, place the cross-hairs on the target and pull the trigger. There are times that I wished that it was that easy.

would only say , wide open country does not USUALLY require long shots.

I hunt wide open country all the time and still manage to get within 100-200 yards on most occasions.

it does however require some skill ,in stalking and some patience

 

[kidoggy]

But then we get into another area when you mention hunting, harvesting, or shooting.

How about those who just drive around in a truck all day that say that they are hunting?

Or how about those who just sit in a tree stand waiting for a animal to show up?

It is all a slippery slope.

to each there own. not for me but who am I to say it's NOT hunting.
folks have my blessing to hunt anyway they wish.

my only requirement of them is they do what is legal in the area they are hunting.

 

[Timberstalker]

You can’t put a number on ethics. I personally like to get as close as I can with what ever weapon I carry. I’m more apt to brag about how close my shot is than how far. I rely way more on my hunting skills than my shooting skills.

Some may think it’s unethical to shoot at a running deer, I’ve killed quite a few Blacktail on the run, we used to make drives and that’s what the shot was. I see show where they say “now wait till it turns broadside and take the shot” I would have already been gutting the deer out by the time they decided to shoot.

I personally am not a fan of long range shooting. Not for rifles, muzzleloader or bow. Give the animals a sporting chance.

 

[kidoggy]

You can’t put a number on ethics. I personally like to get as close as I can with what ever weapon I carry. I’m more apt to brag about how close my shot is than how far. I rely way more on my hunting skills than my shooting skills.

Some may think it’s unethical to shoot at a running deer, I’ve killed quite a few Blacktail on the run, we used to make drives and that’s what the shot was. I see show where they say “now wait till it turns broadside and take the shot” I would have already been gutting the deer out by the time they decided to shoot.

some need the time to build a nest before shooting. that's ok, better to wait for the shot you are comfortable with.

I have been known to take ,a running shot but will not take just any running shot.


sometimes I take into consideration how far I have run. have even been known to stop running before I shoot.