long Shots

BoltAction · May 5, 2005

what is your feeling on this?
Hunting or Shooting

http://www.thebestofthewest.net/7minPromo.wmv

RHWWTTCHEN MOTTO=Sans dieu rien WITHOUT GOD NOTHING

Life Member of the one shot wonder club

kingfish · May 5, 2005

I wish they would be honest and show the animals they lose and wound that have to be hunted down and killed at closer range. This is a very dangerous thing to promote. Hunting is about getting close enough to make a one shot humane kill. Most hunters are not capable of making these shots. They don't practice enough or even handle a rifle until it's hunting season. I don't like it and would never allow my son to think for a minute that this is hunting. For the less then 1% that can do this more power to ya!!!. For the rest of use, Get closer. Bad thing to promote IMHO.

SneakAttack · May 5, 2005

By far one of the best videos on the market right now! Period! This isn't taking the ole 30-30 out of the closet opening morning and dropping an elk at 800yds. These rifles are far more than a cut above the rest. The video is called "Beyond belief", I think. They video does not promote long range shooting, unless you have put forth the time, effort, money and dedication to develop a rifle that is capable of preforming at this level. The shooter also has to be prepared to make these shots. Notice I didn't say attempt. You attempt shots like this at the target range, not in the field. Once you are 100% confident with your ability, then and only then do you take your skill to the hunting field and make these shots.

I for one cannot do this. I don't have a rifle setup to even try. But these guys do. They are in the same class as military snipers. One ones complains about single shot kills at distances over 1000yds when the story is preceded with the name US Sniper...

'It's all about the gut pile'

arch3614elk · May 5, 2005

I can certainly see what they are trying to sell, although the way they are trying to sell their product isn't quite what I would say is ethical. Before any of you say "How do you know if this is ethical or not?" I have 18+ years in wildlife video photography, I have videotaped almost every type of hunt, and I have produced and directed many hunting videos. In my humble opinion I don't think it's ethical because maybe less than 15 percent of the hunting population is capable of making good clean kill on a animal 400+ yards away from you. What they are selling is how you can watch their video then shoot their rifle at long distances. The problem is how many of us can afford this rifle let alone the bullets for it and the scope you will need to even see a wild animal with, and I don't even want to mention the time you would need to practice. If you look closely at some of the kill shots you will see that some of the other game seems in front of or behind the target. From that distance you won't be able to tell if other animals are a little behind or in front of the target. In one kill shot you will see a through and through and to me it looks like that bullet came very close to hitting a second animal. I couldn't see a lot of hunters taking that far of a shot at a trophy animal, because as some of you know if you were on private land and you wounded an animal and didn't retrieve it.Guess what your hunt is over! Once again in my humble opinion it will make hunters with inadequate equipment make a poor choice in taking an animal that is too far away from you.

saminwy · May 5, 2005

my thought is, you gotta walk to where the animal is anyway, why not walk a bunch of it before the shot? want to kill stuff that far-find a prarie dog town.

cowslayer · May 9, 2005

I love watching those guys from Best of the West. I think they are amazing at what they do. I really enjoying watching their practiced abilities and their expertise. If nothing else, it makes me want to practice more and hone the skills.

I support you 100% "Best of the West"!

CS

need2hunt · May 9, 2005

I have the video as well and do agree that it is one of the most pleasureable/recent videos to watch. Back when I was a "young warthog" (I'll admit) I remember launching shots at distances comparable to what they take on the video.......but I never came close to my target. I now realize how stupid I was for even trying and lucky I only managed in making the hillside a few grains heavier! I got to hand it to these guys for putting in the time/practice to effectively take and make these long shots to accurate use. I'm not gonna' be jealous because someone else can effectively do it. From what I get, they do not promote just any "Joe Blow" lobbing shots at these great distances. More power to them because they put in the time to know what they are doing.

COSA · May 9, 2005

Have you ever noticed that the wind may blow harder or even in a different direction in different canyons at different times of the day? At distances over 600 yds it does not take much of a "miscalculation" to change the path of a bullet a foot. Even with zero human error, and an extremely accurate rifle (<.75MOA), the error factor at 700 yrds would be 700*.75 or 5.25 in. So even with zero human error on the hold and trigger pull, there is just too much play or varibles that could end up wounding that animal in my opinion. The way technology is progressing, will we be shooting animals at 2000 yrds. with a lazer in 10-20 years?

Boskee · May 9, 2005

I think they may have accomplished the same thing by shooting targets at those yardages and filming the targets. But then they wouldn't make any money out of it. There are guys out there that can make these shots day in and day out. I think it would have been more impressive to show them shooting a 5 shot group at that range and then show the targets spread so people will see just how big the groups can get especially in the field under field conditions. Just a little eye opener for the uninformed. Then if they want to show the hunting footage that would be better IMO.

I only saw the clip and they may have very well done that for all I know in the tape, if so, that's a positive. But what kind of message does it send? I'm not sure it sends the right message. All the disclaimers in the world won't stop people from attempting to duplicate their feats and there will be wounded animals lost as a result. There in lies the negative part to this kind of feat and the exposure it garners.

IDkTm · May 9, 2005

From what I saw, they could learn a thing or two about stalking. Many of those shots a person could definitely get closer than they are, but I guess you can't be big and mighty when you sneak in close and shoot them inside 100 yards. Its one thing to shoot at a walking animal and another to shoot at something thats walking at 400+ yards, there is so much that could go wrong in that much distance. I'd say its a bit of compensation for lack of, well you know...

COSA · May 9, 2005

LAST EDITED ON May-09-05 AT 09:39PM (MST)[p]I have not seen the video, just clips. There are people that can make 700 yrd shots like most hunters can make 300 yrd shots. From military experience, the range is different than field targets. It seems they are teaching military sniper tactics to harvest an animal most of us respect and love. In military situations, a wounded enemy (unless a primary target) is better than a dead enemy. From the clips I saw, the participants and their guides/partners almost seemed surprised they made the shot. So would I, if I shot an elk 700 yrds across a caynon in unknown/hunting conditions. What ended up on the cutting room floor?

STA (SS) 2/3 92-95

need2hunt · May 10, 2005

LAST EDITED ON May-10-05 AT 08:55AM (MST)[p]Respect for the game being shot, in my opinion, is what it all boils down to. If someone can put the animal down fast from 10 feet or 800 yards, shouldn't matter. I have known of a few people who have wounded & lost animals with shots from less than 50 yards. Most likely they didn't know their rifle, and had a severe lack of practice in both shooting and hunting. I know I can't make a shot work once the yardage gets over 300 yards (except as stated from my previous post in my young/dumber years)....so I won't attempt it. I wouldn't criticize a hunter for being able to stalk within 100 yards or less of the intended game...more power to them if that is what they practice and are skilled at doing. If another human, has the practice & skill to accurately shoot great distances, why be a critic?

Worst case scenario, you could say that i'd be a little ticked off if one of these guys tipped over my dream bull, from across a wide canyon, that I was so carefully stalking to within my comfort range!

Phantom Hunter · May 10, 2005

Good video of game, but I'm not real happy with how they take game. I know they are sniper class shooters but how many of us are? They always seem to take the "high shoulder shot", which in my opinion is a waste of game meat. Another thing to think about is how many animals do they wound and not retrieve. An elk shot in a marginal place at 500 to 1,000 yards is an elk nearly impossible to retrieve. Just food for thought.

Phantom Hunter

SneakAttack · May 10, 2005

Need2hunt, well said.

Personally, I would rather stalk an animal and get right in his kitchen. But someday maybe I'll be able to harvest at extended ranges.

'It's all about the gut pile'

utahheadgear · May 10, 2005

These guys seems to have a better chance of cleanly harvesting an animal at 800 yards than 90 percent of average hunters do at 200 yards.
Just because I watch a Nascar driver on TV running 200 miles per hour doesn't mean I'm going to go out and try it on the freeway.
They mention constantly that you need to have the proper equipment and expertise to do what they are doing and that you shouldn't even attempt to do it unless you have the same.
A video like this isn't going to increase the number of jokers that try these shots without the proper setup, they've already been at it for years. If anything maybe it will teach guys that already try it how to do it properly instead of recklessly.

schmalts · May 10, 2005

My take on this is because these guys got thier ##### together and probably practice and know what they are doing so its no different than the average hunter taking a 250 yard shot at something.

nbjbhunterman · May 10, 2005

I was impressed with this clip. If I could afford the equipment which I am sure I can't then I would buy it! Nothing wrong with someone showing there skills!

NBJB

Kirby · May 18, 2005

These guys shoot thousands of rounds out of their rifles every year, they are amazing shots, have all the tools, and experience to judge and make the shots. Some hunters shouldn't be allowed to shoot at 100 yards, let alone 1000, personally I say, what YOU can do consitantly, and in field conditions, go for it. for me, max range, 350, regardless if I am shooting my Savage .338 win mag, or my heavy barrel 700 action .308

Kirby

ELKMASTER101 · May 19, 2005

lets see 700 yards.
or is it 715.5
wind up the valley at 8.2 mps.
6.78 degree elev. change/
gravity/ volocity.Xs wind resistance.
look to me like its posiable just shoot 11'8 1/2 above his sholders, with a 4'-7 1/4 in lead.
for wind compensate and your there.
just carry you computer with ya and punch in the NO'S
any one can do it.
and if not, well just squize of fa couple more rounds untill you there.
heck the sound won't get to him before before that.

if you can't sneek to reasonable distance why play the game.
it's a bad day on earth when we think long range shooting is something to be proud of.
This out fitter should have his lic. jerked.

i do enjoy shooting trgets at long range and i think that is cool
but i stick to 200 yards or less on game.
and thats a heck of a trick with a bow.

Chef · May 19, 2005

Would be fun to practice on prairie dogs.
Occasional coyote.

My limit is 300-325 yards. With a solid rest, no heavy crosswind.

Interesting to watch the video but that footage they have of "missing" that mule deer was propbably one of their attempts at actually harvesting it!

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"

ELKMASTER101 · May 19, 2005

WAS THJAT A MULLY OR ELK?
prairie dog are a blast at long range.
specially early in hte morning when its still cool.
shooting hot loads.
you can accuacly see you vapor trail coming off the bullet.
kind of like tracers.
just a click the the left and pow he's 10 ft in the air.