Good short read.

http://www.huntfairchase.com/a-shot-too-far/


#livelikezac

Good quick read DW

It's a tough subject but I like their definition of Hunting vs Shooting!

Excellent article DW, I do find myself passing on shots lately that I have made successfully in the past. I relish the pursuit of the game being hunted and above all respect the animals I'm hunting. Not taking anything away from those that acquire the skills and equipment to make the long shots then practice practice practice to ensure a quick humane kill, but like the article states where does the line between hunting and shooting get drawn.

That was a thoughtful article. Thanks DW.

It's interesting to read that long range sniping begins at the range where the animal can detect your presence. This isn't quite a fair statement since I've been detected by deer, antelope and elk well beyond 1000 yards and that's WAY beyond my self-imposed limit (which changes dramatically based on conditions).

Be safe, respect the animal and yourself and hone your skills then go hunt and do what's right.


Zeke

#livelikezac

I don't know how much farther this long range shooting/hunting technology is going, but certainly longer.

It seems inevitable that at some point a wildlife department will have to make a regulation that says:

For the purpose of hunting, no firearm shall(fill in the blank)

or

For the purpose of hunting, no scope shall (fill in the blank).

It won't eliminate wounding or long shots, but it would address the fair chase hunting aspect of hunting.

There are already lots of regulations that pertain to fair chase. "One half hour before sunrise to sun set", for example.

Good article. I don't know what the range limit is. I know I'm not shooting way out there. My range limit is maximum 300 yards, but speaking honestly more like 200 yards. I am the limitation rather than my rifle, and I can see in my sight picture whether I'm keeping a steady hold. In the field, using a field shooting position, I'll probably keep the range down to 200 yards. I passed on a shot last year -- my only opportunity -- on a 6x6 bull (not trophy rack, and I'm not a trophy hunter anyway)because I didn't think I could make the shot. I think it was 200 to 250 yards away. I could have made the shot, but I had been day dreaming and feeling fatalistic and so was discombobulated with the elk appeared. I had about 10 seconds to size up the situation and take the shot, but I didn't have confidence so I passed. Part of my lesson learned from that is (1) I have an electronic range finder in my pack now and I'll range some objects in my shooting lanes so I know whether the elk is in or out of my limits and (2) I'll be mentally ready. This was not an issue with the other elk I have shot, as I had time to mentally prepare and think over the shot.

I believe the answer to his question is simple: hunting ends when the shooting begins.

In a RAC meeting a while back, we were informed of "smart guns" Weapons that are already available. they acquire the target ( at whatever distance, I assume) dial the cross hairs in so that the weapon is at the correct elevation,windage etc, can even pull the trigger for you-- boom. Long range hunting at its finest! But is that really hunting? I wonder sometimes the direction this is all going- especially when the Wildlife Board passed the no limitation on scope power for muzzleloaders (primitive weapon?) I guess the argument that it would help have cleaner kills and less wounding and loss of the animal to the hunter won out. The majority of the RACs voted against it and compromised but the WB went to a place I thought they would never go. So much for primitive weapons and now with the technology available will the argument of cleaner kills carry the day? Most of all game laws are based on the assumption that a huge majority of hunters will choose ethical actions over unethical ones. Hopefully, as hunters we will chose ethics over success at any cost.

I know a group of traditional archers that wound and lose more big game animals in a season than any rifle hunter or group of hunters lose in a lifetime. I don't agree with the long range stuff, but I also don't agree with wounding numerous animals and continue hunting. Wish all states would do like Alaska, you wound it and don't recover, your done.

Every year for the past 6 or 7, people have talked to me about how they back up for a shot, to increase the yardage and improve the "Boastability" of their shot. All I know is if we kill/wound more, the result is less tags. Less chance for people to hunt. Another year lost from making a memory for yourself or with others. Less mature critters to chase. More competition and less enjoyment. Good article.

Animals are not Gongs.

.

LAST EDITED ON Sep-12-17 AT 05:16PM (MST)[p]Just my opiniin, for what it!s worth, which isn't much.

Since the end of market hunting ( a good thing, for sure) the "issue" of long range shooting has been a hot issue for sportsmen, at first in the coffee shops and the bars and now it's a nation wide interactive discussion on the internet. Same discussion, just more interactive.

We've added technology inprovements, every year, to shootin/hunting for hundred years. Improvements will continue.

To mention a few:

Smokeless powder=Longer range shooting, longer range killing, more wounding.

Scopes= Longer range shooting, longer range killing, more wounding.

Larger cartridges= Longer range shoot, longer range killing, more wounding.

Range finders= Longer range shooting, longer range killing, more wounding.

Faster twist muzzleloaders=Longer ranging shooting,longer range killing, more wounding.

Scopes=Longer range shooting, longer range killing, more wounding.

Range finders=Longer range shooting, longer range killing, more wounding.

Synthenic bows=Longer range shooting, longer range killing, more wounding.

Recurve bows=Longer range shooting, longer range killing, more wounding.

Advanced bow sights=Longer range shoot, longer range killing, more wounding.

Compound bows=Longer range shooting, longer range killing, more wounding.

There's still more that I haven't mentioned, but you get the idea. :d

All of these advancements can be "outlawed" and are outlawed in some States, during some seasons, in some units etc.

Longer range shooting can be dealt with by any State Fish and Game Department in the country. It has nothing what ever to do with hunter ethics and never has been. It is a social, recreational hunting, regulatory decision that each State makes. Nothing more, nothing less.

The folks griping about the use of a newer technology advancement are nearly all using an advancement themselves that allow them to shoot further and kill at a longer range, than the previous generation. And, the further out a target/animal is, whether your using a compound over a wood long bow, or a longer range 50 caliber rifle over open sight 30-30, more animals will get wounded, if for no orher reason than way more shoots perseason will be taken, because more successful shoots can be taken, in the mind of the hunter. We all believe we can kill further out than sportsmen did a hundred years ago.

Who's to blame? No one. As a public, we influence regulation by our acceptance or rejection of our Agencies hunting weapons regulations.

DC