Long Range Hunting’s Impact on Harvests?

BrianID · Aug 18, 2022

JPickett said:
Still can’t get my question I’ve asked on here a few times answered though. I have killed bulls as close as 15 feet with my bow and deer as far as 964 yards with my rifle. Am I good or bad? Or was I good then bad? I’m so confused

Since you keep asking, I'll answer your question. You are neither good or bad. That is why you are so confused.

JPickett · Aug 18, 2022

BrianID said:
Since you keep asking, I'll answer your question. You are neither good or bad. That is why you are so confused.

Well now I’m even more confused. Guess I’ll just keep killing stuff and not caring what anyone else thinks about it

JPickett · Aug 18, 2022

I will post one more antagonist comment though.

I’m about 350 rounds into my practice routine for this summer. That ranges from 100 to 900. I’m pretty well done since the seasons all but here.

Since we’re projecting our own personal “morals” on being the standard for what should be called “hunting” I’ll ad mine.

I will not hunt with a rifle unless it’s shooting 1/4” groups at 100, I will not hunt with a bow unless I’m Putting two broad heads constantly on a playing card at 60. If my weapons or me are not doing that it’s not good enough until I/they do. So any of you out there not doing that are completely unethical and should not be hunting cuz your not a real hunter. Guess I need to start working on some game managers legislation for that. Needs to be a field test proving it before you buy your tag.

BrianID · Aug 18, 2022

JPickett said:
Well now I’m even more confused. Guess I’ll just keep killing stuff and not caring what anyone else thinks about it

That is exactly what you should do

heartshot · Aug 18, 2022

BrianID · Aug 18, 2022

JPickett said:
I will post one more antagonist comment though.

I’m about 350 rounds into my practice routine for this summer. That ranges from 100 to 900. I’m pretty well done since the seasons all but here.

Since we’re projecting our own personal “morals” on being the standard for what should be called “hunting” I’ll ad mine.

I will not hunt with a rifle unless it’s shooting 1/4” groups at 100, I will not hunt with a bow unless I’m Putting two broad herd constantly on a playing card at 60. If my weapons or me are not doing that it’s not good enough until I/they do. So any of you out there not going that are completely unethical and should not be hunting cuz your not a real hunter. Guess I need to start working on some game managers legislation for that. Needs to be a field test proving it before you buy your tag.

Putting yearly mandatory field tests for hunters would really decrease the number of guys that were allowed to hunt. What percentage of hunters if randomly stopped and tested during hunting season could even put 3 out of 3 shots inside a 6" circle at 300 yards? I would bet less than 10% could do it. Do the same thing for archery hunters, 3 out of 3 arrows inside a 6" circle at 30 yards.

How many would be willing to bet their shooting skills on keeping their tag? They make 3 of of 3 shots, they would get $1000 cash, they fail and they have to burn their tag.

Hunters that attempt shots they are not 99% confident in are the problem, not long range hunting.

slamdunk · Aug 18, 2022

Ballistic said:
I like most of your posts - but I’m confused on this one. I thought killing was the end result of a hunt to fill the tag……
I’ve hunted Aoudad sheep that are really hard to get close to where longer shots are the norm. I guess hunting will have different meanings to everyone. Weather it’s up close or extreme range shooting - this is up to the individual hunter and no one should tell them what to do. Emerging technologies will take or change the way people will hunt/kill/harvest/shoot and more. It needs to be addressed or you’ll never see a trophy class animal again. Hunting at long range isn’t really easy but new tech will and is closing the gap. Killing is harvesting at least that’s what I thought it was. Is new tech going to regulate a max distance you can shoot at an animal to make it fair for instance ?
Will you need permission after acquiring a target - to have an ethics committee decide if it’s a go or no-go ?
So emerging tech can also have negative issues as well.
But I still agree that new emerging (and some that’s here now) tech will likely remove hunting and killing skills or change it completely as we know it today. And what we know today is very controversial.

Well said ?

Ballistic · Aug 18, 2022

BrianID said:
Advancements in technologies have made us more killers than hunters for thousands of years. If we would switch to spear hunting only, states could issue unlimited tags. We could all have sheep tags and hunt mule deer during the rut every year.
The few true long range hunters (guys capable of 800+ yards) are not a significant problem for animals. The numerous guys capable of shooting 300-500 yards are having a much more significant impact on the animals.
Unless we get new technology like lasers that don't require adjusting for elevation or wind, 10 years from now there won't be significantly more hunters capable of 800+ yard shots. It takes more time and money than most hunters are willing to invest to be capable of 800+ yards. You can spend $10K on a rifle and have a rangefinder and kestrel that shares data with applied ballistics in your phone and not be capable of even a 500 yard shot if you don't practice.

Trijicon Ventus: the first laser rangefinder with wind mapping – a revolution for long range shooting

Trijicon Ventus for long range shooting** Rangefinder with wind mapping** How the Trijicon Ventus works** Trijicon Ventus and Ventus X laser rangefinders**

www.all4shooters.com

I couldn’t paste this article - sorry. It deals with technology that was originally patented in 1997.
This rangefinder takes 6 different wind readings out to 500 yards. Head and tail winds included.
I’m sure Burris/Gunwerks/Sig-Sierra and many others are looking and possibly already have this technology.
This tech will emerge and get better and 1000 yards or more is likely around the corner.
It will take the 300-500 yard shooter to 500-700 plus yards for example.
For now -I won’t even think of using any of the above mentioned (not good enough for me yet) but in a few years that could change…….
Records for small groups and distances of over 3 mile shots are being broken with the tech that has evolved.
You might be right about 10 years from now - but 20 years from now competition shooters might be left in the dust without it.

For now I rely on my skills that have been proven out in the field to kill/hunt/harvest -whatever you want to call it. Emerging tech is taking those earned and learned skills and replacing them with something I don’t agree with- but it’s here…….

Again - I don’t want anyone (especially an ethics committee or board) telling me what I can and can’t do. But the boards are a necessity to try and get ahead of the emerging tech - even if I don’t like it and I probably won’t.

slamdunk · Aug 18, 2022

JPickett said:
Wait. The new standard is if you can’t get closer now? So I’m on one side of the Grand Canyon, bucks in other side. Bang! Now I’m a real hunter! Got it

I am pretty sure you missed my point.....

JPickett · Aug 18, 2022

slamdunk said:
I am pretty sure you missed my point.....

You get mine?

S-3 Ranch · Aug 18, 2022

This thread is irrelevant now !
hunting season has started/ we have better crap to talk about

mtmuley · Aug 18, 2022

I like to read JPicketts adventures. mtmuley

Huntnful · Aug 18, 2022

I try not to get closer than 500 yards. Winds can get pretty finicky at close range and I don't want to spook them.

JPickett · Aug 18, 2022

mtmuley said:
I like to read JPicketts adventures. mtmuley

And this is just the hunting stuff. You should hear about the women!!!

mtmuley · Aug 18, 2022

JPickett said:
And this is just the hunting stuff. You should hear about the women!!!

I once two tripped a bull out of the Missouri Breaks by myself. 5 miles from the truck. Everything boned except the hinds. I was 53 at that time. That's all I got. Except for women stories. mtmuley