Since the beginning of hunting, there have been hunters who shot distances that were clearly too far for their abilities and/or the firearm. I just don't recall 10+ years ago it being something people bragged about much. Maybe it's because there weren't range finders to verify the distance, or something. I don't know. It just seems that now it's something people brag about, so it encourages others to push past their limits to feel a high from hitting an animal at an extreme distance.
Also, 15+ year ago, I don't recall companies that were specifically building "Long Range Guns". The fact that now companies build the gun, build the loads, test it all under perfect conditions with perfect rests and advertise them as a 1,000 yard guns, drives people to think all they need to do is buy the gun and ammo and they're 1,000 yard shooters, when really, many don't practice enough to know how solid of a rest they need to be accurate at long range. There's a huge difference in shooting at the range compared to shooting at an animal during a hunt. Huge difference!!
It's the same with muzzleloaders and bows.
Don't get me wrong, I've done my fair share of missing shots, some that even I will admit, I could've and should've gotten closer. I guess I just feel that the greater the distances we're all shooting, the more animals that will be wounded.
Some I'm sure would argue that because they have a gun and ammo tested true at 1,000 yards that they're less likely to wound an animal at 600 yards which is a range where I, with my (apparent) antique gun, might not be true and would likely result in a wound.
I can understand both sides of the argument.
My biggest complaint with long range shooting, is the simple fact that the more effective we all are at killing animals, the less hunting tags there will be available. We're just getting too effective at killing and we're killing our hunting opportunities along with the game. I'm a fan of hunting opportunity over high success rate hunting.
Brian Latturner
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