Long Range Shooting / "Hunting"

[JD338]

Right on Elkman. :wink:

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Well said Bill. I have had a few loads that looked great at 100, just not cut it as 200-400 yards. I have also had larger than what I want at 100, settle down and really shoot well at the same 200-400 yard ranges. Learned about bullets "settling down" and all. Good discussion, this isn't the average forum, by now there would be 2 people banned and 10 people mad at 10 others on just about any of other forum! Scotty

 

[JDMAG]

Well said Bill. I have had a few loads that looked great at 100, just not cut it as 200-400 yards. I have also had larger than what I want at 100, settle down and really shoot well at the same 200-400 yard ranges. Learned about bullets "settling down" and all. Good discussion, this isn't the average forum, by now there would be 2 people banned and 10 people mad at 10 others on just about any of other forum! Scotty

I couldn't have said it better my self Scotty! The best I can post on here for this Topic is "To Thine own self be true." if you know that you or your fire arm cant make the shot, then don't give the rest of us a bad name. for me like Guy said 100 can often seem hard 600 may be easier. for me actually 400 to 500 would be the MAXIMUM comfortable Zone and I would rather it be about 40 to 50. My fire arms will do both. I possibly can.

 

[DrMike]

All of my rifles shoot better than I can. When I miss, I've never been able to blame my gear. I generally opt to get as close to the quarry as possible when hunting. It is not that I am incapable of making a long shot; I'm just fanatical about getting as close as I can.

 

[Elkman]

DrMike
All of my rifles shoot better than I can.

That has been my frustration with the rifle in my earlier post, I can't be assured that it does. My 300 Mag I know does, so like you when I miss I can't balme the rifle nor do I go test shoot it after I miss. I shake it off (usually takes a few hours) and get back in the woods.

I'm just fanatical about getting as close as I can.

Well I wouldn't say I am fantical about getting close but on my elk earlier this month I had a shot at 500 or so and 4 hours later took the a much closer shot at 318. I was beginiing to wonder whether or not I was going to get a shot because of the cover they were in but it worked out. In addition I feel as though they have kind of a sixth sense inside the 300 yard bubble. I have seen many just wander over the hill (so to speak) when I did stalk inside of 300. They weren't spooked just changed direction and wandered away. Anyway I knew given decent presentation that I could make the 300 and did so easy. I have shot many at point blank and under 100 but not when I am above them on a fairly open hillside. The closer ones always seem to run up on me or when I am still hunting through the heavy timber. The traditional spot and stalk in semi open country also lends its self to a little longer ranges. Anyway she tastes good. Nuff said!! :grin: :grin:

 

[backcountryhunter]

I have read each comment and hold in high regard all of your opinions - As would be "fairly" normal for me, I made my initial post sans a complete and well thought out series of statements - Allow me to elaborate a bit ...

I would be a terrible hippocrit (sp) if I were to condemn another for CHOOSING a long range shot at big game after contemplation and if that shooter "knew their stuff" - What I was referring to, in failed detail, was the "hunter" who ventures forth with the express intent of shooting an elk or deer at an extreme range for the sake of advertisement or bragging rights - I have, on occasion, taken several long shots (500 +/-) when I had realized there was no way to shorten the distance or cut the animal off (every time it has been shooting across a canyon of some sort) but I have derived immensely more satisfaction from sneaking up on an elk in his bed who stood and looked at me as if to say "where in the F did you come from ?? Just my thoughts ...

there is just something "fun" about shooting at a prairie dog at long range, cannot explain it ... it's just fun - Now, watching a rockchuck "cowboy" off a ledge at 300, 400, 500 yards is a thing to behold - Coyotes ... a challenge either way near or far -

 

[Guest]

I know a lot of you hunt and have hunted the high country in the Rockies and there about. There isn't a perfect shooting situation and/or condition in my book, no matter how confident one may be.If we could line everyone up, some will be more successful taking the shot than others due to honing the skill of LRH and shooting than others. I have always said, the wind condition from where you take the shot and where the animal actually is, could be different. Wind conditions can be very unstable in the mountains.I usually hunt altitudes between 9000-11,500, have been in some mountain bowls with pretty rough terrain and experienced the swirling winds that are there a lot. That being said my longest shot to date has been 353 yds on a Muley Buck, with other kills at 262 yds. and 263 yds. I usually limit myself to 300 yds. I'm very confident at this distance depending on conditions. My 300 Ultra can shoot way further than my ability at this point, but I'm still practicing my craft. For me, I do not want to risk crippling an animal in difficult terrain which results in a wild goose chase, due to pride and ego! I totally respect a lot of your comments and appreciate this forum.

Don

 

[skinner313]

Where i'm from in PA the average shot at a whitetail is 50 yards,but every year i'm at the range and i see guys shooting a 300 ultra mag and they close their eyes every time they squeeze the trigger. I just laugh and think to myself,boy are they going to have a long season. I personally hunt private "farm land" where i have the opportunity to shoot out to 900 yards but i limit myself too 400 because that is what my personal comfort level is. If someone has the ability and consistency too shoot truly long range ie 500 yards and beyond then by all means go for it. Its just the people that buy a new "wonder magnum", read the ballistic chart on the back of the ammo box,and think they are an expert,is what gives hunting a bad reputation.

 

[elkeater2]

A very experienced (and good shot) hunting buddy of mine drew his second Wyo sheep permit ever a couple years ago. He did get an average ram the first time. After a lot of work, he found a good ram bedded with some others in some rock jumble with a few spruce trees thrown in. Sheep were on a little ridge hump, pretty steep, and likewise was my friend on another about 360 yds. away. Approach closer appeared impossible, so he decided to wait them out. The sheep all stood within seconds of each other after a couple hours. The big guy got broadside, with a large rock just behind him. The instant the shot was squeezed off, a smaller ram stepped forward from behind the rock and intercepted the bullet. Fortunately, he was still legal. Lesson? You might be sure of your target animal, rifle, load, and shooting ability. The wind might be zero, but if other animals are present, you can't monitor their actions and the target at the same time. The excitement of the moment can screw up your judgement on all these factors, too. A typical 7mm mag 160 gr. @3,100 fps has a time of flight at 350 yds. of .3915 seconds. Time of flight at 600 yds. is .75 seconds. An animal moving at 3 mph is covering 4.4 feet per second, that's about 2 feet at 350 yds and 3.25 feet at 600 during those flight times. I guess if the animal is frozen in ice none of this matters. It tells me that the vital spot I'm aiming at could decide to move, maybe even faster than that, at the instant I squeeze the trigger and I end up missing the vitals by two feet or more. Or his little buddy decides to jump in the way. IMHO, that's one of the major reasons long shots are risky - time of flight for the bullet.

 

[Guy Miner]

All part of being a hunter.

 

[Elkman]

When I was sick last week I was watching hunting shows on TV. The example here really psssdd me off. They were looking for ellk on a private ranch and had one day to make the kill. With two ATV's they drove around to the highest spots on the ranch (good tactic) and glassed looking for that one bull. Near the end of a long search (almost an entire day) they found the elk that they were looking for, and set up for the shot. This was a mature bull at 519 yards using a .25 caliber rifle. In preparation for the shot the shooter made several statements regarding how far it was and that they had never shot that far before. The shot was off of a tripod of shooting sticks while the shooter was standing. After 4 shots the shooter after much assistance finally hit the bull, but low in the chest area. The bull of course then starting moving away while the shooter unloaded another gun load at the bull. At that point a new rifle (30 cal magnum) was produced for the shooter and more rounds were fired and eventually the elk was hit again and laid down. This was followed by much high fiving and congratulations and awe over the tremendous shooting skills exhibited by the shooter.

I was ready to beat them all with a club. That will be my last viewing of that particular program and will never set foot on that ranch. As you can see from my post I carefully did not use the word hunting any where, for me thats the kind of behavior that give the sport as well as all of us a bad name. Nuff from me I am gettting po'd agaion!!!!

 

[Guy Miner]

I can see where an example like that would thoroughly irritate a hunter.

So, what was the show? I don't see a lot of TV.

 

[JD338]

Elkman,

I am with you. That is exactly what I have been refering to.
If you don't mind, let us know what show that was.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Bill,

Such antics would leave a strong distaste in my mouth. That is neither shooting nor hunting. It is spraying and perhaps praying. I never watch hunting shows, though I watch a few videos with my hunting partner. I don't really enjoy hunting vicariously, though I enjoy seeing young hunters get their game and learn the sport.

 

[Elkman]

I will try and look up the "exact name" and post it!

 

[Greg Nolan]

Gentleman
If nothing else this discussion has brought all the questions and reasons for shooting at long range or not.
There's always going to be some fool who knowingly does something un-ethical or just plain wrong as a course of habit, but from what I've read over the last few years none of those folks are active contributers to this forum. Unfortunately these fools do exist out there, and as was already said, we don't want to bring regulation down on all of us based on what they do. That already happens too often.
I'm going to re-read these posts and see what more I can glean from your experiences.
Thanks
Greg

 

[Elkman]

Guy Miner
So, what was the show? I don't see a lot of TV.

Hooked on Utah, I found it on the index and they are not showing the same show this week!!

 

[backcountryhunter]

I have seen that show - were the rifles by any chance Christensen Arms ? It seems that all you can find on the 2 predominant outdoor channels now are these guys doing this long range "shooting" , ACTUALLY advertising to sell their "course" and their "specialty" rifles and then .... the hunters sitting in treestands and pop up blinds who seem to be more out of breath than I am after packing an elk quarter 120 steps ... I too am swearing off the outdoor channel, I "might" try to tune in occasionally to "North to Alaska" or Shockey but for the most part I'm through (that Babe Winkelman is sure somethin' ain't he)

 

[Elkman]

backcountry
No they were promoting the ranch more than anything, and I didn't write down the name. No discussions on the rifles other the calibers. Not even the standard promotion about the BDC reticles. Just chasing elk!!