Is hunting success at long range a fluke?

[last minute]

Originally Posted by chuck

I’m not sure what this even means.

yes you do if he a shooter like you say let see it again what' s the big deal as you say you all talk right now lets see

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by last minute

wow your a number one person in my books

Do you think this isn’t the case? How many rounds do you think the average hunter shoots through his hunting rifle in a year. Most people here shoot quite a bit I’d assume. But I don’t know that they are the average hunter.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by last minute

yes you do if he a shooter like you say let see it again what' s the big deal as you say you all talk right now lets see

I watched it all morning.

[last minute]

Originally Posted by chuck

Do you think this isn’t the case? How many rounds do you think the average hunter shoots through his hunting rifle in a year. Most people here shoot quite a bit I’d assume. But I don’t know that they are the average hunter.

wow put yup or shut up already man .

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by last minute

wow put yup or shut up already man .

I think I have.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Dubious

It’s funny with these post long range shooters usually take a beating for ethics/fair chase reasons. It is any worse then driving up an down the trunk road leaning over the hood of a truck and wounding deer In a slash or on the side of the road because thats really common. Theres fair chase and ethics issues for a lot of hunting styles and people out there.

A bad shot at long or short range results in the same outcome and that is something the shooter must deal with on their own ,
It does not bother some and it bothers others to the point that they give up hunting .
However that is their decision and their decision only .
I know several decorated snipers that quit hunting animals after their first tour.
I also know several who hunt as hard or harder after their retirement .

As far as ethics go, before a person starts tossing stones at glass houses in the name of righteous ethics they should take a good look inside themselves , no one is perfect .
Cat

[last minute]

Originally Posted by chuck

I think I have.

Yeah I know you're a special individual everyone knows it

[Chaoticelk]

Shooting past 500 does take skill. Me personally have never shot past 600 most likely never will. sheep are about the only animal I’d ever have to shoot that far and always seem to get into them under 200

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by last minute

Yeah I know you're a special individual everyone knows it

What do you want?

[last minute]

Originally Posted by chuck

What do you want?

Not a #$#%thinking from you or your inflated ego don't ask again.

[Sledhead71]

Originally Posted by chuck

What do you want?

Originally Posted by last minute

Not a #$#%thinking from you or your inflated ego don't ask again.

You both need a snickers, grow up, its an opinion and the internet boys.

[Pathfinder76]

I just am not sure why he is so upset and swearing at me.

[last minute]

Originally Posted by Sledhead71

You both need a snickers, grow up, its an opinion and the internet boys.

I don't like snickers I like eatmore better

[marky_mark]

What wrong with shooting long range?
Why not?
The only reason why I have bought better gear, reload my own ammo, spend lots of time at the range, etc.
Is specifically so that I can shoot further with confidence
First shot hits out to 900 yards with a hunting rifle is pretty good
Sure there’s the chance that the animal can move
No different that shooting at a animal with a bow, that can jump the string
I think it’s far more ethical to have some one like chuck shooting long range, Than a guy who cant hit the broadside of a barn shooting at a moose at 150 yards away

[Deer Hunter]

Originally Posted by chuck

I just am not sure why he is so upset and swearing at me.

Your looking for a fight again.

*You're.

For my style of hunting I'd prefer to be better at offhand shooting than long distance shooting. Not saying that you can't be perfect at both.

[buckman]

You can shoot targets all you want hit or miss it wont be wounded.

Shooting at game is far different than any target period. Variables in the field can and do end up with wounded and lost animals,especially at extreme range.

Far too many long range braggers out there for me. A good ethical hunter worth their salt should practice fieldcraft which includes stalking closer.

The hunter that sees game at 800 yards away then blazes away is far less skilled than the one who sneaks in to under 300 yards, and takes the ethical shot.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by buckman

You can shoot targets all you want hit or miss it wont be wounded.

Shooting at game is far different than any target period. Variables in the field can and do end up with wounded and lost animals,especially at extreme range.

Far too many long range braggers out there for me. A good ethical hunter worth their salt should practice fieldcraft which includes stalking closer.

The hunter that sees game at 800 yards away then blazes away is far less skilled than the one who sneaks in to under 300 yards, and takes the ethical shot.

I don’t disagree with this.

[Dick284]

Nice shooting Chuck.

And 400ish ain’t that miraculous on game, subject to the big if.

But you also knew very well the tone and direction this thread was going to take, didn’t you Chuck?

Admit it, it’s ok, you’re not necessarily wrong bringing this up, but let’s face it, I’d sooner try to scrub the balls on a bobcat in a phone both, before I tried bringing up about taking longish pokes at game.

Every time this subject comes up a great big donniebrooke ensues.

So unless you’re on some sort of crusade or have some perverse need to be recognized, what’s the point?

Some do, some can’t, some might, some won’t.

But beating ones head against a brick wall only feels good when you stop.

[Pathfinder76]

Actually, save for one guy, it’s been quite civil. I’m not sure why differences of opinion scare so many.

[sage 13]

Originally Posted by buckman

You can shoot targets all you want hit or miss it wont be wounded.

Shooting at game is far different than any target period. Variables in the field can and do end up with wounded and lost animals,especially at extreme range.

Far too many long range braggers out there for me. A good ethical hunter worth their salt should practice fieldcraft which includes stalking closer.

The hunter that sees game at 800 yards away then blazes away is far less skilled than the one who sneaks in to under 300 yards, and takes the ethical shot.

yes tend to agree, shooting long range is just that shooting, personally don't call it hunting. Its funny have watched a few of these long range videos, were one shot is claimed etc but in the video you can see other empty brass on the ground.

[sns2]

I am not a fan of long range hunting, but I also won't project my choices upon others.

I do know that if filling my freezer depended on an 800 yard shot, Chuck is likely the guy I would want behind the trigger.

BTW, I have never met Chuck, never spoken with him beyond the odd pm, and would not hire him as a Santa in the mall, cuz he bloody well refuses to smile, and he'd scare the kids.

However, unlike many keyboard warriors who are taking potshots at him, he is in the field sending lead downrange, from hunting positions, more than anyone I know of.

[-JR-]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Being able to hit a target at longer distances with a first round kill shot is not the issue - one cannot bank on an animal not moving during the longer timd of flight , that is the issue .
I am quite capable of making kill shots at long range and have made some very long first round kills on deer in the past.
Hiwever I have not attempted it in years after an almost disastrous shot on a deer that was quite a bit shorter distance than some of my kills .
The shot was perfect ,slightly over 700 yards using a high B.C. Bullet coming out of the muzzle over 3,000 FPS , in An area I
shoot at regularly
The deer took ONE step forward in that time and turned a kill shot into a gut shot .Luckily I was able to follow the shot up before the deer crested the slope and was gong forever .
I have said this before and it bears repeating .
Ethics and expertise aside , the individual is responsible for their shot after the trigger breaks It is theirs to own and to live with and decide if it is worth it, nobody else's .

What anybody else does is up to them
Cat

2x
Timing is every think . Hoping he does not move in 1/3 of a second and wind does not blow harder and you have a good rest .

[Pathfinder76]

Lots of guys shoot better and more than me. But it is a hoot. Shoot with me and you will see me smile. And I’m never jealous of someone’s success at the range. It’s always fun.

I am not advocating long range hunting. My three hunting rifles all wear fixed power Leupolds. Two fixed 6’s and one old M8 4X. But, I do advocate someone’s ability to make that decision on their own. There are very capable shots out there.

[mrcrossbow]

My thoughts.
Sitting or laying prone and shooting at a steel target that doesn't move isn't really the same as being in the field and shooting at a target that might move any second, and how you sit, lay, rest rifle is many times different then in the controlled setting of target shooting. Don't get me wrong target shooting helps, but field conditions are just that feild conditions. Hands are cold, your excited, no real time to quess wind, that one thorn in the field is some how right under you and poking you as you take the shot. So skill, luck, fluke, bit of all of that I think if going way out there on a shot. Personally I keep my shots under 200 most time 50 yrds. Have dropped o e deer at just under 600 yrds and I'd say I got really lucky and still took me 2 shots last one at about 100 yards, won't ever personally do it again, was much younger and had more confidence then brains, I could easily snuck up on him, but I had something to prove I quess. Now I like talking about how I snuck up to 20 yrds of that deer instead of I dropped him at 400 yrds. Just my thoughts.

[mrcrossbow]

My post double posted odd.. Edited everything out please delete this

[hal53]

The only problem I have with long range hunting is a very tiny percentage of the people who try it do not understand the practice and knowledge that goes into being successful. Way too many watch a TV program where they dump a bull elk at 1100 yards and then they head into Cabelas to buy a "long range' rifle and head into the bush to give it a go... then of course you have the people that are jealous of the guys that shoot thousands of rounds a year to become proficient at it.

[glen moa]

For me 600y is possible then you add wind gusts and forget it.
400y max on deer for me.

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by hal53

The only problem I have with long range hunting is a very tiny percentage of the people who try it do not understand the practice and knowledge that goes into being successful. Way too many watch a TV program where they dump a bull elk at 1100 yards and then they head into Cabelas to buy a "long range' rifle and head into the bush to give it a go... then of course you have the people that are jealous of the guys that shoot thousands of rounds a year to become proficient at it.

I dont think the shows are the problem
I think its more the scorpion optics, range, dial and shoot commercials
If you google gunwerks, you realize everything they use is big bucks
Do a search for that scorpion junk and voila. Why do I need to spend all that money on the gunwerks gear. Ryan kohler says this scope works great
Gunwerks and extreme outer limits advertise their shooting schools as much as the rifles. Everyone Ive talked to that has gone, says they wish they would have done it when they were younger

[Kurt505]

After reading this thread I’ve got just two things to say. First is, I’d like an eatmore right about now, secondly, long range success is like attaining anything. If you don’t practice and happen to make a 700+yd shot on an animal, I’d say it’s got a lot to do with luck. If you have the right equipment and have taken the time to learn how to use it, then less of the factor in your success is fluke imo. I have a rifle that I feel comfortable shooting out to 500yds with, but it’s not equipped with a scope that has turrets. Another rifle I have has turrets and a proven load, a lot of fun to shoot long range with. I’ve shot it at long range enough times to know that when the wind is blowing I’m not shooting at any animals, 3/5 shots in the kill zone is not good enough average for me. Other people are probably able to do better than me, I’ll leave those shots to them.

Too many people like to judge another’s abilities based on their own. I know Chuck started this thread expecting the backlash, I do the same thing myself some days.

All the practice and equipment in the world won’t do you any good if buck fever kicks in and you start shaking like a leaf though

[hal53]

Originally Posted by marky_mark

I dont think the shows are the problem
I think its more the scorpion optics, range, dial and shoot commercials
If you google gunwerks, you realize everything they use is big bucks
Do a search for that scorpion junk and voila. Why do I need to spend all that money on the gunwerks gear. Ryan kohler says this scope works great
Gunwerks and extreme outer limits advertise their shooting schools as much as the rifles. Everyone Ive talked to that has gone, says they wish they would have done it when they were younger

Probably very true... my concerns were more about the two young fellas in Cabelas I saw a couple years ago that were talking about a show they watched and they were looking at buying a " long range" rifle