So, Who Regularly Hunts Past 600 Yards...?!?

Calm day, lasered distance, posing deer? I'd likely hold off since I've not memorized the holdover (drop) beyond 500 yards. Up to 500? Well, at least I've done one at 450 and one at 350.

I'm a pretty good sneaky snake. My claim to fame is that I sneaked up close enough to a buck to hit him in the rump with a small rock from ten feet away. (Wet day, no noisy grass or leaves.) But, overall, I don't think I've ever seen a shootable buck where I thought a closer stalk was actually possible. Mesquite brush country. The majority of my kills have been of the 100-200 yard variety. The last buck I killed was at maybe 25 yards, after I woke him up from his mid-day nap--but like I say, I'm pretty good at sneaky-snake.

I've tracked deer, but when I got to where I could see him for a shot, I took it. I've never worried about how close I got; just wanted to see him. That's what working on shooting skill is all about, seems to me.

H&Hhunter said:

Many are taken from a blind over water with archery equipment. But the exciting way to bow hunt pronghorns is by flagging them in or using a flat walk with decoy. But that only works during the rut. Tons of fun but I’ve never managed to put two and two together to actually put a pronghorn on the ground with an arrow.

I am not endorsing any product here. This is an example of decoying pronghorns with a bow.

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I'd forgotten about the crawling behind the decoy thing, have seen that on TV hunting shows. The flag waving deal goes back to paleolithic times.

LRP hunting seems to be a thing these days. I see more and more of these kinds of posts all the time. Probably one of the reasons some states are closing down areas to rifle hunters, making the seasons shorter and limiting the number of tags for rifle hunters.

In this state if you hunt with a muzzleloader or bow the areas you can hunt are increased, the seasons are longer, and more tags are issued. Many of the deer hunters I know have migrated to muzzleloaders or bows for that reason. Their chances of a successful hunt are far greater than just hunting with a rifle because of the restrictions on rifle hunters.

This LRP hunting hasn't gone unnoticed by state game commissions who set the regulations. I'm not sure why they have gone that direction but my guess is they just don't think LRP hunting is good for the sport just like a late hit in football. Hunting, after all it is a sport. If it wasn't we would all still be using 8 ga shotguns and sluicing flocks of ducks on the water.

I guess a person has to draw the line somewhere or somebody will draw it for us sooner or later. If you like LRP hunting probably best you don't brag about it on a public forum. Get a clue.

JohnKSa said:

Humans are not infallible. We all miss once in awhile, even on shots we know we are easily capable of making. That fact doesn't justify shooting under any imaginable conditions just because it's possible to miss even when the shot is easy. Clearly there's a difference between taking a high percentage shot and a low percentage shot or no one would even talk about low or high percentage shots

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I agree, I just also realized that said percentage changes with every individual, and I don’t claim this percentages (as they correlate to distance) to be fixed the same to every individual.. I’m not gonna put my limits on someone else, if they fell comfortable with the shot, and it’s legal then pull the trigger.


I can’t help but wonder what you guys think of bow hunting, I can’t begin to count the stories I’ve heard and the people I’ve known that maimed a deer with an arrow. I personally believe if you guys want to talk about high risk shots you should be talking about bow hunters taking shots past about 10 yards. Lol

CoalTrain49 said:

LRP hunting seems to be a thing these days. I see more and more of these kinds of posts all the time. Probably one of the reasons some states are closing down areas to rifle hunters, making the seasons shorter and limiting the number of tags for rifle hunters.

In this state if you hunt with a muzzleloader or bow the areas you can hunt are increased, the seasons are longer, and more tags are issued. Many of the deer hunters I know have migrated to muzzleloaders or bows for that reason. Their chances of a successful hunt are far greater than just hunting with a rifle because of the restrictions on rifle hunters.

This LRP hunting hasn't gone unnoticed by state game commissions who set the regulations. I'm not sure why they have gone that direction but my guess is they just don't think LRP hunting is good for the sport just like a late hit in football. Hunting, after all it is a sport. If it wasn't we would all still be using 14 ga shotguns and sluicing flocks of ducks on the water.

I guess a person has to draw the line somewhere or somebody will draw it for us sooner or later. If you like LRP hunting probably best you don't brag about it on a public forum. Get a clue.

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If they lowered the number of days of the rifle season in New Mexico any more than it was 25 years ago, there'd be no season. This is really nothing new, what enticed me to buy my first muzzle loader in the first place. I haven't been out there in modern times, though.

And, a 14 gauge shotgun? Why, if there really is such a thing, would I choose that over my 4 12 gauges I've been hunting ducks with for years?

MCgunner said:

And, a 14 gauge shotgun? Why, if there really is such a thing, would I choose that over my 4 12 gauges I've been hunting ducks with for years?

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I meant 8 gauge. Yeah, that's funny.

H&Hhunter said:

Many are taken from a blind over water with archery equipment. But the exciting way to bow hunt pronghorns is by flagging them in or using a flat walk with decoy. But that only works during the rut. Tons of fun but I’ve never managed to put two and two together to actually put a pronghorn on the ground with an arrow.

I am not endorsing any product here. This is an example of decoying pronghorns with a bow.

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That might be some of the most annoying hunting show music I've ever listened to. LOL

Dude do you even own a 6.5 creedmore?
LOL.

CoalTrain49 said:

LRP hunting seems to be a thing these days. I see more and more of these kinds of posts all the time. Probably one of the reasons some states are closing down areas to rifle hunters, making the seasons shorter and limiting the number of tags for rifle hunters.

In this state if you hunt with a muzzleloader or bow the areas you can hunt are increased, the seasons are longer, and more tags are issued. Many of the deer hunters I know have migrated to muzzleloaders or bows for that reason. Their chances of a successful hunt are far greater than just hunting with a rifle because of the restrictions on rifle hunters.

This LRP hunting hasn't gone unnoticed by state game commissions who set the regulations. I'm not sure why they have gone that direction but my guess is they just don't think LRP hunting is good for the sport just like a late hit in football. Hunting, after all it is a sport. If it wasn't we would all still be using 8 ga shotguns and sluicing flocks of ducks on the water.

I guess a person has to draw the line somewhere or somebody will draw it for us sooner or later. If you like LRP hunting probably best you don't brag about it on a public forum. Get a clue.

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Correct, the line must be drawn somewhere. Whether that place is 100 yards, 600 yards, condescension, or opinionated lectures.

FL-NC said:

Correct, the line must be drawn somewhere. Whether that place is 100 yards, 600 yards, condescension, or opinionated lectures.

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Do you think game regulations are condescending and opinionated?

I used to have a neighbor that thought poaching was OK if it was for food. Maybe he was right, I can certainly see his point. But the fact is most people don't think it's a good idea and made it illegal.

Here's a forum where they actually discuss LRH (long range hunting) seriously. Obviously you aren't the only one who embraces the idea.

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/quest-for-a-mile-300-win-mag.204330/

Sorry if I came across as preaching but it just isn't my cup of tea.

Thanks for your service.

I am only a Sharpshooter so can't say what a serious shooter/sniper/hunter can reasonably do, but while I can hit a paper target at 600 yards pretty regularly, I would not be confident on a cold barrel first shot killing hit on a critter at that distance. Maybe half.

Hunting has been a passion of mine for decades.
I'd have to say I never hunt past 600 yards.

Some time ago I took up service rifle competition to simply try it and to hopefully become a better marksman. I also hoped it would make me a better more ethical (effective?) hunter as I became a better shooter and judge of wind/distance. In other words, less chance of wounded game the more profocient I became.

The longest shot hunting I ever took was at a groundhog at I'd guess about 400 yards. The longest shot I took at big game was 250-300 yards. Our professional hunter guide for our hunting trip to Africa wouldn't let you take a shot past about 250 yards - he'd insist on stalking closer and using a shooting bipod to ensure the best outcome. So even though I have successfully shot 600 yards in competition, using open sights no less, would I ever attemp a shot at 600 yards? I seriously doubt it. There's just too much to go wrong and for me, a different set of ethics kicks in when shooting a living breathing big game animal. Not saying it's wrong. It's wrong for me.

I think I'll have to face potential shots at longer distances during an upcoming guided Elk hunting trip in Montana. I hear that shots at 300-400 yards are common. I guess I'll just have to go with my gut, the advice of my guide and every bit of the lessons learned in competition.

jmr40 said:

Where do you draw the line. Any shot farther than 50 yards isn't really hunting, but simply shooting. I have the utmost respect for those guys who can stalk within 15-20 yards and kill an animal with traditional archery tackle as well as those hunters who have dedicated themselves to develop the skills to take game at ranges beyond 500 yards. Both are skill sets few of us have.

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Therein lies the difference between hunting and shooting. Both require separate skills. 600yds is not what I'd call "hunting", regardless of the target. It's shooting. Long range shooting should be done at inanimate targets and there are plenty of places for that.

Speak for yourself.

"Any shot farther than 50 yards isn't really hunting, but simply shooting."

Everyone has a right to have an opinion, but that's all that statement is: Merely an opinion.

I always thought I was hunting when I headed for some area where I thought Bucky might be bedded down. If he's home, kick him out of bed and if he looks good, shoot him. Sometimes Bucky waits until I'm fifteen yards away. Sometimes he bails out when I'm still over a hundred yards off. What, I'm supposed to slap myself up side my head, saying, "Bad dog! Don't shoot!"

Art Eatman said:

What, I'm supposed to slap myself up side my head, saying, "Bad dog! Don't shoot!"

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Thanks Art, that made me laugh!
If I wasn't affraid of getting shot, or clubed, I'd be tempted to try that on one of my hunting buddies......

Again, lots of "hunters" crying about the way others hunt. I don't even own a scoped rifle anymore (if you do you aren't a real hunter, merely a cheater ) so I don't have a dog in this fight. However, I try not to be critical of others just because I don't agree with their methods. If they are utilizing a legal method to pursue game then I'm all for it.

Garandimal said:

Anything beyond a pointy stick is cheating.

...but it tastes the same.




GR

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With my compound (and my sights adjusted properly) 100yds is still pointy stick range, wouldn't shoot at an animal that far tho. LOL

Garandimal said:

Anything beyond a pointy stick is cheating.

...but it tastes the same.




GR

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I just wear a loin cloth and hunt with dull rocks. The loin cloth is very tasteful of course.

JohnKSa said:

Frank, who has never hunted before and has no knowledge about hunting decides to take it up. Because he is old enough to be beyond the cutoff date for requiring a hunter safety course he is not required to take one and so he doesn't. He buys a hunting license at a local sporting goods store on the first day of the season. At the same store he buys a rifle that is legal for the game he wishes to pursue, as well as a scope for it.

Frank has a friend with the proper tools and asks him to mount the scope. Neither knows how to zero the scope nor do they even know that it is required. Frank goes to Wal-Mart and buys the cheapest ammunition he can find in the caliber of his rifle--it turns out to be FMJ. He gets into his truck and drives to the nearest piece of public land and waits for a game animal to appear. When it does, he aims and pulls the trigger.

All perfectly legal. I am NOT all for it.

There is more to ethical hunting than simply not breaking the law. 'Tis to be hoped that we are openly critical of practices that need to be criticized while avoiding being judgemental without point.

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By using FMJs he did break the law, at least out here. But I get your point.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

I honestly have a hard time arguing against that, I've seen far too many times.
My rebuttal is that in this case we AREN'T talking about Frank, we're talking about guys with tools, knowledge, and experienced to do the job properly.

Again at the end of the day (or the begtining of aavery long night) crap can happen. Any reduction in our equipment or our effectiveness( open sights, long range, smaller for game cartridge, pistols, bows etc) increase the possibility of stuff going wrong, and requires more dedication in practice, planning, and application.

Again to use archery as an analogy.

We generally don't consider 40-50yd shots with a compound or Xbow unethical, and animals are KNOWN to jump the string, or break on the shot. A gut wound from an arrow is in my experience, much less incapacitating than a rifle wound, unless the guts follow the arrow out the hole.
Personally I'm very confident at any range I have pins for, but if an animal is aware of me I'll rarely shoot unless they get distracted.

Most of my rifle shots inside of 50-100yds are running, or at least moving, most of my 200+ shots are standing broadside. I'm also not concerned about an animal jumping the trigger on my rifle.
I'll take a standing shot with any rifle I own. There are some I won't shoot moving animals with because I don't use them enough.