Long range hunting ?

[T.R.]

I've hunted the open prairies, foothills, and forests of the West most of my life. These are averages meaning some shots were slightly longer and some animals were taken slightly closer.

- Average shot for antelope has been approx. 275 yards for me.
- Average shot for bull or cow elk has been approx. 175 yards for me
- Average shot for mule deer has been approx. 125 yards for me

I do not hunt with a magnum rifle and do not foresee this changing for me. Shooting effectively beyond 300 yards is a feat that less than 1 in 1,000 hunters is capable of acheiving. It takes a very high dedication to practise and I don't mean shooting at 100 yard public ranges from concrete benches either.

This is my motto: hunt closer.

TR

 

[Art Eatman]

"Shooting effectively beyond 300 yards is a feat that less than 1 in 1,000 hunters is capable of acheiving."

May be. May be. But, considering my father, my uncle and me, that means there are 2,997 folks out there with a problem.

Yeah, closer is better, for sure.

 

[T.R.]

Art,

I'm glad you can topple 'lopes and mulies way out there beyond 300 yards. Most guys can't hold steady from makeshift field positions, flinch from recoil, or or can't figure out wind drift. If non-residents would come out west with 25-06, 270, or 7mm-08 they actually bothered to zero in for 225 yards, there would be far less wounded game and happier hunters as well.

TR

 

[H&Hhunter]

To me hunting boils down to the stalk. I never miss an opportunity to try and get closer.

Why miss out on all the fun and excitement and true flavor of hunting.

 

[Harve Curry]

Me to. I like to stalk. I learned from a old timer to take your boots off and sneak in quite. Keep the wind in your favor. Lotta fun. I always carry my boots because one time it took along time to find them again.

 

[gbran]

I'm 56 years old and have hunted something ever since I was a real youngin. 300 yds IS a long shot for me. The last 15 years or so, I've taken up handgun hunting, so I've had to do the stalk thing too. Hunting is hunting. I'm not real big on canned hunts or blind work.

 

[Harve Curry]

If you bow hunt 50 yards can be a long shot. 35 yards is to with a long bow. I'm no archer. But having a big elk or deer in front of your sight pins and not a bullseye can decrease your marksmanship.