What is YOUR comfort zone? Whitetail hunting

[scythefwd]

I'll go out to 200y with any of my scoped and sighted in centerfires, but I can't see that far where I hunt. I'll only go out to 75y if I have the shotgun with me, and about 120-130 with the muzzle loader. The furthest stretch I can see is about 300y, but that is in the valley between two very steep ridges... I don't shoot em near that drop off.

 

[Deer Hunter]

I rarely find places where I have clear shots past 120 yards.

 

[Steve 48]

Out here in the plains, a 400 shot is the norm so I practice for that range. I got one every year!!

 

[blackops]

Depends which rifle I have is in my hands. The hunting rifle I feel the most comfortable with at longer ranges is my pre-64 in 270 and that's out to 550 max. I had it pillared and glassed so it's a dandy. Even then 98 percent of my shots aren't over 400. That said conditions and position have to be perfect passed 300.

 

[skiking]

Depending on the rifle, but with my 300WM I am comfortable out to 600 yds if a bipod or pack can be used. Longest shot was a 320 yd offhand shot. While I probably wouldn't try it again, I was rock steady and my NPOA was right where it needed to be, 1 shot into the neck and he dropped in his tracks. That was the only shot I have taken past 175 yds.

 

[NCdrummer]

Impressive!

 

[pwillie]

Most of the land we hunt on has fire breaks,and logging roads..Up to 600 yds. Average is 200 yds. Best is 450 yds. 300 Weatherby---150 Nosler Partition.

 

[sarduy]

to be sure i hit exactly where i aim, i keep it under 500 yards, over 500 yards i know i can hit the target jist not exactly where want. 3-5 inches to me, but they do make a difference.

 

[UpTheIrons]

Is everyone using a rangefinder on these long ranges? I'm just wondering, because one of the guys I hunt with SWORE he took (at least) a 300 yard shot this past season. We went back and shot it with a rangefinder, and it was only 155.

I'm not calling BS or saying y'all are exaggerating, and I know there are some real long ranges to cover - especially out West - but I'm just wondering if these are good faith estimates or actual hard numbers.

Since I'm a bit OCD, I always take my rangefinder, even in areas I've hunted for years. Where we hunt in the Texas Hill Country, 150 is the realistic longest range for most of our most shots, but there are a couple of spots where a 300 yard shot is possible, though I'd likely not take it. Unless it was a giant chupacabra and "IT WAS COMING RIGHT FOR ME!"

 

[NCdrummer]

Good post. My 415 yard shot 31 January was laser verified after the shot by my hunting partner and me. That's a LONG way to shoot at a whiteteil deer, especially from a climbing treestand, for me anyway. And I practice and compete a lot! So I agree. Are these really long distances verified or guessed? No offense to all the snipers!

 

[skiking]

My 320 yd shot wasn't lasered at the time, but I did go back the following year with a rangefinder to find out how far it really was, measured 321 yds so I round down.

 

[huntershooter]

Comfort zone is determined by how steady I can get.
I would not attempt an offhand 300 yd shot and would think twice about 200 yds.If I were an active "cross the course" competitor that would be different. Everyone's limitations are different.
My longest Whitetail shot was 487 yds., sitting-braced against a tree trunk. If I could have gone prone, I would have.

 

[Ankeny]

Comfort zone is based on the current conditions.

Couldn't have said it better. Yes, folks shooting long yardage are using range finders and they also have a way to correct for wind and for drop. Or they are just blowing smoke.

A little edit with no disrespect intended. If long yardage (where you would have to hold off of the critter) is verified after the shot, how does one know where to hold to guarantee a hit?

 

[UpTheIrons]

If long yardage (where you would have to hold off of the critter) is verified after the shot, how does one know where to hold to guarantee a hit?

This is kinda what I was wondering. I'd likely never take a shot where I had to hold off the hair, so I was curious about how many of y'all came up with your numbers. I know the Mags and WSSMs go a looong way and stay flat for most of that flight, but I'm looking to switch to a .308 for this next year, and even with that, I don't think I will change my maximum range for a while. I'm just not comfortable 'pushing' a shot that might be marginal. Unless it is the aforementioned Chupacabra.

 

[~z]

Range finders and wind meters are the only way I shoot long. Another benefit of the long game is you typically have time to read the conditions, get in a solid position, wait for the opportunity, and decide to pass if necessary.
~z

 

[AKElroy]

200 is about it for me. I like my coffee. I have seen numerous responses in this thread from folks claiming 450+ yrds is within there comfort zone. 600+ for some folks. I am honored to be in really rare company, then! You folks are GOOOOOOOOOD. Of course, this is an anonomous forum...........

 

[t george]

off hand I start feeling a little uncomfortable at just past a hundred. out of a stand or place where I can get steady and take my sweet time 300 to 350 is the edge of comfort, and off the bench at the range (shooting at paper or steel) I like to play around at 500 thats is far as I have ever shot. Longest shot on a deer was just under 200(197 to be exact) longest shot on any critter was a rangfinder varified 322 from prone position using pack as a rest with very little wind.

I wish I was good enough to take 600 yard shots but im not so I dont pull the trigger when that situation arizes.

 

[NCdrummer]

It's pretty simple to verify yardage after the shot. Go to the downed animal with your rangefinder and let you buddy shoot it back to your stand! Sure makes for a pretty good witness, at least in my case it did. Particularly when we had two FWC guys with us. Of course, you have to range the animal BEFORE you take the shot, too. My bet is some of the shots mentioned in this thread describe estimated yardage, but who can be be sure? This is all about the comfort zone. Practiced, confident, and deadly.

BTW, the .308 is capable of 400 yard kills but you have to know your load. It's all about retained velocity. A 165 NAB at 2850 drops about 19.25 inches at 400 yards with a 225 yard zero. Retained energy is ~1620 ft/lbs. If the shot jumps to 425 yards you have another ~4.5 inches of drop, and energy goes to ~1550, which is enough to ensure a clean kill. You just have to understand what happens to your bullet WAY out there, and you have to know your yardage. You also have to practice. That extra 4.5 inches could cause a clean miss, or worse, you could mortally wound a magnificent animal and never recover him. Plus, a 10 mph crosswind could move your shot over a foot depending on the angle, not to mention the hillside factor. Interesting puzzle, huh? 400 and short change for me, with ideal conditions, or I will CONTINUE to pass on the shot. Drummer

 

[courtgreene]

I have no range finder but I can be pretty sure what two hundred yards looks like and that's my comfortable range, so i won't shoot at anything that i don't think is within 150. that way when something bigger than i think it is stands at 175, but it looks like a smaller deer at 150, i am still well within my comfort zone. besides, NC doesn't exactly hold endless prairies. you shoot what's between you and the brush line or you and the next hill. for those of you that live in open spaces, I would love for you to invite me to hunt with you and watch you make your three mile shots. no opportunities for that here.

 

[natman]

Whitetail specifically? I've only ever shot those in trees...

 

[skiking]

For me, my only long shot was without a rangefinder. I figured he was about 300 yards, he was lookin at me, so I put the crosshairs on his nose and pulled the trigger. Bullet hit about 5" below that just off dead center of the neck, grazing his throat, an artery and destroying a vertebrae. This gave me a lot of room for error for range estimation, if he was closer I would have hit higher, further away I would have sent it into the boiler room.

 

[H&Hhunter]

So can you reliably hit a 6" steel plate off hand at 300 yards?

 

[skiking]

I know I can't anymore, since then my offhand abilities have gone to hell. Back, knees, and shoulders are falling apart on me. But 6 years ago I would have bet you $50 I could put 10 shots on a 6" steel at 300 yds offhand. And many people around here learned not to bet against me. It was my solution to not getting a job in high school, but still making some money.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Skiking,

I'll tell you what pal. I shoot with some of the worlds finest field shots and I'd go $50.00 a shot against them off hand unsupported on a 6" steel plate at 300 yards all day every day. In fact you are talking to a very accomplished field shot who fires several thousand rounds of high power center fire a year at the range and puts several hundred head of game on the ground in an average year. Quite a bit of that shooting is off hand with high power rifles

It's pretty easy to talk about doing that on the net it's another thing to do it for real. You are also talking to a guy who doesn't mince words or suffer fools lightly. You are either a liar or you just plain got lucky once but in either case you are full of it.

If you ever get those "ailments" healed up enough I will gladly put $50.00 a shot against you at 6" steel off hand at 300 yards, until then it's just a bunch of internet blow hard B.S!

PM me when your ready to put your money on the table. I'm ready any time.

 

[essayons21]

I'd go 600 with my 30-06 with a ranged distance, a good rest, and perfect conditions. I practice from 400-600 alot and have very precise range dope. With a good rest I can hold 3" at 600 yards.

Offhand, poor conditions, or unknown range, I'd keep it under 250yards. Longest shot I've actually taken on a whitetail is ~125 yards, theres just not that many long shots to take in my neck of the woods.

With the 30-30 I like to keep it under 150 yards.