Why the yardage exaggeration
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Nature Boy
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Your point is also reason I don’t take long shots. I need to see them closer in order to estimate whether he’s shootable, just another typical 8 point, or a really nice 10 point but too young.
The further away they are the harder it is to judge.
Years ago when I worked behind the gun counter our store sponsored a couple of sight in weekends at the local range. This was in the early '80's when rifle technology wasn't what it is today. Over the course of 4-5 days of observing people at the range I knew two things.
1. The average hunter couldn't estimate range worth a damn
2. The average hunter couldn't hit ****
We had access to a 500 yard range. We would put 12" bull targets at various ranges. Since the range was marked on the side berms we knew how far out the targets were. We never set a target past 300 yards. Everyone of those 300 yard targets was 500-700 yards away according to the hunters, mind you the back berm was 520 yards from the firing line. For giggles one year we had a 3D deer target set up at 400 yards. Only 3 hunters that day saw that 3D target, that was out of over 100.
I witnessed hunters shoot a 20 round box of ammo at 50 yards and they would cut paper maybe three times. Later on they would come in and tell me about the 600 yard shot on a running deer they made.
I saw guys coming to the range with loose mounts, broken scopes, rifles that were last cleaned by their grandpa, and other assorted problems.
We had the local gunsmith on hand to fix minor problems. We would mount and bore sight scopes.
I'd say that 95% of the hunters in eastern Washington at the time had no business shooting at a game animal past 50 yards.
In our store we had a bunch of waterfowl mounts on the wall opposite the gun counter. Those mounts were 21 yards from the gun counter. Almost to a person the waterfowl hunters would estimate the range to those mounts at 40-50 yards. It's been a LONG time since I hunted waterfowl. I gave it up when they mandated steel shot. We hunted the on one of the lakes on the Columbia river. We set up 10-12 dozen decoys (the river was over a mile wide) in our set. The kill zone was 22 yards from the blind. My shotgun at the time was my trusty Mossberg 500 with a 22" IC barrel. We loaded our own ammo. Ducks that flew into the kill zone rarely flew out. Taking other hunters to our spot they would ask why we were setting the decoys so far out.
1. The average hunter couldn't estimate range worth a damn
2. The average hunter couldn't hit ****
We had access to a 500 yard range. We would put 12" bull targets at various ranges. Since the range was marked on the side berms we knew how far out the targets were. We never set a target past 300 yards. Everyone of those 300 yard targets was 500-700 yards away according to the hunters, mind you the back berm was 520 yards from the firing line. For giggles one year we had a 3D deer target set up at 400 yards. Only 3 hunters that day saw that 3D target, that was out of over 100.
I witnessed hunters shoot a 20 round box of ammo at 50 yards and they would cut paper maybe three times. Later on they would come in and tell me about the 600 yard shot on a running deer they made.
I saw guys coming to the range with loose mounts, broken scopes, rifles that were last cleaned by their grandpa, and other assorted problems.
We had the local gunsmith on hand to fix minor problems. We would mount and bore sight scopes.
I'd say that 95% of the hunters in eastern Washington at the time had no business shooting at a game animal past 50 yards.
In our store we had a bunch of waterfowl mounts on the wall opposite the gun counter. Those mounts were 21 yards from the gun counter. Almost to a person the waterfowl hunters would estimate the range to those mounts at 40-50 yards. It's been a LONG time since I hunted waterfowl. I gave it up when they mandated steel shot. We hunted the on one of the lakes on the Columbia river. We set up 10-12 dozen decoys (the river was over a mile wide) in our set. The kill zone was 22 yards from the blind. My shotgun at the time was my trusty Mossberg 500 with a 22" IC barrel. We loaded our own ammo. Ducks that flew into the kill zone rarely flew out. Taking other hunters to our spot they would ask why we were setting the decoys so far out.
Personally I don't think 100 yards far.
But since most ranges have that as max, maybe that puts the idea in folks minds (that it is).
Like I said before, I was shocked to learn that three of my deer killing coworkers won't shoot past 50 yards w a rest.
And two of them never have.
Two of them think expensive scopes/rifles and reloading are wastes of time.
Might be some correlation LOL
But since most ranges have that as max, maybe that puts the idea in folks minds (that it is).
Like I said before, I was shocked to learn that three of my deer killing coworkers won't shoot past 50 yards w a rest.
And two of them never have.
Two of them think expensive scopes/rifles and reloading are wastes of time.
Might be some correlation LOL
Probably IS to them lol, truthfully it probably is to the "average" deer hunter.
Where I was growing up id rarely shoot farther than about 75yds, I did shoot quite a few fast movers, and every now and then id lob one out there at 100ish. Usually a .223 round to the head, or neck at night.
I reloaded because a box of 06 shells cost me 40 bucks, and i got paid 5 bucks an hour for the work I did around the farm, might have made 30-50 bucks a week. I bought my .223s over the counter 50gr AE hollow points were 4.99 a box. Decent .22s cost me 2 bucks per box, and minimags I liked were 8.
My best scope was a Bushnell trophy, one of the other tennis players loaned me cash to pay for.
I killed a lot of stuff with relatively poor equipment lol.
If i still lived there, and hunted the way we did (nearly every weekend, to keep the freezers full), I doubt Id ever have really changed my gear......id also be lucky to be making 1/2 what I do now working twice as hard, so it wouldnt be much of an option....but hey id be hunting way more often.
Nature Boy
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I can relate. The first 20 or so years of my deer hunting was with either iron sights or shotgun with buck shot. We ran a pack of dogs in the Louisiana swamps, and when they jumped a deer it was running. If you got a shot off it had to be quick, with a follow up ready if need be, but it was always at distances under 100 yards. No one bragged about the long range shot they took on a running deer because they’d be laughed at back at the camp.
My hunting now is a much easier, more sedate still hunting format. But, when that big one walks out the “buck fever” is still a factor.
My first deer gun was a Mossberg 500 regal w 4x tasco. It shot well but was a slammer that also rattled. I shot my first gun deer across the top of the heart. Where i aimed. 77 yards offhand from treestand ( came out in field behind me). Loaned that gun to somebody the next yr and they got their first deer with it too....so gave it to them.
Chuck R.
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Doesn't happen all the time...and that's with a solid rest, Kestrel etc. Which is why I won't chance anything over 450 or so unless conditions are perfect. Too many variables IMHO, me being one of them.
DustyGmt
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I wish I could tell an exaggerated distance tale. I'm likely the only guy here who has hunted nearly every year since I was a kid and never shot a deer.
I don't even want to gather a guess as to how many hours I've spent in the woods over the last 20 or so years with no racks to show for it. I gave up on scent lock and camo a few years ago, didn't seem to make a difference... if nothing else I like spending time in the woods.
I don't even want to gather a guess as to how many hours I've spent in the woods over the last 20 or so years with no racks to show for it. I gave up on scent lock and camo a few years ago, didn't seem to make a difference... if nothing else I like spending time in the woods.
Varminterror
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Varminterror
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Are you hunting in city park? Sucks to hear that!
DustyGmt
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Might as well be. Lots of deer where I go, at this point I feel like if it happens it happens, if not I'm ok with that too as long as I can still feed the fam
Sypher....
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I’m right there with you, though I’ve only been 3 or 4 times over the past six years. I’ve taken to calling them deer walks instead of deer hunts.
One of the first times I went out with my brother-in-law and his boys, we’re out walking along and see a buck on a ridge line and my bil asks his boys for his sticks, they made great pack mules
, and starts taking shots at this deer. After about 5 or 6 shots, the deer just turns and walks into the woods. After everything calms down he tells me we should’ve probably gotten a little closer, so I could take a shot. If I had to guess, it was probably at least 300 yards, maybe more, as he was shooting up at a slight angle. I chalked the whole episode up to buck fever because we had already been out a couple times without seeing much, and he’s a decent shot and generally doesn’t come home empty handed. All I know is that it was beyond my experience, even though I really wanted to let the lead fly, as it were.
sage5907
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This is an interesting thread. I have one ability when hunting that I really like and it is that when I shoulder my rifle and look through the scope I usually know whether or not I can make the shot. When the shot looks iffy I pass up the shot and wait for a better opportunity. On the other hand, when the scope locks firmly onto the animal and I feel the confidence I do the shot. I value the one shot kill and most of my large animal shots have been between 50 and 200 yards.
jmorris
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Sounds like you should hangout with other people or never be the first to tell the story. Remember the first liar always looses.
That said, the stories I tell are the good-outstanding shots, not all of the mediocre or bad ones, they are not as interesting, to me.
Reminds me of the time when we were shooting clay pigeons and a friend that wasn’t doing very well that day, put up his shotgun and came back with a pistol and said “pull”. The bird flew about 30 yards, before he powdered it with one shot. When asked to do it again, he informed everyone he was not stupid. To this day he has kept his record of 100% hits on flying clays with a pistol.
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DustyGmt
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I know others who might as well call them "deer appointments". Every year on opening day, first hour or two they're walking out with an 8-10 pointer. Without fail. Around vermont there are very few hunters taking deer past 100 yards. See lots of guys still using 30-30 win.
DustyGmt
Member
I know a guy who thought he was pretty cool for taking a shot at around 450-500. I don't know what he was using but I remember noting that it wasn't an appropriate caliber for a shot like that. He wounded the animal and recovered it a few hundred yards from where it was shot in the leg bleating and flopping away. I thought he was an idiot. I will not take a shot unless I know it will be clean. He was bragging but I don't think it was an ethical shot. I don't like people like that....
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Good thread. Hunting in the woods or NY and PA I've never pulled the trigger on a whitetail past 200 yards, and most were well inside that. Ground hogs out a bit further, but still inside 300. Just aren't a lot of long shots to be had where I hunt(ed).
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20 yrs hunting....no deer.......and keeps going. Man that is dedication. I went four times in two yrs and saw one flag. Buddy invited me the next yr....opening day of bow. 1985. 11:52 am. Had just eaten an early lunch...man those guys could tailgate. Food buzz was strong....ready for a nap. Sitting in Loc On, put tab on arrow (nocked) and rested head on top wheel of PSE. Heard clip clop and opened my eyes.....buck trotting by. I pulled back swung through and shot him ....4 pointed dressed 150. Once you get the first the rest come easy
So they say. Been slamming em ever since so maybe theyre right.
BTW that shot was 19 yards.....on the move though
So they say. Been slamming em ever since so maybe theyre right.
BTW that shot was 19 yards.....on the move though
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DustyGmt
Member
I love the thread title tho... lol. "Why the yardage exaggeration" like actually asking from a sociological standpoint... ha ha. Very good question tho. Its funny the way people just casually lie. I knew a couple brothers who exaggerated everything. They could hardly make it down the mountain on a snowboard without face planting yet on their own, together with no 3rd party witnesses they did all kinds of backflips, 540's 20 ft in the air, etc.... yea, why do people lie?
I dunno why people lie (or just say stupid stuff in general). It is funny how long distance shooting is somehow being touted as a new thing...or that recent advancements make it possible. Uh...we had good rifles and decent bullets before the internet. Maybe information is easier to get now and folks are coming up to speed quicker. But we had enough to do well before YouTube. Of course the opposite is trad archery guys that say you have to shoot em at spitting distance when the planets are aligned and only if your wife made meatloaf the night before. Heaven forbid you shoot moving animals (guess they pop all their doves off the telephone wire. I just shoot stuff. Sometimes close. Sometimes far. Usually in between. It just is what it is and AFAIC,.....theres no reason to fudge it.
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