Long range ethics

[Huntkook]

(What percentage of long range shooters actually follow up on their shot and walk to the spot where the animal was?) No matter what the shot distance is following up after the shot is what determines ethics.

 

[brnsvllyjohn]

The problem I have with the long range hunting shows is every new hunter thinks if they buy the correct equipment they can shoot animals at 800 yards just like on TV. That is not true at all. Only really good target shooters should even think about anything over 400 (I am sure there are a lot of you guys on here that can). I would say the same thing about any hunting method that stretches the normal ranges. Shotguns at 300, Muzzleloaders at 400 and arrows being flung at over 70 yards. Clearly a select few can but the masses cannot. How do you keep the average hunter from taking those shots that are beyond his or her ethical range?

I know someone who recently purchased a new 6.5 Creedmoor with an 18 power scope for long range deer hunting. I have no idea if he can shoot but buying a 6.5 for long range based on the hype is just wrong. His first rifle ever. Do you think he can make that 700 yard shot? Do you think he might try?

I also question how many misses we never see on hunting shows. Do they really look carefully every time they squeeze the trigger?

 

[teej89]

(What percentage of long range shooters actually follow up on their shot and walk to the spot where the animal was?) No matter what the shot distance is following up after the shot is what determines ethics.

I believe this 100%, should you make that shot at 600yds, maybe/maybe not. But what comes down to it is how hard you push yourself to follow up and find that animal, wounded or dead or determine that it was a 100% clean miss.

 

[Yellowstoner]

Just too many variables to account for everything when shots are that far out. I answered this poll as 'no,' but that was a vote for my own personal ethics. I won't judge someone for doing otherwise, but myself, personally? I'm not taking a shot at anything over 300.

 

[Brian in Montana]

Maybe a better question is under what conditions is long range hunting ethical. There is a lot that goes into stabilizing your rifle, controlling yourself, waiting for an appropriate angle, etc. that goes into a pretty standard shot at 200yds. Those things are compounded exponentially the further out you go. Seems the more I think about this subject the more I'm finding that it's not necessarily the long shot I have a problem with, its that everyone I've seen try it are bracing over the seat of a running 4-wheeler or something stupid like that.

 

[A-5_Guy]

I'm not sure if many of you are familiar with Mr. Randy Selby, but he's a well-known rifle maker who was born and raised in WY. I pretty much feel the same way as he does concerning the long range hunting craze. The bottom line is that most people just lack the requisite skills to accurately engage game and cleanly kill with these, "1000yds out of the box" packages. Remember that the videos you see with the 1 shot, DRT animal, has been edited and it doesn't show the pile of brass next to the kid.

There are 3 videos to this end.

https://youtu.be/ifE_fnsOa1s

https://youtu.be/oTsbIIoRUCA

https://youtu.be/fCDxDr_uLSw

 

[yoda]

��great videos. Should be made a sticky

 

[psinclair]

Is a 200 yard shot ethical?

Yes
No

Well, I don't know. Has the truck stopped moving?

Anyone who can answer the poll without further information can also answer that the 200 yd shot is ethical without knowing anything else.

While I am no fan of shooting game at long range for the sake of doing it, drawing a line at any distance and proclaiming one side of it ethical and the other side unethical is nonsense, especially when the range chosen has been fairly easily obtainable with over the counter equipment for many decades.
To lump the highly experienced rifleman who may on rare occasion shoot 500 yards in with the yahoos that spend their spare time editing kill shot videos and bragging about their long range exploits, is as bad as being one of the asses that you despise.

To insult a highly dedicated, and ethical hunter, by telling them that their 500 yd shot was unethical, when you don't know squat, is a low blow in my opinion, ranking right up there with an unethical shot.

Spot on...

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

Spot on...

I think we all could probably learn something, if we asked someone who we know is a very competent long range shooter, what he takes into account when considering a shot, and its ethics in context.

Personally, I have two concerns with this whole topic:
1) the marginalization of the skills necessary to make the shots being discussed by some in the hunting industry/media
2) time of flight at some point negates the precision the shooter is capable of, and at some point turns your sub-moa shot into a 5-10 moa scenario...

I am a halfway decent shot, and I limit myself to 400.

With no sarcasm intended, I would like to hear what goes through a real good shooters mind if Pat is willing to take it from here....

 

[mtmuley]

Is a 200 yard shot ethical?

Yes
No

Well, I don't know. Has the truck stopped moving?

Anyone who can answer the poll without further information can also answer that the 200 yd shot is ethical without knowing anything else.

While I am no fan of shooting game at long range for the sake of doing it, drawing a line at any distance and proclaiming one side of it ethical and the other side unethical is nonsense, especially when the range chosen has been fairly easily obtainable with over the counter equipment for many decades.
To lump the highly experienced rifleman who may on rare occasion shoot 500 yards in with the yahoos that spend their spare time editing kill shot videos and bragging about their long range exploits, is as bad as being one of the asses that you despise.

To insult a highly dedicated, and ethical hunter, by telling them that their 500 yd shot was unethical, when you don't know squat, is a low blow in my opinion, ranking right up there with an unethical shot.

This sums up my feelings on the issue. mtmuley

 

[Coach Chris]

Scott Satterlee posted a video yesterday on Instagram of himself shooting a cow elk at 496yds
https://www.coreshooting.com/pages/scott-satterlee
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmmfNO3H2BF/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1nxjcocmu2lh7

With his credentials would that be deemed “unethical”?

 

[SisuHunter]

It’s nearly impossible to define what is ethical when looking at things like shot distance, caliber size vs game, equipment, running/walking shots and so on. Its up to each individual to decide what they are comfortable with and do things however they like within the limits of the law. Its a free country and who is anyone else to judge. It is arrogant to think you can.

Its after the shot, is where ethics really come into play. Every shot should be followed up on to determine if there was a hit and one should do everything in their power to retrieve the game. If there was a wounded animal, a tag should be considered used. When a hit rooster or duck outsmarts a gun dog, it should be counted in the bag limit. Wounding and loosing game is an unfortunate reality at some point in many people’s hunting career, no matter the shot distance. Most animals are probably shot under 100 or maybe 200 yds and most wounding loss is probably also at those relatively short distances. Not following up after the shot, wounding multiple animals, not learning from past mistakes, and not practicing at intended hunting distances is where I have the most issues and question ethics.

 

[SaskHunter]

I voted no because I don't believe myself or 99% of hunters are capable of taking such shots.

For the 1% of hunters who are capable and consistent in such shots, go ahead.

I can personally consistently hit gongs at 700 meters with the proper tools, I normally don't have those tools in the field and will not shoot past 300 meters.

 

[devon deer]

I have just come across his Youtube videos, here are a couple more, he speaks a lot of sense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnR1SZlcfSA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSRhQK9KoMY
Worth a watch
Cheers
Richard

I'm not sure if many of you are familiar with Mr. Randy Selby, but he's a well-known rifle maker who was born and raised in WY. I pretty much feel the same way as he does concerning the long range hunting craze. The bottom line is that most people just lack the requisite skills to accurately engage game and cleanly kill with these, "1000yds out of the box" packages. Remember that the videos you see with the 1 shot, DRT animal, has been edited and it doesn't show the pile of brass next to the kid.

There are 3 videos to this end.

https://youtu.be/ifE_fnsOa1s

https://youtu.be/oTsbIIoRUCA

https://youtu.be/fCDxDr_uLSw

 

[PrairieHunter]

I have become somewhat numb to the long range shooting crowd when it comes to rifles but the archery stuff bothers me more. There have been two hunters on the elk addicts page recently who have claimed to have taken elk at 100+ yards with a compound bow. One guy shooting 125 didn't hit the animal with the first two and finally got it on the third.

I have a bigger issue with a guy shooting 100+ yards with a bow than I do shooting 600 + yards with a rifle.

 

[cahunter805]

Didn’t see this thread until now. This debate will never end just like Chevy vs Ford!
IMO there are many different groups of hunters and everyone has a different style. I personally enjoy long range shooting and hunting. I have spent countless hours practicing and fine tuning my gear and skills. Even with all of that I still will pass up shots that I am not comfortable with for whatever reasons.
What really gets me is I can guarantee that I can CONSISTENTLY shoot a group at 600 yards that many AVERAGE hunters couldn’t even shoot at 300. The average hunter being a guy who goes out before season with box ammo and shoots and sights in and calls it good. Nobody ever thinks anything of this because he only shoots 300 yards at game so it’s ok.
An ethical hunter knows his limits from much practice and whatever distance that may be is up to them.

 

[Fire_9]

Didn’t see this thread until now. This debate will never end just like Chevy vs Ford!
IMO there are many different groups of hunters and everyone has a different style. I personally enjoy long range shooting and hunting. I have spent countless hours practicing and fine tuning my gear and skills. Even with all of that I still will pass up shots that I am not comfortable with for whatever reasons.
What really gets me is I can guarantee that I can CONSISTENTLY shoot a group at 600 yards that many AVERAGE hunters couldn’t even shoot at 300. The average hunter being a guy who goes out before season with box ammo and shoots and sights in and calls it good. Nobody ever thinks anything of this because he only shoots 300 yards at game so it’s ok.
An ethical hunter knows his limits from much practice and whatever distance that may be is up to them.

Yep. Pie plate at 100 is good enough right?