RobG
Well-known member
A major reason I don't shoot long is that it is very difficult to find where the animal was standing to search for blood.
Longrange OK for some?
- Thread starter mtmuley
- Start date
psinclair
Well-known member
Seriously?....you better not get too far from the truck.
RobG
Well-known member
I normally have a lot of respect for you, but that is a pretty flippin ignorant comment.
psinclair
Well-known member
You can dish out the heat, but not take it?
RobG
Well-known member
When was I dishing it out?
psinclair
Well-known member
This sums it up perfectly.....
RobG
Well-known member
I'm sure Sinclair is a bloodhound and it isn't an issue for him, but a sparse blood trail can be hard enough to find without adding the uncertainty of not knowing exactly where it was standing. This can be a real problem with cross canyon shots into areas without obvious landmarks. It is all too easy to believe you missed - and missing does happen unless our host is faking them on his TV show.
Topgun 30-06
Active member
That was definitely what you stated. If you watch these LR shows you never see anything but an animal going down right where it stands! On an elk that probably means they either hit the head, spine, or shoulder. What happens when they shoot and the animal walks away and out of sight? You never see any shot like that on any show where the animal disappears and they go look for it! What kills me is when there is plenty of cover between these shooters and the animal when they take those 800-1000 yard shots. Then they always say that's as close as they can get and it would take an hour or more to get over to where the animal is. If an animal is hit and doesn't immediately go down or just go a short distance before they see it fall, my guess is that they count it as a miss and keep right on hunting with no attempt to find where the animal stood to look for sign. That's exactly why I hate those shows and why I'm against LR for 90% of the people out there that would watch those shows and do the same thing, not those that are accomplished and ethical at it!
psinclair
Well-known member
Why would it be any harder to locate where an animal was standing at 500 yards, than 250?
RobG
Well-known member
Sorry you took offense at B&C's and my belief that 1000 yard shots don't allow the animal to have a reasonable chance at detecting you, thus it shouldn't be considered fair chase. I wasn't trying to dish it out, just offering a different perspective.
RobG
Well-known member
Because I ain't Jesus or you I guess. Glad you got it figured out.
psinclair
Well-known member
When did I say I promote 1000 yard shots?
Read my first post....Exercise the option of ALWAYS getting close.
psinclair
Well-known member
Do you hunt with a rangefinder?
Try this, range the animal, take your shot,(that you know with 100% certanty you can make) then work your way over to where it was by using landmarks. If you lose your landmarks, range back to where you shot from....as long as that hasn't slipped your mind.
RobG
Well-known member
Then what exactly was it about my post that you felt was "dishing it out?" I meant no offense to anyone and was merely offering the perspective shared by B&C.
RobG
Well-known member
In all sincerity, thanks. I've come to that conclusion and also that marking the shooting spot and taking a bearing would help reestablish my position.
Bambistew
Well-known member
At what distance does an animal have a reasonable chance of detecting you? Pretty ambiguous statement. I've had animals spot me at pretty long ranges (over a mile), and others have no clue I was within bow range for long periods of time.
Not really sure where I draw the line at "long range." I suck at shooting at long range and have a self imposed limit of about 350 yards... I'm perfectly ok with not getting a shot, or killing the animal if its out of my range. Everyone has their own limits, but I think some need a reality check from time to time. Those lost, or wounded animals are usually that check, at least it has been for me.
I find with anything, be it golf, fishing, bow hunting, rifle hunting, etc. There are a certain group of individuals that just can't accept the fact that they may fail, or not be as good as someone else. Hence the reason for having every "tool" in the box to increase their chance of success. The longer I hunt the more respect I have for those that revert to lesser technology, or practice with the best there is. Both are dedicated to their craft.
Last week I ran into a hunter who just missed two "chip shot" 640 yard shots at a bull. He was was convinced it was dead and lying on the hill above us because it was so "close.". It was not. I had just walked down the bulls tracks for about 400 yards, and not a drop of blood was found. He didn't know this, and went on to tell me about how much shooting he did, and how his rifle was built by some dude in WY, how much long range shooting he did, how awesome his rest was, and on and on and on.
He didn't believe me when I told him there was no dead elk up above us, nor had he hit it... I pointed out the tracks where the bull had come from so he could follow it back up to the point where he thought it was dead.
I've had similar encounters in the past. A miss at 100 yards or a 1000 yards is still a miss.
IMO, we all want to compare our accomplishments to others (B&C). Getting in close and killing an animal is somehow more noble than sniping it at long range I guess. Hunting shouldn't be about comparing yourself to others. To me it is highly personal and creates memories that I don't ever want to forget. How the animal dies is usually the smallest part of the memory, to be honest those easy hunts are easily forgotten. Many of my most memorable hunts included huge animals that go away.
Not really sure where I draw the line at "long range." I suck at shooting at long range and have a self imposed limit of about 350 yards... I'm perfectly ok with not getting a shot, or killing the animal if its out of my range. Everyone has their own limits, but I think some need a reality check from time to time. Those lost, or wounded animals are usually that check, at least it has been for me.
I find with anything, be it golf, fishing, bow hunting, rifle hunting, etc. There are a certain group of individuals that just can't accept the fact that they may fail, or not be as good as someone else. Hence the reason for having every "tool" in the box to increase their chance of success. The longer I hunt the more respect I have for those that revert to lesser technology, or practice with the best there is. Both are dedicated to their craft.
Last week I ran into a hunter who just missed two "chip shot" 640 yard shots at a bull. He was was convinced it was dead and lying on the hill above us because it was so "close.". It was not. I had just walked down the bulls tracks for about 400 yards, and not a drop of blood was found. He didn't know this, and went on to tell me about how much shooting he did, and how his rifle was built by some dude in WY, how much long range shooting he did, how awesome his rest was, and on and on and on.
He didn't believe me when I told him there was no dead elk up above us, nor had he hit it... I pointed out the tracks where the bull had come from so he could follow it back up to the point where he thought it was dead.
I've had similar encounters in the past. A miss at 100 yards or a 1000 yards is still a miss.
IMO, we all want to compare our accomplishments to others (B&C). Getting in close and killing an animal is somehow more noble than sniping it at long range I guess. Hunting shouldn't be about comparing yourself to others. To me it is highly personal and creates memories that I don't ever want to forget. How the animal dies is usually the smallest part of the memory, to be honest those easy hunts are easily forgotten. Many of my most memorable hunts included huge animals that go away.
Excellent post, and my thoughts to a tee.
WV Hunter
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2009
- Messages
- 1,763
You long range shooters have nothing on that Austin, TX police officer who shot and killed a suspect with one shot, one handed, while holding the reigns to two horses, from over 100 yards with a pistol. That's some skill
Big Sky
Well-known member
I know of five people personally that have psinclair's level of long range skills. I have zero reserves about hunting with any of them, and do not question their shooting skills, but rather stand in awe of their abilities. Frankly, I would love to have the time and resources to be able to shoot like psinclair. The local coyote population would hate me even more than they already do. 
