[quote=Ridge Runner;4090304]........so there is still something wrong with me cause I prefer long shots.
RR[/quote

Loved the sound of the bullet in slo mo mode.

Not saying there's something wrong with you, just the statement. " I prefer long shots " probably doesn't sit well with most. Doesn't matter whether your an "old hunter " or young. Kind of hard for most to wrap their arms around that mind set. Just seems like the 2-200 yd kills you speak of would be preferred.

I've read all the back and forth here. Hard to believe that the response wasn't anticipated when the original post was made.

From the looks of the video, if that buck was to be taken, it had to be with that shot. Just most wouldn't have taken it, most aren't capable of taking it. Most wouldn't have risked wounding such an animal.

That, I believe, is what most are getting at. To be PO'd at that is lame, IMHO.

Hey now, I have a Cabelas hunting jacket, lol. Its one of those two in one jacket/parkas in blaze orange. I've had it for 12 years or so, and has none of the miracle scent control in it. Two Leupold scopes, both vari-X IIIs, 11-13 years old with regular plex reticles on a pair of magnums, that I load my own ammo using a basic Lee press, using common brass. I do have a gps to carry with me, that's 15 years old and still works. No built in maps, just basic stuff in it. Meanwhile the fashion hunters have their M700 with the tasco scope, box of the highest price ammo available that they shot three rounds thru, because they must buy a new rifle every year in whatever caliber the hunting shows say to use that year... I'm sure we could go on. The fashion hunting snobs aren't restricted to 1k yard shooters, but short ranger hunters, and bow hunters as well. Granted, I have not bow hunted in earnest, but with a magnesium bow, not the latest Matthews single cam pigmy bow, I've gotten a lot of looks, especially if I need arrows cut(33" draw here). We have them at the gun shops, with a seasoned and crusty salesman at Sportsmans once. He blanket criticized anyone who shoots a magnum rifle. In his opinion nothing more was needed than a 30'06, and none of those non-sense assault rifles. I politely informed him that he must really be a bad shot, as I could kill anything in NA with a 30/30 if I really wanted to. Also I informed him that his mighty '06 was first and foremost a military caliber as well. I shoot magnum rifles because I want to, and choose to, not because it is the fashionable thing to do, or to make up for something else. My wife, and my targets from the range can attest otherwise =D

I didn't mean to throw off on fine hunting gear or those who make an honest buck selling it.
Just saying that some of us really like keeping to basics. It was what we were raised on and it just feels right.
I was a gadget junkie for a while many years ago so I understand. Over the years I figured out that gadgets never got me a head of game that I wouldn't have gotten anyway using a few basic tools and the knowledge I picked up from my grandfather.

Now I keep it real simple. A good rifle, binoculars, knife, some VERY comfortable boots, and an old but warm coat. That's what feels right for me. No 500+ yard shots on game. If you just can't get close, pass on it. No shame in passing on a chancy shot. Try again tomorrow. It's never worth wounding an animal to pump your ego. That's the standard. It's that simple.

ok you use the wind in your favor, so they don't smell you, make natural sounds as you walk they really don't hear you for what you are, move slow and they won't see you, do it right and its the same as shooting one at 700 yards except.... you don't hafta be as accurate

No phone. There's no service where I hunt.

how do you practice those running shots, those where you have 3 outcomes that are possible
1) you get lucky and make a vital hit on a running whitetail that is moving at unknown angles at speeds of 52fps
2) you keep wildly slinging lead hopeing for a vital hit before he gets out of sight and is lost
3) he gets away at best unscathed, at the worste gutshot and no way to find it
now your gonna say that you only take high percentage shots, how is that possible?
at least at 700 yards the shooter is in control of the situation and has time to make decisions which could result in a wounded animal (one of your big kicks about LR?)


see above
if you can read, you can learn in about 10 minutes how to get around a deers senses, but you make that a big deal, think about it
so its better shooting a deer running 35 mph than shooting at a bedded undisturbed deer? gimme a break!
RR

when you get to the point you understand ballistics, drop a bit of cash and learn about it its not in the least bit chancy, 500 is basicly a chipshot
RR

As an alternative to long range hunting. Consider still hunting. It's all i've done my whole hunting career, except to try other methods including long range hunting. I finally decided that still hunting is what I love to do most. I've worked hard at perfecting it over the years. Once you get past the basics of it. There's so much to learn.

For those who might be considering it, and aren't sure what it is. Here's an article on the basics. Even though this concentrates on deer. It's also very effective for elk. Elk love to bed down in timber. The thicker the better.

I've gotten away from worrying about crunchy snow and leaves by hunting the muzzleloader season at very high altitudes. The ground in the timber areas are always wet all day, and it's too early to snow, and the leaves are still on the trees. Of course I can still make noise if i'm not stealthy.

Anyway, if you have interest. Read this.

http://www.biggamehunt.net/articles/...oodsmans-dance

Well, it seems as if the lines are drawn. On one side we have the target shooters who really should stick to paper targets on a range because a poor shot there does no harm. (Yeah, I know, they never make a bad shot)

On the other side are the poor old broken down woodsmen who have to get close enough to the game to swat it on the ass with the rifle butt just to hit it.

Im a proud member of the latter group.
We don't wound them and lose them. That's huge.

Anyway, RR is just throwing kerosene on the fire for fun. And it is fun.

RR.............When I was growing up my dad taught me and my brother still hunting.

One of the skills was moving shots. he had a trolley system he built for us to practice on. I'm sure i've taken more of those shots in practice over the years than you have with your long shots. I also made a living in the 70's trap shooting which isn't like shooting big game, but it does keep me sharp at moving targets.

Beating an animals senses on the ground at close range you think is the same as your animal at long range.

I won't argue with you over this. You have shooting skills, and still hunting takes woodsmanship skills. Worlds apart.

We all have different ways to challenge ourselves. You don't have to agree with mine. Just like you know I don't agree with yours.

I do apply these skills to hunting as well. I bowhunt quite abit as well as handgun hunt. For where I live at in Illinois, a long shot here is 250-400yds. And thats only on coyotes. We are limited to shotgun, muzzleloaders and pistols for deer hunting, no rifles. But for pertaining to how we train, this is hunting in its own right. H.O.G. Hunters Of Gunman. Upon occassion, our quarry shoot back!!!!
With what you were saying that there is no skill/hunting sense in the regards to taking a long range shot, noting "Shot", is just that, a shot. It takes detail to many things at that distance to make this happen with one shot. No matter how you slice a pizza, 2 pieces, 20 pieces, its still a pizza in the end. The animal never left its bed. DRT.

Bc, this is a fact, anyway you look at it you will lose more game with bad shots up close than at long range, the muzzle blast at close range makes then tend to just run blind, doesn't matter about where the hit is they run till they die, if you had ever witnessed a long range hit you would know, they don't blindly run off, they run maybe 20 yards unless you ht the heart lungs, then they do what deer do when they taste blood, they sprint till they die.
keep on Bc whats it take to show ya been had
RR