HuntingNet.com Forums - 400 yard trophy?

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However to make asumptions and allegationsthat those who may shoot at longer distances than you have no respect for the game in which they pursue, don't follow up on the shots they have made or attempted, reason for taking such a shot and so forth...is a idiotic and the wrongthing to say IMHO.

So your saying that shooting at longer distances thanme have no respect for the game in which they pursue, don't follow up on the shots they have made or attempted, is ok to do???

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while it maybe on a different level to you both require patients, practice and are not accomplished by all hunters (skill).

I never said anything about anyone "being" on a different level than anyone else. I've got more shooting skill than your average hunter, I was in the marines for 18 years!!! Weshoot at barrels with open sites at 500 yards!!! Now to address your statement, if a hunter has skill enough to shoot a deer at 400 yards does that mean he should take it? NO, longer distances allow a greater chance of error. At 400 yards a a slight breeze will throw your shot off.

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I hunt on the ground so how would you feel if I said treestand hunting is for those who can't hunt game at eye level?

Apples to oranges.

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If you use a gun and hunt in a tree you are a poor hunter and have no business being in the woods, fields, etc!!!

No, but if you shoot at a deer at 400 yards IMHO one doesn't have any business in the woods. He should have his license to think taken away as well.

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I don't feel this way but it would be a pretty idiotic thing for me to say based only on the fact I prefer to hunt on the ground b/c of mobility and the areas I hunt.

Do whatever you choose and feel comfortable with.

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I said I would take the shot only after everything was checked off the list, meaning it was a calculated desicion not a "hope and prayer".

Now your starting to sound like you have some sense.

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I have taken game at 400 yards but far more have been shot at 200 and under. I practice at distance but when I set up on game I try to make it a chip shot vs 50 yard field goal!

I had some guys in my unit that went on to sniper school and I still keep in touch with them to this day. even they wouldn't take a shoot at a deer at 400 yards. You must be quiet the marksman.

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I have to ask you say you practice to 300 yards but yet you wouldn't shoot to 200, why?

I practice because I can and its my free will to do so. I may practice at 500 yards, what does it matter? It doesn't..

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If I am not going to use a 300 yard shot I would see no use in practicing it.

Why in the hell not, do you not like to have fun when shooting? do you not like to see how far you can hit the target (PAPER), that makes no sense to me. Of course not alot in this thread does make much sense to me either.

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My mentality of practice is to simulate hunting situations and to determine my ability to set forth standards or conditions to adhere to when I get to the field. I know I will not take a shot of 300 yards without a solid rest, b/c in practice my results were less than desirable. I haveto much respect for the sport and game to let greed or a heat of the moment desicion cloud my judgement, through practice I know my abilities and when not to pull the trigger. Some don't shoot on whims, to make noiseor hunt for others opinions or to sound/be cool. I would not beany more impressed by a guy who told me he shot his buck at400 yards than a guy who shot is at 10 steps by sneaking up on him in his bed. Congrats to both for being able to harvest their animals with skill and effiecency within their own parameters. I have seen as many misses or poor shots in close asI have at distance. Many reasons such as not picking a spot but animal shooting, inability to control emotions (buck fever, rushing the shot,etc), inexperience, poor shot selection, etc.

Ok so my point is this; if your 100/100 at 400 yards, the wind is perfect, you'd bet your life you could do it, you could go to some type of military marksmanship school and blow all of the cadets out of the water, you have perfect light, no burrs or anything on your shell, your barrel is super clean and you think you can take it..............this is where we differ. I still wouldn't take the shoot because 99 times out of a 100 you may hit it but there’s that one chance and at 400 yards, that one chance turns into a big chance that your going to fk it up and miss or worse, wound the animal. That’s why I won't, nor will I ever shoot out that far. My own personal for DEER HUNTING is no further than 100 yards. thats because killing a deer for meat or for bragging rights, isn't so important to me that I have to risk that 1 out of 100 chance to wound or miss. Does that mean I can't shoot further than that? To you, you'd assume that, but in reality, no it doesn't. I'm not willing to risk wounding an animal.

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don't make blind assumptions based on the only way you've done it or some local coffee row doof who probably missed at 100 yards but figured it sounded better to say it was 4 hun instead!

My "blind" assumptions come from 15 plus years of being around idiots that think they can take the shoot. I've seen it too many times. It doesn't matter what you or anyone else says or how many people reply to this thread and say they would do it and they practice and practice etc, I still think its poor hunting ethics.

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The military has been using.308s and 30-06sfor decades to shoot people at ranges much further than 400 yds. Hell, they're expected to hit targets consistently at 500 with iron sights. Don't tell me I can't hita deer at that range with a faster, flatter shooting rifle with a 22 power scope on it.

Apples to oranges. These "military" guys you speak of have been to sniper school and went through many months of training. They are far better shots than the average joe hunter. Having a human in your sights and a deer in your sights are two very different things. Even having a deer in your sites and having a paper target in your sites are also two VERY different things.These guys could take your head off at 1000 yards with a .22 if they so desired. They are trained killers because they don't want to be killed. Is a deer going to kill you? NO. Is a deer worth wounding because you think you can shoot at 400 yards like the "military" guys do? NO This isn't the army, you’re not a sniper, your an average joe hunter who wishes to kill a deer. Your life isn't depending on the fact that you must kill that deer at 400 plusyards. Its just plain silliness and not worth the risk.

Bottom line, I won't do it because it ain't worth it. If I do have the skill, orif I don't have the skill, it doesn't matter, this is where respect for the game comes in to play. Its not worth the RISK, weather or not I can fkn do it or not, DOESN'T REALLY MATTER ITS RESPECT FOR THE GAME, I AM NOT WILLING TO RISK IT JUST TO KILL A DEER. thats my oppinion on it and I'm done.