I'm getting sick and tired of the constant opinions of lots of hunters to cast judgements on people who must make a legitimate long range shot. Whenever I hear a woods hunter or bowhunter claim it's unethical to shoot at these distances I realize they have no appreciation for western plains hunting on cedarless prairies or tabletop wheat and cast judgments far too quickly on us capable shooters. I live in Oklahoma and I practice all day at 300 yards and can make 10 ring shots of over 500 yards with my 7mm RUM. My personal restriction for deer hunting is 400 yards. Our range is 1000 yards and I practice from 500 yards and "in". There are times when in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Texas you are not able to stalk in open grasslands. I submit there is great sport in making shots of fine riflery if one is practiced. I feel a sense of great pride in knowing I'm going to take the animal before I shoot at a great distance. With the use of bipods, 14 or higher power scopes and rangefinders and proper gun/bullet combinations there is just as much skill of fine riflery at 350 yards as in the mastery of the 35 yard bowshot.

I plan on teaching my son the art of stalking and stand hunting but also plan on some long range practice to see if he's capable of 200 yard plus shots after first staying on the range for a couple of years until he gets totally familiar with his rifle and load.

Sooner a lot of people have no idea what the condition are like in other places .They make judgements on what they know and for thier situation it might be right. Thats why I don't take it to personal as far as that type of remark goes . I have sat many a morning glassing elk over a mile away in Utah and hunted in Texas where you couldn't see for a 100 yards . I guess what I'm trying to say is they make thier judgements on what experience they have and don't consider where the other person hunts.

<font color=red>&quot;Whenever I hear a woods hunter or bowhunter claim it's unethical to shoot at these distances&quot;</font id=red>

I consider myself a hardcore bowhunter. I dont get the same feelings from gunhunting that I do from bowhunting. I still gun hunt because I love all hunting. But , I've probably made the comment myself regarding shooting deer from long ranges , just doesn't trip my trigger. But I dont think theres ANYTHING unethical about it and if I lived in a area that called for long shots I wouldn't hesitate to do so. I just dont get the same adrenaline rush from a rifle that I do a bow. Dont let my name fool ya! I despise the holier than thou , bowhunters are better than gunhunters attitude<img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle> I think the same feelings I have towards gunhunting and bowhunting , alot of other bowhunters have , but they cant seem to express it without making themselves look like they think their better than gunhunters.


<---Doug---<<<

Sooner, GREAT post! I love & practice long range shooting. I live in Pa. & some (not all) hunters around here have the mentality that all your going to get is an 80-100 yard shot. Well I don't hunt thickets, I hunt wide open fields,I also shoot a 7mm & have been told that it is &quot;overkill&quot;. Dead is dead weather it's a mag or punkin' ball. I love & prefer my style of hunting & wouldn't trade it for anything. I've taught my sons the art of long range shooting in case the oppertunity for a long shot should uccur while theyr'e huting. Once again GREAT POST!!!

I don’t think you can compare rifle hunting to bow hunting because the bow hunting challenge is to see how close you can get to the animal.

However I do agree with you on the point of rifle hunting. I can shoot comfortable at 200 yards and with more practice I may feel comfortable at longer ranges, but only the shooter knows his boundaries even in bow hunting. Like previously stated, every area of the country has different situations and most people relate to his/her situations. I’ve heard my grandpa tell stories of hunting in Wyoming when he was a kid and it was nothing for them to shoot much further than I care to talk about and he always recovered the animal.

My opinion is if you have the skills and are confident of the shot, take it. But that is where the ethical part comes into play. One of the definitions of ethical is: “In accordance with the accepted principals of right or wrong governing the conduct of a group” And yes, out west is a whole different type or group of hunting!

So many people today like to pick arguments before they get all the facts!


&quot;This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!&quot;----Adolph Hitler 1935

Nice post Sooner. Where I hunt most shots are under 150 yards. I hunt with a 270 Weatherby mag with handloads. One reason because I like it the other because we do have one oat patch and a few senderos cut that could require a 300 - 450 yard shot(not many but a few). I shoot a lot and have confidence that with my setup I could take a long shot and make it. I agree with the above post that a number of people that have never hunted where you could get a long shot like to make negative comments about those that hunt that way. In the cedar thicket pasture that I hunt if that buck crosses a sendero at 300 yards and you don't take the shot then you can figure that most likely you will never see him again. I just wish more people that take these shots would practice enough to be capable at that range.

Later
Gone_Huntin

Nice post Sooner!! The whole point is that IF the hunter is capable and experienced at long ranges, it is no longer unethical. But capable and experienced are the key words!<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>



&quot;Semper Fi&quot;

I am a bow and gun hunter and I was taught as a kid by my father gun safty and how to make long range shoots.I had to hit the 10 ring at 200 before I could deer hunt.It has helped me make some very (as I call them) impressive shots.Two this season on nice bucks one in texas and the other in OK. 310 yards and one at 426 yards.I don't think everyone should take them but If you know you can take the deer in the kill zone, its not unethical.

I hunt the Nebraska table-land and I wouldn't take a shot out beyond 200 yards with my .270, but I think it's partially an issue of equipment. I don't bring out a bipod rest with me, and the part of hunting I really enjoy is trying to use the 1 or 2 cedars in between me and the game to get close enough for a shot that I'm comfortable with.

Nate

Sooner I hunt in thick woods so I don't get any chances to shoot deer at more then 75-100 yards at most. I still like to practice at farther distances I believe it helps me shoot better. I think there is nothing wrong with your way of hunting. I use to drive truck I've seen how big your country is out west, You would have to be sighted in for atleast 300 yards if not more. There is nothing unethical of your way of hunting.