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 Long range shooting trophy deer
#5396435
11/03/14 07:37 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,031
tlk
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,031 |
There has been a trend in recent years of guys who are into long range shooting. I am not into it but certainly do have not problem with anyone who enjoys it.
I am curious though what the thoughts are on using the practice in hunting - especially on a ranch that is highly managed with trophy deer. I can maybe see someone trying it on culls or a doe but not on a trophy deer. To me there is too much room for error to take the chance of shooting a deer at 300 plus yards no matter how good the shooter is. I am old school but open to thoughts.
You can't fix stupid
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396465
11/03/14 07:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 102
davvy
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 102 |
I personally wouldn't but I have a great friend from the military who spent 5 tours as a sniper who has taken trophy deer at 600yards . I really don't think 90% of us should even think about it but there are a few out there that make it look easy. also define "long range" to some that may mean 200yards others its 400
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396478
11/03/14 07:58 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,057
Kenneth1977
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,057 |
I have shot doe at 400 + but don't know of I would at a good buck
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396491
11/03/14 08:04 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,830
Grosvenor
Pro Tracker
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Even if you're capable of making shots at 600 yards, you're going to have a hard time field judging deer at that range no matter how good your optics are. Would be does turn out to be nubbin bucks. Would be monster bucks turn out to be not so monsterish.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396492
11/03/14 08:04 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,524
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 39,524 |
I don't see the difference between a trophy and a doe or cull. Maybe if you would have said hogs I would agree. I shot a spike buck at 100 yards this weekend and my concern for quickly and cleanly killing that deer is not different than it was for the typical 12 I shot in the same manner a few years ago which was my "trophy of a lifetime"
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396573
11/03/14 08:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,648
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,648 |
I think whitetail are too jumpy and twitchy to take 600 yard shots on.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: Grosvenor]
#5396591
11/03/14 08:35 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,031
tlk
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,031 |
Even if you're capable of making shots at 600 yards, you're going to have a hard time field judging deer at that range no matter how good your optics are. Would be does turn out to be nubbin bucks. Would be monster bucks turn out to be not so monsterish.
that is a good point - judging a deer at long distance is difficult at best -
You can't fix stupid
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: Grosvenor]
#5396597
11/03/14 08:36 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,628
QuitShootinYoungBucks
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,628 |
Even if you're capable of making shots at 600 yards, you're going to have a hard time field judging deer at that range no matter how good your optics are. Would be does turn out to be nubbin bucks. Would be monster bucks turn out to be not so monsterish.
If you've got the equipment, ability, and experience to shoot that far, you most likely are either being guided by someone who knows what deer is at the other end of the shot, or you have your own cameras/pics/spotting scope/etc. and know which deer it is. Personally, my current longest deer kill is 228 on a doe; I had a prone position, a solid rest, and plenty of bullet to do it. She ran about 40 yards and died from a perfect heart/lung shot. I did shoot a deer at 350+ that another hunter had wounded but I was trying to anchor him before he made it to the brush. I actually hit him and anchored him but it was a non-lethal shot. With a good rest and a broadside shot I would not hesitate to test 300 on any deer, and would like to work up to 400.
![[Linked Image]](http://www.katiecortese.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/texas-tech-logo-2-150x150.jpg) https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396611
11/03/14 08:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,415
jdk1985
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,415 |
300-ish is my self imposed limit
Instagram @justinkingwoodworking
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: jdk1985]
#5396665
11/03/14 09:00 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,200
dawaba
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,200 |
Most all "highly managed ranches" will have a policy that a wounded deer that escapes will cost you just the same as a harvested buck. I can tell you that in Alaska, Argentina, Africa, and elsewhere outfitters have the same rule. These policies almost always read that if blood, bone, or hair is found, the guides, ranch hands, cooks, and everyone else will search as long as you want for your animal, but your hunt is finished then and there. And you must pay the full fare for the animal just as if you brought it to bag. You may as well go ahead and punch your buck tag, put away Old Betsy, and switch over to your Nikon.
So, if you fancy yourself a LR shooter and you want to become a LR hunter, such a rule will keep the majority of us from sucking eggs, as it ethically should.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple.....and wrong." H. L. Mencken
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396714
11/03/14 09:20 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,124
LandPirate
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Shot by biggest buck ever at 408 yards. I am quite comfortable out to 600 yards and have spent plenty of range time at those distances.
Personally, I see no reason not to with today's rifles, ammo and scope combinations. It's downright silly to take to the field with some flat shooting caliber, custom rifle, 18x power scope and limit yourself to 150 or 200 yards. Just a get a 30-30 and be done with it.
If my buck of a lifetime shows at 300, 400 or even 500 yards I should be competent and capable of employing my firearm within it's capabilities. Personally, I have a self imposed limit of 500 yards. But I assure you, I worked up to that. Didn't happen overnight or because I bought a .270 and a nice scope.
Mike
Buda, Tx
Hunt near Freer
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: LandPirate]
#5396726
11/03/14 09:26 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,597
Sneaky
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Shot by biggest buck ever at 408 yards. I am quite comfortable out to 600 yards and have spent plenty of range time at those distances.
Personally, I see no reason not to with today's rifles, ammo and scope combinations. It's downright silly to take to the field with some flat shooting caliber, custom rifle, 18x power scope and limit yourself to 150 or 200 yards. Just a get a 30-30 and be done with it.
If my buck of a lifetime shows at 300, 400 or even 500 yards I should be competent and capable of employing my firearm within it's capabilities. Personally, I have a self imposed limit of 500 yards. But I assure you, I worked up to that. Didn't happen overnight or because I bought a .270 and a nice scope. Agreed.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396772
11/03/14 09:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 300
JPHunting
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 300 |
I hear this argument a lot in Australia and some of the responses make me laugh. Really, any legal way of taking a deer is fine.
I hear a lot of bush stalkers who rarely shoot over 150m and never past 250m saying how unethical it is to shoot a deer from long distances as it further than a deer's natural ability to detect them and that there's no challenge. To this I chuck on my archery hat and say well to us archers where is the challenge in pointing and clicking on any animal within 150m? and you want to talk about natural ability to detect, try getting within 20m of a deer and then have to slot an arrow through it.
I hunt with bow, blakcpowder and centrefire. I do everything from sitting in trees, to stalking to long range hunting and I love them all. I've shot deer from 35m with a bow (my closest bow shot is a fox at 2m) out to tahr at 600yds in NZ. Each has its own strong and weak points and each has its own allure and I love them all.
And for the long range stuff, you are right Grosvenor you wouldn't be able to field judge the distance correctly. That's why we use rangefinders, sorts that problem out no worries.
I prefer meat in it's original packaging.
JP Hunting - Australian big game guide and outfitter service.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: JPHunting]
#5396808
11/03/14 09:58 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,830
Grosvenor
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,830 |
I hear this argument a lot in Australia and some of the responses make me laugh. Really, any legal way of taking a deer is fine.
I hear a lot of bush stalkers who rarely shoot over 150m and never past 250m saying how unethical it is to shoot a deer from long distances as it further than a deer's natural ability to detect them and that there's no challenge. To this I chuck on my archery hat and say well to us archers where is the challenge in pointing and clicking on any animal within 150m? and you want to talk about natural ability to detect, try getting within 20m of a deer and then have to slot an arrow through it.
I hunt with bow, blakcpowder and centrefire. I do everything from sitting in trees, to stalking to long range hunting and I love them all. I've shot deer from 35m with a bow (my closest bow shot is a fox at 2m) out to tahr at 600yds in NZ. Each has its own strong and weak points and each has its own allure and I love them all.
And for the long range stuff, you are right Grosvenor you wouldn't be able to field judge the distance correctly. That's why we use rangefinders, sorts that problem out no worries. I'm not talking about field judging distance, but rather the animal itself. Killing a deer at 600 yards isn't the concern I was talking about, it's killing the right deer. That may not be important if you're just putting meat in the freezer, but if you're trying to judge antlers, age or even sex, that gets pretty difficult at long distances even with a top of the line spotting scope. I believe the OP even said he was particularly interested in our thoughts on long range shooting for trophy managed ranches. I've seen an expert marksman drop what he thought was a mature, trophy class buck at 500 yards only to walk up and realize he had shot a buck he had watched and passed weeks earlier because it was middle aged and undersized.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396812
11/03/14 10:01 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
98% of folks have absolutely no business taking a shot at over 300 yards. Thanks to the current "long range" craze, about 50% of folks will try it. Therein lies the problem.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396821
11/03/14 10:04 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
It's not that hard, you can ID the right deer at a lot farther than you think. I had several bucks pop out over 500 and knew exactly which ones they were as soon as I looked at them, binocs confirmed. No real difference in judging score on elk or mule deer 2k yds.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396843
11/03/14 10:14 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 52
joeycoates
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 52 |
My last 3 were at 476yd, 351yd and 78yd. I see no issues with a longer range shot so long as you have practiced and are confident in what you are doing. I have good equipment, a good rangefinder. I have chronoed my rounds and verified drops through actual shooting, a wind meter and an app (shooter) that I have loaded all pertanent data into and again have verified computations. With that being said I will gladly pass on a shot if the conditions are not right or if I have to question the shot. I have never had a deer run over 40 yards much less lost one....ever.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396853
11/03/14 10:17 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,524
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,524 |
@ 500 yards I don't even know if they are bucks or does until I put the binos up much less which deer it is.
Gonna have to change your handle to Hawk instead of rifleman.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396889
11/03/14 10:32 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 14
farpiece
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 14 |
Some boys do it for a living, anybody that thinks Kirby is unethical needs to do some research. http://apsrifles.com/APS_Big_Game_Photos.html
It's not the weight of the load that breaks your back, it's how you carry it.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396901
11/03/14 10:37 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 412
Fishuhalik
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 412 |
I know a few people that shoot a better group at 1,000m than most hunters shoot at 100m. & if you don't think you can field judge an animal at long range, you've never used good optics. A guy shooting at a deer over 600 yards isn't (shouldn't) be using the 3-9x Tasco that came on his Savage he bought at WalMart. You're partly right though. You might not be able to tell a 4pt from a 5pt, but you can absolutely tell a shooter from a passer.
Cigarettes are like hamsters. Perfectly harmless til you put it in your mouth & light it on fire
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: Fishuhalik]
#5396933
11/03/14 10:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,830
Grosvenor
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,830 |
You might not be able to tell a 4pt from a 5pt Or a 4.5 year old from a 6.5-7.5 year old. Or a 150 inch buck from a 165 inch buck. Or a nubbin' buck from a doe. Those things can be important if your managing whitetail. The more particular you're trying to be, the more important it is that you get a really good look. And let's be honest, in many of the places we're hunting in Texas, you have to look for a place to take a 600 yard shot. Now, if you know the deer from TC pics or have studied him up close before, that's different.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396937
11/03/14 10:52 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,732
HorizonFirearms
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2010
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I do it all the time. Extends your chances of a weary buck. My biggest buck to date was shot at 585 yards, killed doe out to 730. Takes range time. as far as field judging the deer we run cameras so we know the deer. I use a 25x leupold mark 8 and can see if its that deer so I am not just going after deer its usually specific deer. Can watch some pretty big fields if you are confident at distance.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396940
11/03/14 10:54 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,732
HorizonFirearms
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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Perfect example we have a 9 point cull we are trying to get that lives on a pipeline won't come to feeders we only catch him crossing there. has a buck just like him that is one year younger but his 9th point is on the opposite side. Had the non shooter out at 685 yards and could see that it was not the right deer. if it would have been the right deer I would have shot him.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396952
11/03/14 11:01 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,073
bdotson
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,073 |
I love long range hunting always have look up my post here from several years ago. Wanted long shot.
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Re: Long range shooting trophy deer
[Re: tlk]
#5396995
11/03/14 11:27 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
My concern with it is not the kills but those "clean misses" that turn into wounded deer that die. That is even for those who are experienced.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people? ![[Linked Image]](http://neoswarm.com/images/Bug_Crawling.gif)
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