I have a guy on our lease that shot at a trophy buck at 450 yards and gut shot it. It ran off and he never found it. What do you guys think of shots that far? I will say that I would never shoot that far. I would rather let the deer walk than wound it.

Agree 100%. I have shot out to 1000yds on targets many times and it takes a lot of practice to hit consistently at long range. I know my guns are capable but I still limit my self to shorter ranges on game animals. It all boils down to respect for the game.

Unless you are an experienced rifleman and a cool shot, and you are familiar with the capabilities of your rifle, 450 yards is too far. Heck, 250 yards is too far for most of us.

If everyone would write into their lease rules that "a wounded deer equals a burnt tag", like most guided hunts are doing these days, you wouldn't see anymore of that kind of sky busting.

Assuming (adverage+-) on wheat field,should of got out, snuck down fence an shot it,But if he had a rifle and he and rifle had the capabilities,nothing wrong with it,,what makes you think gut shot. rather than long range chest hit,

Tough call right there I like long shots for the challange, like bow hunting.I would rather shoot a doe at say 450 to 600 than a good buck at 100. Note I did not say a trophy buck. Now I dont like wounded deer anymore than you do. If you cant do it dont try it. If you want to try it practice and prepare for it and it can be quite rewarding. What would you say if A guy on your lease wounded that same deer with a bow and did not find it? I see it the same way as bow hunting. Preperation is key for both. Buddy

yardage to me has nothing to do with it. if i am comfortable with the shot, then i will take it. i know my guns and my abilities, and if the conditions are good, 450 isnt a problem.

If he never found it, how do you know it was gut shot? Maybe you found some sign. If you can shoot that far do it. If you can't, dont. It's definitely not my place to put arbitrary limits on other shooters based on my skill level; especially when I don't even know who they are.

My vote is to pay more attention to your own limits and don't apply them across the board to others.

for to many folks 50 yards is to far for some if you can see it they can hit it.

I would like to see more folks interested in making a close stalk and clean one shot kill but some times you just cant.
not knowing the terrain and the exact situation I aint judgeing but it would seem a lil foot work could cut 450 to 250 in about 10 min

Not a fan of taking the long shot. Just ego boost. My opinion is most people need to take the yardage they think they can shoot and cut it in half. Point being there are a lot of Quigley wanna be's.

On our place we would take his word for it. He says he shot it and he says he couldn't find it. If it is an AR county like ours, that's his big buck.... done. Doing it this way goes a long way in eliminating that kind of stuff.

I nearly lost my big 8 this year as he got in some real thick brush to lay down. It took me 6 1/2 hours to find him. Had I not, that was my 13" tag done.

I was freaked. It would have been my first time to leave a deer in the woods. Never lost one and don't want to start at this late date..

I'll take long shots on yotes in the panhandle all day long... Deer over 350 thats differant wind starts doing funning things. I shot a doe last year over 350 but there was no wind and I was on top of the mountian laying down.

I had the same opportunity this past weekend. A really good buck showed at 300 yards. I was carrying my 22/250 for a shot at animals at the feeder, which is 110 yards from the blind. I watched the buck and wanted to shoot, but have learned my limitations, especially with a smaller caliber. I know I could have hit the buck, but I wanted more knockdown power for an animal this good. I did not shoot and feel a lot better about going back knowing that he might be coming back rather than knowing that I wounded a good buck. Hopefully your friend will learn from experience

Id disagree on ego boost,and quigley,, sometimes its neccessity ,, few of us were and are pre (quigley-hollywood shooting) sillouett shooters,, and have better arms for situation, only ego I knew was elmer keith 500 yrd hand guns, good example colorado,to thick of oak brush to hunt visability 10 ft,,shoot from one ridge side to opposite, pockets,few shots at boulders for zeroing, same thing on hunting cuts,wheat/bean fields, senderos,from hi blinds,,,just walking around with wild guess at range NO.

It depends on caliber and confidence. Confidence being a combination of experience and success. I am comfortable shoot a .270 out to 350yds...max. Wouldn't do that with anything less. If I was shooting say a 7mag or 300 I might feel better shooting a little further. Lots of variables to consider so you don't gut shoot a deer.

Thanks for that statement. I was having an internal arguement between me and myself for not taking a shot at that deer this past weekend. I did the right thing.

One of the reasons I up from my 22-250 to my 243 then 25-06. well that and the wife took over my 243

I feel very confident out to 500 yards with my 30-06. Most of the shots I take are 250-350 yards. But have shot deer further, and have not lost one yet.

Obviously for that guy, it was too far. Maybe not for the next. It's all about the individual and his equipment, with emphasis on the individual.

My equipment is very capable of cleanly killing a deer at 450 yards, and I've proved it from a bench rest. But how often will I have a bench rest when deer hunting? With most hunting conditions, my self imposed range is much less than 450.

This is worth quoting. People go to the range and say "I can make that shot". And it is a big ego boost. They go out in a real situation, at 400 yards, and don't have a chance at cleanly killing the animal. People need to practice with all their gear on, shooting sticks, off the ground, whatever. Then they can get a good feel for their "abilities".

Of course, then there is buck fever, which can't be simulated. I would never take a shot that I didn't know that I could hit my target.

I just don't see the point. I sight in a bow to 60 yards because that is the max range of most 3D shoots but it doesn't mean I would shoot an animal at that distance. Animals move. Wind blows. In the time it takes to squeeze the trigger that animal can start to step and throw a shot off. Also there is the chance the shooter (I hesitate to call those who take these types of shots hunters) will recognize the movement in the animal and "flinch" the shot.
I too have shot silhouette matches out to 500 meters and did fairly well. That is after sighting in for range conditions like wind and mirage. In the field and on an animal I don't think it's a responsible decision.

i think a lot of yall are forgetting that shooting is one of the key elements in hunting....

No but so is knowing your quarry, getting as close as possible and making a clean kill. It's not like the poor little bastards are shooting back at you.

Another key element is ethical and moral decision making. If you feel confident in the long shot, by all means take it. But if the animal is wounded--blood/hair/bone on the ground--and isn't recovered, you should have to burn your tag, IMO. This policy would hinder cavalier shooting and promote responsible behavior.

Again, nothing wrong with long shots per se, but remember that we have a moral obligation as hunters to dispatch the animal humanely and avoid wounding at all costs. Also we should always show our good side to the non-hunting public, for non-hunters, not anti-hunters, will ultimately decide if sport hunting shall continue in the future.

If you can and know you can take a shot that far, because of marksman training or what not, then go ahead.
But, if not, I will never support taking a shot that far. Not good hunting ethics. IMO