Wow.

Several have kindly asked what you believe the distance should be without insult what so every and you wont respond.

It comes down to the capabilities of the shooter, his equipment, and his willingness to not take the shot that he doesn't know he can make.

..." and to be a Sportsman, you must be determined to reduce the chance of that happening to as low a likelihood as is humanly possible."

Unfortunately, charlesb, to do this means to never take a shot, no matter how close/far, if you can possibly get a step, a foot or even an inch closer...also that any hunter not using the latest technology, the heaviest bullet, etc. is also "unsportsmanlike"...
especially bow or handgun hunters since the possibility of wounding and/or losing an animal is much greater.

P_102

The Troll is strong in this one...

I've got lots of friends that are very competent at long range. I can't recall any of them "deliberately seeking' a far shot on an animal. They, and myself however are prepared for it, if the situation presents itself. Preparation is key in any type of hunt.

I have no question, only a comment... you sir are ignorant( not to be confused with a derogatory term referring to your intellect like f'tard, jackass, or dumbazz but rather uninformed comprehension of the terms sportsman, hunting and ethics) Please preach on, its entertaining like watching fail videos......

I can kind of see a point, but I'm not one to tell people my opinions are the only ones that matter.


I myself like the challenge of hunting at closer range, usually with iron sights or low magnification scope; usually stalking. It's a test to see if my abilities as a hunter can beat the animals abilities at keeping itself safe. I take no enjoyment shooting an animal at long range out of a stand. If you do, who am I to judge?

Nicely put.

Charlesb, perhaps you should take your discussion here, LRH

I'm pretty sure these highly educated, competent, long range sportsman would be happy to debate your topic.... or simply hand you your azz

Again, Charles is governor of his own island, population 1.

Troll thread of the year!

Agree 100% - that's why I only hunt with an atlatl.....

Dude, you do not have a right to not be offended by how I hunt and/or shoot.

It ain't your bidness.

That's not very sportsman like of you.

I also eat bass.

I respect Charles opinion, and he has a right to it. But I will say, I have a hunting spot that has a feeder at 227 yards, 778 yards, and 880 yards. We will be hunting from this spot in the coming weeks with a video camera. Sure, I'd love to take a doe from the 227 feeder, but also have the options for further out.

And I am suppose to care about your views?

I rifle AND bow hunt. I feel a 100yd. rifle shot is safer than a 30yd. bow shot. The mass majority of bow shots are 25-30yds. Just because someone has the ability to successfully shoot an elk @ 700yds. doesn't mean they insist on NOT getting closer. It's just another tool in the toolbox. Go onto a bow forum and see the LOOOOOOOOOONG list of 'blood tracking dog needed' threads due to 25yd. bow shots then come back here & say what a sportsman is.

After reading the OP and re-reading I am getting the feeling that anything that might cause suffering to the animal, may it be 10 seconds or 10 mins, is not right. So being a sportsman at any range requires a between the eyes shot or ear shot and nothing else, 10 feet or 1000 yards. Am I right?


If so, I accept your challenge!

The fact is: At longer ranges, your control over the outcome diminishes. As the range increases, a sudden movement by the game animal or a contrary puff of wind that you cannot detect as you are pulling the trigger - has more time to affect the outcome. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand this simple fact. It does however take a man to admit it.

Your ability to control the outcome diminishes exponentially as the range increases, as does your ability to track and find an injured animal. Many hunters have had trouble tracking an injured animal that was shot at less than 100 yards away. Many here apparently cannot connect the dots well enough to comprehend that if the animal is 600 yards away on an opposite ridge-line when it is shot, that will will make the tracking task much slower to get started, the animal's location when shot less certain by the time you finally get there, and finding it or ending its misery quickly - much less likely.

You are willing to take that gamble. After all, who is going to suffer if you lose that bet besides some fine game animal?

This is not good Sportsmanship. It is arrogant ego-preening at the animal's expense, or the pathetic desperation of a poor hunter to 'score'.

If you continue with the arrogant assumption that you can hunt at long ranges and that the outcome of that gamble will always come out as you would like, sooner or later (probably sooner, if not already) you will injure and lose a game animal.

Apparently it looks like you are ready, willing and able to gamble on that. - A Sportsman would think twice, and not be so willing to take that risk.

Personally, I have never had occasion to shoot at any game beyond 100 yards or so... Under the right conditions, I would consider shooting out to perhaps 300 yards at game. Further than that, the uncertainty factor piles up rather quickly, no matter how good a shot you are, and no matter how good you think you are at judging the movement of the all of the air between you and your target.

I have seen game at longer ranges many times, and have enjoyed glassing them, watching their behavior. - But shoot at them? No, no game trophy in the world is worth that gamble. - To understand this simple fact is part of preparing yourself to be a Sportsman.

Long range shooting? That's a different story. On the other hand, the current emphasis upon long range shooting is what has fueled the arrogant, unsportsmanlike practice of long range hunting. - So there is that to be considered.

So should I quit hunting with my iron sighted muzzleloader and recurve and buy a 300WM and the latest crossbow? I'm greatly concerned that I may not be a true sportsman if I continue in my ways.