Used to be too far…

Just read that some guy killed a monster buck at near 900 yards. Not sure I could hit a port-a-let (how do you spell portalet?) at that range. Anyway, reading about that reminds me of the monster buck we never shot. Every year he went nocturnal mostly, and you’d never see him in daylight except at distance. He spent his days in a grassy depression in the middle of an always muddy (Louisiana winters - deep gumbo mud) area in a bean field about 400 or more yards from anything. Even if you could get past the mud, which we tried, he’d see you and disappear. I had a 35 Remington and Dad had a 30/30. We were good to 150 or maybe 200, but 400 yards might as well been a mile. In today’s hunting environment, that old buck would be on my wall.

400 yards is still far, especially on a smaller bodied whitetail.

That distance isn’t impossible with a good shooting rig with a higher magnification scope, but with a standard “ deer rifle “ and a 3x9 scope it would be pretty damn tough.

Better scopes and new , flatter shooting calibers are making this possible. I’m like you , never have taken a shot past 125 or so but I’m diving in next year and learning

I think it is a good way to wound a lot of deer.

When I moved from the 35 to the 270, my range extended to about 300 or so. That was what I considered a sure thing, given time to shoot. Than, with range finders and better reticles, that’s moved out to about 400. Not a sure thing, but a strong probable. But that’s for pigs and coyotes, not deer.

There are guys on here that 400 yards is a chip shot. As for me, the truth is that before I shoot at 250 or 300, I consider the wind and give some thought as to which direction the fatally wounded deer might run (how thick is the brush). And…do I feel like dragging and skinning right now. Age brings the need for more considerations.

And, back to that big old buck in the muddy field, if you’d shoot him, you have to go get him. We didn’t have 3 wheelers or 4wheelers back then. A 250ish pound buck and 400 yards of deep thick sticky Louisiana gumbo mud calls for 2 if not 3 draggers.

Anything more than 60 yards in questionable...for me anyway

400 is a chip shot for guys who practice a lot - problem is many do not practice a lot and they are the ones who wound animals. I have witnessed it too many times

If your proficient at long range shooting which many on here are a 900 yard shot is doable any day.
But don't take the shot unless your confident of your skill level, equipment, optics and environmental conditions.
I'd take a 900 yard shot if all variables aligned.
A few year back I spotted for a friend who killed a cow elk at 869 yards in Wyoming, It can be done.

Only the “hunter” knows their own capabilities. Whether or not they practice within those when in the field we’ll never know. Everyone else is simply a bystander. I don’t care what people do so long as it’s legal and all efforts are exhausted to recover the animal. There is no data base that can give us statistics to back-up any claims (long range rifle hunting wounds more animals). Personally, within my circle of hunting friends, wounded game is a perceived 20:1 ratio or greater archery to “all” rifle hunting.. To reiterate, that’s my perception. At the end of the day…… I don’t care at all. I bow hunt, I rifle hunt, and feel competent at long range hunting but haven’t needed to beyond 400yds. This topic has been beat like a dead horse. “Painting with a broad brush” leaves out a-lot of details. Know your limits and stay within those.

Well, to make that I can promise he put in the work

Hats off to em