if a hunter says...
- Thread starter deermaster
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pilothunter
Moderator
I'd say that he/she was an ethical hunter who has put some thought into not only that statement, but how they enjoy hunting as well. There are a LOT more rifles capable of 400-500yd lethal performance on deer(big game) than there are hunters, I can guarantee that. In my opinion too many "hunters" buy a rifle after reading the ballistics for the caliber, sighting in at 100yds, and then guessing the range to a deer/elk/antelope/add animal, way yonder.
As a matter of fact, most of the 300-500yd shots reported are likely truly much closer to 150-250yds. I've had hunters tell me about 400yd shots they made and then point to some trees 175-200yds away and say that's what the range was. I suppose it's easier for fisherman, especially the one "that got away" to be able to exaggerate on it's size, so all the typical hunter can do is add a hundred or so yards to the distance his/her trophy was shot at (and hopefully collected).
I've asked enough hunters a few simple questions about either trajectories or ballistics(or both) to realize that the typical weekend hunter knows little to nothing about either. This is in no way meant to insult anyone, but simply to state my experiences over more than 3 decades of hunting in numerous states and with a bunch of different rifles.
I'm sorry, but when I meet a hunter and he's(she's) extolling the long range virtues of their rifle and shooting within the first 10 mins, I'm simply unimpressed, and likely unbelieving, as well.
Simply my opinion, of course.
As a matter of fact, most of the 300-500yd shots reported are likely truly much closer to 150-250yds. I've had hunters tell me about 400yd shots they made and then point to some trees 175-200yds away and say that's what the range was. I suppose it's easier for fisherman, especially the one "that got away" to be able to exaggerate on it's size, so all the typical hunter can do is add a hundred or so yards to the distance his/her trophy was shot at (and hopefully collected).
I've asked enough hunters a few simple questions about either trajectories or ballistics(or both) to realize that the typical weekend hunter knows little to nothing about either. This is in no way meant to insult anyone, but simply to state my experiences over more than 3 decades of hunting in numerous states and with a bunch of different rifles.
I'm sorry, but when I meet a hunter and he's(she's) extolling the long range virtues of their rifle and shooting within the first 10 mins, I'm simply unimpressed, and likely unbelieving, as well.
Simply my opinion, of course.
The last part of that statement strikes me as being a little snobbish. I've hunted deer for 25 years or so and I've done it with a bow, muzzleloader and rifle. I've camped, hiked, climbed trees, still-hunted and driven. I've hunted thickets where a rabbit dared to go and I've glassed wide-open spaces from the comfort of a heated blind. And I've killed deer under all of the circumstances above. Like an earlier poster stated, just because I do it the easy way doesn't mean I don't have the skills to do it the hard way.
I won't take a shot over 300 yds. because I don't need to. The max distance on my farm is 411 yds (laser ranged). I'm 100% confident that I can take a deer out to 300 yds based on my practice at those ranges. If the deer are farther out, I can wait. I'll be back tomorrow and the deer will likely wander closer. If not, I'll take up a stand closer to them. I'll also take advantage of any rest I can find, even if the shot is 50 yds. The only time I've taken off-hand shots is when I've topped a hill and found deer standing broadside less than 30 yds away.
It bugs me when a hunter thinks themselves superior because they're trophy hunters or spot-and-stalk only hunters. It's like dry-fly-only-catch-and-release effete snobs who think they're the only trout fishermen with a conscience.
The place I hunt doesn't require all that much effort and I've hunted it for so long that I know where to find deer on any given day. This year was a great example. Toward the end of September, a bachelor group got into the habit of coming out into the edge of a pasture just before dusk. I found a convenient tree and set up a ladder stand. On opening day of ML season, just like clockwork, they popped out of the trees. One was a cull-buck and that's the one I shot. I didn't get another chance to hunt again due to family obligations, illnesses and work. Toward the end of the season, a group of does started showing up in the same spot, same time. I shot one from my shooting bench with a scoped 30-06 from a sand-bagged rest. Total time hunting this season: 2 hours. I could get up at zero-dark-thirty and hike into the woods to sit in a tree all day, and some days I still do. But the bottom line is that I don't have to. That doesn't make me less of a hunter, especially since I'm a meat hunter.
I won't take a shot over 300 yds. because I don't need to. The max distance on my farm is 411 yds (laser ranged). I'm 100% confident that I can take a deer out to 300 yds based on my practice at those ranges. If the deer are farther out, I can wait. I'll be back tomorrow and the deer will likely wander closer. If not, I'll take up a stand closer to them. I'll also take advantage of any rest I can find, even if the shot is 50 yds. The only time I've taken off-hand shots is when I've topped a hill and found deer standing broadside less than 30 yds away.
It bugs me when a hunter thinks themselves superior because they're trophy hunters or spot-and-stalk only hunters. It's like dry-fly-only-catch-and-release effete snobs who think they're the only trout fishermen with a conscience.
The place I hunt doesn't require all that much effort and I've hunted it for so long that I know where to find deer on any given day. This year was a great example. Toward the end of September, a bachelor group got into the habit of coming out into the edge of a pasture just before dusk. I found a convenient tree and set up a ladder stand. On opening day of ML season, just like clockwork, they popped out of the trees. One was a cull-buck and that's the one I shot. I didn't get another chance to hunt again due to family obligations, illnesses and work. Toward the end of the season, a group of does started showing up in the same spot, same time. I shot one from my shooting bench with a scoped 30-06 from a sand-bagged rest. Total time hunting this season: 2 hours. I could get up at zero-dark-thirty and hike into the woods to sit in a tree all day, and some days I still do. But the bottom line is that I don't have to. That doesn't make me less of a hunter, especially since I'm a meat hunter.
fisherman66
New member
Don't bother me none. I enjoy a close encounter and I think that makes me a better hunter than the yahoo's (who may very well be better shots) that use a range finder and turrets. I drop plastic lures into a lake, I think that makes me a better fisherman than the live bait crew. I think the vest/hat/dry fly wearers are prissy snobs. But...at the end of the day hopefully we will have venison and fried fish together (even if I have to share my fish with the catch and release prisses). There's a learning curve for every hobby/passion. Where we are on that curve doesn't matter as long as we are exercising our right to pursue those passions in a responsible manner.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Ol' Bambi spends 365 days a year practicing being Bambi. Me, I have other things to do. So, if I can get up close and personal with him, I sorta pat myself on the back.
Howsomever, I've worked on being able to play Ma Bell, also. I guess my deal is that I don't want to have to get somewhere close. I don't want to be forced into some style because I didn't make myself able to do better.
Some of it comes from intra-family competition. Witnesses have described how my father killed deer out at 400 and 500 yards. Okay, if he could, I can, is the way I've looked at it. I've not all had that many occasions, of course, but that's beside the point. I wanted to have the ability, so I've worked at it.
The one time I killed a buck at 450 yards is a fond memory. But another equally fond memory is the time I sneaked up behind a fat little buck and hit him in the butt with a pebble from ten feet away.
I'm mostly interested in campfire tales, anyway. I guess I do stuff so I have good yarns to tell.
Howsomever, I've worked on being able to play Ma Bell, also. I guess my deal is that I don't want to have to get somewhere close. I don't want to be forced into some style because I didn't make myself able to do better.
Some of it comes from intra-family competition. Witnesses have described how my father killed deer out at 400 and 500 yards. Okay, if he could, I can, is the way I've looked at it. I've not all had that many occasions, of course, but that's beside the point. I wanted to have the ability, so I've worked at it.
The one time I killed a buck at 450 yards is a fond memory. But another equally fond memory is the time I sneaked up behind a fat little buck and hit him in the butt with a pebble from ten feet away.
I'm mostly interested in campfire tales, anyway. I guess I do stuff so I have good yarns to tell.
While I may not agree with all of his ideas, I have the utmost respect for hunters who know their limitations and stick to them. I'll be the first to admit I have taken some shots that were a little too long, they resulted in a clean miss or a good hit but probably shouldn't have taken them. Live and learn, at least thats the idea.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
timinkc, up close and personal is fun. I was sitting on the ground, leaned up against a tree in wait for Bambi. I noticed motion some twenty feet away in the brush; a fox. I lip-squeaked like unto Little Mousie, and he came closer and closer.
Did you know that a fox can instantly turn into a bottle brush when you boink his nose with your boot toe?
Raucous laughter does sorta mess up the deer hunting, though.
Did you know that a fox can instantly turn into a bottle brush when you boink his nose with your boot toe?
Raucous laughter does sorta mess up the deer hunting, though.
PredatorHunter
New member
I say to each there own and what they find enjoyment in. I personally find it getting myself within reasonable range of the animal. To me it's all about the hunt and the animal. I have a rule it has to be bigger then my "last one". It not about trophies to me it's about the animals. I love looking at my mounts and reminising the hunt.
PoorSoulInJersey
New member
I wouldn't give it a second thought. Maybe the guy actually does prefer to work on stalking skills than hunting skills. Believe it or not, not everyone wants to make a head shot at 3000 yards.
I know enough bow hunters who have to get close to make a shot to know that the "getting close" part is a lot freaking harder than just getting good at shooting a rifle.
I know enough bow hunters who have to get close to make a shot to know that the "getting close" part is a lot freaking harder than just getting good at shooting a rifle.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Well, a heckuva lot of bow-hunters have gotten into it purely because of the challenges inherent in that style of hunting. At one time I was danged good with a bow--but my shoulder dislocates too easily for any serious-pull bow. For whatever reason, recoil doesn't bother my arthritis.
I know one guy who's gone even farther with it. He spent a winter in the Rockies, going in with elk/deer permits, his 60-pound recurve bow, hunting knife, salt and the clothes on his back. Later, he did a canoe trip on the Rio Grande's Lower Canyons, with the same gear. In August, for two weeks. But walking a pasture with him was intriguing: He'd find something to eat, on, under or around just about every bush. Unending nibbling on some sort of "veggie".
I know one guy who's gone even farther with it. He spent a winter in the Rockies, going in with elk/deer permits, his 60-pound recurve bow, hunting knife, salt and the clothes on his back. Later, he did a canoe trip on the Rio Grande's Lower Canyons, with the same gear. In August, for two weeks. But walking a pasture with him was intriguing: He'd find something to eat, on, under or around just about every bush. Unending nibbling on some sort of "veggie".
James R. Burke
New member
Sounds like a good sportsperson. We all have are limits, and I respect the ones that know them. No doubt some are better at long range shooting, and knowing there limits on shot placement, and a one shot kill. Some people think they can shoot great at anything they see, and those are the ones that probalbly can't hit squat.