How far would you shoot?

[subsonic]

Given a calm clear day, a good steady position, and a capable gun you know very well, a safe backstop, etc......
 
How far would YOU shoot at a big game animal with about a 12" vital zone?

[Alboy]

Been studying on this exact question myself with the shooters I own.
 
45-70 falling block sharps with 340-500 grain slug about 250 yards max. More comfortable at 200.
 
REM 721 30-06 out to about 350 yards with 180 gr loads
 
After that I either need to sneak closer or let the boys with the really big hot toys take it in.

[bowhunter 51]

Ruger 77 in 30-06, 165 to 180 gr. factory....300 yrds. ....tops.....

That's the best I got...everything else I got is...less than......................BH51..

[davidlt89]

Well, I put 400. see everyone else put less!!! I would certainly need steady stix and a broadside shot, but would feel comfortable with my 7 mm mag on any game we have here. have the ballistics printed for the ammo I use just in case I forget. I guess I don't think of that as that far since it is a real common shot up here. some fields are a thousand plus yards. I have never killed anything this far though, but would not hesitate to try. God bless.

[Hunterbug]

I put 300 give or take a few yards. The farther the shot the more things can go wrong and I don't like things to go wrong.

[buckshot roberts]

200 yd's,  is the most with me, hunted over half my life in heavy wood'ed ares, Ron

[klallen]

a 12" target is absolutely huge, so that's a plus.  pristine weather conditions.  prone; bypod and rear bag stability.  the right rifle, scope and cartridge.  accurate drop chart and reliable rangefinder handy     ...     far side of 500, close side of 800, at this time.
 
1K yds. certainly isn't unreasonable, but with distance, you up the anty with what's expected of the set-up and shooter.  As we speak, I've got the set-up angle covered.  I'm just not there yet.

[gitano]

It may surprise some, but I put "up to 400". The circumstances described are the telling tale. Most bullets today will perform sufficiently out to 400 yds to 'plant' an animal that has a 12" vital zone, if impact velocity is high enough. That said, the longest shot I've ever taken on a big game animal is about 325 yds, and I can't imagine the need to take one even that long again.
 
Paul

[Paul Hoskins]

It would depend on what kind of varmint I'm shooting at. Deer.........400 yards max. ..........Any bear 250 max. ...........Elk 300 max. ..........Longest shot I ever made was 418 yards on a buttonhead buck. The distance was determined with the rangefinder. I was using the 22/6mm Rem. AI and home made bullets. .........Paul H

[Daryl (deceased)]

Well, I said 500 yards because you asked how far we would shoot, not how far we'd prefer to shoot.
 
My longest shot on a big game animal was 472 yards, lazered.  It wasn't that hard of a shot, and I don't feel I'd have any problems making it again, all other factors being similar.
 
Put much of a cross wind into the equasion, or a bullet/load and/or rifle I was unfamilar with, and that range would get shorter pretty fast.
 
Daryl

[Alboy]

Just jumping back in to agree with the other folks joining in. It is wholely dependent on the shooter and gear versus conditions. I have shot considerably longer than my current 350 with the '06 and done it successfully. Now a days I do not get enough trigger time or hand load ammo enough to keep up the longer shots with confidence.

[LvrLover]

I know my rifle and my stands very well and on a CALM day 400 yards is a possible shot for me. I have done it. Do I like to do it - no. I like to either wait for them to get closer, or get closer myself. I could punch paper at many different distances all day at a range. On game animals I tend to be very cautious. Consider this. My bullet exits the muzzle at 2800fps and to make it simple we will assume it stays at that speed. It will take about 1/2 a second to go 500 yards (more figuring in drag). What can a deer do in 1/2 a second? Way too much. If its unalarmed and feeding its a high percentage shot. If its showing any nervousness it gets less clear cut. It is my responsibility as a hunter to balance my desire to take an animal against the probability of a marginal hit as the range increases. I have no problem killing animals for meat, sport, or control; but I try to do it as quickly and humanely as possible. For many of us our rifle skills are very predictable and repeatable. Unfortunately, animals are neither. For anyone, at any range, it all boils down to shoot if you feel "comfortable" with the decision to do so and can live with what happens after the shot. Thats MY opinion.

[recoil junky]

I put 500 yards. IF the elk didn't know I was there and IF the pristine conditnions were absolutely pristine. Like the bull I took last year at 464 yds w/the 300RUM. No wind, sun at my back, level shotelk had been just standing there for 5-10 minutes and showed no indication of moving.

Now let's open another can of worms. What do you think of "hunters" who get all geared up and shoot deer/whatever at 1k plus? Like others have stated here, there's to much that can happen in 1/2 a second. Plus I tend to call foul because then it becomes deer/whatever "shooting" and not hunting.


RJ

[LvrLover]

Now let's open another can of worms. What do you think of "hunters" who get all geared up and shoot deer/whatever at 1k plus? Like others have stated here, there's to much that can happen in 1/2 a second. Plus I tend to call foul because then it becomes deer/whatever "shooting" and not hunting.

I saw an article somewhere in a "hunting" mag about guys that use 50BMG to kill elk at over 1000yds. Now that is a huge chunk of lead,but it still runs about 2800fps; so 1000yds is more than a second away. They can't hear it before it hits them so they can't "jump the string" as in bow hunting, but how long does it take an animal to move 8" and put your bullet 2" outside of a 12" vital zone (assuming you held on center of vz). Even with a 700gr bullet, a hit in the gut means a really bad day for you and the animal. Now to balance that out, it is unrealistic to wait for the "perfect" shot. It will never come. We all play percentages in hunting. An arrow flying at 300fps takes 1/2 second to go 50 yards. That is a long shot, but I have seen it done. What it boils down to is what my dad taught me about firearms and projectile weapons. Once that bullet/arrow leaves, it never comes back. Each shot must be measured with care, especially on an animal. Get as close as you can and then get closer. Don't take that shot if you can't live with the consequences. The shots you choose to make are between you and the Creator of the animal you hunt.

[subsonic]

It depends on the person's skill. I see an awful lot of "hunters" that can't hit a paper plate at 100yds at the local range right before every deer season. There are also a few guys that can hit that plate at 1000yds without much trouble. Who would I rather see in the woods?

[Daryl (deceased)]

I put 500 yards. IF the elk didn't know I was there and IF the pristine conditnions were absolutely pristine. Like the bull I took last year at 464 yds w/the 300RUM. No wind, sun at my back, level shotelk had been just standing there for 5-10 minutes and showed no indication of moving.
 
Now let's open another can of worms. What do you think of "hunters" who get all geared up and shoot deer/whatever at 1k plus? Like others have stated here, there's to much that can happen in 1/2 a second. Plus I tend to call foul because then it becomes deer/whatever "shooting" and not hunting.
 
 
RJ

One of my pet peeves.
 
I have no problem with folks killing game as far as they can RELIABLY hit them. That said, a lot can happen at that range.
 
What bothers me is when folks go buy a "magnum", and think that because the gun shoot that far, they can kill game that far. I've seen, at least a couple of times, when folks started shooting at a group of elk, repeatedly, at extreme range (like 1000+ yards).
 
They empty their rifles, reload, and empty their rifles again; all in hopes that one will go down. On one occasion that comes to mind, the shooters left without any of them recovering an animal. Meanwhile, I was observing the results.
 
They'd actually hit at least a couple of animals, and hit them hard enough to cause them a lingering, agonizing death. That particular trip I was just along for the ride; my dad and a few others had tags. It was an antlerless hunt, and my dad shot a cow elk before realizing how many those idiots had hit. His buddy walked down the hill and finished a smallish cow that was gut shot, but had made it into the trees. No one was around to claim it, so he tagged it.
 
The craziest thing about it is that the elk were coming TOWARDS the shooters when they started shooting, and kept coming even after being shot at.  After the elk entered the treeline, the hunters left without following up on their shots.  We were just a bit farther back in the trees, but could see the meadow, and everyone there that had a tag got an elk.  None of them had to shoot more than a couple hundred yards.
 
The only reason I can think of for them to shoot was because they were afraid someone else would shoot first.  I know "hunters" like that, and it's pretty pathetic.
 
I suppose the idiot shooters went on to find more elk to shoot at; I can only hope they didn't find any, but in the area where they were I'm sure they did.
 
Daryl

[greywolf]

As Everyone knows , i bougth a nightforce scope, this scope is capable of giving me 1000+ yard shots , BUT! that said *I* have what i call my comfort zone,, this zone is where i feel i can be efficient and can reliably hit every time in the kill zone , others feel more comfortable under or over my limit , and that's good , so long as you don't exceed your own limitations , i shot in the military , long distance , real long distance , at targets not animals , i am comfortable with 1500 yards at a target , i am comfortable out to 600 yards at an animal. Then only if conditions are right and getting closer is too difficult in the required amount of time before i could lose that animal. I put my new shiny scope on all my rifles, so now i can enjoy it on all of them (rails and zero'd each time on each gun and the stats recorded for each gun , gives me back my zero everytime i change the gun , zero back in about 1 minute :) that said some of my guns no i'd only go 100-200 yards on , others , farther , ,honestly at this point the only gun i'd use to 600 yards would be my savage 7mm Wm with my wonderful berger bullets, after seeing them on best of the west I tried them, and they are sooooo nice, expensive , but nice. I know my gun, and my scope ,my own abilities, so i say my comfort zone is 600yards tops i distrust anything farther , because wind can change etc.... too long time to hit animal at longer distance :) ok y'all can breath now , my rant is done

[recoil junky]

"There are a few guys who can hit that plate at 1000 yards" (quoted from subsonic)

Agreed, but the plate ain't movin'.  

And as for those fellers that just shoot into a herd willynilly hoping to knock something down, they'd better hope the game warden isn't around next time they do it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is  this: I'll go as far as 500 yards, you can shoot at whatever range you are comfortable with, but make goshbillyjoejackbobdarn sure you are going to make a clean kill. That bull I took at 464 yards, I hit 3 times, all killing shots and you could cover all 3 shots with your hand, he just didn't want to die where he was hit. He wanted me to work my butt off for his meat.

RJ

[LuAV8R]

Furthest shot I've made was right at about 300 yards - Shot a coyote with a Rugger 22-250 while feeding cattle at home in Texas.  But that's when I was shooting very regularly.
 
For me to try a 300 yard shot today - I'd have to be awfully sure of the shot, and the conditions would have to be near perfect - I know my rifle and scope could handle up to 400-500yards - It's me that I'm worried about!

[Paul Hoskins]

For me to try a 300 yard shot today - I'd have to be awfully sure of the shot, and the conditions would have to be near perfect - I know my rifle and scope could handle up to 400-500yards - It's me that I'm worried about![/quote
 
LuAV8R, that's good common sense. Good to have you back. ..........Paul H

[LuAV8R]

LuAV8R, that's good common sense. Good to have you back. ..........Paul H

Thanks.  It's good to be back.

[22hornet]

I would have to choose 200 yards (metres) for two reasons.
 
The first is that my largest rifle is a .308 and I would be concerned about the remaining energy beyond that range.
 
The second is, for me the stalk is a big part of the hunt. I can shoot much further, accurately beyond 200 yards, but to me that is shooting, not hunting.
 
But then again most of the areas I hunt in allow me to stalk in fairly close. If the ranges were longer I would change my gear and style in order to adapt to the terrain.

[davidlt89]

The first is that my largest rifle is a .308 and I would be concerned about the remaining energy beyond that range.

No need to worry about that!! God Bless.

[LvrLover]

I'd take a 308 for anything on this continent, but for the big bears.

[Steve D]

I'm fairly new to hunting with a centerfire rifle.  Illinois and Iowa are shotgun states so haven't much experience with long shots, so I limited myself to 200 yds.  I still think hitting a paper plate (9") consistently at 100 yards is not bad.  I actually have a pistol that shoots as far as I'm comfortable with a rifle.  Have to spend a lot more time at the range, eh?

[bigsbetter]

deleted because of my ignorance

[Huntbear]

I shoot a .338 WM with 210 gr. partitions going out the tube at 3000 ft. per second.  I have shot elk over 400 yrds and they never took another step.  So up to 500 yds, with a perfect rest on a broadside animal is not a bad shot in my opinion.

[ForneyRider]

I'd shoot as far as I was confident in quick kill, knowing I can recover the animal and comfortable where the bullet is going beyond the kill. Right now that is about 350 yards, so I went with 400.
 
If we had a local range here that 500-1000 yards practice were possible, I might step it up.
 
Our deer lease in East Texas for deer, hog, and coyote has spots that are over 600 yards, but all the animals have been recovered at under 300 yards. Most are 75-150 yards.

[whacker1]

I put 600.  Longest shot I have completed successfully is 440 on a Mule Deer.  I have been spending a lot more time focussing on the gun, load, and time on the range and feel comfortable out to 600 on a calm day with a decent rest.  Nothing to shoot at so far this year, but I have a few more days left.

[Steveb]

Normally i get as close as possible and then try another 10 yards closer. Its all about the hunt not shooting. If the animal gets away, then well done to it as it was on better form than me. If ya wanna prove ur shootin skills go to the range. By the way when you guys speak of 'big game' in the States what all does that entail?

[gitano]

By the way when you guys speak of 'big game' in the States what all does that entail?

It's actually a legal term in the States (and Germany too). Animals we are allowed to hunt are generally legally classified into "big game", "small game", and "unclassified".
 
"Big game" includes all of the ungulates (hooved) regardless of thier size. That's all deer (cervids), sheep, (ovids), 'cattle' (bovids), "goats" (caprids), mountain goats (Oreamnos americana, which are more antelope than goat), and pronghorns (antelocapridae - kind of an antelope-goat). Members of carnivora (flesh eaters) include big game (mountain lions, bears, wolves, and wolverines (in states that allow taking them), small game (coyotes, foxes, otters, and other weasles like badgers, martins, fishers, minks, weasles (stoats in Europe), and skunks). I believe there are states that classify wild turkeys as big game, but I'm not certain of that. Otherwise, no birds are considered "big game". Birds are legally classified into "waterfowl" and "upland". Waterfowl are the ducks, geese, rails, coots, snipe, cranes and swans. "Upland" birds are everything else - all the galliformes (chicken-like birds like pheasants, grouse, and turkeys), columbiformes (doves and pigeons), and in some states grus (cranes) are not considered waterfowl. There are also the "exotics", but all of those to my knowledge are ungulates and "big game".
 
I've surely missed some esoterica, but that's the lion's share of "big" and "small" game in the US.
 
Paul

[recoil junky]

gitano forgot the saber toothed prarie dog (thoothus holus diggus gigantus) These are considered big game here in NW CO as they have sometimes been known to attack large preditors and vehicles. Hence the phrase "LOOK OUT HE"S COMIN' RIGHT FOR US". Large caliber and or hi powered magnum rifles (45-70's, 300RUM's, 338 Lapua's etc) are required for this animal, but if you are an adrenelalin junky then a .22lr is considered "more than enough gun".
 

 
Sorry Paul, I cound't hep' my self
 
RJ

[gitano]

That's OK RJ, I figgured I miss somethin'... :)
 
Paul

[Paul Hoskins]

Maine has now listed the lowly coon as big game. How ridiclous. In several states, any animal or bird requiring a state permit is "big game."   ........Paul H

[bigsbetter]

And someone has forgot to mention the Jakalope!! It's my favorite trophy on the wall!

[Steve D]

I just had a request to run guide services for jakalope, but I'm trying to tone down my guide services.

[Alboy]

I hear you and those Jackalopes are not only hard to spot but can be vicious little devils if they sneak up on ya.

[whacker1]

"Big Game" Also includes - Elk, Moose, Caribou (Canada & Alaska - Can't hunt the few in the lower 48 states), Muskox (Canada & Alaska).  I am sure that we are still missing one or two.  I would like to be able to check the wall at home, but nothing there that hasn't already been mentioned.

[radiorabbi]

with everything in our control range is  pretty much unlimited

however the fact is  many things pertaining to  shooting game are well beyond our control

wind is often unpredictable  beyond our shooting position

the further the range  the greater the possibility of our game doing something to turn a kill shot into a miss or worse yet a crippling shot

it takes about 1/10 second  for an animal to go from dead still to moving

and 3/10 second or more for your bullet to travel 300 yards

most of the time we can get closer  and we owe it to the game to make the effort to ensure a clean quick kill

while long range shots are possible  we are not Military snipers
our objective is not to take out the enemy by wounding or killing

in a 10 MPH crosswind bullet drift can be 6 to 10 inches at 300 yards  which of course will translate to a hit outside the vital area if we do not hold exactly right to correct for it

in the 13 big game kills i made  only 2 shots were beyond 250 yards

fortunately every head of Big Game i shot at was  a kill
i am most proud of the fact i never had a wounded head of game escape to suffer

we should all be so lucky

Mike

[farmboy]

The flat parairie ground around me you shoot long distance or you don't shoot. No problem with five hundred yard shot at big game I would be uncomfortable with more than that, in the mountains and hills three hundred would seem like enough. Varmint shooting as far as you can see them. I have shot many coyotes at really long distance they are predators that eat the small ruminants on the farm. One summer I shot seventy five coyotes within a half a mile of a local hutteritte colony's sheep flock I eliminated there predator loss problem in less than a  month.