Most of the poke & hope shots that I have seen are the "pie plate boys" that we all can see getting ready for Deer season & right
before Deer season at that! They will grab whatever factory ammo is the cheapest & when they can hit a pie plate at 50 yards they
are ready.
These are close range hunters, at least the ones I have witnessed. Mr. Graybeard mentioned guys he saw at a range
that could not hit a refrig. box & then shoot at long range out West. I don't doubt it & I have heard it before, but I am willing to
bet here & now that there are far more local slob hunters blasting away at running Deer than slobs saving up hard earned money
to go out West & be a slob.
The vast majority of game animals that I have shot have been under 100 yards. I am talking low 3 digits here. I have taken some
animals (plural) in every 50 yard increment out to 400 yards & a precious few beyond that. Now, SO FAR I have not missed or lost a Big Game Animal beyond 250 yards, again SO FAR. However, I lost 2 Deer that I shot under 100 yards. One was hit after my bullet hit a limb I did not see, one was hit too far back & I missed a couple completely over the years, again I am talking about 30 years here & tons of Deer. So I ask this question, should I quit all of my short range hunting because short range is the only time I screwed up?
No, actually the last such incident was some time ago & all occured because I acted in haste, which is more likely in a short range situation. In the case of the limb incident I did not take in all of the conditions instead of focusing only on the Buck. Not carefully
considering all of the factors can cause a mistake, short range or long. In the case of the longer shots, so far I have studied the conditions, knew the range & took the necessary time.
Another thing to consider. I do most of my hunting here in AR. at close range, usually in a stand, sometmes in a ground blind & sometimes in a very deliberate still hunt. In these close range stands I will see up to maybe 3 trails. But, I have a couple of stands
that offer long range shots, one that covers a grown up field with thickets & MANY trails. The other is a cable R O W that has
several trails that cross it. Regardless of which stands I hunt, close range or long rang stans, I use scent concealment & approach
the stands the same way I do when I bowhunt. Question: Am I an inferior hunter on those days when I hunt the long range stands?
I am the same guy & using the same methods as any other day, so if I see a Deer at close range from a long range stand (most are
close) & I shoot it I am a Hunter, but the next day I see a Deer from the same stand but it is on one of the trails at a distance &
I shoot it, that day I am a shooter I guess, what a bunch of crap!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Graybeard was correct in stating that " for each one of us some different distance will constitute long range" & also for stating
that "I can answer for no one but me". And I cannot tell someone what the limit they can shoot is or at what majic yardage hunting
suddenly turns into just shooting. Anyone who thinks they can are clueless. Remember, some shoot better at 400 yards than others do at 200 yards, that's the way it is.
So if I am HUNTING & I see a Deer at a distance I am not going to range the Deer, then get out a "armchair opinion manual" to see
if some clown in Cleveland or somewhere may be worried it is just barely in the shooting only catagory, no I will get set up for the shot & only shoot if I KNOW it is within my skill level & conditions & act accordingly. If it is beyond that limit by 10 yuards or so I will do some community service of deny my Wife's Pecan Pie for a week or so.
The point to me is to allways act within your abilities of yourself, weapon & conditions. I strive to do this with rifle, mz, handgun or
bow & the same discussion could occur with any of these, but usually doesn't.
