How far is "too far"?

[kombi1976]

This issue seems to come up a fair bit but there are a number of factors to be considered when hunting at ANY distance, short or long:

• Cartridge & Rifle - the realities of ballistics and rifle construction are that some cartridges simply cannot shoot long distances and also that it is unfair to expect rifles of varying construction to shoot accurately at extreme distances. It should be added that it's also pretty unwise to use a super high powered rifle at very short ranges unless all you want is wanton destruction.
• Game Size & Build Characteristics - While a 140gn bullet from a 6.5 bullet may be able to hit a water buffalo at 400yds with MOA accuracy it is unlikely to penetrate on such an animal at that distance. A Whitetail or antelope however is quite a sensible option.
• Windage & Weather - no matter how well you can dope the wind there are days that no one short of an elite military sniper with a 50 cal rifle will ever be able to hit a target with certainty. So what is eminently possible one day may need to be passed up the next.
• Personal Experience & Capability - this counts for more than any of the other conditions. There is no substitute for practise.

I should point out that I'm more of a stalking hunter.
I prefer to get close and guarantee my shots count but if I was going change that approach I'd be buying or having a rifle built to specifics so I could guarantee success on long shots.
500yds is probably the outside of most people's capabilities on game, even with a lot of practise (and I mean a LOT of practise) but all shots close or far count.
I've missed more very close shots on small targets than long ones.
BTW, I'm talking about game here.
Most of use, with practise, can hit a watermelon sized object @ 1000yds with a target rifle.
Problem is, game doesn't let you lay there for 15 minutes before you get psyched up for that amazing shot.
You've also got to carry the rifle in most of the time.
Oh, finally, there seems to be a misconception sometimes that if you can actually hit game at 600yds that the bullet will have some magical knockdown abilities.
If you shoot game at 150yds and the bullet hits at 1500fps and you shoot game at 600yds and the same sort bullet hits at 1500fps they will have IDENTICAL penetration and expansion characteristics.
But hey, if you own a 7mm RUM or 338 Lapua and can poleaxe elk at 700yds then all power to you.
I wish I had the skill and the dosh to afford the rig!

[Sourdough]

Drillingman:  Last October I was sitting on a small pond off the Richardson highway, had over two hundred Caribou pass within 30 yards of me.  Some got to within 10 feet of where I was sitting.  So getting close can be done.  But sometimes the particuler animal is unapproachable. 

Think of this, you come up on a ridge, look over and there is a pack of wolves feeding on a Caribou 600 yards away.  The highest thing above the snow is ankle high.  How do you get closer?  You can't, that is where being able to make a 600 yard shot is handy.

[kombi1976]

Think of this, you come up on a ridge, look over and there is a pack of wolves feeding on a Caribou 600 yards away.  The highest thing above the snow is ankle high.  How do you get closer?  You can't, that is where being able to make a 600 yard shot is handy.

The big question is.....how often are you actually going to shoot game at 600yds?
If it's continual then I'd spend a LOT of time at the range and a lot of money on a rifle to do the job.
And what about snow blinds and baits....are these illegal? ::

[NONYA]

you cant bait ANY game animals here in MT,if someone has aquired the skill to make a kill with a medium bore rifle at 600 yards he has done his homework and should be proud of his skill.

[kombi1976]

you cant bait ANY game animals here in MT,if someone has aquired the skill to make a kill with a medium bore rifle at 600 yards he has done his homework and should be proud of his skill.

I'm not critical of anyone's ability to shoot 600yds.
Goodness knows I wish I could do it.
Furthemore I wish I could afford the rifle that would do it.
And when I say bait I mean feeders that are used to attract deer and black bear.
But no one has answered my questions about blinds and hides.

[Sourdough]

I shoot a NEF Handi Rifle in 30-06 for work out to 600 yards.  I can hit with it on out to 700 yards but the 30-06 does not have the velocity to kill humainly at that range. 

I also carry a Weatherby Accumark in .338/378.  So far I am proficient out to 800 yards with it.  And I have killed game (Moose) with it at that range.  My ultimate goal is 1000 yards.  When I get to where I can hit a gallon milk jug every shot at 1000 yards I will be ready.  Yes I do a lot of practice.  I go to the range three to four times a week, and shoot for two to three hours each trip.  Some days I will take multiple guns and spend all day there, shooting both the guns and the bull.

[handirifle]

HOW FAR IS TOO FAR?

I say, assuming you haven't gone past the limits of the cartridge itself, meaning that the bullet will still penetrate and expand at said range, then it's the distance at which a "hunter" can no longer put his rifle on his back pack, or his knee, or up against a tree and hit well within the kill zone on the FIRST shot.

In otherwords if you can put them in the boiler room everytime with a bench rest at 350yds (pick your own personal number and insert it here) ,but not always with a FIELD rest, then you need to move closer.  If the max range you can take a shot with the rifle propped on your knees, or back back or against a tree, is 250, than 250 is your max.  If you can do all that and hit the vitals on the first shot a 500, and the bullet will still work properly when it gets there, then it's not too far for you.

We're not all Marine snipers and shouldn't try to prove to ourselves and the deer, that we are.  Edited: At least unless we have practiced and KNOW we have the talent necessary to do so.  Sourdough, I must say that does sound impressive.  My current limit is right at 300yds, but would like to try further, just for kicks.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

  Great topic...  I live here in the great state of North Dakota where everyone will tell you that they shot their buck at 500-800yds.   How far is too far?  That's actually pretty simple...  If it is not too far, as you are squeezing the trigger you say to yourself, "I just filled my tag."  If you aren't doing that, I would say you are doing the "Poke and Pray."
  As for the debate of hunting skills...  Are some of you ACTUALLY saying that someone who sits in a permanent tower blind with some laser-like mag taking the 600+yds. shots to fill his tag has the same HUNTING SKILLS as someone who actually stalks deer?  

JIm

[Blammer]

I thought I'd pretty much never shoot a deer past 150 yards here in NC where I hunt the most.

I always set up for longer but really don't think I'll ever use it. ( I practice at 100 a lot)

I didn't think I'd shoot a deer at 200. Well this past season I proved myself wrong. I saw a deer, didn't realize how far out he was and I still dropped him. Afterwards I went back and lasered it. I about fell over when i saw it was 205 yards. I didn't think I could shoot that far. well I'm here to say I can.

Now my personal limit is probably 200 yards. Up from 150 since I've done it.

[nomosendero]

  Great topic...  I live here in the great state of North Dakota where everyone will tell you that they shot their buck at 500-800yds.   How far is too far?  That's actually pretty simple...  If it is not too far, as you are squeezing the trigger you say to yourself, "I just filled my tag."  If you aren't doing that, I would say you are doing the "Poke and Pray."
  As for the debate of hunting skills...  Are some of you ACTUALLY saying that someone who sits in a permanent tower blind with some laser-like mag taking the 600+yds. shots to fill his tag has the same HUNTING SKILLS as someone who actually stalks deer?  

JIm

Well yea, if he does both. I shoot at a distance when I know I can make the shot & I bow hunt & have killed Deer at less than 5 yards. I enjoy it either way. How 'bout that.

[Coyote Hunter]

…   As for the debate of hunting skills...  Are some of you ACTUALLY saying that someone who sits in a permanent tower blind with some laser-like mag taking the 600+yds. shots to fill his tag has the same HUNTING SKILLS as someone who actually stalks deer?   …

DakotaElkSlayer –

While I cannot speak for the others, my short answer to your question is “No”.  I personally cannot judge the hunting skills of a man in a tower taking a 600-yard shot or a man in the field stalking game – not enough info.  The man in the tower may have excellent stalking skills and the man stalking game may never get close enough to take a shot – and if he does it may well be in spite of himself. 

The question is kind of like asking “Who is the better golfer – the plumber or the mechanic?”  There is no one way that is always “right” or better”, but one way to judge who has the better hunting skills is to ask “Who brings home more meat?”  The man in the tower may have adapted his technique to his hunting conditions while the stalker has not. 

BTW, in 25 years of Colorado big game hunting I have never used a tower or even seen one in use.  I have seen easy 50-yard shots missed and difficult shots made at ranges some folks think are irresponsible.  Does the hunter that misses at 50 yards have better hunting skills than someone that makes a 600-yard shot?

[John R.]

  I'll use a quote from Clint Eastwood to answer this question. "A man's got to know his limitations". What those limitations are will depend on YOUR skill with YOUR gun. There will always be people that can shoot farther and better than other people. KNOW your limitations.