Ethical “Time of Flight” for Shot on Game

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

There is no magic answer as there are potentially an infinite number of variables that come into play on every shot.

Use your brain to assess the situation and pass on shots where warranted.

 

[dlee56]

There is no magic answer as there are potentially an infinite number of variables that come into play on every shot.

Use your brain to assess the situation and pass on shots where warranted.

It’s honestly this simple, for all questions like this. I wonder if these posts are just meant to stir attention, or if people are really looking to be hand held at every turn? Use your brain, and take some responsibility for your decisions.

 

[KyleR1985]

It’s honestly this simple, for all questions like this. I wonder if these posts are just meant to stir attention, or if people are really looking to be hand held at every turn? Use your brain, and take some responsibility for your decisions.

I think it’s just people looking for insight from other insightful people with a different perspective.

 

[HighUintas]

Here's another way of looking at it.

What's the time of flight for the bullet in comparison to your max effective range?

Here's time of flight for my two guns out to 1000yd.

Currently, I probably have no business shooting my 243 at game farther than 650. For the 223, it's probably 475ish. Look at that time of flight. I think it's comparable to an arrow at reasonable distances last time I looked, and 0.75s is not very long.

Also, if you're shooting at your max effective range, I would think you'd be smart enough to only take the shot if the animal is very relaxed and not likely to move within several seconds.

For most people's rifle shooting abilities, I don't think time of flight is an important factor to consider.

243win


223

 

[General RE LEE]

It’s honestly this simple, for all questions like this. I wonder if these posts are just meant to stir attention, or if people are really looking to be hand held at every turn? Use your brain, and take some responsibility for your decisions.

No, I think time of flight is an important consideration when attempting a long shot. I think its a good discussion.

 

[General RE LEE]

For most people's rifle shooting abilities, I don't think time of flight is an important factor to consider.

It's possible to have an absolute hammer of a rifle/load combo at long range but a long shot could end up in a miss or wounding if the time of flight is long enough for an animal to move.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Currently, I probably have no business shooting my 243 at game farther than 650.

Says the guy who was regularly hitting the 2 MOA 1,000 yard gong with said .243 in 5-15 MPH varying winds and blowing dust/mirage

 

[180ls1]

I run out of talent (real world hunting scenarios) before TOF matters.

That said, my worst shots on animals have been because of a rushed shot opportunity, not a factor of distance.

 

[dlee56]

No, I think time of flight is an important consideration when attempting a long shot. I think it’s a good discussion.

I agree it’s an important consideration, I just don’t think any amount of discussion will result in a magic number of “too much” time of flight. Depends on too many variables across infinite situations

 

[HighUintas]

Says the guy who was regularly hitting the 2 MOA 1,000 yard gong with said .243 in 5-15 MPH varying winds and blowing dust/mirage

Haha .. if only I could tell the animal to stay still while I lob a few rounds in to determine wind

 

[WeiserBucks]

It's possible to have an absolute hammer of a rifle/load combo at long range but a long shot could end up in a miss or wounding if the time of flight is long enough for an animal to move.

Animals can be completely unpredictable at any range. It's an experienced based judgement call every time at every range.

 

[Still Hunter]

OP great question that all hunters should ask themselves regardless of the range... From what I have seen the past 15 years, If your doing Youtube videos, it doesn't matter how far away the animal is , with rifle or BOW, just take the shot. You just follow up by stating " the day we decided to do these videos we decided to provide real life, truthful day to day videos of everything that happens and show all the lost and wounded animals we happen to have", when they should say , ".... we happen to to lose due to our poor decisions and making pitiful and irresponsible shots when actually, if we had any ethical bones in our bodies, we should not have ever attempted in the first place!" .

Unfortunately ethical hunting has taken a huge step backward. Many hunters today have that "old starving Indian mentality" when shooting at animals....'"Shoot maybe, no shoot , no maybe" ....

 

[General RE LEE]

OP great question that all hunters should ask themselves regardless of the range... From what I have seen the past 15 years, If your doing Youtube videos, it doesn't matter how far away the animal is , with rifle or BOW, just take the shot. You just follow up by stating " the day we decided to do these videos we decided to provide real life, truthful day to day videos of everything that happens and show all the lost and wounded animals we happen to have", when they should say , ".... we happen to to lose due to our poor decisions and making pitiful and irresponsible shots when actually, if we had any ethical bones in our bodies, we should not have ever attempted in the first place!" .

Unfortunately ethical hunting has taken a huge step backward. Many hunters today have that "old starving Indian mentality" when shooting at animals....'"Shoot maybe, no shoot , no maybe" ....

BTW don't post any "rodeos" on here. Someone will chime in and tell you how irresponsible of a hunter you are. I've learned that lesson. I know stuff happens in the wild and not everything goes the Rokslide way.

 

[Formidilosus]

Unfortunately ethical hunting has taken a huge step backward. Many hunters today have that "old starving Indian mentality" when shooting at animals....'"Shoot maybe, no shoot , no maybe" ....

It hasn’t taken a step backwards- hunters have always flung rounds willynilly. This massive level of ethical shooting with animals is largely made up nonsense. One can read old books (Jack O’Conner for instance) and see that they were flinging rounds as much as anyone today.

 

[TaperPin]

Unfortunately ethical hunting has taken a huge step backward. Many hunters today have that "old starving Indian mentality" when shooting at animals....'"Shoot maybe, no shoot , no maybe" ....

I agree. All the big talk about what great long range shots people are and then they are proud of just lobbing rounds down range. Long range forums are full of guys who could care less how many animals they gut shoot, or how many rounds before they connect. Every time the animal doesn’t go down at the shot and someone claims it was a clean miss is usually full of crap.

Not everyone is like that - some of us only shoot if we are quite certain of hitting it. I won’t hunt with anyone who shoots beyond their ability to connect with a high probability of first round hit, and I don’t care how butt hurt they get. Not interested in being around slob hunters - outgrew that in high school. Kids in the family are expected to do the same or they aren’t invited next year.

As a practical matter, anyone who risks loosing a big animal with a shot beyond their abilities because they can’t figure out how to get closer isn’t doing themselves any favors. Sloppy. Half ass.

 

[TaperPin]

It hasn’t taken a step backwards- hunters have always flung rounds willynilly. This massive level of ethical shooting with animals is largely made up nonsense. One can read old books (Jack O’Conner for instance) and see that they were flinging rounds as much as anyone today.

That’s just what you tell yourself to feel better.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Meh, read up on our Lord and Savior Teddy Roosevelt, he was pretty blunt about his hunting. He loved to shoot, and take some long dang shots for his day and his abilities, he is the reason along with a few other that we are even having this discussion and his habits would be viewed as pretty unethical by lots of standards today. Don’t fault him. I think the # 1 limiting factor for almost everyone today is lack of practice, especially practice in field positions and conditions, myself included.

 

[Marshfly]

That’s just what you tell yourself to feel better.

No it's not. Anyone that was a kid that got to go to deer camp all the time heard about miss after miss and saw bad shot after bad shot. People have always sucked at shooting and taken shots they shouldn't.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

People have always sucked at shooting and taken shots they shouldn't.

Correct. And “holier than thou” comments lobbed onto the internet from the couch are laughable.

 

[Bluumoon]

That’s just what you tell yourself to feel better.

You should hear the “elk camp” stories I hear from locals. I’m honestly scared to be any where near the valley they hunt in 3rd season.. Ethical shooting or general rules of gun safety are for snow flakes.