Is 500 yards a long shot?

[RockAndSage]

Here is a question for you? Is it ever okay for the animal to win? To beat us, to get away? To be in a spot that we can’t really get to? Or is that unacceptable?

To some degree, this is the difference between hunting and shooting - for me, the more chance an animal has to get away, the more towards the hunting end of the spectrum it is. Personal ethics and priorities also play a role in determining the boundaries on any given situation. It's also a big part of why I'm not interested in hunting out of a stand - it's not the same thing as getting out into a buck's bedroom, where they have all the advantages. But I'll fight tooth and nail for a guy to be able to treestand hunt.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

The older I get the less inclined I am to dictate what should or shouldn't be ethical for someone else, and I'm sure not going to question their capabilities...well until they start wounding a bunch of animals that is. Personally I think 500 is about the limit where I start questioning how practiced I am recently and if I haven't plinked steel in the recent past I probably won't take the shot.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

 

[3325]

500 is long for me in the field.

I consistently ring steel at 500 from the bench with either dialing or holdover with my department issued .308, so 500 is not long for me that way.

But my longest one shot kills on game are one elk at 300 and one antelope at 300 with my .270 Winchester with a fixed 6x and 200 yard zero, so 500 is long for me that way.

Does that last paragraph scream “fudd?” Oh well, I reckon I’ll just have to somehow muddle through regardless of what the young’uns think. Now, where did I put my black and green checked flannel shirt?

 

[3325]

Also the trolls from the other thread believe that it is always possible to get closer, i have seen many of situations where there is no way to get closer and still see the animal…. Ie the animal is across a canyon.

I’ve lost sight of elk trying to get closer, never seen them again, and not filled my tag for the season. I’ve lost sight of elk trying to get closer, found them again, and made clean kills. In neither case do I regret trying to get closer.

 

[hibernation]

The older I get the less inclined I am to dictate what should or shouldn't be ethical for someone else, and I'm sure not going to question their capabilities...well until they start wounding a bunch of animals that is. Personally I think 500 is about the limit where I start questioning how practiced I am recently and if I haven't plinked steel in the recent past I probably won't take the shot.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

The older I get and the more people I talk to, the more I question most people's stated capabilities. I'd love to have more "prove it" shooting matches with the hunters I talk to, just a friendly shoot, but have them actually state what they can hit with no excuses. Then see what happens on the first shot. Cold bore challenge style, but tailored to whatever claim that person is making. I talk to so many "I'm good to 500" hunters and they practice about once or twice a year, right before season, from a bench for a few rounds. I call BS.

It's not really my business what they do in the field, or at least, it's only my business in the sense that anyone's actions in the field reflect on all of us. They're free to make their own choices but I don't have to be happy about all of them.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

The older I get and the more people I talk to, the more I question most people's stated capabilities. I'd love to have more "prove it" shooting matches with the hunters I talk to, just a friendly shoot, but have them actually state what they can hit with no excuses. Then see what happens on the first shot. Cold bore challenge style, but tailored to whatever claim that person is making. I talk to so many "I'm good to 500" hunters and they practice about once or twice a year, right before season, from a bench for a few rounds. I call BS.

It's not really my business what they do in the field, or at least, it's only my business in the sense that anyone's actions in the field reflect on all of us. They're free to make their own choices but I don't have to be happy about all of them.

I don't have to be happy about other's choices but I dont have to be unhappy about them either. That's sort of my point. I have to live with my choices and they have to live with their's.

500 is a poke for me and not something I'd personally do on an animal without having a good bit of range time recently. That's what I meant. Other fellas have a good bit more skill than I and may think 500 is a chip shot.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

 

[mtnbound]

Here is a question for you? Is it ever okay for the animal to win? To beat us, to get away? To be in a spot that we can’t really get to? Or is that unacceptable?

For me it’s 100% acceptable for the animal to win. While I am a meat hunter it’s also about the challenge of my skills as a hunter against an animals ability to kick my ass without ever touching me.

 

[eaglemountainman]

I'm one of those fudds that the OP mentioned. I wont shoot at game past 300+/-. Others are free to do as they please, whether I condone it or not.

 

[mtnbound]

Hey roksliders, apparently there are a few fudds on the forum that think a 500 yard shot is sooo long and unethical for a shot. Parameters for this discussion, low to zero wind, ballistic rangefinder thats been trued out to 1000yards, shooting off a tripod with a bag or bipod prone.

Your parameters for this discussion are for perfect conditions and I have never seem them in my time in the field but using them I would say for “some hunters” yes, 500y is too far and based on what I see at the range every time “some hunters” is a lot.

 

[3325]

Here is a question for you? Is it ever okay for the animal to win? To beat us, to get away? To be in a spot that we can’t really get to? Or is that unacceptable?

It’s okay for me. And, to my way thinking, if a “social media influencer” misses the chance to post a trophy of a lifetime, it’s even more okay.

 

[Hnthrdr]

It’s okay for me. And, to my way thinking, if a “social media influencer” misses the chance to post a trophy of a lifetime, it’s even more okay.

Right, I get it I’m out there to kill too, but I have to remind myself that it can’t be at all costs. When you get to that point you are chasing something else other than animal flesh. I would call it greed or pride or something else.

If we get to the point that it’s life and death to kill a bull or buck I don’t think we are posting on the internet anymore and by all means, get that critter down anyway you can…

 

[Rugester]

I believe 500 yards is a far shot shot without training/practice and the proper equipment.

 

[Gpw]

To me 500 isn’t far with good with low wind 10 mph or under. It all depends on conditions.

 

[Bucks&Bulls]

Is 500 yards a long distance? Depends on how you look at it. I can pop steel all day long with my precision rifle, Kestrel and 4DOF at 600-800 yards. Now I hunt with a 30-06 and my farthest shot was around 250 yards which is about the max distance on the fields I hunt. Almost all the deer I have shot have been under a 150 yards. Personally I wouldn’t shoot an animal at 500 yards but if you practice and can make that shot go for it. Doesn’t matter to me, I don’t judge.