regardless of range, assuming the shot is within your ability to make a 100% certain lethal hit with the first round, on that day, in those conditions and with that equipment, in principle Id personally consider it more ethical to take a longer shot where I have time, a relaxed animal, and can get everything right, than to try to sneak closer and take a rushed shot, off a less than great rest, etc where there is still the very real potential for a botched shot and wounded animal. We make decisions like this every time we hunt, and we make tradeoffs like this as well. We each get diffeent things out of it and find satisfaction and challenge differently. So assuming what I did—that any shot is within the shooters ability to make a 100% certain first round lethal hit, within the capabilities of the equipment, and the conditions are favorable...I dont see anything unethical about it. frankly, I think at least SOME of the folks doing this are taking more ethical shots than the people taking offhand shots at deer at 200+ yards in the woods, or a 300 yard shot across a beanfield without having ranged it or verified their dope, etc. personally, I practice on steel out at pretty long range, but I dont feel that I have the in-area practice time to really verify my drops and deal with different angles, etc where I would potentially take a longer shot like this, so I limit myself to closer range (which is still pretty darn far and I dont feel especially limited by it). but I cant say Im a more ethical hunter than someone else simply becasue they have the skill to consistently make hits on game at longer ranges than me. Really I try not to compare myself to others like this. Easier said than done, but its not a matter of me keeping up with the jones’s or even understanding the jones’s, its simply cool that we have the opportunity to learn about and adapt to such different areas and the skill sets that can potentially be utilized there Or brought home and applied where it makes sense in my own backyard.
