Typical shot distance

[bnewt3]

Im an Eastern hunter buying points in WY for a future hunt(2-5 years). What are your average and longest shots? I have in my head I want to train to be confident with up to a 500yd shot. Is that reasonable?

I think my main hitch will be wind. We dont get WY winds back east, at least not on ranges with any distance.

 

[TaperPin]

Im an Eastern hunter buying points in WY for a future hunt(2-5 years). What are your average and longest shots? I have in my head I want to train to be confident with up to a 500yd shot. Is that reasonable?

I think my main hitch will be wind. We dont get WY winds back east, at least not on ranges with any distance.

How fun - antelope hunting is a blast and you get to see a ton of animals every day. Between myself and others I’ve hunted with over the years our shots distances are something like this:

Up to 100 yards, 5%.
100 to 200,15%.
200 to 300, 35%.
300 to 400, 15%.
400 to 500, 25%.

The terrain will often dictate shot distances. Some areas with rolling foothills or multiple shallow draws make 200 - 300 yard shots common. Some open country is so open there’s barely enough to hide behind on hands and knees, and shots are long or not at all.

Because they love to run, you might see a group a mile away jogging in your direction and they might not stop until a mile past you. Animal movement will cause more misses and gut shots than wind, but it is good to at least have a cheat sheet for wind and at least a little practice judging strength.

 

[Geewhiz]

I shot an antelope a this year at 89 yards. My wife shot hers at 1025. Opportunities vary wildly.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I have in my head I want to train to be confident with up to a 500yd shot. Is that reasonable?

It varies wildly but if you can shoot 500yd well that is a great goal and will provide many opportunities. Folks that aren't comfortable past 200yd are going to hampered in the situations that don't offer the terrain to close in more.

 

[longrangelead]

Whatever you prepare for will NOT be the opportunity presented...

To improve reading/shooting in wind, you have to read/shoot in wind...

The good news is, some days the wind isn't bad between legal light and sun-up.

 

[hiker270]

Its generally not that hard to get to within 300 yards.

 

[EdP]

I have taken 4 pronghorn. In order they were at 402 yds, 500 yds, 75 yds, 125 yds. Being prepared for 500 yds is a good plan. Beyond 500 even reasonable winds begin to create a real challenge for an eastern hunter not experienced with shooting in wind (which I am also). Although Wy can be very windy, in none of those situation was there much wind. Two days before I took my pronghorn this year there was quite a bit of wind. You never know what the wind will be or where the pronghorn will offer you a shot. I missed the opportunity for a 75 yd offhand shot at a pronghorn this year thinking he was going to take off right away because we had spotted each other at the same moment. He didn't and I should have tried, so practice that too.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Killed a few of them including a couple with a muzzleloader… usually terrain dictated the shot, but none of the shots were over 300 yards. Closest muzzy was like 12 yards, furtherest rifle was 290

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

How fun - antelope hunting is a blast and you get to see a ton of animals every day. Between myself and others I’ve hunted with over the years our shots distances are something like this:

Up to 100 yards, 5%.
100 to 200,15%.
200 to 300, 35%.
300 to 400, 15%.
400 to 500, 25%.

The terrain will often dictate shot distances. Some areas with rolling foothills or multiple shallow draws make 200 - 300 yard shots common. Some open country is so open there’s barely enough to hide behind on hands and knees, and shots are long or not at all.

Because they love to run, you might see a group a mile away jogging in your direction and they might not stop until a mile past you. Animal movement will cause more misses and gut shots than wind, but it is good to at least have a cheat sheet for wind and at least a little practice judging strength.

Where I hunt them in Wyoming, 200-500 yards representing 50-60% of all kills rings true.

 

[wapitibob]

This years Deer was 375, Elk was 365. Our Pronghorn have been closer.