Would you put shot distance limits on big game?

[Southern Lights]

There is no way to enforce this kind of law. The hunting community should try instead to just shame the companies and influencers that are pushing the ideas.

I think that what Backfire TV and Erik Cortina are doing is a good way to handle it. Bring on shooters claiming they are the reincarnation of Carlos Hathcock and make them look stupid by missing shots at moderate ranges in realistic conditions.

 

[Sodak_Lewno]

Just my 2 cents, this is not a legislative/ law enforcement issue. This is a knowledge and experience issue that needs to be addressed by education by all people who care about the ethical take of animals.

It should start and mostly end at the hunting camp dinner table or camp fire when people are debriefing from a hunt. Hunting is a craft that requires constant evolution of learning to become highly proficient.

 

[IdahoPrecision]

I think we confuse ethics and fair chase. Ethically, it doesn't matter how far people shoot because I am not going to judge their capabilities unless I am around them alot. I think there is a fair chase argument when it comes long range tho, the ability of an animal to detect the shooter (by sight, smell or hearing), etc.

Now, as a thought experiment, what do I think would be effective methods to limit range and basically maintain current technology:

1. Rifle weight - I think we could limit the max rifle weight (ID already does it, something like 16 lbs?). Theoretically, you could push this really low, say 7-8 lbs scoped max rifle weight. It's just plain harder to shoot a light rifle than a heavy one, everything else being equal.

2. Caliber Maximums - You would never convince agencies to do this, but you could limit all big game hunting to a max caliber of .244 (Until Avery comes out with the 6UM Ultra in a 50 BMG case and a 180 grain 6mm bullet with a 1-2 Twist...)

Outside of those 2 I don't really know how you would mandate range with current tech other than some feel good idiotic legislation that just pisses everyone off.

I am all for increasing weapon restricted seasons (black powder muzzy, primitive archery, etc.). I'm excited to see what happens in UT with the units that went this way.

As someone who lives in Idaho and competes in ELR, the rifle weight limit has no bearing on distance. My ELR rig is sub 16lbs and I can shoot it accurately past 1mile (1760 yards). A 1,000 yard shot is a piece of cake for that rifle. There were talks of limiting bolt face in hunting cartridges, but that wouldn’t work because people love the 338 Lapua. There were conversations about limiting caliber sizes, but then you’ll be eliminating quite a bit of Heritage Cartridges. There is no legislation that can prevent people from long range hunting. My ELR rig is also a standard bolt face because I use a custom 280 AI.

 

[Hnthrdr]

As someone who lives in Idaho and competes in ELR, the rifle weight limit has no bearing on distance. My ELR rig is sub 16lbs and I can shoot it accurately past 1mile (1760 yards). A 1,000 yard shot is a piece of cake for that rifle. There were talks of limiting bolt face in hunting cartridges, but that wouldn’t work because people love the 338 Lapua. There were conversations about limiting caliber sizes, but then you’ll be eliminating quite a bit of Heritage Cartridges. There is no legislation that can prevent people from long range hunting. My ELR rig is also a standard bolt face because I use a custom 280 AI.

You don’t think taking away scopes would do it? Or straight wall cartridges with iron sights? (Obviously not all the time but for certain units/ seasons)

 

[IdahoPrecision]

You don’t think taking away scopes would do it? Or straight wall cartridges with iron sights? (Obviously not all the time but for certain units/ seasons)

You would have a revolution. This isn’t the east coast. I dare you to come out here and do that

 

[Hnthrdr]

You would have a revolution. This isn’t the east coast. I dare you to come out here and do that

My brother in Christ, I live out “here”, I was born out “here”, I didn’t see the easy coast until I was a man, and by then it was blinding!
My point being that we already have iron sights muzzle loader seasons when the animals are more vulnerable… it’s simply applying a different tool that we can control, which might help a little, while not cutting tags, yes we know this is smaller potatoes any habit, predator, human development, but if it was hunt a spot year with a more primitive set up or hunt once every 5 years what are you going to pick?

 

[IdahoPrecision]

My brother in Christ, I live out “here”, I was born out “here”, I didn’t see the easy coast until I was a man, and by then it was blinding! View attachment 946349
My point being that we already have iron sights muzzle loader seasons when the animals are more vulnerable… it’s simply applying a different tool that we can control, which might help a little, while not cutting tags, yes we know this is smaller potatoes any habit, predator, human development, but if it was hunt a spot year with a more primitive set up or hunt once every 5 years what are you going to pick

I would pick having less regulations. How do you live out “here” and want more regulations. Makes me wonder if you’re telling the truth. No Idaho hunter I’ve come across wants more regulations, they all want less. Plus, it shows me that you’ve never hunted in the high desert. If you’re wanting to extend muzzleloader/short range weapon seasons and shorten Any Weapon season, then just say that. You’re going to run into the same problem and actually even worse. People will be taking long shots with cartridges they shouldn’t and wounding even more game. Remember this, the farther out the greater the miss (you could miss a whole deer just from a wrong wind call), but up closer, the deviation is less for the same error. So the question you have to ask is which would you rather; more wounded/recovered animals with less modern technology, or the opposite with modern technology. I choose the latter. But the OP is purely distance and limiting it. None of what you suggested would work, because it doesn’t work now.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I would pick having less regulations. How do you live out “here” and want more regulations. Makes me wonder if you’re telling the truth. No Idaho hunter I’ve come across wants more regulations, they all want less. Plus, it shows me that you’ve never hunted in the high desert. If you’re wanting to extend muzzleloader/short range weapon seasons and shorten Any Weapon season, then just say that. You’re going to run into the same problem and actually even worse. People will be taking long shots with cartridges they shouldn’t and wounding even more game. Remember this, the farther out the greater the miss (you could miss a whole deer just from a wrong wind call), but up closer, the deviation is less for the same error. So the question you have to ask is which would you rather; more wounded/recovered animals with less modern technology, or the opposite with modern technology. I choose the latter. But the OP is purely distance and limiting it. None of what you suggested would work, because it doesn’t work now.

I was born and live in the western United States. I have hunted the high desert and plains with primitive weapons and been successful, it is much more difficult than with a scoped centerfire rifle. I’m not talking about making new regulations, I’m talking about making seasons to maximize opportunity while not impacting harvest, I’m not talking about doing away with scoped rifles.

So you say the further out you get from an animal the greater the possibility for wounding/ missing? Huh

Also is it easier to get 200 yards from game or 800 yards? Huh

How often have you shot 30-30 or muzzy with iron sights? Think guys will really be trying for more than maybe a 200-300 yard lob? Are those same guys good enough to get closer without spooking game? Probably not. I get there will be those buying the 10k best of the west muzzy to shoot 3-400 yards but it’s still requires lots of practice and your eye balls to help aim.

Not trying to cancel anything, just trying to think ahead about how we can maximize opportunities and balance that with ever increasing technology and demand for western hunting

 

[Dave Thomas]

This is something I have thought about after shooting more and more in recent years. If you could put a rule in place and hunters would hypothetically comply, would you put a maximum allowable shot distance on big game? Predators do not count because I’m of the mentality that if you can put a bullet anywhere on a predator it increases the chance of them dying. I know this shot distance would not be enforceable but if it was, would you make it a law?

I could see this going two ways. One could be a maximum distance of say 600 yards, which in my opinion should be the maximum distance for 75-90% of hunters. Another way would be a distance qualification of some kind on a say 12” target if you want to shoot past say 400 yards. Those are just thoughts on how it could be done.

Although I don’t like limitations on entry into hunting or owning firearms, I think I would push the button and make it a rule, but I might get beat up doing that. I really do not like a one size fits all approach on anything so I think if someone wants to shoot past X distance that is considered long range, then a qualification could be a way to keep folks accountable.

This is all hypothetical. Please don’t ban me from Rokslide.

What do you all think?

No. It's up to the individual to figure out what their limitations are. I know most people don't and some shoot way farther than their ability allows.