Huskemaw optics and the Best of the west clowns

[sheephunter]

The most telling comment IMO on this thread as regards ethics of long distance shooting. The longer distance means an animal can move after the trigger is pulled (my wording). The longer the distance the greater the possibility of this happening. In our efforts as hunters to attain the humane kill shot we are running a much higher risk of wounding an animal. To my way of thinking long range shots should be taken at targets.

I think those with a lot of experience observing animals and shooting at longer ranges can predict with pretty amazing accuracy when an animal is going to remain stationary for the shot and when it's not. Watch enough animals and they become pretty predictable. If they are moving so much that a bullet flight time of less than a second could make the difference between a lethal hit and wounding the animal, the ethical thing would be not to take the shot. I honestly don't see much issue with predicting when an animal will remain stationary long enough for the shot. You really do need to pay attention to animal behaviour though. If time of flight is such a determining factor for the ethics of shot range, archery hunters should be a target long before long-range shooters. The time of flight of an arrow can be measured in seconds if one is truly concerned about the animal moving. Plus sound becomes a factor there too where it does not with a rifle shot. It's all about putting things in perspective.

 

[patty59]

This show is to sling merchandise and make money. They show people shooting animals at long distances with their products in hopes to sell those products to anyone thinking they can do the same.

 

[Brian46]

The TV hunting is for entertainment, almost all is done on private land where herds are maintained by the owners, people pay according to the size of trophy they want. The show is all advertisement for the ranch and the gear.........I have yet to see anyone out on crown land with huskemaw optics flinging lead at 800yds because they saw it done on TV. Spotting game at 20 yards is hard enough for inexperienced hunters, you honestly think they are going to have a chance at 800?

Please don't confuse hunting in the wild with the american game farms and preserves shown on TV for entertainment. Video can also be edited, so who really knows what goes on in those shows.

 

[sheephunter]

The TV hunting is for entertainment, almost all is done on private land where herds are maintained by the owners, people pay according to the size of trophy they want. The show is all advertisement for the ranch and the gear.........I have yet to see anyone out on crown land with huskemaw optics flinging lead at 800yds because they saw it done on TV. Spotting game at 20 yards is hard enough for inexperienced hunters, you honestly think they are going to have a chance at 800?

Please don't confuse hunting in the wild with the american game farms and preserves shown on TV for entertainment.

HUH? I'd say at least 75% of Best Of The West shows are done on public land.

 

[Brian46]

HUH? I'd say at least 75% of Best Of The West shows are done on public land.

my post was in general to how hunting is marketed via video for TV. It is not realistic as it can be edited to show any result.

for every show that is filmed in the wild there are 20 or 30 others that are not hence why I said "almost all" above.

 

[sheephunter]

my post was in general to how hunting is marketed via video for TV. It is not realistic as it can be edited to show any result.

My response was to illustrate how inaccurate your post was. Sure there are a few shows that hunt "managed" properties almost exclusively but I'd say there are a far greater number that don't.

 

[skhunter]

I know it's fashionable to say we get as close as we can before we take the shot and I'm guilty of saying it as well but I must admit that more than once I've taken a shot at 300 yards when I likely could have made it to 250 or maybe even 200 yards. I suspect you've done the same...perhaps at different yardages but you get my drift. It's one of those things we say but it really isn't 100% accurate. If you got to 100 yards on a deer would you try to get to 80, or 60? Does that mean you are not hunting either? It's a slippery slope we tread on. I have no doubt that John Porter gets within a range where he is certain of a lethal shot too. His lethal shot certainty just happens to be twice or three times that of most people. So because he's more skilled than you or I it makes him unethical? I'm not a long range shooter by any means nor do I really have the desire to be but I'm not sure that choice gives me the right to judge those more skilled than I. It seems some feel it does though. You use a lot of popular buzz phrases in your post hoyt but they are neither quantifiable nor do they really bear any scrutiny. While many of us would like to consider our ethics superior....at the end of the day they are just our ethics.

If you are using a rifle caliber that is sighted in for 12 inches or less drop at 300yds getting closer is not critical. I am sure if the animal was 300yds away and walking towards you, you would let him close the distance. If the BOTW boys were making 300yd shots this thread would never have come up.

If John Porter was on the side of a mountain making long range one shot kills himself I would have no problem with it.

What makes John Porter unethical is when he puts an average hunter behind a rifle for an 800yd shot to promote his merchandise.

When he does that he has the credibility of Vince the ShamWow guy.

 

[sheephunter]

If you are using a rifle caliber that is sighted in for 12 inches or less drop at 300yds getting closer is not critical. .

Cartridge trajectory is pretty irrelevant with ballistic reticle or exposed turret scopes. Your point of impact and point of aim are the same through a wide variety of ranges. Drop means nothing as your scope compensates for it. You basically have the correct zero for every range you shoot (within reason of course) The days of Kentucky windage are long gone.

 

[Brian46]

My response was to illustrate how inaccurate your post was. Sure there are a few shows that hunt "managed" properties almost exclusively but I'd say there are a far greater number that don't.

inaccurate? I have watched many shows where they shoot an animal in the am, then it is clearly many hours later in the day when they show the animal down and claim it was a short track to find the deer, or it is getting loaded on the UTV and it is clearly evening. It is all for show, may not even be the same animal in some instances.

In the USA there is almost no government land left to hunt and the USA is where most of these hunting shows are filmed. Sure there are safari hunts in New zeland, africa, hungry, etc on TV but the land there is private and/or preserves which are managed by the people you pay to hunt with.

 

[blargon]

What makes John Porter unethical is when he puts an average hunter behind a rifle for an 800yd shot to promote his merchandise.

As long as they flog their gear, they don't seem to care. Having 'Shooter Tips' about practicing, doesn't make it ethical.

 

[sheephunter]

In the USA there is almost no government land left to hunt and the USA is where most of these hunting shows are filmed.

LOL...I take it you have never been to the western states.

 

[blargon]

inaccurate? I have watched many shows where they shoot an animal in the am, then it is clearly many hours later in the day when they show the animal down and claim it was a short track to find the deer, or it is getting loaded on the UTV and it is clearly evening. It is all for show, may not even be the same animal in some instances.

In the USA there is almost no government land left to hunt and the USA is where most of these hunting shows are filmed. Sure there are safari hunts in New zeland, africa, hungry, etc on TV but the land there is private and/or preserves which are managed by the people you pay to hunt with.

There is still lots of public land, but some of it is land locked and requires trespass fees to cross it.

I agree about the 12hrs or more it seems to take to recover the animal, but you can expect that with gut shots.

 

[Brian46]

LOL...I take it you have never been to the western states.

majority of shows are not filmed there, and yes, I have traveled to many areas of the western US, probably more than most non residents, but again this is not where you see the shows and videos being filmed most of the time.

 

[sheephunter]

Sure there are safari hunts in New zeland, africa, hungry, etc on TV but the land there is private and/or preserves which are managed by the people you pay to hunt with.

In some cases sure and some cases not...you can't paint any of it with a broad brush. Well I guess you can but it sure isn't accurate. It's a big world out there with lots of variety.

 

[sheephunter]

majority of shows are not filmed there, and yes, I have traveled to many areas of the western US, probably more than most non residents, but again this is not where you see the shows and videos being filmed most of the time.

Okay this thread is about Best of the West and yes, the majority of their hunts are filmed there as are many others that I can think of. Truthfully I see very few shows filmed in the eastern U.S....lots in the western U.S. and Alaska though. And lots in other parts of the world.

 

[Brian46]

There is still lots of public land.

not when you compare it to canada. The people who are calling this type of unting unethical in this thread seem to think the types of hunting portrayed on these shows is going on in our own back yard which for the most part it is not. I'm lucky to see a hunter outside his truck or off his atv here in BC during hunting season.

 

[skhunter]

Cartridge trajectory is pretty irrelevant with ballistic reticle or exposed turret scopes. Your point of impact and point of aim are the same through a wide variety of ranges. Drop means nothing as your scope compensates for it. You basically have the correct zero for every range you shoot (within reason of course) The days of Kentucky windage are long gone.

What I was trying to get across is that with most big game calibers 300yd shots are easily made without the need for specialized equipment. All you need is a good rest and shooting ability. So to bring 300yd and closer shots into this debate is meaningless.

 

[Brian46]

Okay this thread is about Best of the West and yes, the majority of their hunts are filmed there as are many others that I can think of. Truthfully I see very few shows filmed in the eastern U.S....lots in the western U.S. and Alaska though. And lots in other parts of the world.

you must only PVR certain shows, for every episode I see of an actual wild hunt I see 10 or more from ranches or preserves, I dont think I have seen one white tail or waterfowl hunt on tv that was not on private land.

I must be watching the wrong channel

 

[blargon]

you must only PVR certain shows, for every episode I see of an actual wild hunt I see 10 or more from ranches or preserves, I dont think I have seen one white tail or waterfowl hunt on tv that was not on private land.

I must be watching the wrong channel

Not sure if the private ranches and preserves means there is NO public land. Maybe more to do with the guides and outfitters doing the scouting ahead of time, and have animals picked out. Harder to do on public land with more pressure.

Private land doesn't always mean its a canned hunt.

 

[sheephunter]

you must only PVR certain shows, for every episode I see of an actual wild hunt I see 10 or more from ranches or preserves, I dont think I have seen one white tail or waterfowl hunt on tv that was not on private land.

I must be watching the wrong channel

Perhaps you are.... I must admit I have my favourites and they mostly involve Canada, western U.S., Alaska and overseas. There's sure enough of them to keep me interested. I suspect most whitetail and waterfowl hunts are on private property as that's where they primarily live but lots of that private property is open for hunting to anyone that asks permission. They aren't all preserves......