Over the past couple of years, I'm sure we've all seen and read hunting/gun mag articles dealing with super long range hunting. Guys/writers bragging about shooting deer, antelope, goats, etc...in excess of 500 yards...often at much further ranges. The issue was brought to the fore once again in the past two issues of North American Hunter Magazine. Writer Ian McMurchy wrote about a cull hunt where he and a companion were shooting at 600-700+ yards. A reader called him to task in the next issue, McMurchy got his back up and defended his actions.
I've seen far too many wounded animals this past hunting season to accept any such justification. I know damn well that newbie hunters and those that should have better common sense are reading those articles, going up and buying themselves the latest sooper-dooper magnum and then emptying it in the general direction of a big game animal a mile away!
That's not hunting! The longest shot I've taken on a big game animal was a hair over 400 yards and it was a one shot kill. I was shooting sitting, with a rifle I knew intimately and using my own handloads, while conditions were near perfect. Had the terrain permitted, I would've much preferred to get closer. Alas...
Now we're seeing new hunters, etc...trying to use magnum calibers as a replacement for developing stalking skills. It totally ticks me off. I was hunting the other day and I saw this absolutely beautiful cow moose with a gaping wound in her left rear leg. The leg was obviously broken and she had great difficult walking. There is no way she will survive the Winter and if our DNR permitted it, she should've been put down to end her suffering. Called Wildlife, but with their manpower, their response is to "let nature take its course!" I've got too much respect for the animals I hunt to easily accept the needless suffering of another creature. Yet, if I choose to put her down, I'd be jeopardizing myself personally and could face charges of poaching, lose my hunting privileges, rifle, ATV, truck, etc...and face thousands in fines...for doing the "right" thing. I let nature take its course of course and a fine animal that deserved our respect and a painless death, continues on to suffer for another week or two, before infection, sepsis or a coyote gets her.
For the guys who want to take those super long shots, take up bench rest or service rifle and "kill" paper! Don't get your jollies shooting at distant live targets that you can barely see in your scope, simply because the law says you can. Develop a code of personal ethics and either stalk closer or pass!
I've seen far too many wounded animals this past hunting season to accept any such justification. I know damn well that newbie hunters and those that should have better common sense are reading those articles, going up and buying themselves the latest sooper-dooper magnum and then emptying it in the general direction of a big game animal a mile away!
That's not hunting! The longest shot I've taken on a big game animal was a hair over 400 yards and it was a one shot kill. I was shooting sitting, with a rifle I knew intimately and using my own handloads, while conditions were near perfect. Had the terrain permitted, I would've much preferred to get closer. Alas...Now we're seeing new hunters, etc...trying to use magnum calibers as a replacement for developing stalking skills.
It totally ticks me off. I was hunting the other day and I saw this absolutely beautiful cow moose with a gaping wound in her left rear leg. The leg was obviously broken and she had great difficult walking. There is no way she will survive the Winter and if our DNR permitted it, she should've been put down to end her suffering. Called Wildlife, but with their manpower, their response is to "let nature take its course!" I've got too much respect for the animals I hunt to easily accept the needless suffering of another creature. Yet, if I choose to put her down, I'd be jeopardizing myself personally and could face charges of poaching, lose my hunting privileges, rifle, ATV, truck, etc...and face thousands in fines...for doing the "right" thing. I let nature take its course of course and a fine animal that deserved our respect and a painless death, continues on to suffer for another week or two, before infection, sepsis or a coyote gets her. For the guys who want to take those super long shots, take up bench rest or service rifle and "kill" paper! Don't get your jollies shooting at distant live targets that you can barely see in your scope, simply because the law says you can. Develop a code of personal ethics and either stalk closer or pass!
