What range? Big game

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lackeyse

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I was just wondering what range do most shoot there big game at? Lets start at whitetail and stop at the griz(and everything in between). What gun do you use and what ammo?
My personal best is a nice whitetail at 390yds with my .30-06 180 gr win silvertip. Although my comfort level would be 300yds and under. Hopefully this topic hasn't been beaten to death already.
 
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Whitetail around my area are open season and are hunted to death. They are very smart and skittish and I am not a "hunter". Generally we take them in and around 400 yards. Keep in mind it is Southwest Saskatchewan, so it is wide open. Right now I use a .243 and my buddy uses a 25-06. Mule deer are a different story as they are fairly calm, we shoot em around 100-200 yards.
Longest shot was 545 yards on a mule doe with the 25-06. She was laying on a side hill, we used a rangefinder and shoot those distances on the range regularly, so it wasn't a dangerous hail mary shot.
 
Farlsincharge said:
Whitetail around my area are open season and are hunted to death. They are very smart and skittish and I am not a "hunter". Generally we take them in and around 400 yards. Keep in mind it is Southwest Saskatchewan, so it is wide open. Right now I use a .243 and my buddy uses a 25-06. Mule deer are a different story as they are fairly calm, we shoot em around 100-200 yards.
Longest shot was 545 yards on a mule doe with the 25-06. She was laying on a side hill, we used a rangefinder and shoot those distances on the range regularly, so it wasn't a dangerous hail mary shot.
Click to expand...

Wow 545yds. I love reading this because I am not comfortable shooting at this range. Unfortunately I am unable to take full advantage of the potential of my rifle. I wonder if I am in the minority? I definately need more practice. I would love to use my rifle to its fullest extent. How many believe they use there rifles to there fullest extent?
 
50 yards and under for me! Rifle, Shotgun and Bow
Shortest was 7 yards with the bow on Whitetail.
Longest on Whitetail was roughly 40 yards with Ruger .44 Mag Carbine.
Where I hunt, 25 - 40 yards is the norm, but the buggers are moving!:D
 
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The game doesn't determine the range, but the country and the weather the game is hunted in can. To repeat an old adage, "If you can get closer, then get closer, if you can get lower then get lower."

The critical determination as to whether or not a shot can be successfully taken can only be made by the hunter himself, and only then if he is honest with himself. What can he do with his rifle on demand, and under what conditions can he do it? How well can he estimate range? Is he familiar with the country he's hunting? What are the light conditions? What is the wind speed and direction? Is there mirage? Is the target obscured? Is the hunter or the target at an elevated angle relative to each other? Is the target moving? Is the target broadside or quartering, facing head on or straight away?

Add to this; what is your physical and mental condition and limitations? Are you exhausted and gasping for breath from a steep climb in thin air? Are your hands too cold to feel the trigger? Are you wet and cold and beginning to shiver? Are you in control of your emotions? Are you alert enough to make that close range snap shot?

The answers to these questions will help determine if the shot should be taken and will give some indication of the potential success of the shot that is attempted.
 
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LOL! I would have to go through my inventory because I try to hunt with a new rifle each year!

My farthest shot on any game becides a ground hawg was 290 of my steps i am guessing between 280-300 yards

Off hand shot with a 270 mountain rifle with a 150 gr sst.


For the most part, mst the game, bear moose and deer are shot with in 100 yards and most of the whitetails are 60 yards and in out of stands.

To answer your question for big game I use calibers from a 6.5mm to 375.

I really have seen no difference with killing game from one diameter to another, they al work.

The quickest bear kill was with a 303 enfield vs a battery of large fast rifles I own, Long storry I was guiding my Cousin on Black Bear hunt, he had to leave and I was stuck with an old PH 303 sporter. % min after he left teh BB showed up !
 
I love these conversations in our camp. We have 3 stable hunters that go yearly and we bring a 4 just to fills things out. We hear some great stories like the dude who bought his first centerfire a week before hunting season being able to 3" pattern at 600 yds but misses the 50 yard shot on the deer.

my personal best was on my first deer ever it was a touch over 130yds nothing overly special but still my best to date usually we get them within 100 yds
 
I have nevr shot a big game animal beyond 255 yrds, and don't intend to.

Have shot deer at 255 yrds and less with my 30/30
Have shot elk at 180 yrds and less, 30/30
Black Bear at 177 yrds and less, 30/30
caribout at 207 yrds and less 30/30
Moose at 155 yrds and less 30/30
Grizz in in sights at 56 yards and less 30/30
Polar Bear at 73 yrds and less 30/30

Elk at 140 yrds and less 45/70
Moose at 168 yrds and less 45/70
Deer at 154 yrds and less 45/70
Griz in sights at 50 yrds and less 45/70

Moose at 186 yrd 35 whelan
Deer at 211 yrd " " "
 
The average deer for me and the guys I hunt with here so far is 40-60 yards...Farthest I have ever shot one was pushing 200 but I don't think it was actually 200. Maybe 180's.

Moose can be a ways further out, there are lots of woodcuts in the area we moose hunt, I guess the longest shot presented would be about 300 yards but again, never shot one past 200.

When we sit and call, I have a cheap ruck kinda bag stuffed with clothes. If I can sit and rest the rifle on the bag, or get lower if I can, I would feel 300 is doable.
 
I like to practice at longer ranges (300-350 yards) to be ready for a potential long shot, but my longest shot on big game has been only 250 yards. I find even in open country, a guy can stalk within 300 yards. Average shot would probably be in the 80-120 yard range, on deer/moose/bear/elk.
 
I'm good to 420 yards!!
:D


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Longest I've shot anything living is 383 yards, deer.:)
 
My longest, on a whitetail, was about 175 yards. My personal best? 15 feet, also on a whitetail. Cartridge? I've yet to shoot an animal I couldn't have shot with a .30-30, though most were shot with a .280 Rem.
 
Yep, my best as a hunter, 7 yds. If you can fool a whitetail that close, you're doing good. I've shot deer to 250yds, only because you can't get closer on the towerline without them seeing you, and I practice from 100 to 300yds accordingly.

98% of my deer were less than 50 yds.
 
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