Hunting vs. Shooting game?

Question

opinions on shooting of game at long distances(300yds+) over stalking to get closer shot. with todays calibers optics and practice it is possible, ethics of good shot placement at these distances aside when is it hunting rather than just shooting game.

Answer 1

Hunting is not defined in terms of how far you can shoot an animal nor in terms of how close you can stalk. Distance does not matter except in those cases where an ignorant hunter tries to shoot an animal that is beyond the effective range of his gun or beyond his ability to place the bullet for a clean kill. Hunting means going afield for the intended purpose of harvesting game under "fair chase" conditions. There are instances when I question whether a trip is actual hunting or not and that is when animals are penned up in a small pasture and the "hunter" is allowed to simply walk out and shoot the animal. I don't consider this hunting. It is simply slaughter. If the game that is harvested under these conditions, ends up on the dining table, then, in spite of it not being actual hunting , it is no more sinful than the slaughter of domestic animals. If the animal is wasted and the meat is not eaten, but just shot to see it fall down, that is a disgrace and I personally consider it a sin for which they will have to answer to a higher authority. Fortunately, in spite of what PETA and the media would have you believe, these kinds of hunts do not happen all that often when compared to those ethical hunters who pursue their game under fair chase rules, harvest them and take them home for food.

Answer 2

I personally won't take a shot at a game animal at a range beyond 200 yards. My rifles are up to longer ranges, but my eyes aren't.

I really do not consider taking shots at ranges much past 300 yards, on unwounded game, to be ethical.

A good hunter is willing and able to stalk to the closest possible range before making their shot. I know some folks who are almost disappointed if the bring down a deer and don't give the hide powder burns.

I'm of the opinion that long range shooting is for targets, not game animals. People who brag about 400, 500, or 800 yard shots on game animals do not impress me in the least. To me it only means they are too lazy, or incapable of stalking to a more reasonable range.

Doc

Answer 3

Thinking of the deer I've killed in the past decade or so, the longest shot was 220 yards and the shortest 3. I've been fortunate to know some extraordinarily fine hunters/riflemen who can take a 300 yard shot with confidence, and I have no problem with that, especially since I know they hunt hard and the vast majority of their shots are also inside 75 yards. I also know how much time they spend putting holes in paper.
For the great majority of hunters I know, they don't have the knowledge or experience to take the longer shots and need to continue to learn to hunt harder and get closer.
It's hard to be arbitrary about these things, because there's so much variation in game, field conditions, and people. But those who brag about 500 yard shots, those who equate paper-punching with effectiveness on game too closely, and those who otherwise show their inexperience all make me start looking for an escape route.

Answer 4

I personally won't take a shot at a game animal at a range beyond 200 yards. My rifles are up to longer ranges, but my eyes aren't.

I really do not consider taking shots at ranges much past 300 yards, on unwounded game, to be ethical.

A good hunter is willing and able to stalk to the closest possible range before making their shot. I know some folks who are almost disappointed if the bring down a deer and don't give the hide powder burns.

I'm of the opinion that long range shooting is for targets, not game animals. People who brag about 400, 500, or 800 yard shots on game animals do not impress me in the least. To me it only means they are too lazy, or incapable of stalking to a more reasonable range.

Answer 5

In my opinion it is shooting when you are shooting outlaw quadrupeds and hunting when you are killing legal game for meat. The first would be your varmint hunting for animals legal to shoot who for whatever economically or ecologically reason have been put on the list as legal targets and shooters are encouraged to kill.

Legal game animals are shot for the express purpose of being hunted for their meat and have managed game limits. Both should be approached ethically and every attempt made to make a clean humane kill and not simply hit the animal. That should never be condoned lest we become cruel animals and not fair hunt sportsmen.

Answer 6

My personal thoughts are that shots on big game past 200 yards should not be taken. Wind gusts, twigs, animal movement all can contribute to a killing shot turning into a gut shot animal that will run and suffer for an inexcusably long time. Varmints like ground squirrels etc are excluded from this, if you hit one, it's most likely dead anyway.

Answer 7

To me it is entirely based on the time put into finding an animal. How long did you scout for sign. I often hunt out of a treestand, but still consider unting because I put a lot of thought and time into placing that stand in just the right spot to take a particular animal. Still hunting, in my opinion, is the purest form of hunting and requires skill, luck, and patience.

Answer 8

it really depends on the hunter and the animal being persude.I dont think its wise to shoot over 300 yrds at game unless you ve put in alot of range time .and then that should only strech you out to 350 400 yrds max. and then on game that is easily taken down .the only big game I would recomend going over 300 yrds on would be a prong horn.and then only if you cant get closer .alot of people go out and get the biggest,flatest shooting round tey can because then they think they dont have to put in the time to learn fieldcraft.

Answer 9

need a game for hunting