Deer at 500 Yards?

HMFIC · Oct 31, 2011

Just wanted to know y'alls opinions in case you missed this on the other thread in the rifle section... the thread has veered from the question the OP presented and really the developing debate (as usual) is around ethical hunting.

http://www.okshooters.com/showthread.php?129555-for-hunters-30-06-VS-308&p=1646521#post1646521

ripnbst · Oct 31, 2011

Take the shot if you can consistently hit 6" steel at 500 yds.

Though I would say that you better be using a caliber that is still capable of delivering serious energy at that range. We're not talking the venerable .243 that so many OK hunters are so fond of...

angsniper · Oct 31, 2011

If conditions were right, (ie: no 40mph crosswind, deer relaxed, unaware and standing still) I would not hesitate. I've made that shot several times in the past on deer and thousands of times on targets.

r00s7a · Oct 31, 2011

If they can't get any closer to a deer than 500 yards, they need to take up sewing. Too many variables at that distance for a clean kill.

RidgeHunter · Oct 31, 2011

Hunting? Well, anytime you can yell "HEY DEER, FAWK YOU MAN!!!" before you take your shot and not risk spooking the deer...it's really more "shooting" than it is "hunting".

Ethical? Just as ethical as all the 100,000+ slob rifle hunters that wing lead and empty guns at close range every Thanksgiving. A few ballstics nerds that think it's cool to play deer sniper aren't much of a concern to me considering how many goobers with rifles take to the woods and fields every gun season, the vast majority of whom goob it up at close range. There are issues such as marking the shot spot and tracking that MoBoost pointed out. But considering how many untrained, ignorant hunters we have...and how few long range nerds we have...I don't worry about them.

I don't find it unethical in that regard. That being said, stories about long shots on big game don't impress me in the slightest. I'm impressed by people like our posters here who get up close and personal with deer, especially the ones hunting public land. A 500yd shot is an impressive shot; it's not an impressive hunt.

tran · Oct 31, 2011

angsniper said:
If conditions were right, (ie: no 40mph crosswind, deer relaxed, unaware and standing still) I would not hesitate. I've made that shot several times in the past on deer and thousands of times on targets.

I agree. We shot 500 yards regularly at the range. I have no problem with that distance as long as I have a good rest and the conditions are right. Now on the other hand, if you have never shot that distance and you are totally relying on luck, you should not take the shot.

You need to know your guns capabilities as well as your own. I have a 15 Year old son that can make that shot 10 out of 10 times under the right conditions. However, you need to practice it. The more you shot the more comfortable you are going to be with the shot. Period, End of story…

HMFIC · Oct 31, 2011

RidgeHunter said:
Hunting? Well, anytime you can yell "HEY DEER, FAWK YOU MAN!!!" before you take your shot and not risk spooking the deer...it's really more "shooting" than it is "hunting".

Ethical? Just as ethical as all the 100,000+ slob rifle hunters that wing lead and empty guns at close range every Thanksgiving. A few ballstics nerds that think it's cool to play deer sniper aren't much of a concern to me considering how many goobers with rifles take to the woods and fields every gun season, the vast majority of whom goob it up at close range. There are issues such as marking the shot spot and tracking that MoBoost pointed out. But considering how many untrained, ignorant hunters we have...and how few long range nerds we have...I don't worry about them.

I don't find it unethical in that regard. That being said, stories about long shots on big game don't impress me in the slightest. I'm impressed by people like our posters here who get up close and personal with deer, especially the ones hunting public land. A 500yd shot is an impressive shot; it's not an impressive hunt.

HEY DEER FAWK YOU MAN....

ROFL! You never let me down brother.

tran · Oct 31, 2011

HMFIC said:
HEY DEER FAWK YOU MAN....

ROFL! You never let me down brother.

RidgeHunter said:
Hunting? Well, anytime you can yell "HEY DEER, FAWK YOU MAN!!!" before you take your shot and not risk spooking the deer...it's really more "shooting" than it is "hunting".

Ethical? Just as ethical as all the 100,000+ slob rifle hunters that wing lead and empty guns at close range every Thanksgiving. A few ballstics nerds that think it's cool to play deer sniper aren't much of a concern to me considering how many goobers with rifles take to the woods and fields every gun season, the vast majority of whom goob it up at close range. There are issues such as marking the shot spot and tracking that MoBoost pointed out. But considering how many untrained, ignorant hunters we have...and how few long range nerds we have...I don't worry about them.

I don't find it unethical in that regard. That being said, stories about long shots on big game don't impress me in the slightest. I'm impressed by people like our posters here who get up close and personal with deer, especially the ones hunting public land. A 500yd shot is an impressive shot; it's not an impressive hunt.

I would venture to say that I am a lot more accurate and consistent at 500 that you are using a bow at 35 or 40 yards! It is like any thing you do. Practice makes perfect!

You can not tell me if you seen the biggest deer of your life time and you knew you could make the shot, you would not take it! I say Bull ****!

Okie4570 · Oct 31, 2011

Have taken 5 deer between 490y and 675y with my .280AI. I have had the opportunity to shoot at many more at those ranges but shooting conditions were not right, so I didnt consider shooting at them. I've put 100's of rounds thru this rifle so I'm comfortable with it. These five shots were actually taken off of a shooting bench next to landowners barn overlooking a wheat field with zero wind and I knew my exact distances and my ballistics, so I feel like these were within my "ethical capabilities". I usually bow hunt with a Hoyt Sky longbow, I wont shoot at anything over 20y, which I feel that's my ethical effective range. It's all relative to ones capabilities, just like everything else.

RidgeHunter · Oct 31, 2011

tran said:
I would venture to say that I am a lot more accurate and consistent at 500 that you are using a bow at 35 or 40 yards with a bow! It is like any thing you do. Practice makes perfect!

You can not tell me if you seen the biggest deer of your life time and you knew you could make the shot, you would not take it! I say Bull ****!

I have no idea what you are even trying to say here, brother. I wish I did, but I don't even know what you're arguing with me about.

I don't have a problem with people taking long range shots, provided it's within the range they can effectively put shots in a kill zone-sized target, minus a bit to account for the variables brought into play when shooting at a live animal in the field. More power to you. I simply said it doesn't impress me. That's just my personal opinion.

More accurate with a rifle at 500 yds than I am with a bow at 35? Sure, very possible. I dunno why you want to flop 'em out and get out the tape measures tho, as there's one thing I've never claimed to be and that's a great shot with any weapon. Also, I don't shoot 35 yards at live game with my bow.

Deer at 500 Yards?

HMFIC

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