I'm not much of a long-range shooter. I like to get close, within a hundred yards or so. I don't understand the current trend of bombarding deer or other game animals from half a mile away.

The longest shot I ever took on a game animal was a caribou trotting broadside in open country at 400 yards. My first shot broke his front leg, second shot finished him. Based on that performance, 400 yards is too far away for me to be taking shots at game. A puff of breeze, and I could have gut-shot him and had him run off.

In South Africa, I made a good shot, angling forward through the kudu's lungs, at 280 yards. My professional hunter was impressed. He said that was the limit at which he'd allow a client to take a shot on game. In Zambia, my PH looked at me like I was lying when I said in America there are people who shoot at game from a thousand yards. All my animals there were taken at 150 yards or less.

In recent years most of my hunting has been for moose, and I call them in. Last one I called came within ten yards. Who has to shoot them from long range, when you can get them to come to you?

Jim

My dad was a firm believer anything more than 300 yards is to far. He would always laugh at the idea of me sighting my scope more than 200 yards. He would always sight his in at 150.

James, I'm a close the distance guy. I’m real good to 400, but I would rather take a extra hour or two and pull the trigger at 150 or closer. I’m not a rifleman. I will confidently squeeze the trigger at a sharpie at 50 yards with my 20ga O/U, but long range rifle is not my game. My older brother can hit 6” steel at 800 yards over and over.

658 yds and 5/8”

35-40 yards, 7 1/2 shot out of a cylinder choke ain't good for much more.

64 paces is my longest to date. But I hunt the woods not greenfields, powerlines or other open areas. Eight feet is my closest.
Ironically the long was with irons and an ear shot on a small yearling doe. The near one was with 2x7 glass and I had to guess and by golly that one.

300 yards or so

James,

In this country the conifer trees are thick, and the terrain very rugged.

There are a few places along ridgetops that I have enjoyed some long range shooting with my Weatherby , on interactive non living targets

Shooting say, an elk across a valley on the next mountainside , all I would think of is the arduous work and time in getting to it and packing it out.

Not to mention the risk of the things you mentioned , as well.

This is extremely rugged and thick treed mountain country , and Ive been happy to carefully plan and get my game , estimating under 100 yards , give or take a few . Most times its less, due to the terrain and big tree cover.

As your last thought expresses, I too plan as much as possible to know where they will come near to where I am set up.

I am with you! I am a rifle guy but don’t shoot enough anymore to be a good shot. I try to keep everything under 100 yards, ideally less than 50. The rifles and glass will do their part but I can’t. I can surrender my man card if needed.

James, for the most part I shoot under 200 as that is the majority of shots I am presented. I did shoot a doe once at just short of 700 yards, for no real reason other than I could. If the wind was right, I had a good rest, and that deer of a lifetime was standing at anything under 800 I would feel confident in my ability to take the shot. I would say the individual shooter would determine if long shots are ethical. If a person is capable of making the shot, why not take it. If the shooter can not consistently make a long shot, they have no business trying it on game. IMO

I have made a few shots out to 300 yards but mostly it is 50 yards or closer sometimes much closer. I work with a few of the long range guys mostly I hear about lost animals. I am close to Sharon and I agree it is very thick. A lot of times I can smell them but can't see them.

I prefer to keep shots within a hundred yards. I did shoot a coyote once at 314 paces but that was a rare thing for me to shoot that far

400 yds is a chip shot.

You have to realize your African PH is used to people like you that pay to hunt. He's probably used to people making botched 200yd shots.

If you practice out to 1000yds why not shoot to 500 if you need to? I'm all about collecting deer and elk for the freezer

Shot two deer at 491 a few years ago. Did not see first one fall so shot again. Took my blue heeler to find my deer in a soy bean field and we each found different deer. Friend came to my aid and ranged the shot.

Once made a 550. Had to compute by stepping it off and using algebra to compute the hypotenuse.

About 300 is all I attempt anymore, and normally a whole lot less.

Big game-150 yards I am confident.
Small game-beaver-fox etc 50 to 75 yards.
My best shot was a heart shot on a running black bear at 340 yards.

My longest shot at game was a rest aim shot at an Alberta whitetail at 450 yards.

At the shot, he made three hops and fell over.

Most of my whitetail shots the last 19 years have been made at 50 yards or less in thick cover.

My 7MM Mag is still sighted in at 3.5" inches high at 100 yards from my last Alberta hunt in 2000.

Need to get it dialed back to 1" inch high at 100 one of these days.

Currently shooting a 160 grain Sierra boat tail.

w

I’m fairly comfortable out to 200 yards for deer, 150 for coyotes maybe. If it is running, forget it.

200 yards, but prefer 100 or less.

I'm a close range guy... But the fellas west of me going after antelope usually don't have the "close" option.

Mike

Depends on my target, dogs and varmints I'm fine to 400 or so, not running and barking at me, if it don't go down I'll give an hour or so search, then move on to another stand, and not worry about wasting the rest of the day after it. I never shoot at running dogs any more, learned long ago it's just education for them.

Big game I like to move in as close as I feel the need to without spooking them, have shot elk and deer both out to 300, but mostly closer. I eat them so I don't want them moving all over filling the meat with hormones and wasting it.

Big game also depends on how many in the area hunting as well, general hunts here are a nightmare with people, if your after something and you don't knock it down when you have the chance to, you probably won't get a second chance after you shoot due to everyone zeroing in on your target, it can pay to be able to shoot long distance here, but does not mean you have to every time. What caliber you use has a big determination on the distance for me as well.

I like to make sure I have the animal within my safe zone 100 to 300 as a regular shot.