From: keith@clodII.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM (Keith Boyd)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: Long-Range Hunting
Date: 7 Apr 92 17:08:12 GMT
Article-I.D.: doug.1992Apr7.120812.6971
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

To the Moderator: I am not sure if this is against netiquette rules
but I would like to quote two different authors in my post since it  
is the easiest way to do it on my mailer. Thanks... 
  
[Moderator's note: it is fine by me....   tjr]

In the first, Shawn Boyd writes in article <1992Mar31.082907.23366@doug -
.cae.wisc.edu> : 
(Stuff about 1200 yard shots deleted)
>  However, after giving the matter some thought, I have to say that,
> if the kill is clean, legal and the animal is used after the kill, then
> the hunter who made the shot deserves respect and congratulations, not
> repudiation.
>   

I tend to agree, Shawn. If a hunter is well practiced, knows his abilities
with his weapon, and feels 99.9% confident that he/she can make the long
shot, then I have no qualms with one taking it.


> 
> Yes, many hunters do use tree stands, and I am certainly no exception. 
> Although hunting deer is not my personal favorite form of hunting, I 
> would never belittle a hunter who can take a deer from a tree stand.
>

Thanks Shawn, because I deerhunt from either one of my portable stands or
I just won't go. I won't leave home without my Warren and Sweat or my
Tomcat.
 
> In Texas, white tails are so nocturnal that it's very difficult to take 
> one any other way than from a tree stand.  A white tail can hear your 
> brain think from the next county, it can see through a fog that would 
> blind any normal human, and it can smell the soap you used to wash your
> socks.  If you can take one from a tree stand, then you have my respect.
> 

Gee, does this mean I gotta' quit thinking and quit washing my socks at 
the same time next deer season!! ;-)

> 
> This does not mean that I would ever dream of 
> of demeaning a hunter who has the patience and skill to wait in a tree
> stand in weather that would drive most other people indoors.  Similarly,
> I would not appreciate being nagged at for running through prickly pear
> and mesquite almost too thick crawl through to arrow a peccary or maybe
> a rabbit to roast for dinner.  Hunters need to stick together, and defend
> the sport that other people might not understand.
>

Thanks Shawn. And I promise if ever I am sitting in my tree stand and you 
come sneaking by with bow in hand, I won't nag, rag, or belittle you! ;-) 
 
>  For heaven's sake, some guys I know hunt
> wild hogs off horse back WITH A KNIFE!  I think the issue of range can be
> discounted on that kind of hunt.  Not one of those guys would ever even 
> think about complaining about someone taking a 1200 yard shot and making
> a clean kill.  In fact, they'd probably ask to see pictures!
> 

Well, you can  'jis count me out on that kind of hunt! ;-)   Hey, we wanna'
see pictures of those guys jumping from horse to hog with knife in hand!!    

> 
> I agree sincerely and whole heartedly.  Safety is an issue all hunters
> must remain constantly aware of.  Vigilaince in the name of safety cannot 
> be over stressed.  As hunters, the weapons we use are absolutely deadly,
> and are so by design.  Because of this, hunters MUST be careful to take 
> every precaution not to harm themselves, others or their property.  After
> giving the matter some consideration, and talking it over with other men
> and women I hunt with, I have to say that successfully making a 1200 yard 
> shot is not in the least bit unethical (and certainly not illegal in this 
> state) as long as the hunter has the technical ability to make the shot 
> cleanly and safely. 
>
 
I totally agree with you, Shawn.
 
> 
> Shawn Boyd
> Austin, Texas
>


Now for the second quote:
 

In article <1992Mar30.071404.12094@doug.cae.wisc.edu>  Bob Boardman writes:

 

> 	I sometimes take shots exceeding this by a factor of 2 with
>   my Ruger #1 in 7mm Rem Mag, using 140 or 160 grain Nosler partition
>   bullets.  I feel that these shots are at the limit of my particular
>   combination of rifle/ammo/shooting ability, and wouldn't try a shot at
>   over 500 yards or so, but I think any hunter has to make these decisions
>   for himself.  I will always try to stalk closer if that is possible,
>   but sometimes there just isn't any cover.  Then one has to decide
>   whether they reasonably can make the shot from that point, taking
>   all factors into consideration.  After all, it's always a matter of
>   probabilites, not absolutes.  There is always some probability of not
>   killing cleanly, regardless of the range.  One uses their best judgement
>   and has to live with the consequences, just like with everything else
>   in this life.
>

  I am certain I would not try a shot over 500 yds. either. Twice I have
attempted shots at about 300 yds. The first resulted in a low hit and a
lost deer and the second resulted with a total miss. I have since resigned
myself to no more shots at that range until I get practiced and feel that
I am competent to try it again. The problem is I do not have a 300-500yd
range readily available.  The last part of your paragraph is very true.
Nothing is certain when hunting. I have missed deer at close ranges and
at other times I have dropped them in their tracks at 10 yds. Then again,
I have made some bad hits up close too.  I once missed a big fat gobbler
at about 12 steps with my shotgun. He was too close for the pattern to 
spread out good!!  (Plus, I was stunned he walked in so close too me!)
Though, I did knock some feathers off with a parting shot....

Well, that about does it...I just wanted to see if I could get two birds
with one stone. (But no woodpeckers!) ;-)

Later...

Keith


---
| Keith M. Boyd  (NCR E&M Cola.) |  Nothing could be finer than huntin' and  |
| 3325 Platt Springs Rd. ________|  fishin' in South Carolina!  -Me-         |
| West Cola., S.C. 29170 | GO GAMECOCKS!  |  keith@clodii.columbiasc.NCR.COM |
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