Hunting at long range

[Robert Banzet]

I live in Petaluma California and did most of my long range hunting in MODAC COUNTY, Calif. I no longer do long range hunting due to a missed deer at 950 yards and realized that I could wound and never find the wounded animal and I now restrict my shooting to 300 yards.

[WyoElk2Hunt]

Glad to have you here and maybe you can build you confidence back up and try again on long range. When you get bucked off get on and try again.

[SBruce]

+1

Welcome to LRH. We can get you back to where shooting/hunting twice the distance you're comfortable with now will seem easy under the right conditions.

There's many many coyotes that would've gotten away if I limited myself to 300yds, quite a few antelope and deer too. I'll be the first to admit though, if I have to shoot offhand, 300 is even a long way.

Hope you find some things here that help.

[Varmint Hunter]

Originally Posted by Robert Banzet

I live in Petaluma California and did most of my long range hunting in MODAC COUNTY, Calif. I no longer do long range hunting due to a missed deer at 950 yards and realized that I could wound and never find the wounded animal and I now restrict my shooting to 300 yards.

As Clint Eastwood said "A man must know his limitations". I respect the fact that you reconsidered what is an ethetical hunting distance for you and your equipment. In reality, 300 yards is a long way and MANY hunters couldn't hit their SUV at that distance. Although if you ask, they're all capable of 1,000 yd kills.

[davkrat]

No matter what your predetermined "long range" is there is tons of info here that can help you just become a better shot in general. My personal upper limit is 600 yards with standard hunting cartridges. Some here would consider that short to medium range. I don't want an extreme rifle that is difficult or expensive to shoot and too cumbersome to haul 5-10 miles on your back.

It's always good to practice out further than you intend to shoot an animal just in case you have to. I don't believe in having to shoot an animal just because of it's size, etc but if you flub a shot at closer range and have to finish it off before it crosses the next ridge it's nice to know you have practiced at extended ranges. Welcome to the madness.