Max Yards

[croix]

 

it takes all kinds to make a forum

http://www.pcworld.com/article/163734/it_takes_a_village_idiot_the_jerks_of_online_forums.html

[carpsniperg2]

i was taught a long time ago to not care what others think. each person needs to decide what is right for them and what they can shoot at. ethics is up to each person and there choices. but it is true united we stand divided we fall that is a fact

[Machias]

Very true, it's also true a few irresponsible people can ruin a good thing for the vast majority.  halflife65 is exactly right, I always cringe when I see these threads because they are very predictable.  There was a gentleman on one of the discussion last year talking about all the wounded game he and his partners had found year in and year out.  I threw the BS flag.  After many lengthy discussion with this very knowledgeable and patient gentleman I find out I'm the one who has had his head in the sand.  I have been a bowhunter first and foremost for 33 years and you know what, just my 2 cents but as a bowhunting community we really have lost our way.  Somewhere along the way it went from "How close can I get" to "How far can I shoot".

[carpsniperg2]

yep you got that right, a few can ruin it no matter the weapon muzzle/rifle/bow etc.

[whacker1]

Somewhere along the way it went from "How close can I get" to "How far can I shoot".

All sports are doing this:
instead of baseball being focussed on rbi's, batting average, wins and losses, it is focussed on home runs and how far they go.

instead of basketball being focussed on team wins - it is focussed on the flashy dunk and the player of the game and the diamonds in the ears.

I agree with you that it is a problem with certain folks including myself that shoots a 300 remington ultra mag on the rifle side, and likes technology, but the ultimate decision comes to shooter, and we just need to make sure that we are making good decisions.  I think much of this is human nature to improve upon things, but it is important to give credit to the guy that takes a shot under 10 yards, because he was able to get that close.  highlight the focus of what you want others to view.....

There will always be game lost with all weapons, but minimizing lost game through better decision making and educating on good shots is all we can do.  

[bobcat]

This is a funny argument - it happens 5 or 6 times a year and, in essence, it's the same every time.

It starts out well enough, with some people stating how far they are comfortable shooting and everthing is fine, seems like fairly standard distances, people are saying "it's personal preference and how comfortable you are with your abilities" but then...

"I think that anything over 30 yards is unethical!  I think that the modern compounds are for *censored*es that don't know how to hunt!"

"I shoot 75 yards - if you're going to hunt the west you need to learn how to shoot!  I practice over 18 hours each day!"

Some rifle hunter always chimes in: "I find over 500 animals each year that were wounded by archers and died later.  That's the problem with archery and it gives hunting a bad name!"

A bunch of people get mad and tell each other that they don't know how to hunt, are unethical and have no right to be out in the woods.

Somebody finally shows up and says "As hunters, we all need to remain as one!  We'll all lose our rights if we're divided between groups!"

Some more name calling and finally an admin locks it.  Every time.   (And I'm a bowhunter, by the way.)

Well, what's funny is none of the things you said ALWAYS happen have happened in this thread. Nobody is aruging, no rifle hunters have chimed in, a bunch of people haven't gotten mad, and the thread isn't locked.

Sounds to me like maybe you are a bit disappointed that that hasn't happened with this thread. 

[Wild Bill]

And it begins.....

[halflife65]

Not getting into it, Bobcat.  That's the point.  And that's all I've got to say about that.

[Lowedog]

You also need to know when someone is 

[bearpaw]

it takes all kinds to make a forum

http://www.pcworld.com/article/163734/it_takes_a_village_idiot_the_jerks_of_online_forums.html

I had to laugh when I watched that slide show, if you eliminated all the stereo types in the slide show it wouldn't be worth having a discussion forum....

Here's the way I see it. None of us are perfect, if we think we are, we better take another look in the mirror and think about our learning process for a glimpse at the truth. To me hunting is an opportunistic sport, sure as humans we like to think we are above other animals in our ability to act "humanely" but if you get right down to it, by hunting you are looking for an opportunity to get an animal for whatever reason you have decided to be a hunter.

When an opportunity presents itself, my thought process is predictable, how do I maximize the opportunity? That might include getting as close as I can for self satisfaction, setting up for the long shot to see if I can make it for self satisfaction, shooting a doe in the head to save meat, shooting a big buck running straight away in the a$$ because it was most likely my only chance, trying to make the perfect drop dead shot, deciding to let the critter walk because I am not ready to end the hunt, or I figure the opportunity wasn't worth risking a wounded animal that might get away and die which results in not getting the animal.

I could sugar coat any of those statements with fancy wording but I think 95% of the problems in this country are with people trying to sugar coat the reality of the situation. Bottom line, we hunt for our own satisfaction and gain in whatever specific way we get that satisfaction or gain, whether its time in the field, meat, trophy, or a combination. If a guy is capable of consistently making a killing shot at 500 yards I say he deserves respect just as the guy who stalks within 10 yards.

It's just my predictable opinion, but I say we should all support each other. 

I probably should add, obviously we want to be effective and responsible hunters, and not cause animals unneeded suffering. But let's not lose sight of the fact that none of us are perfect, we all make mistakes, and don't for a minute think that any wounded animal dies a more grueling death from a bad shot than by bleeding to death as coyotes or wolves eat their hind quarters or a$$ out.

You would think that the tree-huggers would idolize hunters for being the keystone predators that we are, and for still having the consience to give an animal the most humane death possible. 

[NoBark]

I think you can support Hunting and hunter's of all kinds, AND still debate things like this that can have
a huge impact on our sport. 

For example, we all support bowhunters, but certainly not the actions of all bowhunters.  It's called self-policeing.

And when it comes to ethics, group sentiment often becomes the ethical norm. If enough go outside the norm,
the rest of the larger group push for those 'ethical' areas to be put into written law. ie: no draw-lok allowed, no electronics on a bow etc.

Because the actions of the individual affects the whole group, it is what it is imo

[MasterMisser]

And it begins.....

 

[MasterMisser]

it takes all kinds to make a forum

http://www.pcworld.com/article/163734/it_takes_a_village_idiot_the_jerks_of_online_forums.html

I had to laugh when I watched that slide show, if you eliminated all the stereo types in the slide show it wouldn't be worth having a discussion forum....

Here's the way I see it. None of us are perfect, if we think we are, we better take another look in the mirror and think about our learning process for a glimpse at the truth. To me hunting is an opportunistic sport, sure as humans we like to think we are above other animals in our ability to act "humanely" but if you get right down to it, by hunting you are looking for an opportunity to get an animal for whatever reason you have decided to be a hunter.

When an opportunity presents itself, my thought process is predictable, how do I maximize the opportunity? That might include getting as close as I can for self satisfaction, setting up for the long shot to see if I can make it for self satisfaction, shooting a doe in the head to save meat, shooting a big buck running straight away in the a$$ because it was most likely my only chance, trying to make the perfect drop dead shot, deciding to let the critter walk because I am not ready to end the hunt, or I figure the opportunity wasn't worth risking a wounded animal that might get away and die which results in not getting the animal.

I could sugar coat any of those statements with fancy wording but I think 95% of the problems in this country are with people trying to sugar coat the reality of the situation. Bottom line, we hunt for our own satisfaction and gain in whatever specific way we get that satisfaction or gain, whether its time in the field, meat, trophy, or a combination. If a guy is capable of consistently making a killing shot at 500 yards I say he deserves respect just as the guy who stalks within 10 yards.

It's just my predictable opinion, but I say we should all support each other. 

I probably should add, obviously we want to be effective and responsible hunters, and not cause animals unneeded suffering. But let's not lose sight of the fact that none of us are perfect, we all make mistakes, and don't for a minute think that any wounded animal dies a more grueling death from a bad shot than by bleeding to death as coyotes or wolves eat their hind quarters or a$$ out.

You would think that the tree-huggers would idolize hunters for being the keystone predators that we are, and for still having the consience to give an animal the most humane death possible. 

I couldn't agree with this more! Just my 
I archery hunt, Long range rifle hunt, and waterfowl hunt.
I only take shots I know I can make regardless of the weapon I choose to use! I practice for a reason! To prepare myself to successfully and humanly harvest an animal. Most hunters practice!!! Its the ones who push there personal limits that have a better chance of not successfully making the shot! The real title to this thread should be ( how many yards do you practice out to)! 

[bigbull94]

even the guys that shoot safari's at 100yds,won't shoot past 60yds. in a true hunting situation.I would say a snot blowing bull at less than twenty yards is my effective range!!

[PA BEN]

This is a funny argument - it happens 5 or 6 times a year and, in essence, it's the same every time.

It starts out well enough, with some people stating how far they are comfortable shooting and everthing is fine, seems like fairly standard distances, people are saying "it's personal preference and how comfortable you are with your abilities" but then...

"I think that anything over 30 yards is unethical!  I think that the modern compounds are for *censored*es that don't know how to hunt!"

"I shoot 75 yards - if you're going to hunt the west you need to learn how to shoot!  I practice over 18 hours each day!"

Some rifle hunter always chimes in: "I find over 500 animals each year that were wounded by archers and died later.  That's the problem with archery and it gives hunting a bad name!"

A bunch of people get mad and tell each other that they don't know how to hunt, are unethical and have no right to be out in the woods.

Somebody finally shows up and says "As hunters, we all need to remain as one!  We'll all lose our rights if we're divided between groups!"

Some more name calling and finally an admin locks it.  Every time.   (And I'm a bowhunter, by the way.)

First of all I call BS on the 500 animals each year you find. Second, I'm a *censored* compound bow hunter according to you. Do you know why I use a compound bow? I started 24 years ago, hunting w/a bear re curve, then I went to a JD Berry 70 lb longbow. I was good, and harvested some nice animals. BUT, every so often I would get a bad hit at less then 30 yds. I felt sick about wounding animals. My shot placement wasn't as good as I would like it to be, so I went to a compound bow w/sights, to get a good clean kill. But, according to you I should have stayed w/my longbow and wound an animal every now and then or quite and not bow hunt at all.