Done right, a long shot can be almost as sporting as a "true" hunt-knowing how to adjust your windage, etc. I read an article about elk hunting with the .50, and the people the article was about hunted in a 3 person team-one to use the rangefinder, one to watch the shot path for any sign of another person in the way or trying to stalk, and one to shoot. Wouldn't hunt that way myself, as I'll always see the .50 as a target rifle or machine gun, but who am I to say someone else shouldn't do it?(especially if done right). We can't use rifles for hunting anything but furbearers in IA anyway-other than the extreme southern part of the state. The funny thing is, that we can use that same .30-06 on a coyote but not on a deer. It would be an expensive trip for me to use a .50 for a hunt. Looks like I'll be sticking to handgun range.