I've seen this bandied about across several different forums now. I honestly don't have answer, but I do have a few thoughts I would like to share.

First, I believe we should do whatever we can to ensure a quick and humane kill. If that means getting close enough for your shooting ability, handcrafting your loads for accuracy that makes kills more certain, or prepping your rifle for great accuracy, I believe we should do what we can.

I think the break between hunting and shooting begins when the hunter/shooter stops trying to get close. No, I don't have a definition of close. If you can stalk closer to your quarry where the bullets trajectory or windrift eliminates consideration, but don't, I believe you have just become a shooter instead of a hunter.

Many of the long distance "hunters" we've heard from on other websites state they shoot a "spotting shot" right before making corrections and attempting to take game. That seems to me to be target practicing with live animals. Not a real hunt to me.

Now, I guess it may be hypocritical to say, but if you have stalked and worked your way as close to animal as you can (have actually tried to get as close as possible) and the animal is standing in the open within your shooting capability without having to shoot a spotting shot or some 25 MOA adjustment to your scope bases and scope, I would consider that hunting. If it's out of the range you are comfortable with, go back to camp and try another day. That's hunting.